Spinning Silver was the January choice for my work book club. And while I didn’t finish the novel in time for the meeting, I’m still going to write an evaluation here. Spoilers to come, and my overall verdict is 4/5 stars. Would recommend. Organization We’ll start with quasi-criticism. I wasn’t repulsed by the organization or…
The Gifts of Imperfection: A Chart!
I’ve been on a Brené Brown kick for the past several months. When I read The Gifts of Imperfection, I made a spreadsheet-graphic of the guideposts to wholehearted living.
Writing a Novel with the Loose Draft
Today, let’s talk about loose drafting, a writing strategy that is a mix of plotting and pantsing.
Book Review: The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
I loved The Hate U Give. 5/5 stars. Pacing I was incredibly impressed with the pacing. The book was hard to put down from the beginning, largely because each chapter had a conflict that needed to be resolved, with each chapter’s conflict flowing into the overall conflicts of the book. I don’t utilize conflict that…
Review: Becoming, by Michelle Obama
I decided to read Becoming because I’d heard such great things about it, and it did not disappoint. I was delighted to find how well-written the book is, given that it’s a memoir by a public figure. I waffle between 4 and 5 stars, so we’ll say 4.5 / 5 stars. Maybe 4.75 / 5….
Brené Brown Meets the Sorting Hat Chats
I’ve been thinking about Hogwarts Sortings again recently, for two reasons. One, a little while ago a co-worker clued me in on the Sorting Hat Chats quiz. And two, I’m re-reading Braving the Wilderness as part of my work with Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and one of our discussions centered around our core values.
So today we’re going to talk Hogwarts. Again.
Book Review: Piecing Me Together, by Renée Watson
Piecing Me Together was a bit slowly paced for me, but in the end I loved the book. 5/5 stars. Spoilers to follow. Pacing For the first half of the book, we watch Jade live her life. While we’re getting used to her reality, this is interesting. However, for me, this get-to-know-Jade period lasted too…
4 YA Romance Tropes That Need to Die Now
I recently read Spin the Dawn, which had some interesting elements but also used some YA romance tropes that I hate. Today I will rail against those tropes. Spoilers for Spin the Dawn to follow. Creepy Power Imbalances Maia, the protagonist for Spin the Dawn, is 18, and she gets with an incredibly powerful enchanter…
Review: Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza
Left to Tell: Finding God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust tells about Immaculée’s experience in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and how she forgave the people who murdered most of her family. I rated the book 4 stars on Goodreads.
Kenna Ainsley 