Book Log 2/2014 - Donald Maass: The Fire in Fiction

There are books on writing and there are Books On Writing. This is one of the latter. It would be tempting to say: if you only read one book on writing make it this one, but - hey - I haven't read them all.

This is not for the beginner, it's for those who already have a grasp of the basics and probably it helps if you've already completed at least one novel. This book doesn't tell you how to write, or even how to write a novel, but it does tell you how to write a BETTER novel. The cover says it offers 'passion purpose and techniques to make your novel great' and largely I think it delivers on that promise.

It talks about character, pivotal scenes, voice, verisimilitude, humour and tension as well as that all important sense of place that comes with great world-building - but not just boring old description, rather it concentrates on seeing the world through the eyes of your characters, imbuing description with meaning. And finally it talks about the fire in fiction, weaving your passion into your words.

There are exercises at the end of each section. If you have a piece of writing you're working on, you can even use this as an instant editing tool.

Highly recommended.

Book Log 3/2014 - Patricia Briggs: Night Broken, Mercy Thompson #8

Life is never dull when VW mechanic and coyote shapechanger Mercy Thompson's around. Now Mercy Thompson-Hauptman after marrying the Alpha of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack, she is still not getting her happy-ever-after, though by and large it's not her fault. This time Adam's ex-wife, Christy, comes back on the scene, fleeing for her life from an ex-boyfriend turmned stalker who [spoiler] turns out to be not only supernatural but also almost invincible.

The invincible enemy, however, is not Mercy's real problem. Adam's ex is a real piece of work who undermines Mercy's position in the pack at every available opportunity and plainly wants Adam back. And as if that wasn't enough the son of Lugh wants his magic walking stick back, but Mercy gave it to Coyote who, as usual, is proving elusive and trickster-ish.

Oh yeah, and Mercy's got a brother, kinda, sorta...

Another great outing in Patricia Briggs' excellent werewolf series. Urban fantasy at its best with not only werewolves but coyote shape-changers, vampires, fae and... that stalker. I just dropped everything to read this as soon as it arrived and I was not disappointed.

Book Log 4/2014 - Veronica Roth: Divergent - Divergent #1

All the fuss about the book passed me by, which is a pity because this is excellent. Now I'm torn... do I read the other two books in the trilogy first or wait for the movies and read the books afterwards? The movie was pretty faithful to the book, though the book adds a little clarity to the reasons behind some of the motivation and decisions taken.

Direct comparisons with the Hunger Games are going to be difficult to avoid, you only need to check out the reviews that say: move over Katniss and make way for Tris. Well, in a way it's a fair comment, but there's more going on her than a knock down-drag out fight to the bloody and bitter end. Beatrice (Tris) is a member of Abnegation, one of the five factions of a future dystopian Chicago a hundred years or more after some unnamed war. Everyone is shoehorned into one of the five factions which are based on their signature character trait. Abnegation are selfless and therefore the governing faction. Dauntless are brave; Erudite are intelligent; Candor speak the truth, and Amity are peaceful. Those who don't fit are factionless, i.e. homeless, jobless, worthless street-people.

But the Divergent don't fit either. They are a little bit of everything and as such regarded as dangerous, maybe because they have the capability to do a little joined-up thinking. Anyone found to be Divergent is likely to end up dead.

When tested at 16, Tris doesn't fit into any one faction and, warned to keep that information to herself, chooses Dauntless over her birth faction of Abnegation, thus beginning a gruelling training programme to learn how to be brave, physically and mentally. It's difficult, but she eventually makes the grade due to her own efforts and the tough-love attitude of her instructor, Four.

But that's only part of the story. Erudite is plotting to overthrow Abnegation and a smear campaign is followed by a coup which Tris must thwart to prevent her family being murdered and her friends unwittingly becoming murderers.

This includes elements of a love story (though it's not really a romance) and political intrigue while exploring the tropes of identity, destiny and self-determination. It's a rights of passage story with some tightly written action set-pieces and some interesting character studies. Four, as the love-interest, has secrets that are only gradually revealed.

It's written in first person present, which actually works in this case.  Tris at times seems older than sixteen and Four seems way older than eighteen. More like eighteen going on twenty-eight. I look forward to seeing how both characters develop in the next book.

Recommended.