August Book Selection - Graceling

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The book selection for August 2015 is Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Join our discussion here or on the Youngbloods website.

Click here to stream Graceling as an audiobook through Hoopla or check it out as a print book or ebook.

Here are some questions to get started:

Is it a good or bad thing to be graced?
Were you surprised by the ending? Why or why not?
What do you think of the relationship between Katsa and Po?
Who is your favorite character?
Would you want to be graced?

[Lissa]

1. It seems to me that being graced is kind of an extension of the varied gifts and talents people have, so being graced sounds pretty good to me. I guess the drawbacks would be the stigma of it, and having everyone recognize you as different just by looking at you, but as someone who feels different anyway, that doesn't seem like too big a deal. The other drawback was the fact that most gracelings were used as tools by their respective monarchs, obviously an issue if, like Katsa, you were used in a way you disagreed with. That was actually one of the most interesting aspects of the book to me. I was intrigued by the idea of Katsa doing Randa's dirty work in public, but doing her own council work in private. It reminded me of the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. I would have liked that part of the book to be more fully explored instead of just the setup.
2. I was kind of expecting Katsa to just put some earplugs in to take on Leck, but I suppose having to oppose him with her brain and not just her physical skill was a big personal growth thing for her, so it worked for me.
3. I liked Katsa and Po together. They made a good team. I thought she overreacted about him, rather a lot. But I guess his mild temper made him a good match for her. His grace made for an orignial relationship conflict for them. Obviously there were pros and cons to it.
4. I liked a lot of the main characters. In the beginning I got a bit tired of being told how amazing Katsa's grace was instead of forming my own opinion of it. But she was interesting and complex. Po and Raffin were both charming and appealing in their own ways. I think my favorite character might be Bitterblue.
5. Yes, I'd love to have some special talent I could use, although I wouldn't want someone else to be able to exploit me. So yes and no.