It’s Wednesday, where many of us begin to feel the dreaded work slump and start calculating the minutes, hours, and days to the weekend. Hopefully these links will give you a nice, much-needed break and re-energize you to finish out the work week.
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Some news from Sarah! Sarah’s holiday novella, Lighting the Flames, is the book pick for Ripped Bodice’s December Drop-In Community Book Club.
Plus, she’s a guest on Book Riot’s Recommended podcast, talking about Shelly Laurenston!
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Author Leigh Bardugo has a Q&A had Ravishly, where she discusses the importance of writing characters with disabilities:
Why do you write books for young adults?
I’m very proud to be a young adult author, but I write the stories that interest me and sometimes they’re for that audience and sometimes they’re not. Young adult narratives frequently focus on moments of radical upheaval, transition, figuring out who you are in the world. I think that’s why they resonate with so many readers regardless of age, and it’s a big reason I’m so drawn to telling those stories.
Why do you feel it’s important to write books, specifically books for teens, about people with disabilities?
Because romance, adventure, and heroism don’t just belong to the able-bodied.
How do you think it might be empowering to a disabled teen to see a character like Kaz Brekker kicking ass while walking with a cane?
I don’t know if it is. I hope it is. In fiction, disability is too often used as part of a character’s tragic backstory, the moment they became “broken” or embittered, or the thing that they oh-so-nobly endure. Kaz has plenty of things to get over, but his disability isn’t one of them.
Have you read any of Bardugo’s books?
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Author Alyssa Cole is recommending books to help get you through tough times:
More and more lately, I’ve found myself fleeing to the familiar world of romance novels, where I know that I can find the Happily Ever After I need. Romance novels are restorative to my soul. The best ones are near guaranteed to leave even the most cynical reader feeling happy and hopeful, even for just a few hours. Any of the books below will refill your emotional well, so you can keep on keepin’ on.
I love the metaphor of an “emotional well.” And if you need even more recommendations, we did a post recently on romances that send us to our happy places.
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Want to do something cool for the holidays? You can have your holiday cards carried by dogsled!
We'll be carrying your holiday cards by dogsled! Just for fun! And because we love the dogs and we all need extra joy! Please share widely. pic.twitter.com/gquzgTHe30
— Feminist Jack London (@BlairBraverman) November 1, 2017
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Don’t forget to share what super cool things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
“And if you need even more recommendations, we did a post recently on romances that send us to our happy places.”
– I’ve been hunting through the site but for some reason I just can’t find that post. Would it be possible to add a link? I could really use that kind of rec right now. Thank you!!
I agree with Alyssa Cole. Yesterday I “fled” to Joanna Bourne’s THE SPYMASTER’S LADY and am marveling at how soothing the writing was, how much it seemed to patch the cracks. Problematic hero notwithstanding, this was just what I needed.
@Stephanie – http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2017/10/happy-place-romance-recs/ Hope you find something that does the trick!
While I haven’t yet read Leigh Bardugo, DD and DH have read her Six of Crows duology, and DD has also read most of the rest of her backlist. Bardugo is probably her favorite author, and that duology her favorite re-read.
And yes to what Alyssa Cole and Darlynne said–my favorites (which definitely do include Joanna Bourne) do provide joy and comfort, especially when the rest of life may sometimes lack those.
Thanks so much, @Cat C!
@Stephanie: Whoops! Forgot to link. Should be fixed now and thanks to Cat C. for putting it in the comments.
I loved Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, as did my 13 year old son. We both liked her Grisha books, too, but felt that Six of Crows was a lot stronger.
I read Sarah’s Lighting the Flames last holiday season and thought it was great! The characters felt like fully realized deeply interesting people and I feel like I learned more about Jewish culture and beliefs all in a great romance.
Loved the six of crows books. Surprise favorite for 2016.
I also thought the Grisha books were enjoyable and the Six of Crows duology was exceptional.
I love Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology. I also read her book Wonder Woman: Warbringer. For being quite violent, those books make me happy.