C. J. Daley
I received this as a gift, but ended up doing the audio for it due to time.
Strangely enough, I’ve seen handfuls of people talk about this book with the warning “just don’t treat it like scripture!” I’ve had it said to me personally and I’ve seen it said online, and honestly, I’ve not actually seen anyone treat it like that. Could it be because of all of our well meaning warners, or is it just a strange attachment it’s gotten over time?
Anyway, this is a strange little mix of memoir and writing instructional. For someone that claims they don’t really remember their childhood (or maybe he just meant that in relation to the other book he mentioned) this is a pretty detailed recounting. Doctor’s visits, school mishaps, and even somethings with quoted dialogue. I’m not sure I could recount as much! It’s interesting, well paced, and short enough to be entertaining as well as it is informative. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of King, not by any stretch, but it is interesting to learn more about someone that so many consider a master.
Now for the instructions, habits, and necessities of writing, there are some things in this that I took away as fantastic, and there were things I really disagreed with. On one hand, King’s opinions on adjectives, dialogue, and characters were things I will focus and think over in the future. He is another firmly set in the department of “said” being all that’s needed. And he states that your dialogue and characters actions will dictate how they’re speaking, not a simple word attached to said. Are your characters fighting? Readers will assume they may be getting loud. Are you characters hidden in a closet while a madman hunts them? Readers will assume they are whispering. That doesn’t mean that a well placed word can’t help, but to do it often is just fluff.
King is a big reader, and he spent a lot of his time growing up writing. But he then says that he firmly believes that a bad writer cannot become good, and a good writer cannot become great. And it feels as if we’re just supposed to believe that by him writing and reading as a teen that he was just miraculously chosen as one of the greats (of the three options given, I figured this one is the one people would label him as, he certainly does not do so himself)? I do believe in natural talent, but with something so obviously learned like writing skills, I can’t believe someone like him could believe that these people are simply made, or somehow chosen? Furthermore, when he goes into his best “practices” (his daily routines) he mentions needing to continually write, always working on the craft, and to read voraciously. Both things I’d personally consider to be PRACTICE. It almost seems like what he said and what he does are at odds there…
Regardless of if you agree with him or me, this is short on being a masterclass in writing technique, and frankly, he wasn’t trying to make it one. He remarks on how many of these exist, what he could possibly add, and who is he to even do so. And in that sense, as well as the personal tidbits, this remains an informative, enjoyable and grounded read. I am getting into more reads by the author, and I can see he’s a fantastic writer, so it was also nice to see that he doesn’t have a big head. And the narration by the author is always a nice touch.
I received this as a gift, but ended up doing the audio for it due to time.
Strangely enough, I’ve seen handfuls of people talk about this book with the warning “just don’t treat it like scripture!” I’ve had it said to me personally and I’ve seen it said online, and honestly, I’ve not actually seen anyone treat it like that. Could it be because of all of our well meaning warners, or is it just a strange attachment it’s gotten over time?
Anyway, this is a strange little mix of memoir and writing instructional. For someone that claims they don’t really remember their childhood (or maybe he just meant that in relation to the other book he mentioned) this is a pretty detailed recounting. Doctor’s visits, school mishaps, and even somethings with quoted dialogue. I’m not sure I could recount as much! It’s interesting, well paced, and short enough to be entertaining as well as it is informative. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of King, not by any stretch, but it is interesting to learn more about someone that so many consider a master.
Now for the instructions, habits, and necessities of writing, there are some things in this that I took away as fantastic, and there were things I really disagreed with. On one hand, King’s opinions on adjectives, dialogue, and characters were things I will focus and think over in the future. He is another firmly set in the department of “said” being all that’s needed. And he states that your dialogue and characters actions will dictate how they’re speaking, not a simple word attached to said. Are your characters fighting? Readers will assume they may be getting loud. Are you characters hidden in a closet while a madman hunts them? Readers will assume they are whispering. That doesn’t mean that a well placed word can’t help, but to do it often is just fluff.
King is a big reader, and he spent a lot of his time growing up writing. But he then says that he firmly believes that a bad writer cannot become good, and a good writer cannot become great. And it feels as if we’re just supposed to believe that by him writing and reading as a teen that he was just miraculously chosen as one of the greats (of the three options given, I figured this one is the one people would label him as, he certainly does not do so himself)? I do believe in natural talent, but with something so obviously learned like writing skills, I can’t believe someone like him could believe that these people are simply made, or somehow chosen? Furthermore, when he goes into his best “practices” (his daily routines) he mentions needing to continually write, always working on the craft, and to read voraciously. Both things I’d personally consider to be PRACTICE. It almost seems like what he said and what he does are at odds there…
Regardless of if you agree with him or me, this is short on being a masterclass in writing technique, and frankly, he wasn’t trying to make it one. He remarks on how many of these exist, what he could possibly add, and who is he to even do so. And in that sense, as well as the personal tidbits, this remains an informative, enjoyable and grounded read. I am getting into more reads by the author, and I can see he’s a fantastic writer, so it was also nice to see that he doesn’t have a big head. And the narration by the author is always a nice touch.
I originally received this as an e-ARC read. On a personal note, I was reading this when I went through a really serious breakup. The author saw, and messaged me to say it was okay to be late or even drop the read altogether. It meant a lot and it just so happened that I did need to step away. I have since purchased the book (and all his others though!).
I stopped reading the book right around the same time I picked it back up this year. I was about 50% in, and it had been a slow burn. Other than the impetus that set up the story’s drive, not much action had happened. I was wondering how and when it would finally pick up. But then strangely, I stepped away, and I have never continually thought about something I’ve read so much as this for the entire year I was away.
The novel starts with a group of friends on earth the night their hometown is attacked by a group of invaders. They fight back, in defense of each other, and something extraordinary happens. Earth finds out overnight that they are not alone, never were, and are now actively being recruited into a space army. Colton and his friends sign up, charged up and looking for revenge. They ship off and get filtered into groups that are immediately sent to an accelerated schooling program. This is where I left off, and yet I continued to find my thoughts coming back to Colton and his friends time and again.
The author does a great job of showing healthy male relationships, with empathy and understanding, and emotional scenes. And while they may not all learn at the same pace, they embody different strengths and they learn to come together and support each other. This book is a real journey too, it’s basically A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back in one. They have answered the call, and they have to pass the test and training to have any hope of facing the enemy and making it out in one piece. The combat simulations they are put through were riveting and really showed the reader their growth.
The background political intrigue was just another layer that shows the author’s ability. Well sprinkled in, and I really enjoyed the use of keeping our lead informed as our way of finding out too. Oh, and it lead into one hell of a twist and climax! I gotta get into book two soon!
I originally received this as an e-ARC read. On a personal note, I was reading this when I went through a really serious breakup. The author saw, and messaged me to say it was okay to be late or even drop the read altogether. It meant a lot and it just so happened that I did need to step away. I have since purchased the book (and all his others though!).
I stopped reading the book right around the same time I picked it back up this year. I was about 50% in, and it had been a slow burn. Other than the impetus that set up the story’s drive, not much action had happened. I was wondering how and when it would finally pick up. But then strangely, I stepped away, and I have never continually thought about something I’ve read so much as this for the entire year I was away.
The novel starts with a group of friends on earth the night their hometown is attacked by a group of invaders. They fight back, in defense of each other, and something extraordinary happens. Earth finds out overnight that they are not alone, never were, and are now actively being recruited into a space army. Colton and his friends sign up, charged up and looking for revenge. They ship off and get filtered into groups that are immediately sent to an accelerated schooling program. This is where I left off, and yet I continued to find my thoughts coming back to Colton and his friends time and again.
The author does a great job of showing healthy male relationships, with empathy and understanding, and emotional scenes. And while they may not all learn at the same pace, they embody different strengths and they learn to come together and support each other. This book is a real journey too, it’s basically A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back in one. They have answered the call, and they have to pass the test and training to have any hope of facing the enemy and making it out in one piece. The combat simulations they are put through were riveting and really showed the reader their growth.
The background political intrigue was just another layer that shows the author’s ability. Well sprinkled in, and I really enjoyed the use of keeping our lead informed as our way of finding out too. Oh, and it lead into one hell of a twist and climax! I gotta get into book two soon!
Had this on my radar for a while and managed to grab one on a nice sale. The hardcover size is typically for art books, and I thought the quality was good.
Can I start by just saying 5*, 10 out of 10, 100% just based off the Tolkien art alone? To be such a visionary, such a creative mind, and to also be an artist is just so crazy to me. Now a lot of these are pencil sketches, and some are even a stretch to call them that, but there are also full color drawings and designs that were eventually used in the books. Even saying that, it’s crazy just to see how his mind was at work creating and then editing these descriptions with actual drawing.
The book itself is organized pretty well. The only mix up is there are several parts where the writing goes on long past mentioning the referenced art, sometimes multiple references. So you’re either flipping back and forth over and over or not sure what they’re talking about. With that being said, I’ve had the same problem with some other art books, and I can’t really think of a fix, unless you really segment the writing to input the art.
A particular favorite of mine was seeing all the iterations of the cover artworks Tolkien worked on and submitted. It feels like a different world where the author has so much control in their own process. They must have really trusted him, and clearly it worked! It’s also nice to see that someone regarded as great by so many people also didn’t always know the answer. He worked and worked and sometimes it seems he even fumbled his way there, and Middle-earth fans are luckier for it.
Had this on my radar for a while and managed to grab one on a nice sale. The hardcover size is typically for art books, and I thought the quality was good.
Can I start by just saying 5*, 10 out of 10, 100% just based off the Tolkien art alone? To be such a visionary, such a creative mind, and to also be an artist is just so crazy to me. Now a lot of these are pencil sketches, and some are even a stretch to call them that, but there are also full color drawings and designs that were eventually used in the books. Even saying that, it’s crazy just to see how his mind was at work creating and then editing these descriptions with actual drawing.
The book itself is organized pretty well. The only mix up is there are several parts where the writing goes on long past mentioning the referenced art, sometimes multiple references. So you’re either flipping back and forth over and over or not sure what they’re talking about. With that being said, I’ve had the same problem with some other art books, and I can’t really think of a fix, unless you really segment the writing to input the art.
A particular favorite of mine was seeing all the iterations of the cover artworks Tolkien worked on and submitted. It feels like a different world where the author has so much control in their own process. They must have really trusted him, and clearly it worked! It’s also nice to see that someone regarded as great by so many people also didn’t always know the answer. He worked and worked and sometimes it seems he even fumbled his way there, and Middle-earth fans are luckier for it.
Had the perfect opportunity line up where I had just started this as an audio arc and I had the chance to grab a category for the Indie Ink Awards as well. I was so excited to get into this one.
You may not know this, but I am a huge zombie fan. Since Shaun of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead (Snyder), I’ve been a fan of both the more comedic and the serious iterations. As a TWD Universe stan, I just finished a rewatch and a full watch through of all the spinoffs. So I was definitely ready to go when it came to picking this up. And while I’ve been a part of the reviewing community since 2020, there does seem to be a bit of a distance between zombies and readers—not necessarily in the sense of looking down on the genre, but there’s definitely a disconnect—especially when it comes to novel form. Luckily, the author grips you with compelling characterizations, making the zombies an obstacle in the story, rather than the whole plot.
Now I will say there was some mild apprehension behind starting. Mostly as I am in the plotting/early writing phase of working on my own zombie thriller and I was worried about infecting (see what I did there) my own plot with things I loved from this one. And honestly, I know for a fact I’m not capable of being this concise. The prose are sharp and everything is to the point without appearing rushed in any way. So not only am I far too longwinded to appear like I’m pulling from this one, the author also went and made their own unique twist on the genre to take them a step further. These creatures, these infected, can laugh maniacally, can scheme, and when they turn without injury, they can remain awfully fast.
The author is certainly playing within the tropes I know and love here, which for me made this a compulsive read. Although I will say, woah! zombie novel where they say zombie!! Each scene end is a chapter, whether short or long, and that made for a continuous “one more chapter” pull to every break away. Kate and Nick find each other through unusual means, in rather unusual times, and that makes them connect all the more immediately. They’ve both got loads of baggage to deal with, making them complex and compelling in a relatable way. While this novel touches on the depravity that humanity would sink to after the world’s ending, this is more about the idea of hope. Both characters have already seen the dark side of man, and unfortunately it came for them before the world turned over. Therefore they’ve come into the apocalypse already doing what it takes to carry on—surviving. They both could have given up, could have stopped, but they didn’t, and you know what, they found each other! A person can be a safe place even when the world is not one.
Huge notes of abuse and mental health issues, as well as their coping mechanisms or lackthere of. This is a story about survival, but be warned it does not shy away from the reality that causes these issues. It’s deep and real and engaging, and it will leave you thinking when it’s done. And even though it’s dark, you’ll want even more.
Had the perfect opportunity line up where I had just started this as an audio arc and I had the chance to grab a category for the Indie Ink Awards as well. I was so excited to get into this one.
You may not know this, but I am a huge zombie fan. Since Shaun of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead (Snyder), I’ve been a fan of both the more comedic and the serious iterations. As a TWD Universe stan, I just finished a rewatch and a full watch through of all the spinoffs. So I was definitely ready to go when it came to picking this up. And while I’ve been a part of the reviewing community since 2020, there does seem to be a bit of a distance between zombies and readers—not necessarily in the sense of looking down on the genre, but there’s definitely a disconnect—especially when it comes to novel form. Luckily, the author grips you with compelling characterizations, making the zombies an obstacle in the story, rather than the whole plot.
Now I will say there was some mild apprehension behind starting. Mostly as I am in the plotting/early writing phase of working on my own zombie thriller and I was worried about infecting (see what I did there) my own plot with things I loved from this one. And honestly, I know for a fact I’m not capable of being this concise. The prose are sharp and everything is to the point without appearing rushed in any way. So not only am I far too longwinded to appear like I’m pulling from this one, the author also went and made their own unique twist on the genre to take them a step further. These creatures, these infected, can laugh maniacally, can scheme, and when they turn without injury, they can remain awfully fast.
The author is certainly playing within the tropes I know and love here, which for me made this a compulsive read. Although I will say, woah! zombie novel where they say zombie!! Each scene end is a chapter, whether short or long, and that made for a continuous “one more chapter” pull to every break away. Kate and Nick find each other through unusual means, in rather unusual times, and that makes them connect all the more immediately. They’ve both got loads of baggage to deal with, making them complex and compelling in a relatable way. While this novel touches on the depravity that humanity would sink to after the world’s ending, this is more about the idea of hope. Both characters have already seen the dark side of man, and unfortunately it came for them before the world turned over. Therefore they’ve come into the apocalypse already doing what it takes to carry on—surviving. They both could have given up, could have stopped, but they didn’t, and you know what, they found each other! A person can be a safe place even when the world is not one.
Huge notes of abuse and mental health issues, as well as their coping mechanisms or lackthere of. This is a story about survival, but be warned it does not shy away from the reality that causes these issues. It’s deep and real and engaging, and it will leave you thinking when it’s done. And even though it’s dark, you’ll want even more.