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natoriety's reviews
267 reviews
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While it could not possibly live up to the standard the first book set up in my head, the second book of Emily Wilde was the fascinating read it promised to be.
I greatly enjoy all of the characters (especially Wendell for he is so delightful; I found it disappointing that he had to be incapacitated for most of it) and I am excited to see them venture into Faerie once more. Every time a new species of faerie is introduced I am just as bewildered as the first time. All of them seem so foreign and yet so alluring—I can totally see myself as a colleague of Emily in this regard.
I am greatly invested in the development of the main plot (I even preordered the next book, something I rarely do!) and I am beyond myself to read more of Emily’s journal entries, mad as they are at times.
I greatly enjoy all of the characters (especially Wendell for he is so delightful; I found it disappointing that he had to be incapacitated for most of it) and I am excited to see them venture into Faerie once more. Every time a new species of faerie is introduced I am just as bewildered as the first time. All of them seem so foreign and yet so alluring—I can totally see myself as a colleague of Emily in this regard.
I am greatly invested in the development of the main plot (I even preordered the next book, something I rarely do!) and I am beyond myself to read more of Emily’s journal entries, mad as they are at times.
Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Very informative on the topic and reflected on the things it promised and more. I enjoyed the way the author would provide in-depth explanations of the concept he was discussing and then use his characters Nora and Pete to show how it works in practice. One of the best books on writing I have read thus far!
Making Stories: Law, Literature, Life by Jerome Bruner
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I feel it addressed the topic at hand very well. The insights on narration and autobiography were fresh and well-cut. I only wish a bit more information and detail was added to the topic of literary narration itself.
Telling Stories: The Craft of Narrative and the Writing Life by Lee Martin
informative
reflective
2.25
The book was interesting in its discussion of creative non-fiction, but I have to say I was hoping it would be more on the academic side. The majority of the book consisted of the author talking about his family, conferences and personal experiences that oftentimes had nothing to do with writing. It might have been a good example for people who write non-fiction but to me, it felt like he was just filling pages without actual meaning a lot of the time. The structure of the book was also quite lanky and I was hoping for more details on the topics rather than just examples upon examples. Sometimes you have to get academic about it instead of analysing other people's work.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fawcett’s writing was so enthralling in this book! I greatly enjoyed the characters and all the research that they did. I think the only bit holding me back from making it a 5/5 read is that toward the end it slightly changed the vibe. I was enjoying Emily and Wendell dealing with the folk and helping the village but the suddenness of the last plot point was a bit unnecessary in my opinion. I would have enjoyed it more if Emily’s dealings with the king had developed in a different way.
Either way, it was a very cozy and enjoyable read and I am excited to see where the second book takes us!
Either way, it was a very cozy and enjoyable read and I am excited to see where the second book takes us!
Elements of Fiction Writing - Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.0
It was very informative on some different strategies when writing. The examples given were consistent and though I might have had enough of Sam for the time being, I think they fulfilled their purpose of explaining the concept without becoming the book's main focus. The exercises given at the end of each chapter were also quite creative and I like that the author took their time to develop them. I also appreciated the chapters dedicated to writing slumps and struggles with revision. They are aspects writers rarely dwell on and it was refreshing to see them addressed.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I cannot believe it has taken me so long to read this book, especially considering I watched the show as it was being released. I’m thankful i followed my heart and decided to do it!
Game of Thrones opens the stage to the Song of Ice and Fire in the most dramatic way possible! The characters were so alive with Martin’s skilful words and the places more beautiful than the HBO team could ever make them out to be. Nothing could match a human imagination after all.
Beyond a doubt, the book was even better than I expected and I am so excited to read the rest of the series (hopefully, we get to see The Winds of Winter or an announcement of it before I am done too!)
Game of Thrones opens the stage to the Song of Ice and Fire in the most dramatic way possible! The characters were so alive with Martin’s skilful words and the places more beautiful than the HBO team could ever make them out to be. Nothing could match a human imagination after all.
Beyond a doubt, the book was even better than I expected and I am so excited to read the rest of the series (hopefully, we get to see The Winds of Winter or an announcement of it before I am done too!)
Plot by Ansen Dibell
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Although the book was written before the boom of today's literature, I would say that the advice and topics it explores are still relevant. I enjoyed how the author addressed different techniques and the examples given (though he might have added too many Star Wars references for my liking). It was informative and definitely made me realise some things about my own writing and creativity in general.
Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by David Gerrold
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I will start by expressing my slight disappointment with this book. I expected it to deal with more in-depth topics and provide insight into why certain things have become as important trends as they are in the writing of sci-fi or fantasy. Instead, I got the basics familiar to almost everyone and 70% of the book quoted the author's or other people's published books.
I recognise that the book was written in 2001 which would explain some of the views the author held, but that did not stop me from being surprised. The chapter that talked about pronouns was especially shocking. He tries to be inclusive of LGBT individuals and then proceeds to compare them to machines, aliens and robots. He also states there are no pronouns that can express genuine gender neutrality aside from "it" which sounded very diminishing. The usage of "they" as a singular pronoun to refer to an individual in a non-gendered way dates since the 14th century.
Another thing I disliked is the sheer negativity he has towards writing. He keeps reinstating the idea that unless you have written at least one million words (around ten standard print books), then all you have done is practice and should not be cause for pride. I found that very unnecessary. While one should not think of themselves (hah, singular they!) to be a master after writing a few sentences, taking pride in your achievements is essential towards developing a base of confidence. You cannot be your biggest fan (as he advises at the end) unless you first take a healthy dose of pride in what you have achieved.
It is an alright read if you want to familiarise yourself with the basis of sci-fi and fantasy but certainly not one of the best guides in any way. It lacks a deeper understanding of the genres and proper advice for people with more experience in writing. Perhaps it was more relevant at the time it was published, but today it fails to deliver what a writer might seek in such a read.
I recognise that the book was written in 2001 which would explain some of the views the author held, but that did not stop me from being surprised. The chapter that talked about pronouns was especially shocking. He tries to be inclusive of LGBT individuals and then proceeds to compare them to machines, aliens and robots. He also states there are no pronouns that can express genuine gender neutrality aside from "it" which sounded very diminishing. The usage of "they" as a singular pronoun to refer to an individual in a non-gendered way dates since the 14th century.
Another thing I disliked is the sheer negativity he has towards writing. He keeps reinstating the idea that unless you have written at least one million words (around ten standard print books), then all you have done is practice and should not be cause for pride. I found that very unnecessary. While one should not think of themselves (hah, singular they!) to be a master after writing a few sentences, taking pride in your achievements is essential towards developing a base of confidence. You cannot be your biggest fan (as he advises at the end) unless you first take a healthy dose of pride in what you have achieved.
It is an alright read if you want to familiarise yourself with the basis of sci-fi and fantasy but certainly not one of the best guides in any way. It lacks a deeper understanding of the genres and proper advice for people with more experience in writing. Perhaps it was more relevant at the time it was published, but today it fails to deliver what a writer might seek in such a read.