Book Reviews/Recs

[walkwithheroes]

Around the end of November, I didn't have a lot to do. I was just looking for a job (still am!). So, I started to read. I started to read a lot of young adult literature, because that is my guilty pleasure. Did you know Barnes and Noble now has a 'Teen Paranormal Romance ' section? Because mine does! On the whole I've read one children's book,

Comments

[darkeyedwolf]

*high five* I still read tons of YA. A little embarrassing when I'm browsing the same shelves as thirteen year old girls, but otherwise... there's some good stuff there, damnit!

[walkwithheroes]

*high five* I hadn't even looked at a YA book since I was in middle school (minus Harry Potter -yay- and the Hunger Games - boo-), but I was really bored and looking for some good and fast reads.

Turns out YA literature has changed. Lots of girls falling for vampires and werewolves and angels. Whatever happen to girls talking about babysitting and ignoring their beset friend's sexual orientation?

It is a little awkward to be browsing the same shelves as a group of thirteen year old girls chatting about Robert Patterson or whatever that boy's name is. But, they do have some great novels - especially in the paranormal side of things. (Seriously - a whole section with 'Teen Paranormal Romance' written at the top of shelves and another with 'Teen Sci-fi/Fantasy')

[darkeyedwolf]

You didn't like The Hunger Games either? Double high five!

I actually work right next door to a B&N that shelves YA, sci-fi and manga all in the same general space. While I admit it makes for convenient shopping (everything I need is right there!) there's definitely no way to browse without feeling older than 90% of everyone else around me.

Lots of girls falling for vampires and werewolves and angels.

And FAIRIES. So many fucking fairies. Or should I say "fae people"?

[walkwithheroes]

Double high five right back! I hated The Hunger Games. Maybe because I had read and seen Battle Royale and I couldn't get the similarities out of my head. Or maybe because it felt like it was trying to be the 'next big thing' in teen literature. Either way - I hate it and am annoyed with all the movie hype.

Oh, my B&N has YA, sci-fi, and manga together, too. Maybe all B&Ns have that now? Either way, it's totally convenient for me. I just turn around and oh! I find something I want to read.

Wait. Whoa, huh? There are fairies?! "Fae Folk" are love interest in teen lit now?! I must find one to read! Do you have any to rec? Are they just as awful as the angel ones?

[darkeyedwolf]

That was my exact problem too - I kept thinking "Battle Royale did this part better" or "Battle Royale would have done this..."

I don't hate THG, though, I just like it a lot better in theory than execution. I think it's nice that people are excited for an asskicking heroine instead of yet another gawky-teenage-girl-with-secret-lineage-who-falls-in-love-with-a-mysterious-boy. At least it's variety?

Wait. Whoa, huh? There are fairies?! "Fae Folk" are love interest in teen lit now?!

Oh yeah.

Most of them are terrible (and even if you like the genre you can only read so many before you get tired of sparkly poetry and summer courts) but I enjoyed a few, IIRC... "Lament" was pretty good, and I remember being pumped for "The Iron King" to continue, though I never actually got around to reading the sequels, hmm...

[walkwithheroes]

I agree that the idea of THG is better than the actual novel. Sadly, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't keep thinking about Battle Royale or the ways I'd change bits and pieces.

I think it's nice that people are excited for an asskicking heroine instead of yet another gawky-teenage-girl-with-secret-lineage-who-falls-in-love-with-a-mysterious-boy.

True. So true. Still, all the hype and the 'this will be the best movie ever, because it's based on the best book ever' is getting to me.

Thank you for the link! I'm not a fan of fairies in general, but I just have to see how bad (or good) these authors can do the whole 'teen girl falls for bad boy fairy' thing. I must know! I will put "The Iron King" on my to-read list.