Cybils, Segueing to Australia, la la la
Graceling is a finalist for the Cybils, the children's and YA bloggers' literary awards, in the Fantasy/SF category ^_^. Check out all the categories and all the finalists here. I haven't read most of the other finalists (yet!!), but those I have read happen to be among my favorite reads of the year, and I recommend them highly -- see below. Links are to their Amazon descriptions. Oh, and I don't include The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins below, because I've only just started reading it, but I will say that at 25 pages in, I have already laughed, cried, AND screamed out in surprise. So, um, it's safe to say that I have high expectations of enjoying that one :o)
The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski
The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Jellicoe Road reminds me of the disproportionate amount of Australian literature I've been reading lately, all of which is FABULOUS, so I'm going to go on and give you a few more recommendations of great books (none from 2008):
- Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta. A favorite of mine and also of Cordelia's. Marchetta also has a fantasy out called Finnikin of the Rock which I haven't read yet but which is guaranteed to be wonderful, just like everything else she writes. Really, you can't go wrong (Looking for Alibrandi is also great!) :o)
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Just. Read it.
- Black Juice by Margo Lanagan. Magical realism; short stories (and I never read short stories, but these ones hooked me. Margo Lanagan has an EXCELLENT BRAIN).
- Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Hartnett. Gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh.
I spent my junior year abroad in Sydney; it was one of the best decisions of my life. What a city; what a beautiful nation. Where else can you see a kangaroo from a hot air balloon, or walk into a forest that smells of eucalyptus (um, because it is eucalyptus), or witness an emu having an identity crisis? (It seemed to think it was a cow. It was grazing with the cows, and allowing itself to be herded with the cows.) La la la. I hope I'll get back to Australia someday :o)
Comments
LOVED the Book Thief--one of the best books ever written EVAR. The rest on your list there, though, I've not read...so I'm off to explore and add to my TBR pile!
shelli
http://faeriality.blogspot.com/
How were you able to put The Hunger Games down to write this post? I've only read 3 books this year that I can say were unputdownable: HG was one of 'em. The other was about vampires. And then, well...you know...the other was nominated for a Cybil and was written by you.
Thanks for the book recommendations. I'm learning rather quickly that YA literature is where it's at. Said the 34 year old, ending with a preposition.
the CybilS...not Cybil...like the actress. Gotcha.
I enjoyed THG as well, Katniss and our Katsa remind me a bit of eachother.... let me know if you think so too!
Yay the sun is shining today, thank you!
*crosses fingers* Lets hope you win that award!
I am on Ch 6 of HG. Just started last night and did not want to stop but, alas, I had to work today. Which is what I really should be doing now, but I'm reading your blog instead. I am adding some of your recommended books to my TBR list. I literally have like 20+ books in piles on my bookshelf and strowed about my bedroom in my TBR stack. My husband is begging me to make them disappear. Which leads me to one quick question: Do you get rid of your books once you read them, or do you horde them like a little squirrel hordes nuts for the winter? I'm a bit of a packrat when it comes to books. You couldnt pry them from my cold dead hands...Congrats on the nom!!
Have added a couple of questions from these comments to my list!
*warning spoiler*
I really wanna know why you made Po go blind. I cried for hours!! I want him to be able to see Katsa again. It was really sad when I read it. Sorry if sound a little too obsessive. I tend to get that way over really really good books
Hi Caitlin, thanks for writing! Sometimes plots just come to you in a certain way, and you can't explain why they are that way. I can't really answer your question, because the answer is that this was the story that came to me, and I couldn't have changed that aspect of it, because it just felt right that way. It worked well with the growth of his Grace, and it gave the story the sort of bittersweet ending that I like in my own reading. I do agree that it's sad and unfair. Sorry I made you cry!! :(
Your very new fan,
Dianna =]