Comments on: Recent Reading Highlights

By: PJ Hoover

PJ Hoover — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:33:26 +0000

I adored the Homecoming series by Orson Scott Card. I think it’s my favorite overall series by him, though I do love Ender’s Game.

By: annastan

annastan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:40:48 +0000

Jon, I think you’re on to something with the two different characters. Katsa is physically strong, but she’s still trying to figure out her identity. Fire seems like a more mature, almost adult, character who’s able to see herself pretty clearly. Because Katsa is struggling with who she is, I can see how that might make her a more challenging character to like.

Judy, I’ve heard great things about JUMPED. It seems like an intense book – I’ll be interested to read it.

By: Judy Palermo

Judy Palermo — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:03:28 +0000

I’ve got both Graceling and the Maze Runner in my TBR pile. I just finished Jumped. Very powerful.

By: Jon Arntson

Jon Arntson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:09:00 +0000

I am not entirely sure why I liked FIRE better…I think because I liked Fire better than Katsa. I liked being in Fire’s head more. Katsa was cool and neato, but too…I cant find the word. Now, I may be a guy, but I am an uber feminist, so don’t start throwing ‘you’re a man’ around, like you women do. Ha. I am also a hypocrite.

By: annastan

annastan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:41:45 +0000

Jon, I meant that in the best possible way.

Anne, interesting point about the female empowerment in GRACELING vs FIRE. I’ve heard several people say that they thought it was too much in the first one. Both books have some strong themes, so ultimately it seems to come down to personal preference.

By: Anne M Leone

Anne M Leone — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:24:42 +0000

Ohhhh, interesting discussion! I also thought the ending of Graceling was quite rushed, but otherwise LOVED it. How interesting that that may have been an editorial decision.

Fire didn’t do much for me. I finished it, liked the concept and the world building, but never really got into any of the characters and, like others, found it quite slow. I think one of the reasons I loved Graceling was all the female empowerment going on, and that wasn’t so much of a thread in Fire.

By: Jon Arntson

Jon Arntson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:17:47 +0000

Me?

By: annastan

annastan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:37:19 +0000

Tina, it’s interesting that you felt that way about the last part of GRACELING because I read that Kristin Cashore had to significantly cut down the ending of the book based on her editor’s suggestion. I felt the story was wrapped up too quickly, so it was interesting to find out that was an editorial decision.

Jon, I like that you’re fueling a battle here! We’ll have to check back after we’ve all read the sequel to the MAZE RUNNER.

By: Jon Arntson

Jon Arntson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:22:37 +0000

The ending totally grabbed me and now I cannot wait for the next. Two against two on Fire!!

By: Tina Lee

Tina Lee — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:11:27 +0000

I love this discussion of the two books as well. I totally fell out of love with Graceling at the very end. Well, maybe that is strong, but The last 5th of the novel didn’t interest me as much. So overall I enjoyed Fire more. But it is very internal. So if it hadn’t been for that last little bit, I probably would have given Graceling the higher vote. For a very first book it is amazing. I just finished Shiver and I thought that book just kept getting better.