Heart Full of Ink: September 2015

Love and Logic

2:13 PM

Summary of The Rosie Project

Don Tillman is a brilliant genetics professor whose social skills leave something to be desired. He follows his schedule with a dedication bordering on obsession and is often puzzled by his friends' and coworkers' obsession with emotions. At the urging of a friend, Don decides it is time for him to get married. In true Don fashion, he compiles a sixteen page survey for women to take so as to weed out the smokers, the drinkers, and the chronically late arrivers. He calls it The Wife Project.

While working on The Wife Project, Don meets Rosie, an independent woman looking to find her biological father. Don instantly disqualifies Rosie as a potential wife because she has all the qualities his survey is supposed to weed out. However, he does decide to use his knowledge of genetics to help Rosie find her father. As the two of them work closely together, a relationship forms.

Review of The Rosie Project

This is a light, fun, quick read. The narrator, Don, reminded me a bit of Dr. Sheldon Cooper from the TV show The Big Bang Theory. His observations of the world and people around him are endearing. When a woman he likes offers to share a taxi with him, he agrees as it would "reduce fuel usage." While never laugh out loud funny, the book did make me smile while I was reading it.

The storyline followed the route of your typical romantic comedy. It was fairly predictable, though I didn't predict who Rosie's biological father was.

One aspect of this book I really enjoyed was the fact that Rosie was independent but also emotionally flawed. She could take care of herself but also craved a connection with her biological father. In addition to her independence, Rosie also had gumption. She points out to Don that his survey treats women like objects. RomComs rarely delve into such thoughtful conversations about how men and women interact with each other, so I was pleasantly surprised by the way Rosie called Don out on his behavior towards women. Go, Rosie!

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick, funny romantic story. I read it in one sitting. It's a nice way to pass the time on a lazy afternoon.

Coming Soon

The next book I will be reading and reviewing will be The Archived by Victoria Schwab.

The Infinity Dreams Award

8:20 AM

Thank you to the lovely and talented Adelyn Sterling at Fable and Fancy for including me in the Infinity Dreams Award blog tag. She’s been immensely helpful in answering my questions when it comes to blogging, and I love reading her writing. Be sure to check out her blog Fable and Fancy and her stories on Figment. Thanks again, Adelyn!

Thank and follow the blog that nominated you.
Tell us eleven facts about yourself.
Answer the questions that were set for you to answer.
Nominate 11 bloggers and set questions for them.

Strictly the Facts:

I have the uncanny ability to always remember where my car is in a parking garage. My family has even called me before to tell me what level they’re parked on when I’m not with them and then called me again three hours later to ask where they’re parked. I have yet to be wrong.
I’m an Anglophile. Sometimes, I swear I should’ve been born in the UK. I love anything made by the BBC and have often been told my dry humor and wit have a distinct Britishness to them.
I enjoy puns--the more cringe worthy awful, the better--and I love to inflict them upon the people around me.
I like to bake. It’s a great stress reliever for me, and I delight in sharing my tasty creations with my family and coworkers (because otherwise I’d eat an entire cheesecake by myself, and, while the idea sounds like pure bliss, that’s not exactly healthy).
I strongly dislike driving. I’d much rather have someone else drive so that I can read. If I could walk everywhere in the world and get there as quickly as driving, I totally would. There are too many variables in driving and walking is so much simpler. Or, I’d Apparate.
I have a serious case of wanderlust. So far, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit seven different countries (Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and the Dominican Republic), and my travel wish list is always growing. It’s my hope to hop across the pond to England this summer with some of my college friends.
I enjoy visiting museums. My family and I like to joke that it isn’t truly a vacation unless you go to a museum. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is by far my favorite. If you haven’t been, I definitely recommend it.
I’m a proud feminist. Gender equality for the win!
Out of my three siblings, I’m the only one who was born on the actual due date. I like to think that this is the reason why I’m always on time and the rest of them are late:)
Winter is my favorite season. Snow covered trees, winter coats, sweaters, hot chocolate, sledding, ice skating, and the magic of waking up to a snow day, what’s not to love?
Because I grew up being told typing was for final drafts, I often turn to a pencil and notebook when I’m stuck writing a scene. Staring at a white piece of notebook paper is far less intimidating than the blank white page and flashing cursor on a computer. I find I’m more willing to take risks and be creative on paper than I am on the computer.

Adelyn Wants to Know

What is your Starbucks order?

I prefer hot chocolate over coffee. However, when I need the caffeine boost, I order a S’mores Frappuccino.

What is your favorite Fairytale or Myth?

Oh, this is a tough one because I enjoy a lot of fairy tales and myths. Fairy tale=Beauty and the Beast. Myth=The World on the Turtle’s Back (an Iroquois creation myth)

How do you find inspiration to write?

I find inspiration from the world around me and the books I read.

What is one of your guilty pleasures?

I like Amy Poehler’s thoughts on guilty pleasures--you shouldn’t feel ashamed of liking something. That being said, I do enjoy cuddling up with a predictable romance novel every now and then.

If you could only read the work of one author for the rest of your life, who would it be?

J. K. Rowling, hands down. I read the Harry Potter books growing up and am still enamored with her skill as a storyteller.

What is your Hogwarts house? Faction? District?

Hogwarts house (per Pottermore, so it’s official): Ravenclaw. I have to admit that at first I was nervous about being sorted into Ravenclaw because I didn’t think I was smart enough to be a member of a house with the motto “wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.” Good ol’ JK soon put my worries to rest by explaining that Ravenclaws love learning and often work together to discover the answer to the riddle, which acts as the password to enter Ravenclaw tower.

Faction (per various online quizzes, so not exactly official): Factionless. I showed characteristics of multiple factions, though Amity, Erudite, and Abnegation were three of the highest on the list. If I had to choose a faction, I’d probably belong to Amity because I like helping other people and avoid conflict at all costs.

District (per the Buzzfeed quiz I just finished taking now): 10-the industry of livestock. However, if I had the choice, I think I’d want to live in District 5. The scene in Mockingjay Part 1 with the people singing “The Hanging Tree” as they stormed the dam was a truly chilling piece of cinematography, and I would love to be a part of such an epic moment. Granted, I’d probably be dead, but, considering most people in the Hunger Games series don’t make it out alive, I think I’d be okay with that.

What was the last book that kept you up at night?

The Walled City by Rachel Graudin.

If we had to go on a Lord of the Rings-esque adventure, what skills would you bring to the table?

1. I like to hike (so I’m cool with walking all the way to Mordor).

2. I’m a good listener. Need a shoulder to cry on because the Orcs have slaughtered your best friend? I’m your girl.

3. I am compassionate and empathetic. I’ll gladly volunteer to lighten your burden and carry the one ring to rule them all for a little bit so you can get some rest, much like Sam does for Frodo.

4. My ability to easily blend into the background should come in handy when we need to be stealthy.

5. I have shot a bow and arrow before (I may not be as good as Legolas, and I might miss my target more often than I hit it, but I still look pretty BA drawing the string back as I prepare to let loose the arrow).

6. I like to keep an open mind. So, if you want to eat a second breakfast or elevenses, you’ll get no judgement from me. In fact, I’ll probably pull up a chair and join you.

7. I’m extremely loyal. No need to worry about me being tempted to double cross you. I’ll remain true throughout our entire quest.

Describe your current WIP in 140 characters or less.

When a curse maker is accused of casting killing curses, she must learn to trust a rival curse breaker in order to clear her name.

What is your myers-briggs personality type?

ISFJ-The Defender.

If you were a pie, what kind of pie would you be?

Mmm, now I’m craving pie! I think I’d be a nice slice of raspberry pie (sweet, simple, but not as ordinary as apple pie).

Your Turn

I nominate RA Black, S J Bouquet, BK Rivers, and Alyssa Carlier

Your Questions:

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Who is your favorite book character and why?
What do you do when you have writer’s block?
What was the last book you read that kept you up reading late into the night?
Describe your current WIP in 140 characters or less.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and why?
What’s one underappreciated book you think everyone should read and why?
Are you a plotter or a pantster? What sort of planning, if any, do you do before writing your first draft of a novel?
What are three words that best describe your personality and why?
If you were going on an adventure, what would you pack in your knapsack?
What is the most played song on your iPod (or whatever apparatus you use to listen to music)?

Black is Back

7:17 PM

Summary of The Darkest Part of the Forest

Hazel and her brother Ben live in the town of Fairfold where mortals and faeries live side by side. Tourists travel to Fairfold every year to try to glimpse faeries and take pictures of themselves next to the horned boy who sleeps in a glass coffin in the forest. As children, Hazel and Ben pretended they were a knight and a minstrel who went on adventures and slew monsters. Each dreamed of one day freeing the horned boy from the glass coffin. Eventually, Hazel and Ben become teenagers and put aside their childish games.

Everything changes when the horned boy wakes from his slumber, tossing the town of Fairfold into a whirlwind of secrets, sorrow, and pain. Hazel must become the knight she always pretended to be or the town of Fairfold may be lost forever.

Review

The first book I ever read by Holly Black was Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. It was my first real introduction to the darker side of the Fey. In The Darkest Part of the Forest, Black returns to the beautiful and terrifying faerie tales that launched her writing career. I am so glad she decided to return to this world.

What I love the most about Black's writing are her characters. Her female protagonists are all strong in their own way, and, best of all, they are flawed. Hazel definitely does not disappoint. She holds her own against the faeries, and yet she still makes mistakes. Black also does a good job of including varied supporting characters. Ben, Hazel's brother, has his own storyline which supports and complicates Hazel's.

Along with her strong characters, Black also immerses her readers in a vivid setting. Her descriptions of the Fey are beautiful and at times haunting. She also provides plenty of details which make the story sharper.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book immensely. The plot was engaging, and the pacing was spot on. It has been a while since I've read a book in which I didn't predict a plot twist before it happened. The Darkest Part of the Forest managed to keep me guessing until the secret was revealed. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark, twisted fairy tales with a strong heroine.

Coming Soon

The next book on my list to read is The Rosie Project by Graeme C. Simsion. Please feel free to comment below with books you think I should add to my reading list. Happy reading, my friends!

Give A Girl A Book And She'll Want Another

8:38 PM

The Plan

My to-read list is never ending. Whenever I go to a bookstore, I madly scribble down book titles that look interesting on the back of receipts I find floating around in my purse. I can easily spend hours in a library either browsing for new reads or curling up in a comfy chair to lose myself in a good story. With all the reading that I do, it is sometimes hard to keep track of all the different books I've read. Countless times, I'll begin a conversation with my sister which starts with "What's the name of that book you and I both read with the girl who (insert random part of the book I remember here)?" So, I've decided to keep a blog of all the books I read. I'll include a summary of each book and a review.

The Inspiration

Many of you may have heard the story behind One Thousand and One Nights. For those of you who haven't, the story is about a distrustful sultan and a brave woman who tells stories to save her life. According to the story, King Shahryar discovers that his wife has been unfaithful to him. In a fit of rage, he kills his wife and those with whom she has betrayed him. From that moment onward, the king loathes women and decides to marry a new woman and kill her every day until no more candidates can be found. Then, a woman named Shahrazad (Schezherazade), daughter of the king's vizier, steps forward to marry the king. The vizier at first tries to dissuade his daughter, afraid that she will meet the same fate as all the other sultan's wives, but Shahrazad has a plan to save herself and her people. Each night, Shahrazad begins to tell a story but stops without completing it and promises to finish it the next night. The king is so entertained by the stories and eager to know how they end that he keeps delaying Shahrazad's execution from day to day. Eventually, he abandons his cruel plan and the two of them live happily ever after. It is said that Shahrazad told the sultan stories for 1,001 nights, hence the title: One Thousand and One Nights.

In honor of Shahrazad, I have made it my goal to read 1,oo1 books. How long this undertaking will last, I do not know. Shahrazad told stories for almost three years. Undoubtedly, it will take me a good deal longer to read 1,oo1 books.

If you are interested in the story of Shahrazad and her stories, here are three books I recommend you read.

1. One Thousand and One Nights-This is the collection of stories Shahrazad told to the king.

2. The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey-This book tells the story of Shahrazad in the form of a love story.

3. Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher-In this book, Shahrazad is running out of stories to tell the sultan and turns to a young girl named Marjan for help.

Book 1 of 1,001

Every journey begins with a single step. The first book I will include in this blog will be The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. Check back soon for a summary and review of it. It is my hope that you'll find at least one book on this blog which will strike your fancy and keep you up reading late into the night.

Until next time, fellow bibliophiles!

Heart Full of Ink

Love and Logic

The Infinity Dreams Award

Black is Back

Give A Girl A Book And She'll Want Another

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