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What books are you given the most flak for reading?
Alecia wrote: "::Sends <3 LOVE <3 to all of you who love YA,PNR,UF::I read all three almost exclusively. I'm still relatively new to reading. Two and half years ago I didn't read at all, then someone talked m..."
*high five*
Thanks everyone for all the YA historical recs. I'll be checking some of them out.
My experience with historical in the YA genre has been less historical and more romance or fantasy oriented like The Luxe series and the Gemma Doyle trilogy, so the historical part is more of a background noise and not the focus. The books that you all listed will fit more of the niche I'm looking for.
To each his own I guess. A good story should be a good story, regardless of the age of the lead.
Oh-oh, I'll be in trouble with Jammies. I've read both Brown and Meyers. I'm embarrassed to say that I read Meyers. But Brown was fun because The Divinci Code was full of puzzles. I found the puzzle online - probably his webpage. The first letters of each chapter point out a clue. Characters on the cover pointed out another clue. I love puzzles and it was more that than the content of the book I defend.As for YA historical fiction, I remember reading The Nonsuch Lure when I was a young teenager and being teleported back in time.
Janice I'm the opposite. I'm exponetially more embarrassed about reading Da Vinci Code. We're all so silly!!
I never had any desire to read the Brown books, but I enjoyed the movies just fine. Same with Sparks...never read one of his books and probably won't ever get around to it, but I love The Notebook as a movie.
Sometimes, when I'm really stressed or upset, I will read 'fluff' (of which Meyers books would be a classic example). It's easy to read, I can be transported to another world and forget what's on my mind. My husband says that he can always tell when I'm needing distraction because I'll be soaking in a bathtub, lost in a book.
Fluff is my go to if I finish something a bit heavier. It's like getting to have a piece of chocolate after dinner.
I've never read Brown or Sparks. I have seen the movies for DC and the Angel's something.or.other, but I don't watch sad sappy stuff, so no notebook for me.
Is this where I declare to the world for the 7000th time that I have not ever and will never watch Titanic?
Is this where I declare to the world for the 7000th time that I have not ever and will never watch Titanic?
Well.. okay I have read those books, but I read them when I was a kid. I likely wouldn't read them now. And I have to correct myself, that there are some books where a main character is an adult, but a good portion of the book is the character as a child, growing in to their character - I don't mind that if the book is written well, of course.
I still am a kid...age is relative.
I still am a kid...age is relative.
Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity wrote: "Speaking of YA, if anyone has any historical fiction recs in the YA genre they can rec...
I got asked to mod a new group focusing on YA historical fiction and my knowledge of it is pretty limite..."
YA historical fiction? Like
or
? Kipling has a lot, but Kim was my favorite.
I got asked to mod a new group focusing on YA historical fiction and my knowledge of it is pretty limite..."
YA historical fiction? Like
or
? Kipling has a lot, but Kim was my favorite.
I wouldn't call those books historical fiction, though. I mean, they're set in the past NOW, but at the time, they were written about the contemporary culture.I love The Secret Garden, and in a way feel like it is like a juvenile fiction version of Jane Eyre.
Secret Garden is one of my all time favorites.
I agree with not being able to read something like 10 Nancy Drews back to back. Those are books I loved as a child, but wouldn't hold my interest now.That said, I do enjoy some children's lit and middle grade fiction (mentioned my love of Percy Jackson already), but I do prefer YA to children's lit. A good portion of YA is really similar to adult books in content nowadays. The violence might leave out a detail or two, or the sex might not be as graphic, but the stories are often just as intense and even more imaginative.
I try to read about half YA and half adult, but I see my YA shelf has a few extra books on it.
Dutch, you're missing out on Harry Potter. For reals.
I have to reread The Secret Garden. I remember loving it, but that's all, I don't remember the book at all! So maybe I didn't read it? Or could be it was read to me. That must be it. I'm gonna see if there's a bargain out there for it.
As for hyped books, my motto is check it out, maybe there's a reason for the hype! But I try not to get my expectations up too high. If it's crap, I'll toss, but many times I get swept up into it.As for Twilight, not at all my thing (vampires) and by now so many people have made fun of it there's no way I am interested in sparkly vampires BUT many of my friends have gotten all caught up in it. Heheh. It's fun to rag on them. Because they've ragged on some of my choices too.
I’ve gotten flak for reading the following:Harry Potter books- love them.
Jane Austen books- chick lit for geeks, according to my friends.
Twilight (yes, I read them- how else could I put down my twi-hard friends? I need a leg to stand on) Not for me... teenage angst is a bit boring, really.
Sookie Stackhouse series (love these)
To me, a truly great story is one that can be enjoyed by a person of any age.
I feel guilty for reading chick lit or romance - as if I should be readingsomething heavy weight all the time! But I just need something light at the moment.I feel I've missed out - I don't know Mr Poppers Penguins!
Stacia, you might also want to check out Elizabeth George Speare, who wrote at least two YA historicals I loved as a preteen.
Mod
I keep hearing that a good story is a good story regardless of what age it's aimed at. Maybe. I reread A Little Princess and The Secret Garden a couple years ago and they didn't live up to my memories. I loved them as a kid, I thought they were magical and fabulous. It makes me doubt that I should revisit old childhood classics.
I think there are some children's books that probably retain their magic. Picture books, like The Story of Ferdinand probably do more so than chapter books.
Mod
Do you think less of people if they read shitty books?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
Ladies and gentlemen of TC...I give you the thread magician...Lobstergirl! :D
Lobstergirl wrote: "Here's that other thread:
Do you think less of people if they read shitty books?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4..."
You are slowing down LG.
Do you think less of people if they read shitty books?
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4..."
You are slowing down LG.
Mod
So, "historical fiction" has to be written now but taking place way back when? Like the cheesy period romance novels, only kid lit? Hmmm, can't think of a thing.
i don't think i've ever gotten flack for reading. i do think about what books i bring with me in public. i'm more ashamed about old and damaged books than anything else. on of the professors saw me reading bill the galactic hero on the planet of zombie vampires and we talked about it. no shame.
smetchie wrote: "♥Ferdinand♥"LAME!!! Who would make fun of you for that book, Smetchie?!! I'll beat them up. I LOVE that book. J'adore!
The Jungle, Bun? I'm trying to find an example that I have actually read so I have a feel for the genre.
That may be why I am having a hard time coming up with an example. I understand what you're saying are the parameters...I was just having trouble coming up with a familiar example.
The Scarlet Letter wouldn't be considered historical fiction because there's only a matter of 10 years between the writing of the novel and the time in which it's set.Afterlands is a great example of historical fiction. It's a story written by a contemporary author about the Polaris expedition of 1871. The first part of the book is a retelling of the story of the people who were stranded on an ice floe. The second part of the book goes further than what is known from history and creates a storyline of what may have happened after they were rescued.
It is definitely not a YA historical fiction story.
No one gave me flak for Ferdinand. Someone mentioned it up there somewhere and I got a lovey.
Okay, Bun. So, I've been having a wee of a time on this First Reads thingy I never heard of? I think I've entered to win about 50 now. Sept, I was perusing the "Historical Fiction" section...just cause you put it on my mind and the new Jean Auel book...the next in the Clan of the Cave Bear (prehistoric porn...I know, I've read em all) series is listed there. They're giving away 25 copies. I wouldn't have really thought of them as "Historical Fiction" just plain "fiction" if you know what I mean.
Do clarify, its thowing what I thought I understood into a tail spin. It has to be based in actual reality / History, right? Not made up it could maybe have been this way from what scraps we've dug up kind of thing, right? I mean, Auel is just winging it for the most part based on some theories and her own imagination.
Do clarify, its thowing what I thought I understood into a tail spin. It has to be based in actual reality / History, right? Not made up it could maybe have been this way from what scraps we've dug up kind of thing, right? I mean, Auel is just winging it for the most part based on some theories and her own imagination.
Mod
A good example of historical fiction is The Minister's Wooing by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Written in the 1850s, but it takes place in the 1790s. Some of the characters are fictional, some are real, like Aaron Burr, and the Puritan minister of the title. I love what she did with the Aaron Burr character.
Mod
BunWat wrote: "But The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850 and is set in 1643. That's not ten years it's 107."Oops! Sorry, was transposing numbers or something when I was reading earlier. That's my excuse anyway.
BunWat wrote: "Hahaha prehistoric porn. Well there's good historical fiction and there's not so much good historical fiction. I mean if someone puts something out that claims to be historical fiction but is full of mistakes, the genre police aren't actually going to show up at their door.
But yeah, it should be based in actual history to the best of the author's ability. There are some things we just don't know about, but you shouldn't contradict the facts that are known."
Ooooh, your last sentence reminds me of why I wanted to throw The Other Boleyn Girl against the nearest wall.
Don't say it's the vagina washing because I happen to know for A FACT that happened.
Mod
I'm not sure I could read The Other Boleyn Girl. I love the Tudor time period too much. It would piss me off. I'm already irritated with the TV show for combining Margaret and Mary into one character and then killing her off BEFORE Wolsey died and never mentioning the fact that she (Mary, not Margaret who married a Scot) had 4 sons! ALSO, no wedding to an elderly Portuguese king...he was French and she didn't suffocate him with a pillow. Grrrrrr. The Tudors were perfectly dramatic enough on their own thank you, Hollywood!
Also, I put in for several books under the "Historical Fiction" heading on First Reads...so we'll see. If I win one then I'll have to see if it even really is Historical Fiction. :)
Also, I put in for several books under the "Historical Fiction" heading on First Reads...so we'll see. If I win one then I'll have to see if it even really is Historical Fiction. :)
How are they going to work that, I've actually thought about it. I mean, before long he's going to have to start getting fat...will they change actors, or get a fat suit?
He's much cuter to watch walk around without a shirt on, I think that was all they cared about...
Hahahahahahahahahahaha, Christina Ricci as MM. ARLOL, Seriously. I had a mental picture there that was worthy of a milk waterfall out of the nose!!!
Brits don't value the Gingers. I love red hair, personally. Casting directors are often over paid...
Brits don't value the Gingers. I love red hair, personally. Casting directors are often over paid...
BunWat wrote: "What are the particularly egregious historical errors in The Other Boleyn Girl, Jammies?"The two biggest were writing Mary as Anne's younger sister and then asserting her children were Henry's.
Interesting...must add to Moleskine.
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Terminalcoffee
Books mentioned in this topic
Anna and the French Kiss (other topics)The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (other topics)
The Other Boleyn Girl (other topics)
Afterlands (other topics)
The Story of Ferdinand (other topics)
More...
And, Dutch...you're a curmudgeon. You don't like any books with a juvenile lead character? Harold and the purple crayon? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? To Kill a Mockingbird???? You can't mean it! Say it isn't so!!