Anna reads in 2015

[Anna Begins]

Goodness Anna, that's the first negative review I've seen of Reasons To Stay Alive, but you have to be honest and say what you feel.  I have to admit, I don't think it's a book for me anyway, but I've seen plenty of praise for it elsewhere.

I only read one review on Amazon and it was a gushing rave.  I guess I am just not looking for reasons to stay alive

 

Oh wow. Sorry you didn't like it! Others on here have liked it, and a lot of us loved The Humans, so I'm not sure what to make of this one now. The topic is something that is quite close to me, so I was intrigued for that reason but... yeah I'm not sure now.

I loved The Humans as well, and I still will try and get to The Radley's this year.  I gave it a go on the fact it was by Haig alone, so. You might want to read it just because it is by him, about his life.  I guess you could look at it that way.  Except he gives advice.  In any case, give the Kindle Sample a go first.  *forehead still hurts*

[BSchultz19]

I've heard of and wanted to read both Reasons to Stay Alive and The Humans. Sorry that you didn't like this one 

[Anna Begins]

I've heard of and wanted to read both Reasons to Stay Alive and The Humans. Sorry that you didn't like this one 

YOU would totally LOVE The Humans!!  Jump on the wagon

[BSchultz19]

YOU would totally LOVE The Humans!!  Jump on the wagon

 

I've already jumped on the wagon for so many other books. Why not add another?

[Anna Begins]

I've already jumped on the wagon for so many other books. Why not add another?

Add to the pile(s)

[Nollaig]

In any case, give the Kindle Sample a go first.  *forehead still hurts*

 

That's a good idea, I think I'll do that!

[frankie]

I love the song Zombie!

 

Me, too! And my Dad loves it, too, which is kinda odd He doesn't usually like the stuff I listen to... 

 

Honestly I didn't really dislike the song until watching the episode of The Office when Andy sings it over and over because he's annoying

 

I loved Andy's version of it, I'd buy the single if he recorded one!! I love his voice and what he can do with it (I'm pro-Andy )

[Athena]

It's a shame you didn't like Reasons to Stay Alive at all . I don't think it's a book for me, based on what you've told me. I did really love The Humans though so I'm more likely to check out his other fictional works than this book.

[Kylie]

Such a shame you didn't enjoy Haig's new book. It sounds like he and I might have differing views on anti-depressants as well. I still plan to read it one day though. Hopefully I'll get along better with it than you did.

[Anna Begins]

It's a shame you didn't like Reasons to Stay Alive at all . I don't think it's a book for me, based on what you've told me. I did really love The Humans though so I'm more likely to check out his other fictional works than this book.

 

Such a shame you didn't enjoy Haig's new book. It sounds like he and I might have differing views on anti-depressants as well. I still plan to read it one day though. Hopefully I'll get along better with it than you did.

I'm eager to talk about it, so it will be interesting to hear other perceptions.  I've ranted to Gaia quite a bit (thank you!) but 1- I didn't want to get all personal in the review and 2- I didn't want to ruin all his ideas and feelings for everyone else.  Some books, I almost think I could do 2 reviews for- one for the board and one for me.

 

I guess, really, the best way I can say it, is that I am not that optimistic of a person... I am not a "light at the end of the tunnel" type person, I am more "the tunnel is the life" kind.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Anna Begins

[BSchultz19]

Me, too! And my Dad loves it, too, which is kinda odd He doesn't usually like the stuff I listen to... 

 

 

I loved Andy's version of it, I'd buy the single if he recorded one!! I love his voice and what he can do with it (I'm pro-Andy )

 

Oh I love his voice. He's a great singer, but he can also sing in a way that's comical. That song is just so annoying  

[Athena]

I'm eager to talk about it, so it will be interesting to hear other perceptions.  I've ranted to Gaia quite a bit (thank you!) but 1- I didn't want to get all personal in the review and 2- I didn't want to ruin all his ideas and feelings for everyone else.  Some books, I almost think I could do 2 reviews for- one for the board and one for me.

 

I guess, really, the best way I can say it, is that I am not that optimistic of a person... I am not a "light at the end of the tunnel" type person, I am more "the tunnel is the life" kind.

No problem, I enjoyed talking with you about it . I hope your next read will be more enjoyable!

[Marie H]

I only read one review on Amazon and it was a gushing rave.  I guess I am just not looking for reasons to stay alive

 

I loved The Humans as well, and I still will try and get to The Radley's this year.  I gave it a go on the fact it was by Haig alone, so. You might want to read it just because it is by him, about his life.  I guess you could look at it that way.  Except he gives advice.  In any case, give the Kindle Sample a go first.  *forehead still hurts*

Oooh, that's very interesting that you didn't like Matt Haig's new book. I have read an article of his in a national newspaper, and I thought that it was 'interesting', but it made me think quite differently to him. The book signing event (next Friday) will be very interesting, for me. I'm going to put the new book as a priority list, when I get it. 

[Anna Begins]

Oooh, that's very interesting that you didn't like Matt Haig's new book. I have read an article of his in a national newspaper, and I thought that it was 'interesting', but it made me think quite differently to him. The book signing event (next Friday) will be very interesting, for me. I'm going to put the new book as a priority list, when I get it. 

Ya, I had a lot of problems with it.  I'm still... well, bothered.  Will you get your copy on Friday?  It's a pretty quick read.

 

I am going to start Stories on the Go: 101 Very Short Stories By 101 Authors.  It limits stories to 1,000 words and includes genres I am really looking forward to.

 

Included are Action/ Adventure, Black Comedy, Contemporary Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Dystopian (one of), Erotica (one of), Fairy Tales, Fantasy (lots of), Gay fiction, Gay romance Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor (lots of), Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, New Adult, New Pulp, Paranormal (lots of), Post Apocalyptic (one of), Religious Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction (tons of), Space Opera (one), Steampunk, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Women's Fiction, and YA.

 

Each are by an independent author, the project from Hugh Howey.  There is a small blurb and website link to each author.  I look forward to it!

 

It is still free for Kindle.

Edited March 20, 2015 by Anna Begins

[Anna Begins]

Here are my first impressions and the details.

 

Title: Stories on the Go: 101 Very Short Stories by 101 Authors

Author: Various, edited by Andrew Ashling

Genre: Various

Pages:  464

Dates: 3/20-

 

Synopsis:

 

This anthology aims to be a showcase of recent indie writing.

Hugh Howey launched the idea on Kboards, a forum for Kindle readers, but also the meeting place of an active community of indie writers.

The result is this anthology of 101 very short stories by 101 authors.

To make it more attractive for you, the reader, we set ourselves a limit of a thousand words. You should be able to read each story in under five minutes — on your desktop computer, laptop, or tablet at home or in the office, but also on your smartphone, on the go, while you are commuting or waiting at a coffee shop for your significant other to arrive.

We included as many genres as we could. We hope that maybe, with only five minutes of your time on the line that would otherwise be wasted anyway, you'll be tempted to venture outside your comfort zone and try out some new genres and new authors.

 

Thoughts:

 

My first impression: these stories/ authors are trying too hard.  The firsts being clichés of the genre they represent.  Not a good sign.   I liked the switching of genres, the first is horror, the second historical fiction and the third paranormal, etc.  But sometimes, 1,000 words seemed too many.  As I am reading, I think, “Please let these be the warm up act.”  Because, after all, this was Hugh Howey’s brainchild.

 

Bad or good, these became a sweet balm to my short attention span/ depression that engulfed this month.  It was just so effortless to read them, at 5 minutes or so.  The major problem I see with this grand idea, is that Howey is a master at this 1,000 word short story business.  Like, he owns it.  To expect other authors to be able to capture a character, surroundings/ world and plot in depth in 1,000 words is asking… well, I don’t know, asking them to be genius, because that’s how Howey is in his own right, with this type of short story.  I think it important, in this review, to remind myself that my favorite writer, Raymond Carver, wrote only short stories.  It’s been so long since I discovered him, I sometimes forget he is in that number one position, his writing shaped me as a person so much that I barely remember he is my favorite author.  Every short story I’ve ever read from that man I can remember.  So, maybe my expectations were too high for my current favorite short story writer, Howey. 

 

I was delighted when, at 8% and after about 25 minutes, “very short story” #6 (Crescent Moon by Ela Lond) came along.  This was a good one, an Urban Fantasy.  Having limited experience with the genre (mostly Brandon Sanderson’s Reckoner’s series), I enjoyed it and would definitely read more of it.

 

To be continued...

[BSchultz19]

Ya, I had a lot of problems with it.  I'm still... well, bothered.  Will you get your copy on Friday?  It's a pretty quick read.

 

I am going to start Stories on the Go: 101 Very Short Stories By 101 Authors.  It limits stories to 1,000 words and includes genres I am really looking forward to.

 

Included are Action/ Adventure, Black Comedy, Contemporary Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Dystopian (one of), Erotica (one of), Fairy Tales, Fantasy (lots of), Gay fiction, Gay romance Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor (lots of), Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, New Adult, New Pulp, Paranormal (lots of), Post Apocalyptic (one of), Religious Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction (tons of), Space Opera (one), Steampunk, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Women's Fiction, and YA.

 

Each are by an independent author, the project from Hugh Howey.  There is a small blurb and website link to each author.  I look forward to it!

 

It is still free for Kindle.

 

That sounds really interesting! And a great way for indie authors to get there name out there without publishing too much free work. 

[Brian.]

It's a very interesting idea for a book and something I would probably read myself. It would get frustrating to find stories you really like only for them to be over so quickly however.

[Athena]

I'll get started on these stories some time soon too so we can talk about them. It's nice to have so many different genres in there, though it's a shame some aren't that good (at least, in your point of view. I'll have to see if I agree ).

Edited March 22, 2015 by Athena

[Anna Begins]

It's a very interesting idea for a book and something I would probably read myself. It would get frustrating to find stories you really like only for them to be over so quickly however.

Ya but if they are done right they are complete and you get a proper conclusion- my favorites are the  ones. 

 

(if you want to just check out some free ones, see Hugh Howey's website, just avoid the Molly Fyde ones, they are a series http://www.hughhowey.com/books/ ).

 

 

I'll get started on these stories some time soon too so we can talk about them. It's nice to have so many different genres in there, though it's a shame some aren't that good (at least, in your point of view. I'll have to see if I agree ).

They are getting better   Still not as high quality as I'd like, but I've read some with a few twists now.  And I love that feature of the highlighted genre at the top of the front page of the stories.  I only wish, with any short story collection, that they would put each short story title at the top for the story.

[Anna Begins]

That sounds really interesting! And a great way for indie authors to get there name out there without publishing too much free work. 

Another really neat thing, is that at the end of each story, there is a link to the author's site, most indie authors I am finding, have some free short stories on their websites, so I can just click on the link and it automatically brings it up on my Fire   I am a tab- a- holic though lol so I can go back to read them at my leisure.

[BSchultz19]

Another really neat thing, is that at the end of each story, there is a link to the author's site, most indie authors I am finding, have some free short stories on their websites, so I can just click on the link and it automatically brings it up on my Fire   I am a tab- a- holic though lol so I can go back to read them at my leisure.

 

I'm a tab-a-holic as well, at least on my tablet. I have like 10 open at once because I like to use them as references or be able to easily get the website I want at any time. I keep wanting to read some of these indie authors, but I have such a large stack of reading I plan to do already. Too many books. A good problem to have  

[Anna Begins]

I'm a tab-a-holic as well, at least on my tablet. I have like 10 open at once because I like to use them as references or be able to easily get the website I want at any time. I keep wanting to read some of these indie authors, but I have such a large stack of reading I plan to do already. Too many books. A good problem to have  

Definitely  I always have at least 5 open on my laptop

[Anna Begins]

Title: Stories on the Go: 101 Very Short Stories by 101 Authors (stories 1-15)

Author: Various, edited by Andrew Ashling

Genre: Various

Pages:  about 75

Dates: 3/20- 3/22

 

#1: 38^th Street by Micah Ackerman, Horror- Zombie stereotype, Howey rip off, terrible start. 

#2: Suzanne Valdadon by Caddy Rowland, Historical Fiction- this was awful. 

#3: Eternal Bounds by Monica La Porta, Paranormal, ugh, awful.

#4: Coming Home by Sam Kates, Horror/ Paranormal- forgettable, I honestly cannot remember and I just read it.  

#5 Purple Passion by Lanette Curington, Paranormal/ Romance- ok, a little twist there.

#6: Crescent Moon by Ela Lond, Urban Fantasy- First good one.  Want more Urban Fantasy!

#7: Buck Hunt by Livia Harper, Thriller- Oh my, shocking. 

#8 Flashlight by Griffin Carmichael, Horror- edge of y0our seat at first, but a letdown ending.

#9: Wild by Selina French, Paranormal- fun, had a good twist, caught unawares.

#10: Chip Assassin by Mark Gardner, Mystery/ New Pulp- Um… ok.  A little violent.

#11 Choose Peas by Ellisa Barr, Literary Fiction- great, loved it, should’ve been post- apocalyptic… loved the end.   

#12: Payback’s a Witch by Marilyn Vix, Paranormal/ Romance- Gave a great humanistic approach to a paranormal situation, interesting take on a genre branch that I am don’t have much experience in… being a “paranormal romance novelist”, must be an… interesting headspace. 

#13: Thursday at the Ritz- Carlton by Jean Louise, Women’s Fiction/ Action/ Adventure- OMG total surprise and quick too!

#14: The Man across the Room by Sheryl Fawcett, Women’s Fiction/ Romance- Hmmm… bland.  Standard, run of the mill romance   

#15:  Theater Gambino Theater Gambit by Nathan Williams, Action/ Adventure-  WTH?  This one eludes me.   

Edited March 23, 2015 by Anna Begins

[Athena]

Another really neat thing, is that at the end of each story, there is a link to the author's site, most indie authors I am finding, have some free short stories on their websites, so I can just click on the link and it automatically brings it up on my Fire   I am a tab- a- holic though lol so I can go back to read them at my leisure.

That is pretty neat!

 

I'm glad you found some nice short stories . I'll have to start it soon so we can discuss .

[Alexi]

That's a really interesting project of Howey's - although it's a shame it starts off so badly! Good to see some newer, indie writers getting exposure though. 

 

Will be interested to see what you make of the collection as a whole.