Flights of Fantasy discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Books & Discussions
>
What are you reading? (Dec 2013)
I'm slowly but surely working my way through the stories in The Box: Uncanny Stories, and while I knit I'm listening to Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. It's very interesting!
I thought maybe you meant there were 144 episodes.
Nyssa wrote: "Felina wrote: "What do you mean by gross?"A constant show of rotting body parts, oozing fluids, and/or eating brains."
Then yes. I don't think it's extreme but I love zombies and a good juicy head stomp.
I initially read that as 'good juicy head soup', and made a mental note never to visit you.
Cannibalism can often put a damper on relationships.
Some might say a terminal one...
On the topic of what we're reading: I've started Robinson Crusoe, which I haven't read since I was a pre-teen. Christmas puts me in the mood for the classics, and I suspect I'm going to have a fair bit of reading time today since I'm going to spend a good part of it waiting for someone to make it through the jam-packed airports...
On the topic of what we're reading: I've started Robinson Crusoe, which I haven't read since I was a pre-teen. Christmas puts me in the mood for the classics, and I suspect I'm going to have a fair bit of reading time today since I'm going to spend a good part of it waiting for someone to make it through the jam-packed airports...
Titania wrote: "I initially read that as 'good juicy head soup', and made a mental note never to visit you."Oh...now that gross.
Colleen wrote: "Very much agree. It coulda been decent if it went more humor. It was just so earnest, it didn't work for me.As a side note, would you say it could be YA? There was this big stink 'cause people we're calling it YA, and, apparently, the author got his knickers on a twist about it.
When I read it, I could easily see it being called YA. Just curious as to your thoughts. "
Sorry for the late reply, Colleen, but yes I also saw the YA controversy by the author and thought he was stupid for it. The heroine, her bestie and boyfriend are clearly in their teens or late teens at most. R's age was never revealed, but he came off as 22+. Even though the book was pretentious as hell just the age of the protagonists would make it young adult or actually, New Adult...even though it doesn't have any sex (thank the gods!).
I don't think the age of the protagonist always means it's YA. Like Ocean - I think he's 7 and it sort of reads like a kids book on the surface, but, for me, it's very much about being an adult reflecting on childhood and I agree with the marketing for that as an adult book.Warm Bodies just read YA to me. I mean, a lot of YA books have coming-of-age elements, and I definitely got some of that vibe with R trying to figure out who he was and where he fit. I also don't recall any themes that we're too mature for a YA book.
And, like you, I found parts of the writing more pretentious than anything else. I can only take so much naval gazing in one sitting...
But Marion isn't wrong in that calling it YA will turn some adults off, because of the presumption that YA means immature and puerile. In Feedback, as we speak, some of the literary snobs are in full force in this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
In that vein, I agree with him - it will turn off some adults. But those adults are stupid, so there's that. ;)
(Honestly, I think I would've been irritated if I picked up Warm Bodies as a horror book. I would've been expecting something very different.)
But, anyway, we have 3 out of 3 votes that it could easily be YA... case closed. ;)
I can never comprehend why people become so upset over teens taking ownership of their books. Partially because I love to get excited about books myself. Why should it be wrong to celebrate something we love. But more importantly, as a middle school teacher, you just don't understand how much it warms my heart to see kids of all descriptions lovingly wrapping their arms around their favorite books, eyes on fire as they geek out with their friends discussing characters, plot lines, movie casting possibilities, etc. Doesn't every writer have a list of books a mile long which inspired them? Take it as a compliment! Celebrate it! The best fans in the world are embracing your book. They'll love you for the rest of their lives. Who could ask for more than that.
Laurel wrote: "I can never comprehend why people become so upset over teens taking ownership of their books. Partially because I love to get excited about books myself. Why should it be wrong to celebrate somet..."So beautifully said! I envy your getting to see the happy/positive relationships with books on a regular basis. I did see that quite a bit when I volunteered in the school library, but now as a substitute teacher (especially in middle school), I tend to see the opposite. It hurts everytime I hear a young person say: "I don't want to read; I hate reading", and as I tend to gravitate towards Language Arts and Reading classes, I hear it a lot.
Oh, I say note pinky in the air I suspect these would "nevare", "Nevar" make it in literary fiction... These low brow YA efforts are simply....pedestrian, fit only for the hoi polloi, the "great unwashed masses". No, no literary fiction only, sniff. Reeaally.
I'm trained to teach Language Arts, but through a series of happenstance (and a year in Engineering), I have spent nearly all of my career teaching Science. It kills me to have to ask readers to put their books away in order to perform their experiments, but we celebrate reading so often in other ways in my classroom, the kids understand. Students I don't teach know I'm the book lady at school. It's cool. I love listening to students argue over the fact it's okay for the lead actors of
to be star crossed lovers in that movie while playing brother and sister in
, etc. I'm sorry you encounter more of the negative. Trust me, the keeners are out there!
Damn plebes mucking up the joint...
I read more YA now than I did when I was a young adult. Actually, I'm not even sure if there was a YA section. If I had had the books teens have today to read I never would've done anything else. And it always bugs me to hear someone put down anyone for something that they have a passion for. I love seeing kids (and non kids) getting excited over something that they love.Many of my friends read YA too. For the most part they are too busy to read. They have full time jobs and families to take care of. But they do find time to read YA.
Colleen wrote: "I don't think the age of the protagonist always means it's YA. Like Ocean - I think he's 7 and it sort of reads like a kids book on the surface, but, for me, it's very much about being an adult ref..."You're right about that. Oceans did deal with more adult themes, but even so I wouldn't be opposed to marketing it to a more mature YA audience. In comparison, Warm Bodies reads YA to me too even with use of ten dollar words thrown in.
The thing is I think literary snobs wouldn't be the type to pick up Warm Bodies anyway. The movie alone marketed to a YA audience, which would've turned many highbrow adults away from the book.
I'm sure that the author's asshatery comments served to turn readers away more than any YA label could have done. As has been pointed out by the open-minded people in this group YA sells even amongst adults.
--------------------
So to get back on topic of the What Are You Reading? thread....I finished The Book yesterday. Really enjoyed it and can't wait for the discussion. I also started 11/22/63.
Jackie wrote: "The thing is I think literary snobs wouldn't be the type to pick up Warm Bodies anyway. "Exactly! I kept wanting to tell the dude that he didn't write for the audience he seems to think he wrote for. ;)
***
And I'm on Azkaban for my reread.
Nienna wrote: "I read more YA now than I did when I was a young adult. Actually, I'm not even sure if there was a YA section. If I had had the books teens have today to read I never would've done anything else. A..."I don't recall there being a YA section when I was a teen - but, then, I didn't do much reading for pleasure, then, either, and what books I did get I'd mostly get from school.
But I do remember when I was in my 20s and I found Sabriel on the shelves. It was one of those random books I picked up 'cause I liked the cover, and I loved the story, and kept looking for more books in the series or by the author, and never managed to find anything.
Until the godsend that was amazon and I looked it up and found out they were YA books, which is why I'd never found them because I was looking in the regular fantasy section.
Between that, and Harry Potter, and the fact that many others of my favorites are either MG or YA, I'm pretty much hooked at this point.
I discovered YA buying a birthday gift for my younger cousin. Needless to say I ended up buying more books for myself than her that day. Lol.
I'm still baffled by a lot of what gets classed as YA these days. In the US in particular -- I see Americans referring to things like Mistborn and Shannara as YA just because they have fairly juvenile prose, but they're still published by adult imprints.
Since I view YA as a marketing category, I don't believe something is actually YA unless it's published by an appropriate imprint.
Since I view YA as a marketing category, I don't believe something is actually YA unless it's published by an appropriate imprint.
I'm really going to have to start reading HP with you in Dec, Colleen. I've been reading them in January, and by the time you start them in Dec, I'm like "I WANNA READ THEM TOOOOO!" because I feel like it's been ages since the last time I read them. LOL
Becky wrote: "I'm really going to have to start reading HP with you in Dec, Colleen. I've been reading them in January, and by the time you start them in Dec, I'm like "I WANNA READ THEM TOOOOO!" because I feel ..."HP is such a fantastic series!! I'm not quite ready to reread them as yet, though.
Titania wrote: "I'm still baffled by a lot of what gets classed as YA these days. In the US in particular -- I see Americans referring to things like Mistborn and Shannara as YA just because they have fairly juven..."Most of it is marketing. After HP blew up every pub amd their momma wants to put out the next new hot YA. Cause kids' money is almost always expendable and they don't care how much it cost (see: mom's credit card).
So they market to YA hoping it'll catch. And if it does they also make a movie.
My I've read where the Big and other pubs are starting to not sell movie rights. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...
Becky wrote: "I'm really going to have to start reading HP with you in Dec, Colleen. I've been reading them in January, and by the time you start them in Dec, I'm like "I WANNA READ THEM TOOOOO!" because I feel ..."Around the holidays is the perfect time to read them. ;)
You all making me want to read Harry Potter again. :)
I'm reading random stuff here and there.
I've started The Scorpio Races. I like the story so far but I have to say I am so not a fan of the alternating first person.
MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "I'm currently reading Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews; it is a lot of fun!"yaaaaay!"
:D Hey Mrs. J, I wanted to share my
progress update with you!
Even though it is historical fiction, I have been following the Warrior of Rome series. I am waiting for the next installment. Awesome combination of real history, fiction, and some fantasy.
Are we going to read the whole Narnia series?
Has anyone read
? I love he Monster Hunter series and am thinking of giving Seal Team a try.
Kathy wrote: "Are we going to read the whole Narnia series?"I don't think so but we can buddy read the rest if people want.
Laurel wrote: "Has anyone read ? I love he Monster Hunter series and am thinking of giving Seal Team a try."I've never heard of this one before.
A lot of Amazon readers who buy the MHI books also buy this one. It has some good reviews, but I always like to ask Goodreaders.
Started a YA audio last night and dumped it within a few minutes...horrible reader. I wish people would realize that just because a book's main character is a "kid" having a "kid" read the book may not be a good idea.I won't rate it as I'd be rating the reader mot the book.
If there'll be a Narnia buddy read, please let me know. I'd also like to know if it will be in publication order, chronological order or some variation of the two (I think it was Becky who suggested reading TLtWatW first, then going to TMN and reading the rest in publication order. *Sorry Becks if that wasn't you.)There is apparently also a difference of opinion as to whether A Horse and his Boy should be 3rd (chronological) or 5th (publication).
Either way, I personally have not read any of the series. I've only seen the animated movie back in the 80s, so it's all new to me.
Nyssa wrote: "If there'll be a Narnia buddy read, please let me know. I'd also like to know if it will be in publication order, chronological order or some variation of the two (I think it was Becky who suggeste..."I want to read the whole series. So, even if there's only a few of us I would join a buddy read. I've read the first two books (by chrono order) but never read the others.
That would be great, Nyssa & Nienna. I would love to do a buddy read for the rest of the series. By publication date sounds good since we're already out of chronological order reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe first. :)
Cool... So how do we start and should we decide on a timeline?
I'm in for a buddy read of the Narnia series. I think I was the one who suggested reading TMN next. I've read the series multiple times and while I don't really have a reason for why I want to read TMN next it's just what I always did (and it's one of my favs of the series so I want to read it soon). If everybody decides on a different order then I'll just read it next by myself and join in the conversation when you all get to it. It's not like these are long books. :)
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Flights of Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Captain Blood (other topics)The Count of Monte Cristo (other topics)
The Prisoner of Zenda (other topics)
Scaramouche (other topics)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Buckley (other topics)Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
M. Clifford (other topics)
Robert McCammon (other topics)
Elizabeth Bear (other topics)
More...
A constant show of rotting body parts, oozing fluids, and/or eating brains.