Writing Things

Things about writing *CAUTION* May contain minor spoilers

[writingbydavid-blog]

I saw this book whilst looking for another by the same author James Patterson. The acclaimed author has provided me with strange feelings of awesome and good-- for lack of better words. Let's see where this adventure takes us shall we?

[writingbydavid-blog]

So Silver Bright by Lisa Manchtev

Ahha... sorry for the lack of posting. This book for me took a while on account of life and well, quite, frankly, boredom. And how wrong I was.

So Silver Bright comprises the final act for Bertie and Company and their journey bring her family back together again. I must say I find this book my favorite out of the three. What with, new characters and the fantasy of it all.

The unfortunate love triangle isn't nearly as irritating in this book, since the entire plot doesn't revolve around saving one of them.

Bertie and Company find themselves in quite the predicament, with Sedna regathering her strength and a rush against time to acquire needed things for her journey. As they trudge on in their path, they've been stolen from, attacked, faltered, left, and nearly drowned and burned among other things. Their meeting with Her Gracious Majesty the Queen, was quite fun in my opinion. Her quirky 'condition' I should say, has its literal ups and downs.

And Varvara. Ah Varvara... I dare say she is my favorite character. Apart from the various mentions that she has a literal glowing aura, I somehow could feel her presence from the book much more so than any other characters.

So Silver Bright is a book chalked full of  elements both unexpected and intriguing. Everyone finds themselves faced against, well... themselves. A coming of age that took a turn for the Playwritten. I wish I could say more, but honestly that'd just spoil this wonderful book.

Endings. I love endings. For me the give a sense of peace, and there I may let the Players rest. Their story has been told, and they've played their part. The curtain has fallen and the Act is finished.

Thanks for reading!

[writingbydavid-blog]

And the final Act begins in Lisa Mantchev's 'So Silver Bright'

I wonder what lies before the curtain call.

[writingbydavid-blog]

Perchance To Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Ah the second installment to the Théâter Illuminata series.

This book went by quite slowly for me on account of various reasons:

One would be the ever-so-expansive vocabulary required to read such a book. Another would be that I believe the events in order are, at times, somewhat confusing. Finally, the irritating love triangle... Ugh.

The events following Eyes Like Stars place Bertie and company on a journey to rescue Nate form the Sea Goddess Sedna and bring back Bertie's father. On their travel they meet quite an array of challenges, what with Bertie's newfound identity as The Mistress Of Revels and Teller Of Tales. Magic gone awry and bad circumstance compiling onto itself to create even worse circumstance makes for a reasonable pace.

As they travel Bertie tries and learns to use her powers of imagination to help them on their way. Though by doing so, often has them end up in a somewhat more hopeless situation than the last. What I did enjoy in this book is the addition of elements promised in the first but not quite used to their full value. As the setting is no longer confined within the Théâter, the world around them reveals itself to be a large expanse with all sorts of danger, magic, people, and places. During their journey through the outside world Bertie and Ariel continue to build what is an awkward and often one-sided relationship on Ariel's half, the faeries continue to be themselves in every uncontrollable way, and along that way trouble stirs here and there.

The events that transpire do not require quite the dire amount of vocabulary one would consider higher. (hehe) The writing itself was very descriptive in its own right and style and at times left me dumbstruck, though I suppose I myself have to do a better job at being able to follow such writing.

Though the book did leave me with points I did not entirely understand, it was an enjoyable read, and, now, with retrospect I can imagine the events with much more fluidity, further giving it wonder and imagination.

Lisa Mantchev's imagination is truly such stuff as dreams are made on, chaos, beauty, and all.

[writingbydavid-blog]

And so the play goes on in the second book by Lisa Mantchev, ‘Perchance To Dream’

Let us see where this will take us shall we?

[writingbydavid-blog]

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - Conclusion

As I have come to finish the book I must say.

All her world's a stage. Truly, and in every facet of its meaning.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith

Bertie as a character: strong willed, independent, smart, and powerful all wrapped up in a vessel so fragile one would love to spend their time caring for it. One to always think of a way in or a way out, Bertie's character traces the outlines of a soon-to-be-woman capable of changing the world had she only made a decision to do so. Along with her faerie friends and with much badinage and persiflage, she continues on in her life with a stride.

While Bertie comes off strong as a driving personality, Ariel comes with a strength of his own, in the form of cold and beautiful perfection. A mysterious air spirit who insists on having his actions unclear and misunderstood, much like the wind he so masterfully controls, he is at once noted to be the anti-hero. Although Bertie openly states her disdain for him, there is obvious chemistry between the two, though Ariel also seems to have an agenda of his own.

Nate, oh Nate. Nate. Nate. The swashbuckling pirate lad, who remains a constant beam of strength and object of affection for Bertie. His character out of the three, was the least complex. As he was, he remains a constant and immovable personality with clear cut goals. His almost inNate (pun intended) drive to protect Bertie, whether it be from fussy Players, Managers, or Ariel, he seems to do it without hesitation and always with a bit of good old pirate swearing. 

The setting, The Théâter Illuminata, was, by far, one of the greatest things about Eyes Like Stars. The powerful enchantment of the Théâter allows sets to change in a fluid wave, changing to every whim of the Powerful Play called life. Where once was a castle could seamlessly switch for an Egyptian pyramid. Where once were knights could change into Pharoah's guards, with every Player knowing their lines and acting quite well for the amount of improv that goes on in the light of Bertie's seemingly random scene changes.

Ah the Players. The brilliance of Lisa Mantchev shines here. The Players are all the real characters of every play performed in the Théâter. Not only do they play their parts, off stage they live them as well. Even dead! Perhaps off stage, Romeo and Juliet have a happy ending when their play isn't showing that night. The image of the Capulets begrudgingly having breakfast with the Montagues is an image I will not be soon free of.

The book's feeling gave a warm and familiar glower as my mind wrapped around every scene, imagining how it would feel to freely change the Théâter and the events going on within.

In conclusion, 'Eyes Like Stars' is a fun and a-typical book that lures people into its wonder and fantasy. Bertie holds a strength comforting enough that it's pulled me within its gentle grasp. The Théâter Illuminata now has power over and has bound me to its pages.

[writingbydavid-blog]

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

All the world's her stage.

I'm about a third of the way through and, so far, I enjoy it quite a bit. What I can say about the main heroine is that she'd be someone I'd love to meet. Her strong and independent personality, built in such a way to hide the shy romantic girl underneath is a character trait I personally enjoy. Along with her equally independent and careless faerie friends, it is comforting to read as she navigates along her trials to find her place in the world in this magical and theatrical work.

Though I haven't actually read in a while, I believe it to be one of the harder books to read for a couple reasons.

1 - One must have a considerable vocabulary in my opinion to completely follow the conversations.

2 - Stage Production and Theater terms are infused into the book in a way that, one who lacks the knowledge and/or language of the Théâtre, would find it hard to follow.

Though these are apparent to me they are, of course, simply my opinion.

[writingbydavid-blog]

After multiple run ins with this book while visiting the library, I've finally decided to read it.

And so we go.

[writingbydavid-blog]

Beginnings

And so we begin