Why I Read the Classics (And Think Everyone Should)

Call me bizarre, but I actually like Classics. Not ALLLLL of them (Do NOT ask me to endure Tess of the D'Urbervilles a second time...), but certainly quite a few.

Are they hard reading? Yes, harder than a lot of contemporary fiction. But they're worth it. These stories endured for a reason, and it wasn't to make high school/college Lit difficult.

In a lot of cases, the works we know as classics changed how people thought about things. Tess shows every conceivable mistreatment of women. Mary Shelley wrote about the value of created life in Frankenstein.

I think it's important especially to writers to understand how and why the enduring stories shaped and affected our cultures and society. Just as we study history and the events that occurred-- both noble and abhorrent-- so that we can make good decisions for the future, I think we should also be educated about the writing that led us to where we are today.

There are many classics still on my reading list, but here are a few that have risen above the rest and become some of my enduring favorites:

1. Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (best ending I've EVER read. PERIOD.)

2. The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (this is a surprisingly easy read... which was his goal.)

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (ironically... I hated this when I read it in school. Now I've ready it like a dozen times, and it still remains my favorite of her works.)

4. The Outsiders by S E Hinton (okay, this one is a little bit recent to be labeled a true 'classic'... but again, as something that was a hugely meaningful piece to an entire generation and continues to speak to teens... just read it!)

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (probably my absolute favorite story with a child narrator. An amazing snapshot of that time and place in history.)

So... yeah. If I were banished to a deserted island and could only take ten books, these would definitely be among them. Along with, you know, like handy survival guides and stuff.

Review: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Once again Bella Swan's life is in danger, seemingly because of her association with the Cullen family. Strange events unfold in nearby Seattle-- a mass of unsolved murders. Could there be "newborn" vampires on the loose? In the midst of it all, Bella discovers she must make a choice: Edward.... or Jacob?

While Eclipse wasn't my favorite in Meyer's series (#1 - Twilight still holds that spot), it did show a lot more of the other Cullen family members, and that was cool. I liked getting to know some of them a little better. The tension between Bella and Jacob definitely heats up... I've always been an Edward fan, but by the end of this book, I could definitely see the point of Team Jacob. :)

I'm reading the fourth book at present, so check back next week for the review on that one -- Breaking Dawn.

Patti Lacy's An Irishwoman's Tale

I've just started reading a new book by author Patti Lacy. It's her first novel, and is based on the life of a close friend of hers. While I'm only a few chapters into it, I'm totally hooked on the story and the characters as well as the beautiful Irish setting.

You can read another review of it here.

If you enjoy women's fiction or stories about Ireland, be sure NOT to miss this one! You can order it online here.

On the Journey: Back on the Trail

Current Word Count: 40,436
Working on Chapter 21

I'm finally back to making some progress! The short story of it is that I moved my writing time to be first thing in the morning, rather than letting it get pushed further and further into the day... or into the next day... and on into oblivion. There were too many days when I'd look at my to-do list and say, "Well, I got everything done today except my writing!" That's no good.

So I am almost finished rewriting the portion of my manuscript that I'd completed in third person past tense, and by the end of the week, I'll be plunging into the murk of the unknown. I will no longer have my old third person version to refer back to. It'll be sailing by the stars from here on out.

Which is okay. I'm nervous, since I've only completed two manuscripts before, and quite frankly the end was terrible on both occasions. I've learned a TON since then (I completed my first project at 14), so hopefully this attempt will go much more smoothly. And, I have my beloved Cannot Stop Writers to slap me upside the head (with love) and help me smooth out the rough places.

If I can pen an ending HALF as brilliant as Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country, I will be one hundred percent satisfied. Speaking of fabulous stories--

I promised a list of the five works of Young Adult Fiction that I have found to be most influential and most sincerely desire to write like. They are:

1. The Outsiders by S E Hinton. If you're not moved by Ponyboy Curtis, you're not human. This story was revolutionary in that it captured the voice of the generation in a way that had not been done before. That voice still stands. I can read it cover to cover, flip it over and start all over again-- and I have. (Remember how the ending is the same as the beginning because he starts writing the paper for school?)

2. The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Referred to in news and journals as "Luminous," "without a wasted word" and "showing all the rapture and rage of growing up in a modern world." 'Nuff said. The descriptions alone absolutely slay me. They're breathtaking.

3. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. This is more of a coming-of-age story, but that's really more my heart than straight up YA. I love the poem Swede composes and how it parallels the story. Beautifully told. Unforgettable.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Again, a coming-of-age story. By far the best example of showing the reader the whole spectrum of the world, but through a child's eyes. Read the scene where Scout goes to talk to her father while he guards his client at the jail. The men of the town come to try to lynch Tom. Atticus will try to stop them. Into the middle of this mayhem walks Scout, who clearly doesn't understand what's happening. But by her innocent comments to the men present, she reminds them of all that Atticus has done for them and diffuses the whole situation-- and it is completely believable! Amazing! Incredible. A story of tremendous weight told by a narrator who only understands a small portion of all that's going on. Yet the reader sees the whole picture.

5. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Yes, yes... I come at you with another coming-of-age tale. And a sad one, too. These are characters you fall for, and you fall deep and hard. You ache for them. You experience the hardship of life and the pain of growing up and the loss of childhood innocence.

So those are my picks. Those are the tales that I would choose to let mold and shape me as a writer. Some biggies. Very biggies. Reach for the stars, right?

Ack! It's Thursday Already?!

Where did the days go? To all six of my beloved readers... I'm so sorry. I have not been on the ball here lately. Between picking up extra work and potty training my daughter, I've really let the blog fall to the wayside. I imagine it will take me a few more days to collect my thoughts and finish reading the novel I will next review.

Speaking of reviews, here's what tops my list for books I can't wait to get my hands on:

1. Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff: The story of a boy's journey through addiction to crystal meth.

2. Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff: You guessed it. The same story as above, but the father's journey. Thank you Patti for tossing these titles my way!

3. Glass by Ellen Hopkins: The sequel to her novel Crank. Christina's second battle with meth.

4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini: The first book in the trilogy about the boy Eragon and his dragon. Actually, my brother lent me this and the sequel and keeps asking for them back, so I figure I better get on it!

5. The Masquerade by Sarah Anne Sumpolec: The first book in her Becoming Beka series. I had the privilege of meeting Ms Sumpolec at a conference last fall when she went over a critique of my first three chapters with me. Her feedback was immensely helpful and encouraging. I've been interested in checking out her YA series ever since!

I suppose this means I should update my little column over there that says "spring reading list."

Anyone out there currently reading or excited about reading anything soon?