First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day
by
Dave Amaditz and
Dave Amaditz and
Marcy
Collier
Collier
Happy Fourth of July Readers! Independence Day
typically means that summer is half over, but we optimists at
Route 19, say the summer has barely begun. If you haven’t made your summer
reading list yet, don’t fret. Marcy and I have a great lineup of summer books
for you to enjoy on this long holiday weekend. Check out today’s post as well
as past First Friday reviews.
typically means that summer is half over, but we optimists at
Route 19, say the summer has barely begun. If you haven’t made your summer
reading list yet, don’t fret. Marcy and I have a great lineup of summer books
for you to enjoy on this long holiday weekend. Check out today’s post as well
as past First Friday reviews.
Welcome to July’s version of – First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day. In this
monthly series, we ask five simple questions about a debut novel that will
hopefully entice anyone reading this post to pick up the novel and read it
themselves, and/or give them at a glance some insight into the author’s writing
style and voice as well as how some of the characters might think or act. We do
this by presenting, first, answers to our
Five Favorite Things, followed by the author’s answers in a follow-up post.
monthly series, we ask five simple questions about a debut novel that will
hopefully entice anyone reading this post to pick up the novel and read it
themselves, and/or give them at a glance some insight into the author’s writing
style and voice as well as how some of the characters might think or act. We do
this by presenting, first, answers to our
Five Favorite Things, followed by the author’s answers in a follow-up post.
This month we’re pleased to highlight debut YA novelist,
Lynn Matson and her novel, Nil, a
compelling story about a girl who’s transported from the Target parking lot to
an unknown land called Nil. It’s packed with adventure, love and heartache as
the young people living on Nil try to escape – the catch – they only have 365
days to get out. The book is told from alternative points of views (Charley and
Thad), which gives the reader a terrific perspective into these two complex
main characters.
Lynn Matson and her novel, Nil, a
compelling story about a girl who’s transported from the Target parking lot to
an unknown land called Nil. It’s packed with adventure, love and heartache as
the young people living on Nil try to escape – the catch – they only have 365
days to get out. The book is told from alternative points of views (Charley and
Thad), which gives the reader a terrific perspective into these two complex
main characters.
1) What is your favorite line
or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character’s development
and/or growth?
or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character’s development
and/or growth?
Dave – Charley has not been living on the island long in terms of days, but she grew quickly to understand its
force, its power… and perhaps more importantly what she believed were the
secrets needed to escape. The following section gives some of that insight.
force, its power… and perhaps more importantly what she believed were the
secrets needed to escape. The following section gives some of that insight.
And now that I’d seen the Woman in the Maze for myself, I was more
convinced than ever that the carvings provided not only the start of the gate
wave, but something deeper, something more personal. Something each person had
to figure out before he or she could leave.
convinced than ever that the carvings provided not only the start of the gate
wave, but something deeper, something more personal. Something each person had
to figure out before he or she could leave.
Marcy –Thad is a veteran on the
tropical island of Nil. He leads the people on the island, but he never stops
working long enough to get close to anyone, that is until Charley arrives. This
paragraph shows Thad doing something he typically wouldn’t.
tropical island of Nil. He leads the people on the island, but he never stops
working long enough to get close to anyone, that is until Charley arrives. This
paragraph shows Thad doing something he typically wouldn’t.
It was a serious WTF moment in my own head.
I couldn’t believe I’d just offered to comb her hair. But she
did look ready to take a header any second. Make that another header. She still
had a nasty lump from yesterday. Her coloring had paled, or maybe that was
because I’d just offered to comb her hair. Seriously, Thad, WTF?
did look ready to take a header any second. Make that another header. She still
had a nasty lump from yesterday. Her coloring had paled, or maybe that was
because I’d just offered to comb her hair. Seriously, Thad, WTF?
Charley’s eyes were glued to the comb, like she was weighing
whether to say yes. Like she was wondering why the hell I’d asked.
whether to say yes. Like she was wondering why the hell I’d asked.
Maybe she thinks my post-Nil plan is to become a professional
hairstylist.
hairstylist.
2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?
Dave – I picked this chapter ending
from early in the book. To me, it set the scene and described so well in so few
words what the main character was feeling at that particular time.
from early in the book. To me, it set the scene and described so well in so few
words what the main character was feeling at that particular time.
The noise intensified, then stopped. Silence rushed in, louder
than before. Pressed tight to my rock, I listened. A twig cracked, then
another, snapping as crisply as the break of dry bones. A whoop, guttural and
plaintiff, reverberated through the night air.
than before. Pressed tight to my rock, I listened. A twig cracked, then
another, snapping as crisply as the break of dry bones. A whoop, guttural and
plaintiff, reverberated through the night air.
Something was moving through the trees behind me. Something that
didn’t sound human.
didn’t sound human.
Something that just might be as hungry as me.
Marcy – I will let this scary
chapter ending speak for itself.
chapter ending speak for itself.
I took another step, and my toe hit something hard. My sandal
caught and stuck. I looked down, and when I realized what I’d kicked, I
screamed.
caught and stuck. I looked down, and when I realized what I’d kicked, I
screamed.
It was a human skull.
3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?
Dave – One of the younger residents
of the island, Jason, is my favorite. He’s quiet and unassuming but he’s always
there for Thad, and for everyone for that matter, giving unselfishly of
himself as a spotter, the person with the vision needed to search for the wave
that would take them home. Although he could’ve hopped a number of waves
himself and left the island earlier, he respected the rules of “the city”. He
allowed those there the longest the opportunity to leave first.
of the island, Jason, is my favorite. He’s quiet and unassuming but he’s always
there for Thad, and for everyone for that matter, giving unselfishly of
himself as a spotter, the person with the vision needed to search for the wave
that would take them home. Although he could’ve hopped a number of waves
himself and left the island earlier, he respected the rules of “the city”. He
allowed those there the longest the opportunity to leave first.
Marcy – I would choose Natalie as
my favorite. She befriends Charley when she needs a girlfriend the most. She
takes her into her cabin as a roommate. In this scene, Natalie is doing a
makeover on Charley.
my favorite. She befriends Charley when she needs a girlfriend the most. She
takes her into her cabin as a roommate. In this scene, Natalie is doing a
makeover on Charley.
Using two thin sticks, she’d swept part of my hair into what
Natalie assured me was a very fashionable ‘do. The rest trailed down my back.
Then she smudged my eyes with charcoal and glossed my lips with something that
tasted like pomegranate. Stepping back, she looked at me like a painter
studying her canvas.
Natalie assured me was a very fashionable ‘do. The rest trailed down my back.
Then she smudged my eyes with charcoal and glossed my lips with something that
tasted like pomegranate. Stepping back, she looked at me like a painter
studying her canvas.
“You look amazing. I’d kill for your coloring, not to
mention your legs. There’s just one thing missing.” She raised one finger and
grinned. “Got it.” Reaching over, she broke a single white blossom off a wreath
by her bed and tucked it behind my ear. “There,” she said, nodding. “No bunches
of flowers in the hair, too fussy for you. “But this” – she adjusted the flower
– “is perfect.”
mention your legs. There’s just one thing missing.” She raised one finger and
grinned. “Got it.” Reaching over, she broke a single white blossom off a wreath
by her bed and tucked it behind my ear. “There,” she said, nodding. “No bunches
of flowers in the hair, too fussy for you. “But this” – she adjusted the flower
– “is perfect.”
4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?
Dave – I believe this short
paragraph describes perfectly the life they faced living on the island of Nil.
(And once again I picked the exact same quote that Marcy has chosen. Usually,
when we do something like that I’ll choose another. But this paragraph of
description is so right-on that I think I’ll leave it.)
paragraph describes perfectly the life they faced living on the island of Nil.
(And once again I picked the exact same quote that Marcy has chosen. Usually,
when we do something like that I’ll choose another. But this paragraph of
description is so right-on that I think I’ll leave it.)
Nil’s like that girl you spot in the Lodge after a full day of
kick-ass boarding, when you’re stoked and high on life.
kick-ass boarding, when you’re stoked and high on life.
She looks good, freakin’ hot. Long hair, tight body, killer
smile. Has a name like… Mallory.
smile. Has a name like… Mallory.
But once you really get to know her, the truth rips your guts
out. The truth is, she’s cruel. Heartless. The kind of girl who sleeps with
your best friend when your back is turned. And once the mask falls off, so does
the glamour. That’s the island of Nil in a nutshell. Blow-your-mind gorgeous,
until you peel away the façade and see who she really is.
out. The truth is, she’s cruel. Heartless. The kind of girl who sleeps with
your best friend when your back is turned. And once the mask falls off, so does
the glamour. That’s the island of Nil in a nutshell. Blow-your-mind gorgeous,
until you peel away the façade and see who she really is.
Marcy – Nil is paradise with a catch. It’s as if it’s a breathing,
living person who can give and take away from each of its inhabitants. Thad’s
description of Nil is powerful.
living person who can give and take away from each of its inhabitants. Thad’s
description of Nil is powerful.
Nil’s like that girl you spot in the lodge after a full day of
kick-ass boarding, when you’re high on life.
kick-ass boarding, when you’re high on life.
She looks good, freakin’ hot. Long hair, tight body, killer
smile. Has a name like…Mallory.
smile. Has a name like…Mallory.
But once you really get
to know her, the truth rips your guts out. The truth is, she’s cruel.
Heartless. The kind of girl who sleeps with your best friend when your back is
turned. And once the mask falls off, so does the glamour. That’s the island of
Nil in a nut-shell. Blow-your-mind gorgeous, until you peel away the façade and
see her for who she really is.
5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?
Dave – This particular line of
dialogue was used often throughout the story as both internal thought and
dialogue. I chose it because I believe it aptly describes the thought everyone
who ever lived on the island would have. It’s the perfect dilemma that pretty
much sums up everything about the island of Nil.
dialogue was used often throughout the story as both internal thought and
dialogue. I chose it because I believe it aptly describes the thought everyone
who ever lived on the island would have. It’s the perfect dilemma that pretty
much sums up everything about the island of Nil.
“I’m glad you’re here, even though I’m sorry you’re here.”
Marcy
– I won’t ruin the line with backstory,
but Johan has strong beliefs and doesn’t hold back telling the others the right
thing to do.
– I won’t ruin the line with backstory,
but Johan has strong beliefs and doesn’t hold back telling the others the right
thing to do.
“No
offense, but you two should leave. Thad makes three, and right now we need all
the luck a trinity can bring.”
offense, but you two should leave. Thad makes three, and right now we need all
the luck a trinity can bring.”
To
read more about Lynn Matson’s debut YA novel Nil please
go to:
read more about Lynn Matson’s debut YA novel Nil please
go to:
Website: http://lynnematson.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSMatson