Annie Cardi's Blog, page 37
October 28, 2013
Loving Writing When It’s Hard
The last few weeks have been stressful and busy, and the next few weeks are going to be much the same. Which means I feel like:
Even things I enjoy, like writing, feel like a chore:
I recently came across this quote from Susan Orlean on writing, which seems particularly helpful when I’m stressed and when the writing is hard:
“You have to simply love writing, and you have to remind yourself often that you love it.”
It’s easy to love writing when the words are flowing and you have the time to focus on your craft. But sometimes you have to remind yourself that you love it and that it’s worth it, even if you only get a few words down at a time.
So if you’re having a rough time and feel like the words aren’t flowing, try to remind yourself that you love writing, even when it’s hard and you feel like you can’t get anything on paper. Loving writing when it’s hard is when you’re at your most writerly.
October 25, 2013
Friday Fifteen
In case you haven’t noticed by the (relative) blog silence, it’s been a crazy week for me, so I am super psyched to see that it’s Friday. Let’s get this weekend started with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer!
1. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
The “must read” book in college. Curious if it stands up a decade later.
2. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Another delightful fairy tale adaptation from Levine. Would have devoured it as a kid.
3. The Hatbox Baby by Carrie Brown Expected more baby-in-a-hatbox shenanigans, like The Importance of Being Earnest‘s perambulator.
4. The Arm of the Starfish by Madeleine L’Engle
Not the most memorable, but it’s a cool companion to A Ring of Endless Light.
5. Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Do you hear the typewriters’ click? Typing the words of angry cows.
October 22, 2013
Ten Reasons Why You Should Read…Fault Line by Christa Desir
My fourth Fourteenery read is Christa Desir’s Fault Line, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s the grittest and most heartbreaking debut of the ’13/’14 season. As a warning, I will say that I’d only recommend Fault Line to mature teen readers and it could be a potentially triggering read. But it’s a book that doesn’t shy away from the harsh, real issue of sexual assault that all too many teens are dealing with. Here are my ten reasons why you should read Fault Line:
1. Ben
Most of the YA novels I read have a female protagonist. Ben was a refreshing change, as he always felt like a typical guy I might have gone to high school with. I hope this means it appeals to readers of both genders.
2. Ani
Ani always felt like a full character to me, not like a character in an “issue” novel created so the author can talk about a given issue. I loved her fierceness and heart in the early pages of the novel, and my heart continually broke for her after that awful night, as she tried coping with having been raped and being tormented at school for being a so-called slut.
3. Survivor Support
Lots of other YA books dealing with sexual assualt, including equally powerful YA class Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, look at it from the survivor’s perspective. I love that Fault Line is structured from the perspective of Ben. It’s a great reminder that sexual assault doesn’t just affect the person who’s been assaulted. We’re all affected and thus we all have a responsibility to stand against it.
4. Being There for Someone
When something horrible happens to someone we love, we want to “be there” for them and support them. But what does that really mean? How can you support someone who’s going through a lot of awful and complex emotional reactions? I totally sympathized with Ben as he tried to figure out how to help Ani.
5. Coping Mechanisms
After being raped, Ani experience anger, guilt, denial, etc. She lashes out, withdraws, and puts herself in further damaging situations as she tries to deal with her pain. As hard as it was to read, I was glad to see Ani’s reaction to being raped as being complicated and changing as she tried to cope with what had happened.
6. Trying and Failing
Ben wants to help Ani, but he doesn’t always know how–and as a result, doesn’t always make good choices in his attempts. I liked that he got frustrated and felt hopeless, and wasn’t always calm and helpful. Again, it was hard to read, but it felt like the actions of a very real teenage book who doesn’t know what to do.
7. “The Manhole”
Another hard but realistic part of Fault Line was Ani and Ben’s peers’ reactions to the rape. Ani is called the worst slut-shaming names I’ve seen in YA and, unfortunately, it totally rang true for me in terms of what a teen girl would experience in that situation. I hope that readers see how Ani is treated and reevaluate their own behavior in how they treat so-called sluts at school.
8. Family Life
I have a special affection for Ben’s family. His relationships with his parents and his younger brother felt so real, and I was glad to see they played a part in his everyday life. (So often, families take a minor role in YA.) Also, Ben’s from a biracial family–something else you don’t see too often in YA.
9. Real World Help
Christa is donating a portion of her book’s proceeds to help sexual assault victims. This is an author who walks the walk.
10. Christa’s Rules
Christa Desir was able to create such a complex, gritty book because she’s worked extensively with and deeply cares about sexual assault survivors. Christa is a passionate, caring, amazing person who seems to understand everyone. In the Fourteenery, we live by Christa’s rules.
Fault Line is out now, so make sure you buy a copy and check out this powerful and arresting read.
October 18, 2013
Friday Fifteen
I can hardly believe it’s Friday. Maybe a few book reviews in fifteen words (or fewer) will help me wrap my mind around it.
1. The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
A prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, not as memorable for me.
2. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Different from the movie in a good way. Must be that NY vibe.
3. Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume
Strong sequel; I loved seeing ‘perfect’ Rachel and her secret family drama.
4. The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman
A Victorian-era mystery starring a clever orphaned girl? Sign me up.
5. The Collected Poems, Vol. 1: 1909-1939 by William Carlos Williams
“This Is Just to Say” is literature’s best “sorry not sorry” poem.
October 17, 2013
Links Galore
Some good links for the week:
Fellow 2014 debut author and delightful agent-mate Emery Lord on why it’s okay if not everyone loves your book.
I think I’m still too easily scared for Goosebumps.
Definitely too easily scared for the scariest books of all time.
I know it seems like all the great books are banned or challenged, but it sucks when it actually happens to you.
“If you allow [characters] to do what they’re going to do, think and feel what they’re going to think and feel, things start to happen on their own. It’s a beautiful and exciting alchemy.” I love this feeling.
On the other hand, Susan Dennard argues that we all plot/plan/outline to some extent. (She’s got me pegged on the playlists.)
I’m surprised Moby-Dick or Little Women didn’t take it for MA in this list of famous books set in every state.
Great post on friendship in YA, something I’d love to see come to the forefront in more YA titles.
And speaking of best friends, every author needs a good (furry) one.
If you’re in the Boston area, make sure to check out the Boston Book Festival this weekend! Not convinced? Here’s a list of reasons why.
Keep the Boston book love going by bidding on amazing art by kidlit illustrators and helping to raise money for the Emergency and Trauma Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital.
October 15, 2013
Happy Book Birthday to Fault Line!
The Fourteenery world domination continues today with the release of Fault Line by Christa Desir! The Goodreads summary:
“Ben could date anyone he wants, but he only has eyes for the new girl — sarcastic free-spirit, Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him too. She’s everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want.
But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone.
Now Ani isn’t the girl she used to be, and Ben can’t sort out the truth from the lies. What really happened, and who is to blame?”
Ben wants to help her, but she refuses to be helped. The more she pushes Ben away, the more he wonders if there’s anything he can do to save the girl he loves.
Christa is an amazing woman who’s written a powerful book about sexual assault and how it affects all of us in different ways. This is the kind of book that proves YA is thoughtful and can tackle important issues with a genuine, thoughtful point of view. (For more about Christa and the book, check out this great interview over at OneFour KidLit.)
Thanks to Christa for being such an advocate for survivors and a voice for change. Major hugs to you on Fault Line‘s book birthday!
October 11, 2013
Friday Fifteen
This week, Friday could not have come at a better time. Here are this week’s book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:
1. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
A lot of depth and heart in this one. Gave me Friday Night Lights feelings.
2. The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) by Lemony Snicket
One of the more formulaic, but the writing continues to be fun and propulsive.
3. A History of the World in 10½ Chapters by Julian Barnes
Collection of loosely linked stories. Well crafted and stayed with me more than I expected.
4. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
I wish all mice cared about chivalry. Charming kind of Don Quixote for kids.
5. Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Frankly, I thought Frog could do a little better.
October 10, 2013
Alice Munro and the Story House
Congratulations to Alice Munro, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature! She’s the thirteenth woman to win the prize and (to my surprise) the first Canadian.
Munro is largely known for her short stories. In case you haven’t read her work before, Book Riot has suggestions for how to get started. It’s been a while since I’ve read much Munro, but I’ve always liked her style–outwardly quiet stories with a lot of depth and beautifully crafted prose and characters. You can get a good sense of Munro’s writing by this quote:
“A story is not like a road to follow … it’s more like a house. You go inside and stay there for a while, wandering back and forth and settling where you like and discovering how the room and corridors relate to each other, how the world outside is altered by being viewed from these windows. And you, the visitor, the reader, are altered as well by being in this enclosed space, whether it is ample and easy or full of crooked turns, or sparsely or opulently furnished. You can go back again and again, and the house, the story, always contains more than you saw the last time. It also has a sturdy sense of itself of being built out of its own necessity, not just to shelter or beguile you.”
I love Munro’s image of exploring a story like exploring a house. I know I feel like this when I’m working on a particular story, especially since I don’t do a lot of outlining and planning. Part of the fun of writing is the exploration, seeing all the different parts of the house and learning its history.
As a reader, returning to the story-house and finding it “always contains more than you saw the last time” is one reason I love rereading. There are always more room and shelves to explore.
October 9, 2013
Road Trip Wednesday, aka What Are Goblins Doing Here?
This week I’m taking part in Road Trip Wednesday, a weekly YA blog carnival:
This Week’s Topic: In honor of this month containing Halloween (the best holiday ever), what’s the scariest story you heard as a child?
I’m a total scaredy cat and generally avoid anything horror-related. (Confession: even the awesome Halloween movie Hocus Pocus freaked me out a little.) So at first I thought, I don’t remember hearing any scary stories.
Then I remembered.
My mom read my brother and I this poem by James Whitcomb Riley and, as a child raised on Annie the musical, I was so excited to hear a poem about my favorite redheaded orphan. Spoiler alert: it is not a poem about a spunky redheaded orphan and her musical friends.
Instead, it’s a poem about an orphan girl who tells tales about goblins who snatch kids who misbehave. For example:
“An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’ one, an’ all her blood-an’-kin;
An’ wunst, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks wuz there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!”
Guys, at no part of this does anyone sing “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow!”
Even as a kid who didn’t misbehave a lot, I was still so freaked out. Goblings who can steal you through the ceiling?! What kind of creepy Japanese horror movie is this from?! I spent the night huddled under the covers, listening to the trees outside my window and telling myself that it had to be goblins.
Needless to say, my mom never read to us this again.
Feel free to share your own childhood scary story trauma here or as part of Road Trip Wednesday!
October 8, 2013
Links Galore
Link it up:
Sometimes even famous writers need a random job to pay the bills. (My random jobs have included ice cream scooper, front desk assistant in a film studies department, and salesperson at the American Girl store.)
Digging these notebooks.
A literary emotional thermometer.
Once in a blue moon you’ll find a video on idiom origins.
Nova Ren Suma with a great post on why deadlines matter.
“What is important is the immediacy of the story and the point of view of the teen. YA lit speaks to the teenager, current or past, in its readers, regardless of the protagonist’s age.”
Really, was Mallory anyone’s favorite baby-sitter?
Love these literary city guides (especially the one for my personal favorite place, Charlottesville, VA).
Fear and the economy reflected in YA.
Helpful post on attending educational conferences as a writer.
Two things I love: gifs and the Fourteenery. Seeing them combined on Buzzfeed pretty much makes my year.
