SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
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Errronious wrote: "..Even Marked I had to put down because I can't read a YA book that sexsually graphic! should have been marketed for an older market... 18+!! yikes! What is this world coming too?..."I totally understand. I was a bit shocked this was YA when Zoey walks in on...well, I'm not saying but I was surprised. But then again each generation seems to experience things at a younger and younger age so I guess it's realistic and kind of sad at the same time. Childhood just gets shorter and shorter.
I'm divided on the whole YA sex thing (I will preface this by admitting I don't have children). I think some times books get shelved in the YA section because the characters are teens, but they weren't really written for YA audiences. Additionally, I think YA is too all encompassing, as there's a big difference between the general maturity level of an 11 year old and a 16 year old. I haven't read any YA books where the characters having sex were younger than 17, and none that I thought were inappropriately graphic for an older YA audience, so I'm okay with that.
I know I was reading Anne Rice at 15 and I think it all comes down to the individual teen reading the books as to what is and what isn't appropriate.
DarkHeart "Vehngeance" wrote: "I'm divided on the whole YA sex thing (I will preface this by admitting I don't have children). I think some times books get shelved in the YA section because the characters are teens, but they we..."Couldn't have said it better or agree more, DarkHeart.
The tag "YA" does insinuate that the book is acceptable for any "young adult". Some parents might want to screen books before assuming it's "ok" for their child.
I, personally, would classify a young adult as 14+ and by then, I would imagine they've all had the big, embarrassing sex talk and/or been chattin' with their pals about it for a year or more.
Not having kids, I don't know how I'd react for sure. Since I'm reading a lot of those books anyway, I'd probably just hand off the ones I thought were age appropriate for my child(ren).
DarkHeart "Vehngeance" wrote: "I'm divided on the whole YA sex thing (I will preface this by admitting I don't have children). I think some times books get shelved in the YA section because the characters are teens, but they we..."
You do have a point I was reading V.C. Andrews when I was 13, but at the same time I think there needs to be a distinction between what is appropriate for a younger teen vs an older teen.
I know that as an avid reader I will be a thorn in my children's sides when they start choosing books in their teens. And, yes I am sure that might border on "hyper-parenting" but at the same time I hope not.
You do have a point I was reading V.C. Andrews when I was 13, but at the same time I think there needs to be a distinction between what is appropriate for a younger teen vs an older teen.
I know that as an avid reader I will be a thorn in my children's sides when they start choosing books in their teens. And, yes I am sure that might border on "hyper-parenting" but at the same time I hope not.
Errronious wrote: "I know that as an avid reader I will be a thorn in my children's sides when they start choosing books in their teens. And, yes I am sure that might border on "hyper-parenting" but at the same time I hope not...."I would guess it's kinda necessary with the wide range of topics in "YA" these days.
I totally agree with the distinction between the books but, Kids will be kids. I think it's going to take a parent going with there child/teen to the library to observe what it is they are picking up/reading. I guess I'm also going to be part of the "hyper-parenting" myself!!!!! LOL
For me, it all started with White Orchids by Grace Livingston Hill. My grandmother gave it to me to read.This was of course, back in the dinosaur age. We were still using using stone tablets....ROFL!
I was and still am into romance novels and I remember reading a vampire series by Linda Lael Miller and that is probably what really started it for me. I have always liked vampire shows too I remember a couple of series that were on TV quite a bit ago Kindred The Embraced, Forever Knight and of course good old Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They were a few years that I didn't make time to read but when I had my last child in May of 08 I fell into the Twilight world and it really brought back my love for reading.
Steph wrote: "I haven't heard of that one, ☪☠Lizz☠☪."I read if like in 7th grade. I really loved it but one sad thing is that no one has it. I can't find it any where
So cute *7th grade* makes me wanna go all grandma and pinch your cheeks. :)
I was into SF and fantasy as a teen, and got hooked on Anne Rice & vampires in general in university. I brought less than 50 books when I moved to Japan...big debate on whether to ship more clothes or books, but since I figured I'd only be here a couple of years, I thought I could survive on my limited favorites and brought more clothes!That was the start of my "reading wasteland"...I read anything I could get my hands on in English, but really don't remember so many of them, and my bring-alongs became rather ragged. Then, amazon came to Japan...my love of vampires has continued, so I found some "recent" vampire books, and PNR...LKH's Anita Blake, KMM's Highlander series and Nalini Singh's Psy-changelings were among the first. Singh's is my fave of those...though I did waver awhile on buying it. I'm so glad I did.
Well, they started me on the slippery slope to PNR & UF addiction, and my books are now stuffed wherever possible in the house and number quite a bit more than 50. I wanted to ship my stored collection of SF & fantasy, but they didn't survive a catastrophe in Dad's storage shed. I can no longer say I've read every book in my collection more than 3 times, but am so happy to be finding more and more fun new2me reads!
OK. The saga ends. Back to regular programming.
I can totally relate to the "reading wasteland". When I was in Moldova (E. Europe) I had a limited selection of books with me and all the townie books were in either Romanian or Russian. Thankfully we were able to use a Dept of State shipping addr in VA that allowed me to gorge myself on books through Amazon. Just took a while to get to me. Glad your "over the hump" and "sliding down the slipper slope" with us all in the land of PNR & UF. :)
Mine would be Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs...I fell in love with Charles and Anna!!
I got hooked on fantasy and science fiction back in my late teens with Andre Norton's books. I read a lot of the "old timers"-loved Robert Heinlein. I also read and enjoyed mysteries. About twenty years ago I was in a reading slump and looking for something new, and I found Nora Roberts' "Born In..." trilogy. From Nora to Jayne Ann Krentz was only a short hop. And then the PNR novels really got started, and I was hooked back into fantasy-full circle so to speak.
Born In Twilight was the very very very fist PNR book for me to ever read. i then (several years later) picked up Twilight, thinking it was a sequel.took it home then realised it was a different author, went stuff it and read it anyway. I loved the book. at this stage i don't think New Moon was out yet. so i went on to Full Moon Rising. and really i haven't looked back scince. and truth be told those books are what also got me hooked on series reading.
That one'll get ya hooked for sure. :)
Steph wrote: "So cute *7th grade* makes me wanna go all grandma and pinch your cheeks. :)"lol
I think it was the Elizabeth Lowell science fiction romances that made me interested in fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal. Loved the Dancer series. :( Too bad she never finished it.
Jasmine wrote: "I think it was the Elizabeth Lowell science fiction romances that made me interested in fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal. Loved the Dancer series. :( Too bad she never finished it."I love Elizabeth Lowell. Have you read her Medieval series? The first book is
Untamed
For me it was the Nightworld series by L J Smith. I read them when I was fifteen and have loved them ever since.
I've read scary/fantasy books as far back as I can remember. I remember my mom getting them for me for Christmas back when I was a little girl. I can't remember the first ones, but I can remember later on I started reading "choose your own adventure books", RL Stine Books
and books like
I loved "choose your own adventure" books! Haven't thought of them in awhile! I can think of some characters where I'd sure like to be able to "choose" a different decision for them...
Me too! :) When I was a little girl, every Saturday my mom and I would go to the library. I think I checked out EVERY "Choose your own adventure" book in the place lolMy daughter just recently read "What If Everyone Knew Your Name"
and it's the same as those books. She enjoyed it a lot :)
Steph wrote: "Everyone has a book or series that started their love of a genre. Which book(s) started your love of PNR and/or UF?"
Sherrilyn Kenyons Dark Hunter series and although I have a lot of series that I really like it's still my favorite!!! I absolutely love Acheron and Simi is one of the most fun characters ever!!
Hmmmm....I have always loved all things paranormal. I started reading Betty Wren Wright's Ghost books when I was in 4th grade. Then later moved on to Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, ect. But I broke away from it in my 20's and went straight serial killer/thriller/forensic books for a long time. I loved Anne Rice's vamps and witches, but they didn't turn my predominent booktype back to the paranormal. That didn't occur until I picked up Sookie 2 years ago. I consumed the series then moved on from there and it's been PNR/UF love and addiction ever since....
It was after I got Twilight one Christmas that I fell in love with vampires and started looking for more paranormal books. After a while I then found Anita Blake, and that's when my love for all of the paranormal creatures, and not just vampires, started. :)
The books that I started with were
then i went to
which led to
after that came
and
and now it is neverending.
then i went to
which led to
after that came
and
and now it is neverending.
LOL! Welcome, Siobhan! All great series and definitely similar "starts" and loves for many here @ SOS.
Guilty Pleasures started my love of UF at age 15Moondust and Madness & Stardust and Shadows-it's a two part PNR- started my love of PNR at the tender age of 12.
I just realised that I've been reading PNR (sort of) when I was a young girl. I wouldn't have put Mary Stewart on that shelf - but I see what you mean.I've always had times where I read books of one category for several months and then change abruptly to something completely different.
Then a few years ago I stumbled across
found out that there was a series, found out that readers of this series recommmended other series ... and now I'm addicted to PNR and UF. It hasn't changed for quite a long time although I tried different genres. I was simply bored by historical romances,... and returned to my true love.
I didn't really think about it, but from this thread, I guess Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine books in middle school started it off but I didn't really start again until I found Anita Blake, then came Sookie, and it just spiraled from there...
I've always been a fantasy reader. If I remember correctly, my first UF was Neverwhere, read 3 or 4 years ago. What really got me in the genre this past few months was Moon Called. And my first PNR: Dark Lover
Mercy is one of my faves, Lily. And BDB is the fave of many. :)
Errrn wrote: "Amy or "Ames" wrote: "Sandra wrote: "In fact, if something is too popular, I steer clear..."I do this too. I get disappointed if I don't like it as much as everyone else. I still haven't read Har..."
I had a hard time convincing my BF to stick with Harry Potter as well. He said he felt silly reading a book that was clearly for kids. But Rowling does an amazing job of growing with her readers and the characters also become more mature. By book 3 he was hooked and book 6 & 7 are defiantly for mature readers. They are not UF dark but dark enough for a children’s book. We are all about Potter right now; re-reading book 7 in preparation to see the move over the holiday. I know…total geeks!
But that’s where it all started for me. I was not really into Harry Potter but my Uncle convinced me to watch the Goble of Fire on DVD. I thought it was pretty good and decided I’d read it. Mind you, I was not an avid reader then…I don’t even think I had picked up a book since I had graduated college a few years before (I’m kind of ashamed to admit that). Anyway, I devoured the entire series in 2 months and then if felt like a junkie in need of a fix. I dived into YA first, Twilight, A Great and Terrible Beauty, City of Bones, House of Night (could not finish the series too uncomfortable with all the teenage sex). Then I discovered PNR and UF in Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong and never looked back.
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. I've been hooked ever since.
Megan wrote: "Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. I've been hooked ever since."OMG, mine was the same!
Amy or "Ames" wrote: "Megan wrote: "Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. I've been hooked ever since."OMG, mine was the same!"
She has to be my favorite author! :)
My current reading binge started with:Twilight
Queen Betsy
Sookie Stackhouse
Then, everything else.
I have always loved fantasy since I was little so my starting point have to be Fairytales, then, Mythology. I have a big gap in my reading log (I moved to the US, got married and had a baby). I have not really been reading for pleasure during those long years. But now that my son is older I have time to read again. -- I have to say that Twilight rekindled my love for reading - and now I'm catching up for all of the lost years.
Twilight and Sookie sure got a lot of us reading again or for the first time. But I'm with you Wan, I started early with fairytales and mythology, then romance & mystery, especially spy boooks, then science fiction, never really stopped reading, just waiting for the paranormal to come along. And am I glad it did - my favourite.
Yeah! because there's more "bite" to it than regular romance (pun intended of course). LoL
Wan wrote: "Yeah! because there's more "bite" to it than regular romance (pun intended of course). LoL"Cute
I ama huge fan of the Sookie books but since I listened to all of them on audiobooks I'm not sure that qualifies as "reading". However, the book that brought me into the genre had to be Black Magic Sanction then I went on to read Frostbitten and I was hooked. I'm pretty new to the genre.
Audiobooks definitely count as reading! :)
Christine Warren "The Others" was my fateful beginning. I was in Atlanta for a seminar with a co-worker. We got bored with the seminar and she wanted to check out a new bookstore nearby so we walked to it. My co-worker knew what she wanted so I told her I would just wander around and see the rest of the store. A very young clerk came over and asked if he could help me find something. Without thinking, I said "I'm in the mood for a little romance". His reply was "aren't we all". We looked at each other because of how weird that greeting went and he cleared his throat and brought me to Christine Warren's books. I was hooked from that day on paranormal adventures. (And no, I never dated the clerk. LOL)
LOL! How'd ya know I was thinking of asking that question? I could just picture you finding your HEA in the bookstore with the clerk that "introduced" you to PNR. :) shucks!
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Carbonel (other topics)Moondust and Madness (other topics)
The Silver Kiss (other topics)
Dead Until Dark (other topics)
Interview with the Vampire (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary Higgins Clark (other topics)Charlaine Harris (other topics)
Anne Rice (other topics)
Ilona Andrews (other topics)
Anne Rice (other topics)
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I do this too. I get disappointed if I don't like it as much as everyone else. I still haven't read Harry Potter, I have litt..."
I tried reading Harry Potter, simply because my Hubby was so into it and he doesn't read that often so I wanted something we could talk about (when we first started dating) other than what he see's when he goes scuba diving... and I had to put it down, I could not get past the first three chapters! at all! it was sad, and I felt like I was letting him down.