WWW Wednesday, 1-February-2023

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

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Currently reading: I read a chapter in Why We Swim by Bonnis Tsui but not much more than that. I’ve been trying to get as much time away from screens as possible while work is crazy so I’ve prioritized physical books. And the kiddo has a bundle of energy and is keeping me on my toes so I’m struggling to find a few spare minutes to squeeze it in.
I started Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Peña but I’m not too far into it. The beginning has been alright, nothing too exciting, so I’m hoping it picks up a little bit for me as I get more into it.
It’s about time I knocked some of my own books off of my shelf. I’m grabbing The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo. My sister in law gave this to me for Christmas a few years ago and I’ve been waiting for a good time to pick it up.

Recently finished: Can you believe it? I finished Sophie’s Choice by William Styron! I was so close on Friday that I decided to push through during the weekend and was able to wrap it up! I’ll be watching the movie soon but I hope to write my review first.
I also finished Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3) by Rainbow Rowell! What a good week. I have some mixed feelings on this one and I’m a bit conflicted about how to rate it. I’m also not sure if I want there to be a fourth book in this series, or if I’m okay leaving these characters behind and hoping Rowell will start something new. Probably the later, honestly.

I was able to post my review of Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline! Please check it out and let me know what you thought of the book. Do we want to see this one on the big screen, too?

Reading next: It’s likely I’ll need an ebook next. I think I’ll try and grab Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson. I’ve loved Lawson’s funny books in the past and the short-story format of these will be easy to digest in my short reading bursts.

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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Author Event with Jenny Lawson and Neil Gaiman

I got myself a birthday present a while back and bought a digital ticket to an event with my local indie, Literati Bookstore. They had an amazing event where Jenny Lawson was going to be in conversation about her new book, Broken (in the best possible way). I adore Lawson and have read her other two books, Lets Pretend this Never Happened and Furiously Happy. My copy of Furiously is even personally signed, a very thoughtful gift from my brother who got to meet her at a store near his old apartment in Ohio. So hearing she had a new book was a delight. The event ticket came with a signed copy shipped to my house. It’s not personalized, but I’m still excited.

I was even more excited when I heard who was going to be conversing with her: NEIL GAIMAN! Yes, THE Neil Gaiman. Now, I’m not going to pretend to be the biggest Gaiman fan, but I’ve enjoyed a few of this books and recently watched the adaptation of Good Omens so he’s very top of mind for me. I read Good Omens in high school and since having this blog I’ve read The Ocean at the End of the Lane (and book club reflection). So the two together? This was well worth the price of admission.

A lot of the conversation focused on the relationship the two share. Gaiman was aware of Lawson when she was blogging heavily and was known as The Bloggess and the content she put there. This is the source of her first book, Let’s Pretend this Never Happened. Gaiman was blogging as well, using it as a ‘finger exercise’ before he got down to writing his fiction. He’s become aware of her because she’d blogged two lists, one a list of men you’re supposed to want to have sex with, and another of weird guys you’re not supposed to want to have sex with but do anyway. Gaiman appeared on the second list. He says it was the most flattering backhanded compliment he’s gotten. When Lawson was recording the audiobook for her first book, she was really nervous and texted Gaiman, asking for advice. He told her to ‘Pretend you’re good at it.’ If you’ve listened to her audiobooks, you know she kills it and this advise totally worked. She had the phrase written on her forearm for the virtual event and says she does this regularly for events. Often, someone in the signing line will cross out ‘Pretend.’ Gaiman is known well for this line and says often he’ll have someone ask him to write it on a part of their body at a signing which the person will then go get tattooed in his handwriting. One of the more mind-blowing things they talked about was that Neil will often email Jenny some writing in process and she was able to read a draft of The Ocean at the End of the Lane because he thought she’d like it (she did).

Lawson was asked about how she can write about her mental illness in such a lighthearted and funny way. She said that when something happens to her, she’ll begin to write about it, but she often has to wait until she’s away from a place of depression and anxiety before she can finish writing it.

Gaiman and Lawson’s favorite question was from an 11-year old fan who asked, “Who is your 2nd favorite Muppet?” Both agreed that Gonzo was their first favorite and that it was one of their favorite questions.

My husband could hear me laughing a floor away during this amazing event. Please consider checking out Literati no matter where you live. Their virtual events are open to all and they ship to all 50 US States.

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.