Little Syllables: The Blog
Review - Things I Learned From Falling by Claire Nelson
I received a free NetGalley of this book, but my opinions are all my own.
Things I Learned From Falling tells the true story of the author’s hiking accident in Joshua Tree National Park in 2018. Nelson weaves the story of the accident and its aftermath with stories of her past, illustrating the lessons she learned from her fall.
Nelson’s account is introspective and honest. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the nitty-gritty details of mental illness, physical injuries, and logistics of surviving in a terrible situation. I found myself amazed by her determination to survive seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her descriptions made it easy for me to put myself in her shoes and imagine how I would act in a similar situation.
Overall, I felt this book was very well written and nicely woven together. I especially loved that the book includes safety tips for hikers. I hope the published version will also include photos!
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Review - The Guardian of Amsterdam Street by Sergio Schmucler
I received a free NetGalley of this book, but my opinions are all my own.
The Guardian of Amsterdam Street tells the story of Galo, a boy who grows into a man without leaving his home on Amsterdam Street in Mexico City. It is written from Galo’s point of view, so the reader sees the world as he sees it, first as a boy, as a teen, and then as a man. Galo is a rather unusual character, the cause of which is presumed to be a violent act he witnessed in his youth. As he grows, his thoughts and assumptions become more and more unusual. But Galo is a uniquely observant character. He encounters a microcosm of the world within his mother’s rented rooms. The people he meets with teach him about the world outside Amsterdam Street. But Amsterdam Street is Galo’s entire world. He spends his life working to protect what he loves. Ultimately, he comes to realize that he is his most important thing.
This is a story of the things that keep us stuck in our lives. It’s also a story of growing up, changing the world, and discovering self. The writing is poetic and sometimes shocking. Overall, this was an interesting look at a time and place I was unfamiliar with.
Sensitive readers should know that this book contains some violence, attempted suicide, sexual content, and adult language.
The Guardian of Amsterdam Street is available now.
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Review - Everything is Fine by Vince Granata
I received a free NetGalley of this book, but my opinions are all my own.
Everything is Fine tells the true story of the author’s family, his brother’s struggle with mental illness, and the tragic result. Granata is honest about his experience and what he sees as his failures. That honesty adds to the power of this book.
I love the vivid descriptions of the Granata family and their relationships. I love the complexity the author shows—nothing is simple, even in tragedy. He doesn’t try to excuse anyone’s actions or reactions, but seems determined to show the depth and complexity of his family and their story. While this book centers around an extremely violent act, I felt the true themes presented are mental illness and relationships.
The book is well written, well researched, emotional, and thought provoking. I highly recommend it.
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Review - Why She Wrote by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke
I received a free e-galley of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers was written by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke and illustrated by Kaley Bales.
Chapman and Burke explore the lives of eighteen classic women writers in this graphic novel. Each chapter highlights key incidents in the lives of three of these women, describing their struggles and triumphs. This book is a tribute to the contributions of these women and how each of them helped change the world in which they lived. Each of these women challenged how women were treated, both as authors and as people.
This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. Each section begins with a narrative portion that is followed by graphic elements representing each author’s life. Each chapter highlights a central theme and introduces three women writers. The themes describe the ways these women influenced their world and paved the way for greater equality. I enjoyed learning about the lives and impact of these women. I found some of the graphic sections to be lacking in detail that could make them clearer. However, I thought the graphics added interest to each section and helped bring each writer to life.
This book could serve as a great introduction to classic women authors for anyone looking to learn more about the influence of women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There are some more mature thematic elements that make this book most appropriate for teens and adults, those some mature older children could also enjoy it.
Why She Wrote by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke and illustrated by Kaley Bales will be released on April 21, 2021.
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Review - When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
I received a free NetGalley of this book, but my opinions are all my own.
When the Stars Go Dark is a mystery/thriller set in Northern California in the early ‘90s. Anna is a detective who has gone through some serious trauma (both far in her past and more recently). She finds herself heading back to her hometown of Mendocino. There she becomes involved in a missing persons investigation that leads her to confront both her past and her future.
I enjoyed this book, as I enjoy most thrillers. It was suspenseful and interesting. I especially enjoyed the character development seen in Anna. The plotlines are neatly interwoven and McLain provides a real sense of place through her vivid descriptions.
I couldn’t give the book five stars because I solved the mystery before it came out in the book, so I wasn’t surprised. However, the mystery of Anna’s recent past was more surprising.
Overall, I enjoyed this book because of the characters and the relationships. Sensitive readers should be aware that this book involves serious issues such as sexual assault, child abuse, and murder.
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Review - Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman
I received a free galley through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This nonfiction book follows the author on a solo bike tour following the monarch butterfly migration. She set out on this tour to help raise awareness about the problems the monarchs face. Dykman biked from the monarchs’ wintering grounds in Mexico to Canada and back. She gave presentations at schools and community centers along her route, teaching people how they can help the monarch butterflies.
I enjoyed this book. I was drawn to it because I enjoy cycling, but I can’t fathom such a long bike tour. I wanted to see what that would be like.
Dykman is obviously very passionate about conservation. I liked reading about how the book combines her passions with the practical matters of a long bike tour and scientific information. She does an excellent job presenting science and conservation information in an engaging way.
There are some points in the story where Dykman gets a little preachy about conservation, but it is one of her passions, so that could be excused. It’s not overwhelming, and I actually finished this book admiring her dedication to her cause.
This is a great book for teens and adults!
Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman is available April 13, 2021.
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Tips for the Fiction Author - Prepare for Editing
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the success of your fiction writing. A good editor can help streamline the process, but your editor can’t do it all. Before you send your novel or short story to an editor, prepare the following items for your editor:
Character List
Make an alphabetical list of every character in your story. Include descriptions of the characters, relationships between the characters, and any background information that is relevant to your story. Your editor doesn’t need a full character sketch, but a basic description can help your editor catch inconsistencies throughout the manuscript. For example, if your fictional murderer has red hair, there had better be a good reason for the detective to find black hair at the crime scene.
What this might look like:
Alex: male, blonde, freckles, brother of Barb.
Barb: female, blonde, short, sister of Alex.
Chester: male, bald, bushy eyebrows, walks with a limp, angry neighbor of Alex and Barb.
Location List
If your manuscript involves more than a couple locations, it can be very helpful to give your editor a list of locations. This should include any setting description for the location, as well as distances and terrain between locations if that is relevant to the story. This could also include characteristics of the people who are found in the location, such as special accents, rituals, clothing, etc. For example, if your hero has to ride his bicycle to school, make sure the distance between the two places is feasible for a daily commute on a bike (don’t put his school at the top of a mountain 30 miles away).
What this might look like:
Alex & Barb’s house: yellow, two-story, at the north end of the street.
Chester’s house: brown, single story, south of Alex & Barb’s house.
Park: Across the street to the east of A, B, and C’s houses. Playground, soccer field.
Timeline
No matter the length of your manuscript, a timeline of events will help your editor check for consistency and flow. For a novel, break your timeline down by chapter. Indicate how much time has passed and the major event of each chapter. You can also track point-of-view shifts and the location of the action. For a short story, list major events in chronological order.
What this might look like:
Alex and Barb move into the neighborhood.
Barb joins the soccer team that plays in the park across the street.
Barb loses her soccer ball over Chester’s fence.
Research summary
This won’t apply to all manuscripts, but for those that have required research to write, be sure to offer your editor a summary of the research and a list of sources. For example, if you’ve researched that the bicycle was invented in 1817, make sure your hero could really have access to a bicycle in 1818 when the story takes place, then give your editor the evidence so that they don’t have to fact check it. Or if you’ve researched the topography of Mars for your science fiction novel, send your editor a list of facts and sources that are relevant to your story. Some facts are simple for an editor to check with a quick internet search. Others are not. Give your editor a head start and save them some time.
When in Doubt, Ask!
If you have any doubts about what items are useful for your editor to have, ask! A good editor is there to help your writing be the best it can be, and they should be communicative about what you can do to help the process along.
Review - The Recent East by Thomas Grattan
I received a free galley of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book.
I’m very interested in historical fiction, especially when it is set in a time period that isn’t commonly written about. This one is set in Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall. I also tend to like books about family relationships and finding identity. This book had all of those elements, but it left me wanting.
This story centers around a recently divorced mother, Beate, who moves back to her childhood home in East Germany after the Berlin wall came down. Her two children, Michael and Adela, go with her. Beate appears to suffer from depression, Michael is exploring his sexual identity, and Adela is filled with fear and loneliness. They all struggle in different ways to adjust to their new home.
There are some things that I really liked about this book. I feel that it was well-written. The settings were vividly described and seemed very realistic. The story flows well. I enjoyed reading about the themes of complex family relationships, identity, and loss.
But I disliked almost all of the characters in this book. I didn’t feel like I could identify with any of them, except for Peter, who shows up near the end. Their communication styles are dense and confusing, or absent. As I read and read, I just kept thinking that if these characters would just have a straightforward conversation, most of the problems would be solved. But they never do. It was incredibly frustrating.
No matter how much I struggle with a book, I strive to finish it. I did finish this one and I am glad I did, as the ending provided some hope for the future. And really, Peter’s character nearly redeemed the story for me. I think this could be a great book for a group discussion because of the complex relationships and themes. If you read it, come back and comment, and tell me your thoughts about it!
The Recent East by Thomas Grattan will be available March 8, 2021.
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Review - Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay
I received a free e-galley of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a gripping thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen, so I read the entire novel in one day.
This book tells the story of a family torn apart. The Pine family’s lives changed forever when the eldest son Danny was convicted of murder and sent to prison. His father Evan vows to never give up trying to get his son released. But when tragedy strikes the family again, the second son Matt takes over looking for answers.
This book takes the reader from New York City, to Tulum, to Nebraska, and back again. We get pieces of the story from the perspectives of a variety of characters, and the author excels at building suspense. As I read, I felt a wide range of emotions. This one tugs at the heartstrings in addition to horrifying and surprising the reader. I highly recommend it.
(Readers should be aware that this book contains descriptions of violence, murder, and sexual assault.)
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is set for release on March 2, 2021.
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Review - Modern Women by Kira Cochrane
I received a free e-galley of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Modern Women: 52 Pioneers who changed the World by Kira Cochrane is a collection of essays highlighting the lives and careers of 52 influential women. The chapters are brief, generally 3-4 pages, and focus on how each woman influenced the world through their contributions in the world of art, literature, science, film, sports, politics, etc.
I enjoyed learning about each of the women in this book—including several I had never heard of previously. Each of these women had to overcome their circumstances in some way in order to succeed, so each essay is inspiring. I also appreciated the international scope of this book. This book even inspired me to learn more about several of the women featured.
The only complaint I have with this book is its abrupt beginning and end. The author provides no introduction or summing up. The book begins with the first essay and ends with the last. I would have liked to read about the author’s methods of selecting the featured women. I would have liked to understand how the stories were selected.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about women’s history.
Modern Women: 52 Pioneers who changed the World by Kira Cochrane was first published in 2017.
This new edition is set for release on February 1, 2021.