Post your book's title, author, and page # you are on.
All authors, even those who write fiction and sci fi books, do some kind of research in order to write their books. What types of things do you think your author researched in order to write the book? Give specific examples from your book to back up your answer.
Remember: All posts should be at least 50 words (not counting title/author/page #).
70 comments:
I'm reading "Autobiography of a Face" by Lucy Greely and I'm on page 125.
Lucy Greely clearly had to research the cancer she had, Ewing's sarcoma. She gives statistics about it that she would have had to look up. For example, she says that as a child she never considered the possibility that she might die. When she was a teenager, she looked up her cancer and realized it only has a 5% survival rate. Also, she must have researched the hospitals she went to as a child. She describes which hospitals took Medicaid patients and which took higher-end insurance.
The book that I am currently reading is, May Bird and the Ever After. This book is by Jodi Lynn Anderson and I am now on page 103. I think that the author researched really scary ghost and creatures in mythogoly or something because there are some creepy people in the Ever After! An example is when May first gets pulled into the Ever After the creature that pulls her in is a gorgoeus looking creature but thewn finds out that all her teeth are fangs, she is seperated from everyone else, and is simply called the Water Demon.
I am reading the book, The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. I am on page 132 of this book. The Yearling is the loving story of a young boy and his pet fawn. The boy, Jody, stumbled through life hoping to find a place for him in the old Florida country. A literary sensation originally published eighty years ago has struck the hearts of many young adult readers. Many have found a greater story than ever imagined snuggled inside the cover of this book. This book is settled in the area of Cross Creek, Florida, the same settlement of the author Rawlings. Marjorie was born, lived, and wrote this book in Cross Creek from 1896-1953. I feel she would not need to research this area much because this was her home. She most likely knew about it for a long enough time to write this book without any research. Though, on the other hand, there were some parts of the book where research took place; for example, the migration routes of various animals such as bears, deer, rabbits, and coyotes. This book has brought happiness, sadness, and even confusion on the way to the closing words of the book. I have found it to be very interesting and cannot wait to finish it.
Rachel ~ The book you chose looks very . . . interesting! It seems this story is somewhat scary and surprising. I hope you like it!
The book that I am currently reading is The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. I am on page 145. Something that this author obviously would have had to research about is Greek mythology. He would have had to have researched Greek mythology because that is what the book and the entire series is about. He provides countless examples throughout the book like when one of the characters gives another a blade and tells her that it was Helen of Troy's blade called Katoptris. This author also would have had to have studied Roman mythology because one of the characters calls all of the Greek gods by their Roman names.
The book I am currently reading is called "Wanted" by Sara Shepard. I am now on page 179. I really do not think that there had to be any research done to create this series. This is probably just like the "Harry Potter" series where the author just randomly thought of it or it came to them as a dream. Most of this book is probably made up.
Mrs.Thomaes~
That sounds like a really depressing and sad story. Do you like it so far? How did you know about that book?
I'm reading "A Tale of Two Pretties" by Lisi Harrison, and I am currently on page 141.
The author, Lisi Harrison, has to do research in order to write this book, because she is writing a book from five different teenage girls perspectives, but sometimes guys too. She obviously is not a teenager, but knows a ton about everything that is popular now, as well as funny phrases that her characters use in the book. For example, in this particular book, some of the comeback include, "Tim Gunn it." Tim Gunn is a famous fashion critique, and is also on a show called Project Runway. He always says, "Make it work!" So that is what that would mean. They also talk about well known stores, like Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, Coach, etc. That is one of the reasons that I like this book so much, because I can relate to it VERY easily!
Rachel ~ That book sounds creepy. How is it so far? Tell me about it. I would freak out if that happened to me!
Monica - All authors do research, even if it doesn't seem like it! Are there any details in your book about the setting or specific jobs? How about interactions with people? Keep searching!
The book I'm currently reading is Twisted by Sara Shepard and I’m on page 286 and I'm almost finished!
I don't really know what she would have to research to create this book! Maybe information about stalkers and how they stalk people, but other than that it came mostly came from her imagination and way too many crime shows.
Dylan M.-
I loved that book; and I agree, its kind of a no-brainer that he had to research greek mythology.
I am reading Wenny Has Wings by Janet Lee Carey and I am on page 26.
Janet Lee Carey probably did not have to do very much research for writing the book because it is a fiction book. Other than having knowledge of what goes on in a hospital and the surroundings in the hospital. I say this because so far in the book the brother is in the hospital every day writing the letters to his deceased sister hoping that somehow she can read them. It's his venting tool. So other than that, so far I can not find anything really that the author would of had to research to compose this book.
Rachel-
That book sounds really interesting. Especially because of the ghost/mythology aspect of it. I think I may have read part of that book before and really liked it.
Monica- I am with you when you say your author did not have to do much research to come up with the ideas for the writing. I am in the same situation, my book is also fiction it is mostly made up.
I am reading retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon. i am on page 275 and right now an apocalypse where supernatural disasters are killing tons of people and a girl named abigail has to be sacrificed in a valley to keep those disasters back in their jars and keep the world from being destroyed. and right now in the book blood is raining from the sky and when it touches something, it bursts into flames.
Dylan~ive read that book and i love it. Rick riordan is one of my favorite authors of all time. especially since all of his books have to do with mysteries or mythololgy those are the kinds of books that i cant stop reading
I am reading Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev and I am on page 203. This book has a lot of references to Shakespeare and theater. The author of Perchance to dream worked in a theater and has experience in writing plays, because of this I think she had the experience rather than the research to write this book. I actually had to do some research on Shakespeare and his plays in order to understand parts of this book.
Rachle
that sounds really interesting what is the Ever After.
I am reading Torn, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and I am on page 28. Since each book in this series takes place in a different historical time period and place, I think that to write each book an immense amount of research has t be done for each book to get it historically correct. One specific example is when the two main characters, Jonah and Katherine, first get on Henry Hudson’s boat the man who sent them back in time was saying what was happening at the exact moment they happened even though he wasn’t with them.
Dylan- Your right, the author does give a lot of examples of greek history in that book.
I'm reading "Heaven Is for Real" by Todd Burpo and I am on page 86.
There are multiple instances in the book so far that clearly show that Todd Burpo had to use research to write certain parts of the book. Todd questions his son's sickness, and then all of a sudden thinks, could it be appendicitis? Then, he relates this to his family history and he must have done research within his family. For example, he states his appendix burst in college, his uncle's appendix burst, and his wife had her appendix removed in college, so he may have looked up statistics on the likelihood of appendicitis being passed on. Also, Todd Burpo clearly had to do research on different hospitals he and his wife had to take their sick son, Colton too, and hospitals that they considered. He describes the different assets of them. For example, he says whether they were mainly kids hospitals, the lengths of the flights or drives, and the types of doctors.
Dylan M-
That's very interesting that Rick Riordan uses the Greek Mythology in that book as well as the Percy Jackson series. I would assume that he has accumulated so much research about that topic that he will still have many mythology adventures to come.
I am reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and I am currently on page 50. This author definitely had to research the time of the Soviet Union Control and when Afghanistan changed. Although he lived through it, he only has his own perspective to go off of. He needed to research how other people viewed the situation in order to not sound biased, or to confirm his facts. Also, he probably researched the different Muslim groups, since again, he only knows his own. One more thing he most likely researched was making sure all of the dates of the important events in the book were correct. For example, when the author is describing the night Afghanistan changed forever, he says " As it turned out, they hadn't shot much of anything that night of July 17, 1973. Kabul awoke the next morning to find that the monarchy was a thing of the past."
The title of my book is Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. And I am currently on page 24. I think that the author of my book had to do a lot of research to write Heaven is for Real. For instance in the beginning of the book, the family is at a museum and they are looking at spiders. The author must of researched many different types of spiders, because he not only listed many different spider’s names, he wrote about what they were like. The author also listed many types of diseases, that they thought the father character may have had. The author would have had to research the various diseases, as well. So yes I do think my author had to do a lot of research.
Duncan~
I completely understand what the boy is doing as far as writing the letters, and I most likely would have done the same thing. For me, it takes an extremely long time for things to sink in, and I'm not sure I would be able to grasp the concept that a loved one was really gone.
Alyssa~
I never really would have thought of that but it is very true. She did have to in a way, transform her mind to think like the characters.
I am reading Catching fire by Suzanne Collins, and I am on page 77. My book is in the setting of a very distopia like atmosphere. Anything that even seems like a it goes against the government or makes the government look bad, you, your family and your friends will be killed publicly. So to write a book with such an intense government Suzanne Collins would have to research real distopias and also other books that have distopias.
Katy, I read the yearling in third grade and it is a really amazing book. We even visited the authors farm.
I am reading Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz and I am on page 323. The author had to do some research for this book, especially about space. The main character, Alex, has to go into space and defuse a bomb on a satellite or else the satellite will fall on Washington D.C when the bomb goes off. The author would have had to research how you get into space and what it feels like. There is a whole page on what Alex is feeling as he is being blasted off into space and I think the author did a pretty good job describing it. He would have also had to research kite-surfing because that is something that Alex does to escape from the island he is being held captive on. Again, the author went into a lot of detail on kite-surfing, so he probably did research it.
Connor, I agree, the author would have had to do a lot of research for each of the books, since they are all set in different time periods. That probably would have been a lot of work for her.
The book I'm reading right now is The Thirty-Nine steps by John Buchan, right now I'm on page 73. In order to write the books so detailed and and scenically accurate he had to spend a lot of time in the English and Scottish area. Buchan spent much of his time fishing, hiking, and being close to nature, this definitely shows in his writing about Mr.Hannays adventures roaming the countryside. Buchan has also been to South Africa, as has his character in the beginning of the book.
Kate~
I've heard of that book before, but didn't know what it was about. It sounds interesting, and unlike my author who grew up living in the place the book is set, your author sounds like he took a lot of work into researching.
Hunter ~ I cannot believe you read the yearling in third grade! The book is so hard to understand even for me now. Maybe it is just all the slang country talk that is confusing. Also, my mom was trying to get me to go to the farm too over the summer but we never got around to it. Is the farm neat?
My book is Never Have I Ever, by Sara Shepard. I'm on page 17, and it's great. I think Sara Shepard had to research a lot of different crimes. In the book, there is a lot of secrets, and the main character Emma is trying to assume the life of her dead twin sister, who was murdered. As she does this, she must find out who did it, so I think she looked at stories were people assumed others' lives.
RachelF5-I read that book in fifth and loved it. I agree with you on the ghosts research.
Mefferon- I agree. That series is just so random, but it's great.
I am on page 667 in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. In the middle of my book, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are looking for parts of Voldemort's soul, but they have to be able to get out of places quickly and go places that they think Voldemort will not think they are going in order to find the pieces safely. Wizards can apparate, go from one place to another just by thinking about that place. When Hermione apparates, she thinks about a specific place from her non-magical childhood. She goes to a forest that she used to go to when she was a kid. This is a real forest, so Rowlimg must have had to do some research on that part of London to know the landscape and environment and such of that forest. She also probably researched how castles where built centuries ago, because Hogwarts is a school made out of a castle, so for Rowling to design where the classrooms and towers and dungeons and stuff where she must have researched the set up of castles hundreds of years ago.
Dmaillart5- I think it would be really awesome to be writing a book and have to research Greek Mythology. I think Greek Mythology is really cool, it would be fun to be writing a book and get to read all about the Greek myths and be able to incorporate it into your story.
I am currently reading "The Circle Trilogy: Black" by Ted Dekker. I am on page 327.
Ted Dekker had to do research on science,specifically vaccinces and cells. One part where this researched information is used is when Tom Hunter was trying to prove to Monique de Raison that his dreams portray real life facts and he had to say how many base pairs are in the HIV vaccine. Another place that was needed is when Tom is trying to prove that the vaccine can mutate at high temperatures, and it is true that vaccines don't work anymore when the temperature is too high.
Rachel,
That book sounds very interesting. I like the title and I also like reading books about paranormal things. Is it a good book?
I reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, and I'm on page 17. My book is about Sadie and Carter Cane, so far in the story you find out there mother is dead, for some unknown reason. Sadie lives with her grandparents in London and Carter travels the world with his dad, who is a famous Egyptologist. For this story the author would have had to research lots of Egyptology because there's lots of detailed information on the Rosetta stone and the exact names of Egyptian gods and different hieroglyphics.
Dylan- Im reading a book by Rick Riordan too! It seems he likes ancient mythology a lot since hes written about both Egyptian and Greek mythology!
Rachel- i read that book! it does have some creepy characters!! I, personally, thought it was a good book so i hope you enjoy!
I am currently reading "An Asian Tragedy" by David Detzer and am on page 38. Since this is a nonfiction book about the Vietnam war the author had to have done research. One area the author must have researched extensively must have been Vietnam's history. I can prove this because on page 10 it says "the history of Vietnam begins with three great forces: the land, the presence of the Chinese to the north and the determination of the Vietnamese to be independent." The author talks about many other things including the war obviously. Overall this book is really good because it gives so much information for our NHD topic.
Dylan- that book sounds sounds good. What island is he held on and by who? It must involve action and fighting. I love books like that.
I’m reading, Dark Side of the Moon: The Magnificent Madness of the American Lunar Quest, by: Gerard J. Degroot. For my book, the author had to do some research on the first rockets used in World War 2 and how Hitler used them. For example, when he was explaining the background of the V-2 used in World War 2. One of the first ideas was in 1928, which was called the Opel-Rak 2. This was used in the German Army. Also why we chose space to get into, like why we wanted to go there and how this whole Space Race came about. For example, when the USA found some radioactivity going on in the Soviet Union, they felt insecure, so they wanted to move to space. It would be a new place to start and also this way the USA could prevent attacks from space (from the Soviet Union). The Cold war is very important history used throughout the book and background information on the countries and their progress throughout the race and their rankings.
Rachel-
Is that book like Into the Wild? Your book sounds pretty creepy but interesting at the same time.
I am reading the book "Esperanza Rising" It is by Pam Munoz Ryan and I am on page 58. I think the author in my book did a lot of research on Mexico and California. I think that she researched those two places because those are the two main places where the story takes place. In the beginning they live on a ranch in Mexico and then they end up in California.
RFrangie5 - Your book sounds creepy, but really interesting with the ghosts and that water demon!
I am still reading Bomb Scare: the History and Future of Nuclear Weapons, by Joseph Cirincione, and I am currently on page 123.
Joseph obviously had to do some research on how the nuclear bomb was made even though he is (or was) the Vice President for National Security at the Center for American Progress at Washington, D.C. He also had to do some research about nuclear politics of the past and of other countries. He has charts, an array of notes at the back of his book, and statistics. Much of his charts and statistics he found are from the Atomic Bulletin.
Knipper-
Wow blood raining from the sky? I don't know how that author did their research...I love apocolyptic stories though...even though some are a bit disturbing...
I'm reading "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown and I am on page 129.
This book was clearly based on tons and tons of research. Especially about the US capitol Washington DC.
Dan Brown gives details of the Rotunda. How it and other DC buildings were based on Roman Architectures. He describes the fresco, "The Apotheosis of Washington" on the ceiling of the building Rotunda in detail. I searched it online and I couldn't even make out the people Brown was talking about.
Kate~
I heard that the "The Kite Runner" was a good book. I'm planning on reading it after I finished The Lost Symbol. And after that the thousand Splendid Suns.
In my book The Fire Theif by Terry Deary I am on page 34. The author must have researched lots of Greek mythology. For example he spoke often of how prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to the humans. Also he told of the legend of how zues punished prometheus by having his liver be torn out once a day by an eagle. He also must have searched much in English because the way he writes is powerful and moving, it makes you feel as if your there and as if you can feel the characters emotions.
KHellkamp5 that is one of my favorite books it just gets better as you read.It really moved me and by the time I was finished I felt completley different on the middle east.
I am reading The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan and I am on page 103. Rick Riordan definitely did a lot of research. The premises of the book is that Egyptian gods are real. So logically there is a lot of in depth research on them like there many names, forms, powers,etc.Also a lot of research was done to find actual artifacts in real museums and use them as a story line. For example they have found several clues like the book of life which is real minus the power. That is what Rick Riordan had to research.
Tucker your author had to do a lot of the same research as my author did accept for Greek mythology. Is it like the Percy Jackson series.
I am reading Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I am on page 65. This book is the story of Lia and Cassie, two girls that lose their friendship while in a battle of who will be the thinnest. However, when Cassie loses her life to her eating disorder, Lia is lost and confused. The author said in an interview that her books take a tremendous amount of research- including understanding eating disorders, but also talking to those around her for real outlooks on the situation.
Jaci- That book sounds intense... what is it about? It obviously took the author a lot of research!
The book I am currently reading is Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes, and I’m on page 252.
I think the author Mark Hughes would have had to research or even go to a high school. So that he could listen and record what happens and all the drama that goes on. He also probably researched how bands came together to form their band. An example would be how there is a bully at school Ray who is the lead singer of the rival band Mudslide Crush. He hates Lemonade Mouth because they are better than his band. Mark Hughes might have been able to come up with this on his own but, I’m pretty sure he would need research it and go to a local high school to get all the great details on the drama and bullying that Ray created during the book.
Karoline- I loved that book, I have so many parts in that book that are my favorite.
To all~
I'm really enjoying this book and Lena it is not like Into the Wild. It is a very good book to read and also its a series so read them all! I still working on the first one though.
DylanM5!
I really liked that book when I read it in 7th grade and it did not take me very long to read. Its interesting seeing the otr characters perspectives as well in the book. Have fun reading!
I am currently reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and I am 29% through the book.
I think Suzanne Collins had to do plenty of research to complete this book. For example, she would have had to do research to find out reasonable technology of the future, such as hovercrafts instead of planes. Suzanne also would have had to research good fighting weapons because they use very high tech weapons in the book.
Alyssa~
I have read some of those books! You should lend it to me sometime! I love the expression "Tim Gunn it", by the way. :)
I am reading the book Scat by Carl Hiaasen. This is a fiction book so not much research had to be done. I do think he put a lot of thouhgt but so much research. Maybe he had to research a swamp he could use for the setting but yet again Carl did live in Gainesville so it was a swamp here! He probably didn't do hardly any research! Also I forgot to state in the beggining i am curently on page 36 I found out how to make it so my nook shows page numbers instead of a perecent :).
Bridgit- Wow that sounds like a cool book! Do you like it?
The book I am currently reading Dark Life and I am on page 191, by Kat Falls. In this book people who live underwater can get something called a dark gift. It means that their brain functions differently. Because they live underwater th water pressure can mess with their brains making them see things differently. Another one is how some continental plates have been pushed underwater because the tectonic plates move.
KGraetz5,
I read that book and I thought it was amazing. The setting in the Yearling is almost exactly the same as at Cross Creek. I suggest going there since your reading that book.
DJohnson6,
Wow your book sounds said. Hes in the hospital and has a deceased sister...thats just really sad and depressing.
I am reading the book The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams. I am currently on page 83.
I think the author of my book had to do some research on the placement of the book. The main character, Evie, goes to Chippewa High School. She delivers papers in Hokepe Woods, a rich neighborhood. The author probably researched the environment and what the neighborhood was like because there is a lot of detail, like the old woman’s house was modern, with grey stones, a small garden in the front right, and the woods behind her house.
I am currently reading the book 13 Reason Why by Jay Asher. I am on page 70. I believe in order for the author of the book to write the book he really had to do some research. One thing he would have to research was reasons why a teenager would commit suicide over friends. He would also have to research how life currently is in high school, and how boys and girls behave in high school. The author was also going to need to think as if he were a teenager to write this book. The author was also going to have to research and think about how girls think and talk. The reason why is because the main character is a female, and she is recording video diaries of why she killed herself. The last thing the author was really going to need to research was a way to format and put the information in the book so that he is constantly foreshadowing because it is his first book.
Mefferen6- That is very interesting. In most books the author usually does research so it is cool to hear of a book unlike that. Also, the book must be extremely interesting because of all the information the author came up with! I have also heard its a really good book, I hope you like it.
Alyssa Hines-
I think you are right on point. If i was reading that book, which I think I might now, I could totally make it work!:)
I am reading Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman and i am on page 26.
My author would have to do allot of research on segregation, and the Montgomery bus boycott. Also, he would have had to read biographies, and autobiographies of many people including Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin. I know this because he used many quotes by these people, and is mainly talking about the start of the bus boycott.
Nii Soja,
That sounds like a very depressing, but interesting book. I would think that most authors would be to afraid to go near that topic, but because of that, your book sounds interesting
I am reading Peak By: Roland Smith, and i am on page 74. This book was based on a true story, so research would have had to be done to write this book. At one point the book mentions how his mother got hurt during Rock Climbing, i had to look this up and check if it was true- It was! This was a great idea to include because, Peaks mom does not want Peak climbing.
Karoline- I loved that book, I have it, and I read it so many times! it was so good!
The book I am reading is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, and I am on page 81.
This book would not require much researching in terms of the time and place it was set in, the 1700s, because the person who wrote it was actually present in that time. One thing that she would have to research is what people of very high society, Dukes and Duchesses, would do in their everyday life and what was the kind of conversations that they would have, for these are a large part of the book. She would also have to find out about and research how a large group of sisters would interact, like they do in the book, because she only has six brothers and one sister who was much older than her.
KGraetz5- I read that book in elementary school and I could not put it down. I think that the way that Jody raises Flag is amazing and I wish that today we still had those kinds of opportunities to raise animals that need our help and then release them back into the wild. I hope you enjoy the story!
also, my author had to research Greek mythology for this book, because artemis revives the main character after his best friend kills him and turns him into a dark hunter. She stripped his soul from him and in return gave him revenge on his friend.
Re-Post:
The book I am currently reading is called "Wanted" by Sara Shepard. I am now on page 179. There isn't a lot of research that the author could have done but there is a little. For one, the author could have watched shows like 48 Hours and etc.. This could maybe show the different methods people have for stalking other people. Also how people kill other people, because in this book a girl named Ali tries to kill these 4 girls countless times.
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