Hello there! Thank you for all the kind comments on my brother’s graduation. I can’t wait to fill you in on the rest of our Memorial Day weekend, but first I have another fun post to share with you!

A couple of months ago, I spoke with Kyle Rutkin about his four lessons in book publishing. He had a lot of great stories and advice to share, and now he is here with some exciting personal news. His latest novel, A Life Told From The Cloud, just announced a Kickstarter project to raise money for editing, cover work and layout design, as well as a first run of printing and promotion.

In honor of the project’s launch, I thought this would be a cool opportunity to speak with Kyle about what his writing process is like, as well as what inspired his latest manuscript. I’m sure you’ll find his answers as interesting and thought-provoking as I did.

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A Life Told From The Cloud

Synopsis:

The Year is 2045 and CJ Williams, a professional writer in his sixties, decides to send his editor one last manuscript: a book written over two decades prior but never published. This is a story that would define his life and ultimately bring him back to the girl he would marry.

The lost manuscript begins when Williams (then 34 years old) is diagnosed with cancer. With an uncertain future, Williams embarks on one last project – a memoir from the cloud. Using his own Facebook timeline, he retells his life story and the people he’s loved along the way. In the novel, Williams uses six profiles from the people in his past: his best friend, high school sweetheart, college girlfriend, “the one who got away,” his runaway mother and his most recent breakup. Using the data stored on Facebook, Williams describes the impact these relationships have had on his life and his final days leading up to his surgery.

What inspired you to write A Life Told From The Cloud?

In January, Facebook released its timeline feature, which was the first time I fully grasped that everything I was posting from the beginning (2003) was being stored and documented to retell this linear story of my life. As I looked back, it was all there – all the moments I shared with friends and ex-girlfriends from the ages of 18 to 27. Those AWESOME pictures of me as a freshman, holding cheap handles of vodka like I was starring in an under budget rap video. Those embarrassing wall posts and messages as a college kid that I never deleted. My confused post-college quarter-life phase, and that life decision to switch from government employee to creative writer and entrepreneur. It was all stored in the cloud. That was the moment it really hit me that our generation and the generation after us will have the majority of our lives told and documented in the cloud. That’s really the premise and inspiration of the book.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while writing? Biggest rewards?

The concept of the book was the easy part. I loved the idea of a novel told entirely through a Facebook timeline with a futuristic look at how these social media timelines might play out. The challenge was in finding a great reason for him to retell his story. Was he telling his kids? Was he retelling someone on a bench like a scene from Forrest Gump? Was he faced with a life-threatening illness? Finally, I decided to do a little bit of everything. In the Prologue, the main character, a writer by trade, shares that there is one book he never gave back to the world. A story that defined his life and ultimately led him back to the girl he would marry. A story he wrote after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and had no way of knowing how much time he had left.

I think the greatest reward was being able to tie in so many themes that are important to me: love, heartbreak, how social media is affecting the way we live and how important it is to chase down your dreams in order to serve the world. The story follows the main character from ages 18 to 34, in which time he deals with all the universal themes of growing up: first love, college debauchery, post college anxiety, the realities of adulthood and also the craziness of trying to find your place in the world. It was really fun tying all these things together using the various Facebook profiles of the meaningful people in the main character’s life. The ending was also really exciting for me to write. It was one of those ideas like, holy cow, this is the perfect way to end this story.

Explain a bit about your writing process. For example, do you have a specific time you write every day? Do you outline before you write or just dive right in? Any other thoughts on your process?

My writing is defined by one word: momentum. If I’m not 100% committed to an idea, I will start and stop like a kid playing Red light/Green light. On the other hand, if I love what I’m writing and have a good Spotify playlist to accompany it, I will slam the keyboard day in and day out until the story is done. I was taught by Steven Pressfield to write from beginning to end like the devil himself is chasing you down. I took those words to heart. In the case of this book, I woke up and went to sleep every day thinking about the book. I found that I can usually write 1500-3000 words in one sitting without the screen becoming too blurry, or the writing getting too sloppy. When I was close to the end, I usually did two of these sessions a day.

The book was done in three months, which is by far the quickest I have ever written a book. As far as outlining, nothing is done on the first draft. I like writing like I was reading my own book for the first time, and I like to be surprised by the ending as well. In this case, I really had no idea which girl the main character would end up with until the very end. However, once I start editing, that’s when the real outlining and shaping takes place.

When did you decide to take your new book to Kickstarter?

Once you self-publish, it’s really hard to accept the idea of a traditional publishing deal, especially with the massive shakeup that’s going on in the industry. After the book was done, I flirted with the idea of traditional publishing because I really wanted the quality of a traditional book printer and not POD (Print On Demand). But then I came across Kickstarter.com, and the rest was history. Where else can you find a community of creative entrepreneurs supporting each other in bringing their projects to the world? Besides funding, I think Kickstarter’s greatest appeal is being able to connect the dreamer/artist/entrepreneur with other artists and supporters, as well as building a platform before the final product goes to market. It also keeps the creative integrity of the project with me, and that’s super important.

What are your goals with the Kickstarter project?

The first goal is to get enough money to cover the editing, layout, cover design and first run of the books. I would be stoked just to get this far! And if the stars aligned, my second goal would be to take my publishing company to the next level and continue my mission to bring authentic, inspirational stories to the world. If I doubled my goal, I would be able to make a hard copy run of my first manifesto, “Way Outside The Lines,” which is a story about defeating self-doubt and fear to bring your art to life. I would also love to bring one additional writer on board in 2013.

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Learn more about Kyle’s Kickstarter project by clicking here. I wish him the best of luck with it and look forward to seeing the hard copy version of his book!

How much of your life is in the cloud?

I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this topic, especially given the fact that many of you are also bloggers and/or social media fans who post pictures, share stories, etc. online like me!

Abrazos,

Yesterday was an incredibly important milestone in my “little” brother’s life.

Eric is now a proud high school graduate! If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that this is a big deal for both him and our family. The rules for special education vary by state, but in many cases special ed graduates find that because they haven’t taken or passed certain standardized tests, they do not receive an actual diploma.

Part of the reason my family moved to Arizona (from Minnesota) in the first place was so Eric could have an equal chance at earning what is rightfully his after 12 years of hard work. He attended a school for kids on the autism spectrum to receive the individualized education he needed to excel, and he has truly gone above and beyond. He still met all the “usual” student requirements, but just went about meeting them in a way that was best for his learning style. Through a lot of dedication and effort, Eric has grown into the intelligent achiever he is today. We couldn’t be prouder of him.

Not to mention the fact that he is SUCH a grown man. I mean, really – when did he get so old?

We arrived at his school early yesterday morning for the ceremony, which was so awesome. Since his school is pretty small, the graduation is also combined with the closing ceremonies for all grades K-12. You may recall Eric’s diski dance from 2010? This year’s ceremony featured fun videos and skits from all school levels – lower, middle and high – as well as FANTASTIC music performances. The music teachers have really put something incredible together, and each class rocked out. Eric’s band, Final Boss, did a cover of the song Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants.

My bro did an excellent job on his electric guitar. Did I mention the music program is awesome?

He was all smiles for the entire ceremony, which made it even more special.

Soon enough, the graduates left the room to put on their caps and gowns and make their grand entrance. Eric’s friend, Lee, was valedictorian. He gave a really good speech about the exciting future ahead for all five seniors.

And then, in the blink of an eye, my baby brother was officially done with high school!

I can’t express enough how proud of you we all are, Eric. I was one happy sister.

My great aunt Clare and mom’s cousins Patti and Kay were also there to celebrate. It meant a lot for them to come and show their support on Eric’s big day!

After the ceremony, Eric said his goodbyes to friends and teachers before we all headed to Brio Tuscan Grille for a celebratory lunch. Our waiter added this “gown” to a bottle of Parducci Merlot and jokingly asked Eric if he wanted a glass. A few more years…

Of course, those of us over 21 were happy to help him out.

I went the soup and salad route, starting with a delicious Italian Wedding soup.

And ending with the Brio Chopped Salad, which consisted of chopped greens with tomatoes, olives, onions, cucumber, feta and red wine vinaigrette. It was fantastic!

More celebrating is in the works for the long weekend, including some red velvet cake! We wish Bobby could be here with us, but unfortunately he is in the final throes of studying for his last CFA exam. I know he’ll be overjoyed when those tests are over!

I imagine he will feel a lot like this…

ConGRADulations to Eric and all the Gateway seniors on their fantastic achievement. My brother will be attending community college this fall to pursue an associate’s degree in exercise science and earn his personal training certification. He has big dreams, and I know he will reach his goals.

The pictures tell it all. Do you see how buff that guy has become? He inspires me every day.

Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Any fun plans?

Abrazos,

Thanks for all the great warm weather running tips on my last post! I’m feeling a lot more confident now. The good news is that I am in Arizona for my next long run this weekend, which promises to provide ample opportunity to test everything out!

More on why I’m here in my next post. It’s a pretty fantastic reason.

Today I want to discuss the latest read from our sister-in-law book club. Appropriately, the novel is called Sister by Rosamund Lupton. Susan was the one who chose it after hearing good reviews.

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In Short

This book is an interesting mix of spine-tingling suspense and tear-jerking devotion to family. It’s about how far the bond of sisterhood goes, even in the midst of a mysterious tragedy. When Beatrice (Bee) finds out her younger sister Tess is dead, she is convinced of foul play. The book is about her journey to prove that there was more to the story than the police – who rule Tess’ death a suicide – have discovered. Of course, going on a solo journey to find a murderer brings with it many dangers that will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you promising yourself, “just one more chapter,” even though it’s well past midnight. Read this book if you enjoy the occasional thriller and mystery. I can guarantee that unless you are a young Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew in the making, this novel will have plenty of surprises and keep you guessing all the way through.

The Details

The story is primarily set in London, and Rosamund Lupton did a wonderful job of bringing the city to life. Her imagery – especially the weather, which is subtly described throughout – really helps put the reader in the mood and mindset of the main character, Beatrice. When Beatrice finds out that Tess is missing, she boards the first plane home from New York (where she currently lives with her fiancé). As she is debriefed on the details surrounding Tess’ disappearance, she quickly realizes that even though her and Tess are extremely close, there is a lot she didn’t know about what was happening in her sister’s life. Still, she knows there is more to the story than Tess disappearing on her own, though no one else believes her – not the police, not the medical experts…not even her fiancé or mother. And so Beatrice is forced to go on the journey to discover the truth alone.

One of the interesting twists to this story is that it is written as a letter from Beatrice to Tess. As a result, Beatrice often addresses the reader as “you,” though she is of course speaking to Tess. It makes the entire ordeal feel a lot more intimate because you are experiencing not only the events that happen to Beatrice, but also her emotional turmoil as the bond between her and her sister is tried time and time again. Everyone is trying to convince her that she didn’t know Tess as well as she thought, that their closeness was merely on the surface level. Yet Beatrice refuses to believe it, and as the reader we are able to see why because she is addressing her feelings directly to Tess.

I don’t read a lot of murder mystery books – though I confess I used to be a huge fan of Mary Higgins Clark – but I really enjoyed this book. There were parts that were hard to read and very emotional, but Rosamund Lupton is a beautiful writer and made the book about more than just the crime. There is a bigger picture plot (I won’t name it here) that takes the book to greater heights. These details, combined with the strong family storyline, makes for a poignant and powerful read.

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Great choice, Susan! Looking forward to our next book club adventure. In the meantime, I recommend everyone who is intrigued by the premise of this book to pick up a copy!

Have you read Sister? If so, what did you think?

Abrazos,

The NATO Summit is coming to a close today, and Chicago seemed to fare pretty well. We spent much of our weekend at home as planned, making exceptions for training runs and the chance to spend some time in the sunshine.

On Friday night that included a walk to Whole Foods, where we found grass-fed beef burgers on sale for $1.00 each! It was an offer too good to refuse, so we quickly scrapped our pizza plans and went with meaty, cheesy deliciousness.

We topped our burgers with scrambled eggs, mushrooms, Muenster cheese, spinach, ketchup and mustard. I know – scrambled eggs? Traditionally any sort of egg topping is fried, but we decided scrambled would taste better. I may be biased, but I think we were right.

All that was missing were the caramelized onions. Next time.

On Saturday night we made another dirt cheap Whole Foods feast: tilapia pasta.

We bought four tilapia filets on sale and threw them together with our Decio Pasta. This time it was the spinach basil garlic, and it paired perfectly with the cooked tilapia when seasoned with white wine and herb marinade. On the side we served a corn and edamame succotash, cooked in a bit of soy sauce. The two marinades complemented each other well. We’ll definitely make this dish again!

Speaking of white wine…

This Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Riesling – given to us by Alex when we went to Tango Sur – was fantastic! A hint of sweet and very smooth. It paired well with our pasta and made for a nice after dinner treat, too. Thanks, Alex!

On Sunday we woke up bright and early for our 11-mile long run. The forecast predicted 90 degrees and humid, so we wanted to get out before it was too stifling.

Fortunately, we also picked a shady trail – otherwise I’m not sure we would have made it! It’s amazing to me how hot the sun feels while running. It makes it harder to breathe, harder to stay focused and harder to just…keep…going.

I was glad to have my running buddy with me. Bobby and I managed to eke it out in just under 10:00 min/mile pace, on track with our training as we now have less than three weeks until race day!

We’ve got 12 miles coming up this weekend. The distances are seeming more manageable, which is great. I just hope that race day will grace us with overcast skies and 50-60 degree temperatures.

Warm weather runners: how do you beat the heat and humidity?

Abrazos,

I couldn’t resist the Dr. Seuss reference.

It had been far too long since I had last seen Mara. November, in fact. We’ve tried numerous times to get together but somehow the 30 miles between us just kept getting in the way. Last night, we decided to change that by meeting halfway for dinner at Blu Fish Sushi Bistro in Park Ridge.

Sushi? Don’t mind if I do!

Mara had a surprise for me when I arrived: a Coffee Cocoa amigurumi! I have been admiring her crochet talents for a long time and was so excited to receive one of my very own! Isn’t it adorable?

We perused the menu and decided to start the evening off right with a cocktail. We each got a pear-tini, made with vodka and Asian pear juice. These were strong but really hit the spot.

Mara also recommended the house salad, which was served with a creamy ginger dressing (amazing), spiralized veggies and sweet potato crunch on top. I loved the presentation!

For our main course, we decided to share a variety of signature maki, which are available in long (8 pieces) or short (5 pieces) rolls for even more variety. Clockwise from the left we have:

• California Sunset: Fresh salmon over snow crab, cucumber and avocado.
• Crunchy Muffy: Shrimp tempura, tempura crunch and cream cheese topped with baked mozzarella cheese. Yes, it’s as unique as it sounds!
• Green Turtle: Freshwater eel, avocado and tempura crunch topped with shrimp and wasabi tobiko. By far the cutest presentation, and worth ordering the full roll.
• Spicy Tataki: Whole jumbo soft shell crab, scallion, cucumber, avocado and spicy Masago Mayo topped with seared spicy tuna orange tobiko. Drizzled with chili oil and eel sauce.

I have to say, my favorite was by far the Green Turtle roll, and not just because of the adorable wasabi turtle head. It was the most flavorful and delicious of all four and I couldn’t get enough. I also really enjoyed the California Sunset with the salmon on the outside. The Spicy Tataki was good, too, but I probably wouldn’t order the Crunchy Muffy again. It has a great name, but the mozzarella cheese on top was just too crazy for my sushi tastes!

Mara and I had a wonderful time catching up on life, so much so that we weren’t ready for our foodie date to end just yet. Fortunately, she knows the area well and decided we should venture into Glenview for a stop at the Dairy Bar!

Mara can attest that I was like a kid in a candy store. There were so many flavors and toppings to choose from, and each person ahead of us left with me wanting what they were having. By the time we reached the window, I had reached a final verdict.

Vanilla cone with half rainbow sprinkles and half cinnamon pecans! Yes, cinnamon pecans – and they were just as tasty as they sound. Also, you can never go wrong with rainbow sprinkles. They are happiness in food form.

My date for the evening held my cone so I could properly show you the masterpiece.

Ohhhhhhhh yes.

We sat outside and relished every bite, both agreeing that it was beginning to look a lot like summer.

I’m already looking forward to our next adventure! We’ve got some fun ideas planned for the warmer months, so expect more Mara-velous posts in the near future.

TGIF! What are your plans for the weekend?

You all know where I’ll be. Fingers crossed that Chicago has a (relatively) low-key weekend.

Abrazos,

I can’t believe it’s Thursday already! I’m gearing up for an insanely busy weekend that consists of staying in my apartment most of the time. What’s that? You think that’s an oxymoron? Well, I’m not so sure I will be able to just walk around my neighborhood…

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The NATO Summit is here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about people being able to protest if they want to protest. But I heard on the radio that the Chicago police bought two sound cannons. Offices are encouraging their employees to wear casual clothes and backpacks rather than suits and briefcases. My building is taking its own precautions. There could be anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 people. It promises to be an interesting weekend.

I doubt we’ll need any superhero involvement over the next four days, but that didn’t stop me from seeing The Avengers in 3D with my friend Lauren on Tuesday night.

I became a fan of all the characters through my brother. Thanks to him, I’ve seen the Iron Man movies, Captain America, Hulk and Thor. Needless to say, I was pretty well versed in all of their histories before this movie began.

Overall, I really enjoyed it! The movie is long – two hours and 20 minutes – but it moved quickly from scene to scene and there were never any parts that I felt dragged on for too long. The plot was entertaining, though I have to say a few of the special effect villains had Lauren and I laughing rather than scared out of our wits. I’m guessing that wasn’t the goal. That said, the fighting was exciting and being able to see it in 3D was even better. It’s amazing how much 3D movies have improved from back when we were wearing those painful red and blue glasses.

I would definitely recommend The Avengers if you are a fan of superhero films.

Before the movie, we went to Noodles & Company for dinner. I had my favorite Med Salad, made with romaine, mixed greens, tomato, cucumbers, red onion, olives, cavatappi pasta, spicy yogurt dressing and feta.

Tonight I’m meeting a very special friend for dinner. We’re having a long-time favorite: sushi! Until then, it’s time to get to work. Hope you all are having an amazing week.

Are you a fan of superhero movies? If so, who is your favorite?

I could pretend that my brother is the reason I watch these movies, but I really do love them all on my own. I have a lot of favorites, but I really enjoy the X-Men movies and am looking forward to The Amazing Spider-Man this summer.

Bonus: Even if you aren’t a fan of the movies, what superpower would you want?

It’s always a toss up between flying and invisibility for me. Then I have to remember that I’m afraid of heights, and the choice seems easy. Though I think invisibility could lead to a lot of trouble…

Abrazos,

Pretty much anyone you ask who has been to Tango Sur raves about the food and laments over the long waits (“but it’s worth it!”). An Argentinian BYOB known throughout Chicago, people come from all over the city at all hours of the weekend to try their amazing dishes – and drink plenty of wine.

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Last week, I asked a group of Tango Sur veterans to come with Bobby and me and made a – gasp – reservation! It’s something you can only do when there are six people or more. Otherwise, it could be up to three hours before you get seated. We all showed up just in time for our 7:00 p.m. slot.

Clockwise: Bobby, me, Kelli, Jill, Andrew, Lauren, Kyle and Alex

We got the meal off to the right start by opening a couple bottles of red wine to share.

Jill also recommended we start with the Provoleta, an appetizer of Argentine provolone cheese cooked on the grill with olive oil and roasted peppers. It’s served with unlimited amounts of bread and tasted amazing – warm and, well, cheesy, with a bit of kick from the red peppers.

Another appetizer recommendation courtesy of Alex were the empanadas. We all shared one of each flavor: lamb, beef, chicken, ham with cheese and spinach with cheese. These were great! I was able to try the beef, chicken and spinach with cheese. The latter was my favorite, but they all had a deliciously flaky crust and flavorful middle.

For our entree, Jill and I shared the Lomo, a filet mignon cooked on the grill and served with salad.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get my pictures of the Lomo to turn out, but it was perfect. A little undercooked for me – I’m a crazy medium-well girl – but I saved a portion for leftovers the next day. With a little extra cooking time, it was easily one of the best steaks I’ve had.

I did, however, get a picture of Alex’s dish, the Bife Vesuvio, a grilled (range grown) prime steak sliced and filled with spinach, mar del plata cheese and garlic in a white wine sauce, served with Argentine style potatoes. These were the same potatoes that were served with my dish.

Our stomachs were content, to say the least. Jill was kind enough to bring champagne for my birthday, so we all shared in a glass of bubbly to wash down our fantastic meal.

Then they surprised me by telling the waiter it was my birthday! It was a great serenade, as evidenced by the cheesy grin captured by Lauren. Love Bobby’s expression in the background.

The flan they brought out was the icing on the cake, so to speak.

We had a great time, and now Bobby and I can officially say we’re Tango Sur veterans, too.

We’re already excited to go back again! The atmosphere is dark and cozy, which would make it perfect for a date night. Not to mention there are still so many great dishes we need to try!

Have you ever been to a BYOB – or Tango Sur, for that matter? If so, what did you think?

Abrazos,

Happy Mother’s Day!

I love any time I get to spend with my mom. This time of year is extra special because I was born on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, and sometimes my birthday even falls on the holiday. It makes it doubly fun to celebrate when my mom is the reason I’m here in the first place. (Bonus: My brother’s birthday falls on Father’s Day this year, so they will have a father-son, moment, too!)

Today is less about the meals and more about the mama.

Our hair colors have changed over the years.

Mama Bender has taught me so much. She is the perfect example of a mother who is always going above and beyond for her kids. Whether it was helping to plan school parties or planning a picture-perfect wedding, taking me out to the driving range or winning our fair share of mother-daughter golf tournaments, she has always inspired us to excel while above all being kind to others and treating every individual with the respect that they deserve.

Mama B exemplifies what it means to live with ambition, passion, spirit and love. Her values of honesty and integrity, of courage and generosity, are ones that I have embraced and can only hope to carry out with a quarter of her grace and fortitude.

As I grow older, I continue to be amazed and impressed by just how much she does for all of us. Of course, she’ll claim she hasn’t done enough, or that she could do more, but I think everyone who knows her would agree that her effort goes far beyond any normal expectations. She truly puts the “extra” in extraordinary with every project she undertakes and every goal she sets out to achieve.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mama B. I love you very much and am so grateful for the memories we continue to make together as mother and daughter. Thank you for the excellent birthday present.

And a very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! What are you doing to celebrate?

Abrazos,

Yesterday was an excellent day. I turned 25 and my phone turned back time.

That, my friends, is a POP phone – very business appropriate. I first came across it in a SELF Magazine fashion spread with Emmy Rossum. Basically, you attach it to your cell phone or anything with a headset plug in and are then able to hear out of it and talk into it. I am nothing if not nostalgic for retro technology (remember my Clueless phone?) so naturally, I LOVED it.

The ever-awesome Sam decided it would make a great birthday gift. Thank you, Sam! I’ve already been using it on my calls today and can’t help but smile wondering what people would think if they saw me walking down the street with it. Only a matter of time.

I also went on a birthday run. The weather was gorgeous, one of those days where it’s a bit chilly but the sun is shining and warm. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons in Chicago. Summer is great, but humidity-free heat is better.

When I got back, Bobby surprised me with an amazing card and gift, plus plans for a delicious dinner. Our beloved pizza was on the menu. The usual: chicken sausage, spinach, red pepper, mushroom and CHEESE.

It was extra delicious on a Wednesday night.

Especially when we decided to pair it with some wine: Columbia Crest H3 Merlot.

We also watched several episodes of How I Met Your Mother. It was a very relaxing way to celebrate a quarter of a century. I don’t really feel much older, but it’s still fun to say. I’m not sure what the next year will bring. Perhaps I’ll make a 25 in 25 list and see what happens.

The weekend is almost here! What are your plans?

Abrazos,

I’m so excited to talk about Insurgent! You may recall my review of Divergent a few months ago woah, way back in September? Honestly, where does time GO?

Anyway, this is the next installment of Veronica Roth’s trilogy, and when it was released on May 1, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Big thanks to Bobby for making that possible.

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Insurgent picks up right where Divergent left off. In fact, there is very little “recap” like what you might find in other book series where they try to rope the brand new reader in by explaining what happened in book one in the opening pages. I really respected Veronica Roth’s decision to leave this part out. Of course, there are plenty of details from the first book woven into the second, but by not having a full-blown summary, the reader is able to jump right into the action.

I won’t go into too many details about plot, especially for those of you who haven’t read Divergent yet. But I will say that I think Insurgent was right on par with Divergent in terms of how much I enjoyed it, and even stronger in terms of the writing and overall story.

In Short

In short, why haven’t you read Divergent yet? Only kidding, of course, but I do highly recommend starting with book one before picking up a copy of Insurgent. As I mentioned in my last review, this is essentially a dystopian series (think: Hunger Games) that takes place far into the future.

And not just any future…a Chicago future! Insurgent has a lot more detail with regard to Chicago landmarks. I could picture where everything was in relation to the Sears Tower, Merchandise Mart and Millennium Park. Granted, most of them are described as hollowed out versions of what they are in the present, but it was cool to feel like I could imagine the scene, the weather and everything else that is familiar because I call it home.

As is the case with the first book, there is plenty of action, drama and jaw-dropping revelations. Plus, the romantic storyline continues – without a love triangle! – which is always fun.

The Details

One of the things I think Veronica Roth does best in her second book is her character development. We learn an amazing amount of new and important facts about the main characters that impact the choices they make and their interaction with others. This is especially true in the character of Tobias (Four), but also exemplified through the protagonist, Tris.

After enduring quite a lot more than the average 16-year-old in book one, Tris has even more to grapple with. The problems are now much bigger than her – they impact the society as a whole and cause her to question everything she’s grown up knowing and believing in. I think Veronica Roth does a fantastic job of showcasing Tris’ internal struggle. She matures a lot in this book.

What’s interesting to me – without making too many comparisons – is how she is seen compared to someone like Katniss in the Hunger Games. After the first book, Katniss essentially becomes a celebrity, and the people around her use that celebrity to their advantage.

In Tris’ case, she did some very brave things in book one, but in the grand scheme of things she is not really seen as the “leader” among rebels. She’s important to us, the reader, because the story is told from her perspective. She’s certainly important to a number of other central characters in the book (Tobias aka Four comes to mind first). But she doesn’t really command the awe and admiration of an entire population. At least, not yet. Which is why it makes it even more awesome that by the end of Insurgent, she has made quite a name for herself – literally. That’s all I will say, other than that I have no doubt that her growing notoriety will be a theme that carries over into book three.

Veronica Roth’s attention to detail is also a huge reason why I love these books. Her writing style gets to the point quick, but in doing so unearths a slew of interesting information, not to mention a wildly creative world that actually seems possible. Nothing is too crazy or unrealistic. And the big reveal at the end of the novel will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and sad that you have to wait at least another year (or more) to find out what comes next.

Have I convinced you yet?

These Amazon reviews say it all. Divergent was good. Insurgent was AWESOME!

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Have you read Divergent or Insurgent yet? If so, what did you think?

Last but not least, the winner of the LUNA Fiber Bar giveaway is Clare!

Congrats, Clare! Send your mailing address to me at eatingbender@gmail.com!

Abrazos,