Three books, two published and one in process.
THE IRON HUNT by Marjorie M. Liu
My friend Jane–the one I meet for lunch almost every month–lent it to me (or, for those who prefer the modern form, loaned it to me). She said the writing reminded her of mine. I wish. Crazy-go-nuts urban fantasy with a strong female protagonist, demons, zombies and tattoos. Wonder why she thought I’d like it…? I am digging it the most, even with the romance component. It seems an unlikely vulnerability for this character, but then I understood that it isn’t and why it isn’t, and I’m like, “Ooooh! Good one!” So far, highly recommended.
RESURRECTION: MYTH OR REALITY? (A BISHOP’S SEARCH FOR THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY) by John Shelby Spong
I’ve read several of Spong’s other books, so I knew I would be intrigued and enlightened by this one. The title is tricky, because he believes the stories we have in the Bible are myths, but that there was a reality to the original experience of contact with Jesus which has been obscured by the myth. He tries to work back through the accrued myth to get as close as he can to what that original experience might have been. His premise is that the life, teachings, death and memory of Jesus of Nazareth affected his followers so powerfully, they could only communicate that experience in words and actions that, being imperfect, could only distort the reality they tried to communicate. Most interesting.
THE LIFE AND DEATH (BUT MOSTLY THE DEATH) OF ERICA FLYNN by Sara Deurell
My #4 daughter has been writing since she could dictate stories to me. We’re both very excited about this book, the first one she’s considered really, actually almost finished. It isn’t her first book, but she considers the previous ones practice warm-ups. It’s funny and touching and teeth-clenching exciting. I read an earlier draft, and this one is clearly smoother and more polished. If I read it as a published book by a stranger, I would find nothing in it to make me say, “How did this get past an editor?” I would say, “Whoop! Thank you for writing THIS book, Miss Author!” Since I’m supposed to be critiquing it, I have to go slow, try not to get carried along with the story, and find nits to pick. Keep an eye out for this one–it WILL be on bookshelves one day.
WRITING PROMPT: What is your main character reading? Your antagonist?
