Showing posts with label One Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label One Year. Show all posts
Aug 6, 2011
First 'One Year' Reading
Courtney Ella opted to post a Youtube video of her first reading of 'One Year'. You can find it on her publishers YouTube channel 'Inthecaveenter' or use this quick link: http://youtu.be/WUfKwGMfxu8.
Aug 5, 2011
'One Year' for Sale!
Everyone can now buy Courtney Ella Hrabik's book 'One Year' at https://www.createspace.com/3468798. Everyone needs to buy this book this weekend and read it!
Jul 1, 2011
A Cross the Universe
Be for I begin there are two things you must know. Latimer Siebold is an incredible writer and two I have had a soft spot for him since I met him.
"What are we doing here?" Josh asked one night as we were climbing a tree out side Latimer's dorm room.
"Nothing" I said.
"This does not feel like nothing." Josh said when we made it to his window.
"Oh what do you know." I said climbing through it.
"Seriously why are we here?" Josh said as we were standing at the foot of his bed.
"He has a great book in him, he just refuses to write it." I said. "We are pushing him in the right direction."
"I do not remember any signs to that affect." Josh said.
"You need to learn to read be tween the lines." I said. "You want to write a book. You want to write a book."
"What?" Josh asked.
"Osmosis" I said.
"That is so fake." Josh said.
"We will see." I said.
I spent the next five hours saying 'You want to write a book'. As the sun was coming up we left. A couple of hours later he was leaving his dorm, texting Loren on his phone.
"Guess what?" Latimer texted.
"What?" Loren texted.
"I think I am going to write a book." Latimer texted.
"That is so awesome, I have been saying that for ever. I am so proud of you." Loren texted.
Latimer spent the next couple of weeks talking to his teachers and advisors a bout it. They all agreed that was an awesome idea and that the book plot had to be from him. So back up the tree we went.
"What now?" Josh asked climbing through his window.
"We need to give him a book idea." I said.
"Plagarist" Josh said.
"They are his ideas but he just does not see them." I said.
"Yeah that makes sense." Josh said.
"Ssshhh" I said. "You want to write a bout Loren's year."
I repeated that for the next four hours.
A couple of weeks later we returned.
"Do you think he would mind me checking my email?" Josh asked.
"Ssshhh" I said. "You want to write home less people as angels."
"Now you feel comfortable defining us." Josh said.
"For his book I think it would be best too." I said.
I repeated that for the next six hours.
A couple of weeks later.
"I wonder if he gets HBO?" Josh asked sitting on his coach.
"Did you bring your head phones?" I asked.
"Yes" Josh said.
"Have at it" I said tossing him the remote. "You want to write a bout all your adventures you had that year."
I was three hours in to repeating that when his room mate woke up. Luckily for some reason he did not notice us and we continued for a nother hour.
A couple of weeks later.
"You want to make music a major part of the book for Loren." I said for five hours.
A couple of weeks later.
"You want to make me the narrator of the book." I said.
"Why do you get to be the narrator?" Josh asked.
"Be cause I would look better on screen." I said and resumed my chants.
A couple of weeks later at the end of the semester he presented this crazy idea he had for a book that was the narrator is an angel that appears like a home less person that be friends the dead brother of the main character of the story which focuses on her life after his death oh and each title is the title of a song in the chapter.
"I love it" his advisor said.
Then Latimer took the train to New York City to discuss this with Loren.
"Yes you have to write this it it perfect." Loren said after reading what he had. "I love it."
Latimer smiled.
He would spend the next two years perfecting his book. He would name the book "One Year". A book that went a cross the universe and back.
"That is a stretch do you not think?" Josh asked.
"I all ways stretch to get in The Beatles." I said.
"What are we doing here?" Josh asked one night as we were climbing a tree out side Latimer's dorm room.
"Nothing" I said.
"This does not feel like nothing." Josh said when we made it to his window.
"Oh what do you know." I said climbing through it.
"Seriously why are we here?" Josh said as we were standing at the foot of his bed.
"He has a great book in him, he just refuses to write it." I said. "We are pushing him in the right direction."
"I do not remember any signs to that affect." Josh said.
"You need to learn to read be tween the lines." I said. "You want to write a book. You want to write a book."
"What?" Josh asked.
"Osmosis" I said.
"That is so fake." Josh said.
"We will see." I said.
I spent the next five hours saying 'You want to write a book'. As the sun was coming up we left. A couple of hours later he was leaving his dorm, texting Loren on his phone.
"Guess what?" Latimer texted.
"What?" Loren texted.
"I think I am going to write a book." Latimer texted.
"That is so awesome, I have been saying that for ever. I am so proud of you." Loren texted.
Latimer spent the next couple of weeks talking to his teachers and advisors a bout it. They all agreed that was an awesome idea and that the book plot had to be from him. So back up the tree we went.
"What now?" Josh asked climbing through his window.
"We need to give him a book idea." I said.
"Plagarist" Josh said.
"They are his ideas but he just does not see them." I said.
"Yeah that makes sense." Josh said.
"Ssshhh" I said. "You want to write a bout Loren's year."
I repeated that for the next four hours.
A couple of weeks later we returned.
"Do you think he would mind me checking my email?" Josh asked.
"Ssshhh" I said. "You want to write home less people as angels."
"Now you feel comfortable defining us." Josh said.
"For his book I think it would be best too." I said.
I repeated that for the next six hours.
A couple of weeks later.
"I wonder if he gets HBO?" Josh asked sitting on his coach.
"Did you bring your head phones?" I asked.
"Yes" Josh said.
"Have at it" I said tossing him the remote. "You want to write a bout all your adventures you had that year."
I was three hours in to repeating that when his room mate woke up. Luckily for some reason he did not notice us and we continued for a nother hour.
A couple of weeks later.
"You want to make music a major part of the book for Loren." I said for five hours.
A couple of weeks later.
"You want to make me the narrator of the book." I said.
"Why do you get to be the narrator?" Josh asked.
"Be cause I would look better on screen." I said and resumed my chants.
A couple of weeks later at the end of the semester he presented this crazy idea he had for a book that was the narrator is an angel that appears like a home less person that be friends the dead brother of the main character of the story which focuses on her life after his death oh and each title is the title of a song in the chapter.
"I love it" his advisor said.
Then Latimer took the train to New York City to discuss this with Loren.
"Yes you have to write this it it perfect." Loren said after reading what he had. "I love it."
Latimer smiled.
He would spend the next two years perfecting his book. He would name the book "One Year". A book that went a cross the universe and back.
"That is a stretch do you not think?" Josh asked.
"I all ways stretch to get in The Beatles." I said.
May 15, 2011
Emma Watson to play Loren
The site has gotten alot of hits since my compagin to get Stacey Farber to play Susan in 'One Year' and positive feed back as well. It was decided that we would launch compagins for everyone else.
Mar 9, 2011
"One Year" Review
Sorry it took so long but here is my review of "One Year" by: Courtney Ella Hrabik. Let me start off this review by saying Courtney Ella is coming from some where completely different then any other writer; like I have no idea from where. Then her language is so unique she has no compound words or contractions. It was very awkward to read at first but it really grew on me. I loved how organically the story was told and how inter-connected it was. I had to read it a couple of times before I caught on to everything. Like the book was written by the character of Latimer in past tense. Through out the book he is getting inspiration for this crazy year from their actual year and from suggestions from Loren. The maping that had to be done before she even began writing the book had to be so intense. Then I read that she plans on using that narrator in all of her books is even crazier. That means she must have this whole world mapped out.
Not only is the language and connections unique but so is the structure. Matthew said there was no climax but I feel that there are actually two. There are two journeys being told one between Josh and the narrator and Loren's. Josh's climax was in the prologue when he died and the resolution was when he made peace with his death. Loren's climax comes when she is running in "Feel" and her resolution comes in "We Are Okay".
Over all I liked it.
Feb 23, 2011
Lori Petty to play Ms. Hall
Lori Petty has been on the down low for the last couple of years. This would be the perfect vehicle for her to come back and shine.
Erin Daniels to play Latimer's Mom
The site has gotten alot of hits since my compagin to get Stacey Farber to play Susan began yesterday and got some positive feed back I have decided to expand to all of my picks for the movie.
I love Erin Daniels and would love to see her in this movie. Like with Stacey to join the petition just put 'agree' or 'yes' in the comment section under that actor's post.
Feb 22, 2011
Stacey Farber to play Susan
As you can tell from the blog one of our amazing writers has written a book called 'One Year'. Though nothing is official yet me and my friends who have read it all agree a movie will be next. In Courtney Ella's 'joke' cast she has Beatrice of York playing Susan but after seeing Matthew-Thomas's tweet this weekend and watching a couple episodes of Degrassi and 18 to Life she has made a mistake and it should be played by Stacey Farber. So today I am starting a compagin to get her cast in the movie as Susan. To participate tweet @staceyfarber18 or under the comment books type 'agreed'. I think we have a good chance in getting her to do this.
Jan 25, 2011
'One Year' Review
For everyone that does not go to Brown University here is my review for 'One Year' by Courtney Ella Hrabik.
When I first got the email to write this review I was very surprise that they would want my opinion and then I was flattered because this was the first time I have been personaly asked to review a book.
My first reaction to the book was that it was not a book. Yes it meets the word requirement. But it is lacking almost everything else that makes it a book. Their is no antagonist. Their is no exposition. Their is no raising action. Their is no climax. Their is no falling action. In reality it is a very long story.
What I liked about the story. It was a great story. Courtney Ella once said at reading 'Books are a dying medium. I write for an audience (teenage girls) that would never spend twenty dollars on a book. Yet books are what I am currently writing. So they can't be books any more they have to be experiences. The reader has to be able to relate to the book while never reading it any where else at the same time.' This book is that. From the prologue it was an interesting and unique idea to write around. The character of Loren is the average American teenager but the characters around her are fun and interesting. The situations that the characters are put in are average with a twist. It was also a very easy read. I have a very hectic life between grad school and TAing but I had no trouble finishing this book this week. My sister said she wanted to read it and she hates to read. It was also interesting that at the end of the story she had character bios and explaining each section.
This story is either going to be killed for everything it does not have or Harry Potter popular. If it takes off it may re-write the book on books. If she does that it may screw the majority of writers out there right now because everyone else follows the rule. God knows I could never copy that style so lets hope it does not.
When I first got the email to write this review I was very surprise that they would want my opinion and then I was flattered because this was the first time I have been personaly asked to review a book.
My first reaction to the book was that it was not a book. Yes it meets the word requirement. But it is lacking almost everything else that makes it a book. Their is no antagonist. Their is no exposition. Their is no raising action. Their is no climax. Their is no falling action. In reality it is a very long story.
What I liked about the story. It was a great story. Courtney Ella once said at reading 'Books are a dying medium. I write for an audience (teenage girls) that would never spend twenty dollars on a book. Yet books are what I am currently writing. So they can't be books any more they have to be experiences. The reader has to be able to relate to the book while never reading it any where else at the same time.' This book is that. From the prologue it was an interesting and unique idea to write around. The character of Loren is the average American teenager but the characters around her are fun and interesting. The situations that the characters are put in are average with a twist. It was also a very easy read. I have a very hectic life between grad school and TAing but I had no trouble finishing this book this week. My sister said she wanted to read it and she hates to read. It was also interesting that at the end of the story she had character bios and explaining each section.
This story is either going to be killed for everything it does not have or Harry Potter popular. If it takes off it may re-write the book on books. If she does that it may screw the majority of writers out there right now because everyone else follows the rule. God knows I could never copy that style so lets hope it does not.
Jan 12, 2011
'One Year' by: Courtney Ella Hrabik
I am so excited about posting my first book review on this site. I am also super excited because I am pretty sure this is the first review of the book. I was very lucky to be one of the lucky fifteen writers who got advance electric comps of the book. Every one else is just going to have to wait un till the book comes out. I can tell that you all are jealous.
-The Book-
The book begins in April 2007 at the Virgina Tech. In the prologue we see Joshua Stevens gunned down in Spanish class during the VT tragedy. As the book progresses we meet his younger sister Loren Stevens. The majority of the book focuses on Loren's year after his death. Through out the book the narrator introduces the reader to a color full cast of characters from Latimer the Mute to Ms. Hall (no first name) to the over protective Susan. She spends her summer at Camp Piomingo. As they return to school we see Loren interact with new challanges and people. We are invited to four sweet sixteen parties, a school play, two vacations and prom. The book ends in May 2008 on a happy note with a very special wedding and all the characters seem to be at peace at last.
-The Review-
I will be honest when I first heard the concept of the book I thought the idea sounded crazy: it is about Loren Stevens whose brother dies at VT becomes a homeless angel and the book also happens to be narrated by a home less angel and oh their is a song for each section. Crazy Right? I have to say I loved this book from beginning to end. It is over 500 pages but it does not feel long enough. It was a quick read, it took me a day and a half. The dialogue was witty, the characters were interesting, and the plot flowed very well. There are a lot of components to the book but they all connect together perfectly. I loved that she chose to begin with the VT tragedy. It was a bold way to start but it was done creatively and respectfully. I loved how Courtney Ella Hrabik brought Bug Juice back to life by having Loren on the show. I think alot of the readers grew up watching that show so it was so cool to see it again. It is also an example of how Courtney Ella perfectly blended our reality with Loren's reality. What depressed me about the book was how honestly she showed Americans after tragedy. How we get so upset and tend to generalize. We see this when Loren initially over reacts when an Asian student joins her class. When I first read it I thought 'Racist'. But as I thought about it more I came to realize that was probably an honest reaction that most in that situation would do. Sadly I also think most Americans act just like Principal Mitchell. The mother/daughter relationship also disappointed me. In a time like that your mother should be a pilar of strength and it was the opposite in this book. What really depressed me was that Courtney Ella noted that the relationship was based on her own with her mother. Then their is the teenage dynmanic. The friendships, drama, and dating was spot on. That brings us to the music. Oh my gosh it was the perfect playlist for her year. The music was an indicator what the chapter/section was going to be about. The songs she chose fits each section and just lets you experience the story in another way. Does any one know if there is an iMix on iTunes for this book yet? I would love to download it. You could tell that she put so much time and effort in to making this book a time capsle for the year. I mean the book is about Loren's year but reading the book it brought me back to that year and how I had many of the same experiences. We see Loren send in a post secret post card, we see reference to many TV shows, get a facebook and twitter, drive, date, and text. It is also apparent where Courtney Ella likes to get pizza, coffee, etc because she mentions those places through out the whole book. Including an almost full page for Starbucks and Carmel Apple cider. The last thing I found really interesting about the book was that she gave a detailed background of the book and character bio. Like where each character ends up and why she chose each song. I had never seen a writer do that before. It was a cool touch.
This book is for 15 and up for mild language and situations. This book was written for a female audience in mind. I would reccomend this book to teenagers who do not like to read because it does not feel like a book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)