Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion
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What Are You Reading Now?
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Kirsten
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Jun 22, 2010 07:46AM
Cheryl and Jess, I loved the Penderwicks, too, both book and cover. But the biggest fan in my house is my older son, who was about 11 when he discovered it. He read the sequel, too.
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Lani wrote: "I'm currently re-reading Perfect Chemistry and getting ready to listen to The Graveyard Book on audiobook. I decided to re-read Perfect Chemistry because I loved t..."
I really loved Perfect Chemistry -- the cover really got me and drew me to it -- and I can't wait to read the sequel. I'm on the waiting list at my library.
I actually liked Rules of Attraction better than Perfect Chemistry although I liked PC bettter the second time through.
Bhumi wrote: "Alyson, I am so jealous of you! Shadow Hills sounds fantastic."Since I mentioned that there was a giveaway, just wanted to let you know that the post is up.
http://youngadultlitreviewblog.blogsp...
The ARC contest is open internationally.
I'm a third of the way through The Lake of Souls by Darren Shan. So excited there are only two books left in this series. I'm never reading a 12 books series again. It's way too much.
Amy - That is my feeling about long series. I lose interest about 3 or 4 books in. How many things can one character go through. Is Shan's series with one primary main character or multiple main characters?
There are about five main characters, but three that are primary to most books. I started the series from a recommendation and now I"m just reading them because I really want to know how it ends. Then no more long series for me.
A series where the books are standalone (like Nancy Drew or the Babysitters Club) can go on as long as the author and audience want.But IMO, an epic tale with a continuous plot line loses its impact if it goes longer than 7 books. And I think the writer should have each book outlined before the first book is published. Otherwise you get into the neverending story issues, like the Sword of Truth series, the Wheel of Time, or George R. R. Martins Fire and Ice series.
Harry Potter, I think, had the best of both worlds. Each story was its own adventure, but there was an epic thread that pulled the books together. AND the author made it clear from the beginning that there would be 7 books, one for each year he was in school.
Donna wrote: "Finished Poison Study now moving on to Beautiful Creatures"Donna, what did you think of Poison Study? I liked it.
AngelaSunshine wrote: "I'm reading The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy right now. Cute girl power book."I got two-thirds of the way through Cinderella Society and gave up. I liked it at first, but it kind of fizzled out for me near the end because I lost my suspension of disbelief.
Kirsten - Funny - It was the reverse for me. I had trouble getting into the Cinderella Society and then really liked it towards the end. I can see it being something teen girls really liking though.
Kirsten and Alyson, do you guys have any questions about the book or author? I won an auction for the book and Kay Cassidy included a phone call or interview. I want to do it for my blog, but I've never interviewed before! I'm trying to work up questions worth asking!
Angela - I have been in email correspondence before with Kay....but wow a phone call/interview. Cool. I'll try sending you a message with questions.
AngelaSunshine wrote: "I won an auction for the book and Kay Cassidy included a phone call or interview. I want to do it for my blog, but I've never interviewed before! I'm trying to work up questions worth asking!"I've done a few author interviews on my blog. It's hard to come up with creative questions, but I usually try to ask things that *I* want to know.
Hope that helps.
Thanks ladies!!Rita, I'm going to check out your blog for ideas. ;)
I'm starting Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz.Alyson........totally agree on the seven book limit for a series. After that, it just gets stale. I loved HP for that reason!
Amy - I think it was Rita who said a 7 book limit. I actually think about 3 or 4 for most series. However, I think books like HP where there is a clear sense of where the story is going and how the whole thing develops works. Also the Vlad Tod series by Heather Brewer is similar in that she had a view of a series going from 8th to 12th and there is a development of character and maturity similar to HP. I do think the Legend of the Seeker series by GoodKind lost my interest after book 4. Some people really like Kelley Armstrong's Other World Series because characters have arcs and the series takes place in the same world but the focus in not on the same character all the time. I am still early on though so can't say what I will think later on.
I loved The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. Kirsten, you said your 11 yo son enjoyed it? Good for him for being open to stuff that looks a little girly! What else does he recommend? Has he read Estes and Nesbit?
I am currently in the middle of reading Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series. I am on volume 7 out of 11.Intense, intelligent, interesting and fabulous.
Kellee - Sandman graphic novel series??? Tell me more? Obviously good?!
Alyson wrote: "Kellee - Sandman graphic novel series??? Tell me more? Obviously good?!"Yes!!
Dream is our main character (he is The Sandman, The Shaper of Dreams, etc.). He is one of the endless. His siblings include Destiny, Desire, Delirium, Death and Despair.
The series intertwines the new mythology of The Endless with many other mythologies including Greek, Christian, Egyptian, Arabian, etc.
The first book begins with Dream being captured and held in captivity. During his time away, the realm of dreams falls apart and Dream must help rebuild it.
The first book was a bit confusing- the exposition of the series, obviously, but I am on volume 7 now and am sucked in. The series is award winning and so intriguing.
Thanks Kellee and Heather. I am going to add it to my GoodReads TBR.
I add the Sandman book. Sounds awesome. I don't usually read graphic novels but I"ll give it a try.Alyson........sorry for the mixup (and Rita too). Some days I have trouble following, especially with two kids running around, vying for my attention.
Alyson wrote: "Amy - I think it was Rita who said a 7 book limit. I actually think about 3 or 4 for most series."I agree with you, Alyson. Most of the time 3 or 4 books is good. On rare occassions, I've read some good stories with 7 books for the story arc. Actually, I can only think of 2 series: the Death Gate Cycle and HP. But I think those stories were carefully planned. They felt organized rather than meandering, with a tight plot and a focus on the main characters rather than every side character.
When I think of long series that should have been a short 3 or 4 books, I think of Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, where every character, no matter how small, became the focus, and all the characters you loved from the beginning got lost as the world and the story grew beyond any semblence of story.
Cheryl wrote: "I loved The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. Kirsten, you said your 11 yo son enjoyed it? Good for him for being open to stuff th..."Cheryl, it surprised me, too. He's a total jock, a boy's boy. But he loves reading. He tried Estes and didn't like it, and hasn't read any Nesbit. He liked the Pendragon series, and I'm going to pick up 'An Abundance of Katherines' and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks' for him at the library today, to see if he'd like either one.
I am reading Heist Society so far pretty good. I am liking the dynamics between Hale and Kat, even though I think she should be furious with him because of the con he pulled on her!!
Kirsten, I'll look into those, too. Tx for sharing!
I just finished The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and truly loved this book! I laughed and cried out loud and couldn't stop reading until I knew how it ended!
I just noticed that Ally Carter is going to be in my area in July. Hoping to get to her signing. Need to read Heist Society before the signing.
Just read I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME by Lisa Schroeder. It was the first book that I have ever read that is a novel in verse and I was worried before I started it that I might not liked it but ended up loving it. A very fast read and would be a great book to recommend to a reluctant reader. The book is very touching, and does a wonderful job of looking at the grief process when the main character Ava loses her boyfriend in an accident.
Heather wrote: "Arya wrote: "I am reading Heist Society so far pretty good. I am liking the dynamics between Hale and Kat, even though I think she should be furious with him because of the con he p..."I really liked it! Good thing to read if you like Robin Hood - not that they are "stealing for the rich to give to the poor" or anything but the whole thief dynamic . . . hmmm maybe they have nothing to do with each other, but I liked both of them - Robin Hood and Heist Society that is. I am hoping there is a sequel!
Arya wrote: "Heather wrote: "Arya wrote: "I am reading Heist Society so far pretty good. I am liking the dynamics between Hale and Kat, even though I think she should be furious with him because..."You know, I didn't like Heist Society. I thought it wasn't well-written; there were scenes where people acted in ways that didn't make sense, or where the author would tell us something, instead of just showing it. The relationship with Hale didn't really make sense, either. The plot, however, was cool, as were the tricks used for the big heist.
I'm reading Mistwood, by Leah Cypess. I'm not far in, but can't wait to get back to it after I finish my Saturday cleaning and organizing!
I am doing this Book-a-day challenge with some other educators and librarians during our summer break and yesterday I finished The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I know that it is Middle Grade and not YA but it is a wonderful book. I loved it. Now to see what I am going to read today.
Heather - I have Savvy on my list of books to read this summer. And Fever 1793.
So Alyson, a book a day........you read one book each day? Or is there a book recommendation for a book each day?I'm reading The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross. I have cupcakes on the brain. Trying to start a little side business.
Heather wrote: "I like Lucky a lot, Alyson. Have you read Savvy?I'm starting Fever 1793 today. It's my first Laurie Halse Anderson book. I'm hoping to finish it and on..."
Heather, I liked Fever 1793, but it wasn't my favorite LHA book. If you don't love it, don't give up on the author! Try Speak or Twisted first too.
Amy - The challenge is a book a day. You get to pick. It can be a picture book, graphic novel, middle grades, ya, etc. If you read 2 or 3 in a day (possible..) then you can count it for a day that you can't get to a book. Most of us started when school let out and will wind up when our schools are back in session.
And have you read It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder? Fun MG book about starting a cupcake business and more.
That's pretty cool. No haven't read that one but gonna check it out.
Thanks Heather. I'll add Ida B. to my list.
I'm reading The Short Second Stories of Bree Tanner. I've probably butchered the title (can't keep it straight) but it's Twilight related and I'm obsessed.
Alyson wrote: "I am doing this Book-a-day challenge with some other educators and librarians during our summer break and yesterday I finished The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. I know that it is Middle G..."That is very cool Alyson. Would be lots of fun too!
I am listening to Alanna: The First Adventure. I read the book ages ago and listening to the audio is a treat. I had forgotten a lot of the story.
Wild Things: YA Grown-Up
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