Young Adult Fiction for Adults discussion
What are you reading now?
I think I've only ever given up on two books, Evernight and Soulless. I just couldn't get through them. Otherwise I have some anxiety issue with not finishing a book. I think about the damn book all the time, even if it wasn't good, then I have to finish it.
Darryl wrote: "Exactly. When I finished the Hunger Games trilogy I really wondered about Collins because I was so disapponted with the lack of goodness winning out in the main characters lives. The ending sort ..."Darryl, I completely agree about the Hunger Games not exactly being very uplifting, but I'm interested to hear more about what you mean when you say YA wants to avoid cyncism at any cost? Is this some new trend in YA that I haven't heard about? Or do you just mean that YA books, in general, tend to have less mature themes and less realism because they're written for children/teens?
Michelle wrote: "I beg to differ Peep. I actually liked the second one better than the first. "Wish granted, you may differ.
Ohhhhh, I did not like, no I hated Alex. I could not enjoy the book because of him. I liked his friend. Maybe I would have liked the book more if it was focused on his friend and not Alex. I'll have to go back and reread my review about why I hated it for sure, but Alex was 98% of it.
As for the first one, I had a newborn at home. How could I not like the book?
Piper wrote: "Hehe... I could do that... but I don't think I'll read them anytime soon.I have to read series in order... but like Emily, I do sometimes give up on books, even though I try not to, and if I didn't enjoy the first one then I give up on the series... although, I may give the series another chance in the future. "
Haha, well I can read a series out of order and I don't think twice about giving up on a book (unless someone really recommend I finish it). I have a huge tbr pile that I can't let down.
Actually neither Alicia. I used to teach middle and high school but I also remember from, ahhh, back then when I was that age. The general feeling of the YA generation (in any generation at that time in their lives) is that when they look at the adult world and begin to recognize certain failures, especially a certain dullness they perceive in adult life, that they determine not to lose their zest, nor their ideals, nor their hopes for a good life. Ahhh, I must confess I never lost any of it ha ha :) As far as a trend I'd love to set that one myself! Or anyone else for that matter because young people do often take the books they read to heart. I hate to think what it means to take the Hunger Games to heart. Emo forever? Incidental note, one of my teen readers liked sending me messages and in the process of conversation she let it slip that the 'in' thing in her school was to beat-up on the emo kids! That raised a chuckle from me when I thought that that would be fulfilling to both sides! Unfortunately I believe YA books lack maturity not necessarily because they're written for children but because the publishers have that OPINION of YA which I happen NOT to agree with. My experience with kids tells me they love a challenge and hate to be sheltered. They're not nearly as fragile, which is why parents were always suprised when I had to call their homes occasionally LOL.
Amanda wrote: "I think I've only ever given up on two books, Evernight and Soulless. I just couldn't get through them. Otherwise I have some anxiety issue with not finishing a book..."Gosh I hate that but I'm the same way... it's torture. Movies too, but I've discovered on dvd's you can hit the frwrd button glimpsing each scene until you reach the end. I'm toying with the idea of a paralell for bad books. read the first and last line of each paragraph? Hmm, I think I tried to get away with that when I was a kid in school!
Darryl, thanks for sharing - that is some really interesting food for thought! I count myself lucky that I seemed to have made it out of middle school/high school before there was ever much of an emo crowd - black is not very flattering on me! :P
ha ha I like to wear black but not because it's sad but because I look sharp. Glad you've enjoyed.
I don't generally give up on books but if I don't like the book I don't continue the series. I figure if I finish the book I'm allowed to have an opinion because no one can say "if you just wait til page_____ everything gets better."
going to start
tomorrow. I'm very excited :)
Tonight I started Seeking Spirits: The Lost Cases of The Atlantic Paranormal Society & Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Volume 1. I'm hoping they are good!
I have problem reading a series if I didn't like the first one. I read Twilight and thought it was the most boring thing ever and wasn't going to finish the series, but I had a friend at work who was just dieing to talk about it with someone so she lent me her copies and I did finish the series but it took till book three for me to even really get interested in it, so if it wasn't for my friend I would have never finished the series..lol. Right now I am trying to get back into the groove of things since I had emergency gall bladder surgery..ugh. I just can't seem to want to read anything but I am trying to get into Sisters Red
I'm about half-way done with
. Basically it's about an anorexic teen who becomes Famine, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's been very enjoyable so far. I also need to get back to
and need to start
.
Currently reading
. These books just keep getting better and better!
Stormi wrote: "I have problem reading a series if I didn't like the first one. I read Twilight and thought it was the most boring thing ever and wasn't going to finish the series, but I had a friend at work who w..."I finished Twilight not because I loved it, because I felt that it had to get better because all these people love it so much, but it never did. I learned my lesson and will never finish a series I hate again! Seriously someone needs to start a thread for this topic!
Just started Vlad Tod #5
and PLL #5
Both should be super quick reads.
Chelly,So do you recommend Vlad Todd books? I have the first one but never had a chance to read it but I have been curious if the series is good or not.
Stormi wrote: "Chelly,So do you recommend Vlad Todd books? I have the first one but never had a chance to read it but I have been curious if the series is good or not."
I read the first three and they are decent young adult vampire reads, but they are definately juvenile. I would push the age range of these to 12 - 16 yr olds. Vlad's story is good and it's nice to get a guy's POV.
Amanda wrote: "I read the first three and they are decent young adult vampire reads, but they are definately juvenile. I would push the age range of these to 12 - 16 yr olds. Vlad's story is good and it's nice to get a guy's POV. "I've only read the first one and agree with you. It's mid grade, but I don't think it's one that should be skipped. I have been curious about the higher grade ones, to see how he's matured.
Wendy wrote: "Thread created! Ta Da!"Sweet Wendy! Thanks :)
I am reading Nevermore by Kelly Creagh and I'm loving it!!
Stormi wrote: "Chelly,So do you recommend Vlad Todd books? I have the first one but never had a chance to read it but I have been curious if the series is good or not."
Stormi, I enjoyed the Vlad books, I think boy tweens would get into this series more because there is a male main character and he's a vamp but there isn't any heavy content in the books so it's good for their age range
Becca wrote: "Amy wrote: "Not YA, but just started 
"He wrote one of my favorite series of all time Amy! Let me know if you like that one. I may have to read it."
Mistborn? Mine too. I love all of his fantasy books
It was good! The last 100 pages were flawless, and up until that point I was a little unsure how one plotline was going to tie up with the rest but it does
I had some sense of loss issues when I was finished, though :P
Jess wrote: "Am reading the Book Thief right now, for a YA lit class. I've heard good things about it but the style is putting me off. Anyone else read it?I picked up Over Sea, Under Stone the other day a..."
I'm attempting to read Book Thief as well. The style of writing makes it hard for me to want to continue reading it. I've heard good things about it though.
Antoinette, it is well worth it to finish it. I actually gave up on it the first time around. Then, people kept saying how good it was and that it gets better. It was very, very worth finishing. If you need us to cheer for you, we will. Yes, we're that supportive.
For all the Valek fans
has some nice face time for our favorite super spy.
Peep wrote: "Antoinette, it is well worth it to finish it. I actually gave up on it the first time around. Then, people kept saying how good it was and that it gets better. It was very, very worth finishing. If..."Agreed... Once you get used to the style of the book you will love the story :)
I'm reading 'The Thirteen Curses' by Michelle Harrison. It's great so far - I'm really enjoying the fairy-tale quality of the book.
Emily--What do you think of
so far? I'm really looking forward to that one.
Finally finished Suite FRancaise!! Now I have a whole pile of books waiting to be read... starting with:
I went to a talk where the author attended and I can't wait to read one of his books.
Started
and hoping it gets better. The writing is better than it's predecessor, but I don't really like any of the characters. I especially dislike the "romance" angle
Jaimie wrote: "For all the Valek fans has some nice face time for our favorite super spy."Good to know! Its on my TBR list so I will get to it eventually. :)
Amy wrote: "Started and hoping it gets better. The writing is better than it's predecessor, but I don't really like any of the characters. I especially dislike the "romance" angle"I've had this book on my shelf since it came out, I hope it's as good as the first.
Right now I'm reading (and it's my favorite book right now)Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings. An excellent read, I would suggest it to all.
Only love here for the Book Thief! The audiobook for that one is one of my favorites ever - please stick with it!
I just finished the Iron Daughter (second book to the Iron King). It was AMAZING! I highly recommend this series to everyone. I did not anticipate these books to draw me in like they have. I am a big fan of Melissa Marr and these books by Julie Kagawa are right there with her!
I didn't expect to love the Iron Fae books like I did. I'm not a romance person at all and they're put out by Harlequin Teen. But seriously I love them....so good!
I loved the Iron Fey series too. Highly anticipating the next one.
I just finished Finnikin of the Rock late, late last night. It just got better and better as it went along. Now I am starting The Knife of Never Letting Go. I'm just a few pages in and it's kind of hard to get into but I've heard really good things about it. I hope it's worth it!
Kate wrote: "I just finished Finnikin of the Rock late, late last night. It just got better and better as it went along. Now I am starting The Knife of Never Letting Go. I'm just a..."Stick with The Knife Kate - it is weird at first. Books 2 & 3 in the series are most excellent.
I am going to re-start
on audio because I could not get into it after an hour and was totally lost. Hopefully I can pay attention this time!
I can't find this Finnikin of the Rock book anywhere! I've check all my library branches... and neighbouring borough libraries.... nothing. Anyone know if it's in the UK?
I ordered my copy of Finnikin off Amazon, lol. Heidi I - I have that trilogy to read too! I've heard really really good things about it.
Heidi I wrote: "Kate wrote: "I just finished Finnikin of the Rock late, late last night. It just got better and better as it went along. Now I am starting [book:The Knife of Never Letting Go|2118745..."Agreed!
Young Adult Fiction for Adults
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Hehe... I could do that... but I don't think I'll read them anytime soon.
I have to read series in order... but like Emily, I do sometimes give up on books, even though I try not to, and if I didn't enjoy the first one then I give up on the series... although, I may give the series another chance in the future.