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Messages - Nessa

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76
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 08, 2010, 01:13:58 AM »
Quote from: WriterDan on June 07, 2010, 10:47:35 PM
After finishing my re-read, I have to ask:  What was wrong with the ending?  :)  I thought it was fully satisfying.  All in all, I enjoyed the book more this time through than I did the first.

Because the climax was told through a freaking letter, when we've spent 400 pages on the minutae of Basso's day-to-day comings and goings, so it was disparate from what Parker had spent the entire book setting up. It's as bad as Twilight's pov character being unconscious during the climax. (No, wait. Sorry. Not THAT bad.) And then the main character who's spent his whole life fighting just gives up. His wife's actions come completely out of left field. I could go on, but those are the main points.

The rest of the book was fine and quite fun to read. I would have been happy if it had stopped at about page 375.

Quote
I guess there are two ways to interpret my sarcasm there.  In this case, I meant it in the most positive way possible.  As in:  Who wouldn't be interested?  Not:  Who would?

As in YOU since you were selected. :P

77
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 07, 2010, 02:43:14 PM »
Quote from: guessingo on June 07, 2010, 01:33:06 PM
People must really love books to be an alpha reader. I have never been one, but I would think that the difference in quality between a book in alpha stage and a final book is pretty large. You are basically doing alot of free work for someone.

Then again I am sure that Alpha readers are essential. Editors are all well and good, but if you work with the same 1-2 people on a book, the responses and reactions are kind of narrow. Plus the editor will know you and know your work better than someone more external so areas that you both might think are clear are probably problematic to others.

Yes, the quality difference is relatively high. The difference is even bigger in the writing group stage. I've been alpha reader on a decent number of books and to answer your question, not only do I love books, but I also love writing and seeing the writing of others and myself progress. It's free work, but it's work that you can see progress and that's satisfying.

The one benefit for alpha readers is that they usually get their name on the acknowledgment page.

Finished Interview with the Vampire. It wasn't what I expected. Still mulling over whether I liked it or not.

On to The Kingdom Beyond the Waves by Stephen Hunt. My first steampunk. Also going to the library today for new fodder.

78
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: June 06, 2010, 03:07:44 AM »
Quote from: Shivertongue on June 06, 2010, 01:49:02 AM
Also alpha read Binding Mars, by Nessa, which I'm not sure if I can add to my 'List of Books Read'... very engaging story. One of those that rips you through, in a good way.

:D

79
Writing Group / Re: looking for a couple of alpha readers
« on: May 30, 2010, 07:47:48 AM »
You guys are awesome.

That is all.

80
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 28, 2010, 12:47:20 AM »
Quote from: guessingo on May 21, 2010, 01:22:34 PM
@nessa: I am a Robert Jordan fan. One thing I find lacking in his book is the weakness of his writing about really old characters. Aes Sedai are old. When I read his books (and re-read them), I remember wishing that he would have written old characters the same way that Anne Rice writes them. She does a very good job explaining what it is like to live for hundreds of years.

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. I'm about halfway through it.

In the meantime I just finished Bujold's The Sharing Knife: Passage and The Sharing Knife: Horizon, thus completing a satisfying series.

81
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 20, 2010, 10:46:56 PM »
Quote from: Bookstore Guy on May 20, 2010, 08:11:59 PM
Quote from: Nessa on May 20, 2010, 05:30:08 PM
Quote from: WriterDan on May 20, 2010, 04:20:24 PM
Put it down for a bit to re-read The Folding Knife though.

So....the ending makes sense to you? You liked it?
You'll have to forgive him, Nessa.  For some reason everything Parker writes is awesome to him.  Nobody is perfect :P

Heh.


Reading Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Figured it was about time.

82
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 20, 2010, 05:30:08 PM »
Quote from: WriterDan on May 20, 2010, 04:20:24 PM
Put it down for a bit to re-read The Folding Knife though.

So....the ending makes sense to you? You liked it?

83
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2009: We're Still Here
« on: May 11, 2010, 06:59:30 AM »
Quote from: little wilson on May 11, 2010, 06:07:51 AM
As of 9:54 this morning, I am an aunt. And my niece is freaking adorable. Sure, she has a skull the shape of those on Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but oh well. Her face isn't deformed at all, and it is cute. I love her already, and I will spoil her greatly, because that is what aunts do. Sometimes.

AND give lots and lots of kisses. That's, like, part of the aunt job description. Sweet little baby cheeks are impossible to not kiss.

84
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 10, 2010, 03:33:11 PM »
Quote from: guessingo on May 10, 2010, 12:38:26 PM
Another book by Connie Willis that is very good is The Doomsday book.

The Doomsday Book has more sciency stuff in it. To Say Nothing of the Dog is funnier. Just depends on what you're in the mood for.

85
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 09, 2010, 05:11:16 AM »
Quote from: mtlhddoc2 on May 08, 2010, 07:53:15 PM
Finished Worldwar series by Turtledove, need a break from alt history, and mega-series fantasy as well. Anyone recommend a few one-off fantasy novels with no tie-ins to any other series?

Sunshine byRobin McKinley

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

86
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 07, 2010, 05:06:21 AM »
Quote from: Shivertongue on May 07, 2010, 01:43:09 AM
Quote from: ErikHolmes on May 07, 2010, 01:11:55 AM
I just started The Blade Itself after reading the Elitist Book Review. Pretty good so far but nothing amazing has happened yet . . .

I'm almost finished with it, and so far nothing amazing has happened. Despite this, for some reason I am loving it. It might just be Abercrombie's style of writing. I can tell something is building, and I can just feel that it's going to be amazing.

These novels are very very character driven and as a result the pacing will be slower, less plot. But it's worth seeing it through to the end.

87
Writing Group / Re: Length of Fantasy Novels
« on: May 03, 2010, 03:53:35 AM »
It's typical for urban fantasy to run around 90,000 words, give or take, and there's a LOT of it out there. It can get away with a short word count because it's based on a world we know, with the paranormal stuff added in. Neil Gaiman's Stardust doesn't even reach 300 pages, and OSC has several shorter fantasy novels. To name a few examples.

88
Books / review: Bitter Night
« on: May 02, 2010, 07:39:20 PM »
by Silk: http://www.timewastersguide.com/review/1698/Bitter-Night

89
Writing Group / Re: Length of Fantasy Novels
« on: May 02, 2010, 07:27:20 PM »
That will be something for your alpha readers to tell you when they read it. It's hard to make an assessment here without seeing it first. Yes, fantasy novels CAN be short.

90
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 01, 2010, 01:18:19 PM »
The Help by Kathryn Stockett, set in civil rights era Jackson, Mississippi (historical fiction, not sf). Half-way through, and DANG is it good.

Edit: Finished it. Ahhhh that was a good story. Well developed, excellent conflict, interesting characters. Just great all around.

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