Sarah Dessen and the Art of Formula

As part of a project some friends and I are doing on Goodreads I have had the opportunity to read several books by young adult authors. Sarah Dessen has since emerged as one of my favorites. I have now read three of her novels: This Lullaby (2002), Just Listen (2006), and Along for the Ride (2009). I enjoyed all three thoroughly, but I couldn't help but notice a certain pattern emerging.

All three books star strong, independent teenage girls who have just graduated (or will soon graduate) from high school. The plots seem to follow the same path. The main character is forced to grow up too quickly and as a result has been either ostracized and/or has missed certain common teenage experiences. Enter the love interest, who is usually somewhat quirky and has a great passion for music. The two meet, fall into a close friendship/relationship, break up, and get back together again. The girl moves on with her life but stays in contact with the boy, and everyone has learned something about themselves. The end.

Sarah Dessen is certainly not the only author to use certain formulas to crank out book after book after book. In my opinion, a huge chunk of novels in the romance genre seems to follow a certain pattern: girl meets boy, they fall in love, they break up, they get back together, and they live happily ever after.

My question, then, is this: If we know what's going to happen, then why do we even bother reading these books, or for that matter, watching romantic movies? I have friends and family members on both ends of this argument. Take my father, for example. He won't even watch my favorite romantic comedy because it's "too predictable." Then there is my former roommate, Juliana, who is almost offended when a novel she reads doesn't have a predictable ending. So who is right? Is there value in a story that has an easily anticipated ending?

Of course, like so many things in life, it's a matter of opinion. I personally believe that formulaic stories have a lot of value. I don't like Sarah Dessen's novels because they are predictable. I like them because she tells her stories with wit and creates worlds and characters that are both likable and relatable. To me it's not so much "if" the couple will be together by the end of the story, but "how." Perhaps it takes less stress off of me as the reader to come along for the ride rather than have to guess the story's ending. Don't get me wrong, I love a book with a lot of twists and turns, but there's something comforting in knowing that everything is going to be wrapped up at the end.

This leads me to another question. Is it okay for an author to find her formulaic niche, as it were, and stick to it? Will her books still sell, or will the readers get tired of the same old story and decide to try something new? Will she be forced, eventually, to come out of her comfort zone and try something different? I think these are good questions to ask, especially as an aspiring author. I suppose I don't really have the answers here. What do you think?

Quick and Dirty Update

I am back (for real this time). I did start writing my novel, although it's hardly being worked on regularly. I am of the opinion that it is very cute, and I will post updates as things progress. On a personal note, it's been a hell of a past few months for me. I will spare the gory details, but suffice to say I am back on my feet and feeling much better. Since I am working as a part-time choir teacher for the rest of the year instead of a full-time one, I thought it would be the perfect time to start throwing myself at the internet again. Later I'll follow up with a more lengthy blog actually related to books, but for now I must go educate. Stay tuned.

Long time, no blog!

It has been a little more than a year and a half since I posted. My ambition to become a book reviewer on this blog fizzled out as things like school and life got in the way. After graduating from UWM I took a job as a substitute teacher in Milwaukee. Last summer I was hired as a high and middle school choir director in a nearby suburb. Oh, and in between I got married to my high school sweetheart. We had a beautiful wedding in April and a fantastic Florida honeymoon in July.

I began teaching choir in August, but things did not start out as well as I had hoped. I discovered how naiive I had been in thinking that teaching groups of teenagers to sing would be easy and fun. As the year progressed things got better, then worse. I am now halfway through the year and pondering the serious question, "Is this what I want to do with my life?" I feel as though I am having some sort of identity crisis. This and several other worries of mine came out in tonight's three-hour-long conversation with my aunt.

I was able to draw several conclusions from our discussion, the most important one being that I am the one in charge of my own happiness. I need to start taking the time to do what I want to do. Long story short, I have decided to ressurect this blog and make the jump from book reviewer to fiction writer. I found a wonderful website about how to write a novel in 100 days, which I will be using to embark on this journey.

Day one is the easiest (or possibly the hardest) part. I must make the commitment to write. This is something I have tried to do in the past, but alas, I am a procrastinator. Today I vow to break free from procrastination and to write every day.

Mystery Truffles

Even though I feel I was quite lazy this summer, I did manage to accomplish something. About three years ago I started reading the Savannah Reid Mysteries by G.A. McKevett, and on Saturday I finished the last book she has written so far in her 15-book series. I should probably explain that I rarely read series, and even less rarely do I have the time/inkling to finish them. I think one of the reasons I was able to this time was that each book is self-contained. McKevett re-introduces the characters and their basic attitudes toward each other in every volume. I ended up reading the books out of order, but I don't think I would have gained or lost anything by reading them in any particular order.

I came across the Savannah Reid Mysteries when I randomly picked up the book Murder a la Mode at my local library a few years ago. I read and enjoyed the book but never bothered to read any more of the series until I was laid up with a knee injury last summer. I read a few more books, and by the time I reached this past summer I was completely hooked.

G.A. McKevett's mystery series is about a forty-ish self proclaimed "volumptuous" private detective named Savannah Reid. A former California police detective, she founds the "Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency" after she is fired from the police force for uncovering a bit too much information on one of her cases. Her agency consists of Dirk Coulter, her former partner from her policing days, Tammy Hart, a tiny health-conscious blonde who is a whiz with computers, Ryan Stone, a sexy yet unavailable former FBI agent, and John Gibson, another former FBI agent and Ryan's life partner. Savannah's Granny Reid occasionally makes an appearance when she can find the time to visit.

G.A. McKevett's murder mysteries range from typical to slightly bizarre, but the "ick" factor is never very high. Savannah is quick-witted and always solves her cases even with the myriad of plot twists in each book. Each of these books is like a chocolate truffle--it is a quick, delectable read, and you always find yourself wanting one more. Just be sure to share them with your friends.

Chick Lit and the Zombie Apocalypse

As the end of summer approaches, I realize it's been awhile since I reviewed a book on here. I've been doing a little thinking (imagine that) about this blog and have decided that I'm taking an entirely too formal approach. I still want to ramble about the books I've read, but I realize this blog could, and should, be more than that. I believe I will continue on in a way that makes me more comfortable, i.e, not writing what is really just a grade school book report every so often.

Now that that's out of the way, I do want to mention a book I read recently. I finished Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (2008) at about 1 AM on some odd weekday last month. Certain Girls is the sequel to Weiner's book Good in Bed (2002). It's hard to describe the plot of Certain Girls without giving away a lot of the twists and turns of the book's predecessor. Certain Girls follows Cannie Shapiro, who is living a quiet life with her family and dealing with the challenges such a life provides. Sounds pretty normal, right? It seems a typical enough book with a few "coming of age" elements thrown in--everyone is a little better off and has learned something, etc.etc.etc. However a twist at the end, which comes out of nowhere by the way, had me sobbing on my couch for a good fifteen minutes. I've read some criticisms of the book's ending. Basically critics think that the twist was too abrupt and the author attempted to add some "deeper" elements to her story. I guess looking back I am inclined to agree, but its' been a very long time since I have cried that much over a book.

After I got over the Jennifer Weiner book, I decided to go in a completely different direction by reading a book by a *gasp* male author. The male in question is none other than Stephen King, and the book is simply called Cell. Published in 2006, Cell describes the fate of artist and author Clay Riddell after a cell phone signal,which he dubs the "pulse," sends Boston into a state of chaos. People become crazy, murderous zombies, lose control of their cars, and cause general mayhem. Clay and some of the other survivors of the pulse set out on a quest to survive and find the truth behind these creatures. I enjoyed this book, as will anyone who is fascinated by this sort of thing. The characters are quirky and likable, and the story clips along. King even makes an attempt to add some science fiction elements with various degrees of success.

I have been fascinated with zombie apocalypse-type stories for quite some time now, partly thanks to a film class I took last summer at UWM. To me there's really nothing scarier than the idea of losing control and becoming some sort of hideous walking-corpse creature bent on destroying everything in its path. Well, maybe actually trying to prevent oneself from becoming such a creature would be scarier. I think these stories are so interesting because they seem so fantastical until you think about them. Could some major event, or several very small ones, plunge the world into a dark age of chaos caused by crazy killer-creatures? Would humanity survive such an event? I will leave you to ponder these questions.

Persuasion

Jane Austen is perhaps one of the best-known female authors of the last two hundred years. She proved that 19th century women have thoughts, just like their male counterparts. Her heroines are often proper ladies, but there is always an undercurrent of their true feelings on every subject matter. Persuasion contains all of these elements.

Austen wrote Persuasion late in her life, but it still conforms to the typical story line of many of her other novels. A rich family is losing money and is forced to rent out their residence. The family consists of Sir Walter Elliot and his daughters Elizabeth, Mary, and Anne. Elizabeth is the lady of the house as a result of her mother's death but is unmarried and past her prime. As a result, she is very bitter. Mary, the middle child, is married to Charles Musgrove, an unemployed gentleman, and resides in a cottage near Charles's parents' house. Mary is very much the comic relief of the story, but more on that later. The youngest oft-ignored sister is Anne. Anne is easily the most interesting character because she goes through a more significant change than any of the other characters in the book.

The highlighted plot line of this book is the failed relationship between Anne and Captain Wentworth. She and Wentworth were engaged when Anne was 19, but Lady Russel, a family friend, persuaded Anne to break off the engagement. Wentworth, being a sailor, was not seen as someone good enough to belong to the family. When Anne meets him after several years, he has been very successful but still has not forgiven her for rejecting him. She frets about him for a long time, and I will leave it up to you to figure out Anne's decision about this problem.

Mary is by far my favorite character in Austen's book. She is extremely funny in her attempts to be the center of attention. In the first part of the book she insists that Ann come to her cottage because she is very ill and of course must be dying. She acts sick until Anne comes to the home. Once Anne is there, she becomes lively enough to insist that they take a walk together. Throughout the story Mary feels it is her prime responsibility to know what is going on at all times and to contribute to conversation in every possible way. She reminds me of a spoiled child who always insists on his or her parent's attention by saying things like "look at me! look at me!"

Part of Austen's charm is the wit that comes out in very subtle ways. Even though everyone is very prim and proper, some of the characters very eloquently make jabs at other characters. Austen herself pokes fun at her own characters in her descriptions of them. In fact, Persuasion really is all about the characters. Austen almost never takes the time to describe places in detail and usually leaves event descriptions up to the characters. This really allows the reader to get into the characters', and subsequently the author's, heads.

I have to admit that I had a difficult time reading this novel, mostly due to the writing style that was common in Austen's time. The story is slow-moving, especially in the middle. However, I would recommend this book. As I have already said, Austen is very witty and really takes care in developing her characters. Like many of her other books,Persuasion is a fascinating look into the 19th century upper class.

Next time I will go in a completely different direction by reviewing Four Ways to Forgivenes, a collection of novellas by Ursula K. LeGuin. I also want to remind you that if you are in fact reading this I would really appreciate feedback. Are there any books I should check out? I would love to take requests.

Breaking Dawn

Before I delve into Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, the fourth book in the Twilight series (like you've never heard of it) I thought I would get you up to speed on the basic plot if the series. It's basically this: Bella meets Edward, Edward is a vampire, Bella falls "irrevocably in love with him" and eventually decides she would rather become a vampire and spend the rest of eternity with him than live out her dull human life in Forks, Washington. There is also a werewolf who falls in love with Bella in the second book but eventually settles on being her friend. There are some conflicts and complications, but the story really centers on Bella's desire to be with Edward and Jacob's desire to be with Bella until a sort of deus ex machina fixes the situation entirely.

Breaking Dawn begins with Edward and Bella's wedding. Bella is still human because of an agreement she and Edward had, but there is another side to this bargain. Bella wants to have a certain last"human experience" before she is changed permanently into a vampire. The first few chapters center on their (ugh) marital relations over their honeymoon. Apparently it's fine to describe sex in a novel meant for middle school students if the characters are already married. Anyway, Bella, having made love to Edward while still human as per their agreement, discovers she is pregnant with a half-vampire half-human child. Unfortunately, Bella's human body cannot handle the child and she becomes weak.

Meyer tells the second part of her book from Jacob's point of view. This device was used at the end of the third book as well, but I never really grasped why it was important in that part of the story. This time it actually makes sense because at this point Bella has become incapacitated by her baby. Jacob is probably the most likable character in the series, and I appreciated Meyer's attempt to see the world she created from the view of an adolescent male. Jacob describes Bella and the unborn's descent into ill health. He eventually becomes the one to bring her out of it by inadvertently suggesting the baby may need blood to live. Bella starts drinking blood, and the baby grows. However, Bella's human form is entirely too weak to bear the child, and Edward eventually turns her into a vampire to spare both their lives.

The final part of the novel focuses on Bella's experiences as a newborn vampire as well as the final threat to her, her child, and her family. I don't feel like going into the details, but suffice to say there was a huge buildup that didn't really seem to lead anywhere. This seems to happen throughout the series.

I mentioned "Meyer's unfortunate writing style" in my first post. Maybe I am being too harsh, but I would like to explain myself. My main problem with the way these books are written is that Meyer seems to feel the need to describe her characters the exact same way almost every time they are mentioned. I am constantly reminded that Edward is "angelic" with "granite skin," while Jacob has "russet skin." Meyer also seems to have favorite words and phrases which she repeats throughout this book series. Examples include "incredulously," "ghosting," and "his/her eyes tightened." If you're bored sometime go through the series and count how many times these words and phrases appear in their various forms.

I seem to complain a lot about these books, but I did in fact read them all. I really did want to know how the story ended, and even though I was slightly disappointed it's still good to have read it. This series, and this book in particular, has the same draw as a soap opera or certain anime series. The story sucks the reader/watcher in, and in the end the only way to get out is to finish. Meyer's ideas are quite original, which is also a plus. I just wish the execution had been a little better.

Next week I will be taking the leap from "vampire fantasy" to "19th century love story" by reviewing Persuasion by Jane Austen.