Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

An exciting novel based in a dystopian society where love, or amor deliria nervosa, has been declared a dangerous, deadly disease. No worries though; there’s a Cure, forced on individuals by the government when a person turns eighteen.  Not only will you never fall victim to love once this cure is administered, you also will never find yourself the proprietor of hate, terror, delight, or wonder.

Lena Haloway is looking forward to being cured. Her mom got infected, and it destroyed her family. She is determined that the same thing will never happen to her. Counting down to the day of her Cure, Lena could not be more prepared to be an adult. Then, she meets Alex, and before she even realizes it, amor deliria nervosa sets in.

This book is a high energy, thrilling book that not only captures the feeling of a first love, but also the terror of being caught. The stakes are high, the action is fast and gripping, and the characters are wonderfully appealing. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the next two and binge-read (is that a term?) for two days until I finished the whole trilogy! I couldn’t even sleep last night, because the plot was still running through my head.

Absolutely excellent! The whole storyline was completely enthralling, and I highly recommend the book. Heck, I highly recommend the whole series!

Getting the Word Out: Increasing Your Blog Audience in 5 Easy Steps

I’m fairly new to blogging, but I love connecting with people all over the world. It’s amazingly fascinating to read about what other people are doing and how it works for them (when you’re a kid, that’s being nosey. When you’re an adult, it’s “networking.”)

But how to increase my audience? I mean, if I didn’t want people to read what I was writing, I’d write a diary, not a blog. After reading several articles and arduously combing the web for answers, these seem to be the keys to unlocking the door to your intended audience.

 

That's a pretty loyal blog follower right there!

1.       Interact with, read and intelligently comment on other people’s blogs. Other people are writing to be read too, and there is some FANTASTIC stuff out there. But the key is intelligent comments. Tell people why you agree or disagree, what you liked or didn’t like (but be nice! I know you’re pretty anonymous behind a computer, but gently pointing out that the wrong “there” was used is different than lambasting someone for being an idiot because they used the wrong “there,” you know).

2.       Use social media, discover engines, forums, etc to get the word out. Your Facebook page is a good spot for this. But please, dear sweet lord, DO NOT spam your blog address everywhere. For the love of all that is decent and holy, have some restraint.

3.       Use eye-catching great blog titles. I’m far more likely to read “The Top 10 Things a Publisher Looks For: Make Your Manuscript Shine!” than I am “What Publishers Care About.” I know, if feels sensationalist, especially if the same information is contained in your post, but we are a world that’s constantly distracted. You have to grab people’s attention (But don’t lie in your title about the content of your post. That’s tricksy and not very nice).

4.       Keep posting consistently! If you haven’t posted anything other than pictures of your kids (but yes, they’re adorable. And when did they get so big?!) since 2012 on your writing blog, people will lose interest. I know your kids are the most important thing in your life (OMG! Look at their little chunky cheeks! I just want to squeeze them!), but unless your entire audience has baby fever or is a bunch of weirdos, they probably aren’t going to stick around.

5.       Be objective, for just a moment. Does your font really work in yellow on a white background? Does your blog look well put together? Is your spelling atrocious? Does the comic sans font reallymake you look like you know what you’re talking about?

These are the tips that I think are the most helpful. Did I miss anything? How do you increase your blog following?

Compelling: How do you write what people want to read? (part 2)

I recently read a book series where I pretty nearly hated the main character, I found her whiny, constantly doing the most ridiculous things while her life was a risk, irksome, and we had nothing in common whatsoever. She made the worst possible choice at every venture, and part of me wanted to jump into the pages and wallop her upside the head. Still, I read the entire trilogy. I can almost hear you asking, “Why in the world would you do that?!”

Because, my friends, the storyline was unique and wildly imaginative. Imagine a world where being overweight is illegal, possession of high calorie treats is a crime, and distribution of high calorie treats (in this case, cookies), is punishable by 6 months imprisonment in a re-education facility. Drop in an individual from the United States who is used to the freedom of eating what she wants when she wants and is used to getting away with some rebellious actions and BAM! I was useless for an entire Saturday, eating up the story (like that I stayed with the food theme there?).

All three books now reside on my Tablet, and I guarantee I’ll read them again. They were fun, different, and a great weekend read. In fact, if you’re interested, it’s the Parallel Trilogy by Christine Kersey, and the first book is called Gone.  If you pick them up, let me know what you think. 

A great story is essential. Even if you're not the best writer in the world, an original idea can cover a multitude of sins. 

You just KNOW there's a good story behind this one, even if you hate cops!

 Anyone else have this experience where you’re pulled into a great story, despite the characters?

Compelling: How do you write what people want to read? (part 1)

I love Sherlock Holmes. Detective stories have always fascinated me (thus my choice in career), but Sherlock Holmes has always intrigued me more than most.  Maybe because The Hound of the Baskervilles was the first book I ever remember bringing me to the edge of my seat.

I was in second grade. It must have been a children’s version of the story, because it’s somewhat of a difficult read for many adults, but I remember my heart pounding, my palms sweaty, my mind racing as this terrifying “dog from hell” raced up on Holmes and Watson. That day, I fell in love with both reading and mysteries.

Being able to make people not only suspend disbelief but want to, is a skill. Not everyone has it.  But how do you foster willful suspension of disbelief?

My favorite way is when you make me care about your character. Give me something in a character I can identify with, something I can understand, something that resonates with me, and you’ve hooked me. It’s why Holmes has Dr. Watson.  Holmes by himself is less than interesting; he’s an arrogant, hyper-intelligent man who has little use for the common man. But Dr. Watson is someone you can empathize with. He’s a fairly smart person (who we all believe ourselves to be) with a friend/coworker/roommate who routinely infers (or outright states) that he’s an idiot. Holmes is trying, frustrating, and, worst of all, agonizing correct. Together, they are compelling characters that draw me back again and again.

What are your tricks of the trade? How do you make me care about your character?