Book Review: Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

Characters & Viewpointdescribes elements of good character development, as well as viewpoint techniques. Beginning and seasoned writers will find advice for making their characters believable and how to best create and polish their stories.

I found this book to be both helpful and fun. Card's humor comes through even in this how-to manual. It will be useful for writers looking to improve what they have or to figure out how to write what they have in their heads. I will definitely read it a few more times.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !
Some of his examples include swear words.

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Gracelingtells the fantastical tale of Katsa, a girl with an unusual grace, or ability. She itches to be free of the power of her uncle the king, who uses her for her grace. After a daring renegade rescue of a neighboring kingdom's prince, she meets a graced boy who just might be a match for her.

I really loved the story and world created in this book, the graces and gracelings and the characters. The story was interesting and fun. The biggest problem for me was Katsa's insistent desire never to marry or have children. While this wouldn't have normally ruined a story, I found her decisions in regards to the boy she falls in love with were just plain stupid. It rankled so much with what I personally believe that I found my enjoyment of the story was marred. I didn't like the morals it was expressing in that situation. I think it would have been a favorite of mine, story-wise, if this one thing was done differently.

RATINGS:
s-factor: none
(favorite expletive: "great seas!")

mrg-factor: XX
Not a lot page-wise, but a few scenes in particular.

v-factor: ->->
There is a lot of fighting in the book, but not a lot of description.

Overall rating: ***

Book Review: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrellis the story of two magicians destined to bring magic back to England. Norrell and Strange, however have very different personalities and views on magic. The two at first try to work together, but discover they are too much at odds with the other. However, when a fairy meddles with the lives of those they love, the two must find a way to work together and overcome the fairy.

The book was WAY too long. She would have been better served to split it into several books. I found that I lost interest along the way and would become bored with the story. While parts of it were very interesting and I enjoyed almost all of the smaller stories, I think the overall picture dragged and was burdened by the overwhelming length. I suppose many adult fantasy novels are enormous, but this one was too much for me. I also loved the footnotes and funny stories about magic that Clarke threw in, even if they weren't necessary to the story.

RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
Some swearing.

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
Some magical violence, but nothing gory.

Overall rating: ***