Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

I haven't read this yet, but I really want to! I saw it won an Alex Award in 2008 (which is to award adult books that would be good for YA).

What does everyone think about it?

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I absolutely loved this book! This was one of my favorites in 2008. It reminded me a bit of the movie Pan's Labyrinth (which I love) both of them being dark fantasy with a kid in the midst of it. I also loved the book mentioning fairy tales from my childhood with a more twisted spin on things.

I totally loved this book! Too bad it seems to be a one time deal for this author. He normally writes mysteries or thrillers. I absolutely love the fairy tales incorporated in.

I thought it was great. This is on my re-read list (ooh! better make that a shelf.) I read Nocturnes but none of his other stuff. I really liked the grimness (Grimmness?) of the fairytales he added in. It reminds me of finding more adult/gruesome versions of folk tales when I was about 11 or 12.

I agree with you, Linbee. It does suck that this seems to be the only fantasy novel he's written (and will write for a while). Now, don't get me wrong, I love mysteries, but The Book of Lost Things is so good that it'll be a shame if John Connolly doesn't continue to write fantasy.

Alisha wrote: "I absolutely loved this book! This was one of my favorites in 2008. It reminded me a bit of the movie Pan's Labyrinth (which I love) both of them being dark fantasy with a kid in the midst of it...."

Oh, this just got bumped WAY up the list. I loved Pan's Labyrinth!! That was such a darkly beautiful and intriguing movie. Could have done without the death by nose part, but other than that, I loved it!

Heather wrote: "I just started reading this last night. I love the whole premise of this book and can't wait to see how the story unfolds! "

I'm jealous! I think I'll read it next week.

I really need to read this book. Someone told me about it a year ago and I still haven't checked it out from the library!

Kristen, you need to go right now to the library and get this book. Then you need to read it, come back and tell us what you thought of the Snow White part and the Crooked Man.



Pan's Labyrinth is fantastic, I loved the visual elements in the movie and the story. I forget the director's name, but have you seen any of his other films??

Alright, I'm going this weekend.. I need to work on my list of things to get!

The director of Pan's Labyrinth is Guillermo Del Toro. And while I haven't seen any of the other films he's directed (although I really do want to see The Devil's Backbone), I have see one more film that he produced and that was The Orphanage (El Orfanato). And I absolutely loved that one also. It still has an element of a dark fantasy fairy tale (particularly in the end), but it's still more of a horror movie. A heartwarming horror movie. The movie was just so great.

I just bought this book at Borders. It was in the 5.99 section so I figured I would buy it while it was on sale. I can't wait to start reading it.

Yay! I do love Bargain Blowouts. Although this time almost everything I wanted to buy, I already owned. :(

Heather's review has made me bump this further up the tbr. It sounds so good!

Was anyone surprised by the darkness of this book? I didn't really read any of the reviews or anything before reading so I was surprised. I did like it though some parts were a tad disturbing...like the chopping and re-attaching of heads. lol. I think the comparison to Pan's Labyrinth is right on.

I liked the imaginative nature of the book and its unique feel. I agree with others above though that it didn't really create an emotional connection for me. I didn't become attached to David as much as I would have liked to.

Overall, I enjoyed it though.

I thought this book was fantastic! It's easily one on my faves. I love the dark twisted stories. It was so original and imaginative.