Armchair BEA 2014, Day Three: Novellas/Short Stories

With last night, so closeth day two of Armchair BEA. The primary topics of focus were author interactions and forms of expression that go beyond mere words. 

The second topic resonated with me in particular, and I decided to chat a bit about the format of comics/graphic novels. 

If anything was derived from the many discussions yesterday, it's that reading/storytelling can come in many different forms. Which is perhaps why it's apt that today's topic encourages everyone to think beyond the full-length novel and explore...

Novellas/Short Stories

Now it is time to give a little love to those little stories in your life. Share your love for your favorite shorts of any form. What is a short story or novella that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves? Recommend to readers what shorts you would recommend they start with. How about listing some short story anthologies based upon genres or authors? 

+ Fiction = <3

Much like I'd noted yesterday, this is such a timely topic for me, personally. For the last month or so I've been reading almost exclusively short stories. Science fiction shorts, to be exact. It began with an awesomely fun experience in April at AwesomeCon 2014 in Washington, DC. It was a gathering of thousands of fans of all things geek culture. I'd attended several panels discussing speculative fiction. Such wonderful dialogues about the most beloved of sci fi novels, with fascinating info about the master authors of science fiction, it spurred me to reread old favorites and check out new-to-me stories. Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clarke, Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang... reading stories from these authors was a delight.

Science fiction in particular can lend itself very well to the short story format. One might think the opposite is true, given that science fiction can tend to be particular about...well, the science, and technical detail to worldcrafting. But some of the most enjoyable spec fic short stories that come to mind are those that focus less on building a world than on building a scenario that hints at an immense world beyond. With short stories in general, there's a lot less "storytelling baggage" that can often plague full-length novels And with speculative fiction short stories, there's the added benefit of being able to pitch the tentpole of reality wherever desired! (Is the baseline reality that we live on Mars and speaking telepathically? Well, all rightie then, perfect!)

If looking for a place to start in checking out short stories--especially in speculative fiction--I'd recommend reading some of the public domain works of Philip K. Dick. His stories "The Hanging Stranger" and "The Crystal Crypt" are exciting and supremely chilling, while "The Skull" and "The Defenders" weave in really impactful messages with unexpected resonance.

I'd also recommend checking out speculative fiction magazines like Strange Horizons and Asimov's Science Fiction (or one that I'm fond of for personal reasons, Penumbra  eMag) provide a diverse set of stories on a recurring basis, and from both new and established talent.

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How about you? Do you often read novellas or short stories? Are they easier/more difficult to access, to enjoy? What are some of your favorite short stories?

Armchair BEA 2014, Day Two: More Than Just Words

Day One of Armchair BEA was fantastic! There were so many bloggers participating with introduction posts and discussions about literature and reading. 

It was a pleasure to "cheerlead" and visit many of the blogs to contribute to the many excellent conversations underway. Found many new book quotes and TBR pile additions...and learned a lot about how the notions of what "literature" means to differs to people.

Today, the collective focus turns to the more acute concept of words--that is, the use of words in concert with other forms of expression...

More Than Just Words

There are so many mediums that feature more than just words and enhance a story in a multitude of ways. Examples may include graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, or even multimedia novels. On this day, we will be talking about those books and formats that move beyond just the words and use other ways to experience a story. Which books stand out to you in these different formats? 

In purely personal terms, this particular topic seems to come at a perfect time. I've recently rekindled an old love for comics, thanks to a couple of super astute family members who gifted me with a couple volumes of the series Saga. (They may not have known it, but growing up I was a total Image comics fangirl, so their gift couldn't have been better chosen.)

Yum.

Certainly, the purely written word holds so much potential for the individual imagination, for better or for worse. There seems to be so much power inherent in the fact that its up to the reader to invest energy into drawing those final images and directing the inner film from the "script" that an author provides. That said, graphic novels/comics can go one step further in developing the author's visual intent; it helps set up a scene in such a way that words are no longer needed as much to convey feelings and emotions. Sure, the reader still needs to contribute their imagination to produce that final moving image, but some of that is helped with the layout of frames, the depiction of movement, the use of color or black & white, water color or digital ink. If pictures are worth a thousand words, comics can be just as potent--if not more so--in the imagination they foster. The sky is still very much the limit.

Now, the leap from books to film (live action in particular) or from comic to film can be immensely enjoyable and impactful, but I think that there are more limitations imposed by reality. That particular actor can only play a vampire for so long before he ages, making for a visual paradox. And there's only so much that a young actor can do or say before things like age appropriateness come into play (one reason why a film like Ender's Game could never be adapted in more literal form). That's perhaps why for my part, I am often wary of film adaptations even as I'd be curious about a graphic novel adaptation of a book (or live action movie/show! Ex. Buffy the Vampire Slayer; woot!).

I know, I know. Doesn't make a terrible lot of sense, but there ya go. :-)

Armchair BEA Day 3: Networking...In Real Life?!

Happy Midweek, everyone! Hope your work week (or week in general) is going fantabulous. For the people at Javits in New York, BEA is already almost halfway over...same for all of us participating in Armchair BEA.  Which is crazy, because it feels like it just started a minute ago! But so far, there's been a lot of blog hopping and interfacing with some very neat people.

Which brings me to today's ABEA topic: networking in real life! For a book blogger, the majority of the exposure we'll have with others is via electronic means; after all, that's the method by which the book blogging actually takes place. But on certain occasions, such as at events like BEA or RT Con or Authors After Dark and the like, bloggers are given the chance to cavort and get to know one another in the flesh... a wonderful treat that (for me, at least) is a high point about being a part of the book blogging community.

Of course, there are more ways to extend book blog networking than by attending conferences; most cities have book stores that hold author signings every so often. And what's to stop any of us from participating in book clubs or holding local meet and greets?

Author Seanan McGuire (photo from SeananMcGuire.com)

I myself have not (yet!) gotten involved extensively in the bookish scene in real life. But for the right bookstore, or the right event, I'm always up for a visit and participation. Such a bookstore is Borderlands Books in San Francisco, California (in my humble opinion, the best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Horror bookstore ever. Nay, the best bookstore ever ^_^)...and one such event was a book signing for UF author Seanan McGuire (who also writes as Mira Grant, of Feed series fame). That particular experience was extremely memorable, and exemplified the awesomeness of the genre fiction bookish community.

The event was held in honor of the impending release of McQuire's (at the time) latest book release, Discount Armageddon. The event was ostensibly for a book talk and signing… but what actually ended up occurring was so much more. Friends, family, and admirers of the author (numbering about 50, I'd say) all gathered in the cafe half of Borderlands for an evening of book discussions, music, food, and lots of

By that point, I'd not yet read the book being celebrated, so I must say that I missed out on some of the context behind the general discussions and jokes. There were jocular crowd cries of "Hail!" after most every new announcement or proclamation (which totally became clear a few chapters into reading the book). ^_^ Since Discount Armageddon is all about cryptozoology, there was much talk about mythical creatures and the mythologies from which they come. Fascinating stuff.

Cupcake by Seanan!
Green Velvet w/ cream cheese frosting.

Seanan, a self-professed cupcake aficionado, forever endeared herself to my heart (as if she hadn't already by that point) by bringing a veritable feast of mini cupcakes for everyone at the signing to eat (check out the rainbow / pot o' gold cupcake she made…I hadn't the heart to eat it, for it was beautiful! But her baked goods were simply delish). During the food portion, attendees got to acquaint themselves with each other and chat. But as if that all weren't enough, Seanan brought a boatload of swag from her own personal coffers to offer up in raffle drawings that took place every half hour or so.

Most special was perhaps the least book related: it turns out that McGuire is an amazingly talented singer and songwriter. She performed some filk jams for us, including some from her own albums. All told, people left the event (several hours later) with new bookish buddies and a great respect for the amazing woman that is Seanan McGuire. It's now my favorite book signing (narrowly beating out an event I'd attended at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC,  featuring the fabulous Tim Gunn). It reminds me that there is so. much. fun. to be had when bookish-minded people get together for fun.

So that's my tale of one particularly memorable real life bookish experience. How about you; are you a big fan of book signings and author appearances? If so, how populated do you prefer the event be, on a scale from intimate gathering to DragonCon panel? ^_^

(Don't forget to check out ABEA Central; there's another Twitter party and more book talks going on throughout the day!)

Armchair BEA Day 2: Best of 2012

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Another day, another Armchair BEA post! I hope the folks in NYC are having a blast....it's certainly been a lot of fun connecting with people participating in ABEA (over 400; wowww!). As many mentioned in their interviews, it's just so amazing getting to be a part of such a warm, inclusive community. It's a rare, beautiful thing.

Today's festivities over at Armchair BEA Central involve Twitter party-age, a bevy of giveaways, and a new post topic for everyone to partake in! The post topic of the moment is "Best of 2012." As the name suggests, you'll be able to take a look at people's favorite books of the year thus far, as well as the most anticipated titles to come in the next six months. (Kinda makes June the perfect time to reflect on such things, dontcha think? Kind of like a midterm report card. ^_^)


The following list includes only those titles that were released (or will be released) during 2012.

My Top Three Faves of 2012 Thus Far:

Horizon (Aftertime Trilogy, #3) by Sophie Littlefield

I mentioned this one in yesterday's Armchair BEA post, but it bears repeating. This was such a wonderful trilogy closer. This book took me in a direction that I didn't expect but perfectly understood. That's a wonderful thing. ^_^

The Kingdom (The Graveyard Queen, #2) by Amanda Stevens

If you've read even one review of this or any other book in the Graveyard Queen series, you'll almost certainly see the following words mentioned: atmospheric, creepy, amazing. I'm a huge scaredy cat, but this series (this installment included) is undeniable in its appeal and magnetism. I was majorly creeped out yet kept turning the page for more. ^_^

The Prophet (The Graveyard Queen, #3) by Amanda Stevens

Thank heavens there was another release in this series only a month after its predecessor. I wasn't ready to let go of the characters just yet. Only downside is, even as certain arcs were resolved, some majorly crazy developments took their place. o.O The visuals and tone of this book, like the two books before it, just leaps right off of the page. I can't remember the last time the atmosphere of a book I've read was so easily accessible.

Bonus: Divinely Ruined (Divine Temptations Trilogy, #1) by Diane Alberts

(A bonus because I can't possibly omit this title. ^_^) A recently-completed read, this book was so charming and yet real and poignant…I gobbled it down in a day. Granted, it is of a shorter length, but Alberts manages to establish the reader's connection to the characters, build the emotional drama, and set the stage for a majorly satisfying, sigh-worthy resolution--all in the space it usually takes other books to just get started. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author, and I'd recommend this read to all my bookish buddies.

My Top Three Most Anticipated (and Likely Future-Faves) of 2012:

The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law, #3) by J.A. Saare

Book one was great, and book two rocked my freakin' world. I know I'm totally keeping hopes inexcusably high for book three in the Rhiannon's Law series, but it's so hard not to; author J.A. Saare writes such a thrilling world with high stakes, unexpected twists, and a heroine that is extremely magnetic.

The Last Bastion of the Living: A Futuristic Zombie Novel by Rhiannon Frater

From one Rhiannon to another. ^_^ All one has to do is read this book description (or heck, even just the title) to understand how easily one would anticipate this book most highly. In a sea of zombie-themed series, a standalone is a bold, intriguing move. And a science fiction zombie tale? This one will be an autobuy, for sure...and because it comes out on June 12, the wait won't be long!

Endgame (Sirantha Jax, #6) by Ann Aguirre

What is there to say but "duh"? ^_^ I had to cease reading this series for a while because I knew the wait for the final installment was going to be painful if I'd read all the way to book five. Thank goodness there are only a few months left to wait. Sirantha Jax and her universe is thrilling, and Ann Aguirre seems to have been extremely deliberate about how details and story arc unfold. And don't even get me started on the gorgeous cover...

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....best of lists are so much fun. ^_^ I can't wait to see some of your own picks! Please do leave a link to your own Armchair BEA post, if you're participating. It'll be fun to see if any trends appear among everyone's "Best Of 2012" picks.

Til Tomorrow! And don't forget to visit Armchair BEA central to find out more info on the numerous giveaways and the Twitter parties!

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday - March 11, 2011

It's been a while since I've participated in a BBH or FF...maybe a month or so? This is mostly due to the fact that I've been so busy as to not have time to visit all the other hopping blogs to see what's goin' on in their worlds. :o) I try to take a few minutes to read some posts and whatnot, which when added up takes the. whole. weekend. It's so much fun, but you've got to have the time to do it! :o)

But anyway. I ramble. This week on the FF hop, the Featured blogger is Ashley from Bookaholic Does Blogging.

Q. Just like Ashley said (love it) "Ashley the girl..." who are You the Boy/Girl, instead of You the Blogger?

Alisha the girl. Well, when I'm not being a book lover, I'm being a word lover, teaching English and editing materials for others. I'm currently kickin' it abroad short-term with my husband, and am (very) slowly learning how to speak German. Crafting is my other love: crochet, knitting, jewelry-making...I love them all.

Gah! That's it. I look forward to reading other responses because it's always nice to know a bit about the person behind the books. ^_^

The Book Blogger Hop's question this week is the kind of question I often use for daydreaming. ^_^

"If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?"

To be completely honest, if I were given some mad money to spend on books, I'd make selections not in my usual group. That means cookbooks!!

• Basic Baking: All You Need to Bake Well Simply
• Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
  
• Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes
• The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Desserts

....can you tell that I love sweet treats? ^_^

So there you have it. If you're participating in this week's hops, I look forward to stopping by your place and reading your own answers! Schoenes Wochenende!

Blogger Hop (4) & Follow Friday (2)

Woo hoo! It's that time again. I really ought to not be so excited about surfing through other people's virtual stuff, but I am. The topic of discussion for this week's Book Blogger Hop (hosted by Crazy For Books) is:

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011?  Why are you anticipating that book?"

Oooooh yeah. This is really a toughie(!!!!) because 2011 is going to be a great year for book releases, and there are already quite few that I'm salivating over. But to choose one I'll have to go with the sequel to Meljean Brook's The Iron Duke...which I believe is tentatively titled Heart of Steel and will feature one of the characters introduce in the first book. The first book completely took me by surprise, most especially due to the imaginative world building and epic adventure. I can't wait to go back to the Iron Seas world. ^_^

Now, for this week's Follow Friday (the host of which is none other than the fabulous Parajunkee), the topic is:

What is/was your favorite subject in school?

As a youngling (say, during K-12), I was always absolutely fascinated by biology. At one point I'd thought, "I want to be an oceanographer!" (even though I have a fear of the vast, deep space of the open seas...but that's a whole other story). In college, I started out with the intention of studying biology, and then fell into linguistics when I had to take an intro Ling. course for a requirement. Well, I was freaking hooked. Call me naive but I had no idea there was a study of the concept of language. Well, that quickly became a favorite subject. It's so fascinating to consider the ways in which humankind develops communication...both conciously and subconsciously; over vast periods of time or within years; at a young age or in adulthood. I could go on all day! ^_^

So there you have it! I hope you're enjoying your own blog surfing, and look forward to crossing virtual paths!

Book Blogger Hop: drei (3), and 1st Follow Friday

A book-blog stalker's paradise, the Book Blogger Hop is. After a holiday hiatus, it's back for the new year. I for one am quite excited about seeing what people have been up to over the last couple weeks, as well as any 2010 Reading Roundups that are out there.

This week's BBH question is:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

     There are a number of books that I could list for various reasons, but for the sake of brevity ^_^ I'll go with Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I read it as a teenager, but even so I felt a distinct connection to--and identification with--the characters, especially protagonist Ender Wiggin. The book follows his story from age 6, and most of the cast is under the age of 10...but they are strong, resilient, heart-breaking people who inspired me greatly.

     I'd also be remiss to mention the first full-length novel I ever read (when I was 7 or 8, can't remember exactly): A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I was mesmerized and addicted to the written word from then on. I'll always be thankful for that.

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Also, I thought I'd try out Follow Friday from Parajunkee, whom I already blog-stalk extensively and adore.


This week's question is:

What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone's book blog?

Hm. Well, I've been getting a lot of new TBR list additions from the folks over at Book Lovers, Inc. They frequently feature books that seem off the beaten path but intriguing all the same. But the last book I specifically read based on a blogger's review was Ava Gray's Skin Game. Mandy at Smexy Books talked it up with such enthusiasm that I had to read the blog, and am now so glad I did; Ava Gray/Ann Aguirre is an auto-buy, for sure.



...and that's that. I look forward to checking out the many blogs out there over this weekend, as well as chatting with anyone who happens to stop by here. Cheers!

Blogger Hop: segundo!

So, last week I participated in my first Book Blogger Hop. It was SO much fun and I got to visit so many new and interesting blogs. While I won't be participating every week, I am very much looking forward to doing so when I'm able. And this week, I'm able! ^_^ So this week's question is:

"What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"

Man, this is an easy question to answer, because I always look for great characters in a story. Before anything else, I really love being able to connect to the main players. If I can't, then the plot doesn't quite interest or thrill me the way it otherwise could. I love serials, and it's because I am constantly falling in love with characters and can't bear the thought of leaving them alone after only one book.

     Now, whether plot or characters are more essential to the success of a book is a different way to view the question. And to that I have no answer. I can forgive a book an average plot...but if the characters are duds, I tend to drag my feet reading about them. And that's not to say I need to agree with a character... I've gotten attached to some antagonists (the whole "love to hate" deal), too. But they have to intrigue!

     Some authors that I think create fabulous characters include Victoria Dahl, Laurell K. Hamilton (for their detail and intricacies), and Janet Evanovich.

So there you have it! What about you...I'm curious to know! ^_^

Blogger Hop numero uno!

In addition to enjoying reading books and sharing thoughts on them, one thing I love to do is get other people's thoughts on the same! I often find myself cruising through my followed blogs (or fave users on GoodReads), seeing what books others are reading and what they've got going on.
Such is why I'm really excited to be participating in my first Book Blogger Hop! Hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books, it revolves around that same idea of getting to see what's going on with other book bloggers out there. There's also a question posed every week, which each participant is encouraged to discuss. This week's is:

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"
 
My answer may not be so exciting, but I love the reviews! They're the cornerstone of most book blogs, after all. ^_^ Even reading various reviews for the same book is fun (as is the case in book tours), since each blogger has their own review writing style, as well as (of course) differing opinions.

But I also love to find out individual bloggers' thoughts on a variety of topics. Sometimes it's the "rambling about ___" that is most enjoyable....and most hilarious! I recently read posts on topics like book review length, bizarre Christmas traditions, and the (sometimes appalling) behavior of bookstore customers. Whatever brings out the personality of the blogger is quite intriguing to me.