Katharine Grubb

I kept on avoiding this book and I couldn't figure out why. Finally, I picked it up and decided to give it a go. Ugh...

By reading the title and all the hype you would think that this book would be for those who write, want to write, can write, and yet don't have the time to write. The shortest section covered this. The rest of the book is just a bunch of exercises, quotes, and excerpts based on the craft. It covers dialogue, characters, POV, editing, and publishing. I would say that about 60% or more of the "10 min" sessions are said to take you several sessions, going against the concept of breaking things down. And while the author spends a lot of time giving exercises on the craft that are in the supposed 10-minute rule, when it comes to actually writing the first draft there is little to nothing there.

And a lot of this book is repetitive. There is one section on the first draft in which we are giving 3 different metaphors/similies on writing the first draft. Sadly, these are full on paragraphs of "A first draft is like..." that could have been summed up into one. And to make it worse, one of them has been used over and over throughout the book. Between this and the grammar mistakes and chunky word usage, the book at times dragged. I say at times because a good part, if not nearly half, is all quotes and the writings of others along with list that are pretty much repetitive.

Not until towards the end did the author use any of her own work to give examples. The whole book is pretty much, "I read another book and they said this..." and we are given pretty much a breakdown that seems all too familiar for someone who has read the same books and papers. I have a huge dislike when people use other pieces as examples. I have read pages of Of Mice and Men and that other one, Around the World in 80 Days. I sense a lack of confidence in the author's work when I'm constantly reading them praise and criticize everyone but themselves.

Overall, if you are looking to learn to write in 10 mins a day read the first part and move on. If you are a complete newbie to the idea of writing and have no idea what a plot is or the difference between 1st person POV and 3rd, this just may be the perfect book for you.

… (mais)

Kim's worked hard to get away from her family, the venerable Reverend and his perfect wife. But her plans backfire when she and her boyfriend break up, and she resigns from her job (owned by her ex's father) to avoid seeing him. Her mother drags her home with the "perfect" solution: a temporary position as church secretary while their current one recovers.

Over in Boston, Kim's sister-in-law Suzanne, wife to Quentin and mother of three gets some incredible news: her husband's job is moving him home to Oklahoma, and she's finally going to get that dream house she's been hoping for.

It sounds like a great big family reunion, except for one thing, neither Kim nor Quentin want to move home and lose themselves in the overbearing perfection required of a preacher's kid.

Literally everything falls apart. Suzanne gets pregnant and is unable to run her house in a way that would make her late mother proud. And Kim's position as church secretary puts her in the line of fire of her overbearing mom, dismissive dad, and demanding congregants. Not to mention she's being pursued by an old-time acquaintance, church member, and local mortician who thinks its God's will they be together, there's a cute new choir director and associate pastor. It's a recipe for disaster.

The beginning was a little slow for me, and a little confusing as I got used to the dual points of view and blur of events. I also believe I got one of the copies that the author mistakenly put out that wasn't as edited, so I'm not counting that against her. Once I got past the beginning, though, I was sucked in. The drama, the misery, the hopes and shattered dreams. It was a story of broken individuals letting go, and the simple truths that make bearing our hurts a little easier. There's romance and breakups, heartache and new life. It's an emotional journey that in the end I found very satisfactory. The Christian setting is not overly preachy, despite being about a preacher's family, and I believe it's a valuable perspective into the difficulties that those types of families face.… (mais)

I thought this story was delightful.

Laura is disenchanted with her current relationship--or lack thereof--when David arrives on the scene. He's interested in her, handsome, and along with his driver, quite a quirky man. He makes a proposal: They should start as friends, and if she so chooses, they can progress along the romantic chain from sweethearts to fiances to husband and wife. There's plenty of rules, which can be both exciting and frustrating. Laura comes to several crossroads along the way. Will she choose David or leave his madness behind?

I found the story to be quite humorous. I mean, the man is living by a certain code of chivalry, sitting on his hands and reciting poetry when riding through a dark tunnel and challenging uncaring old boyfriends to duels. What's not kind of hilarious about that? The pacing is good, and the characters are intriguing. There's even some hints of magic in the whole thing, and a legend to boot. The only thing I question is one scene where the rules are broken for the sake of an injury (much to David's protest), and he becomes, very oddly, not himself. I didn't feel like that was explained to my point of satisfaction, so there's that.

Regardless, I thought it was funny and moving, and I loved all the peculiar rules that David is bound by. The only thing that would have made it better (for me) would have been for the magic element to be either confirmed or denied, and that one scene addressed more fully. Otherwise, totally recommended read, especially if you love love. :)… (mais)

I have some mixed feelings about this novel. Like her other book, [[ASIN:B00AAC5FKS Falling For Your Madness]], the characters are unique and intriguing, but the book didn't capture me in the same way.

Set in the 80's at Oklahoma University, Soulless Creatures is about 3 students: Jonathan, the rich kid desperate to transcend his status by living a modern day Walden; Roy, the street wise ladies' man who is trying to transcend his druggie mom's and con man dad's legacy by making something of himself; and Abby, the "angel" both boys idolize, who despite her level head has a bit of growing up to do.

The hijinx begin immediately, as Roy's dad and girlfriend steal Roy's car on the way to school, Roy, with his roommate Jonathan's help, make plans to get Roy into the dorm floor President position, and Abby enters public college with fear, uncertainty, and a secret boyfriend. They all meet during a chance minor collision in the local Walmart parking lot, and after finding each other again on campus, become friends.

I have to say, though, that I didn't really get into the story until Jonathan decides to hold a test to see if Roy really has a soul, the real stakes of the book in which the prize is Jonathan's sweet car. Sweet, innocent Abby is elected as judge for the competition, which takes the rest of the semester to complete.

I almost abandoned the story, initially, because it took a while to get to the good part, but went back to give it a chance after reading the author's other stories. It's not my favorite of hers, but it's not bad. It's a touching story with unexpected results, which I both enjoyed and didn't. I think in the end my disconnect was that it just wasn't my type of story. But well written and interesting enough, so it fairly earned the four stars I'm giving it.… (mais)