It’s book challenge time!

It’s been a while since I posted (as in stating the obvious). I’ve been busy. I know, I know, you are, too. Hey, thanks for reading!

What have I been up to? you ask. Or even if you didn’t. Writing-wise, I’ve done some lackadaisical agent querying for my upper middle grade novel and am working on my new women’s fiction contemporary WIP. I’m about 20k words into the new novel and now have a BIG pile of well-intentioned notes from my editor to wade through. As H.G. Wells said, “No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else’s work.”

What else have I been up to? Book Challenge by Erin 19.0 is underway, and as usual I am participating! For more information and to join in the fun, check out Erin’s Facebook page.

Here are the categories and my choices plus comments for Erin’s book challenge 19.0:

      .  5 points:  Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

I finished this one and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s less ambitious than Station Eleven, which means Sea of Tranquility is quieter and focuses more on in-depth character exploration. A good read.

• 10 points:  Read a book set in Ireland

Himself by Jess Kidd

I started listening to this one and am loving it so far. I definitely recommend the audio version as the narrator is excellent and imbues the book with a repertoire of lovely Irish accents. Himself is an engaging novel of magical realism and ghosts (I love me some ghosties! Who doesn’t?).

• 10 points: Read a book with one of these words in the title: birthday, birth, day, fifty, or fiftieth

Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse

I did not enjoy this one. I found it overly emo and repetitive with way, way too much sobbing. I think there was sobbing on every page. I once had a writing teacher who advised, “Don’t make your character cry. Make your reader cry instead.” Disclosure: others have rated this book highly, so what do I know?

• 15 points: Read a book whose title starts with E or G 

A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde

This is a lightweight romance about a reluctant psychic (for when you’re in the mood for that sort of thing). Ghosts abound.

• 20 points:  Read a book published in the 1970s or set in the 1970s

Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart

I just started this one. I must admit it’s a bit hokey with the main character in telepathic communication with a “lover” whose identity she does not know. There’s a mystery and some peril, and somehow a cat is involved. Hmmm.

• 20 points: Read a book inspired by a real event (i.e. historical fiction, true crime) 

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

The story behind this novel is reprehensible to the extreme. Between 2005 and 2009, eight members of a Bolivian Mennonite community sprayed anesthetic into the homes of sleeping women and then raped the unconscious women. The oldest victim was sixty-five; the youngest, three. The women of this community were forbidden to learn to read and write, yet they held a secret council to decide how to fight back. I felt the portrayal of the story was not as compellingly written as it could have been given the story potential. I suspect the movie, starring Frances McDormand and Rooney Mara, may be better. My daughter and I read the book and will watch the movie together.

• 25 points: Read a book with an animal on the cover or in the title

The Humans by Matt Haig

I really liked this story about an alien sent to Earth to eliminate anyone associated with a particular math theorem discovery because ostensibly humans are too violent to be trusted with such advanced knowledge. The plan goes awry when said alien begins to have second thoughts. Lots of heart, soul, and chuckles. And then, of course, there’s the dog Newton.

• 30 points: (selected by Kristen W.) – Read a book with a one-word title (no articles for this one)

IQ by Joe Ide

I really liked this one about an unsettled genius on the poor side of town who solves mysteries. Strong language advisory.

• 30 points: Read a book that relates to food, cooking, kitchens, restaurants, or chefs

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

I have not started this one yet. I had the pleasure of meeting the fabulist/fairytale-esque author in my graduate writing program. She was super nice and very encouraging. 

• 35 points: Read a book on mental health

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

I really enjoyed this YA tale of a socially isolated, agoraphobic teen who becomes involved in solving a mystery and learns to re-connect with the world.

So, those are my book challenge choices and notes. Have you read and/or enjoyed any of these?