Bryan's updates

Bryan's updates http://www.goodreads.com/user/updates_rss/961208 en-US Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:51:53 -0700 60 Bryan's updates http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 30653704 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:51:53 -0700 Comment1168615 <![CDATA[new comment from Bryan]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show_group/40329.How_Do_You_ Bryan made a comment in the Older Writers group:

Both Elmore Leonard (Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing) and Stephen King (On Writing) have advised authors not to describe physical appearances in major characters unless something is absolutely necessary. I've tried to adhere to that rule. While I don't think it's mandatory for all writers (there are plenty of successful authors who describe physical attributes of their characters), I think it makes sense for readers to form their own vision of what a character looks like. There are times when a physical attribute is important to the story. In my own story, The Dreaming Highway, one of the major characters, Father Wiley, is a priest whose major physical attribute is being tall. Other than that and the traditional priestly garments, there wasn't much I went into great detail to describe. Just my opinion. ]]> 28504760 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:23:48 -0700 Review25049255 <![CDATA[Bryan added 'The Time Traveler's Wife']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25049255

to: The Time Traveler's Wife (Paperback) by Audrey Niffenegger
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, new-fiction
Audrey Niffenegger writes a tender love story about a subject that, at first glance, typical chick-lit/flick-loving women like my wife would roll their eyes at. While the subject of time travel is stereotypically a "guy subject," this story introduces the concept in a way that is incredibly romantic, adventurous, and often hilarious.

Niffenegger instantly draws the reader into the story with a flawless attention to detail in a way that is still interesting. While the audio version of the story can be a little mundane after a while (the novel is written from a sort-of diary perspective from both Henry and Clare). Henry's sudden unwilling disappearances into different moments from his past and future are humorous, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly sad, while Clare is forced to wait for him to return sometimes moments, days, or even years later. This story is also about what happens when love happens to two strangers, bringing them together against the strangest of all odds.

Although there were moments where Henry's character seems a little too good to be true based on the bizarre life he's led, this story is an instant classic, and I think the film version coming this Christmas (starring Eric Bana and Rachel MacAdams) will introduce a vast new audience to it. Four stars for this imaginative romantic novel. ]]> 29796987 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:45:00 -0700 FacebookUser65181 <![CDATA[Bryan Thompson installed the Goodreads Facebook Application]]> http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/ check it out » ]]> 29796571 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:41:24 -0700 Review26062710 <![CDATA[Bryan added 'Boundaries with Kids']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26062710 Boundaries with Kids (Paperback) by Henry Cloud
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 29452588 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:11:29 -0700 Chapter18024 <![CDATA[new update: Update]]> 28504716 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:07:46 -0700 Review25049228 <![CDATA[Bryan added 'When You Are Engulfed in Flames']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25049228 When You Are Engulfed in Flames (Hardcover) by David Sedaris
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> 26541082 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:24:41 -0700 Comment883469 <![CDATA[new comment from Bryan]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show_group/27327.Post_Your_GoodReads_Writing Bryan made a comment in the Older Writers group:

I have just uploaded the first 3 pages of my current novel, "The Minutemen of Overland Park, KS." Let me know if you like it or not.

http://www.goodreads.com/story...
]]> 26540520 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:18:40 -0700 Comment883447 <![CDATA[new comment from Bryan]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show_group/32855.June_Writing_Group_Post_Your_Writing_Here Bryan made a comment in the Older Writers group:

Here are the first three pages of the novel I'm currently writing, "The Minutemen of Overland Park, KS." Hope you like.

CHAPTER 1: PETROLI FEDERAL

Mikey Burns fumbled with the inhaler as it left his right trouser pocket and moved to his mouth with the speed of a Chaplin film. The [gasp] of inhalation went unnoticed by everyone in the cubicles. This happened at least six times a day. The speed and the sudden sound of escaping air also went unnoticed as the inhaler found its way back in Mikey’s trouser pocket, again his right one; again, with the speed of the frame-rate of Modern Times.

For the fifth time during the day, Mikey made his way past the new accounts cubicles and the customer service desk. Not one of the six women and four men working these stations paid any attention with the exception of Patricia, and that was only because she was new and Mikey had been the one to interview her. She’d thought he was kind of cute, though she didn’t know him that well. The nervous inhaler trick, that was cute the first month-and-a-half, all the girls (and Grady Peacock) had said. After that, you pretty much knew all you needed to know about Mikey Burns.

Of course, Mikey was also married and was one of those guys who didn’t think about that sort of thing after he’d said his vows. He was, in essence, oblivious.

After a moment, Patricia went back to work.

Mikey walked across the open floor where seven people all over the age of seventy waited in line for their favorite teller’s light to come on with the [ding] that followed. Mikey passed the tellers, none of whom glanced in his direction.

When he reached the door leading into the drive-up room, he froze. He looked down at his hand and tried to still its shaky status. It worked for a second, then started to shake again. Mikey closed his eyes, placed his hand in his right trouser pocket and gripped the bright blue cylinder he had taken out only moments before.

“I just used you,” he said to nobody, and after two deep breaths, released his grip on the inhaler. “I just used you, I just used you,” he continued to say as he opened the door.

The door opened on Charlie Beaker, the new British guy who’d been hired because Elaine Donnelly thought his accent was cute. Charlie was all right, though. He did his job, and was a favorite of customers - again, because of the accent. Thaunk youuu for yore commitment to Petroli Fed’ral, mate. Have a grate daigh.

Then, there was Melissa Mathis, who had been caught twice that day on the phone with her boyfriend. She was, for the second time that week, the only professional in the building wearing jeans and exposing her tattoo.

Mikey closed his eyes in a mad blink twice. He began to reach for his inhaler and then stopped. He took in two deep breaths and said, “Melissa?”

Melissa turned her head in his direction. “Yeah?” This was followed by two smacks of gum.

“Can I have a word?” Mikey asked.

Melissa stared for a moment, then said, “Sure.”

“In my office?” Mikey said. Then, he reached in his left trouser pocket and pulled out the handkerchief and wiped his sweaty brow.

Melissa was unresponsive almost entirely before heaving a heavy sigh and standing up from the chair she’d been slouching in. Mikey backed up behind the door and gave an obvious out-of-the-way gesture, which was entirely unnecessary. Melissa walked passed without giving him so much as a second glance. Mikey wiped his brow again, pushed his glasses up his nose, and then swiped the inhaler from his right pocket and breathed in as the tip fell upon his lips.

]]> 26540254 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:16:16 -0700 Chapter21070 <![CDATA[Bryan Thompson wrote a story]]> http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/18146.The_Minutemen_of_Overland_Park_KS?chapter=1 Bryan Thompson wrote The Minutemen of Overland Park, KS: Petroli Federal.

"Mikey Burns fumbled with the inhaler as it left his right trouser pocket and moved to his mouth with" ...more

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