End of year and looking forward to summer!

I have not been able to keep up my reading schedule as end of school year activities have been taking over! Some of you are teachers, I know, and will understand exactly what I mean. With grading, final exams, class days, proms...it becomes a bit too much.

I've been escaping into the Sookie Stackhouse novels...a delicious guilty pleasure!

I've also been compiling a list for summer reading. I have a few so far, but was wondering if there were any suggestions out there?

A Solid Vampire Series. Woohoo!

Finally, events occur!!

Granted, I am just starting this process and really haven’t read too many YA novels (shameful, I know), but I was thrilled after reading this novel because there was action, solid dialogue, and a more developed fantastical world.

The main character Rose, who totally and completely rocks, is a Dhampir guardian who must protect Lissa Dragomir from the Strigoi. At first it might seem confusing but in reality it’s pretty clear once you get reading. Quick cheat sheet:

Dhampir-being with vampire and human blood.
Moroi-vampire
Strigoi-fierce vampires who never die.

The novel begins with action which is such a change from the pokey, nothing-really- happens writing of Twilight. That action continues right up until the end and some mysteries kept me wondering and reading on for more which is an absolute plus.

So, on to my obligatory three points:

1. Overall, pretty well written. Sentence structure is varied so that there is some hustle and flow (couldn’t help but write hustle and flow.) The reader isn’t bored with the same sentence type over and over, and Richelle Mead works short sentences in so that they feel natural. I only noticed four typos (not really a fault of the author…) and it isn’t even fair to comment on that in my opinion.

The only drawback would have to be the flashbacks. Just too many for me. I know that they were necessary for background information, but it could have been done less, or perhaps just more adeptly. And they were only distracting maybe two to three times. So I forgive. And you should too.

2. The characters and situations were real! Yay! I know that this is fiction, but I still want my teenagers to act like teenagers. The words that come out of their mouths? And appear in quotation marks? Should sound like what a teenager would say! And in this book it rings true to me. The main character, Rose, is sarcastic and tough. Who doesn’t like that? Other characters also feel like real, separate, and believable teenagers in this school. Kudos there.

One aspect of YA lit I am not quite sure about is the level of touchy, edgy content. My gut feeling is that most teenagers know and experience a whole lot more than what many adults want to believe. This book was brilliant at bringing in real issues through the fictional world, covering everything from addiction, cutting, inappropriate relationships, and your garden variety bullying that is so common. It all felt real and I think it was dealt with smoothly and with insight.

3. It’s a book where vampires are vampires, and humans are humans. Well, sort of. There are slight modifications and creations veering from traditional vampire lore, but there are plenty of those out there that don’t totally buck the basic principal of vampirism. Anyone who is intrigued by the fantasy won’t be put off or disappointed. For example, the vampires take classes during the night, their daytime. They don’t sparkle!

I couldn’t help that last sparkle comment. Just couldn’t.

You can get to the website for the series here.

New Moon, but the same tune...

I just finished New Moon a few hours ago. I raced through the book, partly because I'm on a break right now, but also because I wanted to know what happened.

I know. Strange.

But I think a few things about this book should be said. Emphasized. So here are my three points about New Moon.

1. Bella needs to get a life. I know that she has one, but it is dependent on the others around her. Sure, everyone is dependent in some way, particularly young people. But to have your entire existence so wrapped up in another person is...not good.

And the messages are still there. Bella feels this compulsive need to be in danger. Any time she puts herself at risk she hears Edward’s voice, so of course she just has to have more. She’s an addict. And when she does hear Edward, he has this strange parental/pseudo-violent voice. For example, on page 359 Bella hears Edward’s voice again: “‘No, Bella!’ He was angry now, and the anger was so lovely.” So…the anger is “lovely” to Bella? Need I say more on this whole abusive relationship veiled as true love?

I should? Oh, okay.

When Bella does get some time off from Edward, she’s miserable but her grades improve. Awesome! Except she has decided to blow through her college savings. College, to her, is plan B. That’s just great. Nothing like promoting independence through complete lack of planning for the future and an unhealthy obsession with an absentee dude. At least we know where our main character’s priorities are. Take this little glimpse into her thoughts on page 528: “Compared to the fear that he didn’t want me, this hurdle—my soul—seemed almost insignificant.” Oh. My. God. She is afraid he doesn’t want her, and feels her soul is “almost insignificant”?

We’re also presented with another relationship between the character Sam and Emily. Emily has been scarred for life by Sam, but of course the reader needs to understand that this was all part of an unfortunate “turning” period during which Sam had no guidance. Yeah? Well there are plenty of people in the world that have stuff happen with no guidance. It doesn’t constitute an excuse for violence. I understand we’re not dealing with humans, but these arguments have been made by regular ol’ abusers. And people buy into it.

Self-esteem? Anywhere? Bueller?

2. The ending of this book is much better than Twilight, in my opinion. I liked the action it contained, and despite the “vampires glitter in the sun” attribute, I liked more vampire involvement. I won’t say anything else.

3. Again, editing!! I’m in Bella’s sick and codependent head way, way too much. This book, too, could have been trimmed way down. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it’s just a feature of YA books period. Maybe I am being unduly harsh on this book because I need to be more well versed in YA lit.

Maybe. But don’t count on it. ;)

Really, Twilight? Really??

I cannot walk through the halls of my high school without seeing copies of Twilight nestled in student arms. Yet I resisted reading the first book of the Twilight series, despite numerous student claims regarding its awesomeness.

Then I fell. I borrowed a copy. This same pattern began over twenty years ago with cabbage patch dolls. I thought they were the ugliest dolls I had ever seen, but by the end of the craze I succumbed and became the proud mother of Olive Sheila. I tend to resist fads then jump on them like a crazy fiend just as the fad becomes nerdy. It's just my style. I've made my peace with it.

Anyway, reading Twilight was eye opening. I could not believe so many young girls loved this book! Not even that, I also heard about adult professional women who loved this book. That's insane! What were they thinking?!

I shouldn't be too harsh in my analysis. First, I read the book months ago. Second, there must be something of value here to make so many readers gaga (and not the good kind of gaga, the Lady kind) over this series. But I have three main complaints that I have to list here and now:

1. Bella ain't no heroine! Yes, I said it with improper grammar to add emphasis. She's in love with a boy who potentially could kill her and yet she's irresistibly drawn to him? This isn't a love story, folks; it's the description of an abusive relationship hinging on possible domestic violence. This relationship is just crazy talk. If I had to hear Bella drone on about how beautiful and perfect Edward is in real life, I'd suggest counseling. "I love him, he's perfect, but I'm clumsy, awkward, and unattractive." Okay, Bella, here are a few numbers for support groups. Call them. Pronto.

Seek help, Bella. You have serious issues with your self-esteem.

2. Editing. There doesn't seem to be any here at all. Give me a weekend and a red pen and this bad boy is down to a reasonable 150-170 pages. About 300 pages contain the following message: Edward is beautiful and perfect. He's too good for me, he might kill me, but I love him so much.

Okay. Maybe I could edit it down to two sentences.

Oh, yeah. This might be my devotion to the flash fiction genre and tight, concise writing, but a few thousand less adverbs. Please!!! (I'm begging you, Stephenie Meyer. Begging for less adverbs.)

3. Vampires do NOT sparkle. I know, I know. Vampires are the product of the human imagination and fascination with immortality, death, and sex. Therefore, any rules about behavior, causes, conditions, etc., can be broken or thrown out the window.

But I don't care. They do NOT sparkle. Especially in the sun. This is just the antithesis of everything I know and love about vampires. (Thank you, Anne Rice, thank you. The teenager in me misses you like crazy right now.)

And that is my first reaction to Twilight. On to New Moon...