December recommendation: Divergent. It’s the newest book in
the newest wave of young adult literature (post-apocalyptic), and it received
the 2011 GoodReads Choice Award. Fantastically written and not
nearly as violent as The Hunger Games, it’s a fast but thought-provoking read.
I read it in a day.
2011 recommendation: The Hunger Games. I know it’s all like
mainstream and stuff now, and they’re coming out with a movie, but they were
the only books this year for which I lost sleep. Bethany asked me earlier this
month what I thought of them, and I responded, “The trilogy is violent,
psychologically disturbing, heart-wrenching, and kind of disgusting. Yet it
manages to be fascinating, riveting, and utterly fabulous.” I think that about
sums it up.
My thought on post-vampire YA lit: I’ve now read three
entire series of YA post-apocalyptic literature, and Divergent. In each one,
the protagonist is a teenage girl. I understand why this is so (that’s their
market, teenage girls provide easy fodder for conflict, etc.), but I would be
interested in a series that sees the breakdown (or re-making) of social
constructs through the eyes of a boy, or even a couple of characters.
On the other hand, books like Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey and Lois Lowry’s The Giver are not YA, and their protagonists are male. I find
this to be an interesting distinction.
Aaaaanyway, here is my total count for the year:
Books finished: 58
Most books read in a month: 13
Books unread on my shelf: Ummm...I can't remember. I think it's like 6.
Goal for 2012: Tristram Shandy. Get ready for some blogging,
baby, because it’s a doozy.
1 comment:
You should read the Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve, starting with Mortal Engines. Post-post apocalyptic, fascinating, GREAT characters, and a seamless series that actually has you applauding the end. I know!
You won't regret it.
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