Book Reviews by Today, I Read…

(Before I start this week’s Sunday Salon, I want to wish all my U.S. readers a happy 4th of July…may your barbeque be extra delicious and your fireworks extra sparkly!)

This is something I’ve been curious about for a while, but never actually gotten around to discussing.

At the end of a book I was reading, the author had published a playlist.

Interesting, I thought, but wouldn’t the music distract from the reading experience?

Of course, this thought process comes from my own desire to read in silence or with light (usually classical) music since lyrics tend to distract me.

Then I realized it’s probably because I imagine how each of the  words sound as I read (aka subvocalize). This gives me a feel for the rhythm and flow and tone of the prose. Listening to music, especially if there are lyrics, interferes with that. It’s like listening to two sometimes incongruent songs at the same time.

Now writing is a different story. While I sometimes prefer to write in silence, I almost always require music while editing or rewriting. A particular song can even inspire an entire scene. In that vein, I can certainly see the usefulness in a playlist.

But it still comes back to the original question…as a reader, how inclined are you to listen to music (or the author’s designated playlist) while reading a book?

The short story Blood by Roddy Doyle can be found in Stories: All-New Tales Edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio.

Short Synopsis

A man, married with children, discovers one evening that he has an insatiable desire for blood, but doesn’t understand why. It’s not as though he’s a vampire, or even has an interest in them. Still, this desire drives him to do some crazy things which involves a neighbor’s chickens.

My Thoughts on Blood by Roddy Doyle

Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read, although I must admit the prose style required some getting used to. (There are no quotes for the dialog; it’s preceded by a dash.)

That said, this wasn’t the greatest short story I’d ever read. In a few places there was a noticeable voice shift which pulled me out of the story and other sections meandered, which just shouldn’t happen in a short story.

As far as character development goes, there wasn’t much, but it was forgivable since the primary focus is on what’s happening to the protagonist. The unfolding scenario was interesting enough to hold my attention and there was a fun twist at the end which made me smile on the inside.

This is my first time reading Roddy Doyle and, after this story, I’m likely to read more of his writing.

Final rating: B

(You can actually read this story online for free at the Times website. Don’t know if that link will work forever, though.)

In the interest a being more organized about my reviewing, I’ve decided to start publishing my monthly reading schedule. Right now, I just have a ginormous calendar which sits on my desk and I slot in books based on their release date.

For the month of July, there are about nine books I definitely want to read. Also, I’ll mention that I won’t actually give them a specific date since I tend to read based on mood. Instead, this post will most likely resemble a book pool.

The holdovers from June:

Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase • I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan • Everlasting by Angie Frazier

…And then there are the books I initially planned to read in July:

Life, After by Sarah Darer Litman • The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson • Sell Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins • One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt • Spirit by Andrew Feder • Stories (edited) by Neil Gaiman & Al Sarrantonio

Since books pass through here on an almost daily basis, this list may change through the month, but my goal is to finish (and review) all the books listed above.

Curious: Do you currently have a monthly reading schedule? If so, how do you organize it? If not, how do you manage your TBR stack? (I’m looking for ideas because my current system is a system-in-progress and improvements would be gladly appreciated.)

This is just a quick post letting everyone know that for 24 hours, the book cataloging software called All My Books can be downloaded for free from the Giveaway of the Day website.

After spending days cataloging my books into MS Excel (and I’m still not finished) I’m going to download this software and take it for a test spin myself. Thank goodness it has an import feature.

[The deal, unfortunately, has ended. It might be offered again sometime in the future, though.]

Title: The Clearing
Author: Heather Davis
ISBN: 978-0-5472-6367-0
Story Length: 228 pages
Genre: Young Adult Light Paranormal Romance

Back Cover of The Clearing

Every single night that summer I lay awake wishing my life were different. And then one day it was…but not in the way you probably think.

"Different" for Amy was moving from the city to her aunt’s trailer in the country–starting her senior year at a new high school, putting the pain of a broken relationship behind her, starting fresh.

"Different" was Henry, a teenage boy Amy meets in the clearing behind Aunt Mae’s. Henry dresses differently, talks differently, and treats her better than any guy she’s ever known. And she’s starting to fall for him.

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of clearing, it’s 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy’s crossing over to Henry’s side brings him more happiness than he’s ever known–but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

In this touching tale about falling in love, finding strength, and having the courage to make your own destiny, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever…and learn that true love can be truly magical

Three Quick Points About The Clearing

• Point 1: Ultra-sweet. This is a book for true romantics at heart.
• Point 2: Melding two generations. Through beautiful prose, Davis paints a lovely portrait of the idyllic life of a bygone generation.
• Point 3: A few tiny holes. Some inconsistencies (and stupidities) pricked tiny holes in an otherwise beautiful story and made me wince. Continue reading »