Archive for April 14th, 2010

April 14th, 2010

Road Trip Wednesday

by Holly Dodson

It’s Road Trip Wednesday again over on the YA Highway!

This Week’s Topic:
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
This is easy. Drum roll please….

Just write.

Yep. Best. Advice. Ever.

Really though, you have a story in you and you know it wants to come out. You dream of being a writer/author, imagining holding your precious book in your hands, neatly bound with astonishing cover art. (Sigh.) The only way to make your dream come true is to just sit down and do it. Nobody’s promising it’ll be easy. In fact, I’ll promise you it won’t be. But do you want to know a secret? You’ll have fun. Lots of fun, and countless enjoyable hours spent with the characters you love.

So, do it! Pick up the pen, open up your computer, whatever it takes, and just write. Worry about the rest later.

 

April 14th, 2010

Book Recommendation – The Hunger Games

by Holly Dodson
The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

Oh my freaking goodness. I don’t even know where to start on this one. First of all, it was amazing. And I don’t take that label lightly.

Katniss is a protagonist I can love. Right from the start I’m connected to her in her struggle to survive and keep her sister fed. It’s something I would have done for my own sister if life had called for it. The games themselves are treated like our Olympics with huge parties and celebrations. But the truth is, they’re sending these kids for slaughter and everyone knows it. It’s slightly horrific to read about children murdering each other. Yet I kept reading.

There are so many twists and turns through the story you feel like you’re on a roller coaster, unable to breathe with the wind pounding your face. I really love that the ending remains a surprise. I could never have guessed where it was going, even though I was trying. Suzanne made sure to keep us on our toes.

Bottom line: Read it. Even through the horror of the games, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.

I can’t wait to read Catching Fire, in fact I may go pick it up at lunch.