Erin's Book Club pic :)

So I was talking with my dear friend and former roomate of 4 years, Katie Willett, and came across the idea of a sort of "Erin's Book Club", where I would post an entry every now and again of an author that I would recommend. I've done this a few times in the past anyways, but thought I'd make it official.

I solemly swear that this will not be nearly as high-pressured, nor, perhaps, as intriguing as Oprah's high-grossing version, but it will also not be as wacko. Which I think some will appreciate.

For the record, I read roughly 3-4 novels a week and they are typically good-girl romantic in nature, though every so often I'll pick up a heavy duty big girl read. It isn't that I can't read the intense New York Times Best Selling-literary-classic-type works, its just that I generally prefer not to. Perhaps that portrays me as shallow... but I'm jut being honest. If a more serious novel has been recommended to me 3 times, no more, no less, then I will read it. Rest assured, I know when to give in.

I read a little differently then most. As a writer with hopes of making it onto a bookshelf one day, I am very focused on content and details. I read, then reread, and then read once or twice more for good measure. I study character conversation tecniques, chapter beginnings and endings, spiritual content, worldy content, legalism, the "gasp" factor, and finally, how much the story and its characters stick with me after the fact.

Okay, so that is me.

My first author that I am going to feature is Siri Mitchell. She writes chic lit, mostly, but a more heavy and focused sort. The characters are rich, and well thought out. I appreciate the sense of realism that she injects into her characters spiritual struggle. As an author, she is well traveled, so she is able to introduce cultures and languages into her writing that take the reader to another location and lifestyle. I applaud that, being that I can barely afford to travel out of my neighborhood.

I also love that Siri fights against the more legalistic christian views in her novels. She's not afraid to call out the conservative christian culture on not "living like Jesus". I like that. She's got gumption, that one. She also doesn't shy away from creating non-believing characters, and she's certaintly not afraid to chastise the full-fledged believers when they get their noses up in the air. A girl after my own heart. Its obvious that she is down to earth and very willing to admit her own faults... which , I believe, creates some pretty poignant moments in a story.

Siri is also pretty hilarious. She is one of the few authors that have gotten me to laugh out loud while reading. In, "The Cubicle Next Door", there is a scene with the heroine's grandmother and her elderly friends, in which they are assisting her as she attempts to get ready for a military ball. It is wonderfully over the top and I actually chuckled. Yes, Chuckled.

Then there is something that I like to call the "gasp" factor. Siri has this in her novels. I'm talking about the moment in a sweetly romantic story when something happens between the two main characters that actually enduces a gasp out of the reader. I give Siri a 9.5 out of 10 in the gasp department. And 11 out of 10 for the aforementioned novel. Which is something I NEVER give out. Months after the fact, I'm still gasping in shock!

Okay... so I've read and can personally vouch for "Kissing Adrien" (made me want to go to France soooo bad!), "The Cubicle Next Door" (my fav, I think) and "Chateau of Echos" (great historical parallel that created two love stories in one). There are a couple of others that I've yet to read that I would assume are just as worthy reads. She's coming out with a historical fiction later this year that I am really looking forward to.

I would love to hear input if any of you ever pick her up... so please keep me posted!