The Novel Hermit

daydreaming about books

Archives for July 2014

Monthly Recap

MONTHLY RECAP | July 2014

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monthly recap july

July was over so quick! Where did the month go?!

  • I started a writing project that basically took over my life. I had to slightly change my Camp NaNoWriMo project, and it was for the best because now I am fucking in love with the world.
  • For July 4th, I hung out with friends, and it was fucking awesomeeeee. I hadn’t seen them in a while, so we just hung out all day and walked around. (My highlight was definitely hearing a couple argue during the fireworks.)
  • I bought art supplies for the new project I’ll be doing — lettering! I’m pretty excited. I have an awesome new sketchbook and pens and stuff (that came in today!)
  • I started a bullet journal to keep organize and to get my priorities in order. It’s interesting to see what I keep putting off. *cross my fingers I continue with it*
  • I don’t buy books that often (because I have no money), but I decided that every month, I will buy just one at a bookstore. (This may screw me over because I see book events in my future, but I shall try!)

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Reviews

REVIEW | The Ash-Born Boy (The Near Witch #0.5) by Victoria Schwab

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The Ash-Born Boy (The Near Witch #0.5) by Victoria Schwab
May 15, 2012
Disney Hyperion
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Read Here

Before he came to Near… 
Before he met Lexi… 
Before they faced the witch… 
Who was the boy named Cole? 

Follow us to Dale, a city on a hill, where in a matter of days fire will devour everything. Meet the Lord and Lady, and their son, the boy destined to inherit all…until everything turns to ash. 

It’s time to learn the truth behind the stranger’s story.

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First sentence:

[quote]The market coiled like a colored snake through the streets of Dale, patterned with the brown of the stalls, and the yellows and greens and reds of the things they sold.”[/quote]

Guess who’s even more giddy to read The Near Witch? (Me! I mean me!)

The novella is beautiful written, and I’m just in awe. (Not surprised because Victoria Schwab is awesome!). This follows William Hart (aka Master Dale), who is the heir and part of the ruling family in the town of Dale dad. Will is seen as a callous teenager, which he really isn’t. He just wants to be a normal kid, but he can’t because his father is Robert (aka Lord Dale) and because he has powers that he has to keep under wraps (which acts up when he gets angry). He’s constantly punished and blamed for things he had no control over. This life—being the heir to Dale—isn’t what he wants. He has a very tragic life—one that breaks my heart.

As someone who has yet to read The Near Witch, I have these questions about Will:

  • This novella tells of the backstory of Cole (who was originally William Hart)? (I’m sure the answer will be yes.)
  • Who is Will’s real father?
  • Where does his powers come from?
  • What is the backstory of his ancestors? Of witches?
  • Why do people hate witches?
  • What else can Will do with his powers?
  • Where did the pendant come from? What kind of power does it hold?

I’m really excited to learn more about him and about witches in this world and to see him in action.

gradeB+

 

Typography

YOU’RE JUST MY TYPE | {17} – Introducing the Mini-Posters

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yourejustmytypebanner

I love fonts. You can say I’m obsessed with collecting them all. It’s no secret to those who know me. You’re Just My Type is a new feature where I showcase the fonts I absolutely adore and use. And hopefully, you will love the fonts I pick. Add all of them to your font collection! Let it grow!

Surprise? I’ve decided to do my font post a bit differently. I was in need for a change, so I decided to make silhouette posters with the fonts I’m showcasing. I had always meant to make mini posters to show how you can use it. It’s really a bit hard to do. My abilities seem to be limited to silhouettes. (I can’t say that I made these silhouettes. Changed the colors? Yes I did. But making the shapes? Uhhhh.)

Go on, go look at the beautiful fonts!

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Cigarettes and Coffee was designed by Fabian De Lange, and it was inspired by New York in the 60’s.

Fun fact: This inspired me to make silhouettes for all the fonts.

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Liberator was designed by Ryan Clark, and it is inspired by “our grandparents [who] fought for the freedom we enjoy today.”

Fun fact: The quote for Liberator was the easiest to find. Sure, the book had nothing to do with the font inspiration, but names. [/column][/row] [row][column size=”1/2″]

Always In My Heart is designed by Vanessa Bays.

Fun fact: The quote made me guffaw. (Also, thanks to Charlotte for making the puzzle heart.)[/column] [column size=”1/2″]

Little Lord Fontleroy is designed by Nick’s Fonts.

Fun fact: The font name is a play off of Little Lord Fauntleroy, which is about a boy who becomes the heir to a bitter old earl (his grandfather) and softens the earl’s heart with his innocence. [/column][/row]

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Which font is your favorite? How do you like the mini-posters? Should I do more of those? Or do you prefer the font images I made before? If you missed previous font post, voila!

Holy Mother Cover

HOLY, MOTHER COVER! | Lens Flare Theme!

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holymothercover

Inspired by What She Reads, Pure Imagination Blog, and Stacked.

I admit I’m a book cover snob. Who isn’t though?

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe) and discuss cover changes.

(A big special thanks to Georgie at What She Reads for bestowing me this fabulous name and to Charlotte at Gypsy Reviews for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)

I’ve missed doing these theme posts. I’m not quite sure why I haven’t been doing it (maybe a bit of laziness and being overwhelmed by work and stuff), but here I am with this post! Taking that long break may have been a great thing because now, I’m pumped to collect the covers and talk about its beauty.

I was looking through covers for Summer books and noticed that a lot of them have that lens flare effect to them. I was absolutely mesmerized by them, and thought why not showcase that?

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Reviews

REVIEW | Half Bad by Sally Green

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Sally Green - Half BadHalf Bad by Sally Green
February 25, 2014
Viking Juvenile
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  The Book Depository

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

In the tradition of Patrick Ness and Markus Zusak, Half Bad is a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive, a story that will grab hold of you and not let go until the very last page.

myreview
First sentence: “There’s these two kids, boys, sitting close together, squished in by the big arms of an old chair.”

THREE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IN HALF BAD

  • The middle-grade writing didn’t bother me as much as I had thought it would.

I had initially thought I would be because generally, I don’t find middle-grade writing all that appealing. Sometimes, it’s a bit hard to read through because I feel like it’s talking down to me or that it’s too simple. (Yes, I’m aware these books are mostly aimed at kids.) However, writing that way makes sense considering Nathan was a kid when this story started and his lack of proper education. It’s not written middle-grade for no reason.

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Typography

YOU’RE JUST MY TYPE | {16}

Comments : 9

yourejustmytypebanner

I love fonts. You can say I’m obsessed with collecting them all. It’s no secret to those who know me. You’re Just My Type is a new feature where I showcase the fonts I absolutely adore and use. And hopefully, you will love the fonts I pick. Add all of them to your font collection! Let it grow!

It has been a sad few weeks, hasn’t it? And it’s because of the lack of font posts, right? (I say yes. ;D)

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Designed by James T. Edmondson

“Based on the signage for the Cup and Saucer Luncheonette in New York.”

Duke makes me think of these two things: 1. the university and 2. the title because of its name. Though, the font look doesn’t remind me of either.

The black in the letters makes it look as if it has a shadow, which thus, makes it pop. The font works best if you have a dark background. It looks like the letters have been carved into the page. Great for engraving!

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