Do you like reading?

[Alexa]

Re: Do you like reading?

Thanks for all the contributions everyone

Glad you've food some new ideas Jane. That's so sweet about your dog.

[MaizieMarley]

Re: Do you like reading?

Janet Evanovich actually lives near me in Hanover NH and Sarah Strohmeyer lives in Montpelier, VT now. I think you will enjoy the Bubbles books Jane. They are as quirky as the Stephanie Plum series. I am up to the 10th book of the Plum series but I am taking my time because I enjoy them so much that I don't want to read them all and then have to wait for the next one to come out. have you tried any of her other books like Metro Girl? I read that one and it was pretty good.

Thanks for all the great ideas. As you cn tell I was quite excited to see a thread about books. I am off to a book sale today as a matter of fact. I am hoping to pick up some more great books - not that I need anymore but hey when you can get bestsellers for 50 cents or so it's a great bargain! I also have a bookstore around here that sells used books at 1/2 the price and they will also buy your books back (for a 1/6 of the cover price) if they are in good condition.

Lucky you Jane to have your dog on the website - how cute...

[13_jane]

Re: Do you like reading?

Janet Evanovich actually lives near me in Hanover NH and Sarah Strohmeyer lives in Montpelier, VT now. I think you will enjoy the Bubbles books Jane. They are as quirky as the Stephanie Plum series. I am up to the 10th book of the Plum series but I am taking my time because I enjoy them so much that I don't want to read them all and then have to wait for the next one to come out. have you tried any of her other books like Metro Girl? I read that one and it was pretty good.

Thanks for all the great ideas. As you cn tell I was quite excited to see a thread about books. I am off to a book sale today as a matter of fact. I am hoping to pick up some more great books - not that I need anymore but hey when you can get bestsellers for 50 cents or so it's a great bargain! I also have a bookstore around here that sells used books at 1/2 the price and they will also buy your books back (for a 1/6 of the cover price) if they are in good condition.

Lucky you Jane to have your dog on the website - how cute...

I left books 12 and 13 in my hotel bedroom as I didnt think anybody would want them!!!! I should have brought them home and I could have sent them to you!!! never mind!!! lol So who do you lust over most - Ranger or Morelli??? lol I'm a Ranger girl myself!!! lol

I cant wait for my bubbles book!!! The only thing is all our postmen are on strike, so I wont get it for a good week!!!! grrr!!! lol

Have fun hunting for books

Jane x

[hrgillespie]

Re: Do you like reading?

Maizie I'm in Vermont too! Rutland to be exact where are you???

I LOVE to read ............. it's a passion of mine and I love all sorts of books. There have been very few through time I have actually not liked and when I do come upon one of those I just stop reading it and move onto something I can enjoy! I read everything from Mysteries, to romance, Oprah books, to heavy dramas ........... true life stories, ect............ I love sinking my brain into a good series ...... that way you can stay with your characters for a long time running and watch them develope and change with each book! WHat a great topic! I have found a few new ones to look up!

Heidi

[MaizieMarley]

Re: Do you like reading?

Heidi - I live in Weathersfield (Ascutney) but work in Woodstock -not too far from Rutland! It's a small world (and state haha). Love the Gill's grinders in Rutland though- lol. Great weight loss progress by the way - I just looked at your stats and Wow - you have done great.

Jane - I have 12 but would have loved book 13 - not out in paperback yet (not that I have seen and I don't want to pay full price) Rats! Sorry to say but I think I am a Morelli girl and I absolutely love LuLu. I can just picture her in her yellow spandex eating a chicken leg - lol.

Good luck with the Bubbles book and let me know what you think...

[MaizieMarley]

Re: Do you like reading?

Oops it's Lula - not LuLu haha

[Hayden]

Re: Do you like reading?

I enjoy Dick Francis, I like that he writes in narrative style, which is one of the hardest writing styles to do well. He does write well, which I really respect.

I admire anyone who can write well.

I also like Len Deighton.
Plus David Lodge.

The worst book I've ever read was the Da Vinci Code. It's a badly written book about absolute nonsense. Sorry for my bluntness.

I really like "Nice Work", by David Lodge, if I was pushed for a favourite.

[Hayden]

Re: Do you like reading?

"How To Write Chick Lit in Ten Easy Steps"

1. INTRODUCTION: A female protagonist, in her 20's or 30's, living in an urban setting.

2. STATIC CHARACTER: Endless descriptors of name-brands. Particularly shoes. Mention of Manolo Blahnik and/or Jimmy Choo is mandatory.

3. DEVELOPING CHARACTER: Body issues. Must be examined thoroughly and repeatedly throughout the novel.

4. EXTERNAL CONFLICT: By second chapter, protagonist's otherwise perfect world will be upended by relationship or job loss.

5. RISING ACTION: Protagonist goes into a cocoon of self-pity, dragging the reader along with her.

6. INTERNAL CONFLICT: Incessent self-analyzing ensues. This is the body of the novel.

7. INTERNAL CONFLICT BECOMES EXTERNAL CONFLICT: A hundred pages past the point of extreme self-absorption, even the protagonist's closest confidantes become infuriated with her. Insert another several dozen pages of whining in solitude, adding the "no one understands me" complaint.

8. CLIMAX: Peripheral character emerges to give protagonist a moment of clarity. Because there are typically only about 5 characters in a chick-lit novel (7 including the designer labels and body issues) it is not difficult for the reader to identify this hero-on-the-sidelines fairly early in the story.

9. FALLING ACTION: Suddenly, everything in the protagonist's shattered world comes together.

10. DENOUEMENT: Cue happy ending, which means an even better guy or job than the one that initially started the whole crazy chain of events.

[Alexa]

Re: Do you like reading?

"How To Write Chick Lit in Ten Easy Steps"

1. INTRODUCTION: A female protagonist, in her 20's or 30's, living in an urban setting.

2. STATIC CHARACTER: Endless descriptors of name-brands. Particularly shoes. Mention of Manolo Blahnik and/or Jimmy Choo is mandatory.

3. DEVELOPING CHARACTER: Body issues. Must be examined thoroughly and repeatedly throughout the novel.

4. EXTERNAL CONFLICT: By second chapter, protagonist's otherwise perfect world will be upended by relationship or job loss.

5. RISING ACTION: Protagonist goes into a cocoon of self-pity, dragging the reader along with her.

6. INTERNAL CONFLICT: Incessent self-analyzing ensues. This is the body of the novel.

7. INTERNAL CONFLICT BECOMES EXTERNAL CONFLICT: A hundred pages past the point of extreme self-absorption, even the protagonist's closest confidantes become infuriated with her. Insert another several dozen pages of whining in solitude, adding the "no one understands me" complaint.

8. CLIMAX: Peripheral character emerges to give protagonist a moment of clarity. Because there are typically only about 5 characters in a chick-lit novel (7 including the designer labels and body issues) it is not difficult for the reader to identify this hero-on-the-sidelines fairly early in the story.

9. FALLING ACTION: Suddenly, everything in the protagonist's shattered world comes together.

10. DENOUEMENT: Cue happy ending, which means an even better guy or job than the one that initially started the whole crazy chain of events.

Go on then

I hope you're not chick lit bashing!

I'm pretty sure Dick Francis and Len Deighton can be as formulaic

[13_jane]

Re: Do you like reading?

"How To Write Chick Lit in Ten Easy Steps"

1. INTRODUCTION: A female protagonist, in her 20's or 30's, living in an urban setting.

2. STATIC CHARACTER: Endless descriptors of name-brands. Particularly shoes. Mention of Manolo Blahnik and/or Jimmy Choo is mandatory.

3. DEVELOPING CHARACTER: Body issues. Must be examined thoroughly and repeatedly throughout the novel.

4. EXTERNAL CONFLICT: By second chapter, protagonist's otherwise perfect world will be upended by relationship or job loss.

5. RISING ACTION: Protagonist goes into a cocoon of self-pity, dragging the reader along with her.

6. INTERNAL CONFLICT: Incessent self-analyzing ensues. This is the body of the novel.

7. INTERNAL CONFLICT BECOMES EXTERNAL CONFLICT: A hundred pages past the point of extreme self-absorption, even the protagonist's closest confidantes become infuriated with her. Insert another several dozen pages of whining in solitude, adding the "no one understands me" complaint.

8. CLIMAX: Peripheral character emerges to give protagonist a moment of clarity. Because there are typically only about 5 characters in a chick-lit novel (7 including the designer labels and body issues) it is not difficult for the reader to identify this hero-on-the-sidelines fairly early in the story.

9. FALLING ACTION: Suddenly, everything in the protagonist's shattered world comes together.

10. DENOUEMENT: Cue happy ending, which means an even better guy or job than the one that initially started the whole crazy chain of events.

Alexa - I knew Hayden was Sophie Kinsella in disguise!!!

[Alexa]

Re: Do you like reading?

Alexa - I knew Hayden was Sophie Kinsella in disguise!!!

I wish he'd send me his new book in that case! It seem like it's taking forever to come out in paperback....

[fowlergirl]

Re: Do you like reading?

I love to read. My favorite books are murder mysteries. My favorite author is Robin Cook but I also like Sandra Brown, James Patterson, and Patricia Cornwell. I am currently reading Ricochet by Sandra Brown. I belong to a book club so I get new books every month.

[Hayden]

Re: Do you like reading?

Alexa, Yes, Chick lit bashing on this board giving the male to female ratio is perhaps not a good idea.

Since you are calling me, I reply that yes I have written and published a book.

My book was published this year, and last month to be exact.

My book is Japanese language study book.
It's called "*** edit to remove personal identifiable info *** "
The ISBN Number is "*** edit to remove personal identifiable info ***

edit: PM me if you want to know the title or ISDN Number.
edit: Also PM me if you wish me to post you a copy of the book.

If I can indulge myself a little, I'd like to describe what caused me to write my book.

Two years ago, I was drinking in a Sports Bar in Tokyo, and I happened to strike up a conversation with these 3 other guys. Two Americans and another Brit. They had each been living in Japan for a number of years, and as we drank we started complaining (*itching) about Japan.

One thing they said was, it was hard to find a decent Japanese study books for business office use.
There are plenty of phase books, there are plenty of general study books. There are study books about business Japanese but they are mostly written for Japanese people.

Now, I got my Japanese ability by studying very very hard. I read, and practised, made mistakes and made mistakes again.
I'm still far from perfect.

( I used to write on my fore-arm 5 new Japanese words each day, and then look for the same words written on signs, in commercials, in business documents, etc ).

I noticed that a book for Office Japanese, written for people that were also learning Japanese was missing.

So, it took me 18 months of my weekends, and it became available to buy last month.

When you publish a book you get box of publisher freebies. I got 20 given back to me. Three I gave to the three guys I was drinking with, as it was their idea in the first place. (We're become drinking buddies). Plus some other friends, and my family.

I still have 7 of my freebies left, and if anyone would like to learn some Japanese, or just simply read my book, then if you PM an address of some sorts, I'll happily post you a copy. (I'll take care of any postage charges).

[Jaded]

Re: Do you like reading?

I love to read also! My favorite book of all time is Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger, the Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass, Lord of the Rings and of course the Harry Potters <3

I think one of my least favorite books was A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I can't think of the author. It had potential, but was too purposely written in an edgy style, the author was too conscious of it and it seemed contrived for most of it. Anyone else read this book?

[13_jane]

Re: Do you like reading?

Wow Hayden - Thats fantastic!! You're a little "dark horse" on the sly aren't you?? hehe!! Do you know how many copies you've sold up to now? I'm really impressed!!

Hayden I would love to say send me a copy - but I havent got a clue on business and clever stuff!! I just about got through the Atkins book!! lol "Big college words" as I like to call them totally confuse me!!! When Tim and I have "rows" he uses all big words I dont understand just to wind me up even more!! lol