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Rank: Story Moderator
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Diana, thanks for the links. To answer my own question about how "Girl With the Pearl Earring" became a bestseller: The author's timing was excellent. The book came out three years after a huge Vermeer exhibition opened in the States. Chevalier does an incredible job of putting life into descriptions of what might otherwise be very prosaic scenes. Would-be bestselling authors could do a lot worse than study how she handles setting and description. 
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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"The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman Tells of the events surrounding the beginning of WW I in an enjoyable, easy to read style that made it a Pulitzer award winning bestseller.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Active Ink Slinger
Joined: 1/3/2013
Posts: 38
Location: United States
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So, I finished "Gone Girl" in record time... I found the short chapters and frequent change in narration to be a great help in creating a fast, easy read. Perhaps such writing (circa 2012) is a testimony to our texting/social media age... a la "give me high quality, but be quick about it!" Anyway, I'd be curious if any others have read "Gone Girl" already and if so, if they predicted any parts of it. For me it held some surprises though I predicted correctly in many cases.
“Play the sunset." ― Mr. Holland (played by Richard Dreyfuss) on "Mr. Holland's Opus" Find my fan page on Facebook "Diana Shallard" and follow me on Twitter too! https://twitter.com/DianaShallard
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Rank: Rookie Scribe
Joined: 2/24/2013
Posts: 2
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I finished Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" in one sitting. Great story. Recommended for other readers and writers.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 2/9/2012
Posts: 494
Location: Seattle, United States
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Just finished 'The Silver Linings Playbook' by Matthew Quick. Great book and I recommend it for other readers.
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Rank: Rookie Scribe
Joined: 2/27/2013
Posts: 4
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I'm on a big Neil Gaiman binge right now. I received the Sandman Vol. 1-10 slipcase for Christmas, so I'm trying to power my way through those (on vol. 8 at the moment); also, finished Neverwhere a few weeks ago, and reading Stardust right now. I'm only in my early 20's, so it's refreshing having an entire back log of books from an author who's been writing since before I was born --I only wish I was around when he originally published some of these stories, so I could be "hipster cool" about reading his titles...
Independent writer, poet, and storyteller; podcaster; geek; student at UT Austin; creator of Five Minute Adventures
fiveminuteadventures.com
eglouis.tumblr.com
on twitter: @eg_louis
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Rank: Active Ink Slinger
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DianaShallard wrote:
Anyway, I'd be curious if any others have read "Gone Girl" already and if so, if they predicted any parts of it. For me it held some surprises though I predicted correctly in many cases.
I'm just starting this, friends have been pestering me to read it for a while now.
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Rank: Forum Facilitator
Joined: 8/11/2012
Posts: 1,972
Location: Glasgow-ish
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At this very moment? What I'm writing. Which is this forum post.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 12/21/2012
Posts: 5,430
Location: bajo un árbol de álamo
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I am reading "Even the Clocks Stopped" by our Sherzahd. But if you want to quibble, not at this instant.
Here is my latest work. My thanks for checking it out. https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/-forewarning-.aspx
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Rank: Forum Facilitator
Joined: 10/13/2010
Posts: 1,982
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I just finished reading The Real Jane Austen - A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne. It's a new biography of Jane Austen and it was excellent. The author doesn't follow a typical, chronological telling of the life. Instead, each chapter is predicated on an object that had meaning or importance for Jane Austen. Each item serves as a spring board to recount episodes in Austen's life. It was a real pleasure to read. Review of it from The Guardian found at this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/08/the-real-jane-austen-review
The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures. Junius
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Rank: Active Ink Slinger
Joined: 3/8/2013
Posts: 40
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Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 12/21/2012
Posts: 5,430
Location: bajo un árbol de álamo
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Hearts Torn Asunder by Sherzahd
Here is my latest work. My thanks for checking it out. https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/-forewarning-.aspx
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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"Hearts Torn Asunder" is a very good read. I've just started, "Sweet Tooth" by Ian McEwan. Don't let his prizes and 'high lit' reputation scare you off. This is a spy novel, of sorts, set in the '70's with a female protag/narrator and is written in first person. So far, it's been both a good read and an education on how to handle first person.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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Just finished, 'Sweet Tooth' by Ian McEwan. Can't recommend a book more highly. It's a combination love story and sort of a spy thriller centered aroun a young writer in GB during the early '70's and his relationship with a MI5 employee. Most of the book is written in first person from a female POV. Don't let McEwan's prizes or high lit rep put you off. This is a great read and IMO' must reading for would-be prize winning writers.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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I've no idea if this book will be worth the time it took to download...but the title was just too much to resist. -- The woman who died a lot: now with 50% added subplot Forde, Jasper Mystery and Detective Stories Fantasy Fiction Literary detective Thursday Next is hired as head of Swindon's All-You-Can-Eat-at-Fatso's Drink Not Included Library Service instead of her beloved SO-27 unit. The annoyingly perfect Phoebe Smalls--a Thursday wanna-be--gets SO-27. Thursday must also deal with her son Friday's Letter of Destiny, duplicate Thursdays, and assassination attempts. Some violence. 2012.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 11/29/2012
Posts: 1,726
Location: Piedmont, United States
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a magazine about Britain and its history.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 2/9/2012
Posts: 494
Location: Seattle, United States
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Currently I'm reading 'The perks of being a wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky. I watched the movie a month ago then decided to read this book. The book is even better than the movie in my opinion.
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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Just finished, "The Generals Mistress" by Jo Graham. It is one of the most erotic mainstream (historical fiction) novels I've come across, so to speak, and among the best written stories I've read in some time. While the sex is hot, the story is about the protag's coming to terms with her own sexual identity during the Napoleonic Era. It's well-done and very erotic, but not porn. Highly recommended, especially to would be published authors of mainstream fiction with significant erotic content.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 9/21/2012
Posts: 768
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The night circus by Erin Morgenstern.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 5/8/2013
Posts: 117
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
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Lord Of The Flies - William Golding.
When You Don't Feel Like Smiling, Smile Anyway
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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"Lord of the Flies' is one of those books would-be prize winning authors should read and then re-read. Hope you enjoy it, B-Man.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 12/29/2012
Posts: 919
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Let's see... I just finished Bitter End by Jennifer Brown... YA Realistic Fiction... and am now reading Witch World by Christopher Pike. Both extremely good reads, Christopher has quite the unique take on witches and alternate worlds. :) I'd definitely recommend it and I still have 121 pages left! (But I've gotten to page 400 in a day and a half, so...)
Working on the lore, language and characters of a supernatural novel when I'm not trying to survive 2020. If ya wanna help with that survival check out my shop! The Wandering Squirrel
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Rank: Forum Facilitator
Joined: 8/11/2012
Posts: 1,972
Location: Glasgow-ish
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Last Window: The Secret of Cape West. Strictly speaking, it isn't a book, but a video game on DS, but it is very word heavy and feels just like reading a book, only you get to do some actions and solve puzzles. It is the sequel to Hotel Dusk: Room 215.
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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Sounds interesting, Circle, a bit like an old Info game such as Zork, but with visuals. Being light years behind the technology curve, I've just finished, "Bad Monkey" by Carl Hiaasen. If you like CH, it's a must read. If you've never read any of his stuff and like quirky mysteries with a cynical and somewhat off-beat sense of humor, give it a try.
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Story Moderator
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Joined: 8/24/2011
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Location: lost in the ozone west of Apache Junction
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Bad monkey Carl Hiaasen When a tourist fishes a human arm out of the ocean near Key West, the horrified sheriff instructs black sheep Detective Yancy to pass it off to the Miami morgue. Instead, Yancy hooks up with the attractive Dade County ass't medical examiner and attempts to solve what becomes a very convoluted case. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. A must read for fans of Hiaasen. A good read for anyone who likes a dash of humor with their suspence/mystery. .
OF WAR, AND PEACE, AND MARY BETH: my contest winner, honestFor Whom the Good Tolls an 'RR' and it's short, no kidding[/url]
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 10/13/2010
Posts: 436
Location: Chicago
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All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren.
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 12/29/2012
Posts: 919
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Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb. Eve Dallas and Roarke (her husband that owns 75% of the world)... 'tis a good series, and the book is really interesting :) she's a detective, so it's kind of ... a crime mystery sci fi thing... set in 2060, I wanna say.
Working on the lore, language and characters of a supernatural novel when I'm not trying to survive 2020. If ya wanna help with that survival check out my shop! The Wandering Squirrel
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Rank: Forum Guru
Joined: 6/29/2013
Posts: 1,204
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Mine to hold, Shayla Black
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Rank: Forum Facilitator
Joined: 8/11/2012
Posts: 1,972
Location: Glasgow-ish
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I'm reading a letter from HMRC about my Tax Credits and totally no understanding a damned thing about it. Aside from that, I'm not reading a whole hell of a lot. The occasional story on here and status updates on Facebook.
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Joined: 1/27/2014
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"To My Beautiful Daughter" by 'Finallyatpeace'
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