Roof Beam Reader

Indie Lit Awards 2011 - Update

2011-06-03T14:25:00.000-05:00

They're Back - Are You Getting Excited!?

As you may know, I will be participating in the 2011 Indie Lit Awards, as a Voting Member on the GLBTQ Panel. From time-to-time, I will be sharing information about these awards, including updates on the nomination timeline and process, and how you can get involved.

What are the ILAs?:

The Independent Literary Awards (ILAs) are awards given by literary bloggers*. All judges and panelists for theses awards are completely independent and do not receive compensation for reviews nor their work on the award board. The Independent Literary Awards is currently in its second year and will be presenting the winners for the 2011 calendar year in March of 2012.

What Genres Are Considered?:

Biography/Memoir
GLBTQ
Literary Fiction
Mystery
Non-Fiction
Poetry
Speculative Fiction

How Does This Work?:

Titles are collected via nominations by literary bloggers in each of the above listed categories. To see the nomination lists or to add a title to them, please see the specific genre page. (Nominations are open September through December.)
Nominated titles will be tallied and the top 5 nominated titles from each category will be placed on a Short List.
Short List titles will be read and voted on by the Director and Voting Members of each category.
The top 2 titles from the Short List will be considered Finalists.
The winners from each category will be chosen by the Director and Voting Members of each category from the Finalist titles.

Important Nomination Information for YOU:

You must be a literary blogger; and a link to your blog must be provided so we can verify this. (You may not be the author, publisher, or publicist of the book you are nominating).
Books nominated must have a 2011 release date.
You may nominate a book that has already been listed (the books with the most nominations will be what we add to the Long List).
You may nominate books in more than one genre, but only one per genre.
Nominations are open midnight PST September 1, 2011 – 11:59 PST December 31, 2011.
Follow Us on Twitter (@indielitawards @RoofBeamReader)

Check out the ILA website for more information and to see which books won in each of last year's categories. You can also find author interviews from last year's nominees/winners as well.

*Lit bloggers write about books and literary related items. They are the fastest growing form of publicity in the literary world, though most are still independently run and do not receive compensation for their reviews or recommendations.

Updates & Upcoming Author Events at RBR.net

2011-05-16T18:04:00.004-05:00

Hi, Folks!

I just wanted to update you all on some exciting events coming up soon here at RBR.net!

May:

RBR.net featured on Scene of the Blog meme at Kittling: Books. (Wednesday, May 18th)
Guest Post by author Renee Ahdieh in anticipation of the release of her first novel, Fanfare (Revolution, 2011). (Wednesday, May 25th)
RBR.net featured on When I'm Not Reading meme at The Unread Reader. (Date TBD)
Armchair BEA (Book Expo America) (May 23rd-27th)

June:

Blog Tour for The Circle Cast with Author Alex Epstein.
Interview with Donovan O'Malley, author of Lemon Gulch and Our Yank, both of which will be reviewed soon here at RBR.net!

Also, I received an exciting e-mail today from K.B. Dixon, author of The Ingram Interview (Review Found Here)! He dropped me a line to let me know that The Ingram Interview has been selected as a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Book Award in the Literary Fiction category. Many congratulations to you, Ken - it was a fantastic book and the honor is well-deserved!

Lastly, don't forget the upcoming Blog Bash (June 22-26) as well as my giveaway with Shannon Silver of One Thousand Paintings - we will be giving away three books from three differeng genres, and accompanying each book will be an original painting inspired by that work (painted by Shannon Silver).

Exciting Stuff! Thanks for all of your continued interest and support.

Happy Reading!

Review: The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

2011-05-13T15:28:00.000-05:00

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Final Verdict: 3.25 out of 4.0

YTD: 26

Plot/Story:

3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

Rick Riordan’s The Throne of Fire is an incredibly fantastic follow-up to Book 1 of his Egyptian mythology series, The Kane Chronicles. Once again, Sadie and Carter Kane narrate us to the end of the world and back again – poor kids! Just when the Kane family feel like their greatest threat – Set – has been muted, a new danger arises. The Lord of Chaos, Apophis, is beginning to awaken, and without the Lord of Ma’at around (Ra, the Sun God, lost in a deep sleep deep in the Duat), Chaos may manage to take over and destroy the world. The Kanes find themselves not only in a race against time to find and awaken King Ra, but also to save their friend Zia from a magician-induced coma and find a cure for their ailing apprentice Walt. With so much going on – with so many foes, and so few allies – most of whom are unprepared, there seems to be little hope that Sadie and Carter can triumph again – but help is found in unexpected places, new gods rise to the challenges and grave sacrifices are made to aid the Kanes in their quest.

Characterization:

3 – Characters well developed.

Sadie and Carter, the main characters, are just as well developed as in the first book – which is good and bad. They are written well in general, which of course is a good thing, but a bit more growth and development would have been welcome, as I like to watch characters grow (not just in age, but in maturity and roundedness) in a series. The auxiliary characters, however, are much more developed and just down-right fun to read than in the book’s predecessor. Some of the new gods, such as Bes, are given near-equal page time as the magicians, which adds another layer of intrigue and interest to the story. Old gods and magicians, like Bast, Anubis, and Desjardins are back and better than ever – truly more developed and connected with the story. The newest evil, Vladimir Menshikov, the third most powerful wizard in the world, adds an element of mystery and empathy to the overall story – another added layer to the overall story, which makes it more than just a YA fantasy, but a psychological examination as well.

Prose/Style:

3 – Satisfactory Prose/Style, conducive to the Story.

As with The Lost Hero, I found the prose and style concurrent with the mood and reading level of the book, as well as the subject matter; however, once again, like with The Lost Hero, there were numerous proof reading errors. I am highly frustrated by this, as Riordan is a major author and these mythology series’ are hits – his publisher (Disney/Hyperion) needs to be more responsible with their final editing reviews before publication – I wonder if the same people are responsible because, if so, I would strongly encourage Mr. Riordan to choose new proofreaders. Five or six major errors (like missing or incorrect words) in a publication marketed and anticipated at this magnitude is unacceptable. That being said, six (or so) errors in a book of this length is not exactly distracting, even if it is irritating to someone as ridiculously meticulous as this particular reader. The pace is great, the dual narration works well again, though it is not always easy to distinguish which character is speaking when, even though each chapter has an identified narrator (sometimes I realized I mixed up narrators – thinking Carter was speaking, until little comments about the hotness of Anubis or Walt were dropped in). In total, though, the language level is appropriate, the structure is appealing, and the prose is fluid and progresses at a great pace.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.

4 – Additional elements improve and advance the story.

Once again, what is so great about these Riordan mythology series’ is their ability to teach as well as entertain. By the end of the book, you find you have learned so much about Egyptian (or Roman, or Greek, whatever the case may be) mythology and history without even knowing it, because you were having such a great time reading the story and engaging with the characters’ adventures! I find Riordan to have an advantage over many writers in this regard – he does his research and incorporates the mythologies into modern culture seamlessly, with a style that is appealing to contemporary readers. The larger issues and topics, too, such as the importance of loyalty to family and friends or the need to work with people we do not necessarily like in order to overcome larger problems are well presented and woven into the stories so as to guide and teach without preaching to or overburdening the reader with glaring didactic motives.

Suggested Reading for:

Age Level: YA+

Interest: Fantasy, Mythology, Action/Adventure, Magic, History, Family/Friendship

Review: Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet

2011-05-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet

Final Verdict: 3.0 out of 4.0

YTD: 25

Plot/Story:

3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

Our Lady of the Flowers is existentialism for gay French drag queens. Seriously. The story is narrated by one of its characters, who is retelling the story of his life from prison, except that he is creating the characters and situations in his head (for the most part), and then transplanting personalities he meets in prison to recreate people from his own life. The reader doesn’t really know who the narrator is, except that he’s interacted with these less-than-laudable characters in incredibly intimate ways and possibly his connection to those people is what landed him behind bars. There is a very real pain and longing in this narrator, which comes across in the way he tells his story and by his choice of characters (recreating his mother, for instance, or retelling the story of his first “love”). It was difficult for me to understand the purpose, though, other than a stark portrait of the life of French homosexuals in the 1940s which aided the narrator in adding a certain “spice” to his dull time in prison – much of what he is writing seems to be for his own purpose, to entertain him and to “assist” him. Jean-Paul Sartre called this an “epic of masturbation” for good reason. It is, of course, also about transgression as means to freedom and trans-valuation of morals as means for expression.

Characterization:

3 – Characters well developed.

Darling Daintyfoot, a masculine gay pimp. Divine, his drag queen lover. Our Lady of the Flowers, a thief and murderer. This makes up the core trio of Genet’s story. There is also, of course, the book’s narrator (who does refer to himself as Jean – so we are to assume that the book is at least semi-autobiographical). The reader spends the greatest amount of time with Jean in prison, as he writes his story and comments on the things happening around him, and with Divine – as he (she) seems to be playing the party of betrayed/scorned lover. The two have clear similarities, including doubts about self-image and sensitivity to jealousies. Darling and Our Lady of the Flowers (A.K.A. Danie, A.K.A. Maurice) have distinct personalities as well. Darling is clearly self-absorbed and a bit oblivious. Our Lady is naïve but dangerous. They both seem to be incredible lovers, so though Divine wants to leave their little ménage-a-troise, he (she) can’t seem to pull herself away. Of course, if Jean’s descriptions of the characters, their physical beauties and prowess, and their actions are realistic in anyway, it’s almost hard to blame poor, silly little Divine.

Prose/Style:

3 – Satisfactory Prose/Style, conducive to the Story.

The language and prose were perhaps the strongest elements of the book. There is an oxymoronic beauty to this story – it is a rather crude, bare tale, but it is told so beautifully, so ethereally, that you almost forget about what exactly it is you’re reading, because it reads so well. That being said, the style leaves a bit to be desired. Although the language is gorgeous and though Genet has a clear mastery of prose, the loftiness (“floweriness”) of it, coupled with the fact that there are no chapter breaks whatsoever, often made it feel as if I were swimming through Jell-O, rather than water. There was fluidity, but also a thickness that became almost oppressive at times and forced me to take many breaks.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.

3 – Additional elements are present and cohesive to the Story.

This “inside-look” at the periphery of French society was certainly interesting and ground-breaking. Never, before this book, had there been such a blatant presentation of gay culture and lifestyle in literature (and thereby, in society). What Genet does with inversion of principals (death as erotic; betrayal a virtue; murder as sexual virility and attraction) is interesting in and of itself, but particularly as a means to an end, the end being liberation and freedom for gays and lesbians. There is a deep fear and sadness woven through this story, spoken softly at times but more often only implied – a fear for one’s physical safety, sadness over one’s lack of legal right. Much of what Genet writes in this book, much of what the French homosexual population was battling in the 1940s is what American culture struggles with now, so for a modern reader it certainly rings true and remains current and effective.

Suggested Reading for:

Age Level: Adult

Interest: Literature, French Literature, GLBT Lit

Notable Quotes:

"My heart's in my hand, and my hand is pierced, and my hand's in the bag, and the bag is shut, and my heart is caught."

"The despondency that follows makes me feel somewhat like a shipwrecked man who spies a sail, sees himself saved, and suddenly remembers that the lens of his spyglass has a flaw, a blurred spot -- the sail he has seen."

Top 10 Dudes I Wanna Wallop!

2011-05-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's theme is: Top 10 Biggest Jerks in Literature.

I have linked to my reviews, when available - click on the book title to go to that review.

1. Javert from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

----This guy is savage. He hounds poor Jean Valjean relentlessly, simply because Jean "appears" to be "the type" associated with criminality, and of course because young Jean escaped from prison after being sentenced to hard labor for simply stealing one loaf of bread to feed his family. Javert has a bit of a moral crisis, eventually, but for much of this very long book, he's a big fat jerk.

2. Humbert Humbert from Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

----So well spoken. Such grandeur of dreams, romance, and emotion. Such a twisted, despicable little bugger! This isn't even about the fact that he essentially kidnaps a 13 year old girl to take as his lover - that speaks for itself. But the way he justifies and lauds it, my goodness. If he weren't so pompous about it maybe, well, no... he's just 100% nincompoop.

3. Esteban Trueba from The House of the Spirits by Isabell Allende

----Classic traditional father and husband. Abusive, totalitarian, and with an ego that could crush a rhinoceros. Still, at times, you're almost rooting for the guy. He definitely loved his family and worked incredibly hard. If only he could have been, you know, not violent.

4. Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

----What can I say? Women (and some men, perhaps?) swoon over this guy - and it's not saying much for those who do (sorry). This guy is the epitome of grouchy, conniving, and dangerous. He's a real "bad boy," but not the semi-cutesy type you'd actually bring home to meet the parents. At least, I hope not!

5. Bill Sikes from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

----Total punk. The guys isn't exactly Einstein, so he uses brute force to get what he wants. He's a bit of a sociopath - with no concern for anyone else's well-being or feelings. If it gets in the way of his end goal (money, riches) he eliminates it. No woman or child is safe.

6. Alphonso from The Color Purple by Alice Walker

----Oh, this guy! Impregnating your own step-daugther and forcing her to have and raise the child? Beating your children and leaving them destitute. Lying to them their whole lives about who their parents really are. Need I go on?

7. M. de Metz from Under the Poppy by Kathe Koja

----The mastermind behind the evil forces of this incredible puppet show. There were a couple other "bad guys" from this book who I wanted to choose, but the truth is that M. de Metz, big daddy, is the brains behind the operation, and the one ultimately responsible for Rupert & Istvan's misery (as well as Benjamin's).

8. Tomas from The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

----I have a serious problem with adulterers. Male or female, I find adulterers - particularly unrepentant, compulsive ones like Tomas- totally jerky and loathsome. Tomas is also a bit of a coward and thinks more highly of himself than he should, which irks me. Only think highly of yourself if you have good reason for it. ;)

9. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

----Come on! How could I not? Sure, Snape kind of has a few good reasons to be such a tool, but he is still a tool. He's cruel, he's sneaky, he takes pleasure in others' misfortunes. Still, I love the guy - he's a jerk I can justify being proud of!

10. Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

----The charmer. There's always gotta be one in the bunch, right? The jerk who uses his incredible good looks to get what he wants and to use others for his own purposes. He goes a bit nuts (not helped any by the opium) but that doesn't excuse his jerkish nature.

2011-05-09T19:58:00.001-05:00

It is time to announce the winner of my "Spring Blog Carnival" Blog Hop Giveaway!

First, thank you all so much - new and old followers- for stopping by and making this Hop such an enormous success. I have about 100 new subscribers and there were 274 Individual Entries in my Giveaway (after removing duplicates/invalid entries). WOW!!

To my new followers, thanks for climbing aboard - I hope you will stick around!

To my old followers, you know I love y'all! Way to rock the book blog-o-sphere hardcore.

Congratulations To:

#78 Debora from Brazil (@eyelashwishes)

She won a book priced below $20 from The Book Depository!

Debora has responded to my e-mail and her book has been ordered. She chose to receive a copy of Warped by Maurissa Guibord!

Thanks Everyone! And Stay Tuned for THIS Big Event, Coming Soon:

All Giveaways in the Blog Bash will be valued at $100 or more!

R.A.K. (Random Acts of Kindness)

2011-05-06T20:51:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting and waiting for May to get here because, though I signed up for the last couple R.A.K.'s, I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to be doing & I hadn't received anything from other R.A.K'ers, so it was kind of on the back-burner. I got some instruction, though, and now I'm all signed up for the month of May, with plans to send out a few R.A.K. book gifts before month-end!

If you want to join in on the fun, head on over to Book Soulmates and sign-up (don't forget to put together a wish list for yourself). This comes at a perfect time, just after the book blogging community's #LoveFest on Twitter!

Here's My Wishlist!

RULES:
Sign up each month that you'd like to participate.

Show off your participation by grabbing the RAK button.

Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

The Man Behind the (Blog) Mask

2011-05-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

As part of The All Male Review Challenge, Logan is featuring some of her male book blogger friends in a new interview feature: The Man Behind the (Blog) Mask. Each blogger answered the same 7 questions so that we can all get to know them a bit better. According to Logan, "the men of the book blogging community are interesting, charming, funny, witty, and some of the best all around bloggers!"

You might be interested to know that her guest today was, yours truly, Roof Beam Reader!

Go Check it Out! Please leave her love for organizing all of this and for being so kind as to feature me.

The Post

Spring Blog Carnival!

2011-05-01T07:34:00.002-05:00

May 1st to May 8th

Hosted By:
Candace's Book Blog
Reading Angel
Pure Imagination
The Book Swarm

Last month's "Easter Eggstravaganza" was a huge success, so THANK YOU and, to show my gratitude, we are doing it again!

One Lucky Follower Will Win:

$20 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com or

Book(s) valued up to $20 from The Book Depository

If I reach 1,000 blog followers by the end of the Carnival, I will increase the prize to $25 and add a second $15 prize as well!

This Giveaway is open to anyone living anywhere Amazon.com or The Book Depository ships.

Rules:

1. Be 13+ (with parents permission to enter if under 13).

2. Be a follower of this blog.

3. Fill out THIS FORM.

4. Winner will need to respond to my e-mail within 48 hours or new winner will be selected.

That's it!

In addition to the giveaways hosted at each participating blog, there are also "Booths" you can visit, in keeping with the Carnival theme. Please check them out & have fun!

May 1st-
Reading Angel: Haunted House
Reading Teen: Fortune Tellers Booth

May 2nd-
Candace’s Book Blog: Food Court
The Mod Podge Bookshelf: House of Mirrors

May 3rd-
The Book Swarm: Roller Coaster
Actin’ Up With Books: Karaoke Booth

May 4th-
Pure Imagination: Kissing Booth
Lovely Lit: Once Upon a Time Booth

May 5th-
Awesomesauce Books: Gaming Booth
Books R Us: Medieval Booth

May 6th-
Extreme Reader Book Reviews: Guessing Booth
Colloquium: Cotton Candy Booth

May 7th-
The Minding Spot: Teacups Booth
Miss Remmers Review: It’s a Bad World Booth

Friday at the Hop! And Updates.

2011-04-29T15:57:00.000-05:00

This Week's Question From the Book Blogger Hop:

"Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you are most looking forward to?"

Well, this book is coming out in May, so I'm not sure if it technically qualifies as a "Summer" release, but the book I'm most looking forward to right now is The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. It actually comes out May 3rd, so I'm getting stoked!

This is Book 2 in the Kane Chronicles series, a YA series about ancient Egyptian mythology. I'm also eagerly anticipating his October release, Son of Neptune, which is Book 2 in the Heroes of Olympus series, a spin off of the hit Percy Jackson and the Olympians series about ancient Greek (& now Roman) mythology.

Thanks for stopping by! Some things to keep in mind:

May 1st - May 8th is the Spring Blog Carnival! Come back for Giveaways Galore!

The Indie Lit Awards are Coming!

Eggstravaganza Winner & New Giveaway Info!

2011-04-26T17:48:00.001-05:00

It is time to announce the winner of my "Easter Eggstravaganza" Blog Hop Giveaway!

First, thank you all so much - new and old followers- for stopping by and making this Hop such an enormous success. I have more than 100 new subscribers and there were 329 Individual Entries in my Giveaway (after removing duplicates/invalid entries). WOW!!

To my new followers, thanks for climbing aboard - I hope you will stick around! To my old followers, you know I love ya'll! Way to rock the book blog-o-sphere hardcore.

Congratulations To:

#231 Megan from Reading Away the Days

Megan has chosen to receive a copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano.

Thanks Everyone! And Stay Tuned for THIS Big Event, Coming Soon:

May 1st to May 8th

Hosted By:
Candace's Book Blog
Reading Angel
Pure Imagination
The Book Swarm

Review: The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

2011-04-25T08:28:00.001-05:00

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Final Verdict: 3.75 out of 4.0

YTD: 24

Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

The Emerald Atlas is Book One in a new and exciting series by John Stephens, called The Books of Beginning. This is where Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter – a realistic everyday world, where orphaned siblings are suddenly thrust into a coexisting world of magic and magical beings. Kate, Michael, and Emma are the “P” children. They were swept away from their parents by a mysterious man when young and, for ten years, spent their lives being shuffled around from orphanage to orphanage. When the trio is kicked out of the “Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans,” they are sent to Cambridge Falls, a village whose sole orphanage is run by the strange and allusive Dr. Stanislaus Pym, his housekeeper Miss Sallow, and the servant-of-sorts, Abraham. Immediately, the children are off exploring the expansive home and their curiosity soon leads to trouble – the kids discover a large green book with mysterious powers, which has them whipping back and forth through time, eventually into the hands of the evil Countess, whom they – with the help of a magician, dwarfs, giants, and townsfolk, must defeat, or be doomed forever. Along the way, the kids learn more about each other, themselves, their long lost parents, and their own important, cosmic destinies.

Characterization:
4 – Characters extraordinarily developed.

As a writer for various television series’, such as Gilmore Girls and The O.C., Stephens clearly has experience writing and developing characters, young and old. That talent and experience shine through in The Emerald Atlas. The three siblings are interesting to watch because they are each unique and independent, but also function together as a family unit. Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head on more than one occasion, at times leading one or another of the characters into dubious territory. Kate, the older sister, feels responsible for her younger siblings, and her actions are largely based on the need to protect them. Michael, the middle child, is intelligent, bookish, and, well, a know-it-all. This can be exasperating, but also comes in handy (sometimes reading books really can save your life!). Emma, the youngest, is clearly the youngest – she is bold, precocious, and loves attention. She also looks up to her brother and sister, modeling her own behavior after them, though she would rather die than admit this. Watching the three interact with each other, as well as with other characters (particularly when they are separated from one another) is interesting and allows room for character growth and development, which readers and fans of this book can only hope is taken advantage of in later installments. The secondary and tertiary characters, too, are interesting – from Gabriel the giant and Wallace the dwarf, to the Countess and the nameless monsters who serve her, good and bad characters are given equal time and attention, which makes the overall conflict stimulating and workable.

Prose/Style:

4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

Another clear talent for Stephens is his ability to construct and deliver a story in an effective way. The prose is highly attractive – it is challenging and complex, more so than others which this book might be compared to (A Series of Unfortunate Events or Percy Jackson and the Olympians, for instance). Though this book will likely be marketed to a similar audience, it is equally attractive to more experienced readers. The dialogue and description are well developed as well. There were some grammatical issues, but my copy of the book is an Advanced Reader’s Copy, so it is likely these will (or have) disappeared in the final stages of editing, and they do not detract from the overall effectiveness of the delivery. While the story is interesting and exciting, it is almost too fast-paced and large in scope. So much is covered in this first book, it is hard at times to catch one’s breath. Also, though plenty of time is spent with each of the three children (singly and together), the creative range and pace at times do a disservice to their deeper story and growth. Despite this one minor complaint, the plot is solid, engaging, and incredibly interesting, and the prose is appropriate to the story itself and helps to progress it without any choppiness or confusion, so it is a solid effort overall.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
4 – Additional elements are present and cohesive to the Story.

While this is a great fantasy novel, it is more as well. The book pays homage to many of the greatest fantasy novels of all time, whether subtly or overtly. At times, I was reminded of The Chronicles of Narnia, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Percy Jackson, The Kane Chronicles, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and even The Dark is Rising. Now, whether or not the author actually ever read any of these books (it would be hard to imagine a genre author not being intimately familiar with his predecessors), their concepts are certainly there – but in a way which makes it impossible to claim any simple re-working of old plots. Some of the best elements of each – such as family, the nature and purpose of magic, responsibility, growth and discovery, and coming-of-age, are present here and work together intricately and seamlessly. I also thoroughly enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book (as a Poe fan, the “Poe House” and another Poe reference in Dr. Pym make me tingle), something not always at the forefront of fantasy novels – but which add another level of intrigue here. The sibling rivalry is also something present in a few of The Emerald Atlas’s predecessors, but Stephens does such a remarkable job of writing it, one wonders if he has a background in child psychology (or perhaps it’s simply all that screenwriting experience). These additional elements, done so well, add layers of complexity and interest to the traditional fantasy plot and make for one fantastic read.

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: Young Adult +

Interest: Fantasy, Magic, Family

Review: Stick by Andrew Smith

2011-04-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Stick by Andrew Smith
Final Verdict: 3.75 out of 4.0

YTD: 23

Plot/Story:
4 – Plot/Story is interesting/believable and impactful

Andrew Smith’s Stick is a powerful story about love and brotherhood. Not since Brothers by Ted van Lieshout has there been such a touching, personal, and believable story about the bond between teenage brothers. Stark (Stick) and his elder brother Bosten both have their individual burdens to bear, but they also must both fight the same battle against an abusive father and an unkind, dispassionate mother. The main character, Stick, was born with a facial disfigurement, which has left him scarred physically and emotionally for most of his life. It has caused him to believe that he is a disappointment to his parents (possibly true) and an embarrassment to his brother. Just as Stick is coming-of-age, learning who he is (including how to handle himself around girls and women), he finds out that his brother, his idol, is gay. Stick handles the revelation well, standing by his brother despite his own doubts and confusions, but the boys’ parents are not as understanding. The fall out at home is too much, and both boys take off, separately – Bosten disappearing, and Stick gone to search for him. Each of the brothers is forced to deal with distinct horrors while on the road, alone, both hoping to finally find a home, which turns out simply to be each other.

Characterization:
4 – Characters extraordinarily developed.

Andrew Smith’s characters are simply beautiful, even the horrid ones. Characterization and character development are clearly strengths for this writer. Stick and Bosten are impressively wrought: their weaknesses are at times frustrating, as they should be, and their strengths shine through. The way they develop simultaneously independent of one another, as well as together as a pair, adds a great level of complexity and interest to the story as a whole. The minor characters, such as the boys’ friends, Emily, the Twins, Aunt Dahlia, Mr. and Mrs. McClellan, Paul and even the tertiary characters like Willie and the Truck Driver all have unique personalities and interact with the boys in genuine ways, so as to advance the plot fluidly and with purpose. Little if anything seems out of place, all of the characters seem necessary and unquestionably purposeful to the story.

Prose/Style:
4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

The second great strength for this book (and writer) is the prose –it is fluid, interesting, and meaningful. There is much creative liberty taken with the book’s form and structure, which can sometimes be irritating (and which, admittedly, caused doubts in this reader at first); however, the structure breaks and style choices ultimately served the larger purpose of reflecting the mood of the story and its main character. It was nearly impossible to put this book down, largely because the story was so interesting and the characters were endearing, but also because the prose progressed the story and its characters masterfully, from day-to-day, scene-to-scene. The dialogue was well-written, the description was simple but effective, appropriate for the genre.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
3 – Additional elements are present and cohesive to the Story.

Two weaker spots in the story, for me, include the deeper, darker revelation about the nature of Bosten’s relationship with his and Stick’s father, and the book’s final resolution. The former turns out to fit into a stereotypical “explanation” cliché, played out often in stories of this kind; however, in Stick, it is, at least, more subtle and not an all-encompassing “why” to Bosten’s state of being. The latter issue, the resolution, is not a disappointment in terms of vision, but more so in execution. The descent to which Bosten falls, after leaving home, seems quite far in such a short time, and for one with such strength of character. Also, his return to “home,” given where he ended up, seemed almost easy or simple. Either of these parts of the resolution could work, I think, given more time – the ending just felt a bit rushed, though it did not dissuade from the overall quality of the book, nor was it a disappointment in general; in fact, where the boys ultimately end up was a great and welcome relief, appropriate to their natures and journeys. The larger themes of family, independence, fear, self-empowerment, and growth are all well-executed and come about in realistic fashion.

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: High School +

Interest: Dysfunctional Families, Brothers, Friendship, Coming-of-Age, Gay Youth, Drug Culture

Notable Quotes:

“’It’s better, I think, to have a “best friend” than a girlfriend,’ Dahlia said. ‘Girlfriends are your friends because they’re girls. But best friends are people you can share everything with and not be afraid they’ll leave you with less.’”

*Note – This review pertains to an Advanced Reader’s Copy, graciously sent to me by Andrew’s publisher at Feiwel and Friends, and imprint of Macmillan, at Andrew’s request. The book will be available to all on October11th, 2011.

Review: The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

2011-04-23T11:22:00.000-05:00

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
Final Verdict: 4.0 out of 4.0

YTD: 22

Plot/Story:
4 – Plot/Story is interesting/believable and impactful (socially, academically, etc.)

The Agony and the Ecstasy is a biographical novel of the life of Michelangelo. The story begins when Michelangelo is a young apprentice and ends with his death at 89. All in all, the book is put together brilliantly. Michelangelo was tormented throughout his life – never left to satisfy himself as he was always at the mercy of political and religious leaders’ desires. The reader is afforded an intimate look at how difficult and dangerous Michelangelo’s days were – Popes, Cardinals, and Political leaders were assassinated regularly; even Michelangelo’s own life was threatened on more than one occasion. Michelangelo was forced to create at the whim of various Popes for the majority of his life, under threat of being thrown in prison if he were to deny his services to the Vatican. Not only is the political atmosphere interesting to witness, but so are the personal relationships Michelangelo has with his family and friends, as well as other artists. Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Martin Luther, and Machiavelli are all alive and working during Michelangelo’s days (Donatello had died not too many years before), so much of what they are doing, and their works in relation to Michelangelo’s, is included. Stone gives modern day readers an incredible look at what it was like to live during the Reformation and Renaissance, for the artist and for the everyman.

Characterization:
4 – Characters extraordinarily developed.

There are so many characters in this book, it is almost ridiculous. Of course, the book is nearly 800 pages long and spans nearly 80 years of Michelangelo’s life, so this is appropriate. It was difficult, though, to connect with characters other than Michelangelo. There are certain people, like Topolino family – stone cutters who tend to be more a family to Michelangelo than his own biological one is- as well as Tommaso and Il Magnifico who are written very well, even beautifully, and who truly demonstrate the good nature possible in humanity. They are also written (as are some of Michelangelo’s masters) with a clarity of inspiration and impact on Michelangelo’s life and works, so that hundreds of pages (decades of time) after they are no longer in Michelangelo’s life, their presence is still felt in his creation. Conversely, there are the rotten apples as well – such as the irritating Popes (some better than others, but almost all a nuisance and dictator to Michelangelo) and the disgusting Aretino of Venice, who spends his life earning money by blackmailing others. The different people and portions of Italy, too, become characters. There are the Florentines – lusty, artistic, and wealthy; the Romans – dangerous, dark, self-involved; the Carrara – interdependent, suspicious, isolated; the Bolognese – joyous, hearty, uncultured. As Michelangelo travels and interacts with these different people, their cultures come to life and these too have lasting impact on Michelangelo’s works and methods. The only complaint would be that Michelangelo is truly the only character in the book to be cared about which, while granting the fact that this is a biographical novel of Michelangelo, is still somewhat disappointing given the number of characters involved.

Prose/Style:
4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

It was surprising to find a few grammatical errors in the book, particularly as this is not a first edition and the book was a #1 NYT Bestseller, but one cannot fault the author for items which should have been caught during the editing process. Those tiny complaints aside, Stone is a powerful and entertaining writer. His prose and language are both intelligent, yet fluid. It would be easy to imagine a book of this length, which takes place 500 years ago, being incredibly difficult to read. Fortunately, this was not the case. Stone uses many Italian words and phrases for emphasis, but translates these words into English immediately following their use (in dialogue or description). This is incredibly effective, as it allows the reader to stay in period and to learn something, but also allows the reader to continue the story without confusion or without stops to search for a word’s meaning. He is also adept at dialogue in general, as well as in timing/transitioning from prose to poetics. There are moments where the general prose breaks off into a poem, a letter, or a list – and these moments are seamless and natural. The chapters, too, are an appropriate length and seem to be pre-planned, so that the right amount of information is covered in the correct amount of time (and this information is also cohesive with the present time/situation in the story). It was not as vividly written as Lust for Life, which at times seemed to read like one was watching a film; but, it was appropriate to the time and mood of Michelangelo’s life and work. Michelangelo was much less emotionally extroverted than Vincent van Gogh, and his works were more soulful than passionate, so the prose followed appropriately.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
4 – Additional elements improve and advance the story.

What is most appealing about this novel is that it was written with the help 495 of Michelangelo’s personal letters (all translated from Italian for the author to create this book specifically), as well as his contracts and professional records. This is the same method which Stone used to write his brilliant book, Lust for Life, a biographical novel of Vincent van Gogh, and it works again here, just as well. It took 6 years from the start of research to the completion of the book, and Stone spent many of those years living and researching in Italy, specifically in the various cities where Michelangelo spent much of his time and which were therefore important to his life story. This incredibly detailed study resulted in a brilliant work that is both factual and creative – much of the dialogue had to be recreated, of course, and specific happenings in Michelangelo’s travels and studies were also necessarily created by Stone. With so much historical fact, though, and so much based on Michelangelo’s own letters, coupled with the extensive research that Stone did, the book ends up reading as if it were written by a first-hand observer of Michelangelo’s life. Stone was careful not to take liberties too far, as well; for example, he wrote in the important decades-long relationship between Michelangelo and Tomasso, including the “scandal” that was invented by a jealous fan and known blackmailer of information (contemporary readers should think of a 1500s-era Rita Skeeter) over their relationship; however, he left the nature of that relationship largely open to interpretation, which seems appropriate as there is not much firm evidence to support either opinion (lovers or just master/apprentice).

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: High School+

Interest: Art History, Michelangelo, Renaissance, Italian History, Catholic History

Notable Quotes:

For what is an artist in this world but a servant, a lackey for the rich and powerful? Before we even begin to work, to feed this craving of ours, we must find a patron, a rich man of affairs, or a merchant, or a prince or... a Pope. We must bow, fawn, kiss hands to be able to do the things we must do or die.

“Still, it is true: people who are jealous of talent want to destroy it in others”

"Listen, my friend: it's easy to get used to the expensive, the soft, the comfortable. Once you're addicted, it's so easy to become a sycophant, to trim the sails of your judgment in order to be kept on. The next step is to change your work to please those in power, and that is death to the sculptor."

“He knew that many artists traveled from court to court, patron to patron, for the most part well housed, fed and entertained; be he also knew he would not be content to do so. He promised himself that one day soon he must become his own man, inside his own walls”

"Art has a magic quality: the more minds that digest it, the longer it lives."

“Humanism … what did it mean? … “we are giving the world back to man, and man back to him. Man shall no longer be vile, but noble…. Without a free, vigorous and creative mind, man is but an animal and he will die like an animal, without any shred of a soul. We return to man his arts, his literature, his sciences, his independence to think and feel as an individual, not to be bound to dogma like a slave, to rot in his chains”

BBH, Follow Friday, & A Giveaway!

2011-04-22T10:54:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Crazy-for-Books.

Before getting to this week's question, I wanted to let you all know that there is a massive Giveaway Hop going on right now! I am offering my followers a chance to win $20 to spend at Amazon.com or The Book Depository! Want to enter? Go HERE.

Now, back to The Hop. This week's question was:

"If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

Answer:

Absolutely! There are a few authors whose work I own in entirety (J.K. Rowling, J.D. Salinger, Dennis Cooper) and others that I am slowly buying my way through (Kurt Vonnegut, Orson Scott Card, Mark Twain, William S. Burroughs). Fortunately, I have been lucky so far in that I've fallen in love with authors whose works have yet to disappoint me - I keep buying their books and loving them! Now, there are some authors whose books I've loved but haven't compelled me to rush out and buy another one, let alone all. I think something special has to happen in that first read to make me want to go out and get the second - and if I like the second as much, I know where it's all going to lead: more, more, more!

Q. What is on your current playlist right now?

Hm. That's kind of a tough question, because I listen to my music a bit randomly. I have a 6-CD Changer in my car, so I tend to swap those in and out pretty regularly, and I always have my iTunes/Pandora on "Shuffle." If I had to choose the five songs I've been listening to most regularly lately, though, I would say:

1. "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
2. "Fix You" by Cold Play
3. "Uprising" by Muse
4. "Today" by Joshua Radin
5. "One for You, One for Me" by Bright Eyes

Thanks for Visiting!

Don't forget to visit THIS POST for my "Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza" Giveaway: $20 to spend on books!

Hoppy Easter Giveaway Hop!

2011-04-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop

April 20th to 25th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

& Once Upon a Twilight

I've had some major giveaways recently, and there are two more big ones coming up in May and June, so this time around I wanted to give myself a break. You still get to reap the benefits, though!

One Lucky Follower Will Win:

$20 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com or

Book(s) valued up to $20 from The Book Depository

This Giveaway is open to anyone living anywhere Amazon.com or The Book Depository ships.

Rules:

1. Be 13+ (with parents permission to enter if under legal age).

2. Be a follower of this blog.

3. Fill out ~~THIS FORM~~. CLOSED.

4. Winner will need to respond to my e-mail within 48 hours or new winner will be selected.

That's it!

You can get +2 entries for also following me on Twitter: @RoofBeamReader

You can also "Like" Roof Beam Reader on Facebook: Here.

GOOD LUCK!

CARRY ON HOPPING:

Rewind! Top 10 Favorite Book Quotes

2011-04-19T08:55:00.003-05:00

The Broke and the Bookish, hosts of this weekly meme, have decided to rewind and allow us to go back through the list of weekly topics to either redo one or complete one we might have missed.

The topic I chose is one which I don't think I caught on the first go-round:

"Top 10 Favorite Book Quotes"

This is going to be tougher than I originally thought. How does one judge a "favorite" quote? Is it by the quotes relative impact on that moment in the story? Is it by its overall profundity? Do I measure it by humorousness? By truthfulness? How about I just go with the flow and see what comes up? No, too much freedom there. Here's what I will do! I'll go back through my own reviews and include my favorite quotes from those books, of the ones I wrote down.

1. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." - F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)

2. "Don't ever tell anybody anything, if you do, you start missing everybody." - J.D. Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye)

3. "We accept the love we think we deserve." - Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

4. “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” - J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

5. “What good are the laws where Money is king, / where the poor are always wrong, / and even the mockers who scoff at the times / will sell the truth for a song? / The courts are an auction where justice is sold; / the judge who presides bangs a gavel of gold.” - Petronius (The Satyricon)

6. “I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” - Robert Heinlein (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress)

7. “They tell you to do your thing but they don't mean it. They don't want you to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too." - Robert Cormier (The Chocolate War)

8. “There is a drowsy state, between sleeping and waking, when you dream more in five minutes with your eyes half open, and yourself half conscious of everything that is passing around you, than you would in five nights with your eyes fast closed, and your senses wrapt in perfect unconsciousness. At such time, a mortal knows just enough of what his mind is doing, to form some glimmering conception of its mighty powers, its bounding from earth and spurning time and space, when freed from the restraint of its corporeal associate.” - Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist)

9. "Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark. In the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all, do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration for the life you deserved, but never have been able to reach. The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours." - Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged) *hate to give props to this book/author, but the quote is excellent.

10. "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." - Vladimir Nabokov (Lolita)

Review: So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane

2011-04-17T10:20:00.001-05:00

So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 4.0

YTD: 21

Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

So You Want to be a Wizard is the first book in Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series. The story tells the tale of two young outcasts, Nita (Juanita) and Kit (Christopher) who each separately stumble across the manual of Wizardry and soon take “the Oath” to become Wizards themselves. In Diane Duane’s world, Wizardry and magic is not an easy or safe thing to get involved with. Nita & Kit concoct a daring spell on their first attempt and, in the process, bring through the dimensions a being named “Fred”, who turns out to be a “white hole” or star-gone-supernova. The two young wizards soon search for guidance, of which they find very little, in an attempt to learn more of the mysterious Wizarding world where plants, trees, and animals talk and where, when things go missing, you sometimes have to travel through different dimensions to find them.

Characterization:
3 – Characters well developed.

Kit and Juanita are the most prominent characters in the book, being the primary ones, so much time is spent on developing their personalities and talents – watching them grow as wizards. More could have been done, in my opinion, to distinguish the two from each other, particularly as they are both on this interesting journey together and there is much opportunity to see how they will react to different situations. They both seem to react to everything in the same way, though. True, we do see that Kit has a talent for mechanical magic, whereas Nita’s talent is with nature/life magic. It is possible that these traits, and more of their own personalities, might continue to develop in future books – which is one of the benefits of a series, but in a 400-page introductory fantasy book, there could have been more. That being said, many of the minor characters were written extraordinarily well. Fred, for instance, has a charming and endearing personality – a regular old fashioned “sidekick” function, except, of course, that he is a Star. The same can be said for other secondary and tertiary characters, such as Nita’s tree, Kit’s car, the “Starsnuffer” villain, and the two male Wizard guides (a couple?) and their grouchy pet bird. Overall, there was enough to make for an enjoyable story, and to make one want to get to know more about these folks, so moving on in the series is definitely encouraged by the characterization here.

Prose/Style:
4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

I was impressed by the level of language and craft in this book. For some reason, I continue to be surprised when a young adult novel, particularly of the fantasy/science-fiction genres, is written with nearly adult sophistication. This is definitely a book whose style and vocabulary will push younger readers to grow, and which will satisfy more practiced readers as well. I was caught off-guard a number of times by the vocabulary, in particular, as well as the overall flow of the story. I was put-off, at times, by the chapter lengths – which sometimes went as much as 60 pages (to me, a lot in any book – but particularly in this genre). Overall, though, Duane demonstrated a clear ability – and she seemed to have fun with it, too. Smart and entertaining.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
4 – Additional elements improve and advance the story.

One of the most interesting aspects of this YA fantasy novel is how adult it feels. The language is not simple, nor is the concept. There is a sense of the scientific, here, as if Duane studied alchemy and physics in order to get the mechanics of dimension-travel and spell-casting correct (or at least plausible). This adds an interesting element to the fantasy element – something almost Madeleine L’Engle-like.

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: 12+

Interest: Fantasy, Magic, Friendship, Nature, Coming-of-Age, Independence

Notable Quotes:

"Reading one book is like eating one potato chip."

"NO!" he cried from somewhere behind the trees, wild, furious, terrified. But Nita felt no fear. It was as it had been in the beginning- all of his "NOs" had never been able to stop Life's I Am.”

“(Dear Artificer,) it said in a bemused delight, (I've blown my quanta and gone to the Good Place!)”

“All around her trees and stones and flesh and metal burned with the power that burned her, self-awareness, which death can seem to stop but can never keep from happening, no matter how hard it tires.”

Review: Lysistrata by Aristophanes

2011-04-16T13:33:00.000-05:00

Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 4.0

YTD: 19

Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

How did I miss this one? It had been sitting on my shelf and “TBR” list for far too long. Lysistrata is one of the original “dramadies” – a mixture of dramatic and comedic elements, though this one leans toward the comedic. Still, some of the themes Aristophanes tackles, such as War, Power, and Gender are serious, and have severe implications. Fortunately, Aristophanes writes his main character, Lysistrata, and her gang of women to be witty, sarcastic, and rather crude – which is a lot of fun. The story itself is about a decision that the women of Greece make, to withhold sex from their husbands and lovers, until they finally write a peace treaty and put an end to all of the wars.

Characterization:
3 – Characters well developed.

I sometimes have a difficult time analyzing characterization and character development in plays, because oftentimes the story itself is the character, and plays tend to be so short that there isn’t much time for any development. What makes Aristophanes’ characters great, though, is that they are all distinguishable from one another, and they serve a purpose. There is Lysistrata, the leader and “ideas” woman, driving the sexual battle. Then, there are those surrounding her – the beautiful girl-child who represents Peace, the right-hand warrior, who is hot-headed and ready to strike any man at the slightest provocation. The men, too, are well drawn – fully engorged and all. There is the husband who comes crawling to the women’s camp, in agony over his lack of “relief.” Also, the captain of the men’s army, who stands toe-to-toe with Lysistrata as his men cower and run away. So, though the story is short and moves quickly, there is still clarity of roles and purpose.

Prose/Style:
4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

Let’s face it. Aristophanes was a brilliant writer. In general, he had a mastery of poetics and prose, so that his language flowed smoothly, his dialogue and description worked, and his scenes are set up in a way that is conducive to the plot (without ever being in the foreground – because, as happens with plays – the story and characters are and should be at the forefront). He is also hilarious – his bawdy humor and tantalizing puns rival Ovid – I was at times reminded of Ovid’s The Art of Love which is, itself, a description of a type of sexual/gender battle.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
4 – Additional elements improve and advance the story.

Aristophanes is really engaged in multiple conversations here, but all to the same end: communication. He is clearly denouncing the senseless, continuous wars. And he is addressing the issue of gender roles and subjectification of women. I also think he is saying something about the art of humor itself – he is pointing out two very real problems of Greek culture and politics, but he does so by laughing at it. Of course, this is the modus operandi of the greatest satirists – to call serious attention to problems by magnifying the problem to a grotesque and then making fun of it. As with some of the other greats (Wilde, Vonnegut, Shakespeare), it works – perfectly.

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: Adult

Interest: Ancient Greece, Gender Roles, Gender Politics, Sexuality, Politics, War, Satire

Notable Quotes:

“It should not prejudice my voice that I'm not born a man, if I say something advantageous to the present situation. For I'm taxed too, and as a toll provide men for the nation.”

“When the soldier returns from the wars, even though he has white hair, he very soon finds a young wife. But a woman has only one summer; if she does not make hay while the sun shines, no one will afterwards have anything to say to her, and she spends her days consulting oracles that never send her a husband.”

Review: Queer by William S. Burroughs

2011-04-15T12:11:00.004-05:00

Queer by William S. Burroughs
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 4.0

YTD: 20

Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.

William S. Burroughs’s Queer is a story about American expatriates, living in Mexico during the 1960s. Most of the ex-pats are male, and most seem to be homosexual or to have homosexual “tendencies.” What is interesting about Queer is that it was one of Burroughs's earlier works, but one of his last published. The reason for this is that the book is “overtly” homosexual. Upon reading, though, and particularly for one familiar with Burroughs’s work, it is quickly realized that this is one of Burroughs’s tamer novels. Yes, it addresses homosexuality head-on, as opposed to via the abstract imagery and language employed in his other books; still, when one compares this to, say, Naked Lunch or The Wild Boys, it almost seems bland. It surprises me, then, that Burroughs managed to get his other, more daring and dangerous works published, while this one sat shelved for decades.

Characterization:
4 – Characters extraordinarily developed.

I was impressed with Burroughs’s characterization in Queer, particular with that of the main character, William Lee, and his love interest, Eugene Allerton. There are minor characters, too, who play important supporting roles, and all of these are written in a way so as to be distinguishable and individually important – this includes every character from the nameless taxi drivers to the bar tenders, to the “working-boy” locals and the “king” of the Mexican city’s American-Gay community. What Burroughs does so well is to allow you to empathize with a rather bizarre main character who is on an even stranger kind of journey (drug-induced romanticism). The reader sees William for what he is, all the while William is putting on a show for the people around him, trying to hide his pain and jealousy and, particularly, how much he wants to be wanted.

Prose/Style:
4 – Extraordinary Prose/Style, enhancing the Story.

As always, I adored the style of the book and Burroughs’s prose. He is a brilliant writer – it becomes impossible for me not to finish his books in one or two sittings, because the pages just turn and turn. Particular strengths in this book, I think, are the dialogue and the chapter breaks. The dialogue develops and flows naturally, so it is easy to imagine yourself in the room with these people, engaging in the conversation or simply overhearing it from the bar. It helps, too, that the description (characterization as well as setting) is so vivid and clear. The chapters are typically brief – they are much like individual scenes which progress William’s story – physically and temporally.

Additional Elements: Setting, Symbols/Motifs, Resolution, etc.
3 – Additional elements are present and cohesive to the Story.

Reading Queer in retrospect, after reading his later works, is almost eerie. There is this nascent, fetus-like Burroughs element to the writing. The story subtly hints at some of Burroughs’s later terrors – McCarthyism and the Red Scare, invasion of privacy, social crucifixions, political over-reaching. There are small glimpses, through William Lee of these fears – perhaps this group is made of the early refugees, the one who sense the change coming, aren’t quite sure what it is, but know they have to get out to stay free and safe. This book certainly forecasts Naked Lunch in many ways – and the brilliance of Burroughs is revealed further, knowing that decades before his socio-political rants against government brutality and regimentation, he had written one small little book that had already been projecting it all. Also, it was interesting to see a softer-side to Burroughs. This is the first of his books that I recall addressing the issue of “love.” William has some clear yearning and need for companionship and the story here is very much about him trying to find it – sort of finding it – losing it, and dealing with that loss. Incredibly touching.

Suggested Reading for:
Age Level: Adult

Interest: Homosexuality, Drug Culture, Mexico, South America, 1960s American Politics

Notable Quotes:

William S. Burroughs on Queer: “I glance at the manuscript of Queer and feel I simply can’t read it. My past was a poisoned river from which one was fortunate to escape, and by which one feels immediately threatened, years after the events recorded. –Painful to an extent I find it difficult to read, let alone write about. Every word and gesture sets the teeth on edge.”

Graphic Novel Panel Added to the BBP Conference!

2011-04-14T19:43:00.001-05:00

SO EXCITED! Come join us!

Graphic Novel Panel for the Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference
David Dabel and Derek Ruiz from Sea-Lion-Books http://sealionbooks.com/
Friday Night - April 15 - 7:15pm EST
Find out more at http://bbpcon.blogspot.com

Visit BBP 2011 at: http://bbp2011.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Thank You!

2011-04-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers:

I just wanted to take a moment to say "thank you" for your willingness to visit my blog, to subscribe, engage, and even simply "hover" around. I just reached my benchmark goal of 600+ Blog Followers and 1300+ Twitter Followers - and I am stunned, humbled, and overjoyed!

In May of 2008, I completed my graduate study in English (M.A.) with an emphasis in American Literature. For a brief time, I taught reading - which wasn't for me- and then moved on to work in the Student Affairs office at a private University. As the months rolled on, though, I realized that I needed to do something to keep myself engaged with the literary community. I wrote (and continue to write) critical essays freelance, but I realized my real passion - what was missing - was reading and discussing books, in depth. The seminars were done, the classrooms were gone, so where and how could I accomplish this, aside from going back to school?

It began with brief "read and respond" posts on web-journal sites, like Xanga and LiveJournal. Slowly, I developed my posts into something similar to the old-fashioned Book Review. I would include a Summary of the book, a "Good" points section, a "Bad" points section, and my overall "Verdict" of the book.

The turning point came after moving all of my material off of public journals, to a personal website I called Austere Adam. After some time, I realized I had to sit down and think about why I was doing this. What do I want to gain from it? What am I trying to accomplish? Where do I hope this will take me? These questions allowed me to develop Roof Beam Reader - a personality, a company, a purpose. My engagement on Twitter skyrocketed as I began to promote my writing and reviews and to meet other similar-minded folk (whether we agreed on particular books or not) who were also trying to find that "something" in their own lives, through their reading and writing.

Today, I have a tediously self-developed 4-Point, 4-Category system for rating all of my reading material. I work seriously and diligently to be fair and professional in all that I do - whether it be writing a review, hosting a challenge or giveaway, promoting authors, etc. Eventually, my goal is to break into the Publishing world - to become a professional Editor/Proofreader, bringing my own ethic to the "established" field and gaining experience which I can use to continue to progress my personal work here at RBR.net.

It has been an incredibly fulfilling journey so far, and I have many, many of you to thank for helping me and encouraging me along the way. I remember, nearly a year ago, when I re-imagined Austere Adam into RBR.net - I was my only follower. Still, I continued plugging-away at it: I wrote when I thought no one was reading or listening; I stayed up late after work to finish reviews; I journeyed through the book-blogging world and introduced myself to other bloggers through comments; I took serious note of what I liked in other blogs, to learn and grow myself. The result? A year of spiritual and intellectual growth, coupled with good old-fashioned giddy fun!

I would thank you all individually, if I could, but I hope it is enough that I am sharing this all with you now. I hope it is enough to know that, if you are reading this, my "thank you" is meant for you - and I mean it sincerely.

All the Best,

Adam

The Final Hour & Wrap-Up (Read-a-Thon)

2011-04-10T09:39:00.002-05:00

It's the final minutes of Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon, and to close it out, they've asked for us to complete the below survey. Here goes:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

I would say, hours 19-24. :)

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Well, I certainly blazed through Lysistrata. I'm also really enjoying So You Want to be a Wizard.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Plan ahead! That's the only thing I could do to make it better. To be fair, I didn't know I was participating until a few hours in, so no harm no foul. I tried. :)

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

I picked some good books.

5. How many books did you read?

I completed two books, I'm about 100 pages into a third, and I read 35 pages out of the book I was reading prior to the start of the challenge (and am still 600 pages from finishing).

6. What were the names of the books you read?

Lysistrta and Queer were completed. I'm 100 pages into So You Want to be a Wizard and will probably finish it today. I also read a couple chapters of The Agony and the Ecstasy.

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Queer. It was a much softer side of Burroughs - unexpected, but still as good as he always is.

8. Which did you enjoy least?

N/A - They're all good!

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

N/A - I was not a cheerleader, but they were great!

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I will definitely participate in the next read-a-thon! I'll be reading and might offer to host a mini-challenge as well, those were so much fun.

Book Title Challenge (24-Hour Read-a-thon)

2011-04-09T20:35:00.003-05:00

Kate from Midnight Book Girl wants you to make sentences out of book titles! What can you come up with? Prize is a $15 gift certificate from Amazon or Book Depository!

Here's what I came up with:

"We disappear, beloved, far from the madding crowd."

Romantic, right?!

It's like a line from a poem or something! Haha. This was a fun one. :)

We Disappear by Scott Heim

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Mid-Event Survey! 24-Hour Read-a-Thon

2011-04-09T18:06:00.001-05:00

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?

-- Queer by William S. Burroughs and The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

2. How many books have you read so far?

-- I've completed one book and took a bite out of another.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

-- Queer and possibly So You Want to be a Wizard.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

-- Well, I got a late start, so no - it hasn't been free. Unfortunately. Next time around, I'll plan ahead.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

-- Yes, runs to Jamba Juice and Corner Bakery for lunch, plus a stop at the sports shop to buy a Frisbee because, of course, this is the nicest day of the year so far.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

-- How man participants there are, and all the fun, varied events and challenges! There has been some great interactive activity out there - so many good times!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

-- I will plan for it - my day will be clear, I won't have any interruptions, and I will have my reading list ahead of time.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

-- Hah - see above. :)

9. Are you getting tired yet?

-- NO WAY!

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

--Uhm, I would say, stock up on snacks and favorite drinks ahead of time - and plan your day so that you have a few "breaks" in there. You need to get up and get out a bit - or, at least, you should. Honestly, 24 hours of non-stop reading isn't a good idea.