I just read, and I recommend....

[Ilana]

Hmm. I found the cover, but I don't know how to insert it here... I click "Copy Image" and when I try to "Paste" into the box here, it doesn't let me... Maybe it's a chrome issue.

[Heidi]

I use chrome Ilana and it works. You are using the add book/author thing at the top of the comment box right?

[Ilana]

Ooooh. Wow. I'm a dimwit. Okay, so here goes again - I really liked . Haha! Success.

[Heidi]

You are not! It took me awhile to figure it out the first time. I thought people were cutting and pasting books on their own for a long time.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Hahaha, me too!

[Lana]

Ilana wrote: "Laura wrote: "I very much recommend !!"

Really? I always see it in the bookstore and every time I've decided not to get it... But maybe I should give it a try!

I've..."

I love John Green and I'm waiting for Will Grayson, Will Grayson to become available at the library. Is it better than Paper Towns?

[Ilana]

Lana wrote: I love John Green and I'm waiting for Will Grayson, Will Grayson to become available at the library. Is it better than Paper Towns?

I loved Paper Towns, too - but I really think that Will Grayson, Will Grayson is better. It's just the characters are both interesting and so normal in many ways...

[Laura Beth]

Ilana wrote: "Laura wrote: "I very much recommend !!"

Really? I always see it in the bookstore and every time I've decided not to get it... But maybe I should give it a try!

I've..."

Loved Graceling! You really should try it!

Also, I just finished Magic Study and really enjoyed it!

[Becca]

I adore Graceling and Fire (the companion novel). I can hardly wait for Bitterblue to come out.

I just finished the Alanna series. I thought it was pretty good. However, just once I'd like a woman to be strong and treated with respect and prove herself on her own merit rather than by pretending she's a boy. Maybe that's why I like Graceling so much. Gah! Maybe I'm a feminist, but I don't see why boys should have all the fun.

[Ilana]

Becca wrote: "I just finished the Alanna series. I thought it was pretty good. However, just once I'd like a woman to be strong and treated with respect and prove herself on her own merit rather than by pretending she's a boy. Maybe that's why I like Graceling so much. Gah! Maybe I'm a feminist, but I don't see why boys should have all the fun.

Really? I found the Alanna books to be very feminist.
I mean, Tamora Pierce is a staunch believer in women heroes, and I think the fact that Alanna had to dress up as a boy is exactly the problem that's being pointed out. I really really recommend you continue on to both the series about Dane and the one about Kel - they're both incredibly good. [If you can't tell, I'm an avid Tamora Pierce fan ^_^":]

[Becca]

Oh, I really liked them and eventually will buy them, I just get bugged that society in just about every book I read is so incredibly backward. Maybe I'll write a book about the amazon women. At least their culture had it somewhat right.

[Ilana]

Well, society for most of the time of humanity and in most cultures has been pretty horrible towards women... It's depressing, I know, but that's why I love novels that empower women EVEN in time in which they were considered assets for marriage and nothing more.

[Becca]

A lot of YA novels though take place in made up worlds and societies. Why do they always reflect the society of our world? If you want to write a story that empowers women, why not show a society that respects and honors women as more than just objects right from the start? That would be pretty empowering in my opinion. It would give our society something to work toward, not just a good story.

I'm not bashing books that base their society off ours, I just felt a little frustrated after reading the Alanna series because I feel like I've read the same story with different faces and names a million times over and I'd like to see something different. The world, gods, and powers that be may be different, but its the same basic storyline over and over again and its depressing if you really think about it. If every society out there in the universe is like ours, what chance do we women really have? Makes me want to scream.

I've read quite a bit of feminine empowerment books lately, which is probably why I hit this point, so in order to enjoy the books you mentioned, I'm probably going to need to read a lot of different books first.

[Ilana]

Okay, you have a point. A BIG point. I totally agree with you. I guess I just see it as a purposeful move - placing empowered women in a society similar to ours. We don't live in a different society, and we need to live with all the stigmas of the past, but reading about women like Alanna makes me feel like there's a place for us to carve out in this society, in this world that we really do live in. But I completely agree with your point!

[Becca]

It is a purposeful move and I share your perspective. I will continue to read and enjoy these books and really the Alanna series is well written and I enjoyed it for itself. Anyone have any recommendations for books that are based on a society that is completely different than ours?

If anything, reading a few books that concentrate on a theme other than feminine empowerment for a little while might be a really good thing.

[Desperado]

I just read Archangel's Kiss & I recommend the Guild Hunter series. Especially if your into UF romance & hot Angels.

[Mindy]

Becca, here are some books that are light hearted that you might enjoy. I believe some are even on you TBR Holes, Ella Enchanted (just a really cute story), A Year Down Yonder, & Star Girl (She doesn't care what people think). Fabel Haven, The Alchemystby michael scott.

[Ilana]

I adore Ella Enchanted. I think I remember half that book by heart.

Another light-hearted book, which is kind of depressing at the same time, is Going Bovine by Libba Bray. I highly recommend it.

[Becca]

Just finished . I would highly recommend it. Seth has become one of my all time favorite characters throughout this series, but this book sealed the deal. Too bad he's so young or I might have a crush on him. Hopefully if Brandon Mull revisits the series at some point, he'll bring Seth along for the ride.

Brandon Mull is awesome! He is one of the few authors who consistently surprises me. He very rarely lets the cat out of the bag, so you know something big is coming, but you don't know what until its sitting in your lap. I LOVE IT! Fablehaven is written for a little younger crowd, but I think its sophisticated enough for a person of any age to thoroughly enjoy. The books just got better and better, no question.

[Ilana]

Wow, I better check those out! It sounds good - I've never heard of Brandon Mull. Has he written anything else beside this series?

[Becca]

Ilana wrote: "Wow, I better check those out! It sounds good - I've never heard of Brandon Mull. Has he written anything else beside this series?"

People consider his stand alone book to be his best, but I haven't read it yet. Fablehaven was his first series and he's working on several projects. He's a fairly new author and a really great guy. I've talked to him for a couple of hours (we go to the same church) and he's super funny and down to earth. And he can really connect with young people. I didn't know he had written Fablehaven until after I read the first few books and made the connection. Great series and its on my wishlist so my kids can enjoy them at some point too, like when their old enough to read.

[Mindy]

Becca, my daughter has read Candy Shop Wars and loved it. Now she is reading Fablehaven. It is so fun for her and I to talk about what she is reading and she loves for me to come in and read it to her.

It really is fun to share with your kids.

[Becca]

My three year old doesn't have enough of an attention span to appreciate books without a LOT of pictures yet, but soon enough. He loves to read and has several of his books memorized, so he reads them to me, but they're all pretty short still.

[Mindy]

Lol, my daughter is 12!

[Christina]

I just read " The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and I liked it alot. Its not my favorite book but it kept my attention and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

[Amanda]

Becca wrote: "Ilana wrote: "Wow, I better check those out! It sounds good - I've never heard of Brandon Mull. Has he written anything else beside this series?"

People consider his stand alone book [bookcover:Th..."

Wow, Becca. I would give my eye teeth to meet Brandon Mull. I think he's a fascinating author. Bought one of his autographed copies of book 4 from Deseret Book, and it's one of my most prized possessions. I have read The Candy Shop War, it's cute. My boys love it, but I prefer Fablehaven. He also wrote a cute little picture book called Pingo.

[Becca]

I adore Pingo! Seriously one of my absolute favorite children's books ever.

[Becca]

I just finish Shiver, and need I say more? Wow! Loved!

[Mindy]

I loved Shiver Too!

[Heidi]

I liked it too :)

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

I liked Shiver too. Though the more I think about it, the guy had to be the mot timid "hero" I've ever come across...

[Heidi]

Sensitive Peep. Sensitive.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

LOL. "mot". Extremely sensitive, by the way. I need my hero to be many and a tad overbearing. And funny. Even though I don't know why, I still liked him.

[Heidi]

Maybe you liked the wolf side of him. Growl!

[[deleted user]]

Mmmm, I liked Sam. Definitely sensitive. Kind of like another PNR man that I love. :)

[Jackie]

Yeah...Sam is just WOW... no other words to find!

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Naw, I think it was that nurturing instinct. I need a hero that's going to protect my honor in a fight, not one that's going to avert his eyes, say "what's that behind you?", and then grab my hand and run.

He's still a sweetheart though ;)

[Becca]

That's why he's so endearing, he is such an honest, open, sensitive sweetheart. No hidden agenda, no in your face, just cute.

[Amanda]

I just finished, and loved, the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix. Great. Read. The books in the trilogy are:

, , and . There is a collection of short stories that includes one about the characters from Lirael and Abhorsen called . I just added it to my TBR pile.

[Heidi]

Mandi - I hope to start that series in June :)

[Jaimie]

I just finished and recommend it to any Vampire Academy fan - although if you are one you couldn't not read it I am sure. I have found that in a lot of YA series by the fifth book the characters get kind of flat and the story predictable. Maybe because they are aimed at teenagers and they are just giving them what the want but I have to say once this book got going it kept surprising me and evolving the main character. I have to mention that I am still a big fan of the badass that is Rose.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

I jut finished Never After, it was hilarious. I recommend you read it - strong language warning though.

A mix of Peter Pan, Lord of the Flies, Some zombie movie, some really funny movie, that old book about life where the guy looked like Matt Damon on the cover, and a little bit of the Sandlot for teens.

[Heidi]

That is quite a mix Peep! I have it on hold, so hopefully I will get it soon. I also have Magic Study and Fourth Comings heading towards me, so I am going to be busy!

[Amelia]

@Becca, I agree with you, Brandon Mull is a great guy. I met him recently at a conference I went to. There's a guy in another group I belong to who would also, as Mandi says, give his "eye teeth" to meet him. He did mention that he had a new series in the works, to be published in the next year(?).

@Mindy, I have the first one in the series autographed by him, and have added it to my collection. I'm hoping if I get to meet him again I can have the rest of the series autographed to match. I'm also thrilled that you mentioned the Alchemyst by Michael Scott. Although I've only listened to the first one, the narration was EXCELLENT as an audiobook. Highly recommended, especially to Percy Jackson and Fablehaven fans who like the mythological references.

[Mindy]

A.m.y. I loved the Alchemyst by Michael Scott. I think I listened to all of them. I just got word the next book was shipped yesterday so I will be on the 4th in the series. Excited to read it.

[Becca]

Just finished Incarceron. It was odd but enjoyable. A lot of people have said they were confused at first, but I didn't find it confusing, just different. If you don't mind wrapping your mind around some odd concepts, you would enjoy Incarceron. I think I'll give it three and half stars and put the next one on my tbr pile.

[Heidi]

Becca wrote: "Just finished Incarceron. It was odd but enjoyable. A lot of people have said they were confused at first, but I didn't find it confusing, just different. If you don't mind wrapping y..."

Don't you think it drags in sections? Also, the author gets overly descriptive about things that don't even matter (flowers, etc..), but not descriptive enough about important things like the prison itself or the world outside or what all the characters look like. It is about a 3.5 stars for me so far. Will update when I am done tomorrow.

[Becca]

I thought the story dragged because it was predictable, but yes, the descriptiveness of unimportant concepts was annoying. I don't think she needs to describe the world outside because once you figure out which "Era" they're playing at, it comes into focus, but the technology is hidden, so of course she can't really describe it. You'll find out more about the prison AT THE VERY END, which I thought was totally worthless. The prison was the most interesting concept in the book, yet she doesn't explore it until the end of the book and even then it's only half an effort. I hope the next one is better. I gave it three stars (since you can't give half stars on here).

[Heidi]

We are on the same page Becca! My thoughts exactly.

[allison]

I just finished Spirit Bound and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Vampire Academy is one, if not my favorite YA book series. I'm bummed that the next doesn't come out for 7 months!