Friday, July 29, 2005

I Just Read....

When I read a book I loved, I can't wait to share it. I guess that's common for us readers, eh? Blogging is going to be a great venue for that. Sometimes I get in a reading funk and nothing holds my interest. I keep searching for just the right thing. I really hate it when that happens, because I want to be swept away, thrilled, enamored, but everything's unsatisfactory.

I started Robyn Carr's RUNAWAY MISTRESS last night and couldn't put it down. Finally! I was enamored. The cover is pink with a purse and crossed legs, pretty chick-lit looking and not something I'd normally pick up, but it's a MIRA and I often hit it big with a MIRA, so after reading the back copy and the first page, I bought it. I'm not badmouthing chick lit; it's just not my personal cup of tea. In case you hadn't guessed, I LOVE romance.

As the story began, it didn't seem headed in a romantic direction, but the situation and the story and Jennifer/Doris drew me in, hook, line and sinker. There was a perfect blend of secondary characters who were so multi-dimementional that they fleshed out the book and didn't bog down the romance. I never mind a slow start to a good romance. I'm not one who thinks the two people have to be together in chapter one and that's that. Nope, build it up, make me care.

That's the writer's job, you know, first and foremost. To make the reader care. I cared. I cared until midnight last night when I finally stopped trying to hold my eyes open and turned out the light. I cared when I woke up early and snuck in another couple chapters. I cared when I was supposed to be working on my own story today, but wanted to go read. I cared when I finally took a break and sat on the patio with a cup of coffee. I cared as I was cooking supper with the book in one hand. I cared after supper while my husband watched the news. I cared right up until the last page when I could finally lay that book down.

Sigh

5 comments:

  1. Cheryl-I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I found you on the eharlequin site and decided to follow you to your own. I've only been blogging since the beginning of the year, but I really enjoy having it as an outlet for feelings, etc. I'm an aspiring writer and I always find blogs of published writers so interesting. So, I hope you continue on and that you enjoy it as much as I do. Have a great weekend!!!

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  2. Thank you, Kaitlin! I found this is more fun than I thought--and I especially enjoy the feedback. It makes for a nice break during my writing day to check the comments and post whatever I'm thinking about.

    I'm planning on a great weekend! You have one, too!

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  3. Cheryl,
    I just read your posts from the beginning of July. I particularly enjoyed the day you discussed your trip to Walnut Iowa. ;-)
    For anyone who may read this, I'm the friend who has an addiction to Snoopy.
    I had a very successful yard sale shopping morning. I bought a bag of old spice tins!
    I love reading your blog Cheryl. Good luck!

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  4. Chris! Thanks for stopping by! Spice tins??? I'm jealous.

    Say, isn't there a Hwy 141 sale coming up?

    Love ya!

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  5. Cheryl,

    HWY 141 yard sale, count me in! We can only hope for a below 95 degree day.

    Sorry to make you jealous over my spice tins. I got them from an estate sale in Bellevue. Everything was in the dark dirty basement or the dark dirty garage. Hubby didn't want to get out of the car, but I said, "I'm going in!" And he couldn't let me go alone... He came out with a few items for himself too. ;-)

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