Review of The Genius and the Muse

This review is on Elizabeth Hunter's book, The Genius and the Muse.  One really nice thing about this book (especially for people who are strapped for time) is that it is a stand-alone.  That's right!  No 'series-us' commitments required!  Sometimes it's nice to read a book, enjoy it, and not have to wait on pins and needles for the next book in the series to come out because of the monster cliffhanger at the end of book 1.  This book is certified 100% cliffhanger-free.

Hunter is known for her paranormal romances series, so this contemporary romance is a bit of a departure for her.

The Synopsis

For Kate Mitchell, finishing her master's thesis on reclusive photographer Reed O'Connor was just another item to check off her list. She knew exactly what she was doing. Or does she?

There's just one portrait that doesn't fit. One portrait... and the passion she senses behind it. Finding the story behind O'Connor's picture becomes Kate's obsession, and the people she meets will challenge everything she thought she knew about life, love, and inspiration.

A single picture can tell more than one story, and in the end, Kate discovers that every real love story is a unique work of art.

The Review

Can I just say that I love the way Elizabeth Hunter writes her characters?  I love how she crafts a character so that they seem like a totally real person that I would love to get to know.  This book was no exception.  We follow the main character, Kate, as she makes contact with various people who are friends of the subject of her master's thesis.  Through these conversations and flashbacks, we experience the story of Reed O'Connor.

I very much enjoyed the way the two parallel story lines evolved.  Kate's story was in present day and Reed's was from ten years ago.  Gradually, as you read the book, the two separate story lines become more and more intertwined.  Layer upon layer is built until the reader ends up with a very satisfying whole.  I don't want to talk too much about specific story points, since the story unfolded in some unexpected ways.  (Unexpected to me, anyway.)

The characters in this book are interesting, a bit flawed, and very realistic.  Kate is a young, talented photographer who, through the journey of learning about the famous photographer Reed O'Conner, learns about herself and grows as an artist and a human being.

The way the characters converse and interact with each other makes this an entertaining book to read.  There are moments of awkwardness, irritation, humor, sadness, and romance- to name a few.  I felt as if I was getting an intriguing glimpse of real people's lives.

The Rating

I started this book and couldn't put it down.  I ended up devouring it in under a day.  It will likely end up on my "books I love to re-read" list.
I give this book 5 stars.  

Someday...

For years, people have told me that I should write a book of my own someday.  I guess the assumption is that having read umpteen million books makes me qualified to write one.  I don't know about that, but I would certainly like to give it a try.  Someday, I tell myself.  

I've decided that there is no time like the present.  However, I am a card-carrying member of PA (Procrastinators Anonymous).  I hope that isn't a real thing, because I totally just made that up.  Hmm.  Maybe I should Google it, just in case???  BRB...  Interesting- there were several websites that popped up on a search for "procrastinators anonymous".  Most of them looked like online support groups.  Just what I needed... another way to procrastinate!  

Okay, so back to the point I was originally trying to make.  It's really easy to delay getting started writing.  There are all kinds of excuses I can make, but the long and the short of it is that it's a lot easier and more enjoyable to think about writing a book someday, than it is to write one today.  

One reason I started this blog is to get myself into the groove of writing frequently.  Having readers out there who expect to read new content on a semi-regular basis is one way to combat my procrastinating tendencies.  I do better with external deadlines and expectations.  

Right now, I don't have too many people out there reading this blog, but hopefully someday that will change.  In the meantime, I have this post written, along with the start of another one.   I began today's post by writing on a different topic, but went on a tangent and wrote this instead.  Sometimes, tangents can be interesting and fruitful.  Do not underestimate the power of a good tangent!

So, here's to hoping that someday comes soon!

Review of Wonder

Wow!  It's a miracle!  I actually have a second post to put on this blog.  (For further information on why this is so miraculous, please read the previous post on this blog.)  

Back from reading the other post?  Great!  Let's continue.  

So, the book I'll be reviewing today is entitled Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  I read this book back in January 2014, so I guess I am cheating a bit by using a previously written review from Goodreads.  (Hmm, maybe this post isn't so miraculous, after all.)  This book has starred reviews from several of the big magazines, including Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and the School Library Journal.  You can read those on R.J. Palacio's website.

You may be asking yourself, "Where does she get off writing a review when it has already received so many kudos from some big names?"  Answer... that's just how I roll.  

The Synopsis

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

The Review

There was so much to like about this book. I liked the characters. I liked how the perspective of the story changed from character to character so I could see the story through many eyes. I liked the message of acceptance and kindness woven throughout the book, without becoming "preachy". I thought it was wonderful that the center of the story, August, wasn't written as some stereotypical 100% noble character. 

The interactions between him and the other characters read as very realistic to me. August is a boy who was born with very serious health problems that caused his face to be very misshapen. Due to health problems and various surgeries, August was home-schooled until the year he was ready to enter 5th grade. That's when this book begins, as we follow August through his first year in a middle school. 

All the typical things children this age face are part of this book: making & losing friends, beginning to figure out who they are, the importance (or not) of popularity, being mean, being kind, learning to accept others as they are, and the list goes on. All of these typical trials of growing up are magnified through the lens of August's physical appearance and how others react/relate to it. 

Many scenes in this book touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. However, there is more than one dimension to this story, so don't fear a cryfest from cover to cover. I found this book to be uplifting and it made me take a few moments to question how much kindness I have put out into the world. 

The Rating

All in all, I thought it was a wonderful book. I would recommend it to children and adults alike.  

I give this book 4 stars.  

I'm a newbie!

Okay, so this blogging thing is totally new to me.  "I'm a newbie!" she cried for all to hear.  It's probably going to take me a while to work out all the kinks on this site and get it how I want it.

You may find yourself wondering, "Why the heck am I reading this?"  Hmm.  That is a really excellent question, dear blog reader.  Why the heck are you reading this?!!  I would speculate that you took a wrong turn in Albuquerque and somehow ended up here.

At any rate, I hope you'll stick around for a while and take a peek at some of my wonderful, awesome, and inspired posts.

**Fair warning- I am a horrible procrastinator and tend to start out on projects "GUNG HO!" and "FULL STEAM AHEAD!", but then I tend to lose my way an eensy, weensy, tiny bit.  I have told myself, "Self, this time you are going to follow through and stay on top of this blog thing!"  Let's all hope I listen.

Hey, part of the fun of this blog might be the tension of wondering 'will she or won't she?' post new content!  Imagine the incredible tension from such shows as Moonlighting with David Addison and Maddie Hayes.  Too long ago?  Maybe it's like Luke and Lorelai on Gilmore Girls.  Ooo, ooo, no!  Like Pam and Jim on The Office.  This blog is just exactly like those shows, except not.  (Okay, so this might be why my blog may not get updated often enough.  I obviously watch too much TV!)