Heartless is Breathtaking!

First off, I love anything to do with Lewis Carroll and the "Alice" stories. Love it, love it, love it. Not so far as to have an entire sleeve being tattooed on my arm, but close enough. (Note to self - go back and read my annotated copy of Alice in Wonderland.)

Actually, I am going to claim ignorance of what the book was about.  I don't always read the fly-leaf on the cover. I just know I have enjoyed Meyer's retelling of fairy tales in The Lunar Chronicles, so I brought it home with me.  And devoured it. Much like the delectable confections Cath prepares in the book. The result - I discovered something special (and cried a bit too).

Catherine is nobility. But all she wants to do is open a bakery, preparing all manner of sweets and tarts. However, the King has his eye on more than her tarts and a new court jester has arrived. Along with the Jabberwoky.

What happens is a romp through Wonderland with all your favorite characters, including a Mad Hatter, who might not be quite as mad...yet.

I don't think I could recommend Heartless by Marissa Meyer any more. In fact, if you hurry over to Amazon, you can get the first four chapters on ebook free.  Since it's suitable for teens on up, this would make an excellent Christmas present for someone. 

Story Genius - Lisa Gron

I am a sucker for books on writing.  Almost as much as I am a sucker for anything chocolate.

And interestingly enough, this book came to me right be National Novel Writing Month started.  However, Story Genius is not a quick read, especially in light of some of the other writing books I'm read.

Lisa Cron takes what most of the books on writing says to do and turns it on it's head.  Using the old '5 W's and How' from journalism, Cron has you crafting your novel using "What If?, The Who, The Why, The Worldview, The When and What Next?".  Creating the inside story is the first half of the book. Then she takes you into 'blueprinting' your story, pulling out cards, and building your story.  

There is a lot to absorb with this book and each chapter ends with an exercise based on that chapter's contents.  This is not a book to breeze through and stick on your shelf, but a deep read and write.  So much so, my initial read through is now a 'go-back-and-reread'.  But after NaNoWriMo.  Otherwise, I would be trashing what I've got and starting all over again (exactly what Cron's warns me about!)

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Alexander Hamilton's Guide to LIfe - Jeff Wilser

Everything is coming up Hamilton these days (except in my wallet, which is bare of Hamilton's)!

This small size book packs a big punch of fun reading.  Covering everything from handling office politics to honor to leisure time, Wilser's book is part history lesson and part practical advice, all from Hamilton's point of view.

Quick, short chapters make this a perfect book for reading just a page or two at a time.  However, once read, you then think about what you just finished for hours (if not days).

Of course, reading it with the sound track from Hamilton playing in the background is recommended.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."