R.D. Brady's Blog, page 4

A ‘Drop Everything Until You Finish It’ Book: Ender’s Game.

Aaah, the joy of finding a new author to love!  Is there truly anything better?  And last weekend, I found one.  I was at the movies and a preview for Ender’s Game came on.  It looked intriguing, especially when they said it was based on the international best-selling book.  I thought, hmm, that’s weird I haven’t heard of it.  So when I got home, I looked it up.  It was published in 1985, when I was twelve.  I forgave myself for not being aware of it.

Then  I picked up the original version (there’s also a movie tie-in version), and brought it home.  And if  it had been an option, I would have ignored the rest of the world for the next twenty four hours.  It’s one of those books.  You know the type, you just wish the word would go away so you could finish the story without interruption.

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card is set way in the future after we have been visited by aliens whom we were barely able to repel. In response, the world unites to find the best and the brightest to be the future military officers who will finally defeat this foe.  And where do they look?  At the children.  And the lucky(?) chosen are sent to Battle School, in space, where they are cut off from all family and friends.

Andrew Higgins, aka Ender, is chosen.  But not only is he chosen, he is believed to be THE best and the brightest.  He is to be groomed to lead the entire fleet.  At the ripe old age of six, he is placed in Battle School and he has to grow up.  Fast.

Okay, so far, it sounds like your run of the mill sci-fi adventure.  But it is not.  Card does an incredible job of letting you see the world and the people around Ender through Ender’s eyes.  And those eyes, albeit, young are sharp and wise beyond their years.  Yet, at the same time, his thoughts are still tinged with a child-like vulnerability.  You want the best for Ender, especially when those around him seem determined to make life for him as difficult as possible to prepare him to lead.

It is both heart breaking and inspiring to see Ender shoulder the responsibility placed on his young shoulders.  You root for him, cry for him, and just wish the world could give him a break.  Or maybe a friend.  At the same time, you see the logic in his decisions.  And the action!  It is page turning and chock full.

When trying to come up with a similar book, I naturally thought of The Hunger Games.  But then I realized that wasn’t true.  The sci-fi and action are only a backdrop for the story.  Not the focus.  The story is about human interactions and perseverance.   Which made me realize it is actually like another favorite of mine, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.  They are both stories about boys who realize the incredible power they both hold.  That power comes from their commitment to make a difference.

After I finished the book (and, yes, I did that in one day), I went out and bought five more books from the series.  I am officially an Orson Scott Card groupie.  So if you need a new reading addiction, check out Ender’s Game.  But be warned, your life may have to go on hold until you finish it!  :)

A ‘Drop Everything Until You Finish It’ Book: Ender’s Game.

Aaah, the joy of finding a new author to love!  Is there truly anything better?  And last weekend, I found one.  I was at the movies and a preview for Ender’s Game came on.  It looked intriguing, especially when they said it was based on the international best-selling book.  I thought, hmm, that’s weird I haven’t heard of it.  So when I got home, I looked it up.  It was published in 1985, when I was twelve.  I forgave myself for not being aware of it.

Then  I picked up the original version (there’s also a movie tie-in version), and brought it home.  And if  it had been an option, I would have ignored the rest of the world for the next twenty four hours.  It’s one of those books.  You know the type, you just wish the word would go away so you could finish the story without interruption.

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card is set way in the future after we have been visited by aliens whom we were barely able to repel. In response, the world unites to find the best and the brightest to be the future military officers who will finally defeat this foe.  And where do they look?  At the children.  And the lucky(?) chosen are sent to Battle School, in space, where they are cut off from all family and friends.

Andrew Higgins, aka Ender, is chosen.  But not only is he chosen, he is believed to be THE best and the brightest.  He is to be groomed to lead the entire fleet.  At the ripe old age of six, he is placed in Battle School and he has to grow up.  Fast.

Okay, so far, it sounds like your run of the mill sci-fi adventure.  But it is not.  Card does an incredible job of letting you see the world and the people around Ender through Ender’s eyes.  And those eyes, albeit, young are sharp and wise beyond their years.  Yet, at the same time, his thoughts are still tinged with a child-like vulnerability.  You want the best for Ender, especially when those around him seem determined to make life for him as difficult as possible to prepare him to lead.

It is both heart breaking and inspiring to see Ender shoulder the responsibility placed on his young shoulders.  You root for him, cry for him, and just wish the world could give him a break.  Or maybe a friend.  At the same time, you see the logic in his decisions.  And the action!  It is page turning and chock full.

When trying to come up with a similar book, I naturally thought of The Hunger Games.  But then I realized that wasn’t true.  The sci-fi and action are only a backdrop for the story.  Not the focus.  The story is about human interactions and perseverance.   Which made me realize it is actually like another favorite of mine, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay.  They are both stories about boys who realize the incredible power they both hold.  That power comes from their commitment to make a difference.

After I finished the book (and, yes, I did that in one day), I went out and bought five more books from the series.  I am officially an Orson Scott Card groupie.  So if you need a new reading addiction, check out Ender’s Game.  But be warned, your life may have to go on hold until you finish it! 

The Enduring Intrigue of the Romanovs

If there is one topic that is guaranteed to get me to pull a book off a shelf, physical or digital, it is the Romanov’s. I have been fascinated with them since I was a child. When I was a kid, I joined a reading club at my local library. (Yes, yes. We’ve already discussed my incredibly geeky upbringing.) One summer, I think I was ten, I discovered a series of children’s books that covered the entire Romanov family. I read all twelve of them cover to cover. And hence, a reading obsession began.

For those unfamiliar with the family, the Romanovs were the last ruling family of Russia. They ruled from 1613 to 1917. And while the family in its totality is intriguing, it is the last Czar and his family that truly inspires fascination.

Tsar Nicholas came to power in 1894. The Tsarina, a German born princess, was not well regarded by the Russian people, especially after two events: one she provided only daughters until the couples fifth child. But the Tsarevich, Alexei, was stricken with hemophilia and was sickly for all his days. The other event was the introduction of Rasputin to the royal circle. And who isn’t fascinated by the mad monk?

And then when the family was finally executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, mystery surrounded their demise. Rumors abound that some survived the assassination. And then there’s Anna Anderson. Honestly, I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, I’ve read pretty much everything on the family and I still can’t get enough.

So as I was scrolling through books, looking for a new read, I found The Romanov Cross by Robert Masello. And it was incredible! Granted, anything with the Romanovs will keep my interest, but this was a new twist on an old mystery. It imported the rumors about Rasputin and Anastasia, twirling them together in a new way. Add in a dash of a potential humanity-ending disease and voile, captivating entertainment. Set in Russia and Alaska, it mixed history with mystery and a healthy dose of what if.

As I write this, I can’t help but think of one of my other favorite Romanov-themed novels, The Romanov Prophesy by Steve Berry. I’ve read it at least three times. The novel follows Miles Lord as he is chased across the globe while tracking down a modern day heir to the Romanov throne. Love that book! Easily one of my all-time favorites.

So, if you’re looking for a good book to read, try The Romanov Curse by Robert Masello or The Romanov Prophesy by Steve Berry. And if anyone out there has any Romanov-themed books to recommend, I’d love to hear from you!

Are Bookstores Doomed?

I love bookstores. I love wandering through the shelves. Looking at all the covers, pulling one off, flipping through. If it doesn’t catch my interest, I wander until I find another. Then I’ll stop by the cafe, have a little snack, flip through the books I’ve chosen to see who’s coming home. I’m smiling just thinking about it.

Yet, we’ve all heard that bookstores are in trouble. Recently, even James Patterson wrote a piece in the New York Times saying the government needs to step in and save our bookstores. The new age of e-books is destroying these incredible land marks. J.A. Konrath, along with a number of other indie authors, have written back that it’s okay if traditional book publishing and bookstores go the way of the eight track. Which got me thinking, is that true? Is okay for bookstores to disappear because we can access the same information online? Which led to the next reasonable question: what is it I really love about bookstores?

I imagined walking through a book store (joy!). And then scanning through Amazon looking for a new book (less joyful). But I had an ‘aha!’ moment thinking about those two divergent events. I asked myself, would scrolling through e-books be more enjoyable in a bookstore? I envisioned giant flat-screen screens aligning the aisles instead of book shelves. You touch the screen. Pull up a few books, flip through the first few pages to see if you were interested. If not, swipe them aside and pull up some others. Then wander over to the cafe for a beverage with your book samples downloaded on your e-reader. And honestly? That sounded wonderful!

It made me realize bookstores aren’t just about books. They’re about community, about the experience of buying books. They’re about being around like minded folks, all searching for something to get lost in. It’s about sharing that smile when you see someone else looking at a book you’ve read and loved. It’s about watching kids excitedly sprint for the kids section. It’s about that little thrill of discovery when you find the right book. Bookstores are about the people and the experience as much as the books.

Are bookstore doomed? Not if they adapt. It’s like saying movie theatres will disappear because someone created DVDs (or back in the day Beta tapes). Sure, we all watch movies at home. But there is something almost magical about seeing a movie up on the big screen, in a theatre.

So how do we save bookstores? They need to adapt. Give people what they want: community and an exciting e-book shopping experience. Truly, the best of both worlds. What do you think?

Going, going, gone! Michael Grant’s last installment in the Gone Series

Previously, I have chatted about Young Adult novels: They are not just for kids. Originally, I started roaming the shelves looking for books for my nephew. Of course, I had to read them before I handed them over. I was shocked to find a number of series that had me absolutely hooked. Nowhere is that more apparent than with Michael Grant’s Gone series.

The sixth and final book in the series, Light, was released at the beginning of April. And like all the other books, I couldn’t put it down. Literally. I ignored the other things I had to do that day, unable to focus on anything but the story. I forced myself to get some work done, placing myself in a location far from the book. I lasted two hours. Then I sprinted back home and curled up on the couch. Again. It’s that kind of series.

For those unfamiliar with the series, let me give you a little back story. One morning, all of the people older than the age of fifteen, in a Californian town called Perdido Beach, disappear. Poof. All that are left are the kids, newborns through age fourteen. And an impermeable wall now surrounds the town. The kids have no idea what happened. Are they the only one left? Is there anyone on the other side of the wall? Are all the adults even alive?

Unsurprisingly, some of the kids try to take over and others are forced into hero roles. And then we add in the superpowers. I know, I know. It sounds weird. And you’re thinking, okay Lord of the Flies meets X-Men. Actually, you’re not too far off, except for losing the whole Xavier-morality part. Think Magneto alone. (Yes, yes, I know. My nerd is showing.) But, damn, the books are addictive!

Across the series, the kids face different trials. Namely: Hunger, Lies, Plague, and Fear, which coincidently are the names of books two through four. In the final installment, all the battles come full circle and the kids face the truth of the kind of people they are. And the kind of people they want to be. At the end, they know they are not children. They haven’t been since the adults disappeared.

So if you’re looking to get lost, try the Gone series. You won’t be disappointed. I sure wasn’t.

Diagnosing Great Books: What Makes a Book Stay With You

So, I was thinking about books the other day and my absolute love of them. Now I have been a huge reader since, well, since Dr. Seuss. But there is that turning point in a readers life when books literally change the way you look at them and the expectations you have for them.

I think that may be why I struggle at times to find a ‘good’ book, never mind a ‘great’ book. I’ve read some incredible ones and it’s difficult then to be okay with a book that’s, well, okay.

So I was trying to pin point those critical books. You know, the ones that made you realize that books could do more than just help you pass the time. Two came immediately to mind, both published back in 1990 when I was a junior in high school. (I will spare you the sad description of crimped hair, purple eye shadow, and white fringed books. Oops, sorry about that.)

Anyway, when I wasn’t holding my breath through a halo of Aqua Net or wistfully sighing over Matt Rosen (name changed to protect me), I was reading incessantly. Yup, a real social animal was I. But I digress. The two books that radically changed my expectations are The Eight by Catherine Neville and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

Jurassic Park is familiar, of course, to one and all. Scientists re-create dinosaurs on an island and unsurprisingly, the dinosaurs break loose, trying to kill everyone on said island. But it’s not just the adventure that pulled me into the story. It was the science. It sounded so possible, providing that ‘what if’ factor. Since then, I have loved books that use science or history to pull us into a ‘what if’ adventure. It stretches your mind and opens your eyes to the possibilities. How can you not love that?

The Eight is probably not as well known, although it was an international bestseller. Ostensibly, The Eight is about a search for a chess set that spans almost two hundred years. But it is a much more complicated, and rich narrative than that. You feel for the characters and each twist and turn, leaves you wanting more. It was that very complexity that created my second expectation for great books.

So, now for a book to be ‘great’ in my mind, it must have that complexity and the ‘what if’ factor. James Rollins usually meets the criteria, as does Carol O’Connell and J.D. Robb. Oh, and of course, Michael Grant’s Gone series. What about you? What or who makes a book ‘great’ in your mind?

You want me to read WHAT?!: Why you should give Indie books a shot

The publishing industry is going through a fundamental transformation. Self published authors have sprung up and are now selling their books online right next to the traditionally published authors. And those indie authors are sometimes selling a LOT of books.

But how good are the indie books? Well, let’s be honest: some of them are horrible. And I mean H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. Luckily, with e-books, you can download a good portion of the book to see what you are getting. Better news, e-books can often be downloaded for free. Yup, free. So you don’t lose any money.

Why else should you try an Indie author? A couple of reasons. First, it is getting tougher and tougher for new writers to break into traditional publishing. What that means is quality writers who would have been snapped up a decade ago, are now self-publishing instead. In fact, agents and publishers are reported to be trolling the internet looking for the books generating sales.

Two, all your favorite authors were at one time unpublished, praying that someone, anyone, would read their book and like it.

Not convinced yet? Okay. Well, here’s something that might tempt you: Indie books are often priced incredibly low and sometimes free. Why free? Well, Amazon has a program called KDP Select that allows authors to get paid, while offering their books for zero dollars.

Okay, so now we know traditional publishers are less likely to take on new authors, all your favorite authors were at one point unpublished, and three, you can often pick up an indie for very little or absolutely nothing. So now you’re saying, yeah, let’s try those indie books. Where can I find them?

Well, they’re at all online books distributors. But sometimes it’s a little difficult to parcel them out. I’ve found a website that I like that tells me about the latest reductions in indie books, including books that are offered free. At Bookbub.com, you choose the type of books you are interested in, and they send you an email everyday telling you what the latest deals are. It’s great! (Caveat: To be included in Bookbub, authors do have to pay. So the site does not cover all indie books, only those that pay to be included.)

So give a struggling author a thrill. Read their book. You might just like it.

YA Books: Not just for kids anymore

Let’s face it. Since the release of the Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games series, young adult books are not just for the young any more.

What? You haven’t read Hunger Games yet? Not even the first one? Okay. Stop reading and step away from the computer. Go immediately to your bookstore or e-book distributor, download or buy Hunger Games. Read it. I’ll wait . . . .

Thanks for rejoining us to our blog already in progress. So where was I? Oh right. YA books. I know the idea for me was not at first appealing. All I could remember were the schmaltzy teen romances from my day. But that’s not what YA is anymore.

In the publishing world, the YA market is literally exploding. Twilight demonstrated this huge group hungry for books and the publishing world has responded. Think great thrillers without the sex. (well, usually.)

One great read is the Gone series by Michael Grant. The series tells the story about a town where all the adults above the age of fifteen disappear one day and a weird force field surrounds the town, keeping them in. Half the kids have some form of mutant powers and half do not. It becomes a modern day Lord of the flies. Absolutely addicting!

A second series to check out is by Dan Wells. The first book is called Partials, the second Fragments. The stories are set after disease and war with Partials has wiped out all but 35,000 people from the planet. Partials, incredibly powerful bio-synthetic humans, are at war with the remaining humans. And all human babies born die within days of birth from a disease called RM. A young woman, Kira Walker, is looking for a cure and along the way finds an ally in a Partial. Together, they are attacked by both sides as they struggle to save humanity.

So when you’re desperate for a new book, take a little stroll through the YA aisles. I have and I’ve found some gems. Maybe you’ll discover your own riches!

It’s Like Your Mom Said, Try It. You Might Like It.

There have been times in my life when I have been desperate, and I mean desperate, for something to read. None of my favorite authors were coming out with anything and nothing on the book shelves looked appealing.

And I needed a book. NEEDED. I was like a junkie needing a fix. (Yes, I know. I have a problem.)

At that moment of desperation, I knew what I had to do: try a book that was outside my comfort zone. Shudder, cringe.

Now if there’s one thing that is almost always guaranteed to have me place a book back on the literal or electronic shelf, it’s a book set in the future. I don’t know why. They whole idea of space suits, laser guns, weird computerized pets, has never appealed to me. Outside my frame of reference, I suppose.

But as I mentioned, I was desperate. I saw that JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts pen name for the ‘In Death’ series) had come out with a new book. Now I’m not big into romances, but this was a thriller/mystery/cop series. Only hold back, it is set in the future. Cue ‘Desperado’ theme song. But I knew what I had to do. So with a heavy heart, I picked up the book and headed to the cash register. (Obviously, this tale comes from a time before e-readers.)

I went home and started reading, not out of interest, but, out of, say it with me, desperation. And I loved it! In fact, after reading that one book, I had to read the rest of the series. And whenever she comes out with a new book, I buy it right away. (In fact, she’s coming out with one next week. Yeah!)

So does this mean I now like futuristic settings? No. (Unless of course their post apocalyptic, but that’s an entirely different post.) It’s just that the ‘In Death’ series is about an extremely damaged female detective who is tough as nails, straight forward, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. How can you not root for that?

And JD intersperses her novels with humor, some great sex scenes, and skilful plots. As for the futuristic stuff, to be honest, I kind of skim over those parts, but sometimes the images make me smile.

So, the next time you’re desperate, take a chance. Read something you’re just not that sure about. You may find it opens the door to whole new batch of books.

So tell me, any ‘desperate’ driven authors you now love?

Big Brother is Watching . . er, Reading Over Your Shoulder

About three years ago, I had to take a trip for work. I would be gone for ten days with a group of colleagues I had never met before. In a foreign country. Packing lots of books seemed like a good idea.

But I read very fast. And I didn’t want to have to pack a dozen books, so I picked up a Kindle. And, like many people, I fell in love. I didn’t think I would. There’s something comforting about holding a traditional book. Nonetheless, it was great. I even forgot it was a Kindle at times, placing it face down, to hold my page.

I noticed when reading e-books that certain phrases were highlighted. There’d be a fuzzy grey line underneath a sentence or two and a tag saying something along the line of 237 highlights. I never gave it a thought. Never even wondered what it meant.

Then I read the Wall Street Journal article by Alexandra Alter entitled “You’re E-Book is Reading You.” Alter explained how the Kindle is used to as a marketing tool for authors, publishers, etc. So the number of times a certain phrase is highlighted is tracked. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490950051438304.html)

But more information than that is gathered. Where the reader stops reading, how long a reader sits, do they finish the book in one sitting, three, not at all?

When I first read the article, I had two simultaneous reactions: ‘That’s cool’ and ‘That’s kind of creepy’. Let’s start with the creepy. The idea that someone is tracking my reading habits smacks of an Orwellian world. Big brother reading over my shoulder. Shudder.

But as an aspiring author and data junkie, I love the idea of being able to ascertain trends and facts that can help market books. There’s no denying that e-books have revolutionized reading. Traditional publishers are now taking this data and putting it to work for them. Self published authors need to do the same. Now I’m not saying people should massively change their novels. But they should consider, at the very least, readers preferences in their marketing strategies. I talked about those preferences a few blogs ago. (See Size Does Matter . . . Even for Books!)

So what do you think? Creepy or Helpful? Or maybe a little bit of both?