Your Dreams Are Not Your Own

...says the tag-line on Lisa McMann's Wake.

I finished this book today, and it was absolutely amazing. I'm a bigger fan of YA fiction because of this book. McMann truly has a wonderful story on her hands, and I'm so glad my friend recommended this for me. I can't wait to read the second book ((I'm pretty sure this is a series))!

Her writing style took some getting used to. I didn't hate it, but it seemed kind of bland at first. The more I read, though, the more I got sucked into the story. The character was just so engaging. The plot -- to me -- refreshing. And the voice was so real. I loved it.

For those of you unfamiliar with this book, it follows Janie Hannagan. From the time she was eight-years-old, she's been helplessly sucked into the dreams of those in close proximity to her. The more nightmarish the dream, the more difficult it is to pull herself out. It reveals the frustrations and tribulations she faces for being so different.

Cabel, a supporting character, is a total win. I love him. I think you will, too.

I still have many questions, which I hope Lisa answers for me in Fade. I'm going to order my hardcover copy off of Amazon right now. Wake, too, though I can't find the hardcover version. *grumbles* Anyway, I just can't wait to have them in my bookshelf.

The Sign for Drowning is a little slower going, as it's harder to read. Wake was a breeze, and just so engaging -- and again -- on my iPod which I can hide easier than a book while at work. But I feel like I'm finally coming along quite nicely.

In random, other news, I found out today I was named Honorable Mention in the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. Genre was Short Story. *smile* Pretty stoked.

Happy reading, everyone!

I Don't Even Know

I really want to finish Anna Karenina, but I'm dragging. I haven't picked up the book in a week. The writing has been going phenomenally -- I'm so excited about that! But it's at the expense of my reading time.

For a while, I was reading a little bit every night before I went to bed. I tried to squeeze an hour out of it, but sometimes it didn't hold my interest, and I struggled to stay awake. Now, my nights have consisted of staying awake until the wee hours writing continuously. The results are stupendous!

I feel very conflicted about the whole thing. I don't want to be loser and not read the book ((it really does have its moments where it's wonderful...)), but at this rate, I feel like I'll never get to read anything else from my booklist. I feel like maybe I ought to pick a different book, something a bit more appealing -- something that'll be easier for me to read and enjoy. Maybe then the reading/writing will be easier to balance.

I kind of hate myself right now.

I, Epic Fail

I pretty much suck. I've been reading Anna Karenina for, what?, over two weeks now? I'm not far along, at all. In fact, it's so embarrassing how much I have not been reading, that I refuse to release what page number I am.

I fail at life.

Sort of. I say that because, while I'm still struggling to get through the novel ((it's taken over 60 pages to meet the main character: WTF?)), I have reached my main goal. It's not to read 50 books this year; yes, it's important, but I decided to participate in this challenge because reading encourages me to write. By reading, I'm assaulted by my muse, my inspiration, my what-have-you. And when I haven't been reading, I've been writing. And it feels amazing.

Granted, it hasn't been for my NaNoWriMo novel, but it's still something. I'm supposed to write everyday, yeah? Well, these past two weeks, I have been. It's been awesome.

So, while I fail, I still win!!

I love it.

...Hopefully I'll stop being a chump and actually finish Anna Karenina. Honestly, though it's a tad on the boring side, there are portions that just draw me in. But, like Love in the Time of Cholera, they don't last very long.

Anyway, update. Sucky as it is.