What I’m reading now

The problem with blogging about what I'm reading now is that I am usually reading multiple books at once, and none of them in the same genre. I have a huge appetite for reading, and so one novel at a time just does not satiate my hunger.

Currently I have four books that I am working through...

1. Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

This is the sequel to Shusterman's dystopian novel Scythe. I randomly bought Scythe at Barnes and Noble and absolutely loved it. I have always enjoyed dystopian literature, but the premise of Scythe is very different from your typical post-apocalyptic, oppressed society dystopian novel. In this novel everything IS perfect, it is about the moral dilemma of population control if no one dies of natural causes. I find the dilemma very complex and the characters conflict very riveting. I am also excited that there is a planned movie for it! I have gotten a few of my students hooked on the series (which is awesome!).

2. Voyager by Diana Gabaldan

Of course, Outlander, need I say more? Romance novels are my vice. I grew up stealing harlequin romance novels from under my mother's bed. Include time travel, a hot Scottish lad, and a strong, smart heroine, and I am hooked!

3. Minor Indiscretions by Nicole Seavey (a local author in my area!)

My husband bought me this one. It was written by a co-worker of his and wanted to support her (and get me a good novel to read!). So far, I am really enjoying it. The main character is making me angry, but I think the mark of a good writer is if you can get your readers emotional about your characters and story.

4. Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson

Well...as the mother of a rambunctious two-year-old boy, I realized that I knew very little about raising one. Yes, I have a mother's instinct and intuition, but actually raising a strong, compassionate, and well-adjusted young man is something else entirely. I know nothing about what it is like to be a boy and I'm smart enough to know it is NOTHING like being a girl. So, I actually went out a bought two books on raising boys. I chose a secular novel and a novel by a more religious author. I am christian, but wanted to get both perspectives. I have heard a lot of good things about James Dobson's works and I have read a few other things by him and found them to be very enlightening.

One thing I have found about reading and writing, is that they truly go hand in hand. When I read, I notice things that I love about an author's writing style and think, "I want to write like that! I want to get my readers to feel the way I am feeling!" So, I read and then I write, then I read and write some more.