I have put much of my reading aside for the past few months as I was working to complete my manuscript. It is hard for me to focus on different stories when I am so absorbed in my own characters. I feel like the moments I devote to strangers I am taking away from the people who need me. The little people who live in pages that I am trying to bring to life!
I finished my work in progress just in time for summer vacation! I didn’t want to jump into another writing project yet. I still had edits to do (never-ending!), that don’t let me use my brain in the creative way writing does. But reading? I knew it would be the very thing to get me through a month-long edit-sesh!
I had so much fun with the books I read. At one point during vacation I was in Powell’s bookstore with my friend Julie. We were looking for grown up books. You know, not young adult fiction? And I bought one large tome but I only got through 20 pages—don’t be disappointed in me Julie!
But I did get through:
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
This book is harrowing and heartbreaking and a very important book for teen girls (and anyone who wants to understand them better).
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Okay, this was so wonderful! I cried and cried and cried. And maybe it was because I was on vacation without my husband, at my in-laws, and a bit more emotional than normal—but it was such a wonderfully spun story in a gorgeous island setting. This is a super high recommend!
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
This book is as timely as ever: 16-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for the fatal shooting of a convenience store owner. It is written in such a unique way. It is such an important story and on such an important topic. I challenge you to read it.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
and then I quickly read the next book in the trilogy,
Insurgent by Veronica Roth.
I loved these. Loved them. Stayed up all night reading them. Forced my husband to read them. Like I stole the Game of Thrones book he was reading and forced this upon him. Did I mention I like it? I favor it over the Hunger Games (I adore the love story Roth has created!). Read it and we can gush together!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
There is a reason this book is so well loved. It is a great coming of age story set in 1991. It is real. It is tragic. It is Catcher in the Rye for todays teens.
Matched by Allie Condle
The concept is great: A dystopian story where everyone is ‘matched’ with their mate and then must become the good citizens they are required to be. Unless you want to challenge the system, unless you want to make your own choices and fall in love. Swoon, right!? I am a sucker for this kinda story and was not disappointed! Very fun!
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Well, this story had me at Sister Wives, and a ya dystopian to boot? I was sold. In the future, every male dies at 25, every woman at 20. Orphans, viruses and a rush to find the cure before the population dies. Throw in a decadent mansion, 3 teen brides who fight for freedom, opulent parties and forbidden love. Yep, loved it.
Ok. So you can clearly see that I adore stories and am an easy reader. I like to like stories. I want to fall in love with characters and I have to really be upset to not root for a story. There have been times I have thrown a book across the room, don’t get me wrong. I have even ripped a few in half and thrown them away.
But not this month. This month I was so happy with the titles I read. It made for very fun beach reading and car reading and late night reading.
