Challenge Wrap-Up

This year I took part in two reading challenges and one personal challenge:

1.  The Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren

I failed miserably at the Debut Author Challenge.  I thought maybe I could get twelve titles read even though I started late (like August late), but it didn't happen.  I wasn't even close.  I read three debut novels: Firespell by  Chloe Neill, Split by Swati Avasthi, and How to Grow up and Rule the World by Scott Seegert.  Oh well, the point was still made and I added new authors and new books to my ever-growing TBR pile.  Maybe I'll have better luck next year.

2.  100+ Reading Challenge hosted by Home Girl's Book Blog.


This reading challenge included almost everything.  Any novel read in any way, including audio. Even though I joined this one late too, I could count everything from the beginning of the year. And thanks to Shelfari, I still knew what those titles were.  I hit the 100 book mark at the beginning of December.  Click here to see the complete list.


3. Nanowrimo

Participating in nanowrimo was an awesome experience. Almost every day I hit a new high in terms of writing for one specific story idea than I ever had before.  I pulled out a win this year and I still grin like an idiot when I get emails from Nano calling me a writer.  I'm also following up pretty well by editing and rewriting as necessary.  The scariest part is remembering that I agreed to let someone read it.  Dear Someone, Please be gentle. Loves, Jenn

Split

Split by Swati Avasthi

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010

ISBN: 9780375863400

288 pages

4.5 out of 5

Sixteen-year-old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother, Christian, with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father's first), $3.84, and a secret.

He tried to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can't make him forget what he left behind.  His mother is still trapped with his dad.  And his ex-girlfriend is keeping his secret--for now.

Turns out there are some things you can't just walk away from.

Swati Avasthi gives us a riveting portrait of what happens after.  After you've said enough, after you've made the split--how do you begin to live again?  Readers won't be able to put this page-turner down.

This book had me from the first line, "Now I have to start lying."  Going into a novel cold and catching that line is as close to magic as you can get.

Jace has lived his entire life in a home where his father took out his aggression on his wife, on his oldest son, then finally his youngest.  But this is not the story you'll be reading.  As the description says, this is a novel about what happens after. Usually when someone finds a way out, that's the end, but this novel reveals that there is so much more.  Even Christian, who escaped years before, continues to struggle with his former life. 

Jace's voice is honest and open. The greatest part of this perspective is that it allows the reader to know not only what he does and says, but what he thinks and feels.  This, to me, is one of the most important aspects of this novel.  It's clear that his experiences forced him to grow up too soon, but it's also clear that he's still just a kid trying to figure it all out. 

Split takes a serious look at what it's like to be trapped by domestic violence even after you've escaped.  I highly recommend it.

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Split is the second novel I've read for the Debut Author Challenge.
A "booktalk" version of this review will appear on my library's website.  I can't help but share great books!

2010 Debut Author Challenge

 Yeah I'm a bit late with this, but until I actually took a look, I wasn't really sure what it was about. Since I'm new to this whole book blogging thing, catching up with the pros takes a little time.  At any rate, I've decided to join the 2010 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi, the Story Siren.  I have a feeling my list is going to look different from other participants, but diversity makes the world wonderful.


Click the icon above to sign up for the challenge.  Not sure yet?  Visit here to learn more about it.

I've found a nice handful of books that meet the criteria for the challenge and also follow the self-imposed rules of my blog.  I'm going to try to meet the minimum of 12* novels, but this list has a few more than that.

Some possibilities include:

Split by Swati Avasthi
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
Sons of Liberty by Alexander Lagos and Joseph Lagos
How to Grow up and Rule the World by Scott Seegert
Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda
Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherilyn Kenyon
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai
The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby
Happyface by Stephen Emond
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
The Absolute Value of -1 by Steven Brezenoff
Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Z. Becker
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

I've checked most of these, but if someone knows something different in terms of the debut status (or has a suggestion), please let me know!  Now back to reading...

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* Firespell is also a debut novel this year.  Though it doesn't fit the parameters of my blog, I still would like to count it toward my total.  My Shelfari review is here.  So, whoohoo!  1 down 11 to go!