Oh man, Ender's Game. I read that probably once a month for years when I was younger, and I still go back to it when I want a little bit of a mind trip. I think a lot of my thinking methodology came about because of that book, especially "the enemy's gate is down" thing. When you're 9, that shit is mindblowing.
And I love Shannon Hale's stuff, but for some reason it doesn't stick with me really well. I know that I've read the Princess Academy, but I don't really remember what happened in it. I know I enjoyed it, though.
And I have that Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book because my mom sent it to me, but I never started it. Kinda sounds like I should, though...
I really wish I had read it when I was younger - I can imagine it being really powerful and mind-altering. By now my thought patterns are a little too established. But still: so cool.
I know what you mean about Shannon Hale. I hesitate to call it candy literature, because that's the sort of stuff that rots your teeth, but maybe it's...fruit literature? You know: sweet, fresh, delicious, but doesn't stick with you. (Stretching metaphors here, I know. :P )
You absolutely should! I was hesitant about it until I read the first page, and then I was like, "What has been wrong with me for these two years?" It's very, very good.
ENDER'S GAME IS SO EFFING GOOD, HOLY CRAP. I read it in January on a plane trip to Florida and fell in love.
... Come to think of it, that was a crazy awesome trip for books in general, since that was also my first time with the Dresden Files. Go Florida, apparently.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is checked out from my university library at the moment, but I am putting a hold on that like nobody's business. Sounds like just my kind of thing. Thanks for the recommendations! :D
Oh, you totally should. It's such fun, and the really good kind of fun, that doesn't totally fade away when you're done. I need to read it again soon. :P
I never got around to reading Ender's Game either. I guess I should do that. Any other recommendations for me (they don't have to be young adult literature)?
I also just finished the whole Hunger Games series. I kind of felt the same way about them as I did Twilight. Good story, terrible writing/editing. Plus it was a huge ripoff of Battle Royale. Still, they were cute and I enjoyed them and I'm so glad Katniss didn't end up with Gale.
I know this isn't young adult literature, but read The Man Who Fell To Earth so I can get an opinion about it from someone other than my sister. We both love that book. It's a quick read.
Aw, I liked Gale. When you spend the entire first book feeling awful for the guy sitting at home watching the girl he loves go between near-death experiences and flirting with another guy, you tend to take his side. But I pretty much knew all along she'd wind up with Peeta; I just hate the way it happened, like it was merely out of convenience, just because he happened to be there. I never got the feeling that she actually liked, let alone loved him
( ... )
All of the writing about the war was terrible. The first half of Mockingjay dragged so much and then there was SO MUCH ACTION that was barely described. I found the second half of the book hard to keep track of. It was like "they're running down the street and this pod goes off and there's black stuff and this pod goes off and there's other stuff and this pod goes off and this pod and they're running places" and the whole time I was just like, where are they going? Where are they right now? I would have simplified the action and focused more on the characters and describing the action. I don't know.
I agree with you about Peeta. There should have been some kind of significant moment/epiphany where Katniss realized that she was in love with Peeta so it felt a little bit more right.
Anyway, totally saving up my tip money at the creperie for Ender's Game and the Dresden Files.
Ooh, I figured out a book for you! I'm like 10 pages from the end, and it seems like the kind of thing you'd like (I think - I'm still not sure about you with books). It's by Markus Zusak, who wrote the bestseller The Book Thief (about an 11-year-old German girl in the years leading up to WW2). That one got RAVE reviews, and I was expecting great things of it, so I was disappointed. Therefore, I wound up not expecting anything of this one, and it's awesome. It's called I Am the Messenger, and it's about this 19-year-old Australian guy who starts getting playing cards with deeds/lessons for him to perform. The writing is bizarre but I like it, and a lot of the characters are VERY familiar.
PS: My mom's friend is basically the head honcho for Big Brothers Big Sisters CT, and she just sent me an email saying they're looking to hire a case manager for New Haven, preferably someone who studied social work or psych. Are you interested? I could put you in touch with her.
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And I love Shannon Hale's stuff, but for some reason it doesn't stick with me really well. I know that I've read the Princess Academy, but I don't really remember what happened in it. I know I enjoyed it, though.
And I have that Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book because my mom sent it to me, but I never started it. Kinda sounds like I should, though...
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I know what you mean about Shannon Hale. I hesitate to call it candy literature, because that's the sort of stuff that rots your teeth, but maybe it's...fruit literature? You know: sweet, fresh, delicious, but doesn't stick with you. (Stretching metaphors here, I know. :P )
You absolutely should! I was hesitant about it until I read the first page, and then I was like, "What has been wrong with me for these two years?" It's very, very good.
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... Come to think of it, that was a crazy awesome trip for books in general, since that was also my first time with the Dresden Files. Go Florida, apparently.
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The Dresden Files is something ELSE I need to read. Man. Too much on my list!
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I also just finished the whole Hunger Games series. I kind of felt the same way about them as I did Twilight. Good story, terrible writing/editing. Plus it was a huge ripoff of Battle Royale. Still, they were cute and I enjoyed them and I'm so glad Katniss didn't end up with Gale.
I know this isn't young adult literature, but read The Man Who Fell To Earth so I can get an opinion about it from someone other than my sister. We both love that book. It's a quick read.
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I agree with you about Peeta. There should have been some kind of significant moment/epiphany where Katniss realized that she was in love with Peeta so it felt a little bit more right.
Anyway, totally saving up my tip money at the creperie for Ender's Game and the Dresden Files.
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PS: My mom's friend is basically the head honcho for Big Brothers Big Sisters CT, and she just sent me an email saying they're looking to hire a case manager for New Haven, preferably someone who studied social work or psych. Are you interested? I could put you in touch with her.
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