February Reading Wrap-Up

     Back again for another fun month of book suggestions? Here are the things Kristin and I have been reading since the last wrap-up. Be sure to tell us if you see any of your favorite reads, something on the never-ending To-Be-Read list, or if you know of a comparable title we might enjoy. Thanks again for reading! Write on.

Kamryn:

      My February reading has been a little slower than the explosion of smaller books I finished last month. For Christmas, my cousin Jonathan gave me a set of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, which includes the famed books The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.

Since the last Wrap-Up, I’ve finished the first two books in this series. Though these were books I’d always heard about, I’d never read them or seen any of the shows or movies associated with the story. The Golden Compass, the first leg in this universe-jumping series, takes place in a world similar to ours, but full of small differences. This book actually took me a little bit longer to read than I would say most Middle Grade to YA (I’m not sure where exactly this series falls) usually do, but that might have been contributed to by the small differentiators between this first world’s places and times. The Golden Compass is a story that I think is really intellectually written, in the sense that though it’s marketed toward a younger audience, the elements and plotlines of the story are fairly complicated. One thing I really did like about The Golden Compass was the old-style adventure vibe that a lot of modern stories don’t tend to have. In the same vein as say like a Jules Verne, for example, The Golden Compass follows a very science-driven style that’s centered on an arctic rescue expedition full of tangled collegiate, political, and religious ties. I’ve always liked adventure stories, so I think it’s cool to see a more current book following up on those same themes and style.

The Subtle Knife (B2), on the other hand, I read very quickly- finishing it in a little under a week. Like I said, I’m not sure if this was effected by a good portion of the story taking place in our world or not, but I was instantly engaged by the suspenseful addition of Will as a major character to team up with Lyra. This book follows multiple characters as they all search to uncover what’s really going on and is full of intrigue, mystery, and heart-rending moments.

I have not gotten super far into the third book in this series, The Amber Spyglass, as I’ve been a bit busy lately, but it has been interesting so far. I’ve always got the vibe that this series might be a bit contentious with some people, especially where religion is concerned, but all in all, it is a fictional series that spins a complex, universe-hopping adventure, so if that’s what you’re looking for as a reader, maybe check it out.

Beyond fictional reading, I’ve been delving into some nonfiction as well. The other day, I came across Dr. Jan Yager’s How to Promote Your Book: A Practical Guide to Publicizing Your Own Title in the bookstore and bought it for research, especially since Kristin and I are getting closer and closer to the release date for our manuscript, The Visionary. I have a Marketing degree, so reading about promotional efforts isn’t that unfamiliar to me, but I think this book has been really helpful so far. For one thing, it’s helped me confirm that some of the ideas I’ve had so far regarding book promotion have at least been on the right track, but it’s also included advice, informational references, and templates that I wouldn’t have known about or considered. If you’re an aspiring author (traditional or self-published), this might be a really helpful book to look into if you’re looking for ideas or a place to start on promotion.

Kristin:  

For February, I decided I didn’t have the capacity for taking on a new story, so I dove back into my bookshelf for some of my comfort reads. Starting with Seaside Stranger by Kii Kana. This is definitely one of my comfort reads. Pretty niche, since it’s a manga volume, but such an overall feel-good romance that focuses on acceptance and the notion that sometimes love comes back. 

I’ve also dug back into the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation novels by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Partly because the comic version of these novels are slowly being released and the art is gorgeous but also because my husband has finally agreed to watch the animated version (available on Viki) and, guess what? He approves. He took a little adjusting since he’s so used to japanese-animated content but the story was that good that he’s invested. We’re at the last season with four episodes left and I cannot wait to see his reaction to all the upcoming plot reveals! It’s been nice to companion read while we watch the show and I’m able to say during what is novel compliant and what was changed for the show. He is an avid Jiang Cheng supporter and we are almost to the big reveal. It makes me very happy to get to share a story I love so much. One day I’ll get Kamryn to watch the live-action version with me (wink, wink Kamryn!). 

That’s all for this month! Be sure to let us know what you’re reading and we’ll see you in March! As always, write-on!