Hello! Sorry for not posting yesterday. I'd like to say I have a really interesting reason, but I was just swamped in work.
This week I have for you a short post, but an important one. An interactive one.
I am committed to helping as many people as possible find what I call their "spirit book". A person's "spirit book" is the book they connect to on every level, a book they feel in throughout their entire body. You know your spirit book when you read it, because the words fill you up and you feel like the book could save your life if it needed to.
I've been doing this for a while now, with my friends who don't read much. I've been trying to use my excessive (and somewhat dangerous) obsession with books for good, in helping them find their spirit book.
And because of how much joy it brings me and the people who find their spirit book, I decided to expand my services to you delightful people on the internet! If you don't read much, this might be the perfect opportunity for you to discover a book you can read that you will actually enjoy.
If you do read a lot, but are in a reading slump or in need of a good recommendation personalized to you, then this may also help you.
The way I'm going to run my Spirit Book Campaign is this- you guys will send me some details (more on this below), I will analyse them and then determine the book I think will be your spirit book (or just a book that you'd really love, I'm not psychic so I'm not going to pretend I am!) and I will either post it up here, or just reply back to you, it's your choice.
Here is the questionnaire you can fill out if you'd like to see what your spirit book is:
Name/Screen Name:
Age:
Favourite author:
Favourite book:
Favourite genre/s:
The type of book you feel like reading:
Any additional notes you think might help me:
A way I can contact you (email, tumblr etc) to send it back:
Do you feel comfortable posting your details on my blog?
Once you fill out the questionnaire, send your answers to my tumblr, the comments below or to my email, mywordsarearrows@gmail.com. I will send you your answer before I post it (if you have no problem with me posting it, of course!) so you'll know despite how long my posts are scheduled for.
Unfortunately, I mostly only read young adult fiction, rarely adult, and so I mightn't be much use if you are looking for an adult book.
Sorry this post is so short, but I hope that the payoff for you guys is worth it. I really want to help you guys find your spirit book!
Contact me at any of my socials; twitter @lilypherondale, tumblr, twitter, my email mywordsarearrows@gmail.com, to ask any more questions and etc.
See you next week!
Lily xoxo
Hi Lily,
ReplyDeleteAwesome post and interesting concept, thanks. I've always had a select few favourite books that were held above all others, and which I felt the conflicting sense of wanting to scream their names from the rooftops while also keeping them secret and personal.
A passage from TFIOS comes to mind; (from memory) the 'world won't be put back together' and 'advertising your affection feels like a betrayal' quotes - that's what i feel.
Anyway, after having read your post, I inexplicably knew what my spirit book was, and it felt strange that I've never thought about it before. (Sorry to say that my spirit guide has already found - no need for assistance).
Name/Screen Name: Jordan
Age: 16
Favourite author: hmmm. John Green (If Katja Millay were to write another novel, possibly her)
Spirit Book: The Sea of Tranquility, Katja Millay
Favourite book/s: TFIOS, Eleanor & Park, Steelheart (Brandon Sanderson), Chaos Walking (Trilogy, Patrick Ness)
Favourite genre/s: YA - romance contemporary, sci-fi dystopia
The type of book you feel like reading: YA Contemporary
Any additional notes you think might help me: not sure... I also like Life in Outer Space, The Night Circus, The 5th Wave, Angelfall, These Broken Stars, etc. About to start reading All The Bright Places.
A way I can contact you (email, tumblr etc) to send it back: This post? or, if not: kurumi@hotmail.com.au
Do you feel comfortable posting your details on my blog?: Obviously
Also, Ready Player One (another fav) has, quite possibly, the best cover-review of all time. "Willy Wonka meets the Matrix." If that doesn't make someone want to read the book, I don't know what will.
I look forward to hearing if anyone finds their spirit book!
Jordan (Of 'Ready Player One Review' comment fame)
Hi Lily,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I'm curious to see what you will determine my spirit book is, if I'm not too late in replying. I recently acquired your book Hide and Seek and started reading the first few chapters. You've really hooked me in and I can't wait to miss out on some sleep reading it. Your writing is definitely worth the sacrifice.
I've never really thought about this concept of my spirit book until I read your post but I have really connected with some novels I've read. I'm guilty of reading some of my favourites multiple times, with no remorse.
Hopefully my spirit book will be added to that list of books that I just have to read again.
I love writing and your quite the inspiration for an aspiring writer like myself Lily, so thank you and keep doing what your doing I think it's awesome.
Name/Screen Name: Daniel
Age: 14
Favourite author: I would have to say James Barclay but John Flanagan and Christopher Paolini are definitely up there.
Lily Sommers might be too, who knows.
Favourite book: Elfsorrow, James Barclay
Favourite genre/s: High fantasy, Adventure, Dystopia. Romance possibly. I'll have to explore some deeper more intimate romance novels.
The type of book you feel like reading: High fantasy with maybe a romance incorporated. I previously didn't think I was too fond of romance novels but I recently read Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles Tetralogy starting with Cinder. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it, often into the morning. The last book Winter comes out in November and I'm itching to find out what happens.
Any additional notes you think might help me: Hmmm. Elfsorrow is part of "The Legends of the Raven" and is linked with "The Chronicles of the Raven", probably my all-time favourite collection of books. I've read the Brotherband series by John Falangan, Dragon Rider and the Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke. I enjoyed The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott and The Last Dragon Chronicles by Chris d'Lacey. The Dragonkeeper Trilogy by Carol Wilkinson is a trilogy I learnt a lot from and after reading it I found myself thinking about the story constantly and the concepts and ideas it conveys.
A way I can contact you (email, tumblr etc) to send it back: danxman354@gmail.com
Do you feel comfortable posting your details on my blog? Yes
I think The Sea of Tranquility will have to be one of my next reads after Hide and Seek. Definitely sounds like a worthy spirit book, the title is already luring me in.
Thanks Lily! Looking forward to discovering my spirit book.
Also, I was thinking about it Lily and well, what's your spirit book?
- Daniel
Hi Daniel!
DeleteThank you for your kind words, I'm so glad you're enjoying my book! I'd love to know what you think about it once you're done, so if you'd like to send me an email or contact me via any of my social media accounts (all in the banner at the top of my blog), that'd be great!
After extensive pondering of your comment, I've come up with a few books I think you'll be interested in. If you want high fantasy with a touch of romance and plenty of awesome action (and amazing female characters, which I know is always a selling point for myself), I think you would love Throne Of Glass by Sarah J Maas. It's one of my favourite series of all time, and it's an amazing, multi-faceted high fantasy. It has a bit of everything, and I would highly recommend it. Also, from what you've mentioned about yourself, I think you'd be very interested in Brandon Sanderson's books. Though my experience with him is limited, as I haven't as much of his work, from what I have read and what I understand, I think his fantasies, especially the Mistborn series, will interest you very much. I think that these books have spirit book potential, and so if you do read them, I'd love to know what you think of them!
The Sea Of Tranquility is one of the strangest yet profoundly moving books I've ever read. It's quirky and sad and original, and I would highly recommend that, as well.
Romance wise, if you're willing to dip into the contemporary genre, I would highly recommend anything by Stephanie Perkins, and books like My Life Next Door and Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe. Though these books aren't solely romance, and involve lots of "finding one's self" themes, they are some of my favourite contemporaries of all time.
Picking my own spirit book is almost as hard as finding another person's. I think, if I had to say just one book, it'd have to be I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. It's probably my favourite book of all time, and it's amazingly written, has beautiful characters and a story that will rip your heart out in the best possible way.
Thank you so much for your comment, I hope to hear from you again some time, and I hope you think these books are amazing!
Lily xoxo
ps I love that Patricia Fuller quote... that's genius.
"Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily outside your house in your underwear." - Patricia Fuller
ReplyDeleteJust read over my comment and uhh, you're* and you're*.
While I was looking for a quote to cover up that mistake I found this too.
"A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit." ~Richard Bach
I think I'll look at it that way from now on too.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Lily!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for an awesome reply! I have had a look at all of your recommendations and I think I'm going to lose myself in all of these books as much as I have in Hide and Seek! Throne of Glass looks like it's going to be right up my alley and I totally agree about awesome female characters being a major selling point, I've been swept away by the cover of Throne of Glass already.
The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson does in fact look very spirit book worthy and I'm hoping to have them on my bookshelf and in my hands ASAP. I'll read them for sure (maybe twice if they're spirit book worthy) and let you know what I think. The Sea Of Tranquility really intrigues me, I'll read it for sure. As for romance, I've only heard good things about Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe. The title has popped up a few times in the past but I never had the inclination to read it myself until now. If I find myself enjoying contemporary romance, (I think I will) I'll definitely explore some more of them.
I'm really excited about the books you've recommended. I've already made my shopping list and I can't wait to chew threw all of these! I was really in need of some book recommendations, especially varying in genre because I just love reading high fantasy and haven't really branched away for a while. Recently though, I've felt the need to broaden my horizons and experiment with other genres and you've given me an amazing selection to choose from, although I think I've already chosen to read all of books you've mentioned. Thanks so much!
I'm absolutely loving Hide and Seek, can't stop thinking about it! I particularly like this passage: "Every memory was like a stab in my chest, and I was bleeding all over the floor of the donut shop." The image that single sentence implants into my brain and the emotions that accompany it forced me to read it again a couple of times and digest your writing talent. While reading your book I am constantly blown away and inspired as I hold a published book in my hand that easily matches, and possibly surpasses novels I've previously read, and the author is not much older than me!
So many books to read! Woo.
Thanks again for a great reply Lily, I'll definitely send an email your way when I've finished Hide and Seek and I can't wait for the next Lily Sommers release, hopefully it's soon!
Look forward to reading all of these and discovering my spirit book!
- Daniel
Hi, Lily!
ReplyDeleteName/Screen Name: Rebecca
Age: 12 (hope having a twelvie on your blog won't annoy you ;D)
Favourite author: morris gleitzman
Favourite books: probably the once then etc. series
Favourite genre/s:romance, action adventure, mystery, SPIES
The type of book you feel like reading: a face paced adventure series (or book ftm) with an otp i can hardcore ship that is overall amazing
Any additional notes you think might help me: i like books that are heart wrenching yet fun but deep and meaningful but have an aesthetically pleasing book cover!
i'm dying to know what my spirit book is and yes i have read the hunger games (it was amaazzing but it had a hella fix it ending) and yes i have read your book and it was ammaazing!
love your blog and your work :D
becca xx