Confession is Good For the Soul. Right?

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Karyn Good

So…I took a slight hiatus from blogging. It was unintentional. And unplanned. But I’m back. And what better way to come back than with a couple of confessions.

First. Hello, my name is Karyn Good and apparently, and against my will, I’ve become a Kirsten Ashley addict. That’s not to say there aren’t things that piss me off about her heroes. And her heroines. But when they talk storytelling versus craft? When they talk about voice? This is what they’re talking about. Her writing is like crack. I kid you not. Also, it’s in first person, which I don’t enjoy. Unless it’s KA. The Rock Chick series. Or the Colorado Mountain Man series. Take your pick. They’re both great. I’ve read a couple of her books twice. TWICE. I don’t know why. Okay, I do. Her characters are very real in a surreal-because-this-is-romantic-fantasy-and-not-real-life-like, at all, kind of way. These books are total escapism and pure entertainment. And hot. Sizzling, in fact. Those three things together make these my favorite kind of book.

Second. And, even more mystifying, I’m also a ~~Charlie Hunnam~~ Sons of Anarchy ~~fanatic~~ fan. I mean, seriously, what could be appealing about outlaw bikers? They are violent, play by their own rules, and are patriarchal gun runners. What saves this show from ho-humness or being a gorefest? Characters like Katey Sagal. She is the Queen. She’s sexy but not an object. She’s in her fifties. And you do not mess with her. I want to be her. (That’s a confession for another time.) There are actually some other pretty complicated female characters in these series. Which I like. Then there’s the biker subculture, not to mention the outlaw aspect. And there be bikers. I’m a writer, a stay-at-home mother and a suburbanite. This whole idea fascinates me. How do you make outlaw bikers who run guns likeable or acceptable? You pit them against people who are worse, like neo-Nazis. This series is not for everyone. But it might be for you.

Third. This one’s even more insane and has to relationship to the other two. My new driver. As in golf club. I know. Crazy. But, oh my gosh, I can now drive the ball 180 yards. In the air. I love this club. More than Kirsten Ashley and ~~Charlie Hunnam~~ Sons of Anarchy. Obviously, it has magical powers. Because I’m actually finding myself saying the words, “Hey, we should go golfing.” And forget food, this is the real way to my husband’s heart. So, it’s all good.

There. Confession time over. Go ahead give it a try? Read any addicting books this summer? Watched any great new-to-you shows? Have any golf tips to share? Feel free!

A Hitwoman Gets Lucky, Shoe Lust and Kobo News

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Karyn Good

My review of The Hitwoman Gets Lucky by JB Lynn. Bonus: it’s free!

I’m a fan of Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series even though I stopped reading at Book Eight or so. For me that’s a long time to stick with a series since I’m more of a trilogy gal. So, when I found JB Lynn on a friend’s blog I couldn’t resist giving her books a try. I downloaded her free offering on Amazon and kind of started in the middle.

Maggie Lee is a hitwoman. Accompanied by God and Armani (it’s not what you’re thinking, trust me) she sets out for Atlantic City to do a favor for her murder mentor, Patrick Mulligan. Barry Manilow is involved, too. But she doesn’t have a thing for him like she does for Patrick. Who has way too many rules, one of them about getting lucky.

The Hitwoman Gets Lucky is a spunky novella with a cache of eccentric characters, including a lizard and a dog. Maggie is delightful. Patrick has an unusual code of ethics but he sticks to them. And it’s clear he cares very much for Maggie. It’s also clear Maggie wants to get lucky with Patrick. There’s great chemistry there. And lots of laughs.

This is the first free offering I’ve downloaded from Amazon. I know, I’m behind the times. I kind of viewed it as a trial run of the series. Would I continue reading? And paying for the rest of the series? Yes, I would. Without hesitation. Who can resist the adventures of a reluctant hitwoman with a heart of gold? Not this reader.

Also, total random love. Pink patent shoes. With bows.

Plus: Backlash is available on Kobo!

Do you like hitwomen stories? Pink shoes? Free books?

The Good, The Bad, and The Fair Book Review

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Karyn Good

I very seldom review books online. I share ratings. But I’m hesitate to write a review which is all kinds of crazy since I’ve been involved in a book club for a dozen years and shared my thoughts by word of mouth long before that. But I’ve won a couple of books, downloaded free ones and I know they come with the hopeful expectation that I review them. Eeeps.

But how to write a fair, honest and helpful review? So, I did a little research. I’ve found that it’s not so much about my great, big, heavy thoughts having read the book as what will be helpful information to share with other readers deciding on what to read next. So…

First goal. Decide on a format. Thoughts I’ve gathered on this. Should be short (very short) description of what the book is about. Avoid spoilers. Or use big bold capitals letters to announce your review contains them. Readers want a sense of plot more than your general opinion. The reader whats to know if the book will interest them based on your summary of the book.

Okay, I think I can handle this part. I’m not interested in becoming a bonafide book review blogger. I just want to post an intelligent review on Goodreads, Librarything, possibly bookseller sites, and here on my own personal blog. As a side note, summarizing books down to a couple of sentences has potential as an excellent writing exercise. Doing this with books I read will make it easier to sum up my own. So, win win.

Second goal. Be honest about who you are and what you like to read. Kind of easy, peasy. I guess. I’m a writer. I write romantic suspense. But I read a variety of books. A wide variety. Hum…need to work on this.

Third goal. Provide an honest review. And here’s where it gets sticky for me. I don’t like saying less than stellar things about books when the author is someone I know, never mind a friend, are published by the same publisher, a member of my writing group, or is someone I met online and have developed a platonic, book related relationship with. That kind of narrows it down. Because I’m a wimp. Especially those with few reviews and I know my mediocre review might influence readers choosing to check out their book. And the very idea of posting a negative review stresses me out.

So, how to proceed? 300 to 400 word reviews. For reviews posted here – basic info about the book and where to find it. How this book came to be in my possession. Summarize the book in a couple sentences. Use my own words. Talk about theme, characters, and plot. What I felt where the strengths. Major weaknesses, if any. Sum it up.

Fourth goal. Decide what my book review isn’t. I want to share my thoughts on the books I’ve read. I want to help out my fellow writers. I want to give readers an honest and consistent review. I don’t want it to be about my emotional response to the book. Or a synopsis. Or a critique. I’m not grading a paper. And I shall, at all costs, avoid platitudes. Saying you couldn’t put it down doesn’t tell potential readers anything useful.

There! I’ve decided on a kind of format. So, what about you? Do you review books? Do you read reviews? Any tips on what you like to see in book reviews?

Hump Day Confessions

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Karyn Good

Photo of the Week

“Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave…” Skipper, Madagascar

Confession of the Week

I have a thing about the names for animal groupings. I think it’s the writer in me always looking for different ways to look at and add description. Or the fact I’m a word geek.

Penguins live in large groups, and there are several different names for these groups. When they group together on land, they are known as a waddle. When the group is nesting, they are called a rookery. When the group of penguins is found in the water, they are known as a raft. On certain occasions, baby penguins form a group inside the larger group, which is known as a creche (kresh).

There’s something about describing a group of men in a ballroom and referring to them as a waddle. If you’re in the mood to indulge your curiosity or your geekiness check out Animal Congregations, Or What Do You Call a Group Of…

Favorite Post of the Week

I Love Men – Thought Catalog From Tumblr. I loved this post and her wonderful and thoughtful description.

On The Reading Front

Currently: Writing 21st Century Fiction by Donald Maass

Just Finished Reading: Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

On Cue: The Hitwoman Gets Lucky by JB Lynn

Great Book Quote

“He looked like every glossy frat boy in every nerd movie ever made, like every popular town boy who’d ever looked right through her in high school, like every rotten rich kid who’d ever belonged where she hadn’t.” Jennifer Crusie, Welcome to Temptation

Not a word about his chiseled jaw or piercing blue eyes but you still get the picture. Love it.

How about you? Anything to confess? Read a great book? What to share a link?

Some Thoughts on Qhuinn and Blay, The BDB, and JR Ward

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Karyn Good

Okay. One more post and then I`m gone for a week.

So.

Lover At Last by J.R. Ward.

Qhuinn and Blay.

At last.

(Only for them would I pay $16 for an ebook.)

And a whole lot of other characters.

Whew, was this book full of characters. It was getting a little crowded by the end. But I was okay with that, strangely enough. Mostly because it meant there was less about the Lessers. The Omega is probably my least favorite villain. Like ever. I skim those parts. But some interesting characters were introduced. More Xcor. Who intrigues me. She has me wondering how she’s going to make this Xcor and Layla thing work. And Assail. Who also intrigues me. Sola has potential. The others? Not so much. Why? Because it’s all about the Brothers for me.

Obviously.

Because meaty female roles are thin to the ground in this series.

So why do I read it? Because J.R. Ward is a great storyteller! This community of brothers would die for each other, true. She draws you into their world. Because of characters like Zsadist, my favorite brother. And things like Wrath’s speech to the Glymera. The dialogue. Xhex. Because she gave Qhuinn and Blay their own story. J.R. Ward didn`t disappoint. They’re together. As they should be. Hopefully because this is mainstream romantic fiction, it will bring us one step closer to the day it won’t be a big deal that they’re a same sex couple. It will just be.

A Kind Of Review Of a Book I Loved!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Karyn Good

Tonight is book club! What would I do without my monthly Sanity Seekers get together? Especially with this winter’s crazy weather. Half the roads around my city are closed and they’re not recommending travel on the other half.

Spring where art thou?

Thank goodness for great books. And our March selection (thank you, Jodi) was indeed one of those great reads. Before I Go To Sleep is S.J. Watson‘s debut novel.

Christine wakes up every morning in an unfamiliar bed with an unfamiliar man. She looks in the mirror and sees an unfamiliar, middle- aged face. And every morning, the man she has woken up with must explain that he is Ben, he is her husband, she is forty-seven years old, and a terrible accident two decades earlier decimated her ability to form new memories.

But it’s the phone call from a Dr. Nash, a neurologist who claims to be working with Christine without her husband’s knowledge, that directs her to her journal, hidden in the back of her closet. For the past few weeks, Christine has been recording her daily activities—tearful mornings with Ben, sessions with Dr. Nash, flashes of scenes from her former life—and rereading past entries, relearning the facts of her life as retold by the husband she is completely dependent upon. As the entries build up, Christine asks many questions. What was life like before the accident? Why did she and Ben never have a child? What has happened to Christine’s best friend? And what exactly was the horrific accident that caused such a profound loss of memory?

Every day, Christine must begin again the reconstruction of her past. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more un- believable it seems.

This book was lent to me and handed over with a less than stellar recommendation. As in I didn’t like this book but here you go, enjoy. That’s the great thing about book club. The varied opinions. Because this psychological thriller drew me in from the very first page. I could not put it down. The writing is deceptively simple and direct. And Watson had me guessing until the very end. My mind did back flips trying to figure out who the bad guy was. You wouldn’t believe one of the scenarios I came up with. You become that desperate to figure it out. And that was part of the appeal. The guessing. The wondering. You know it’s bad. Very, very bad. As her paranoia ebbs and flows, so does yours.

95% of the books we read for book club are literary fiction. My personal reading is 98% HEA. It evens out. But I was thrilled to read a book with a strong plot that was descriptive in a way that wasn’t fanciful but practical. The last couple of books we’ve read have been very descriptive. And that’s wonderful. But sometimes a tree is just a tree.

What’s also interesting is the story on how this book came to be written. For any writer who’s considered a creative course or retreat to add focus you might be inspired by Watson’s story.

I can’t remember the last time I didn’t simply snatch minutes here and there to read a few pages but settled in for an afternoon and immersed myself in a book. Thanks for a great read SJ Watson. You took my mind off winter in epic storytelling fashion.

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges

200 Years of Pride and Prejudice

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Karyn Good

“I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know.” Jane Austen

I can certainly relate to her to her feelings. Rejections of beloved characters suck. You can spin them anyway you please, but they’re still hard to swallow. Having said that I have a confession to make. I’ve never read Jane Austen. I’ve tried (not very hard) and given up (too lazy to continue). I’ve plans to change this lack. The long anticipated months of July and August will see me toting around a copy of Pride and Prejudice. After my adventures of reading Jane Eyre last summer I’m encourage to give another classic a go. And 2013 is the 200th anniversary of it’s publication.

200 hundred years of Lizzie Bennet.

“Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I will end up an old maid.” Lizzie Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

200 hundred years of Mr. Darcy.

“She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.” Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

While I may not have read the book I’m familiar with the story having watched the 2005 movie version many times. You know, on those days when you need to experience some time travel to get you through the day. Usually shared with obscene amounts of chocolate and balanced by cups of hot tea. But last night I watched a live theater adaption by Christina Calvit and directed by Marti Maraden. Done in the round at the Globe Theatre here in Regina, it was an ambitious undertaking. Very few props, as is the tradition, the insightful costuming helped tell the story and give a sense of place and time in Regency England. It was a delightful mix of veteran actors and graduates of the most recent Globe Theatre Actor Conservatory program. An enchanting combination of experience and innocence.

After being mocked during a recent suppertime conversation about the man to woman ratio in films and tv, it was refreshing to sit and enjoy a story showcasing women with men playing generally supporting roles. Pick a drama, count the female roles versus male roles. Of my favorites, H5O – three males cops, one female. Sherlock – One female Sherlock in training, the rest males (unless they’re a victim). NCIS (either one) – three male agents, one female. Longmire – One sheriff, two male deputies, one female deputy. The Vampire Dairies – Elana caught between two brothers.

But I digress.

Her stories are love stories. And relevant today. We still struggle to understand each other. She gifted her characters with the courage to choose happiness. We still search for it. No matter your gender.

Have you read Pride and Prejudice? Seen the movie? The play? Care to give an opinion?

How To Get Noticed In A Downpour

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Karyn Good

It’s raining books. Yes, it is. Some three million books were published last year. Nightstands and shelves are stacked with books, digital and otherwise. A plethora of books is good news for book lovers. Choice is always a good thing. It also means a bevy of authors are busy vying for the attention of the book buying public. Most of us are struggling to stand out from the crowd, trying in vain to garner reviews which will influence all those lovely bibliophiles out there to part with their money. It’s a cut throat book-selling world to be sure. But how far is too far to go in reaching for elusive bestseller status?

Debunking The Bestseller: This post came to my attention through one of my yahoo groups. Soran Kaplan defends his decision to use a company called ResultSource to help him hit the bestseller lists with his book Leapfrogging from day one. He addresses the nebulous distinction of gaming the system versus working the system. I don’t even know what to make of this…I had no idea you could purchase these kind of services.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels: Susan Mallory answers questions about marketing and her decision to develop a Review Squad. Free books to two hundred of her lucky readers in exchange for an honest review. On Amazon the more reviews you have the easier it is to find you. Fair enough but, um, isn’t this a little like asking your friends or ‘a sure thing’ for a review? And aren’t these the kind of reviews we’re supposed to ignore?

Is it wrong or sketchy to influence public opinion? Or in this case lists and algorithms? It happens all the time in every aspect of life. Perhaps the real question should be do we buy books based on popularity? Of course, we do. That’s why there are lists. And Goodreads. Do we see a title on a bestseller list and figure it must be worth a little investigation because, well, it’s on a bestseller list? Do we wonder how they got there? Are positive reviews by readers just another way to pass on good news? Kind of like online word-of-mouth, only not really?

What say you?

* What follows is more preachy business about Freed to Read Week and one of my favorite authors.

The river flowed both ways.

Above is the first line of The Diviners written by Margaret Laurence. I should come clean and confess to loving Margaret Laurence to whom I was first introduced to in high school English class by way of her novel, The Stone Angel. I went on to discover A Jest of God, and The Fire-Dwellers. But it was her book The Diviners which grabbed my heart and never let go. Morag Gunn is a protagonist like no other.

Blurb:

The culmination and completion of Margaret Laurence’s celebrated Manawaka cycle, The Diviners is an epic novel.

This is the powerful story of an independent woman who refuses to abandon her search for love. For Morag Gunn, growing up in a small Canadian prairie town is a toughening process – putting distance between herself and a world that wanted no part of her. But in time, the aloneness that had once been forced upon her becomes a precious right – relinquished only in her overwhelming need for love. Again and again, Morag is forced to test her strength against the world – and finally achieves the life she had determined would be hers.

The Diviners has been acclaimed by many critics as the outstanding achievement of Margaret Laurence’s writing career. In Morag Gunn, Laurence has created a figure whose experience emerges as that of all dispossessed people in search of their birthright, and one who survives as an inspirational symbol of courage and endurance.

The Diviners earned Margaret Laurence her second Governor General’s Award for Fiction in 1974. It also drew great criticism from religious and conservative groups. They lobbied to have it banned from schools and libraries.

Writer Timothy Findley observed: “no other writer in Canadian history suffered more at the hands of these professional naysayers, book-banners and censors than Laurence.”

They hoped to ban The Diviners “in defence of decency”. I am eternally grateful they didn’t succeed.

Wednesday’s Ponderings: Reading Nooks

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Karyn Good

The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. Dr. Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

We call it the Reading Room unless it’s someone’s birthday or it’s Christmas than it’s the Present Opening Room. A sunny room with large windows facing south. It makes for a cozy place to relax with a book. There’s no television.. Just a comfy couch and large overstuffed chairs.

One little chair for one of you, and a bigger chair for two to curl up in, and for someone who likes to rock, a rocking chair in the middle. The Friendly Giant

What comfy, cozy spot do you curl up in?

Tuesday’s Table: Sweet Treats

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Karyn Good

You know what goes great with conversations about banned books? Hot chocolate with those little marshmallows sprinkled on top. Some of the sweetest treats go with the sweetest books. And some of the sweetest books are banned or challenged books, like Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson or My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis.

Some of my children’s favorite stories have shown up as banned books. My son loves A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. My daughter loves James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. We all love the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. We spent a lovely winter weekend when my son was six and my daughter was four in a cabin with no television and no stereo reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone aloud. A dozen years have past but I still hold that weekend close in my memory. Toasty warm under layers of blankets, the scent of hot chocolate on the air, the taste of gooey sweet marshmallows on our tongues we journeyed with a boy wizard to a magical place that was as fascinating and it was treacherous.

You know what else goes well with childhood and books? Sweet treats. Remember those squares made with colored marshmallows, peanut butter and butterscotch chips? I’ve only had them a handful of times since I was a kid. They remind me of being a kid. Yummy! How about Rice Krispies cake? I loved coming home from school to find snacks and goodies waiting for me. I’d nibble away, read, and try to avoid my chores. I read a lot of books, banned and otherwise. Not that I knew it. Chances are no one in my house, including me, knew some poor-misguided, naysayer to our freedom of expression was challenging the books I was reading. Had they known they wouldn’t have cared, so there was nothing and no one to stop me from reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder or Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

Want to start a conversation? Not quite sure how? Try reading Judy Blume’s “Places I Never Wanted To Be“.

Today it is not only Sex, Swear Words and Lack of Moral Tone — it is Evil, which, according to the censors, can be found lurking everywhere. Stories about Halloween, witches, and devils are an suspect for promoting Satanism. Romeo and Juliet is under fire for promoting suicide; Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, for promoting New Age-ism. If the censors had their way it would be good-bye to Shakespeare as well as science fiction. There’s not an ism you can think of that’s not bringing some book to the battlefield.

Our fears are not our children’s fears. Our thoughts are not theirs. Our preferences are not theirs. They should be free to browse and explore. If there is something they feel they can’t talk to an adult about hopefully they can find the answers in a book. Solace. Comfort.

What books did you love to read as a young child? What was your favorite after-school treat?