Anna Begins
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Posts posted by Anna Begins
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Hey Anna - take a break and read The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence. The book may not be for everyone but I am sure you will love it, as a matter of fact I would be surprised if you didn/t rate it 9/10.
Thanks for the heads up- I will check it out
Great reviews, Anna - Yesterday's Gone, and the whole idea of serialised fiction, sounds very intriguing
Thanks- It really is a lot of fun!
Well I will get the first free 6 episodes, and see if I can cope with the plots -
!Ya, I mean, it's free! And you just might get hooked
Do you like horror? -
I am so proud of you for going!!
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Finished Dean Koontz's The City, probably the best book i've read of his so far. Next up ........
OMG I LOVED Needful Things! Have fun with that one and I will check out The City, never read any Koontz before.
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I finally have read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery.
Such an ordinary little tale........until the end.But I do have to admit that I did suspect something along those lines. But still............
!!!!http://sites.middlebury.edu/individualandthesociety/files/2010/09/jackson_lottery.pdf
I <3 Shirley Jackson. The Lottery marked a monumental change in literature for me. -
Oh goody- I am so glad you liked it!
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Had a GREAT weekend, feel so fortunate to have discovered this series., or, ahem! Serial.
Friday February 5th:
Yesterday’s Gone: Season One, Episodes 5 and 6
Yesterday’s Gone: Season Two, Episode 7
Est: 350 pages
Saturday February 7th:
Yesterday’s Gone: Season Two, Episodes 8-10
Est: 350 pages
Sunday February 8th:
Yesterday’s Gone: Season Two, Episode 10- 12
Est: 325 pages
Total= 925 pages
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Title: Yesterday’s Gone: Season Two (Episodes 7-12)
Authors: Sean Platt and David Wright
Pages: 523
Genre: Post- Apocalyptic, Horror, science fiction
Season Two starts off with a brief who’s who, but it is NOT a stand- alone, do not read these out of order! The plot thickens- where are the people who “Vanished” on October 15th? It is now March.
I wonder if Margaret Atwood is one of Platt and Wright’s admired authors, as certain parts seem to pay homage to The Year of the Flood’s The Gardner’s and a brief- near mention of life in A Handmaids Tale, just a glimmer of fan tribute.
The downside to this series, is the amazing amount of characters, but that is also an upside, as Platt and Wright handle it so well. It is easy to lose track of who is who in the first beginning sentences of a chapter, but headings and locations, times, etc. help and you can figure it out quickly enough. It pays off, juggling so many characters can be rewarding to a reader (and, for a TV viewer). And it gets easier as you read along. Also a bonus- the backstory of a main character’s past includes owning a bookstore.
In any case, I am completely caught up in this world and now crave reading these chapters when I am not. I binged these two "Seasons" all weekend and enjoyed them greatly.
A Few bits about serialized fiction and what inspired Yesterday’s Gone:
From Sean Platt and David Wright-
“Serialized fiction isn’t really new, it’s actually a really old way of doing things. It’s how Dickens released the majority of his work.”
“We LOVE the whole concept of ‘To be continued…’ Given that traditional publishers don’t even embrace that format with proven authors, there was no was in hell they’d touch a couple of unknown writers. But that’s the thing about this revolution, the power has shifted and now writers like us can write the things we want to write.”
“I love TV. But the TV I think about when I’m not watching, are the shows that leave me asking questions and wanting answers.”
From Amazon, Synopsis:
SEASON TWO picks up where SEASON ONE left off.
One man finds himself on a mysterious island that holds secrets, and perhaps even answers, to what happened on October 15.
A group finds itself taking refuge at The Sanctuary, a religious compound with an enigmatic leader called The Prophet.
A serial killer finds himself leading an unlikely group of survivors.
A young man searches to prove himself to his group, and avoid being bullied ever again.
A young child is called to perform another miracle at great personal cost. -
Wow, that was a great review Anna!
+ + = very intrigued. I've never heard of Yesterday's Gone, but it sounds a terrifying dystopia. Watching The Road recently really freaked me out , but in a sort of good freaked out.P.S. I read the first episode, and what a ending!!
Now I will have to get the remaining episodes of the first series soon. I just finished Season Two, and it was just as good as One... They fly by so fast! -
Title: Yesterday’s Gone, Season One (Episodes 1-6)
Author: Sean Platt and David Wright
Pages: 503
Genre: post-apocalyptic, HORROR, Science Fiction
Age: ADULT
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel after beginning a book that had a warning attached to it and a book that was all mixed up in something called “serialized Fiction” (“get off my lawn” *crabby old man’s voice*) or if I even wanted to read a book that was inspired by shows such as Lost (I don’t watch much TV and I particularly didn’t watch Lost, I like my horror or spookiness or whatever, in my books, thanks).
The only reason I got started on Yesterday’s Gone, is because it was on my long short list. No, a 500 page book is not a short read, but the 85-90 page “episodes” it was made up of qualified, so I thought I’d try out one of those. Season One, containing 6 episodes, was free. After 5 quick Chapters of Episode 1, I was into it. By the end of Episode 1, I was ready for Episode 2 and it sort of went all the way through 6.
The “serial” is about 99% of the world disappearing on October 15th at 2:15 am. The whole first “Episode” comprises of where a number of people were at the time they awakened- the ones that survived- and how they are figuring out what is going on, where loved ones have gone, is there help, where is help, what to do.
The more I dug into what exactly “serialized fiction” was, I saw that I had unknowingly been already reading it, via Hugh Howey’s work. The collection of writers (who are also big time readers) release their stories in installments and are usually independently published authors. Don’t worry, there isn’t any shoddy work going on with these guys, they are no Keith Luethke (don’t ask). There are 4 Seasons of Yesterday’s Gone, all 6 episodes long and they are all released.
Authors Platt and Wright speak highly of their beloved format, history of reading and love of other authors. Platt cites Dexter, The Walking Dead and The Soprano’s as the seeds for Yesterday’s Gone. Both Platt and Wright are inspired by King, as well, and they have an interesting story about The Green Mile in the beginning.
Oh- and I would be really be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention this book TERRIFIEFD me. And I don’t think I’ve ever read a book to do that.
From Amazon:
On October 15 at 2:15 a.m. everyone on Earth vanished.
Well, almost everyone.
A scattered few woke alone in a world where there are no rules other than survival... at any cost.
A journalist wanders the wretched reality of an empty New York, in search for his wife and son.
A serial killer must hunt in a land where prey is now an endangered species.
A mother shields her young daughter from danger, as every breath fills her with terror.
A bullied teen is thrilled to find everyone gone. Until the knock on his door.
A fugitive survives a fiery plane crash. Will he be redeemed, or return to what he’s best at: the kill?
An eight year old boy sets out on a journey to find his missing family. What he finds will change him forever.
And there’s a few people who aren’t surprised that this happened at all. In fact, they’ve been dreaming about this day for years.
These survivors aren’t alone...
Someone or something is watching them.
And waiting...
Will humanity survive what it never saw coming?
The only certainty is that Yesterday’s Gone.
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It would be great to see Matt Haig
, and it will promoting his new book Reasons to Stay Alive, which seems to be a sort of memoir, and his depression when her was in his 20's. It certainly will be interesting 
/ Yes, I posted somewhere about that book! It be great to see him! And I hope you enjoy The Giver.
I am reading quite the piece of work atm, it is written as a serial or a TV program, I am reading David Wright and Sean Platt's Season One of Yesterday's Gone, I am on Episodes 5 and 6, each episode has about 10-15 Chapters. Weave- you'd probably like it, absolutely terrifying.
But good 
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I hope that I'll have lots of time for reading this weekend - to finish Lady Oracle (half way through at the mo.) and The Giver to start
.I will definitely be reading this, it is on my long short list- I just can't do it atm. But I will totally be looking forward to hearing what you and the group have to say about it!
(though I am quite tired.. I don't know how much I'll be able to read in the next three days but we'll see).
Probably as much as me on a good day
I'm about more than 50% of the way through Season One of Yesterday's Gone, having only Episodes 5 and 6 left, so that is probably what I will continue with. It will probably only take me through Friday or part of Saturday (it is way too terrifying for reading after evening or near bedtime... no, really, I am serious). I don't know about doing Season Two yet, it depends on how Season One ends.
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Re: the Howey's: I almost mentioned the Molly Fyde stories listed as an avoid warning, because that is part of one of his series (I think it contains a lot of science fiction but magic too, so that is the only one of his that is way out there from his other stuff + the short stories, as I believe them to be are not stand alones, just short stories about that land.
Sorry! I will edit my review. Here is what I have to say about the author's note at the end of Andy Weir Short story, The Chef and my interpretation of Hugh Howey's WHILE (u > i) i- -;Weir just asks the reader to re-read the story. Once you do, and you have all the details from already knowing why she is there and how the explosion happened, it spins your mind around. You can totally see why the psychiatrist asks her those questions. It's neat. Totally different perspective. With the Howey, you were just too tired to link the two stories together, they were in reverse- one was the old couple at a retirement home. He was an android trying to age himself and the love of his life was a old woman, he was trying to age like she was. In the other story, about the android and woman, they were the same couple, just in their youth and had just won a legal battle to be together, as human and andriod.
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Sick. Everyone in my house is pretty much ill. My daughter got the flu the day we got to Disneyland. But before that, she had a cold. Then, my mom and I got the cold. Now my mom has the flu. I think I started getting it yesterday. We are just trading around the sicknesses!
And my mom gets super mean when she is sick!
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Thanks! I hope you like them! Seems like I am reading a lot of different things this week!
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Short Stories, Hugh Howey
(Free via http://www.hughhowey.com/books/ )
Mouth Breathers
WHILE (u > i) i- -;
The Automated Ones
Nothing Goes to Waste
Dragging Anchor- A True Story
Length: Short, short
The recent ah-ha moment of finding free short stories on an author’s websites had me instantly thinking of Hugh Howey, one of my favorite “new” authors, in my opinion, a master of the short story and a previous independently published author. Alas! I found 4 little Howey gems to take me away today on http://www.hughhowey.com/books/
Mouth Breathers is about a boy from Earth going to Middle School on Mars. I like how Howey often uses a “generic Mars" as a vehicle for an obscure or alternative world.
I don’t mind gruesome descriptions, but I still had to grimace in the beginning of While You are greater than Myself, reduce Myself or WHILE (u > i) i- -; However, the story plays with your head so well, I can’t even spoil it with a synopsis. Brilliant and touching.
An abnormal couple fight against society norms in The Automated Ones.
Nothing Goes to Waste is the story of a Theryls racer. Not for the faint of heart, which is rare for Howey.
Awww. That’s it?
Dragging Anchor- A True Story
I only add this one at the end, as it is included in the free section but is different of Howey’s work as it is nonfiction and about an event in his life, as the Captain of a yacht, during a storm. It moves quickly and has his voice, but was just a short story I was not in the mood for today. It wasn’t disappointing at all, it totally fits with his work and is just as good, it was just simply me, today.
Edit: Molly Fyde stories listed on free page are part of a Howey series and are not stand alones.
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I've also been browsing the book reviews of one of my favourite Irish DJs, Rick O'Shea - he reviewed 100 books last year and it was his first year doing it properly and officially. He read several titles I already love, but many many more I've never even heard of, including plenty by Irish and seemingly Japanese authors (I'm guessing by their names), two areas I've been meaning to read a lot more of. So, I've taken down about 15 of those out of 30 for my wishlist, and no doubt will go through the rest later
That's so neat!
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...Apparently I got sideways mail.
I finished a small collection of Andy Weir's (free) short stories, from his website, which I linked in my review and Pontalba linked in her thread. This is a small triumph for me, as it has been impossible for me to finish anything I start reading!
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I am happiest with old style Disney .. I am happiest with old style everything
I like old style most things, but I think the last Disney film I absolutely loved was Aladdin, and most of my favourites are the early ones, at least before the 1970s … so basically, before I was born!
The Princess and the Frog was great (2009), and was known for being traditional animation- the first since Lilo and Stitch (had to look that one up!). Ray and Louis are 2 of my very favorite Disney characters.
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"One- off's" by Andy Weir:
The Egg
The Chef
Access
Annie’s Day
The Real Deal
Bored World
The Midtown Butcher
Antihypoxiant
Meeting Sarah
Link: http://www.galactanet.com/writing.html
Length: Short, short
From The Afterlife to mental illness to yes, even zombies, Andy Weir plays on the edge of edgy themes, bringing his short independent stories to an end with a crescendo. Each are highly memorable on their own, sometimes difficult to do when you have a collection of short stories from the same author. By the time the endings hit you, you get it and it’s an “oh yeaaaahhh” moment. Nice, nice, all around. I can’t wait for The Martian. Also on the coolness factor: The Egg, Weir’s first listed short story, is available in 32 different languages. There is also a “fanfic” for Ready Player One.
Highly recommended
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I too stopped rating books a few years ago and it's very liberating. And often I don't even write a review
*gasp* Not write a review!
I just finished that a couple of days ago - great book.
I can't wait to get to it! But my reading is so slow right now, motivation is low.
So, in the meantime.... see below
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I'm glad. He has a twisty little brain, eh?
I could sort of feel the same energy as in The Martian.
Anna, I've read many parts of Wool, liked it.
I will get to Wool this year, hopefully as soon as my reading picks up. Otherwise, I am slowly making my way through his canon, which is mainly short stories written as Episodes or Parts (as you know, Wool was written in installments). The two I recommended are short stories, around 15 & 18 pages... kinda interesting what he can do in such few words.
I've been reading the rest of the Andy Weir short stories and really am liking them, I've gone through about 4 of them so far, savoring lol I have a few more and then I think I will review them on my thread, like Athena. Thanks for the link and heads up!!
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Raspberry lemonade Crystal Light in one bottle, coffee with toffee flavored creamer in the other.
Interesting
Red wine Sangria, ahead of the (American) Football Super Bowl!
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Hey- if any man has an "Inner God" it is Christian Grey
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Brilliant!
You should check out Glitch by Hugh Howey
My review:
http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/12425-annas-books-for-2014/?p=412471
You might like his Walk Up Nameless Ridge too, which I reviewed a few posts down.
Athena's Reading List 2015
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Woohoo! The Meyer has arrived!