Saturday, May 27, 2017

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman | ARC Review

"Write every day, just to get in the habit, and know that whatever you have written is neither good nor as bad as you think," -Jane Smiley

If you're a frequent reader of my blog, you know how much I raved about Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman. When I heard how she was writing a companion novel, titled Retribution Rails, I lost it. I preordered it and set the release date in my calendar nine months in advance. 

On her newsletter, I found out that I could have the chance to receive an ARC, in physical or e-galley form - and I did! I jumped on the chance to read this book. I absolutely devoured it - YA Western might be a genre I need to get my feet wet in now. 


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As per usual, we'll begin with the drawbacks. 


The Bad

1. Pacing

This is mostly attributed to how it lagged in the middle. The end and beginning were strong, action-packed, and poignant. When Reece, Charlotte, and Kate arrived at the homestead in the mountains is when the pace and even the passage of time itself in the novel came to a screeching halt. While there was some good character conflict there, there was too long of a break between action scenes in the middle. However, I adored seeing Kate and Jesse again. 

The Neutral

1. Charlotte's Conflict

While I flipped back and forth between whether I liked Charlotte or not, she made her own conflict seem petty at times. The resolution to her conflict, while it made sense, I didn't much like it. It came a bit too early and was astoundingly abrupt. 

2. Hints at Romance

While this didn't come up until about halfway through the book, I still didn't like it. The problem was, was that I saw their dynamic and wanted them to kind of 'pride & prejudice' it out, which they did. However, I never shipped them or saw them as a good couple. I wanted them to become good friends and be able to depend on each other. This would have better fit their established relationship dynamic. 

The Good

1. Character Arcs

As always, Erin Bowman is phenomenal at writing character arcs. Reece's redemption arc was sympathetic and emotional and perfect, and even Charlotte's arc evolved naturally and came to a satisfying conclusion. It was great to look back and see how much they had changed over the course of the story. I'm such a sucker for good character arcs and development, and this took front and center stage, for a good reason. The conversations that developed the character conflicts were stellar. It really does make these stories stand out, especially in a world where there isn't much character development or it doesn't take center stage. 

2. Voices

Another amazing thing about Erin's stories is how quickly she developed Reece's and Charlotte's voices. From their slang, sentence structure, and vocabulary, she is able to build characters within a few words and let us jump inside their head. I never forgot who was talking, and with multiple POVs, that can be a problem. As someone who loves to write in multiple POVs, hats off!

3. The End

The climax was perfectly paced and perfectly timed, unlike Vengeance Road. It was heart-pounding and poetic and action-packed. The train scene was phenomenal and intense. Reece killing Rose was emotional and flawless. The denouement was bittersweet and amazing as we watched the characters move on. Just, the whole ending section was flawless. Just flawless. 


~

I can't say whether I like Retribution Rails better than Vengeance Road. But for now, they rank as equals. Erin Bowman, keep writing Westerns, because I'll keep devouring them!

8.75/10 would recommend. 

~The WordShaker

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Working in the Library as a Writer | Olivia J

"Books are the plane, the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home," -Anna Quindlen

I recently got a job as a page at the local library. And it's been killing me. 

Context, however, is important. It's not an inherently bad job, even though I work 15 hours a week during the school year. It's quiet and low-stress and I can keep to myself. However, I've found that it's not the shelving books part that's hard. It's the duration of the hours and the constant existential crisis it gives me. 

I didn't realize how much I feared growing up until I got this job. It fills me with an existential kind of fear that only produces . . . anger. Anger that this is life and that I am growing old. Anger that this is not what I want out of my life. Just, anger. 

Hats off to Lauren, my best friend who has never wanted to grow up. You know where it's at. 


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However, enough bitching. Onto what will benefit you, as readers and writers. 

The best part of my job is that it's inspiring. As I shelve book after book and absorb the stories around me, it only adds fuel to the fire of me wanting to see my stories on these shelves, my name on a cover. It makes me want to write and get my stories out there to be shelved in libraries all over the world. 

So - not that I recommend this - maybe get a job at a library or volunteer to shelve books. It will appease the pensive booklover and also arouse the aspiring writer in you. 

~The WordShaker

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Clarke Griffin: The Useless Heroine | Analysis of The 100

"Read obsessively. Write furiously. Edit carefully," -Sissy Gavrilaki

Back in Seasons 1 and 2, I actually really liked Clarke Griffin. She was strong and sensitive and a great leader. However, she has been on a slow de-evolution since Season 3, although it has rapidly gone downhill since Season 4. I wasn't able to quite place why this happened and my subsequent disliking of her as a character. 

But it hit me in 4x11, "The Other Side".

Clarke's cold, stupid, and almost rash decisions are motivated by one thing: nothing. That's it. She's completely lost herself. In this whole battle to save the human race, she's become this archetype trying to save humanity, but also being a total asshole in the process. 


https://fsmedia.imgix.net/db/08/26/30/e42d/4b31/a240/a556ff3daa2f/clarke-griffin-in-a-lie-guarded.png

Clarke has lost her motivation. In Season 1, her motivation was to keep her people safe and to help them survive. In Season 2, it was to get them back home safely. In Season 3, it was pretty much Lexa for a while there, and then it was to save everyone from ALIE. In Season 4, it's become even more generic with 'saving humanity' plotline. But the wider Clarke's motivation gets, the less she feels like a real person, the less we connect with her and root for her. She is lacking a meaningful character arc or motivation, which is necessary for any character. It's like, Step 3 in creating a character.

Another problem is Clarke's lack of relationships. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Clarke needs a love interest or should just get with Bellamy already. While that would be nice, what I'm really talking about is how Clarke doesn't have any strong relationships we can root for, whether that be friendships, family members, or someone romantically. These relationships make a character more realistic, human, and make the audience want the main character to succeed. With people that the main character cares about, this raises the stakes. However, Clarke's friends or lovers are all dead, and the ones who aren't, their relationships have been severely neglected. 

Why do we love Bellamy, Octavia, Jasper, Monty, Murphy, and Raven so much?  Because they have people they love and who love them, and they fight for what they want and have clear and realistic character traits. They have interesting motivations that compel them to act and drive their storylines in dynamic and emotional ways. 

On the other hand, Clarke has become flat. Almost a Deus Ex Machina of sorts, where she always is the savior and always has to solve the problem. Without an interesting or emotional motivation, her actions seem, well, bitchy. Because Clarke never has emotional depth, change, or true struggle, she has become a gray slate, stagnant and uninteresting. 

And it's a real tragedy.


~

An amazing little post about the missed opportunity of great character conflict in 4x11:

http://wellamyblake.tumblr.com/post/160552229725/purging-2-disappointments-from-411 

~The WordShaker

Saturday, May 6, 2017

BLOOM 2017 | Olivia J

"A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world," -Susan Sontag

Every year, Bloom surpasses itself. This year, I was unfortunately bogged down with other things in my life - namely my job - but, regardless . . . IT'S BLOOM. 

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I felt that I had a much stronger display of art and writing. I also purchased my own business cards! This only reinforces my unflinching desire to go to SCAD and make writing and art my career. 




Shoutout to the amazing Creative Writing Club for sticking through it all, even when it's rough. You are all my children and I'm so proud of all of you!

My art was featured as well. The piece that was selected was "Fresh Air", a 16x20 collage. 

Fresh Air, collage. Copyright 2017


Overall, Bloom was great, but it went by way too fast. The preparation, the event, everything. I wish we could go back and do it all again, because it's my favorite kind of stress.

Also, please take a business card from me because I'm desperate.  

~The WordShaker