Little London Street

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Before we get started, a few of you already know that *gasp* I moved away for college. So, yes, when I say on my Instagram story that it is snowing and it is freaking cold, no I am not exaggerating and being a classic Florida gal that says that whenever she sees rain in January. I moved across the country and now I'm living at school with five roommates and we're honestly having a blast. But also I've been doing a lot of...experiencing.

So here's a couple of rambles:

1) It is so liberating to live on my own, take care of myself, buy my own groceries and not have to share, go out to eat with friends if I want to because now everything is walking distance, and plan my own life on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, I sometimes miss the structure of having a routine with my siblings and doing everything together. It made us feel united and gave us opportunities to bond. I miss having movie nights on Fridays and fighting over which movie to watch, and I miss having someone to talk to any minute of the day, someone who I don't have to explain my life to because they live 80% of it. It's strange having to adjust and get to know new people, and yesterday I got pretty overwhelmed and decided to shut myself under my covers (thankfully my roommate was out of town for the afternoon) and just watch a movie by myself, without having to think of other people and what they think of me. It was nice, and now I'm ready to go back out and meet people and make connections. But I miss the connections I have that are so far away now.

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2) I've been living here for really only a few weeks, but I've already felt as if I've grown a tad. I also can clearly see how much more growing room I have to do. One thing about me is that I obsess over "catching up" and being "on-track," and right now I feel as if I have a lot of catching up to do in the maturity department. Everyone here is so much older than I am, and they seem so complete in terms of their spirituality (I haven't quit going to church just because I moved), their social awareness, and their intellectual ability. Sometimes I feel very small because I don't feel that confident in my ability to rely on God yet, and I want that, but I don't have it yet. I often feel like an inadequate conversationalist, like I can't communicate as efficiently and clearly as these young adults can. I feel self-conscious of my ability to think quickly and speak intelligently. Honestly, that is something I've always felt insecure about because I am not a witty person; I do not reply quickly with snarky and clever retorts and I do not speak before I've thought everything through. I like to think I'm a nice person, but socially and intellectually, sometimes I feel slow and dumb, like I should be moving faster. But I do see the room I have to grow. I'm like a new sapling in an established orchard.

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College is bringing out the worst and the best of me. It's made me think and feel insecure, but it's also motivated me to achieve and grow. Insecurities are not all bad, especially when we rely on God for help in overcoming them. That's something I'm trying to do. I believe in God, but I want to be fully committed to Him and willing to accept His help.

So there's my spiel. Now go. Discover yourselves. Be wonderful humans, and I'll update you on my activities. Also I might not be posting on Instagram for a few months since I don't have my nice camera with me or my nice books, but expect a lot of snapshots in my story (@wildpennings). Also, if you have any questions for me, you can DM me through Instagram, or comment on this post, or email me if you just want to be friends (wildpennings@gmail.com). And yes, I am putting my contacts up here because I honestly do not expect to be posting more than once a month on the blog, so stay updated through my other networking sources which are considerably less time-consuming to update.

I love you all and I hope you're doing fabulously! January can be rough.

Recently I've been reminiscing over the good ol' times (last summer) when I watched my favorite shows late into the night, which led me to lamentations about the misfortune of crappy adaptations of amazing books/series. (*cough* I'm looking at you, Percy Jackson. *cough*) Speaking of bad book-to-film adaptations, usually the acting is the biggest issue in my eyes, but recently Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services have surprised me and cast great actors and actresses. But now they've blundered into another critical issue for any film: storyline.

They keep trying to put out original scripts with terrible flow, logic, and premise. One good example of one such recent film would be the heavily criticized Netflix film "Tall Girl"—great production and actors, but lame storyline. Now I'm not hating on this film! Every once in a while I love to sit down and watch a movie that makes absolutely no sense to me. But when it comes to quality entertainment, that's what I crave on a daily basis. Now I've been saying for ages, "Why don't producers make more book-to-film adaptations? The story-line is already there." Now that technology is becoming more advanced and it's becoming easier to produce elaborate films, I want quality book-to-movie adaptations even more. So here are four books and series that I would absolutely DIE to see on-screen!

The Sisters Grimm

"You ignorant little rodent!" [snapped Sabrina] "This isn't just an old book. This is the book of Everafter."
"Sorry, I haven't read it. I'm waiting for the movie," Puck said.

I can just imagine the aesthetic—oranges, blacks, grays, greens; crows, tangled forests, creepy magic. I've been saying for years that The Sisters Grimm should be adapted into a television show! The story would engage not just younger kids, but also older viewers. The characters are different and dynamic, and the plot would be killer. Each book could be covered in 2-3 episodes, and a season could be three books—of which there are nine! All NYT bestsellers! Just imagine three seasons of creepy, engrossing (quite literally), and magical action scenes/Puck antics. Now, do you think it would be better as a tv series or a movie?

Heist Society

“It's Vermeer"
Kat turned to the boy who lingered in the doorway. "It's stolen"
"What can I say?" Hale eased behind her and studied the painting over her shoulder. "I met a very nice man who bet me he had the best security system in Istanbul." His breath was warm on the back of her neck. "He was mistaken.”

If Heist Society was produced exactly how I imagine it, it would be hands down my favorite show of all time. I could even settle for a film trilogy. I would love to see my museum-robbing teens on screen working out secret plans, playing pranks, hanging out in Uncle Eddie's kitchen, and ruffling Interpol's feathers. Plus the ships are just A+. Netflix, if you want to give me a totally cliche and stereotypical story, give me this one. At least Hale has a brain as well as good looks.

Skyward

"Aim for something higher, Spensa. Aim for the stars."

WOW. This book blew me away. If I were to use one word to describe it, that word would be solid. In every aspect of Skyward, all I could think about was how solid it all was from characters to plot to world-building, and I would love to see all of that transferred to the big screen. The battles and spaceships would be so cool in 3D! As if living in the book wasn't enough for me, watching it would be wild. Spensa would be intense and dynamic, M-Bot would be stealing hearts, and Rig would hopefully get a date with FM (the one minor plot change I would allow). ;) Also, the live-action brotp's would make me weep with joy.

The Scorpio Races

"Do you know how to wrap a leg?"
"I was born wrapping legs," I say stiffly, because I'm insulted.
"Must've been a challenging delivery," Sean notes.

This one breaks my heart because The Scorpio Races was actually supposed to be made into a film. There was a contract signed, a director picked, and they were approaching casting. It was scheduled to release in 2015 but they ended up cancelling it for undisclosed reasons. Was I mad?? Of course I was. But I would forgive them without a second thought if they picked it back up. The misty setting (please be Ireland!), the thrills, excitement, romance, and the HORSES of course! (I kind of live for horse movies.) We'd see the fascinating but dangerous capaill uisce racing on the beach, and the horse race at the end would be heart-pounding and beautiful. And the ending? Oh, the ending would have me wallowing in tears. Puddles and puddles of tears. This movie would automatically be my #1 if perfectly executed.

So, what are some books you would love to see as films? What book-to-film adaptations do you love? How do you feel about book-to-film adaptations? Also, does anyone know the difference between the words '"adaption" and "adaptation"? Because I...don't, lol, and I think I've misused them. #help
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Lack of inspiration is a great excuse to not post on my blog(s), but recently I’ve been trying to figure out why exactly I’ve been feeling uninspired to post. And here’s what I’ve come up with:

I don’t write like I used to.

This whole blog is based around writing. That’s why I called it Wild Pennings. When I created the premise for this blog, I knew that if my interest in writing ever changed, then this title would conveniently also fit for a book blog where I wouldn’t post so much about writing skills, tips, and advice, but took aim at book reviews and recommendations. I’m glad I did that at the beginning. It’s given me, mentally, more flexibility for what type of content I want to post. But when it comes to the writing part of my original premise, I’ve petered out. Again, I don’t write like I used to.

Fiction and novellas and purely imagined stories used to be my obsession. I wanted to write a novel. I’ve written a couple. And I still love playing with my original stories, but I’m not the avid novelist I used to be. For a few months now I have been struggling with the paradox of a fiction writer who almost never writes fiction but still blogs about it. That sounds so strange to me. And I’ve been at a standstill, because I started all of my blogs based on my love for creative fiction writing. How can I write about something I don’t actively participate in anymore? At least in my mind, I have never truly thought myself experienced enough to provide quality writing advice, but now that I don’t write fiction as often or in the same way that I used to, I don’t want to suffer self-inflicted hypocrisy every time I publish a blog post.

Another observation: I no longer write the way I used to because I’ve changed. I have changed so much over the years. My interest in creative fiction writing transformed into an obsession at the beginning of middle school, and the next year I started a blog to share my writing. Now, I have explored much more of the writing field than I knew when I was thirteen. I have learned the rules and broken the rules. I’ve written my own rules. I’ve toyed with words and spilled my soul and now I know what matters to me when I write. My love for writing hasn’t changed, but my direction has. Creative fiction will always have a special place in my heart; it was my first love and my marital vow to writing. But this change of direction—is this okay? How do I begin to share this thing in my head? This idea, these words, these dreams?

I’ve undergone a metamorphosis os a writer, and I’m still trying to understand where I need to go now. I think I’m having a hard time understanding how this change is seriously affecting my blog, especially since I put very rigid content goals in the beginning. I need to find new ways to channel my inspiration into content and experiment with this new way of writing I’ve unearthed. I’m very interested in artistic essay pieces. In fact, I adore them. They are short but can be so profound when the correct words are used. They require careful thought to express the idea in just the right way. And they are nonfiction. Ah, nonfiction sings to my soul when it comes to writing. Like a bell it rings in my mental tower and the factory begins production instantly. It’s a wrestling match of ideas and concepts vying for attention, but not in the same way my fictional friends contend. I still write fiction. Not avidly, no. But from time to time? Yes. There is a story I’m working on very slowly, and I want to finish it. There are a couple I want to revisit. But these essay type pieces of writing that provoke my thoughts, these are my focus now.

I’m going away to camp this week, and next week I have a family trip and then a trip with my cousins. So I most likely won’t be posting until either the end of my cousins trip or the first weekend of August. I have not been posting for the last few weeks partly because of this issue I’ve been describing, but also I’m working on the spark of a potentially explosive project. I am very excited that it’s taking shape, but it is going to require a lot more effort to pull it off. I’m trying to kick myself in the rear and make myself face my fear of having to work in teams and sharing my vision with people, but if this works out, you will know. If it doesn’t, I will also let you know. I’m praying that the former happens. In the mean time, I would greatly appreciate it if you hold me accountable because obligation is something I cannot resist fulfilling.

What change have you undergone as a writer? What about in your other interests? Is it hard for you to share your vision with others, and how do you do it?

Oh, and wherever you are, I pray that you may feel the sunshine in your life. 💛

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Happy Saturday, everyone! Today I have the pleasure of joining in on the last day of the blog tour for Eliza Noel's book Dawn Chandler. First I'll bring you a review, but stick around because at the end of the post I'll be linking to a giveaway and pre-order portal. O.O

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today's book on review is Dawn Chandler by Eliza Noel. I really liked this story, and although not everything about it was perfect for me, I did feel somewhat attached to it because I've been in some of these situations. It was charming and funny, and perfectly cozy. Here are the details:

Genre: Middle-Grade

Page count:175

Publisher: indie

Publishing year: 2019

Back-cover synopsis:

Dawn Chandler likes the way her life is— or was. She liked going to the mall with her best friend, excelling at middle school, and attending church with her family. Typical life for a twelve-year-old in the city of Fresno.

When Dawn’s parents announced they were going to homeschool her, on her birthday no less, she felt like her world was falling apart. Normal kids are supposed to go to school, not read books at home. To make matters worse, they may be leaving the only home she’s ever known.

What are her parents thinking?

Before making the final moving decision, the Chandler family visits Lone Pine, a small town between Mt. Whitney and Death Valley. While there, Dawn and her siblings become acquainted with their eccentric great uncle, explore the new area, and meet a large homeschooling family. All of this makes the 'vacation' more bearable. Still, Dawn isn't sure if she can make the move and leave everything she’s familiar with behind.

Can Dawn learn the values of faith, family, and contentment?

Characters:

I really liked the characters, including Rochelle. I especially liked the different personalities in the Jennings family. Even though I hard time keeping up with their names and who was who, but their personalities stood out to me and so I could easily recognize a character based on their actions/personality quirks. As for the Chandler family, I also liked them but Dawn herself was a little less concrete than the other characters. In the beginning of the story, she seemed pretty set on being upset about moving but then she doesn't really display the same stubbornness through the rest of the book. So that was a curveball I wasn't particularly expecting, and it threw me off about her personality for the first few chapters, but throughout the rest of the book she has a steady trend of flip-flopping about her feelings on moving which I think stabilized her character well.

4.5 stars

Plot/Structure:

The biggest problem I had with the book was in the story structure. It wasn't bad, but I did think the conflict wasn't strong enough, and for someone who focuses on plot and story structure as a main "love" factor in a book, it fell short for me. I thought it had so much potential, but it just wasn't taken all the way. There were some sections that would have been perfect for some sort of drama to pop up, but then nothing happened it felt slightly anticlimactic. Everything was almost too calm, too perfect. That might just be me because I have a penchant for drama, but everything felt so stable and for two life-changing events interrupting the story of a twelve-year-old girl, I expected a little more emotional spiking.

I liked the conflict about moving—it's super relatable and something I've personally been through. I think Eliza set that up very well, and once I got familiar with Dawn's personality, I think her flip-flopping feelings were very accurate especially since she made friends almost immediately and that lowered her stress. However, I did think that the public-school-to-homeschool conflict was more secondary because it was not played on very strongly. To me the homeschool transition sounded more like an explanation or demonstration about how homeschooling works and that took away some tension from the plot. At the same time, I did appreciate it because it's a fun way to inform some people about the the reality of homeschooling. I think maybe she didn't have enough objections to homeschooling relative to how big a part it played in the book and what public school meant for her, and I just think maybe it could have been incorporated into Dawn's conflict more deeply.

However, the ending of the book was a pleasant surprise! I loved how just when I thought everything was going fine and dandy, Rochelle walks in and she's like, "Aw naw, Dawn, this isn't over." I genuinely am curious to see what's going to happen between these two in the next book, especially since there relationship already has natural tension to it. I think it was a perfect lead/hint into the conflict of the next book!

3.5 stars

Style/Writing Quality:

Now this book is middle-grade, so it is written for middle-graders. But I really liked the style. I liked how Eliza introduces events very smoothly, and I loved her characterizations of all the Jennings and Chandlers! I thought Uncle Wesley was a classic character, but not overly cliche. Some of the phrases she uses to describe the characters are different and they fit a perfect picture in my imagination. Lone Pine was also super duper easy to imagine, even though I've never been to California before. I had some trouble imagining details of some scenes, but that's not that big of a deal considering the vibe she set for the whole story was cozy and comfortable. Like a retreat, which I know technically it was, but wow it felt like one and that I liked! Eliza described rock formations and I was feeling the sand between my fingers. I didn't even have to go anywhere!

5 stars

Romance:

Hmmmm...do I sense growing crushes??? *wiggles eyebrows intensely* I'm sorry, but I miss the drama of middle-school "romance." XD

This book is middle-grade, guys. Pure as Aquafina bottled water. So let's go ahead and give this section five stars for being one of the few books on the planet without ridiculous romantic relationships that still managed to capture my heart.

5 stars

Overall rating:

4.5 stars

★★★★★

Overall, I though this was a great read for younger readers because it's super age appropriate, very clean, easy to read, has Christian themes, great emphasis on family, and deals with relatable and realistic conflicts in terms younger readers would understand. I think it would be a great family book, and one I would suggest for any reader interested in a Christian MG contemporary! Click here to order the book, and don't forget to congratulate Eliza on her debut novel! *tosses confetti*

About Eliza Noel:

Eliza Noel is a home school graduate with passion for Jesus, people, and literature. Growing up, her favorite books were always Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, and Pride and Prejudice. Around age twelve she wanted to read something with positive values in a modern setting, but couldn’t find what she was looking for. So she wrote it.

When not doing something book-related (reading, writing, blogging, bookstagramming), Eliza works at her day jobs, spends time with her many younger siblings, longboards, has coffee with friends, eats chocolate, and listens to music. California is home, but she would like to travel more and feels she could learn to be content anywhere.

You can follow her writing journey and see snippets of her everyday life on elizanoelauthor.blogspot.com or by following @elizanoelauthor on social media.

Enter this rafflecopter giveaway to win a copy of Dawn Chandler, a Fresno sweatshirt, and lots of other book-themed goodies!

>>GIVEAWAY<<

So are you going to read Dawn Chandler? Have you already read it? How are you doing today?