We’re sorry, this post is in another castle.
July 5th, 2009
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. :)
July 3rd, 2009
posted in nerds heart yaYou know I’m sort of babysitting this book tournament? No? OH THAT’S RIGHT, you couldn’t know because I’ve been a giant ass over keeping up with it and making sure everything is working okay and promoting the reviews and such. People had contests for this! That’s how much they believed in the idea, and you know, I’ve been kind of a jerk, not commenting or, you know, paying attention. I could use the $dayjob excuse (it would be warranted!) or the “But I’m running a multi-fandom fanfiction exchange!” excuse (hahahaha I fail at scheduling whhhy did I not check for conflicts) but let’s be honest here: I am not engaged like I should be! I am hoping I am less filled with the everlasting stench of fail in round two and that everyone will know that the first round of judges carried this tournament. Please send them cake and free books. BUT FIRST: let’s recap Round One!
Valentina judged My Most Excellent Year and The Opposite of Invisible, which was a match I was particularly interested in. Here’s her final decision!
Moving on: My Most Excellent Year
Jodie judged What They Always Tell Us and The Last Exit to Normal. Read her final decision.
Moving on: The Last Exit to Normal
Natasha judged I Know It’s Over and Feathered and was also what I considered to be one of the most controversial matches with her review and issues with I Know It’s Over. Her final decision is here!
Moving on: Feathered
Ali and Lenore judged Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before and Alive and Well In Prague New York. Their decisions are here and here.
Moving on: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before
Mary Ann judged Cracked Up To Be and The Shape of Water (which had the most interesting cover, in my opinion). Her final choice is here.
Moving on: Cracked Up To Be
Trish and Vasilly judged The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second and Debbie Harry Sings In French. Trish shares their decision here.
Moving on: The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second
Kelly judged Leftovers and The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine; here are her reviews and final choice (one I bet Chris was happy about!).
Moving on: The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine
Becky and Kailana judged The City in the Lake and Pretty Monsters. Check out Kailana’s review for the entirity of their decision. Becky also reviewed The City in the Lake.
Moving on: The City in the Lake
If I managed to get all the names and links right, I will be DOING WELL. I will make corrections free of charge! So, what’s up for Round #2?
My Most Excellent Year versus The Last Exit to Normal, judged by Heather
Feathered versus Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before, judged by Amy
Cracked Up To Be versus The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second, judged by Laza
The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine versus The City in the Lake, judged by Stephanie
We’re getting closer and closer to the final match-up! How can you not be excited by the prospect of Chris and Nymeth together! Reviewing two books! I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m bringing popcorn.
Oh, right, I am also excited about the books, too. >.>
July 2nd, 2009
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 »