Archives
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 8th, 2009 under Publishing business, Reading |
Update with warning: Do not post spam here about your boy-friendly book. I am
deleting all such comments.
One of the most gratifying aspects of meeting people who've read How To Ditch Your Fairy since it came out last September (in the USA) is the number of boys who've turned out to be fans of the book. I will admit that given the title and the cover I was expecting an almost non-existent boy readership. I've been told a million times that boys won't touch a pink book and that HTDYF is irredeemably pink. So I've been dead chuffed by the boy fans.
While on tour for the book last year many parents asked me if they thought my book would ...
Posted by Justine at 8:11, June 5th, 2009 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Reading |
Okay, who of my readers is a fan of the romance genre?
As many of you already know I am a huge fan of Georgette Heyer. ((When she's not being racist.)) More recently I discovered a love of Sherry Thomas. Her first novel Private Arrangements is a total ripper. Funny too. Thanks so much for the rec,
Diana!
I discovered there were well-written amazing romances courtesy of
Kelly Link. She's one of those omnivorous readers who doesn't let genre classifications get between her and a good read. She'll literally read anything and it shows in her writing in truly excellent ways.
When I met her back in 1999 I was not so open minded. I was disdainful of romance. On ...
Posted by Justine at 9:42, May 10th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Reading |
I want one. I read gazillions of electronic documents: friend's manuscripts, pdfs, public domain books etc etc. I would love to have a portable device to read them on. I've tried various different reader software on my iPhone, and maybe I'm old, but the iPhone is too small.
The electronic reader I want doesn't exist. I've been reading up on the two main models, the Kindle and the Sony Ereader, and while the Sony has more appeal there are problems. The biggest one being that the touch-screen version is not Mac compatible. Given that my main use for a reader is for manuscripts and research pdfs that's a huge problem. (My iPhone has made me a touch screen addict.)
The main ...
Posted by Justine at 12:46, May 5th, 2009 under Reading |
Posted by Justine at 8:13, April 20th, 2009 under Reading, Viewing |
Posted by Justine at 0:16, February 11th, 2009 under New York City/USA, Reading, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:49, January 9th, 2009 under Reading, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 5:19, December 26th, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Magic or Madness trilogy, Mangosteens, Praising, Reading, Sport, Young Adult literature |
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that these three titles will be the big debuts of 2009:
Diana Peterfreund's Rampant
Killer uni***ns and the tough gals what fight them. It's funny and exciting and romantic and has amazing action scenes. What more do you need to know?
Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth
Zombie apocalypse, scary nuns, and a girl who's never seen the ocean. You know you want this.
Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon
I have not yet read this one but Scott has and he keeps bugging me to read it. He loved it. I'm a huge fan of Sarah's extremely
witty and wonderful blog so I have high hopes.
They'll all be out next (northern ...
Posted by Justine at 20:03, December 14th, 2008 under Reading, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, December 1st, 2008 under Fans & readers, Praising, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 16:49, November 22nd, 2008 under Reading, Words & Language |
Posted by Justine at 13:05, November 16th, 2008 under Reading, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 9:40, November 14th, 2008 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Love is Hell, New York City/USA, Reading, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, What's your fairy? |
Posted by Justine at 8:30, October 30th, 2008 under Love is Hell, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, October 16th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Publishing business, Ranting, Reading, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:02, October 12th, 2008 under 1930s NYC novel, New York City/USA, Reading, Research, State of the World, Toilets |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 30th, 2008 under Bloggery, Book challenges, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading, Science, State of the World, Travelling, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 15:39, September 21st, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 17:38, August 31st, 2008 under Ranting, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 11:35, August 28th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Reading |
I just read a book that's been getting rapturous reviews. It is every bit as beautifully written as advertised. There were whole paragraphs that were very WOW inducing. ((Imagine Stephanie Rice saying, "Wow!!!")) I loved parts of it and not just because they were about cricket. ((I just gave away what book I'm talking about, didn't I?)) But I did not enjoy this book.
I will break my usual procedure and name the book: Netherland by Joseph O'Neill. I'm naming it because it really is gorgeously written. Seriously, it's stunning. O'Neill deserves the reviews he's been getting. I think many people will love it. Hell, many people are loving it. I'm writing this to figure out why it didn't work for ...
Posted by Justine at 0:59, August 27th, 2008 under Ranting, Reading, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 5:23, August 22nd, 2008 under Reading |
Posted by Justine at 4:52, August 21st, 2008 under New York City/USA, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:56, August 6th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Reading, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 1:21, August 3rd, 2008 under Fans & readers, Liar, Reading, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 3:39, August 2nd, 2008 under Fans & readers, Publishing business, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 16:45, July 31st, 2008 under Fans & readers, How To Ditch Your Fairy, Praising, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 19:27, July 30th, 2008 under Ranting, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 20:00, July 28th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Ranting, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, July 28th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Ranting, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 11:50, July 18th, 2008 under Praising, Reading, Viewing |
Posted by Justine at 14:18, July 2nd, 2008 under Praising, Publishing business, Reading, Sport, Travelling, Writing life |
Posted by Justine at 0:16, June 28th, 2008 under Reading, State of the World, Toilets |
There's a
fascinating article in The New Yorker, "The Itch" by
Atul Gawande. It's all about what causes itching, how we experience it, and what happens when it goes horribly wrong. HORRIBLY WRONG.
The case the article revolves around is so gross that I had to stop reading for awhile. Me, who is a connousieur of grossness, who is proud of
how gross my story in the First Kiss anthology is. And yet I feel compelled to share. Since I am a good person I will share after the cut.
WARNING: If you are easily grossed out DO NOT continue reading. If you have ever had shingles DO NOT continue reading. I am not kidding about this warning.
Posted by Justine at 12:59, June 27th, 2008 under Praising, Reading, Science, State of the World |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 16th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Publishing business, Ranting, Reading |
I have occasionally intimated that I am not a huge fan of vampires. This is not entirely true.
When I was little I was a huge Anne Rice fan and read Bram Stoker's Dracula many many times. I loved Lost Boys and Near Dark remains my favourite vampire movie. My love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is
well documented and Suzy McKee Charnas's Vampire Tapestry is one of my favourite books of all time. ((If you haven't read it you really must!))
I'm just not a fan of the idea of dead people being sexy. This goes for zombies as well as vampires. Basically the older I get the more attached I am to life and the more unsexy death seems. ...
Posted by Justine at 19:27, June 2nd, 2008 under Reading, Sydney/Australia |
I have been noticing much skiting on the internets of late. "Oh look," says a blogger, "look what amazing Advanced Readers Copy I has been sent! Is mine, not yours. Hahahahahah!"
Well, now it's my turn. I has an ARC of
Margo Lanagan's first novel in years and years, Tender Morsels. I hugs it to my chest and will share with no one! Well, okay, I'll share what I thinks of it with you but not the actual ARC cause that's mine!
But before I get to actually, you know, read the delicious bookie which is calling to me---seriously, everything about it screams, READ ME!, from the gorgeous cover to the jacket copy to the fact that Margo Lanagan wrote it---I ...
Posted by Justine at 12:10, May 30th, 2008 under Liar, Praising, Ranting, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Certain writers write the same book over and over and over again. Personally, that would drive me insane. Here are the novels I have written thus far:
Novel, the first: (unpublished) is a big sweeping historical set in ancient Cambodia from multiple points of view. Third person, past tense. Adult.
The second: (unpublished) is---actually it's so bad I'm not even sure what it is---let us not think of it. First person, past tense. Young adult.
Novels, the third, fourth & fifth: (the Magic or Madness trilogy, Penguin) a medium dark urban contemporary fantasy from three povs. Third & first person, past tense. Young adult.
The sixth: (How to Ditch Your Fairy, Bloomsbury) is a light and fluffy romantic science fictional take on luck and ...
Posted by Justine at 10:37, May 20th, 2008 under Fans & readers, Reading |
When homesickness eats at me I listen to
podcasts. I listen to
news broadcasts,
talk shows, shows about
sport,
science,
design,
culture. I don't care just as long as I'm hearing voices from home.
One of the my favourites is
The Book Show ((Which I can't help thinking of by it's old name,"Books & Writing")). Ramona Koval's voice and sense of humour soothe me and the range of coverage is excellent: old books, new books, local books, o.s. books, books in translation, poetry, essays etc. etc. ((Though it'd be nice if there was more YA coverage. I keep waiting for the show devoted to all the Oz YA writers storming the world: ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, May 18th, 2008 under Listening, Praising, Reading, Sydney/Australia |
. . . Is USians what know zero about cricket writing about it.
Today's example comes from the New York Times and concerns
a novel that's been written about the Staten Island cricket club ((And apparently other things such as 9/11, family, politics, identity. That kind of stuff. Obviously, none of it as important as cricket.)) by one of the members, Joseph O'Neil. Here's my favourite bit:
That Mr O'Neill in his other life happens to be a novelist is a matter of indifference to most of his teammates. They're more interested in him as an accomplished batsman, a sure-handed fielder and a decent off-speed bowler.
Off-speed! Hahahahahahah! Perhaps they meant "
off-spin"? Or has the Staten ...
Posted by Justine at 12:13, May 17th, 2008 under Cricket, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:01, May 16th, 2008 under Ranting, Reading, Whingeing, Young Adult literature |
Some stuff I have been remiss in sharing with you:
A while ago I mentioned that
E. Lockhart's
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is the best book she's written. It wasn't out then but it is now. This book is so amazing that I'm rendered dumb trying to come up with the words to describe its wit, genius and splendiferousness. Just buy it! Or borrow it from the library! Or steal it from a friend. You will thank me. ((Though your friend might be a bit cranky.))
Christopher Barzak who wrote the wonderful debut novel, One For Sorrow, is up for one of MTV's
LOGO's NewNowNext Awards: "Brink of Fame: Author". If you read and loved that ...
Posted by Justine at 10:56, May 13th, 2008 under Bloggery, Praising, Reading |
As usual I'm not going to mention the books that I didn't like because I don't want the authors to hunt me down and kill me. ((Or their family and agents.)) Writers are scary people.
I'm still on a bit of a crime binge. And have been reading a scary amount of adult books. Who'd've thunk there was some good books over on those shelves? Colour me, shocked.
So here are the novels:
The final book in
Denise Mina's Garrnethill trilogy, Resolution, was every bit as good as the other two. I have a major writing crush on Mina. She's amazing. I love the way she writes. I love it so much, in fact, that
I typed out an entire chapter ...
Posted by Justine at 0:18, May 6th, 2008 under Manga, Praising, Reading, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 0:11, May 1st, 2008 under New York City/USA, Reading, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 13:46, April 29th, 2008 under Publishing business, Reading |
Some days are more blurry than others. Like today. It's blurry grey outside and also in my head. So instead of attempting to half-heartedly swat at my insanely long to-do list, I'm going back to bed and reading.
I hope you get what you need out of your Sunday (or Monday or whatever day you're facing).
Posted by Justine at 11:21, February 17th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 5th, 2008 under Frippery, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 4th, 2008 under Reading, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 0:16, January 2nd, 2008 under Best of Blog, Reading, Scott's books, Viewing, Writing process |
As you'll see I've added a new poll for fave books. I'm pretty sure that the last option will win, given that there are so many books published every year, getting consensus is harder and harder. It's tricky enough finding people who've read the books you've read, let alone finding someone who feels the same way about them you do.
So, the poll to the right is made up of books I loved written by people I don't know. ((I met Kathleen Duey and M. Sindy Felin Book Awards after I'd read their books and I'm not sure a brief meeting at a formal event counts as "knowing" them.)) This was so I could reduce my candidates and also ...
Posted by Justine at 9:33, December 30th, 2007 under Praising, Reading |
