books I am looking forward to
Oct. 19th, 2009 09:45 pmIt occurred to me after reading a book recently that I would likely be put into Hufflepuff were I a Hogwarts student. (I would hope that it would be a struggle between that and Ravenclaw, though.) The book made me realize just how much I value loyalty, especially as a good number of the characters seemed to have no sense of loyalty whatsoever regarding their relationships with the people closest to them. (This is something I've seen in various adult books, even though this wasn't marketed as one. It's also one of the elements I dislike about adult books.) It doesn't particularly matter what kind of relationship it is--if it is important, I think there should be loyalty and confidence between people. It's hard for me to like characters who feel no sense of loyalty to each other.
With regards to books I liked that I've read recently, however, I read Sara Zarr's Once Was Lost today. It's the first book I've read by her, and I was impressed. Contemporary fiction isn't really my thing, but every now and again I pick one up and like it. I thought Sara did a great job balancing the different plot threads--and they could have easily been unbalanced in less-skilled hands--and I thought she did an excellent job with the whole personal faith thread. So often that fails--either because writers think it's an interesting character quirk to check off on a list (esp. in historical fiction) without truly understanding the vulnerable miracle that faith is--or they go totally overboard and it becomes didactic, apologetic, and bumper sticker art. (Not to say I don't like me a good bumper sticker...but you know what I mean.) Anyway. I thought Sara handled this really well--in part because she let her character fall and fail and be vulnerable and imperfect, and in part because she was very character-specific once Sam finally figured some things out. So kudos there.
If you like novels in verse, you may enjoy Lisa Schroeder's Far From You, about a girl stuck in a snowstorm with the stepmother she hasn't ever really accepted, and her newborn baby sister. I have no idea if all verse novels are like this, but if so, I'll have to read some more!
And now for some I'm looking forward to reading that aren't out yet:
Magic Under Glass, by Jackie Dolamore--out December 2009. Um, okay, so I read this in critique before it was sold, but the US and UK covers are both so lovely that I want to read it again. If you like historical fantasy (Victorian era) you should read this. Jackie also writes very well about friends and food, and if you add magic and suspense, what could be better?
Shadow, by Jenny Moss (author of Winnie's War)--out in January 2010, I think? I don't know much about it except that it is a tween fantasy, and after reading Winnie's War I'm looking forward to more by Jenny.
Everlasting, by Angie Frazier--out in spring/summer 2010. Angie's writing gives you the immediate sense that you are in very good hands, plus the summary for this one sounds just fabulous. (19th century sea voyage/Australia/mystery/fantasy/romance)
Touch Blue, by Cynthia Lord--I don't remember when this is out, but Rules was pitch-perfect, and I'm looking forward to more.
Calamity Jack, Shannon and Dean Hale with Nathan-Hale-no-relation--out in January 2010. Sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge.
Eighth Grade Superzero, by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich--out in January 2010.
The Healing Spell, by Kimberly Little--July 2010
Princess for Hire, by Lindsey Leavitt--March 2010
Brightly Woven, Alexandra Bracken--March 2010
The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain--December 2009
Wayfarer, RJ Anderson--April 27, 2009
A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner--April 2010
Scumble, Ingrid Law--August 24, 2010
Reckless, Cornelia Funke--September 14, 2010
The Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan--May 4, 2010
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, Francisco X. Stork--March 2010
Currently I have the following books on hold at the library. I hope they're good!
Front and Center, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Stitches, by David Small
The Islands of the Blessed, by Nancy Farmer
Give Up the Ghost, by Megan Crewe
Prada and Prejudice, by Amanda Hubbard
Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
And I'll add these once the library orders them:
A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner--the next Gen book! March 2010
The Time Quake, by Linda Buckley-Archer
So, there's your reading advertisement for the day!
With regards to books I liked that I've read recently, however, I read Sara Zarr's Once Was Lost today. It's the first book I've read by her, and I was impressed. Contemporary fiction isn't really my thing, but every now and again I pick one up and like it. I thought Sara did a great job balancing the different plot threads--and they could have easily been unbalanced in less-skilled hands--and I thought she did an excellent job with the whole personal faith thread. So often that fails--either because writers think it's an interesting character quirk to check off on a list (esp. in historical fiction) without truly understanding the vulnerable miracle that faith is--or they go totally overboard and it becomes didactic, apologetic, and bumper sticker art. (Not to say I don't like me a good bumper sticker...but you know what I mean.) Anyway. I thought Sara handled this really well--in part because she let her character fall and fail and be vulnerable and imperfect, and in part because she was very character-specific once Sam finally figured some things out. So kudos there.
If you like novels in verse, you may enjoy Lisa Schroeder's Far From You, about a girl stuck in a snowstorm with the stepmother she hasn't ever really accepted, and her newborn baby sister. I have no idea if all verse novels are like this, but if so, I'll have to read some more!
And now for some I'm looking forward to reading that aren't out yet:
Magic Under Glass, by Jackie Dolamore--out December 2009. Um, okay, so I read this in critique before it was sold, but the US and UK covers are both so lovely that I want to read it again. If you like historical fantasy (Victorian era) you should read this. Jackie also writes very well about friends and food, and if you add magic and suspense, what could be better?
Shadow, by Jenny Moss (author of Winnie's War)--out in January 2010, I think? I don't know much about it except that it is a tween fantasy, and after reading Winnie's War I'm looking forward to more by Jenny.
Everlasting, by Angie Frazier--out in spring/summer 2010. Angie's writing gives you the immediate sense that you are in very good hands, plus the summary for this one sounds just fabulous. (19th century sea voyage/Australia/mystery/fantasy/romance)
Touch Blue, by Cynthia Lord--I don't remember when this is out, but Rules was pitch-perfect, and I'm looking forward to more.
Calamity Jack, Shannon and Dean Hale with Nathan-Hale-no-relation--out in January 2010. Sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge.
Eighth Grade Superzero, by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich--out in January 2010.
The Healing Spell, by Kimberly Little--July 2010
Princess for Hire, by Lindsey Leavitt--March 2010
Brightly Woven, Alexandra Bracken--March 2010
The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain--December 2009
Wayfarer, RJ Anderson--April 27, 2009
A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner--April 2010
Scumble, Ingrid Law--August 24, 2010
Reckless, Cornelia Funke--September 14, 2010
The Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan--May 4, 2010
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, Francisco X. Stork--March 2010
Currently I have the following books on hold at the library. I hope they're good!
Front and Center, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Stitches, by David Small
The Islands of the Blessed, by Nancy Farmer
Give Up the Ghost, by Megan Crewe
Prada and Prejudice, by Amanda Hubbard
Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
And I'll add these once the library orders them:
A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner--the next Gen book! March 2010
The Time Quake, by Linda Buckley-Archer
So, there's your reading advertisement for the day!