Young Adult Fiction for Adults discussion

Wait... is it only a trilogy? Gah! I didn't know that! Oh crum...

I just finished reading Twilight. It was so boring. It has absolutely no plot until 400 pages into it.

Sofistixatedlady wrote: "I just finished reading Twilight. It was so boring. It has absolutely no plot until 400 pages into it."

That's how I felt but I may be willing to give the second book a try now just to say that I did. Maybe it will be better. I am currenlty reading "Hood" by Stephen Lawhead. I don't think it's YA but it is pretty good. It's the first in a trilogy so I'll probably read those first before doing the rest of the Twilight books.

I don't know if I'm the only one but I liked the first Twilight book much more than the second one. I guess because I really disliked Jacob and he played such a big part.

I love Jacob. Not as much as Edward, of course, but Jacob's great. Debbie--have you only read New Moon once? It's better the second time through.

I'm sorry to hear that you thought Twilight was boring. It's a love story more than an exciting vampire book. *shrugs*

Sara-I read the series twice but I have to say the second time I pretty much skipped all the Jacob parts :-p I should probably give it a second chance as I thought Breaking Dawn was definitely better on a second read.

It's funny, I like Jacob more now that I've read Breaking Dawn. I didn't think anything would ever make me like his character.

- - -

For those of you who are sick of Twilight, I recommend The Hollow Kingdom, it was the Study Buddies book club pick and I didn't think I'd even get to it--but now I'm hooked! Must read them all!

(Yes, Kristen, I will hat draw tonight! I promise!!)

Jess wrote: "Am reading the Book Thief right now, for a YA lit class. I've heard good things about it but the style is putting me off. Anyone else read it?

I picked up Over Sea, Under Stone the other day a..."

The style put me off at first too, but I ended up really enjoying the book.

I second Alethea's recommendation of The Hollow Kingdom - great book, and I'm so excited because the next two in the series arrived in my letterbox just the other day! Can't wait to read them.

Susan wrote: "Jess wrote: "Am reading the Book Thief right now, for a YA lit class. I've heard good things about it but the style is putting me off. Anyone else read it?"

I'm still reading it. I'm almost done with Disc 4 of 11 of the audiobook. The style was really strange at first... for about the first disc. But I'm really enjoying it now.

Hood's much better. I agree with your take on Twilight. What a yawner!

Don't get me wrong. I love Twilight. Love the whole series. But it's not for everyone. And it's not great literature. It's sort of the teenage girl's Da Vinci Code. And one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

Ditto on that Alethea. Loved it, but I can see where it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

I can definitely see that not everyone would like it. If you read it, and didn't like it, I can certainly understand that.

In the author's defense, Twilight was never meant to be great literature; it was just a story Stephenie Meyer wanted to tell. (Not every author aspires to write the next great American novel...) She wasn't even going to have it published--her sister talked her into it.

I just finished "Spanking Shakespeare" and loved it - laugh out loud funny, authentic characters, fast read.

Sara wrote: "I can definitely see that not everyone would like it. If you read it, and didn't like it, I can certainly understand that.

In the author's defense, Twilight was never meant to be great litera..."

I finished "Twilight" just a few weeks ago. I thought it was entertaining. I agree, not great literature, and certainly rather redundant at times, but, for whatever reason I was always curious to read the next chapter. But yeah, I think it's mostly a love-it or hate-it book. For me though, I didn't either love it or hate it... but mostly that's what I've come across.:)

Hi! I'm sort of new to Good Reads (even though my profile says I joined in 2007, lol). I really wanted to find a good group to join and this seemed perfect for me!

So now I'm just throwing my hat into the ring and joining a discussion thread.

I'm re-reading one of my favorites: Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Almost done, though. Now comes the exciting task of choosing what to read next!

Oh, and I was reading through and saw the discussion on Twilight (lol, it seems like it's everywhere I go; I can't escape it!) and I have to say I totally agree with what you wrote, Sara, about SM never claiming the title of the next great American novel. I honestly sometimes feel bad for her because she's very popular now. A lot of people read her books expecting as much; "the next great American novel," or at least something akin to J. K. Rowling.

Bunker 10 - an interesting SF story.

Shannon wrote: "Oh, and I was reading through and saw the discussion on Twilight (lol, it seems like it's everywhere I go; I can't escape it!) and I have to say I totally agree with what you wrote, Sara, about SM never claiming the title of the next great American novel. I honestly sometimes feel bad for her because she's very popular now. A lot of people read her books expecting as much; "the next great American novel," or at least something akin to J. K. Rowling. "

It was a lot more fun when the following was smaller--for me, and I think for Stephenie. I'm happy that she's super-successful and all, but now that they've made the movie, it's just gotten crazy. AND, the movie industry will do anything to rip-off little teenaged girls who have lots of untaxable babysitting money to spend.... with their 42 versions of the movie and soundtrack.... It's frustrating.

Well, she may not be the best author in the world, but I don't reread Tolstoy a lot, but I do reread the Twilight books. I don't know what your criterion is for a "great American novel" is, but any book that you enjoy enough to read over and over again sure is in my definition. Since JK isn't American, I guess the Potter books won't qualify either.

I don't know what the criterion for the "great American novel" is either.... I'd like to know, though. I think it needs tweaking...

Sarah wrote: "It was a lot more fun when the following was smaller--for me, and I think for Stephenie. I'm happy that she's super-successful and all, but now that they've made the movie, it's just gotten crazy..."

I totally agree. I still remember back when I first read Twilight and how fun it was to fangirl about it with a few of my friends who had read it as well. Now I can't get away from all the negative comments/posts about it being... just a horrible book in general, and those same friends are making fun of anything SM touches. It completely leeches the fun out of reading the books for me.

And Jules... you're absolutely right. 'Nuff said.

I'm currently reading Undone by Brooke Taylor. Has anyone read it yet? I believe it came out a few months ago.

I'm currently reading the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. Next on my list is Graceling.
I'm going to have to switch to something else in a very different genre - getting a little burned out in fantasy.

I love the Ranger's Apprentice series! I was lucky enough to read Book 6 as an ARC copy which I won here on goodreads.

Currently I'm reading City of Glass the last in Cassandra Clare's trilogy. When I finish that (maybe tonight), I'm going to start reading Selkie Girl.

Kristen wrote: "I love the Ranger's Apprentice series! I was lucky enough to read Book 6 as an ARC copy which I won here on goodreads.

LOL! Me too! I'm hoping to finish it and write a review tomorrow.

How do you like Cassandra Clare? I haven't read anything from her in print form.

I really enjoy her books... although the main character Clary seems very much like Bella in the Twilight series.. selfish but still madly in love.. of course Clary's love is forbidden love.. It's a really interesting setting with the real world and this other world coming together at intersections. I'd recommend it if you can stand a little bit of whiney teenage girlness.

Oh my gosh, you guys. I just finished The Goose Girl last night.... I LOVED it!!

Goose Girl was really good.

I also loved Goose Girl! Have you read Book of a Thousand Days?

Not yet, no. I've only read Austenland and Goose Girl. Enna Burning was SUPPOSED to be at the library, but it wasn't on the shelf! :( So sad!! Is Book of a Thousand Days especially good?

Shauna and Sara, I read Book of a Thousand Days and loved it!

It's on my TBR list!

Kristen wrote: "Shauna and Sara, I read Book of a Thousand Days and loved it! "

I really liked Book of a thousand days, though it took me a little while to get into it, it was worth it. How was Austenland? I have not read it.

It was pretty good. Totally different that her other books, obviously, since it was adult, modern day, real world... but I liked it quite a lot.

Austinland is really good and totally funny. It's not like her YA fiction...it's strictly romantic comedy, but I quite enjoyed it. I'm awaiting her upcoming book "The Actor and the Housewife".

I know it's not YA, but right now I've become obsessed with George R. R. Martin's Ice and Fire series. I just started book 2.

I'm also currently working on the Ranger's Apprentice series (I put them off for a long time, but they are sosososo good...it just sucks that Aussies are 3 books ahead, with a new one set this fall....damn them). I'm also going to be starting The Golden Hour Shortly.


I also just finished The Hunger Games, and I highly recommend it! It's by Suzanne Collins, and it was just ridiculously good :D!

Allison wrote: "Austinland is really good and totally funny. It's not like her YA fiction...it's strictly romantic comedy, but I quite enjoyed it. I'm awaiting her upcoming book "The Actor and the Housewife".

I k..."
I just joined Goodreads. I have never heard of the Ranger's Apprentice before, but now I am seeing it everywhere! It must be good. I also loved the Hunger Games. I devoured it! I can't wait for the next one to come out in September. I also highly recommend her other series "Gregor the overlander" They were awesome! Different from Hunger Games, but really good!

Shauna wrote: "Allison wrote: "Austinland is really good and totally funny. It's not like her YA fiction...it's strictly romantic comedy, but I quite enjoyed it. I'm awaiting her upcoming book "The Actor and the ..."

I know! I stumbled upon Gregor and loved them, and so I figured I'd give Hunger Games a try. Both are good...but I can't decide which series I prefer. I am a bit dissapointed that Hunger Games is part of a series/has a sequel...not because it was bad, but because it added yet another book to my "to-read" shelf xD. At this rate, I'll never catch up!

Allison wrote: "(I put them off for a long time, but they are sosososo good...it just sucks that Aussies are 3 books ahead, with a new one set this fall....damn them)"
Hey! None of that thank you! Especially as it's usually the other way round! We STILL haven't got 'The Sweet Fair Thing' in stores yet! Not to mention all the other good American books we never get to see at all :( And movies...we get movies a good six months after everyone else...WAAAH!

I bought The Sweet Far Thing the day it came out and still haven't read it. I'm too scared that it will end badly. I LOVE the first two books.

I just started Anne of Green Gables. I love the miniseries, and have been meaning to read the book for FOREVER. Plus, I needed a new audiobook to listen to in my car... ;)

Is Hunger Games REALLY good? My best friend just read it and rated it 5 stars... I don't know anything about it really, but what I HAVE read seems weird. Can you give me a better idea of what it's about? (Without giving too much away...)

Sara,

Hunger Games was amazing. Do you know what a Battle Royale is? It's a fight to the death. The setting of the book is futuristic and is made into different districts. Basically, each year a boy and a girl under a certain age is taken from each district.. there's mixed feelings district to district about the lottery. If you win the battle royale, you give to live in priveledge with your family, but usually the child/teenager who wins is from a higher district that views it more of a challenge, whereas the lower districts view it as a horrible thing. The government makes it out to be a realistic tv show. They really play it up and use it to their advantage. It's hard to explain, but the set up is amazing and the things that they experience is both disturbing and highly interesting. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but I LOVED this book.

Huh..... Well, I added it to my list... But there are a LOT of books on my list... *shrugs* We'll see. (I'll probably put it off for 10 years, and then love it and kick myself for not having read it sooner... haha...)

Sara wrote: "(I'll probably put it off for 10 years, and then love it and kick myself for not having r..."

Sara, I think this needs to shoot to the top of your to-read list. But to know why I say that, you'd have to read it.

It's phenomenal.

Oh boy.... It's sci-fi? (I really like sci-fi...) It sounded kinda.... end-of-the-world/post-apocalyptic... It's not going to be gross like The Road by Cormac McCarthy, is it?

Hmmm, I wouldn't call it gross. It can be graphic, but especially in comparison to the Japanese Battle Royale, I don't think you have much to fear.

What I liked best is the emotional intensity, the questions it brings up about morality/humanity, and of course, the romance (not the central topic of the story, but a good and worthwhile portion, imho).

I wouldn't really rate The Hunger Games as sci-fi but I loved it! Battle Royale was ok for me but The Hunger Games was much better.

Sara wrote: "Oh boy.... It's sci-fi? (I really like sci-fi...) It sounded kinda.... end-of-the-world/post-apocalyptic... It's not going to be gross like The Road by Cormac McCarthy, is it?"


The Hunger Games is fantasy, but not freaky,weird,or bizarre. To me, this really could happen which makes it realistic and beleivable. I would move it to the top of the must read! I would have to say it is in my top 10 books of all time! I would not say it is end-of-world type book. You just have to read it!!!!!!

I guess I just say sci-fi because its a futuristic world.. or at least a different world.. but fantasy may be closer. I did love the romance in the book too. It's just so cool how it was all set up and the way it felt for them in the game...

Sounds like it's a combo of sci-fi and fantasy. I'm glad to hear it's not end-of-the-world-ish. I'm also THRILLED to hear that there's some romance! That's really all you had to say from the beginning, and I would have been all over it! ;) I love a good love story...

Is there a happy ending? Am I going to cry???

I'm on the waiting list at the library. There are 2 copies, and I'm 3rd on the list...

Well as happy as a battle royale can be I guess...