Books Read in 2000          

Fiction

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone...
by J.K. Rowling

Loved it! Great book for kids or adults that like a little light fantasy. Of the three I've read so far, this was definitely the best. Maybe a little bit predictable, but then I catch on to things fast.

It made me wish that I could have had this book when I was a kid.

(January, 2000)

Legends 3
edited by Robert Silverberg

Stories by  Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, Ursula K. Le Guin and Terry Pratchett. I loved the Williams and Le Guin offerings, enjoyed the Pratchett story, and disliked the Jordan piece.

So sue me, I've never read the Wheel of Time series and after reading "New Spring" I don't want to read it. Maybe he just assumes that everyone has read his Wheel of Time series, and he doesn't need to explain certain things. But to me there seems to be a lot of unexplained motivations behind various actions and inactions. This story was interesting enough, but obviously aimed toward the WoT experienced not the uninitiated.

On the other hand, although I've never read Williams either, I'm now dying to sample some of his other work. Nothing about his story made me feel that I was missing something. Great reading!

I think this series is worth checking out if only to discover an author you haven't tried out before. And of course, to get a second helping of those you know you already love.

(January 29, 2000)

Possessing the Secret of Joy
by Alice Walker

Alice Walker has a way of story telling that slowly unfolds before you into a sad tale of a woman who's lost between two different worlds. The terrible events that this novel documents are foreshadowed brilliantly and her writing is both subtle and brutal.

This is definitely not a book for everyone. Harsh and confusing at times, it can make the squeamish run away screaming. Walker doesn't make it easy on the reader. She doesn't hand things to you. She doesn't shove your face into the dark truth. She lets it come out in its own pace and you need to take it all in as it's presented. You have to think sometimes. I know a lot of people don't like books that make them think.

Not when it's about issues that we'd rather were not brought out into the open, and certainly not about what's happening between the lines. Walker makes you do both.

(February 19, 2000)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...
by J.K. Rowling

Another in the popular children's series. Harry's second year at Mugwart's School for Wizards isn't quite as good as the first.

I found a tad too predictable, but nevertheless, I couldn't put it down. The characters maintained their charm and I'm totally captivated by them and what they'll be up to in books to come.

(March 20, 2000)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban...
by J.K. Rowling

I dove right into the next volume...

This one was almost as good as the first. The subject matter seems to be a bit more dark than the earlier novels. Maybe Rowling is taking her adult readers to heart and catering a bit to their tastes.

Nice twisty-turny plot lines that weren't as obvious as those in the second book helped me like this one much more than the Chamber of Secrets.

(March 27, 2000)

Little Men
by Louisa May Alcott

Slow to get moving (but, then so are a lot of "classics") and on the preachy side. I much preferred Little Women to its sequel.

Eventually I got interested enough in the characters to actually look forward to finding out what happens to them, but there really is very little plot happening around them. It took me about a month to finish this one.

( April 6, 2000)

Bridget Jones's Diary : A Novel
by Helen Fielding

One of the girls at work lent me this slim novel. Since I'm keeping a public journal and like to read other on-line diaries, I figured it might be interesting to read a fictional one.

Boy was it. Funny, outrageous, witty and stylish all with a dose of enough humiliating realism masked in over-the-top situations. We've all done stupid things and Bridget does more than her fair share, but you end up rooting for her and hoping that she will get her life straightened out.

I finished this one long before I got even half way through Little Men.

(April 18, 2000)

On Writing

The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: (And How to Avoid Them)
by Jack M. Bickham

I highly recommend this one.

Not only does Bickham present the "mistakes" in a concise and easily understood manner, he actually explains why they are mistakes and tells you how to fix them.

The best part is, because it's amazingly short for the amount of useful information it delivers you will actually read the entire thing, quite possibly in one sitting. There is no struggle with this one. Good advice coupled with easy understanding and quick reading make this one of the best books on general writing I've seen.

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
by Diana Wynne Jones

Not just a book about writing, but a tongue in cheek look at the whole Fantasy Genre. Don't go here if you take your Fantasy to seriously! A sense of humor is a required.

This book is really a must for all Fantasy Writers. Presented as a cross between a tourist's guide book and a dictionary, it humorously details every over-used cliché that seem to breed indiscriminately in the genre.

In between the giggles and laughter were the groans of the writer in me when it recognized some of the worst of the over-used elements in a few of my own writing ideas.

The Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells
by Ben Bova

It's a popular book, some people really like it, others don't. I can't finish it.

It does offer some sound advice on various writing techniques, though it's not really all that SF specific, except that he uses his own SF stories as examples.

I'd say to save your money and buy another general writing book instead. Or better yet, maybe a book that really is more of what I thought this book would be... about writing Science Fiction.

Creating Character Emotions
by Ann Hood

The best part of this book is its presentation of the basics to portraying emotions in your characters. The good/bad samples are also worth the buy.

On the other hand, I'm not certain how useful the listing of emotions really are. I suppose if you are really stuck it can give you a few ideas on how to portray a particular feeling, such as anxiety, but considering how much of the book is devoted to this portion I wonder if Hood shouldn't have spent more time on plain old characterization techniques.

Creating Poetry (Hardcover)
by John Drury

A book on how to write poetry seems sort of strange to me for some reason. I look at poetry as something you either can do, or can't do. The only guide that seems appropriate is one that details forms and styles.

But the truth is, there is more than just pure talent at work when writing poetry. Even after you're an expert on the differences between forms, styles, and meters, there are other areas in which you can use a little help.

Except for one guide to poetic forms, this is the only poetry how-to-book I own. It covers just about everything a beginning to intermediate poet needs to improve the quality of their work.

2000 Poet's Market : 1,800 Places to Publish Your Poetry
by Chantelle Bentley (Editor)

OK, I don't really own this one, but figured someone else might want to. I don't know if I'll ever do anything with my poetry, and if I did, I'd probably find market information on-line, but I know that when it comes to my own dreams of publishing fiction it gives me a sense of purpose to actually by a copy of the Writer's Market. So... if you want to sell your poetry, you might get the same sort of feeling.

Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, 2000: 2.000 Places to Sell Your Fiction
by Barbara Kuroff (Editor), Tricia Waddell (Editor)

I don't own this one either... but I do have the 1998 copy.

Eventually, I'm sure I'll own another, more up to date copy as well. Maybe even this one. I'm just waiting for me to be actually be ready to sell something.

On Art

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
by Betty Edwards

I don't own this edition, mine is the old "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain."

I found it a bit difficult to follow along with, but I recognized the veracity of its techniques. This is probably the best book a beginner in drawing can buy.

If you're looking for something that will take you drawing up several levels then pick up this book. Supposedly, it's got even more to offer than the original version.

It's definitely a classic in the field of art instruction.

The Art of Drawing
by Willy Pogany

My absolute favorite drawing book

Wonderful instruction with great examples, plus lots of Pogany's own fantastical sketches. Very inspirational and educational. Focuses nearly completely on the human figure and head and makes an excellent companion to Jack Hamm's book, Drawing the Head and Figure

Drawing the Head and Figure
by Jack Hamm

This is an excellent instruction book on drawing human figures. There are step by step instructions that are easy to follow, plus tons of examples on just about every feature of the human body from eyebrows to feet. I use it constantly for referencing when I'm trying out more realistic drawings.

If you're looking for a solid instruction on drawing the human body and head look no further. You can't beat this book for both content and price.

Virtual Pose : The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure
by Mario Henri Chakkour (with CD-Rom)

I really like this concept and hope to see more of this sort of thing in the future. Chakkour presents two models, one male and one female, both nude, in several different poses from several different angles. The book is a wonderful anatomical reference in and of itself, but then add to that the CD-Rom and it gets even better.

The CD gives you each model in 9 different poses which can be viewed from every single side. Plus, it has a zoom function so you can focus in on the details of the body part that you are working on. The silly and immature will also delight in being able to zoom in on the "naughty parts" when no one else is looking, or when their buddies are over and their significant other isn't looking.

I had a little bit of a problem configuring the program to run, but I solved that by selecting the complete install of the Quicktime viewer rather than the basic. After that, it all worked perfectly.

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques
by John Grant, Ron Tiner

You won't find the basics of drawing in this book, but you will find the basics of techniques associated with fantasy and sci-fi art.

I don't know how useful this book was to me when I was first trying to improve my art, but after spending time with other books I'm beginning to appreciate this one more for its content rather than its pretty pictures.

Even if you can't draw at all, it's a pleasure to browse through.

Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain: How to Come Up With Jokes for Cartoons and Comic Strips    by Christopher Hart

I thought this book was a great investment. There is more to just drawing when it comes to comic strips. Solid techniques on both drawing and writing comic strip gags.

This isn't going to teach a beginner how to draw, it's for the artist that already has his basics down and is looking for some advice on how to handle more advanced techniques such as pacing, dialogue and layout. This is definitely a book geared towards the aspiring professional cartoonist.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cartooning but Were Afraid to Draw
by Christopher Hart

Hart does it again. I didn't even realize that this book was by the same guy who did Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain until after I bought it, but once I did I felt a bit sill that I didn't recognize the quality.

There is a lot less to read in this volume since it focuses on drawing techniques rather than the creation of a humorous whole. There are plenty of examples to go along with the advice and it touches on some more advanced ideas that all aspiring cartoonists should be aware of.

Definitely a good purchase.

Working on It...

The Ring of Charon
by Roger MacBride Allen

I've actually read this one years ago. Don't know why I couldn't finish reading it this time around. I really loved it back then...

The writing is a bit weak I suppose, but the story is a solid piece of hard science fiction. If you like your SF hard as a rock, check this one out!

(since December, 1999)

Dubliners
by James Joyce

Someday I hope to finish this one...

(since Feb. 26, 00)

In the Queue

   I Got It, Now I Just Have to Read It  

Franny & Zooey
by J.D. Salinger

M loved this book and is dying for me to read it. I keep putting it off in favor of other "classics", but sooner or later I'm going to have to give in and read this one.

I don't know what is keeping me from it. It's not like it's War and Peace or some other monstrously long, dull book.

Somewhere Out There...

  The Books on my Wish List  

Tailchaser's Song
by Tad Williams

After reading Tad Williams' Piece in Legends 3 I decided I wanted to read more of his work. I vaguely remember the cover this novel and the the description of it from a long ago trip to a book store. I'm a sucker for anthropomorphic tales...

Bridget Jones : The Edge of Reason
by Helen Fielding

I loved Bridget Jones's Diary: a Novel, and so, of course, I want to read the sequel. I hear it's even better than the first. Will Bridget find the love and man of her dreams (and her mother's dreams) or will she finally find out how to live as a singleton with out obsessing over the obsessing of her married friends and family trying to make her one of them.

Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire

I remember reading the review to this book while I was working as a security guard at CalTech University years ago. I could never remember the author or the title of the book when I made it to the book store, though.

I still haven't managed to get a hold of a copy, but I haven't lost my interest in it either. Should be interesting to read an adult story based on a childhood classic.

How to Draw Fantasy Characters
by Christopher Hart

Since I loved both of the other Christopher Hart drawing books, and my subject of choice in cartooning is firmly entrenched in the genre of fantasy. This book seems like a natural choice.

Of course, I haven't actually seen it anywhere but on Amazon, so it could be like other "How to Draw Some Sort of Fantastical/Medieval Themed Thingie" books which are rather limited and useless to anyone that is no longer a complete beginner.

Still, I can dream...

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