tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24405239639980831092024-02-01T20:35:08.658-08:00My Literary LensesMy Literary Lenses is a geeky lifestyle blog for aspiring writers and book lovers.Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-53017928799353861122017-10-07T10:35:00.000-07:002017-10-07T10:35:00.353-07:006 YA Books to Add to Your 2018 TBR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's only October, but I'm already thinking about what I'm reading next year. I've even started a 2018 TBR on Goodreads. I'm so excited for so many YA books coming out next year, but you'll have to stay tuned for THAT mega-post closer to the end of this year.<br />
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I recently had the opportunity to attend the Teens Read Feed event hosted by Raincoast Books. At the event I got to learn all about the exciting books coming out this upcoming winter. Several books are grappling with important social issues, but one topic that seemed to pop up the most was violence against women and girls. I was excited to learn that Laurie Halse Anderson is releasing a graphic novel based on her critically acclaimed novel <i>Speak</i>, which helped set the bar for how YA authors write about sexual violence. Although <i>Speak</i> was originally published in 1999, violence against women is still unfortunately prevalent today. Many YA authors are confronting the realities that girls and women face in today's society, and quite a few of the books on this list are no exception to that.<br />
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Here are 6 YA books coming out in 2018 that I'm really looking forward to.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33413958-your-one-only?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Your One & Only by Adrianne Finlay</span></a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From Goodreads: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29451548-a-girl-like-that?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. A Girl Like that by Tanaz Bhathena</span></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From Goodreads: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> You don't want to get involved with a girl like that</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33158532-broken-beautiful-hearts?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">3. Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">From Goodreads: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">In this gritty, contemporary romance, an injured star athlete escapes to a small southern town after an abusive relationship leaves her reeling. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">Before, Peyton was a star soccer player with the perfect boyfriend, Reed. Now, she has a torn knee ligament, a scholarship on the line, and a shattered sense of self. No one believes Reed pushed her, causing her injury, and Peyton just wants to leave the trauma behind. Living with her uncle and twin cousins in their small, football-obsessed town seems like a great escape plan.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">There, Peyton meets Owen—high school classmate and local MMA fighter. Though Owen is charming and gentle, Peyton is determined to repress her growing attraction. But when her old and new life collide, Peyton must reclaim the truth of her past in order to save her future.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">With southern charm, underground martial arts, and red-hot chemistry, Kami Garcia’s second contemporary romance will steal your breath away."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31625039-let-s-talk-about-love?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31625039-let-s-talk-about-love?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">4. Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">From Goodreads: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Alice had her whole summer planned. Non-stop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally included) with the smallest dash of adulting--working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ended things when Alice confessed she's asexual). Alice is done with dating--no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">But then Alice meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoons, oh my!). </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn, and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library employee badge (close enough), Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated—or understood."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34275232-the-hazel-wood?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34275232-the-hazel-wood?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert</span></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;">From Goodreads: "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: 'Stay away from the Hazel Wood.' </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31351689-girl-made-of-stars?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31351689-girl-made-of-stars?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake</span></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">From Goodreads: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Mara and Owen are about as close as twins can get. So when Mara's friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn't know what to think. Can the brother she loves really be guilty of such a violent crime? Torn between the family she loves and her own sense of right and wrong, Mara is feeling lost, and it doesn't help that things have been strained with her ex-girlfriend, Charlie. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">As Mara, Hannah, and Charlie navigate this new terrain, Mara must face a trauma from her own past and decide where Charlie fits in her future. With sensitivity and openness, this timely novel confronts the difficult questions surrounding consent, victim blaming, and sexual assault."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Do any of these titles interest you? What are you most excited to read in 2018?</b></span></span></div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-33971077604594095232017-09-28T11:38:00.002-07:002017-09-28T11:38:39.568-07:006 YA Books For Fans of Josie and the Pussycats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been 16 years since the highly underrated movie <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi3490580249" target="_blank">Josie and the Pussycats</a></i> came out. Despite poor reviews at the time of its release, the movie developed a cult-like following (myself included!) While the movie is a live-action take on the all-girl Riverdale rock band from the Archie comics, the film also serves as a satire on consumerism and pop culture. The result is a weird yet hilarious commentary on fame, fandom and friendship.<br />
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Like many <i>Josie and the Pussycats</i> fans, I'm always on the hunt for books that combine pop culture, friendship and music. Here are 6 books to fill your geeky punk rock, girl band loving heart.<br />
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<b>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15777621-this-song-will-save-your-life" target="_blank">This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales</a></b><br />
This book follows a girl who finds her way from being an outsider to becoming friends with a group of girls who love music. She also discovers her love of DJing--and her place in the world.<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell</a></b><br />
<i>Fangirl</i> follows college freshman Cath who is a mega-fan of Simon Snow--such a big fan, in fact, that she's dedicated a large portion of her life to writing fanfic about him. It's a major part of her and her twin sister's life until Wren decides she wants to become more independent.<br />
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<b>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17944655-not-your-ordinary-wolf-girl?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl by Emily Pohl-Weary</a></b><br />
Sam Lee is a bass player in an all-girl indie band until she gets bitten by a werewolf after one of their shows. Suddenly a rival girl band appears on the scene, and Sam has a feeling they had something to do with her new transformation...<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28245707-queens-of-geek" target="_blank">4. Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde </a></b><br />
Friends Taylor, Jamie and Charlie conquer a weekend at SupaCon, a large fan festival in the US. While Taylor deals with being a super fan who also has anxiety, Charlie tries to balance her fame as an up-and-coming YouTube star and actress.<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11699055-the-disenchantments" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11699055-the-disenchantments" target="_blank">5. The Disenchantments by Nina Lacour</a></b><br />
Colby and Bev's friendship is put to the test when Bev decides she's ditching her band to go to college instead. The book follows their friendship while also serving as a testament to how music serves as a thread throughout our lives.<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373.Nick_Norah_s_Infinite_Playlist" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373.Nick_Norah_s_Infinite_Playlist" target="_blank">6. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan</a></b><br />
This YA classic follows strangers Nick and Norah who are brought together by a love of music at a rock concert in New York. Nick asks Norah to be his fake girlfriend in order to make his ex jealous--and their first kiss sends them on an evening of music-filled adventure.<br />
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<b>Have you read any of the books on the list? What are your favourite books about music, fandom and girl bands?</b></div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-89546544914830296332017-09-28T08:24:00.002-07:002017-09-28T08:24:48.668-07:00Review: This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12.1px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30249925-this-darkness-mine?from_search=true" target="_blank">This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis -- HarperCollins Canada -- October 2017</a></b></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.1px; text-align: justify;">I received an advance reading copy of this book from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion of the book whatsoever. </i><br />
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I have a very physical reaction to Mindy McGinnis' writing. Immediately after I read her last book,<i> The Female of the Species</i>, I had to leave the house and take a very long walk. I needed air, happy thoughts and probably a nice warm shower. McGinnis has a way of creating extreme close-ups of the human body but also intimate studies of the human psyche. She puts her characters through both subtle and extreme forms of physical gore. Where <i>The Female of the Species</i> conjured the kind of anger in me that made me want to scream at society, <i>This Darkness Mine</i> left me reeling for entirely different reasons.<br />
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In <i>This Darkness Mine</i>, Sasha Stone is the epitome of the ideal student and daughter. She reminds me of Nina in <i>Black Swan</i>: a "good girl" on a destructive pursuit of perfection. She has perfect grades, is incredibly gifted at playing the clarinet, has the perfect boyfriend and is well on her way to becoming valedictorian. She never steps outside the lines of her perfectly constructed world where she has calculated and even manipulated life to go her way. Everything is going according to her master plan until she discovers she had a twin sister she never knew about. Because she absorbed her in the womb.<br />
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Yes, you read that correctly.<br />
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<i>This Darkness Mine</i> is refreshing not only because it is a major contrast to the themes typically explored in YA, but also because its protagonist is very, very unlikeable and unreliable. I felt like the source of my fear while reading this book kept switching from person to person. I never knew who to like and to trust, which kept the reading experience very suspenseful. I felt like I was lead to feel that way about Sasha in particular, who grew more and more distant from me as a reader. I appreciate how McGinnis unapologetically presents a female character who is incredibly flawed and not at all a standard to live up to. At times I wanted for Sasha to find some sense of normalcy, which in turn made me feel guilty because I was sympathizing with a character I was supposed to dislike. Because of this, I find McGinnis really, really good at toying with readers' emotions and leading them to draw unsuspecting and surprising conclusions. She exposes the darkness inside us all, even the ones who are supposedly good.<br />
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With that said, I wish McGinnis had made a clearer distinction regarding Sasha's mental health. <b>Spoiler alert: </b>It never becomes clear whether or not Sasha has a mental illness, though it is lightly suggested by some of the other characters, and I think that clarification is necessary. Maybe this was left open ended for the reader to decide, but even then I think there's too much room for potential harm. If McGinnis intended to depict a character with a mental illness, then this book could be a potentially damaging representation. But to be fair, I read from an ARC, so this may have been better clarified in the final version of the book.<br />
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I think it is very appropriate that I don't know whether to like or dislike this read. I don't think it's as simple as liking it 100 per cent. Like Sasha, who tries to find a distinction between two selves, I found myself torn between deciding who gets to be good and who is evil.<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-31779454119830780522017-09-27T09:06:00.000-07:002017-09-27T09:06:32.114-07:00What I'm Reading This Fall + Life Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this year, I made <a href="https://myliterarylenses.blogspot.ca/2017/07/writing-wednesdays-the-next-chapter.html" target="_blank">the decision to step away from freelance writing</a> and enter the world of book blogging. The transition has been fun but hard at the same time. Feeling like the new kid at school is not something I want to relive, but I often feel that way whenever I make a tweet, post on Instagram or attend a bookish event.<br />
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Luckily for me, the book community is nothing short of friendly, creative and passionate. I think I have found my people, to say the least. I started an online course in publishing this month and whenever I log on, I feel this little burst of happiness. Like I have found a small corner of the world where it is okay to love the things I love (books!) and it is more than okay to gush over them. It is so awesome to be able to talk with others about marketing YA books and not feel like a total nerd. But I'm also learning there's nothing wrong with that.</div>
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My blog is still chugging along and I've been very lucky enough to attend events and receive ARCs from publishers. This has had a huge and very positive influence on my reading habits and my TBR. Even though I'm a little behind in my reading goal for 2017, I'm reading way more than I ever have before.</div>
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With that said, my fall reading list is compiled mostly of ARCs. I've already posted my review of <a href="https://myliterarylenses.blogspot.ca/2017/09/review-they-both-die-at-end-adam-silvera.html" target="_blank"><i>They Both Die at the End</i> by Adam Silvera here</a>, but expect more reviews of the following books to come over the next few weeks!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33163378-moxie?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu</a> </b><br />
I joked on Twitter yesterday that I check my library account at least five times a day to see if Moxie has come in yet--and it's true! This is probably one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. It's about a girl who starts a zine inspired by the Riot Grrls movement after she's had enough dealing with all the sexism at her conservative Texas high school. I needed this book as a teen, but I also needed this book like yesterday! I'm hoping the library pulls through soon.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30249925-this-darkness-mine?from_search=true" target="_blank">This Darkness Mine by Mindy McGinnis </a></b></div>
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I just finished this read yesterday and...I have complicated feelings. I'm probably going to mull this one over for a few days before writing a review. I need to read something very happy after experiencing this one! </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28227374-all-the-wind-in-the-world" target="_blank">All The Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry</a> </b></div>
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This book was sent to me by Algonquin Young Readers and it sounds magical and breathtaking. It's a western YA romance that takes place in the desert with some magical elements. I can't wait to read it because it's not up my usual alley, so it will be a good change of scenery for me.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.playwrightscanada.com/index.php/outside.html" target="_blank">Outside by Paul Dunn</a></b></div>
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This is actually a play that was sent to me from Jessica at Playwrights Canada Press. I'm really looking forward to reading this play because it deals with homophobia, bullying and mental health in a high school setting. </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31194576-release?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Release by Patrick Ness</a></b></div>
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I just have a feeling this book is going to rip me to shreds and I am here for it. </div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28524058-before-she-ignites?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows </a></b></div>
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I learned about this book at the HarperCollins Canada Frenzy event earlier this month and I was instantly hooked. It's about a girl who takes action against the way dragons are treated in her world. I was so happy when I received an ARC of this book in my goody bag!</div>
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I'm hoping to read more than just these books in the fall, but for now these are the ones I absolutely have to read. </div>
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<b>What do you plan on reading this season?</b></div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-58483149912485051312017-09-26T18:44:00.000-07:002017-09-26T18:44:08.666-07:00Review: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.1px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33385229-they-both-die-at-the-end" target="_blank">They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera -- HarperCollins Canada -- September 2017 </a></b></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.1px; text-align: justify;">I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion of the book whatsoever. </i><br />
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You've seen the title. You know what's coming. But you still aren't prepared. <i>They Both Die at the End</i> by Adam Silvera will tease you with the promise of young love, fulfilling dreams and facing deep-rooted fears. But it will ultimately leave you feeling crushed and a little exasperated (in the one-of-a-kind Silvera way that the author has mastered since writing <i>History is All You Left Me</i>.)<br />
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The writer in me disliked a few aspects of the story (which I'll get into later.) But it's easy for me to look past those things knowing what this book stands for and seeing the potential is has to positively effect young readers. The story stars Mateo and Rufus, two queer boys of colour. One is hard-edged and a little rebellious, the other lives anxiously and is afraid to leave the comfort of his room. But both share the pain of losing loved ones and both know how important it is to appreciate the life you have, even in the face of devastating loss. It was honestly painful getting so close to these characters when with every page you know what's coming. I wanted to charge into the narrative and save them, stop this horrid End Day business from happening. But I couldn't. No one can. No one can stop the inevitable, death, from doing its thing.<br />
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Despite its morbid premise, <i>They Both Die at the End</i> is probably going to help so many teen readers in a way that publishing has failed to in the past. The boys are diverse characters, yes, but they don't serve as tokens. I love how Silvera planted these boys in a diverse world--because that's a genuine reflection of the world around us, no matter how hard bigoted people wish it wasn't. But most importantly, the book shows teens that their voices, dreams, interests and insecurities matter.<br />
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I think I would have clutched this book to my heart as a teen. But the adult is me is a little pessimistic, and I think that impacted my reading experience. I didn't enjoy how the dialogue felt stiff and very educational--like the characters were often lecturing each other on the importance of living your life to the fullest. It's a message that's been done to death (I'm sorry) but to be fair, maybe it's one that teens need to hear.<br />
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Other than these two small issues, I enjoyed <i>They Both Die at the End</i> and I can't wait to see what else Silvera puts into the world. Although this book has teen readers in mind, it reminds us all of the importance of chasing your dreams no matter how big or small they may be.<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-79853040792877849042017-09-14T08:47:00.000-07:002017-09-14T08:47:04.275-07:00Review: Ragged Lake by Ron Corbett<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i> </i></b><a href="https://ecwpress.com/products/ragged-lake" target="_blank"><b><i>Ragged Lake</i> by Ron Corbett — October 2017 — ECW Press</b></a></div>
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<i>I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion of the book whatsoever. </i><br />
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<i> </i> <br />
You know that feeling when you watch a movie and realize all of the most exciting parts were in the trailer? That's what I felt like after reading <i>Ragged Lake</i> by Ron Corbett. The synopsis promised a "richly atmospheric mystery with sweeping backdrops," and I unfortunately didn't get that from the novel. I was surprised that I didn't enjoy this read because I usually love everything that ECW Press publishes. But this one just wasn't for me.<br />
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The first couple of chapters are promising. Corbett establishes a spooky, wintery setting that totally reminded me of <i>Twin Peaks</i>, especially with the murder mystery element. From the first few chapters, you get a true sense of how sequestered this village is and how the looming storm only worsens that feeling of isolation. As I got a sense of the sparse setting and its hard-edged characters, I was also getting <i>Fargo</i> vibes, which heightened my expectations of the book. I was briefly hooked for the first few chapters, but the narrative unfortunately spiraled and didn't really pick back up. <br />
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My main problem with the narrative is that it relied heavily on flashbacks. One of the victims kept a detailed diary before she was murdered, which felt convenient to me. The journal didn't read in a conversational tone like an actual diary would. It read more like a real book with detailed quotes and conversations. It sounds like I'm nitpicking, but the journal entries are quite substantial. I wanted to follow Yakabuski's narrative more as he solves the murder, but I kept getting pulled out of it because of the long journal entries.<br />
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I also want to address the way some of the characters talk about First Nations people. I understand that I read from an uncorrected galley and some of
these elements may change by the time the book is published this fall. But I did
not want to write a review without addressing them. I am not a First Nations person, so I can't claim whether or not the representation offered by this book is good or harmful. But I do want to point out that a few characters use a term that many would consider a racial slur, and they aren't called out for doing so. I was also really put off by the fact that one of the police officers makes a comment about a Cree woman's good looks after he discovers her body. I understand these remarks are meant to illustrate what the characters talk like and they're meant to establish this particular setting, but the comment feels unnecessary to the overall plot. Sexualizing a dead woman's body is not okay. It's disturbing, even in fiction.<br />
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This might just be a case of my taste not aligning with this kind of book. I like reading crime and murder mysteries, but this was too slow paced for me and I didn't find myself rooting for the protagonist in any way. If you like stories with an incremental build where you don't have to get too emotionally invested in the story or its characters, then <i>Ragged Lake</i> might be for you.<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-66302227657457988172017-09-12T11:13:00.000-07:002017-09-12T11:14:27.310-07:00Frenzy Presents Fall 2017 Preview: 5 YA Books I'm Excited About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>My Literary Lenses</i> recently celebrated a huge milestone: I went to my very first blogger event over the weekend! The Frenzy crew from HarperCollins Canada invited bloggers to preview their upcoming YA books. Although the preview was an absolute blast, it's safe to say most of us were very excited about the fact that YA authors Angie Thomas, Julie Murphy and Becky Albertalli were also in attendance!<br />
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<span id="goog_1828860772"></span><span id="goog_1828860773"></span><br />
I'm a huge fan of <i>The Hate U Give</i> by Thomas and <i>Dumplin'</i> by Julie Murphy—they're definitely both in my top 10 favourite books I've read this year—so I was a little bit starstruck when they walked into the room. Each author talked about the movie adaptations of their books and
what it's like to interact with fans who relate to some of the heavier
subject matter in their stories. These authors are so vital to the YA community: They are doing important work by representing marginalized teens who don't often see themselves in books. It isn't surprising that their popularity has exploded recently and I can't wait to read their next books.<br />
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I left the event on such a high—it was so uplifting to be surrounded by people with similar interests and hobbies. I also left with a lot more knowledge about some of HCC's upcoming books, which I discuss below!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1wtNexYFcT-1YIu9rZ88ggfulSCLgohYnsFfrkwVYGjXIACYdQY9EdcpaEcNPO9m5biNa8_1sJZ1Zs6YdulHnHkvOjAW0D8-_kzvnPN_d9RBIizANIVV4SFBMv9RYHhudV88_a9Brdo/s1600/Trends.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1wtNexYFcT-1YIu9rZ88ggfulSCLgohYnsFfrkwVYGjXIACYdQY9EdcpaEcNPO9m5biNa8_1sJZ1Zs6YdulHnHkvOjAW0D8-_kzvnPN_d9RBIizANIVV4SFBMv9RYHhudV88_a9Brdo/s640/Trends.png" width="640" /></a><b>DRAGONS!</b><br />
Oh yes, there will be dragons. Lots of them. In <i>Before She Ignites </i>by Jodi Meadows, the protagonist discovers a dark secret about the way dragons are treated in her world and she is determined to expose the truth.<br />
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<b>Focus on mental health:</b><br />
As a person with anxiety, I was so pleased (and actually quite surprised) to hear that so many upcoming books from HCC Frenzy follow characters living with anxiety. I obviously can't say whether the representation is good in any of these books since I haven't read them yet, but B<i>efore She Ignites</i> by Jodi Meadows, <i>Top Ten</i> by Katie Cotugno and <i>Kat and Meg Conquer the World</i> by Anna Priemaza all include characters with anxiety. I also believe that one of the main characters in <i>They Both Die at the End</i> by Adam Silvera deals with anxiety, but I wasn't able to confirm that through the synopsis.<br />
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<b>Dark themes: </b><br />
If you're sick of lovey-dovey YA where the characters are <i>way</i> too perfect and the story ends wrapped in a perfect bow, then these upcoming HCC Frenzy books may be for you. <i>This Darkness Mine</i> by Mindy McGinnis follows a girl named Sasha Stone who discovers that she absorbed her twin sister in the womb. I've heard the word "freaky" used to describe this book many times, and if McGinnis' previous titles (like <i>The Female of the Species</i>) are anything like this one, I know it will be equal parts disturbing and suspenseful. Although literally everyone (except me) has already read this next one, it's worth mentioning <i>They Both Die at the End</i> by Adam Silvera (I mean, the title says it all) where two boys come to terms with the fact that they are going to die today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq3nEMJAloh69yF0ltipCFrW5vkMAKSnFse0_DwFlnhI0VqXGEtQV2065iOcU6IklLw5bWa44ZMHUZAE9QAqUrJcckeImPvXxP0sKNLpM8b0Pl1qOOE5js4ihaVapFnTdz0mUg2D2i8k/s1600/thisdarknessmine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNq3nEMJAloh69yF0ltipCFrW5vkMAKSnFse0_DwFlnhI0VqXGEtQV2065iOcU6IklLw5bWa44ZMHUZAE9QAqUrJcckeImPvXxP0sKNLpM8b0Pl1qOOE5js4ihaVapFnTdz0mUg2D2i8k/s200/thisdarknessmine.png" width="131" /></a><b>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30249925-this-darkness-mine" target="_blank"><i>This Darkness Mine</i></a> by Mindy McGinnis (October 10, 2017)</b><br />
From HarperCollins Canada: "Sasha Stone knows her place—first-chair clarinet, top of her class,
and at the side of her Oxford-wearing boyfriend. She’s worked her entire
life to ensure her path to Oberlin Conservatory as a star musician is
perfectly paved. But suddenly there’s a fork in the road in the
shape of Isaac Harver. Her body shifts toward him when he walks by, and
her skin misses his touch even though she’s never known it. Why does he
act like he knows her so well—too well—when she doesn’t know him at all? Sasha
discovers that her by-the-book life began by ending the chapter of
another: the twin sister she absorbed in the womb. But that doesn’t
explain the gaps of missing time in her practice schedule, or the
memories she has of things she <i>certainly</i> never did with Isaac. Armed
with the knowledge that her heart might not be hers alone, Sasha must
decide what she’s willing to do—and who she’s willing to hurt—to take it
back."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG8RsoKJatcXZutIDM8aZ0oGwbFoe2KJ2jY6aePH181tJiMpQ5bWsHUY7Roo4tioDH7KftYirJahBZgEpFH_HzLQjl4caMjN0tEBRp_lyhK0wzTHvClxmDr6VOqiac-nm-FMTZOTIOlc/s1600/release.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG8RsoKJatcXZutIDM8aZ0oGwbFoe2KJ2jY6aePH181tJiMpQ5bWsHUY7Roo4tioDH7KftYirJahBZgEpFH_HzLQjl4caMjN0tEBRp_lyhK0wzTHvClxmDr6VOqiac-nm-FMTZOTIOlc/s200/release.jpg" width="125" /></a><b>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31194576-release" target="_blank"><i>Release</i></a> by Patrick Ness (September 19, 2017)</b><br />
From HarperCollins Canada: "Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life. Between
his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and
his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though
Adam’s life is falling apart. At least he has two people to keep him
sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best
friend, Angela. But all day long, old memories and new heartaches
come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings
of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he
has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release. From the <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author of <i>A Monster Calls</i> comes a raw, darkly funny, and deeply affecting story about the courage it takes to live your truth" <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk6uPLCNVqHcBKNYHwGWJp4A91WPR9D8feqC4ufrTPslFcQOHUGXmQMJc6HjMfnCgCDka9taPNtJiEsRSgq6TsUcbJXsj3Q8LmUtovxJ7DVyn7R3_Minm3zNND1gNHJv01JAhraf_qkM/s1600/herewearenow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk6uPLCNVqHcBKNYHwGWJp4A91WPR9D8feqC4ufrTPslFcQOHUGXmQMJc6HjMfnCgCDka9taPNtJiEsRSgq6TsUcbJXsj3Q8LmUtovxJ7DVyn7R3_Minm3zNND1gNHJv01JAhraf_qkM/s200/herewearenow.png" width="131" /></a><b>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18336972-here-we-are-now" target="_blank"><i>Here We Are Now</i></a> by Jasmine Warga (November 7, 2017)</b><br />
From HarperCollins Canada: "Taliah Sahar Abdallat lives and breathes music. Songs have always
helped Tal ease the pain of never having known her father. Her mother,
born in Jordan and very secretive about her past, won’t say a word about
who her dad really was. But when Tal finds a shoebox full of old
letters from Julian Oliver—yes, the indie rock star Julian Oliver—she
begins to piece the story together. She writes to Julian, but
after three years of radio silence, she’s given up hope. Then one day,
completely out of the blue, Julian shows up at her doorstep, and Tal
doesn’t know whether to be furious or to throw herself into his arms.
Before she can decide, he asks her to go on a trip with him to meet her
long-estranged family and to say good-bye to his father, her
grandfather, who is dying. Getting to know your father after
sixteen years of estrangement doesn’t happen in one car ride. But as Tal
spends more time with Julian and his family, she begins to untangle her
parents’ secret past, and discovers a part of herself she never
recognized before. By the acclaimed author of <i>My Heart and Other Black Holes</i>,
this is an intergenerational story of family and legacy and the way
love informs both of those things. It’s about secrets and the debt of
silence. It’s about the power of songs. And most of all, it’s about
learning how to say hello. And good-bye."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5BfnVuQqBqrte7pDr8luaeZovnjVqYlg3gulbwr0VZFrGpZADyvAUH0Tr64_vUDQGoHUnFioq9UKQKQQvkVavuLfx6Y-MtVc6vG2qhV-CFkYLZZRQf2InPn1oSDlw_avsYLLS_qtjC8/s1600/threesides.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="396" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5BfnVuQqBqrte7pDr8luaeZovnjVqYlg3gulbwr0VZFrGpZADyvAUH0Tr64_vUDQGoHUnFioq9UKQKQQvkVavuLfx6Y-MtVc6vG2qhV-CFkYLZZRQf2InPn1oSDlw_avsYLLS_qtjC8/s200/threesides.png" width="131" /></a><b>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26837046-three-sides-of-a-heart" target="_blank"><i>Three Sides of a Heart: Stories about Love Triangles</i></a> edited by Natalie C. Parker (December 19, 2017)</b><br />
<div class="about-text">
From HarperCollins Canada: "You may think you know the love triangle, but you've never seen love triangles like these. These
top YA authors tackle the much-debated trope of the love triangle, and
the result is sixteen fresh, diverse, and romantic stories you don’t
want to miss. This collection, edited by Natalie C. Parker,
contains stories written by Renee Ahdieh, Rae Carson, Brandy Colbert,
Katie Cotugno, Lamar Giles, Tessa Gratton, Bethany Hagan, Justina
Ireland, Alaya Dawn Johnson, EK Johnston, Julie Murphy, Garth Nix,
Natalie C. Parker, Veronica Roth, Sabaa Tahir, and Brenna Yovanoff. A
teen girl who offers kissing lessons. Zombies in the Civil War South.
The girl next door, the boy who loves her, and the girl who loves them
both. Vampires at a boarding school. Three teens fighting monsters in an
abandoned video rental store. Literally the last three people on the
planet.<b> </b>What do all these stories have in common?<i> The love triangle."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqdRjNnQyjo00zvLMVXJQjh18AQVaD847YvVsbeoVJ1vDNCo7lacQoJJ8C8N-l3qneuNrYzQ4nhuD8qzVDGOSlEswoHnhMIloJpcyzF_3cWmOk0nK21oRteBLyYwzfgL8SXt4y6p3JTs/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqdRjNnQyjo00zvLMVXJQjh18AQVaD847YvVsbeoVJ1vDNCo7lacQoJJ8C8N-l3qneuNrYzQ4nhuD8qzVDGOSlEswoHnhMIloJpcyzF_3cWmOk0nK21oRteBLyYwzfgL8SXt4y6p3JTs/s200/before.jpg" width="132" /></a><b>5.<i> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28524058-before-she-ignites" target="_blank">Before She Ignites</a> </i>by Jodi Meadows (September 12, 2017)</b><br />
From HarperCollins Canada: "From the New York Times bestselling co-author of My Lady Jane comes
a smoldering new fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard
and Kristin Cashore about a girl condemned for defending dragons and the
inner fire that may be her only chance of escape. Mira
has always been a symbol of hope for the Fallen Isles, perfect and
beautiful—or at least that’s how she’s forced to appear. But when she
uncovers a dangerous secret, Mira is betrayed by those closest to her
and sentenced to the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. Except
Mira is over being a pawn. Fighting to survive against outer threats
and inner demons of mental illness, Mira must find her inner fire and
the scorching truth about her own endangered magic—before her very world
collapses. And that’s all before she ignites."<br />
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<b>Which YA books are you looking forward to this fall? </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Find me in a galaxy far, far away:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Graphics by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LePetiteMarket" target="_blank">LePetiteMarket @ Etsy.com</a></span> </span></span></div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-31595215646464385562017-09-08T09:18:00.001-07:002017-09-08T09:18:56.709-07:00Monthly Rewind: August 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I'm unsure who first created The Monthly Rewind, but I first discovered this series over at <a href="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2017/06/monthly-rewind-may-2017.html" target="_blank">The Perpetual Page-Turner.</a> I love reading this series on so many of the blogs I follow, so I decided to incorporate it into My Literary Lenses as well. </i></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You know when you feel like everything is up in the air with absolutely no sight of it all falling into place? That's what I feel like lately. Without going into too much detail, I'm basically at a point where I want to be is literally just within reach, but I can't quite grasp it. I know I'm being completely vague, but once everything falls into place (and I do believe it will eventually) I can be more open about it.</span></span><br />
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Despite feeling a bit MEH, some good things happened this month for My Literary Lenses! I've received some ARCs (stay tuned for more reviews), I'm going to a VERY EXCITING event on Sunday (hint: it has to do with YA lit...) and I've almost reached 400 followers on Instagram!<br />
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<b>1. I went house/apartment hunting (kind of.)</b><br />
I'm not quite ready to move out just yet, but I've been preparing for my first big move for years now. By preparing, I mean scouring Instragram for decor ideas, saving up literally every penny and just daydreaming of an apartment filled with delightful colour pops. Taylor and I drove around a neighbourhood my mum suggested and we <i>reaaaally</i> like it. We're hoping it all works out once we're ready to move out next year.<br />
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<b>2. I donated a lot of my belongings.</b><br />
I like to go through my things every month and donating things I no longer use or don't really love anymore. Again, I've been doing this in preparation for moving out next year.<br />
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<b>3. I finally watched <i>Wonder Woman</i>.</b><br />
Honestly I didn't love <i>Wonder Woman </i>as much as everyone else did and I feel like a complete weirdo for it.<br />
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(Shameless plug: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">@myliterarylenses</a>) </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6ImxY6hnfA" target="_blank">"Call Your Girlfriend"</a> by Robyn </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei8hPkyJ0bU" target="_blank">"Crushcrushcrush"</a> by Paramore </div>
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<b>1. My new course.</b></div>
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I am starting a new online course next week. Even though I'm officially done full-time schooling, I love learning and can't get enough of it. (Nerd life.)</div>
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<b>2. Word on the Street.</b></div>
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Toronto hosts a massive literary festival each year and I intend to go this time around. </div>
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<b>3. <i>Stranger Things 2.</i></b></div>
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Wait, didn't I say I was excited about this last month? Still accurate. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Find me in a galaxy far, far away:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Instagram: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">@myliterarylenses</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Twitter: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/literarylenses" target="_blank">@literarylenses</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">/myliterarylenses </a></span></div>
Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-65475034456823632212017-08-09T10:17:00.002-07:002017-08-09T10:17:59.334-07:00Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMOKdlRYORj6AuetqgzCM-it9T3uAwKZcR3VZfqW6pLOL46B0gg6x-FvOTgldkfEq03ymFd9vEny13SukNCuMVXAaO2TJc3XneT2Lw9cVC2FA6A1ur_N-Bc9h1blV5uRqcUpuhXcKTYM/s1600/cinderreview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="800" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMOKdlRYORj6AuetqgzCM-it9T3uAwKZcR3VZfqW6pLOL46B0gg6x-FvOTgldkfEq03ymFd9vEny13SukNCuMVXAaO2TJc3XneT2Lw9cVC2FA6A1ur_N-Bc9h1blV5uRqcUpuhXcKTYM/s640/cinderreview.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder" target="_blank"><i><b>Cinder </b></i></a><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11235712-cinder" target="_blank">by Marissa Meyer — Feiwel and Friends</a></b></div>
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This isn't your ordinary fairy tale. In <i>Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles</i>, a futuristic Cinderella retelling by Marissa Meyer, you won't come across a magic pumpkin or a fairy god mother. The book follows a teenager named Cinder, a mechanic in New Beijing who is part cyborg-part human. With the threat of an intergalactic war looming and a plague spreading across the planet, Cinder finds herself at the centre of the chaos—with a dash of romance, a quirky robot sidekick and an evil queen.</div>
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I'm not usually this blunt when it comes to writing reviews, but I need to put this plainly: <b>I LOVED THIS BOOK.</b></div>
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I haven't had an enjoyable reading experience like this in a long time. One where I dreaded having to put the book down, one where I was extremely ecstatic each time I was able to get back to reading the story. From the very first paragraph of the book (which describes Cinder screwing her new robotic foot into place...how's that for an opening?) I was completely absorbed and obsessed with the world of New Beijing.</div>
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Although Cinder is a fairy tale retelling (and there's nothing wrong with that), for the most part I completely forgot I was reading a story that wasn't 100 per cent original. Even with its ties to Cinderella—and even with a handful of predictable "twists" and reveals—the story felt utterly original and new. </div>
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I'm so excited this is part of a larger series, <i>The Lunar Chronicles</i>, which melds the worlds of other fairy tale characters (including Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel) into a larger narrative of good versus evil.</div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-50025985915494957512017-08-03T08:25:00.001-07:002017-08-03T08:25:15.372-07:00Review: The Break by Katherena Vermette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>The Break</i> by Katherena Vermette — House of Anansi — <a href="https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-break" target="_blank">$22.95</a></b></div>
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<i>I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion of the book whatsoever. </i><br />
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<i>Thematic spoilers ahead. </i><br />
<br />
Timely, needed and overall a brilliantly written debut novel, <i>The Break</i> by Katherena Vermette is a masterful portrait of a family tragedy that unravels painful memories of the past. <br />
<i><br /></i>
The story follows several girls and women in Winnipeg's North End, each interconnected in some way and brought together again after a horrible crime takes place. A major thread holding each story together is the pervasiveness of sexual violence, how it is a strong force that pushes Indigenous girls and women into a lifelong cycle of silence, trauma and shame.<br />
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Vermette alludes to this silence and how it permeates the everyday lives of Indigenous women—from the dust covering Kookom's home to the black bandana hanging out of a young son's back pocket. Throughout reading the novel, I caught myself repeatedly thinking: "There are so many painful things in our lives that we silently agree to acknowledge among each other but never say aloud." That not only includes sexual violence, but also the small doses of shame women collect, bury and attempt to conceal throughout their lives—until the trauma builds up and becomes too unbearable to ignore. <br />
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The piece of land nicknamed the Break becomes its own character, representative of the vast ground society has yet to cover in combating violence against women. The giant "robots" (electric towers) stand tall, peering down, always watching. A constant reminder. It's there and it is seen, but we continue to pretend that we don't.<br />
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In return, Vermette shows what happens when women show up for each
other when they are ready to address their pain. The love and empathy
expressed by these characters, especially Kookom, who has lived through
it all, glow like a ball of hope.<br />
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<i>"These details, the story, what happened. They both know what happened well enough anyway. It's the big dark thing in the room, always there. They don't have to see it to know it, to know they don't want to look at it." </i><br />
<i>— </i>The Break by Katherena Vermette, page 191<i></i><br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-492785225853651412017-08-02T10:54:00.002-07:002017-08-02T10:55:36.490-07:00My Writing Insecurities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I was 16 years old I entered a national creative writing competition that was way out of my league and outside the realm of reality that I existed in. I have no idea where that confidence came from, but the fact remains that it lead me to bold places.<br />
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Naturally, I didn't win, but all these years later I'm left wondering: where did that confidence disappear to?<br />
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I lost some of the confidence I once had in my writing around the same time I studied journalism and later creative nonfiction. Studying "the craft" (unrelated to Hogwarts) is a huge privilege, but I unfortunately began to scrutinize my work and obsess over whether or not I was doing this whole writing thing properly. I became insecure about the length of my sentences (20 words max, I learned in j-school), my dialogue (does anyone talk like this?), and my character development. <br />
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As writers, we are so often pressured to discuss our accomplishments—but what about our insecurities? Being more open and honest about the challenges writers face, especially the inner battles we experience, may make other writers feel less alone.<br />
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These are mine.<br />
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<b>"No one cares and everyone will laugh at you."</b><br />
It's a very deep fear of mine that what I have to say is unimportant and that no one will be interested in what I write about. It sounds very narcissistic and superficial (it probably is) but it's impossible to sell a book that no one will read. I have a handful of stories I mull over, but I always end up convincing myself they aren't important. <br />
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<b>I overthinking e v e r y t h i n g.</b><br />
I've never been very good at sitting down, letting the words "flow" without interrupting myself to revise a sentence or think of a better turn of phrase. While I'm very slowly (like glacial, turtle pace slowly) getting better at it thanks to writing a blog, I'm worried that I will forever doubt myself, my words and constantly be stuck in draft one limbo.<br />
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<b>I'll never publish a book. </b><br />
If I do not write and publish a book by the time I must depart the earth, I will feel like I have failed myself in some way. It's always been my dream, my number one goal in life to be a published author. Even though I'm still relatively young and I have time to accomplish this goal, I hear a constant clock ticking in my head that I can't seem to shut off.<br />
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I've learned that the more time I spend kicking myself over these insecurities, the less time I have to actually work on them. But I like to remind myself that, just like our stories, we are always a work in progress.<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-457113355901316402017-07-26T13:45:00.001-07:002017-07-26T13:50:13.325-07:00How to Successfully Pitch an Article <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I started freelance writing in 2012, I felt lost. I'd taken courses in university where I learned about writing pitches, longform journalism and writing for print, but I hadn't yet found my voice when it came to pitching.<br />
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Despite having a working knowledge of pitching, I feared doing the wrong thing when it came to contacting editors. But as I wrote more and more pitches, I developed a go-to formula and a set of guidelines that worked well for me. <br />
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While many pitches were rejected—and others ignored—many were successful and resulted in getting published in places like <i>Teen Vogue</i>, <i>HelloGiggles</i>, <i>The Mary Sue</i> and more.<br />
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The process of writing a pitch can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours depending on the subject matter you want to write about. Regardless, it's best to treat every pitch equally—you never know who's reading your work and what kind of effect you will have on them.<br />
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There's no right way to pitch and I'm certainly not an expert. But I do want to share the few tips and tricks I learned over the past couple of years.<br />
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<b>TIP #1: Find the right editor's email address</b><br />
It's best to take some extra time to research the magazine and find out which editor oversees the section your article will fit best (i.e. entertainment, culture, sports, etc.) Not all editors display their email publicly—after all, they receive thousands of pitches a year—but many include their email address in their Twitter bio. Many editors post call-outs for pitches on Twitter and will often include their email address when they do so. <br />
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Can't find the editor's email? Find the email address of another editor at the magazine. Chances are, their email addresses with follow the same formula (i.e. first initial followed by last name.)<br />
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<b>TIP #2: Introduce yourself</b><br />
Now that you have the editor's email, you're ready to craft your pitch. Some writers introduce themselves at the start of the pitch, especially if it's an editor they've never worked with before. It's also a good idea to end your email with a longer (2-3 sentence) description of who you are and where you've been published before with links to your articles. If you haven't been published before, don't worry. Editors can tell from your pitch if you're a good writer and if your idea is solid.<br />
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<b>TIP #3: Mention important dates</b><br />
If your article is tied to an upcoming date—a movie or book release, for instance—mention the date <b>very</b> early on in the email. In fact, it's best to mention it in the first 1-2 sentences. That way, the editor knows what kind of a timeline you'll both have in terms of accepting the pitch, writing the article, and sending back edits.<br />
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<b>TIP #4: Keep it concise</b><br />
Unless the publication's guidelines state otherwise, keep your pitch short and sweet at 3-4 paragraphs. If you're pitching a feature
article, especially for a print magazine, then your pitch will probably
be longer and more in-depth.<br />
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<b>TIP #5: Know the audience</b><br />
Toward the end of your pitch, state why the magazine's readers will be interested in this story and why your article is the perfect fit for the publication.<br />
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<b>TIP #6: Why you?</b><br />
If there's a particular reason why you're the best person to write this
article—perhaps you are an expert in the subject or you have a personal angle that's appropriate to explore—mention it! Keep in mind that if there's a conflict of interest (i.e. the subject/interviewee is your friend), then the editor may have a problem with that. It all depends on the outlet and the kind of article you're writing. <br />
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<b>TIP #7: Explain why the article is important and timely</b><br />
If your article is tied to an upcoming television show, a major news story, or a trendy subject, it's a good idea to tie this in to your pitch as it demonstrates to the editor that the topic is prevalent and that you're aware of its importance today.<br />
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<b>BONUS TIP: </b>If your pitch is timely, many writers will begin their email subject line with "PITCH: TIMELY" to grab the editor's attention. <br />
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I hope this post was helpful! If you have any questions about pitching and freelance writing, feel free to tweet me <a href="https://twitter.com/literarylenses" target="_blank">@literarylenses</a>. If I receive some questions, I will definitely put together a follow-up post.<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-87185214282028888142017-07-24T06:36:00.000-07:002017-07-24T06:36:48.695-07:00Monthly Rewind: July 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mqeo1_6Uf95V-VaIjotKwdAVDnGKIo5tfTc_uzIijrvZPFDGbjZ_ne4MedjpbhxEC6xBj9mzO8Iw41fy9MhFANes9yQSn-UyVDhXGfSmrXOyrZVjiMJu3xiBL5AZOnUNhuRDOmsNe44/s1600/July2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="800" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mqeo1_6Uf95V-VaIjotKwdAVDnGKIo5tfTc_uzIijrvZPFDGbjZ_ne4MedjpbhxEC6xBj9mzO8Iw41fy9MhFANes9yQSn-UyVDhXGfSmrXOyrZVjiMJu3xiBL5AZOnUNhuRDOmsNe44/s640/July2017.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I'm unsure who first created The Monthly Rewind, but I first discovered this series over at <a href="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2017/06/monthly-rewind-may-2017.html" target="_blank">The Perpetual Page-Turner.</a> I love reading this series on so many of the blogs I follow, so I decided to incorporate it into My Literary Lenses as well. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not going to lie: I'm pretty excited for summer to wind-down. I realize I'm not a normal human, but I write better when the weather is cooler and the promise of candy, costumes and <i>Treehouse of Horror </i>marathons is looming. Despite my strong feelings toward summer, I had a productive month. I re-launched my blog (finally) and I'm slowly working out how I'd like it to look and what posts I'd like to do. Ultimately I want this to be a space for fellow writers, creative people and book lovers to unite.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. I saw <i>Dunkirk</i>. </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was incredible and I highly recommend it to any film buffs out there (maybe not so much to history buffs.) I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. I went wedding dress shopping and found my dress. </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wasn't expecting to find something so quickly but I was very lucky enough to find something that had everything I was hoping for. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. I visited Ozzy and Sully. </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mum's dogs who will, no doubt, make many guest appearances on my blog. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgXn_26I6xzQvtGT_spk7vYBHNDK8IoEX-LYWHj2j5_t7Pjn3IEGKqgtHIQinpTxdvBJipi-98qi5qF4ACBgDEH6ivXyqvCIs1SiAH73RW3iDfVl9WxRpckO5SvVhNuLRti9x6F4DzHI/s400/monthlyrewindjuly2017.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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(Shameless plug: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">@myliterarylenses</a>)</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADPk5PpkjMg" target="_blank">"Butterfly"</a> by Grimes</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wiBRhX_QTU" target="_blank">"Electric Love"</a> by Borns </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFa0bRuHLGmRnAvhCgCpttrjVBFq9g26RgblCmIsHuLz-0mLYPgLAbl6OCVgCKQpXvKyGqAvhpNxvJiTlncSd_EPz12hPcMtVQysrjzdcZLJdY1_zOZ3Ln8haEWc79Rx7xFAhj58BKrc/s1600/Excitedabout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="1249" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFa0bRuHLGmRnAvhCgCpttrjVBFq9g26RgblCmIsHuLz-0mLYPgLAbl6OCVgCKQpXvKyGqAvhpNxvJiTlncSd_EPz12hPcMtVQysrjzdcZLJdY1_zOZ3Ln8haEWc79Rx7xFAhj58BKrc/s640/Excitedabout.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>1. <i>Star Wars: The Last Jedi</i></b></div>
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This is going to be on my list until December. I am literally counting down the days (144.)</div>
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<b>2. <i>Stranger Things 2</i></b></div>
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Pass me the Eggos, please.</div>
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<b>3.<i> The Science of Orphan Black </i></b></div>
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While I'm extremely sad <i>Orphan Black</i> is coming to an end this summer, I'm so excited for the pop science exploration of the show in ECW's forthcoming <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32073086-the-science-of-orphan-black?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><i>The Science of Orphan Black</i></a> by Nina Nesseth and Casey Griffin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7gCXeWeXORZFIkhMiiaovgDbLyTmipdVew3CczUqaLq2Y8KYg0Ay3GjYbVYcJjXL3r7z4aN2Gr-deoQVKaQZy-vS6gmGqTqOQAF9MMyDuSXH_xLLE91l2Y3dodmEJ1gYoCw0Gtpf5Vo/s1600/-+Nadya.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="800" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7gCXeWeXORZFIkhMiiaovgDbLyTmipdVew3CczUqaLq2Y8KYg0Ay3GjYbVYcJjXL3r7z4aN2Gr-deoQVKaQZy-vS6gmGqTqOQAF9MMyDuSXH_xLLE91l2Y3dodmEJ1gYoCw0Gtpf5Vo/s400/-+Nadya.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Find me in a galaxy far, far away:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Instagram: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">@myliterarylenses</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Twitter: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/literarylenses" target="_blank">@literarylenses</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Graphics by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LePetiteMarket" target="_blank">LePetiteMarket @ Etsy.com</a></span></b> </div>
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-13277829039965597392017-07-21T10:11:00.000-07:002017-07-21T10:11:02.778-07:00Mid-Year Book Freak Out! 2017 Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I look back on the year so far, I feel my stomach sink and my cheeks redden. I haven't accomplished all of my lofty reading goals for 2017 (see: read one Stephen King book a month, read a book a week, read all the classics I can get my hands on, etc.) Yeah, that didn't happen.<br />
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To be fair, I've dealt with a lot of curve balls this year that changed my reading schedule and habits. There were a solid few months when I didn't get any reading done at all. I'd be so tired by the end of the day that instead of reading like I usually do, I'd hop onto BookTube and live vicariously through other people's book reviews.<br />
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With that said, it's still possible to make up for lost time. I don't consider this a failure or an embarrassment—it's just a testament to the fact that things don't always go as planned <b>and that is okay.</b><br />
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I came across the Mid-Yead Book Freak Out by Chami (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03gz6k0IB-Y" target="_blank">ReadLikeWildFire</a>) and Ely (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Wh0rPGfRg&t=6s" target="_blank">Earl Grey Books</a>) on BookTube. While answering the questions, I was reminded of all the reading I've done this year and how it's still a step up from last year. I consider that an accomplishment, no matter how small. <br />
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<b>1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2017:</b><br />
<i>The Hate U Give</i> by Angie Thomas. <br />
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<b>2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2017:</b><br />
I haven't read one (yet.)<br />
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<b>3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to:</b><br />
<i>Ramona Blue</i> by Julie Murphy.<br />
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<b>4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:</b><br />
<i>The Science of Orphan Black </i>by Casey Griffin and Nina Nesseth.<br />
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<b>5. Biggest disappointment:</b><br />
...I plead the fifth.<br />
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<b>6. Biggest surprise:</b><br />
<i>We Are Okay</i> by Nina LaCour. <br />
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<b>7. Favourite new author: (Debut or new to you)</b><br />
Julie Murphy isn't debut by any means, but I'm so glad <i>Dumplin'</i> made its way into my life. <br />
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<b>8. Newest fictional crush.</b><br />
I don't have one so far.<br />
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<b>9. Newest favourite character:</b><br />
Willowdean Dickson of <i>Dumplin' </i>by Julie Murphy.<br />
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<b>10. Book that made you cry:</b><br />
<i>We Are Okay</i> by Nina LaCour. <br />
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<b>11. Book that made you happy:</b><br />
It's not necessarily a "happy" story, but <i>The Night Circus</i> by Erin Morgenstern certainly conjured up some whimsy. <b><br /></b><br />
<b>12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year:</b><br />
I re-watched <i>Room</i> recently and I am still in awe of it and Brie Larson.<br />
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<b>13. Favourite review you've written this year:</b><br />
Honestly? I'm still working on finding my voice when it comes to writing reviews. <br />
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<b>14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received):</b><br />
<i>The Princess Diarist</i> by Carrie Fisher. It's by far one of my favourite book covers. <b><br /></b><br />
<b>15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?</b><br />
I'd like to read some books that have been on my shelf for a while but I haven't gotten to yet. I'd like to read at least 2-3 more Stephen King books by the end of the year. I also really want to read <i>The Glass Castle</i> by Jeanette Wallis ahead of the movie adaptation release because, if you couldn't already tell, I'm a huge Brie Larson fan. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Find me in a galaxy far, far away:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Instagram: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/myliterarylenses/" target="_blank">@myliterarylenses</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Twitter: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/literarylenses" target="_blank">@literarylenses</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Graphics by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LePetiteMarket" target="_blank">LePetiteMarket @ Etsy.com</a></span></b> </div>
<b> </b>Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-34943560677498500102017-07-19T14:56:00.000-07:002017-07-19T14:56:49.744-07:00The next chapter: new look, new name, same blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Hello, it's me, Nadya. No, you're not lost—my blog just has a new name and a makeover! How do you like the new look?<br />
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In
the past few months, I experienced a few changes in my personal and
professional life. I switched my focus from freelance writing and
editing to pursuing other career options. Along the way I kept my blog, formerly known as Nadya With a Why, and it transformed
into a blog about books.<br />
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I also wrote personal posts documenting my struggles with writing, and to my surprise, those were the posts that received the most response. After I <a href="http://myliterarylenses.blogspot.ca/2017/04/its-ok-to-fail.html" target="_blank">published this post</a> about struggling to write my first book, I received tons of private messages and texts from people who could relate. <br />
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While I slowly made the very tough decision to take a hiatus from freelance writing, I knew I wanted to put more energy and time into my blog. On the surface it sounds like I'm working backwards—going from freelance writing to blogging isn't exactly the most obvious or natural progression in one's writing career—but for now, it's exactly right for me.<br />
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And thus, <b>My Literary Lenses</b> was born.<br />
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Now that I have all the boring details out the way, here's a little more insight into why I changed the name of my blog and what you can expect from me in the future.<br />
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<b>Why I made this change</b><br />
From
a branding (ugh) perspective, my old blog name just wasn't good. Yes it
was punny, but it didn't tell readers what my blog is about. Once I had a clearer vision of what I want my blog to be, I knew in my
heart I had to change the name to properly reflect the content. The name is both a nod to how we view the world based on our favourite stories...and of course, a reference my glasses.<br />
<b><br />What you can expect</b><br />
In addition to book reviews, I will also be writing personal essays about life and writing, interviews with people in the publishing industry and tips and tricks for aspiring writers. I'm also introducing a regular feature on my blog called Writing Wednesdays where I'll talk about anything from getting your start in freelance, writing crushes, challenges, interviews with authors and more.<br />
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If you've stuck around with me until now, thank you so much for reading. And to anyone who is new here, please leave a comment below to introduce yourself!<br />
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Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440523963998083109.post-12149078336384232042017-04-03T15:19:00.000-07:002017-04-29T19:46:19.225-07:00It's OK to fail: How (not) writing a book helped me confront my perfectionism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu_M2t0j75YZS0Pdlg8T8aVoSloyY_FaCWj_bK4FipO8YBk7TGneMh0W4IJ8PyXmDmhwZz4BXE_Ul5FoXcVgZpVB9NA4w50_G6BtYTdGE4Ix032EUuSfCbWwtChJq2r3_2AYZJ2x8zGc/s1600/oktofail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu_M2t0j75YZS0Pdlg8T8aVoSloyY_FaCWj_bK4FipO8YBk7TGneMh0W4IJ8PyXmDmhwZz4BXE_Ul5FoXcVgZpVB9NA4w50_G6BtYTdGE4Ix032EUuSfCbWwtChJq2r3_2AYZJ2x8zGc/s400/oktofail.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">Over
the past two years I started and abandoned three book ideas. As an MFA
student in creative nonfiction, I was required to work on a manuscript
with the goal of finding an agent or landing a book deal. I spent hours
and hours writing book
proposals, chapters and pitches that are now dwelling in the abyss of
my drafts folder.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">The
first book I set out to work on seemed promising: it told the life
story of my great grandparents and their labor union activism in South
Africa. It was a little-known slice of history that I wanted to help
bring to light given the personal connection. Thanks to my family's
preservation of history, I already had historical documents in my
possession. In February 2016, my grandma and I traveled together to
Durban and Cape Town so I could conduct research. I was serious about
writing the book and getting my family's story out there.</span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p2">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">But
when I came back home from the research trip, I had a gut feeling the
book wasn’t
going to work out. Not only did I feel unqualified to write this
particular story, but also the task of writing it was so daunting it
worsened my
already existing anxiety. It was the kind of story that required a
combination of historical expertise and life experience. The book also
required more money to fuel its success—money for more research trips
and reading materials—something I simply didn't have the means to do. No
matter how badly I wanted to write the book, I realized I wasn't the
right person to.</span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">The book, as I would later describe it to
my family and my instructors, started to feel like a dark rain cloud
hovering over me from the moment I woke up each day.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">For a few weeks, I trucked along
in denial, attempting to piece together chapters about my family's
story. Not because I wanted to, but because I was consumed by the shame
and embarrassment of admitting it wasn't working out. Instead of
considering what I wanted to do, I agonized over what other people would
feel and think. Embarrassed about my situation, I didn't want to
potentially deal with questions from my MFA peers. Most of all, I didn't
want to let my family down.</span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">When I finally told my
family and close circle of friends I was officially giving up, they completely understood. Relieved by their reaction, I felt a
heavy weight lift off my shoulders. But that feeling was immediately
replaced by a familiar sense of shame and embarrassment: I failed.</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">I’ve
always struggled with perfection. </span><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">From my grades to my appearance, every aspect of my life has always been ruled by my need to be perfect.
In high school, it wasn’t uncommon for me to stay up until 5 a.m.
running on Diet Pepsi perfecting an assignment in pursuit of an A+.
Those hours were immediately followed by another hour or so perfecting
my hair and my outfit in the mirror before school.<span class="m_1654302033557655612Apple-converted-space"> Like Nina in <i>Black Swan</i>, I felt anything less than perfection was unacceptable.</span></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">While
the rest of the world saw a straight A student (minus math), on the inside I battled
with anxiety and perfectionism. </span><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">My anxiety</span><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"> flared up whenever
something didn't go as planned or when I felt I failed. M</span><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"><span class="m_1654302033557655612Apple-converted-space">y
perfectionism was never really about me and what I wanted for myself.
It was a constant pursuit of keeping up an impossible image of
togetherness. I wanted so badly for others to like me, so much so that I
constantly sacrificed my well-being. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">When I failed at my first crack at writing a book, I spent nearly a month in bed unable
to write anything at all. I questioned whether or not I was cut out to be a
writer and I beat myself up for spending so much money on a research
trip that, at the time, felt like a waste.<span class="m_1654302033557655612Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p2">
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">With only a few months left until my next writing
residency for the MFA, I tried out (and eventually abandoned) two more book ideas.
The embarrassment from that surpassed the shame I felt from giving up on
my first book. Instead of improving, it seemed like I was only getting
worse.</span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
</div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">Then came book number four.</span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="m_1654302033557655612p1">
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">I landed on an idea for a pop
culture memoir about one of my favourite television shows and its
significance on both a cultural and personal level. Suddenly I was
inspired, unable to stop the ideas and words from flowing. </span><span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">As
I come close to the one year mark of abandoning my initial book idea,
I also completed 15,000 words of my new manuscript which I was able to write without doubting myself.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1"><span class="m_1654302033557655612Apple-converted-space">When
I filed my final chapter to my writing mentor, I realized how much I'd
changed from the young woman crumpled in her bed. Although the process
was painful, I learned that it's OK to fail. It's OK to admit to
yourself that you need to move on—and that doing so is not necessarily a
failure. Trying to be perfect all the time isn't worth sacrificing your
happiness. I learned that underneath my damaging pursuit of perfection,
I believed in myself enough to try again. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="m_1654302033557655612s1">If
I stayed with my initial book idea, I would have grown extremely
unhappy. Instead of writing the story I thought I had to write, I began the one I was always meant to.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Graphics by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LePetiteMarket" target="_blank">LePetiteMarket @ Etsy.com</a></span></div>
Nadya With a Whyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200566589071257138noreply@blogger.com0