3.14.2012

The List: a must-read for the writing reader. + Giveaway!!!

I was lucky enough to pick up The List by Siobhan Vivian at ALA Midwinter. Not only that, but, I was able to meet Siobhan! And she was such a gem. 
The List takes on beauty. Beauty in all shapes and forms. How we perceive beauty. How we measure beauty. How we internalize our feelings about our own beauty.
Okay, so the premise. Every year, there is a List. On this List are eight names. Two girls from each grade. The ugliest and the prettiest. The List takes the reader through a week in the shoes of these eight girls. 
 These girls, y'all. I felt for these girls. This is the type of book that makes you feel naked. It slips through your pores and lives inside of you for days after turning that last page. Each character was an authentic individual. No stereotypical ugly/pretty girls. (Sell me on your characters and you've got me by the heart.) And the ending you guys, left me with chills. I won't give away any more about the ending, except for that this ending is my favorite type of ending and Siobhan delivers it with finesse. So that is why, as a reader, you need to read The List.

Now, I'm going to break it down for my writer friends. There are some writers whose voice I could recognize anywhere. It's not a bad thing. It's why they have such loyal fans. But, in The List Siobhan takes on the identity of eight completely different characters living extreme versions of the same week. When I opened The List I read the title page, with the authors name, and then, you guys, Siobhan disappeared and in her place I found eight beautifully tragic high school girls who I connected with on largely significant levels. And here's the moral you guys. This is what I learned: Some of the most gifted writers know how to take a step back and allow their characters to speak for them. 

So, if you're a reader, I hope you read The List and let it take you through a week in the shoes of these eight girls. And if you're a writer, I hope you do that too. But take some damn notes, y'all. Because, Siobhan is on fire! (And her other books are pretty great aswell!!!)

Since I loved The List so much, I pre-ordered not just one-- but two copies! One for me! Duh! And one for you! Well, for one of you. 

To enter to win all you have to do is leave a comment, telling me about a book (not a how-to book) that taught you about writing or (if you don't write) one of your recent favorites! And please, please leave a way for me to contact you! Twitter or email! This contest is limited to the Continental US only, sorry! And you don't need to follow my blog, but I would truly appreciate it! And I would doubly appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@andimjulie)! Retweet this giveaway for an extra entry!!! I'll be using www.random.org to pick the winner! Contest open until March 30th! That's like two-ish weeks! And who knows? Maybe I'll give away some random ARC's too!

The List comes out April 1, 2012. Pick up a copy or twelve!

 Thanks y'all! Happy reading! And may the odds be ever in your favor.

14 comments:

  1. Even though I've never read a Stephen King novel, his memoir ON WRITING was inspirational and informative...a MUST for any writer!

    @AnnMarie_Walker on Twitter

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  2. I would have to say that everything by V.C. Andrews. My Sweet Audrina, and the Dollanganger Series (Flowers in the Attic). Truly inspired my writing.

    My email is: heathermwrites@gmail.com

    Yay! :)

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  3. I retweeted! (but you already know that. haha)
    https://twitter.com/#!/xHeatherxMariex/status/179977110893506560

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  4. The List sounds like an Amazing read! Can't wait to go and buy it! If it has Julie's stamp of approval than you know it's going to be a good one! A book that changed my life was The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. But if you're looking for a more recent book, Divergent by Veronica Roth, was most def my favorite read last year. Any author that can create a whole new reality where possibilities are endless, never ceases to amaze me. Veronica Roth made me itch for more details about the world which these characters live in and how they thrive in it. Also the books Red, Black, White, Green by Ted Dekker will always be some of my favs! :) Happy Reading!

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  5. Ooh I love Siobhan Vivian, read Same Difference last yeat.

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    1. Be sure to leave contact info so I can reach you if you win the copy of The List!

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  6. The Hunger Games made me learn what it means to have a perfect balance of showing and telling. After reading that series, I started writing in earnest last year. My earliest blog entry was about how I was "kidnapped" by The Hunger Games - so engaging, I couldn't put it down!

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    1. Oh, and contact is @ticklingthemuse on Twitter. ;)

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  7. Hello Julie! My first visit, will visit you again. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed your posts. Congrats for your work. If you wish to follow back that would be great I'm at http://nelsonsouzza.blogspot.com
    Thanks for sharing!

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  8. The Outsiders is forever my favorite YA novel. I think its a great case study in how to write teen boys, and write them well!!

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  9. Melina Marchetta! Melina Marchetta! She crafts characters like Michelangelo crafts masterpieces.

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  10. Hey Julie! I'd have to say The Time Traveler's Wife taught me the most about writing. It's not YA though (shocking, I know). Non-linear tellings always appeal to me, but this was especially well executed. The author (Audrey Niffenegger) writes the book almost totally in the two character's heads, but you feel like you're reading snappy dialogue. All around, she's just a fantastic writer! Her Fearful Symmetry was equally amazing!

    You probably know my twitter, but it's @novelista85

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  11. Though I wouldn't say it necessarily taught me about writing, Twilight has had one of the greatest effects on my writing. It was after reading this book that I decided that I should try my hand at writing YA. I realized that, quite frankly, I just enjoy YA books more than anything else. And if I love them so much, maybe I'd love writing them even more. And everyone who has read all four of my books tells me that YA is where I'm meant to be, without a doubt.

    Here's my contact info: @NHNovelist. Since you called me out on my competitive nature on Twitter last night, perhaps you already know that. :P

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  12. Just ONE book? Oh my gosh. All About Me. That really was the book that taught me. Written by me. In Kinder. I didn't realize it at the time, but later. Much later. Even at five, I loved to tell tales. I made up pets that I didn't have (a catepillar named Inci - yeah, not sure where that came from either), I made up siblings (two sisters and I conveniently left out all of my brothers), I said that my favorite thing to do was swing from the bar in my closet in my squirrel costume (I did not have a squirrel costume - mom made ALL our costumes and we superheroes like every year...boring!). I was a very creative child. And it got me an A. And all sorts of friends! Everyone loved my stories. So that was the book that started it all for me. Um, I don't tweet yet. I'm still holding out. Email addy: jennveg@aol.com.

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