Book Review

The Evolution of Thomas Hall

Kieth Merrill

I borrowed THE EVOLUTION OF THOMAS HALL from my mom because she wanted someone to read it so she could talk about it. Though I was interested in it, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it as much as she did. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It was a great book that really made me think about religion and science and the balance of them.

The story follows the artist Thomas Hall. He is a proclaimed agnostic, because he doesn't believe there is a deity but doesn't feel like he wants to proclaim himself an atheist. When the book starts he is an egotistical braggart who doesn't have any idea how to act as a decent human. He has been commissioned to paint a mural for the evolution display at a science museum and part way through the project the museum director changes as well as the scope of the project. At this time he is also presented with the opportunity to paint a mural for a hospital that is centered on Jesus Christ. Through the book a variety of characters discusses evolution, miracles, and faith.

At the hospital Thomas meets Cass who has more belief in him than he has and put her job on the line to get him as the painter. He also meets Christina a young girl who is a patient at the hospital. She was in a car accident and suffered series burns, broken bones, and yet has faith that everything is going to turn out fine, despite what everyone says. The more time Thomas spends with these two women, the more he learns of himself and what is important in life.

The descriptions of this book are beautiful. I love how Kieth Merrill describes people and scenes through Thomas Hall. He sees people as works of art, describing them with colors and details that make me look at the world in a different light. The development of Thomas is realistic and I enjoyed all of the characters.

7 Sept 2011

Finding Joy in the Now

There was an article recently about the end of summer blues and how after the Labor Day holiday people become depressed because they realize they haven't fulfilled all of their plans for the summer. I am sure I have felt this a time or two, in all seasons. I always have more plans then times and it is sometimes difficult to take pleasure in what I have accomplished rather than feeling bad at what I didn't.

When I was in high school I had the opportunity to read my great grandmother's journal. (She is one of the reasons I later started keeping a daily journal.) One of her entries has really stuck with me. She had the opportunity to go to California and was really looking forward to the trip. But before she even went on her trip she realized something that I think all of us could do more to think about. We spend too much time thinking about the exciting events in the future and not in what is currently happening. She made a promise to live each day to the fullest and not to waste time wondering how happy the future will be because when the happy future comes, she will enjoy that as well.

That is how I try to look at life now, though I am not very good at always remembering to find joy in the day to day. As my grandmother always says "Don't just have a good week, make it a good week."

9 Sept 2011

Book Review

Hatter

Daniel Coleman

Hatter This is a companion novel to Daniel Coleman's other story JABBERWOCKY. When I think about HATTER I am torn. There are times I prefer JABBERWOCKY and the unique take on the story, and other times I prefer HATTER and reading about well known characters in a new light.

As the name suggests, HATTER is a origin story of the Mad Hatter. The two characters of the story are complete opposites, and yet I felt a bond with both of them in some way. Hatta is the loveable, eccentric friend that you don't always understand what he is doing but you know that his heart is in the right place and he wouldn't hurt a fly. Chism on the other hand is the brash young man who you know will do the right thing, but instead of being discreet and thinking through the consequences does the first thing that comes to mind, which usually involves force of some kind.

The writing is as clean as always and though I had a vague idea of where the story was going, there were still plenty of surprises along the way. HATTER is another great book for young adults to read if they want a taste of a fantastical realm with real depth and imagery. Daniel Coleman paints a picture of human nature within each character that is spot on.

14 Sept 2011

Wrapping up the Contest

These last couple of weeks have been filled with the contest. I am glad that the awards ceremony is this weekend and I am really looking forward to seeing the reactions of the winners. I am expecting a few complaints since I am doing several things differently and there are some people who just love to complain. One of the big things is that we didn't let anyone know who won. I think it is more fun when the winners are a surprise. Next year when I do this the whole preparation should go a lot more smoothly.

That being said, I am sorry if my posts are late or non-existent this weekend.

16 Sept 2011

Book Review

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

One of my all time favorite characters comes from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. This is one of the books that my mother recommended and I was feeling stubborn so I dragged my feet in reading it. At that point in my life I was more interested in fantasy and science fiction. Part of my hesitation to reading this book is because the cover was so odd. It had a picture of a mockingbird with triangles pointing to various parts. Not exactly enticing. (I normally try and find the coolest looking cover, but I decided to go with the cover I grew up with.)

The story is told from the perspective of Scout, a six-year-old girl who lives with her older brother Jem and their widowed father Atticus. It covers a three year period during the great depression. There are a lot of intricacies to the plot but the main part of the story revolves around a court case of a black man accused of raping a white girl. Atticus is the lawyer assigned to defending the man. Not everyone in the town thinks that Atticus should even consider putting forth his best effort and his children receive some of the town's animosity.

What I love about TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is how amazing Atticus is. There are several opportunities throughout the book where Atticus could have acted differently and he would still have been considered a good man. But instead he put forth his best effort in everything whether it is listening to his children, or defending a man who no one thinks deserves it. This book gave me an appreciation for honorable men. Though I rarely say this, even for those who don't want to read the book you should at least watch the movie just so that you can understand what truly makes a man great. This is one of my all time favorite books.

19 Sept 2011

Writing Tip

Horror

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a writer's conference. Since the theme of the conference was "Writing on the edge" there were several panels on horror writing. I attending a couple of the panels and though I don't normally write horror, I like the idea of putting more horror into my stories because it is a powerful emotion. The comments I make here are what I learned from the presenters: Alexander Gordon Smith, author of the ESCAPE FROM FURNACE series, and Rick Chiantaretto.

While most people think of the slasher horrors, (Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre), there are other types of horror: psychological, paranormal, monster, and smart.

Horror is the only genre that is named after an emotion. It is also one of the only genres that can be incorporated into other genres seamlessly, especially when you think of the non-slasher types. Adding a bit of horror to any story will draw the reader in and truly make them fear for the characters.

This genre plays off of the reader's emotions and not only makes them fear for the characters but also themselves in a way. Sometimes the best was to come up with a horror element is to use your own fear for the starting point. Gordon really emphasized this and had us do an exercise where we took an experience in our own life (good or bad) and asked "What if it hadn't been alright?" Rick had us write down our most terrifying experience and told us to start from there.

The other comment I liked was that in horror you don't have to have answers for everything. It is the unanswered questions that really get people thinking. Rick talked about how at the end of the Thriller music video you think that it is a dream until Michael Jackson turns around and you see his eyes are yellow, but make sure not too leave too many unanswered questions.

While I don't think that I will be writing horror novels, but I will be adding elements or horror to my story just to get the emotions of the reader and add depth to what I write.

21 Sept 2011

Authors All Around

This last week was amazing. It was the fall writing conference for the League of Utah Writers. Not only did I have the chance to rub shoulders with some of the people I admire, but I was able to have conversations with them as well. At lunch there were two authors sitting next to me and that evening was another author, who I don't think I will ever have the opportunity to meet again although I hope I do. He was such a nice fellow. All of them were very polite despite the fact that I felt like I was making a fool of myself. I mean I never know what to say when I am meeting an author.

The night before the conference I actually went to another writing event where I had the chance to listen to one of my all time favorite authors. Though I didn't actually talk to him for an extended period of time, every time I see him at an event I am struck by how down-to-earth and congenial he is. I only hope that if I can be as good of a person whether I am an author or not.

23 Sept 2011

Book Review

Eight Days of Luke

Diana Wynne Jones

I recently watched a movie (I would tell you which one but I don't want to give away too much) and thought of EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE by Diana Wynne Jones. When I finished reading it I started it again because of what happens during it. This book is what started a fascination that eventually led to me writing a paper on the subject in college.

The story follows that of David who has just returned home from boarding school. His relatives, who are pretty awful in and of themselves, have nothing planned for him. Now enter Luke, a boy who is just a year older than David. Luke says that whenever David needs him, all he has to do is kindle a flame. During the next week David and meets up with Luke as well as some other strange characters who show up at his house. Can David figure out what is going on and protect his new friend Luke?

Whenever I read a Diana Wynne Jones book, EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE or even HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, I always look for the unusual. None of her books are what I expected them to be when I started reading them. This book is no different. Don't expect the normal when reading this book.

26 Sept 2011

Writing Tip

Adverbs and Verbs

One of the times I submitted a story the editor gave me some advice on adverbs. The advice was "Don't use them." At first I was confused because adverbs can add details to the story. As I went through and removed the offending words I realized that this fellow made a good point. When I removed the adverbs it forced me to think of more descriptive verbs.

Kenneth slowly walked over to Janice. He picked up her hand gently and carefully rubbed the back of it. He looked at her longingly and spoke softly in her ear.

A cheesy example, but hopefully it will get you thinking about all of the verbs available.

Kenneth ambled over to Janice. He cradled her hand and caressed the back of it. He gazed at her and murmured in her ear.

While an adverb here or there doesn't hurt anything, I find it is good to go through and just see if I can be more descriptive in the verb itself.

28 Sept 2011

Sewing Project is a Go

Last year I mentioned that I was going to try and make costumes for a convention my husband and I are going to. This summer I made a pattern for my costume because I couldn't find an appropriate pattern. With the writing contest now over, I started thinking about the costumes in a more serious manner (actually thinking about purchasing fabric). The more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't trust the pattern I made. I did some more searching and actually found a pattern that would work, after altering it. I feel a lot more comfortable altering a pattern then creating one, although I eventually hope to be able to create one in the future.

So with three and a half weeks to go I am now sewing two costumes. I am really positive about how they are going to turn out. I am so glad that my mother enrolled me in sewing classes as a child. At the time I had no idea those four years of begrudgingly going to the neighbors for an hour once a week would actually turn into something I really enjoy as an adult. I have grand plans when we have children.

30 Sept 2011

Book Review

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

In honor of banned books week I figured I would talk about a banned book. FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury is a book about a fireman. He is not a firefighter, but a fireman. He starts fires, he doesn't put them out. This book was written in 1953 and talks about technologies that at the time were almost considered science fiction, and yet now are commonplace. This is a dystopian novel and really gets you thinking.

The story follows Guy Montag who is a fireman. It is his job to set books on fire. In this society books are considered to promote too much free thinking. There are several instances when the person collecting the books would rather die with the books. He wonders why anything, especially books, would be worth dying over.

This book has a lot of different levels to it. It can be viewed as a novel against censorship or even about how television ruins books. For anyone who loves books and reading, I highly recommend FAHRENHEIT 451 and it has stood the test of time and only gets more frightening as the similarities between the societies become even more similar. And in case you were wondering 451° F is the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns.

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