What I’ve Been Reading

It’s been a while since I’ve post anything about what I’ve been reading. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been cracking open a book here and there. Aside from actual writing, reading is probably the most important thing I do to hone my craft. It allows me to see how other authors use words and phrases. How they describe scenes and construct stories. How they create characters and breath life into them. Not to mention, reading provides a necessary break from writing so that my creative juices replenish.

So here’s what I’ve been reading.

The One and Only Ivan—a 2013 Newberry winner and based on a true story; Ivan is an artistic gorilla that is one of the main attractions at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. But when Ruby, a young elephant joins the other attractions, Ivan uses his art to change their lives for the better.

One Crazy Summer—this was one of the books my son had to read for his school book club, so I thought I’d check it out too.

Tesla’s Attic—book one in the Accelerati Trilogy, with each book focusing on one of the world’s most amazing scientists.

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures—I read this one to my daughter, and it had her screaming, “the squirrel got vacuumed up!”

And lastly, I just watched the movie the Maze Runner. I enjoyed it so much that I bought the whole series, and that’s what I’ll be reading next.