I took a sleeping pill at onethirtyAM last night.
It was a big mistake because I just woke up like, half hour ago.
That’s almost a full twelve hours of sleep. Goodness me.
I had a couple questions for a few of you readers out there that stop by the Throwingupwords blog on Friday. {And every other day… but Friday is such a busy day.}
I haven’t done a lot of reading this year. Yesterday was the most reading I’ve done this entire year. I finished two books. Yeehaw!
One I read to Grandma. I read her Holes {Great story, right?}
The other book I finished while I was waiting for my pill to kick in, at about…hmmm eleven or so last night.
I won’t say what book it is because. . . I didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
Which is a shame because it had a pretty interesting beginning. And the voice started off pretty decent. But then all the sudden it was like. . .on the fast track to crapville USA.
The real reason the book bothered me was the MC {main character} Didn’t once fix her own problems.
Seriously, she had tons of problems thrown at her {and I’m talking BIG PROBLEMS} and she didn’t have to take care of one of them herself. Someone else popped up on the side and fixed all of them. And the whole novel she’s. . .to say bluntly. . .a total bitch to everyone. And moody and a giant wimp. And the whole novel {400 pages!!} she complained about all these big problems, but then on the last page. BAM everything is fixed. Her life is better than before the problems started. But even at the end. . .she was still moody. Actually, by the end she was the most unlikable person ever. GOODNESS.
So my first question. {After that long rant}
How does it make you feel when you work hours, days, months, years on your novel trying to make it perfect. And then something so awful {Like the book I described above} gets published and popular. I know, I know. The Author probably worked really really hard, too. But probably not as hard as you because, well. . .your books better.
How does it make you feel when you see this? Because when I read this book. I was sick and depressed. I know my novel is better. BRAAAGGGGING.
No, I’m not. But I do know it is. And I bet big money that YOURS is too.
I guess. . .am I the only one who feels this way?? Someone tell me I’m not!
And my next question. {One I ask every year or so}
If you could pick three books to get a nod from the National Book Award people, which would you pick?
It has to have come out this year.
I’m in need of a good book to read.
Okay. I am done!
Everyone have a great fourdayweekend!!!!!
Throwing Up Words 
Your second book sounds like the Last Song. I loved Holes too.
Not sure how to recommend the National book award, but I am reading MIchael Vey the Prisoner in Cell 25, and so far, I really like it.
Other than that, I’m rereading books I already love, like The Secret LIfe of Bees and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
The second is my book. Do you have a personal book too? The author says Betty Smith, and it’s partly autobiographical, but it was for me too. When I first read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I found myself in the pages. I didn’t ever read it as a girl. Maybe it would have been too difficult emotionally to read it then. But when I did find it, I found my father in Johnny Nolan–drunken, charming, Irish, creative, musical, tragically flawed. I found my mother in Katie Nolan–beautiful, driven, goal oriented, pragmatic,German Catholic, controlling, protective, favors son. I found my little brother in Neely Nolan–social, charismatic, handsome, favored. And I found myself in Francie–elder sister, outcast, independent, bookworm, creative, imaginative, clever, devoted to father.
I wasn’t raised in a tenement in abject poverty during the turn of the 20th century, but in most of the other ways, I connected. If you haven’t read it, please do. If you have read it, I’d love to know what book written by someone else you found yourself in.
Kelley
How do I feel when i think something I’ve done is better than a hugely popular (or sort of popular) book?
Sorta cheated.
But, I think I’d rather get mostly nice reviews than a a lot not-so-nice ones.
And I loved ATGIB. I read it was I was a young girl and cried my eyes out. Plus I also read Maggie Now which also made me cry my eyes out. I think both books are written by the same girl. But maybe not. Whatever. I loved them both.
Oh, Kyra, I hear ‘ya! Man, it gets my panties in a twist when I think of all the stupid books out there that have gotten published. And then it makes me depressed. I’ve spent almost every waking second of the past year working my butt off on a novel, and for what? I just sent out queries and have all ready gotten rejections (and one request. Keep hope alive!). I know I’m not the best writer in the world and that there are much, much better things out there, but I’ve got to be better than the drivel that is considered popular reading by much of the public.
Rejection Pity Party, table for one, please!
As for reading, I haven’t gotten much done this year, either. I did just read Hex Hall and Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins. They both were fun reads if you like witches and demons, which I do. Please tell me you’ve read White Cat and Red Glove. I’ll tell just about anyone who’ll talk to me to read those books. And Black Heart comes out soonish!
I can’t watch 2 Olympic venues live. Gymnastics and Ice Skating. It makes me too nervous and I never agree with the judges. Now, speed skating is freaking awesome. The first one to finish, wins. There’s no bias or agenda or judgement call on outfits or what country you’re from. That I write, and writing is like unto aforementioned venues, is a complete personal irony.
I’m kind of a sports junkie. When guys are trying to make the starting position for a football team, they’re always asked about the dude who’s their competition and if the coaches have given any hints to who will start. The guys who impress me the most are the ones that say they can’t worry about things they can’t control. They just have to do their best and be ready if called upon.
Just a long way to say pretty much what Carol said.
I’ve felt that way, too, about a few books. Most books inspire me to try to become a better writer/make me totally jealous but every once in awhile, I think, “Hey, if this got published, then there’s hope for me.”