Ignorant Historian

What kind of Hunger Games fan would I be if I didn’t talk about the release of Mockingjay today?  Perhaps you’re like me and waiting to get a copy from the library (it’ll still be brand new, but I don’t have to pay for it).  Or perhaps you’ve stayed up all night reading it (don’t spoil it for me!) and you’re looking for something else to read.

So, what should you read if you like The Hunger Games?  In other words, what are my favorite dystopian/adventure books?

In no particular order (too hard!):

1. The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger

I read The Giver when it came out and really enjoyed it.  As an adult, I realized that there was a companion novel, Gathering Blue, and later realized that there was a 3rd.  I wish I had read all 3 back to back as I had a hard time following the strings that connect the first two to the third.  If you haven’t read these (or have only read The Giver) I recommend them thoroughly!

2.  Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

This is the first book of a series (with no knowing when book 2 will be out as Fforde has several series going on right now).  To be honest, I wasn’t sure that this was dystopian until the end, and I loved that (sorry to ruin that).  In classic Ffordian-style, this is full of plays-on-words and ridiculous mimicry of aspects of our society (think Dr. Seuss’s The Butter Battle Book for adults).  Who would have thought of classifying people by which color they can see (and how much of it)?

3. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

I really didn’t like this book at first.  It’s written in a kind of futuristic slang that really bugged me.  But after a hundred pages, I forgot that and was entranced.  A great idea executed well: a group of settlers on an alien planet are troubled by the fact that everything a male thinks is heard aloud by everyone.  This is actually Book 1 of the Chaos Walking trilogy, but since Book 3 isn’t out until September, I thought I’d delay reading book 2 until then.

4. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Okay, so this is definitely science fiction, but don’t let that scare you off at all.  Like Hunger Games, it tells of a society that exploits children, this time not for entertainment, but to train them to save Earth from invading aliens (stay with me!).  Just try it, okay?

5.  Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

My all-time favorite book as a teen.  What happens when a group of teenagers returns from a holiday in the bush (gotta love the Australian setting!) to find that their town–indeed, their whole country–has been overtaken by another country?  It’s the first in a series, but easily stands alone.

6. Genesis by Bernard Beckett

This is a short little book that’s more like a long short story.  But though it can be read in one sitting, it’ll keep you thinking for a while.  Telling you anything more would just be doing you a disservice, so just read it, k?

So those are my recommendations to you, fellow Hunger Games-lovers.  Any more recommendations?

I have tried to keep from writing this post as it’s a common topic in the blogosphere and I have addressed the subject myself.

But I simply can’t keep my mouth shut any longer.  I’ve read one too many blog posts that are cringe-worthy. (And because I know you will ask, it’s none of you all who come by my blog regularly!)

Can I humbly give some blog-writing tips?  We’re all growing, so I have a lot to learn still, too.

Here are some major problems I’ve seen:

1.  Blog posts that read like a middle-school diary. Sure, blogging is informal writing (thankfully!), but it still should have structure and editing.  EDITING.  Re-read what you write (probably multiple times).  I usually re-read a paragraph/sentence after I write it and then re-read the whole post until it seems just right. (Overuse of exclamation points would fall under this category, too.)

2.  Posts that contain overused phrases, especially several of them. These tend to be more natural in spoken language, but are more annoying written.

3.  Posts that are too long. I know that I’m unusually short (both in stature and in blog-post length, but lets focus on that last one, k?).  I’m not saying everyone should be as short as me.  But very few bloggers can pull off long posts (Heather is the only one I can think of right now…and look how she still uses paragraphing and pictures to break up her posts).  When I see them in my Google Reader, I skip them.  Maybe they were interesting, but I’ll never know.  VERY few subjects require posts over 500 words (your plan for solving world hunger, maybe).  If it’s still longer than that after extensive editing, think of a way to make it a two-parter, or maybe even a series.

4.  Posts lacking paragraphing. Follow your newspaper’s example: each paragraph should be 1-3 sentences long.  Forget what your English teacher told you about the 5-sentence paragraph or whatever it was (hey, I just want to be a math teacher).  Internet readers skim, so if you don’t make it easy for them, they’ll skip instead.  Using bolding/bullets allows you to write longer paragraphs, if necessary.

5.  Obvious grammatical and spelling errors. I’m not referring to split infinitives and using “who” instead of “whom.”  I’m talking about its/it’s, they’re/there/their, and spelling errors that spell check should be pointing out to you.  If your browser doesn’t spell check what you write, use the spell check in your blogging software.  And re-read to catch the grammar issues.

For the most part, these are simple things that can improve your writing by a whole letter grade.  All these things distract your reader from what you’re actually trying to say.

Photo by Nic’s events

Instead of waiting until the end of the year to talk about my favorite books I’ve read this year, I thought I’d go a head start and talk about them now.

In the first half of the year, I read 107 books (I know…I have no idea why I’m not quite sure why I’ve read so many more this year).  These are my favorites (in order).  To fit the unwritten theme of this year, 4 of these are non-fiction.  For fairness, it only includes books that were new to me.

Click the links to read more of my review.

10. The City and the City by China Miéville

This is an “existential thriller”…but really it’s the tale of two cities (quite unlike A Tale of Two Cities, in case you were wondering).  It’s about a murder investigation that leads the investigator from one city to another…that shares the same physical location but is utterly distinct.  It comes off a little weird at first, but it’s very interesting.

9. Get Married by Candice Watters

This book changed how I viewed my own singleness…something that always needs redefining (my view of it…though I’d also settle for a change from singleness, too).

8. Green Like God by Jonathan Merritt

This is the perspective that Christians need on creation care…it’s not just for leftists and liberals.

7. In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham

A memoir sharing that when things are bad (and they’re really bad: a year-long kidnapping by terrorists), it is still possible to trust in God.  He remains faithful, even if things don’t work out as we would have orchestrated.

6. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

I loved this young adult novel.  It made me laugh, and it made me cry, really cry (but not in the Lurlene McDaniels kind of way).  You’d have to read it to understand it.

5. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I don’t know why I haven’t talked about this one before, but it’s SO good.  Technically a children’s novel (probably because it’s short and has a child protagonist) but an adult would enjoy it more.  Nostalgic and touching.

4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

No surprise for many of you who have already read it.  But I didn’t until this year.  Definitely deserves its classic standing.

3. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

I was wanting to read this one for months before it (finally!) came out. And now I’m waiting in as much anticipation for the sequel.  Jasper Fforde has an “interesting” take on writing that is unmatched, and his style is a welcomed and unique twist on the crazy-popular dystopian genre.  If you like things a little off kilter and/or dystopian books, check this one out, for sure.

2.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I think most of you know why this book is on my list.  If you don’t, you need to read it.  I haven’t heard of anyone who has read it and not loved it.  If its length puts you off, try the audio book.  It’s well done (I’m actually listening to it right now…I broke my “wait a year before a re-read” for this book).

1. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt

As of today, I’ve been a resident of North Carolina, and thus the South, for 5 years.  Or at least this is the day that I celebrate my move here (it’s hard to determine which day I actually moved when it was a week-long process).

As a celebration, I thought I’d share with you some insights I’ve found into the South:

1.  You don’t find guys named “Grant” in the South.  Not surprisingly, there are plenty with “Lee” as their first, middle, or last name.

2.  Raleigh is actually populated with a lot of Northerners.  Probably made my assimilation easier.

3.  The Southern accent isn’t quite as annoying as it sounds.  Actually, I only notice it when I first meet someone, after that it just becomes a part of their own unique voice.

4.  North Carolina prides itself in having the largest number of state-maintained highways in the country.  It’s not a good thing, I promise…”maintained” is used loosely.

5.  The Wake County school district (the one I’m in) is the 18th largest district in the country.  Once again, it’s something they take pride in.  North Carolinians apparently need to learn that bigger does NOT equal better.

6.  Chick-fil-a is addictive.

7.  Most Southerners aren’t as obsessed with the Confederacy, states’ rights, and Southern pride like you’d think.

8.  But sadly, race issues are still a big deal.

Long live the South…and the North. =)

Today this little ol’ blog turns 4!

On this date in 2006, I decided to jump from the online journaling format of Xanga for an all-out blog on blogspot, Tale of a Kansas Girl.  Then a year-and-a-half ago, I decided to go out on my own and adopt a more grownup name, “The Ignorant Historian.”

And here’s where I am, 900-and-something posts later.  Still kicking, and in many ways a better person because of blogging.  I hope to never give it up, though I will if I feel like that’s what God’s leading me to do.  I’m sure it’ll continue to grow along with me, but that’s a good thing.

So, this blog in 4s:

4 biggest bloggy blessings:

That anyone I was related to or know in real life would want to read this blog
That anyone (not to mention many more than one!) who is not related to me would want to read this blog
That I’ve been encouraged–and challenged–in my beliefs
Comments – all of them

4 biggest disappointments:

That I’m not a household name yet (okay, maybe I don’t want to be *that* big)
That I haven’t had more of an impact for the Kingdom
That my writing still has a long way to go before it’s where I want it to be
That I can’t think of a 4th disappointment (oops, just did)

4 most common tags:

Reading – 89 posts
School – 77 posts
God – 76 posts
Holiday – 71 posts

The 4 Most Commented Posts (without a gimic):

Proud to be a Virgin – 44 comments
Which Toilet Would You Choose? – 42 comments
Intentionally Illiterate – 37 comments (though I did beg for a comment to break a 4th-place tie because I didn’t want a list of *5*)
The Read-a-thon is Here! – 36 comments

Top 4 States from which people visit my blog:

Kansas (Yay for supportive family!)
North Carolina (Yay for supportive friends!)
New York (There’s a lot of people there, I suppose.)
Pennsylvania (Do any of my regular visitors come from here? Holler if you do!)

Top 4 Non-North American Countries from which people visit my blog:

United Kingdom
Australia
Netherlands
France

My 4 Favorite Posts:

The Example of Hannah
Orange Awareness Day (one of these things is not like the others…)
Why I Believe in God
Big Girls Don’t Cry?

4 Biggest Flops (posts that I thought would get lots of comments, but didn’t):

What a Messy World – 8 comments
Dear Philosopher, Part 2 – 6 comments
Control Hog – 6 comments
Once Upon a Dream – 2 comments

The 4 Most Revealing Posts:

I Am, I Want, I Have, I Wish I Could
All or Nothing
26 Things at 26
A Peek Inside My Brain

4 Posts I’ve Forgotten About:

Dear Unnamed
Treasures of Knowledge Found in a Seminary Classroom
This is Not Christmas
Woo Me

4 That I Wish I Could Forget about:

A Sad Day
An Emotional Storm
Bathroom Pictures, By Request
How to Use a Squaty Potty (you, my dear readers, have toilet issues)

Well, this has been a great 4 years…here’s to 4 more!

Photo by Leo Reynold

This post is TWO YEARS old, sitting in my drafts folder. We ended up not going contra dancing that night after all (not my decision, but I was incredibly grateful!). I decided to save it for whenever they wanted me to go again…but fortunately was never asked. I think you’ll agree that it’s rather timeless.

Tonight I’m going out with some friends to go contra dancing. Don’t know what contra dancing is? I really don’t either. All I know is that it’s a dance kinda like line dancing or square dancing. Okay. What I CAN tell you is that this is a very big step for me.

Since this is list month:

Why I Don’t Want to Go Contra Dancing Tonight

1. I generally avoid excessive physical exertion. Swimming is my exercise of choice. Swimming =/= dancing.

2. I’m not a good dancer and avoid having to prove it.

3. Apart from a brief stint in a ballet class in middle school, I’ve never danced in public.

4. My to-do list is growing by the day.

5. I haven’t a clue how to contra dance.

Yet,

Why I Am Going to Go Contra Dancing Tonight

1. Friends who desire my good (I think) have pressed me to go.

2. I believe that you should try something before you say you don’t like it.

3. I said I would go if a certain other friend would go.

4. She apparently isn’t as hard headed and anti-dance as me and has agreed to go.

5. I gave my word.

If I live through this, I’ll let you know how it goes!

As nasty as these things are, they seem to pass quickly, praise God.

Disposable ice buckets make excellent barf buckets.

Having a nurse for an aunt is incredibly handy.

Watching my brother make his wedding vows is incredibly surreal.

My brother’s friends don’t remain high schoolers forever.

Illness is a great distraction when I’m trying not to cry.

Just because he’s getting married doesn’t mean my brother will stop being a pest.

Being ill gets me out of talking to virtual strangers.

Though the thought of most food makes me want to barf when I have a stomach bug, wedding cake still sounds appealing.

My brother can be kind and compassionate (to his sister!) when required.

My dad will always go to great lengths to care for his daughter.

When I’m ill, it’s always best to have my mommy around.

Last week I talked about what I thought made for a good novel.  During that discussion, I was asked what were my favorite reads this month.  It’s a logical follow-up, isn’t it?

These are the favorite books I’ve read this year (so far I’ve read 94, so there were a lot to choose from!).  For fairness, I only included books that I read for the first time this year.

10. Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

This is the only classic to make it on the list (though there is one other that might be considered a classic).  This was my first Collins book, and I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  Compared to a lot of books written in that time (published in 1860), it’s really easy to read with modern eyes.  It’s part mystery, part romance.  An all-around good read.

9. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

This is the first of 2 children’s books on my list.  Unlike the other title, I don’t really feel like this is a children’s book.  Of course, it’s companion novel, The Giver, is also considered not-suitable for children so that shouldn’t come as a surprise.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book is so much more than a children’s story…and I don’t think children will get the deeper themes without being guided.  If you liked The Giver you would like this one, too, though it isn’t a sequel.  Also reminds me of The Hunger Games.

8. Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley

This is the only non-fiction book on my list.  By far the best non-fiction book I read this year, and probably the best title for Christian women that I’ve ever read.  Easy to read and brings up some great topics.  I was incredibly impressed by this book…you should pick it up!

7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Okay, okay, I know this title is so last year.  Or the year before (or the year before that?).  I had put off reading it because I thought it sounded stupid.  A book about a boy stuck on a boat with a tiger?  Sure that’s a brief synopsis, but it’s SO much more than that.  Just trust me.

6. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

One of 4 Young Adult books on my list.  It’s a story about a 17yo who wakes up from being in a coma for a year with many questions and no one who will answer them.  It’s here because I loved discovering with Jenna the truth of her past and her current situation.  Don’t want to say more and give it away, but it’s highly recommended.

5. In the Name of God by Paula Jolin

Though this is a YA book, I read it at the recommendation of a friend before I was on my YA kick.  It’s the story of a typical teenager in Syria…who plans on being a suicide bomber.  Well researched and presented, revealing that teenagers are teenagers no matter what their situation and have similar struggles.

4. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

So, I guess this is sorta a classic, though it’s still rather young.  Sure, I don’t agree with a lot of Rand’s philosophies (any system based on greed will fail), I love how she presents them here.  She really was a gifted writer.  Though this is a long book, I enjoyed every page (except the 75 page monologue near the end…that got a bit much).  Not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a big reader, I think this is a worthy book to tackle.  If it wasn’t so long, I’d want to re-read it.  In fact, I might just do that, anyway.

3. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This book should be under the tree for every uninitiated middle-grade child…it’s just that good.  Full of adventure and brain puzzles, it’s the story of 4 gifted children (gifted in different ways) who must work together to save the world.  I love how it’s an adventure book, but teaches children that there are adults they can learn from and that they can accomplish more working together.  Really, it’s a treat for all ages, too.

2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Okay, this is no surprise.  I’ve gushed about it before.  The short of it is that Katniss (hate the main character’s name, though) is among 24 teenagers put in an arena and forced to fight to the death.  Won’t say more, but I can tell you I was surprised many times.  Plus, I think it has some pretty interesting, thought-provoking themes in it.  Read it!

1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

This is the book that I read when I was made fun of for reading for the first time.  I suppose it’s the title…it DOES sound like a scientific book, but really.  Calamity physics?  Does that really sound like something real?

When I first reviewed this, I only gave it 4 stars because I just wasn’t sure about it.  I’ve thought about it now for another 6 months, and I do believe it’s earned this spot as the top book this year.  I mean, how many books can make me think about it for MONTHS?  I related to Blue, the main character, and what she was struggling with as she dealt with the death of a beloved teacher and so much more.  The style can be a bit wearing for 500+ pages (written in the over-wrought style of a well-read high schooler) which is why I only gave it 4 stars, but the story itself is well-worth it.  I’ll be re-reading this very soon!

So that’s it for 2009, but I’m looking forward to the good books that lie ahead!

I enjoyed it so much last year, I decided that I’d do it again this year.  Today is my last day of being 26 (I can still remember when I looked up to people who were 26 as mature and having it all together, LOL) as tomorrow is my birthday.

These are 26 things I’ve done in my 26th year (okay, actually it’s my 27th, but that’s an awkward way of putting it):

1. Was disappointed (again and again) by the Oklahoma Sooners.  Oh well, there’s always next year, right?

2. Gained a sister (though it’s not official until next month, it’s long been settled in my mind!).

3. Started writing a novel, that is now abandoned, at least for now. Maybe I’ll complete it (or a different one) when I’m 27?

4. Was asked to be a maid-of-honor.  And then a bridesmaid.

5. Became the site coordinator of our tax program.

6. Celebrated another blessed year, remembering again the sacrifice and blessing of the Cross.

7. Finally owned up to being a North Carolinian.

8. Planted my first flowers (the frost just this weekend got to them).

9. Survived another year without a boyfriend, and even enjoyed it for a few months.

10. Registered unaffiliated…no more “R” by my name (except the ones IN it, of course).

11. Learned I like teaching adults too, not just children.

12. Developed closer relationships with those in my ABF class.

13. Joined Twitter, and eventually learned to like it.

14. Earned a salary for the first time in my life.

15. Developed my own version of a bucket list (one of which I hope to check off this week!).

16. Received a memorable package from home.

17. Decided to work towards being a teacher professionally, even though the timing isn’t right yet.

18. Kicked my afternoon Diet Dr Pepper habit…one that I thought would always stick with me!

19. Participated in my first (and second) Read-a-thon and loved it.

20. Found the first show since Gilmore Girls that I can watch over and over again (Glee).

21. Moved my office again, this time so I have my own office space.

22. Bought socks for the first time.  I suppose mommy-bought socks weren’t going to last forever!

23. Started down the slippery slope to granola-ville by starting to drink organic milk.

24. Traveled to Turkey for the 3rd time, renewing my love of the people and culture.

25. Opened up myself up to a guy (being an oyster instead of a clam) and was shut down.  Lived through it.

26. Had the most emotional week of my life (thus far, obviously).

Overall, I’d say this was quite the growing year and more full of blessings than I could ever have dreamed!

Since I’ve been doing a little reading lately (like my use of understatement there?), I’ve been thinking about what makes a book good.

A good book, to me, has some/all of these characteristics:

1.  Great vocabulary. I’m a strong believer in the idea that there is only ONE word that is just right.  Sure, the English language has synonyms, but they have various shades of meaning.  An author who labors to get it right is much appreciated.

2.  Well-crafted sentences. Writing is hard–the little I’ve done has confirmed this–but when it’s done well, it shouldn’t be noticed.  It should seem like the book was birthed whole.

3.  Makes me think. Neither confirms my current thinking nor tells me everything I’ve ever thought was stupid.  Challenges me and brings to light ideas I’ve never thought to question.

4.  Continues to make me think long after I’ve closed the cover for the last time. Most books I’ve almost completely forgotten within a month…I know it’s good if I haven’t.

5.  A well-developed protagonist, one that’s true-to-life.  That means they should have more than one flaw (*ahem* Stephenie Meyer), and can be inconsistent.  Hey, we all are!  It’d also be great if other characters were well-developed, but this one is essential.

6.  Just something special. There should be something about the book that sets it out from the other hundred I’ve read this year.  Not an easy task!

7.  Not too much description. I’m growing in this area, but I still struggle when there are pages of description.  I don’t realize how much I skim these descriptions until I’m listening to a book on tape and space out for minutes at a time (Gone with the Wind, I’m talking about you).

8.  Symbolism. I’m sure there is so much I’m missing in the books I read, but I want to see it.  Not overly obvious (that’s worse!), but it should be there if I have my eyes open.

What makes a good book for you?

Photo by Zitona