Recent Activity

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  Vampire Academy (SPOILERS) - Richelle Mead

  Ooh, "boys'" books!  (in quotes b/c I kind of hate this designation, b/c boys and girls are capable of reading and loving the same books.  BUT I get why it's used). Love this challenge!

  Try Dark Life (it's like Seaquest meets the X men), the Cinda Williams Chima books (the Heir Chronicles in particular are v. popular with boys) and the Queen's Thief books.  Also try The 39 Clues series.  My boss has a son the same age who is not much of a reader but he got into these books.  And, of course,the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, too.

  Totally gender neutral appeal - all of the above.

  OOH  - just thought of another fabulous YA fantasy quartet.  The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon.  High Fantasy more in the realm of LotR, beautifully written.  She's actually an Australian poet. Some romance, but lots of family and adventure and journeying.  A lot of it kinds of takes place in the mind - might be mature for 11, but definitely great for teenagers or adults who love fantasy.

  Posted 05 Jan 11 in Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh, My.

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  Hunger Games Trilogy: Book#3 - "Mockingjay" **SPOLIERS**

  Ange30 - when I first read, Mockingjay - I thought what you did.  ANOTHER hunger games?  Haven't we done this aleady?  She rode that one trick pony into the ground.  But then I thought about it some more - in a way, the Capitol has kind of become the Hunger Games.  That's what defined them - so maybe that's why the city is one giant hunger games.  It's a metaphor for who they are - callous, mutated, obsessed, empty.

  Posted 27 Dec 10 in Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh, My.

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  Catching Fire Book #2 in HG Trilogy (Suzanne Collins) *SPOILERS*

  I see what you're saying. He could be either a rebel or a spy.  I guess we don't know enough about Gale's private life - if he had one - to know at this point, but I'm not sure I agree.   I don't think the rebellion has been going on in earnest for long enough for either.  And I didn't really get the same sinister vibe from Gale as you did.

  Posted 22 Dec 09 in Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh, My.

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  Other Book Recommendations 2

  Also - ya'll might want to check out Penguin's project paranormal.  Interviews with authors - including some faves from here.  CH of course, but also Laurell K Hamilton and JR Ward

  Posted 20 Dec 09 in The Sookie Stackhouse Series Forum (SPOILER RAMPANT SITE *PLEASE READ Forum Rules Before Posting*)

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  Other Book Recommendations

  Anyone read Graceling?  I can't recommend it enough!  It was great!

  Posted 11 Nov 09 in Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh, My.

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  Hunger Games Book#1 (Suzanne Collins) *SPOILERS*

  Hey there!

  I think it's so interesting you think Kat is selfish.  I tend to agree.  But you are also right that she's got good qualities that counter act it.  I wonder if perhaps it is a very subtle and authentic characterization of typical teenager selfishness?  At that age, the world revolves around you.  Kat is a little different in that she's had to keep her family alive, but they depend on her in a way that might contribute to that self-centered view of things, a bit.  What do you think?

  Oh and don't be  for liking Peeta.  I'm a Gale devotee myself, but I can see the qualities you like in Peeta.

  As for what the right age, Laura, I would think fairly young 12, 13.  It's violent and a little heavy, but it's not horrifcally gory.  Kids see much more violent things in movies and on TV.  Also, some people suggest that exposure to scary things in fiction is cathartic for kids, helping them learn how the deal with and differentiate real life horrors.  Think of (real, no Disney-fied) fairy tales.  They're quite violent and scary - they're morality tales and teaching tools.  This is too, in a way.  There are some heavy themes about morality and rebellion and being true to yourself in a horriffic situation, no?

  Posted 11 Nov 09 in Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh, My.

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  Other Book Recommendations.**THREAD CLOSED-READ ONLY**

  BUY A BANNED BOOK!

  Excuse the rant, but as avid, thoughtful readers of a wide variety of books, I thought you might be interested in this - and maybe as outraged as I am.  I am outraged whenever books are banned, but the Henderson Junior High in the Stephenville school district in TX has banned some that are near and dear to the hearts of many on this board - the House of Night and Vampire Academy series.  Although the banning of any book is shameful, these bannings were of particular note because they banned books in the series that have not been published yet, with no way to know, review or consider the content of those books.  The objections raised to these series was based on the sexual nature of the content, though it is not unlikely to assume "religious sensitivities" (the category the ACLU uses to describe objections based on religious content of books) might have been at the forefront of the objectors' minds as well.

  Banning books is frightening attempt to curtail freedom of speech and control public opinion, sentiment and morals.  Rather than leave it to parents to monitor their children's reading habits, these school districts have taken it upon themselves to remove these books from the shelves and deny access to all.  Henreich Heine said "Where ever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn human beings."  In some minds, including mine, banning books is the first step along that dangerous road.

  The ACLU of Texas Free People Read Freely report has further details, but in support of these authors whom we all love, I encourage you all to go out and buy a banned book or take one out of the library.  I'm going to buy the next PC Cast even though I wasn't going to originally.  (I suppose this also goes to show that people who ban books have never met a teenager or outraged 30 yr old woman.  Banning books only generates more interest in them).

  Posted 16 Oct 09 in The Sookie Stackhouse Series Forum (SPOILER RAMPANT SITE *PLEASE READ Forum Rules Before Posting*)

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  CH Q & A's, Interviews, etc...*READ ONLY. THREAD CLOSED. See NEW THREAD*

  Oh god, I hope it's not one of those books that spends a ridiculous amount of time giving you the backstory.

   

  Posted 17 Sep 09 in The Sookie Stackhouse Series Forum (SPOILER RAMPANT SITE *PLEASE READ Forum Rules Before Posting*)

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  General: Info, Announcements & Introductions

  Wow - Laura, that's exciting!

  I'm headed to Dragon Con myself.  I'm betting Mead and CH are on the same panel, so I'll certainly be at that one. Mead will be at a book signing a few days before - 9/2 or 9/3 or something in Gwinette or Alpharetta I think.  If you don't have tickets to the Con and want to see her, you could head there . . .

  Posted 25 Jul 09 in The Sookie Stackhouse Series Forum (SPOILER RAMPANT SITE *PLEASE READ Forum Rules Before Posting*)

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  True Blood TV Discussion's: It's an Alan Ball world...

  I think I have the link somewhere.  I'll see if I can find it.

  Posted 19 Dec 08 in The Sookie Stackhouse Series Forum (SPOILER RAMPANT SITE *PLEASE READ Forum Rules Before Posting*)