I swear I'm not a serial killer

Once upon a time I had a blogspot where I threw away all my things about writing; and then on tumblr I reblogged resources and stuff. It was kinda a clusterfuck. Here I am, hoping a whole sideblog about this will help me (let's hope with me?).

[ineedthisok]

Dewey’s Readathon (October 2016)

Almost exactly one year after my last post here, I’m here again. Welp!

I couldn’t participate in April’s Readathon because I was at a Comic Convention, but I tried my hardest to have the time to be here for October and I succeeded!

So, let’s start with the opening meme:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m reading from Italy 2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Nocturno, by Tony Sandoval. It was gifted to me by a dear friend of mine and I still haven’t read it. 3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? We (my sister and I) usually don’t plan our snacks, but our parents are the sweetest parents ever and always bring us something, so... we’ll see <3 4) Tell us a little something about yourself! Hi! I’m Cristina, I have three cats (one of them is here on my lap while I’m writing) and I’m trying to get a degree ahaha I like archery (I’ll start a class soon) and, obviously, I love reading. And writing. I hope I’ll be a published writer sooner or later <3 5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I’ll try to read more and sleep less u.u I had to give up, last readahon, because I was just soooo sleepy, but I want to do my best this time!

It’s already two minutes past the starting time, soooo I’m going to start reading!

Have fun all of you! <3

[ineedthisok]

NaNoWriMo

I know, I *still* have to review the second book of A series of Unfortunate Events, I’m sorry, I promise I’ll do it very soon! (Well... I promise I’ll try, at least).

But today I want to tell you about another project I’ve been taking part in since 2013 and that I’m going to take part in again this year:

the @nanowrimo​

For those of you who don’t know it, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, or “No I can’t go out this month I have to WRITE, MOM!”

“What the fuck?” you may wonder.

I understand, let me explain.

NaNoWriMo is, simply put, the promise that you’re going to write 50.000 words of novel in 30 days, 1667 words per day. Seems crazy? It is!

You can’t be a good writer if you’re not a little crazy, can you?

I’ve always found it very useful, I love the way it ‘forces’ me to write, even when I’m there like ‘eh, whatever, i’ll write tomorrow, next week, next century’. I don’t know if it’s because I want to win (even though I’ve never really taken the prizes, which are not bad at all, but really not as useful for me), or just because I really need someone to tell me to do things, but it works really really good.

So, that said, let me tell you about me.

I’m not going to start a new novel as I did last years, because I already have something in progress I’m really invested in, but I’ not going to count the words I’ve already written (obviously).

The project is called: Wunder and the Dragon (yeah, it’s a work in progess, don’t worry).

It’s a steampunk novel with lot of gore and quite unlikeable main characters (at least I hope they’re unlikeable, because if they are I am... worried, to say the least).

I’m not going to tell you too much, but the story is about Wunder (who’s played, in my wicked mind, by Firass Dirani), a mechanic in a world where ‘mechanic’ means ‘loser’ (even though in this world ‘mechanic’ means ‘creator of dragons’... It’s a weird world, I guess) and whose brother, Mikolaj, is a pilot in a world where ‘pilot’ means ‘super-cool’ (and it makes sense, because ‘pilot’ means ‘pilot of DRAGONS’).

So, yeah, it doesn’t sound like much but it’s something I’m really really really loving and I’m putting a lot of work, a lot of hope and a lot of myself in it.

To celebrate November, I’ll try to combine my just-found love notegraphy with NaNoWriMo and I’ll create a daily note. I’d like for it to be something not too spoiler-y, so... I don’t know, I’ll see what I can do.

And this is all, folks! If you want, you can find me here:

nanowrimo

campnanowrimo

notegraphy and, as always, on twitter and instagram

[ineedthisok]

Hou 24 recap / Closing survey

This time, too, Dewey’s readathon has reached it end - and as always it’s been awesome and wonderful and I can’t wait to do it again!

This is the closing survey - but I still have to review the last book I’ve read *and* I’m going to write a wrap-up post, later, so keep your eyes open ;)

Which hour was most daunting for you? The 16th... I was so tired every book I was looking just didn’t seem interesting... so I gave up and got to sleep a little bit! XD Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I really think A Series of Unfortunate Events or similar series can be the best in readathons. They’re interesting, but you read them very easily. They’re not a chore, not even when you’re tired! Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I really don’t... I like how the Readathon’s organised :) What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I don’t really have an opinion, which I guess it means everything worked really well! XD The posts were interesting, and the mini-challenge, also. It was fun, very fun :D How many books did you read? I’ve read five books and an half :D What were the names of the books you read? Ghosts, Blood and Water, Dimentica il mio nome, A Series of Unfortunate Events book 1 and 2, and Buio Which book did you enjoy most? A Series of Unfortunate Events, for sure Which did you enjoy least? I enjoyed them all, even if it sounds cheesy. They’re the books I chose, so... yeah, I enjoyed them :D How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I’m surely going to partcipate... and, who knows, maybe next year I’ll be a cheerleader... or I’ll organise a mini-challenge with my sister? We’ll se, but I’ll surely be there!

[ineedthisok]

White Flag

So, I’ve spent the last hour looking at my kindle, trying to find something to read... I have LOTS to read but I’m just... so tired!

I wanted to stay awake a little more, *read* a little more, but I’m crashing, so it’s not use. I gues 6 a.m. is a good time to go to sleep, isn’t it?

Keep up the good work, the ones of you who’re still going strong!

[ineedthisok]

Hour 16 mini-challenge

This mini-challenge asked for a readathon style mad libs with the book we’re currently reading. I’ve just finished A Series of Unfortunate Events, so I’ll show you what I created. Maybe it’s not the funniest thing ever made, but it makes me laugh!

So:

"Begging your pardon," Violet said suddenly, "but I think you may be wrong." Everyone turned to look at the eldest Baudelaire orphan. "What did you say, Countess?" Olaf said. "I'm not your countess," Violet said testily, a word which here means "in an extremely annoyed tone." "At least, I don't think I am."

becooooooomes:

"Begging your pardon," Violet said suddenly, "but I think you may be wrong." Everyone turned to peeve at the eldest Baudelaire toad. "What did you say, Abomination?" Olaf said. "I'm not your abomination," Violet said furiously, a word which here means "in an extremely clammy tone." "At least, I don't think I am."

I don’t know if I find funnier the fact that Count Olaf would *totally* call her ‘abomination’, or the idea of the Baudelaires as toads.

[ineedthisok]

Hour 16 recap

I can’t believe it’s already hour sixteen! I mean, I’m so tired I can, but... it doesn’t really feel like it’s been so long!

I’ve read 4 books in this 16 hours, which is... way less than what I expected, but Edith Wharton took way more than what I expected, so I guess it makes sense.

I’m in a strange limbo, now... I want to read more but

a) I’ve left my other books in the other room and I don’t want to get up (even though I should because I really gave to pee)

b) my sister’s sleeping right next to me and she’s making me sleeping :(

I could just change room, but she asked me to stay with her because she’s creeped out by my grandmother’s bedroom... and she’s not wrong, it’s really creepy! There’s a doll who’s watching us, mirrors right in front of the bed, 4 angels, 5 Virgin Marys and 3 Jesus Christs... just there, looking. Aaaand, there’s Cthulhu carved in her bed - I’m not kidding, I’ll add a photo, later, when I’ll be able to take it without waking up my sister.

So... I’m not sure what I’m gonna do, we’ll see. For now, I’m really interested in hour 16 mini-challenge, it’s really interesting! Let’s see if I can create something funny!

[ineedthisok]

[Review] A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

It’s been a while since a friend gave me her whole collection of A Series of Unfortunate Events, telling me ‘please read them. You’ll love them and you’ll read them so fast! Just read them!’

I don’t know why I didn’t - I knew I’d liked them and I knew they wouldn’t have taken me long but I just... never got around to. So many books to read (that I don’t read), so many stuff to do (that I don’t do).

For this Readathon I took with me the first book of the series... and I deeply regret it, because now I want to read the second (and all the others) but I don’t have them with me and I’m not sure I’ll have time starting from Monday

That’s so unfair :(

To be totally honest A Series of Unfortunate Events is not really my kind of book. Generally speaking I prefer happier book, where the main characters do have to go through some obstacles but have an happy ending. I presume they’ll have a happy ending, too, but the idea of having to read 13 books where they don’t is... crushing :( They don’t deserve all this :(

I love Lemony Snicket (and his translator!)’s style, it’s a strange mix of an almost clinical objectivity and emotional thoughts, and it works so well I almost want every single book I’ve ever read written in this way! I know it probably wouldn’t work quite the same, buuut I think we should try u.u

So, yeah... really liked it. But UGH I read ONLY the first one and I’m already tired of all... well... the unfortunate events those poor kids are going through :(

[ineedthisok]

[Review] Blood and Water (and Other Tales) by Patrick McGrath

I *love* Patrick McGrath.

I discovered him watching the movie ‘Spider’ and I fell in love. I had actually already read Blood and Water, but I wanted so bad to read it again... I don’t regret it, not even a little ">bit, even though I have so many books I have to read.

Patrick McGrath is... hard to define. I’m sure lot of people don’t like him (or, at least, don’t like this particular collection) because he’s so... peculiar, it’s hard to enjoy if your interests aren’t the same as him - so much more than with any other writer I can think of.

Blood and Water is a collection of the worst taboos and the most grotesque being one could ever imagine. Grotesque, I think, is the best word to describe it. It reminds me a lot of Meyrink’s novel - gothic and dark and just unsettling in any possible way.

I have so much love for these stories and I’m really happy they didn’t disappoint at a second reading, like some story does.

I was surprised by the style, though. I really didn’t remember so much ‘purple prose’ (I feel bad using this term, which is usually negative, but it’s the best way to describe it I can think of) and I had to get used to it again - but it’s not such an hard chore at all!

And, just like with ‘Ghosts’, it could be the translator’s style more than McGrath’s... but I really don’t think so. I’m quite sure it’s all him.

Quote: The problem with most artists was that they couldn’t accept that every work of art is always destined to fail.

[ineedthisok]

Hour 12 recap / Mid-event Survey

We’ve reached hour 12! Yeah!

Here in Italy it’s 1 a.m. and my sister’s already half asleep (even if she’s pretending otherwise).

To celebrate reaching this goal, I’m gonna answer some questions <3

1. What are you reading right now? Blood and Water (and Other Tales) by Patrick McGrath 2. How many books have you read so far? Just two :( 3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I’m probably going to read A series of unfortunate events next. Probably. 4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? We had some, but mostly to eat/drink something, so they were quite necessary! XD 5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? Uhm... I couldn’t say, really. Maybe the speed at which the time passes by! I can’t believe it’s already been twelve hours! Crazy, right?

And this was my response for the mid-event survey! See ya! ;)

[ineedthisok]

[Review] Dimentica il mio nome by Zerocalcare

‘Dimentica il mio nome’ (Forget my name) it’s not the first Zerocalcare’s graphic novel I’ve read, and I have to be honest, it’s not my favourite one... but I really couldn’t say why.

Maybe it’s because of its theme, or, better, the way its theme is shown.

It’s a story about loss, and about how people react to loss. He’s talking about the death of his grandmother, something I thought I could really feel, because my grandmother dies just around two weeks ago.

I... didn’t feel it. I don’t think it was because Zerocalcare cannot make people feel, he’s usually really good with feelings, and I don’t think this novel was lacking in any way.

I guess I was expecting to see more of me in him, and I didn’t, which left a little... undewhelmed, I guess.

That said - Zerocalcare is great. This novel *is* great. It makes you think, and it makes you laugh, and it works really really well. I really think I would have loved it, hadn’t I been so close to the core theme.

As it is, I cannot love it, but I still appreciated it a lot.

And the graphic part was awesome, black and white with just the color red to leave an impression - it was a great choice.

[ineedthisok]

[Review] Ghosts by Edith Wharton

It’s always hard to really review a book you’ve read in a translation, because you can never know for sure what’s the author’s and what’s the translator’s.

Obviously, the idea is the author’s, and what idea it is!

Ghosts is a collection of short stories about... ghosts (Shocking!) but written with a certain... mundanity. It’s not a horrific and gruesome story, it’s more something you friend’d tell you swearing it really happened... and you’d believed him.

It’s a creepiness you can feel under your skin, the feeling there’s someone just behind you... watching.

I loved the stories, all of them. I love the concepts, and I love the way they’re written... which is my main problem for this review, because - as I already stated - I actually cannot say if it’s Edith Wharton’s style, or the translator’s.

Not that it changes a lot.

I loved reading it the way I read it, and I’d highly suggested it to anyone in any language.

Quote: Between the towers of a castle haunted by a headless victim who shakes their chains, and a comfortable house with refrigerator and heather where you can feel, just entering, that there’s something wrong, I’d surely choose the latter, for a good scare!

[ineedthisok]

Hour 8 recap

What have I done in these four hours?

I’ve (finally) finished Ghosts! Usually I start with comic books and really short books, so at this time I’ve already read several things... having read just *one* book is... yeah, kinda strange. But it was awesome, so I’m not too upset!

I’ve also had dinner (it’s nine pm here in Italy!) so I kinda lost an hour

And I’ve entered a mini-challenge! We had to name a spooky book and as you can read on my twitter, I’ve named... House of Leaves! It’s probably one of the best book I’ve ever read, and it’s just so... terrifying! Love it.

I’m going to review ghosts, and then I’m reading Zerocalcare, see ya!

[ineedthisok]

Hour 4 recap

Hey, readathon-er, how are you doing?

I have finally decided the book to read - I’m currently half in ‘Ghosts’ by Edith Wharton, a wonderful collection of spooky ghost stories! My sister says reading ghost stories during the day is almost like cheating, but I really couldn’t wait!

Now I’m not sure what to do, because my sister has just finished a comic book I really really want to read... so... goin’ on with dear Edith or switch to one of the best comic writer in Italy?

Eh, I’ll stretch a little and I’ll think about it.

For now, if you know Italian, go read Zerocalcare awesome blog, you won’t regret it :D

[ineedthisok]

My (probably) tbr stack:

Hawkeye: Rio Bravo A Series of Unfortunate Events book 1 Among Thieves (which I’ve already read half of) Some horror short novels Lots of sci-fi short novels

I actually don’t know which of these books I’ll read, we’ll see!

I also have an announcement! For this super-special occasion you can also follow me on twitter and instagram! Woo-hoo!

[ineedthisok]

Introduction Survey

So, I’m already a little late (kudos for things starting well! XD) but this is the introduction survey for the readathon!

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m from the south of Italy 2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? I actually don’t know what I’m going to read, being something of my stack or something I have laying around, so... we’ll see! 3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? My sister and I (we read together) don’t have anything prepared, but we’re by our grandmother’s today, so... maybe she’ll give us something good? 4) Tell us a little something about yourself! Hi, I’m Cristina! I’m 23, I study languages, I love to read (obviously!), write aaand cats <3 5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I already participated several times, and I have to say I usually do always the same things, so I think I’m going to keep working the same way! I do have a change in scenery, because, as I already said, I’m not at home, but by my granny’s.

So this was my little introduction, now I have to run because I’m already laaaaaate hahahaha see ya in an hour, more or less <3

[ineedthisok]

Dewey’s 24 hours readathon

I know I’ve been missing a long time (well, it probably seems a longer time than it is, because it’s been just three months, but whatever) but I’m here again and with big news (no, they’re not).

I’m going to participate in Dewey’s 24 hours readathon, just like I’ve done past April, past October (and... I want to say past-past April, but I’m not so sure).

Iiiii don’t know yet what I’m gonna read because I’m going to be by my grandmother’s who’s got so many awesome thriller books *______* I’m pretty pretty sure that I’m gonna read some comics, though, so you can expect my review of ‘Hawkeye: Rio Bravo’ (it’s finally heeeeere! I’ve waited it for so looooong!) and some other comics (I think... Devil, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Rocket Racoon and Thor, but I’m not 100% sure and I’m too lazy to get up and go see).

So! From 7 a.m. (CDT) of Saturday 17th to 7 a.m (also CDT) of Sunday 18th I’m gonna read read read read... and review and play some mini-challenge and other stuff

Have fun! And read a ton ;D

[sheezuswrites]

If you’re writing a character who does drugs, but you don’t do them or haven’t experienced a certain type, have no fear! Erowid is here. It’s an online forum where you can find out prices, and people post their experiences. From first time, to good times, to bad times. It’s so helpful, and people are super specific. Just remember, drugs are dangerous if you let them be, and you should never do anything you’re not comfortable with.