Did you know it’s tough out there for a critic? Yeah, yeah, you’re saying. You dish it out, so sit down, shut up, and take your lumps. I’d like to talk about those lumps at length (extreme lengths, in fact). I’m afraid if I don’t disclaim it will backfire, so quick: I am not looking for pity or sympathy or pats on the back. I walked into this knowing there might be consequences. I want to talk about what I experience as a critic in our community, and wish it for it be so, so, so clear that the majority of my experience is awesome because I have awesome pals that support me, even if we are different. I am super lucky to know the people I do.

Onward! Read the rest of this entry »

I see what you’re thinking, internets. You are sitting at your computer, wondering, “Why is Renay asking for recommendations for books without same sex make-outs or sexy times? Is she ILL?” Oh, internets, I am ill. I am.

I have a friend who we will call Horace. Horace and I have become good pals through our love of reading. I have loaned them several great books, one of which was My Most Excellent Year. I loved that story. I ran into a snag with Horace, though. See, Horace has this…thing. They can’t read books with the following traits:

• Main character death—if the character has a big-to-mid-sized role, it’s a no go.
• Hardcore SF/F—can’t handle it! Doesn’t work.
• Gay People—if you’re gay, Horace will be friends with you (Hi, Horace!) but fuck if they’ll read about those evil gay people who are definitely going to hell for having weird and gross sex.

I might be hanging on to a little residual anger. You know, perhaps.

I will be honest! I may live in the reddest state, in the reddest county in the country, where “Democrat” means “Rethuglican in disguise” and there are four anti-choice billboards on my route to work, but I do a pretty good job of insulating myself and keeping my circle of friends tightly controlled. I was shocked, and hurt, and disappointed in Horace when they told me they couldn’t read this book because of one gay character, one storyline that contained at most, chaste first-love antics. I did not know this about Horace, this aversion to gay people: the Othering, the erasing of, the “if I don’t see it they don’t exist” decisions they made. It has thrown me!

Because, and if you’ve read this blog for awhile you will know this about me: boys kissing is my forte. I read it, I write it, I promote it, I am a big fan. I could handle the no-death stuff, and yeah, no serious SF/F would be hard but doable, but by adding in this new rule, no icky gays, I’m stumped. I went from having tons of recs for romances to having almost none I could share with Horace. I feel adrift! I am, honestly, a little heartbroken, not just because Horace will miss out on books I think are amazing, but because I feel like a friend has rejected part of who I am. Like just because I am a girl, and think girls are totally hot, I am less worthy. YET, I do not want to give up my friendship with Horace, however masochistic that will be for me in the future.

Thus, people who read! I have come to the intertubes seeking your help. I have with me a list of books and series Horace has loved and I ask of you to read them and think about what other books Horace might like based on the titles listed. Feel free to help and, to cheer me up, feel free to add My Most Excellent Year to your reading list. It’s worth it, icky gays and all.

Books I have recommended that Horace has liked:

• All titles by Sarah Dessen
• All titles by Elizabeth Scott (excepting Living Dead Girl and Love You Hate You Miss You which break a rule)
• The Twilight Saga
• Graceling
• The Hunger Games (I do not know how this survived the character death rule, but it did)
• Suite Scarlett (and I’ve recced Johnson’s other books that don’t break the rules)
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
• The Adoration of Jenna Fox

If you have titles you think would be appropriate and don’t violate the rules, please share them! I would really appreciate it. :)

Internet! Did you know that YALSA came up with a list called ULTIMATE TEEN BOOKSHELF which contains 50 books, five magazines and five audiobooks? Yes? TOO BAD, no new information for you. No? Well, let me share the news with you, and then proceed to embarrass myself thoroughly by showing how out of the loop I am. “Renay,” you say, “are you about to do one of those posts where you post a list and then get fancy with your formatting?” to which the answer is an excited, overjoyed HELLS YEAH. That isn’t related to the content of the novels, but more the content of the magazines. What’s so exciting? SHONEN JUMP is on that list! Why yes, I am going to manga dork out on you, please excuse me for a moment!

[Insert some major dorking out right here. Capslock and squeeing required, glitter optional.]

I’ve really got to start reviewing One Piece again.

Now it is time for me to look at the list of books and add some formatting, because that is my shtick: having unnecessary but bold opinions about everything I’ve read! Read the rest of this entry »

Thank the stars for Khy, who is my crack Will Grayson, Will Grayson dealer. I am so excited for this book, guys. I really, really enjoy Levithan’s collaborations. However, John Green! Listen, internet, I wrote him a nerdy fan letter, mailed it to my friend, and then went, “YOU HAVE TO GO TO HIS SIGNING!!” It was 100% creepy in hindsight and I am fairly sure the letter was delivered to the police and if I try to cross borders, I’m going to get a surprise!

I have been collecting information about Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Khy never lets me down! So far through her and the internets I have found:

• an interview with David Levithan at the short review
• video interview with John Green at the Screening Room
• The Amazon page, which recently told me via e-mail that pre-ordering is now available.
• Via Nymeth: this image which is torture.

April 2010 is a long way away. ;_;

John Scalzi on the derision expressed toward YA titles that are on the short lists of major SF/F awards:

Yes, how horrible it is that some of what’s being hailed as the best science fiction and fantasy written today is in a literary category designed to encourage millions of young people to read for the rest of their natural lives. Because God knows the last thing science fiction and fantasy publishing needs right now is whole generation of new and enthusiastic readers who might actually get hooked into the genre until they die. It’s a goddamn tragedy, it is.

Guys, there’s a reason I adore this man and it’s not just because his books are amazing. If you only read one of his books, read Zoe’s Tale, which is the last book published in his Old Man’s War trilogy but stands alone quite well. I was a hot mess at the end of it. So good.