Inside: Atlantic, Voyager, Frankenstein
Here’s to exploring the world, one book at a time.
Several years ago, I found myself employed at a seaside boutique on the boardwalk in vibrant Asbury Park, New Jersey. As late summer gave way to the chill and winds of autumn, I found myself photographing a selection of items from the shop for an Instagram post (photo above). Among these items was a book. The cover of this book seemed to capture the current season outside (the shop’s large front window looked out onto the churning, gray Atlantic Ocean) with uncanny perfection.
Only now, in that same transitional season years later did I decide to pick up this book to read it in full. This post (and others like it to come) are dedicated to the books, out of so many, that have caught my eye and invited me in. Here’s to exploring the world, one book at a time.
Atlantic by Simon Winchester (HarperCollins Publishers, 2010, ISBN 978-0-06-170258-7)
In captivating personal, poetic, and prehistoric tales, author Simon Winchester reveals genuine treasures of maritime antiquity, immersing readers in the natural and social history of one of the world’s most fearsome and awesome natural marvels.
Genre: narrative nonfiction
Pacing: leisurely
Storyline: nonlinear, sweeping
Writing Style: comprehensive, descriptive, lush, lyrical, richly detailed, well-researched
A taste of Atlantic…
“The Kingdom of Morocco has on its most widely used currency bill neither a camel nor a minaret nor a Toureg in desert blue, but the representation of the shell of a very large snail. The shell of this shore-living marine beast – a carnivore that uses its tongue to rasp holes in other creatures’ shells and sip out the goodness – is reddish brown, slender, and spiny, with a long spire and an earlike opening. It is in all ways rather beautiful, the kind of shell not to be idly thrown away by anyone lucky enough to find one…”
Page 51, Chapter 1, “From the Purple Isles of Mogador”*
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Delacorte Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-440-21756-5. Originally published 1994)
Over the past twenty years, Claire has spent her life with roots in one world and unanswered questions in another. Now, she must risk it all to undertake a journey of unknown consequences, exchanging grounded certainty for dizzying new prospects of reunion, redemption, and adventure.
Diana Gabaldon’s series has taken a hold of this reader and won’t let go. The first book in the series, Outlander was assigned reading for a Genre Fiction and Reader’s Advisory course taken earlier this year. I had never read anything quite like it before or since. A captivating blend of historical fiction, science fiction, romance, and other genres, I have learned much from locations and characters painted in lush full color and vivid emotional detail. In this third book of the series, the endless braid of love, family, adventure, and history continues to weave in new and unexpected ways.
Genre(s): historical fiction, romance, science fiction, mystery
Pacing: fast
Storyline: intricately plotted, character-driven, action-packed, nonlinear
Tone: atmospheric, bittersweet, dramatic, emotionally intense, moving, mystical, romantic, strong sense of place, thought-provoking, suspenseful
Character: authentic, complex, courageous, introspective, LGBTQIA diverse, strong female
Writing Style: compelling, descriptive, engaging, well-crafted dialogue, well-researched
A taste of Voyager…
“The city glowed all around us, as though sharing our happiness. Edinburgh lay under a haze that would soon thicken to rain again, but for now, the light of the setting sun hung gold and pink and red in the clouds, and shone in the wet patina of the cobbled street, so that the gray stones of the buildings softened and streamed with reflected light, echoing the glow that warmed my cheeks and shone in Jamie’s eyes when he looked at me.”
Page 409, Chapter 27, “Up in Flames”*
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Barnes and Noble Classics, 2004, ISBN 987-1-59308-161-4)
Young Victor Frankenstein is single-minded in pursuit of his life-giving passion. When his completed creation appears before him, he retreats, mortified, unaware of the chaos and disruption yet to come.
This book found me at a local library’s library book sale at the end of October. This classic work has remained vividly alive in public consciousness since it was first published anonymously in 1818. This version, published in 1831 by Mary Shelley, has inspired countless film retellings, and likely inspired your next door neighbor’s Halloween decor.
Genre: Gothic science fiction
Pacing: fast
Storyline: character-driven
Tone: atmospheric, creepy, haunting, heartwrenching, melancholy, moody, reflective, strong sense of place
Character: authentic, brooding, complex, introspective, sympathetic
Writing Style: candid, conversational, stream of consciousness, thoughtful
A taste of Frankenstein…
“No one can conceive the anguish I suffered during the remainder of the night, which I spent, cold and wet, in the open air. But I did not feel the inconvenience of the weather; my imagination was busy with scenes of evil and despair. I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind, and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes of horror, such as the deed which he had now done, nearly in the light of my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me.”
Page 69, Chapter 7*
For more information on using appeal factors to describe fiction and nonfiction books, check out NoveList’s Guide to Story Elements:
https://www.ebscohost.com/promoMaterials/NoveList-Guide-to-Story-Elements.pdf
*All included book quotations are consistent with the principles of fair use.
Main photo by Lorelle S.
Inline photos by Lorelle S.
