Fantasy Book Club discussion

It's time for the next set of monthly read nominations. This time we'll be selecting for the August 2010 read/September discussion.

Same rules as normal: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

But additionally, this month we will only accept nominations that fit into the YA classification. That is, they are written and marketed for the Young Adult audience.

As usual, books should be first books in a series or stand-alone, and should not be from an author that has been read in the six months prior to this read.

Up to two nominations per member, and please include a little something of why you made the choice.

I'll take nominations through the 20th.

Remember, books should be both YA and fantasy.

I will nominate Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan.

This novel is marketed to YA's but is a great story for mature readers. Has won numerous awards:

*World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (2009)
*Ditmar Award for Best Novel (2009)
*Printz Honor (2009)
*Sakura Medal Nominee for High School Book (2010)

I had read the book and am interested in reading it again and would greatly enjoy a discussion as it is beautifully written in a very poetic style. An example, "you have the kitment of a full man," explains the witch to the dwarf, "however short a stump you are the rest of you."

Margo Lanagan did get a Government grant to write the book over a two year period, and the results are evident. It is based on the Grimms fairytale 'Snow White and Rose Red'. It details their earlier life and shows how various events affected the lives of the sisters and their mother. The story does have some very dark moments to it (which have caused a lot of controvesy), but once you read the novel you can see why these are important early elements to the story.

A great read if your looking for something different, that will stir your emotions. It is very thought provoking !

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer. It was a fun look at a kid vampire.

Let me nominate 2 to begin with (I know that's my limit). I don't know if she's been read in the last 6 months as I just found this group this month, so. How about going obvious for any who haven't read it and try : The Sorcerer's Stone
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3....

Or if that's too obvious and no one is up for it we could go with: Garth Nix and Sabriel
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/74...

Mike wrote: "Let me nominate 2 to begin with (I know that's my limit). I don't know if she's been read in the last 6 months as I just found this group this month, so. How about going obvious for any who haven't..."

We already discussed Sabriel, but that's why I'd nominate the second book Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr :)

Or I'd also like to read The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud. It's been sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be read.

Ooh I love YA fantasy and I think it gets overlooked because of its target audience, but I have a couple of nominations:

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
It is the first book of one of my all-time favorite YA fantasy series.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
I am reading this right now and am enjoying it so far. It is also the first in a series about which I've heard many good things.

Chris wrote: "It's time for the next set of monthly read nominations. This time we'll be selecting for the September 2010 read/October discussion.

Same rules as normal: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/339..."

What about Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? It is YA and Fantasy/dystopia.

Beth wrote: "Chris wrote: "It's time for the next set of monthly read nominations. This time we'll be selecting for the September 2010 read/October discussion.

Same rules as normal: http://www.goodreads.com/to..."

oops...

Mike wrote: "Let me nominate 2 to begin with (I know that's my limit). I don't know if she's been read in the last 6 months as I just found this group this month, so. How about going obvious for any who haven't..."
I loved Sabriel and the entire "Abhorsen" series. I would really like to revisit Garth Nix.

Haven't we already done Sabriel?

Sorry, if you have I wasn't aware. I just joined the group this month. I'm actually just now starting The Amulet of Samarkand, so....

I wouldn't consider Hunger Games fantasy. It's a post-apocalyptic dystopia with perhaps some sci-fi elements to it as far as hovercrafts, force fields, genetic mutations, etc.

I would say it is fantasy (not jut being disagreeable here) as it's not hard science fiction, it can fall under both headings, science fantasy. Whether it's YA or not is another story. I suppose it could fall there...

Folks, here is a link to our book club's bookshelf where you can see we've already read Sabriel by Garth Nix: http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...

I'd like to nominate The Wheel of Nuldoid by Russ Woody



and Airman by Eoin Colfer

Some great suggestions so far.

I would love to discuss Un Lun Dun by China Miéville or Mortal Coils by Eric S. Nylund.

Un Lun Dun is imaginative and dark. Mieville is a master at twisting familiar fantasy tropes to make a world that is weird.

I am a sucker for Eric Nylund, and how can you beat a story about the children of a goddess and a devil.

I'd like to nominate The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff

or alternately:

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

I would love to read Un Lun Dun as it is on top of my tbr pile.
Also I have East, by Edith Patou.

I read quite a few YA authors books, so be nice to see what is finally picked.

I will nominate
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28...

I read Hunger Games last year and while it fits as YA, it seemed more science fiction than fantasy. Even science fantasy pretty much falls out of the scope of our group.

I'll leave it open to more discussion to see what people think, but for the moment I'm not including it here.

The list of nominations so far:

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr by Garth Nix
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Wheel of Nuldoid by Russ Woody
Airman by Eoin Colfer
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
Mortal Coils by Eric S. Nylund
The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
East by Edith Pattou
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown


Great list so far! Let me know what y'all think about Hunger Games. It didn't strike me as fantasy, but it's a great book and I'd hate to toss it out without thoughtful consideration. It's not strict fantasy, but is dystopian fantasy more or less "fantasy" than say urban or paranormal fantasy?

I would like to nominate "The Ear, the Eye and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer. Its a story set in the future, and gives us a glimpse of what life could be like, including the risks to children when they are overprotected. In a way its also a statement on not allowing government to take over too much of our private lives.

I am not sure that Mary Brown's "The Unlikely Ones" is true YA. I think it is, but it has adult elements. If not suitable, then ignore this nomination, but I think it is a really great book about overcoming handicaps, real or perceived, or inflicted by others.

I would agree that Hunger Games is not fantasy. You have a great list here though. I can only hope someday my book might be included in a list like this : )

I also agree that The Hunger Games is strongly science fiction. I didn't see any fantasy elements in it.

Hunger Games isn't fantasy. Futuristic dystopia is usually classified as science fiction.

Okay, it appears that more would categorize Hunger Games as sci-fi dystopian rather than fantasy.

By the same guideline, the Nancy Farmer selection looks to fall into the same grouping, at least by the short blurb I see on it.

But I think we can include The Unlikely Ones. The blurb is even shorter, but it does seem to be a YA book. Adult elements won't always disqualify, if we remember that the A in YA is "adult" after all.

I'll still leave the questions out there for discussion though, on all three books. But as of now, I'm allowing Unlikely Ones while leaving Hunger Games and Ear/Eye/Arm off the nomination list.

Well, sorry about Sabrial, as I said new to the group. How about Alanna: The First Adventure:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29...

From the Song of Lioness?

I'd recommend The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer, and agree that The Hunger Games is science fiction/dystopian.

Interesting that I haven't seen a nomination for The Neverending Story, honestly one of the best YA fantasies I have ever read AND one I almost annually go back and reread. Mr. Ende does an outstanding job of exploring what "growing up" really is all about.

Also, I'd love to see Brian Jacques represented. Most of my middle school years were spent reading the Redwall series; the heart and bravery of those little woodland animals could capture anyone's attention. Also, Mr. Jacques' amazing ability to describe food in ways that send you scrabbling through the refrigerator or pantry for a snack is astounding. I think Mossflower or Redwall would make an excellent pick.

The list of nominations so far:

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr by Garth Nix
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Wheel of Nuldoid by Russ Woody
Airman by Eoin Colfer
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
Mortal Coils by Eric S. Nylund
The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
East by Edith Pattou
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Redwall by Brian Jacques

Our poll is up: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/35...

Note that I originally stated it was a September read. It should have read that it is an August read for September discussion.

Mike wrote: "Whether it's YA or not is another story. I suppose it..."

Publishers Weekly considers it YA.

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume I: Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones is a great book.

Alanna: The First Adventureby Tamora Pierce is a great, quick read.

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Many much thanks to Jeanne for suggesting The Wheel of Nuldoid for the September YA Fantasy book! And from the looks of the other great books nominated, I hold no personal grudge against anyone who votes otherwise.

That said, I'm told I should go on about myself and, even though I'm not an actor, I give it a shot.
Though it's a crappy little self-published book, it has won the SILVER METAL for "Humor/Satire" at the Franklin Book Awards in NYC, the BRONZE METAL for "Fantasy" at the Indepenent Book Awards (the IPPYs), and a Finalist in YA FICTION at ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards! So there.

Go ahead, look, check, verify -- www.Nuldoid.com

Oh, also... (while I'm blowing smoke here...)
A librarian in Pasadena sent me a note saying that the kids in the school’s reading club voted "Nuldoid" number one for the year -- it's on their bookmarker. The librarian said it's sparked conversations amongst these kids about politics, religion, death, etc. She said she's never seen anything like it. She actually said that.

All right, I'm done. I'll go back to humility now.
Thanks,
Vote,
Russ

Would you look at that? For our first YA month, we have a tie. We'll need a run-off poll, which I've set up. I'm making this one anonymous, to see what we get. We'll run this until July 6th.

Un Lun Dun by China Miéville

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Run-Off Poll: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/35...

I'm pulling for 'Un Lun Dun'. Don't get me wrong, I love Harry Potter - but I've read it a million times, and have pretty much talked it out. I'd love to read something new for dicussion.

I so wanted to read the next Garth Nix book. :P

You should still read it. Lirael is even better than Sabriel, imo. Lirael and Abhorsen are VERY continuous, though, so once you read the one you'll just have to read the other. Lirael actually picks up several years after Sabriel, who becomes a minor character in the following two. Was a bit jarring for me when I started reading it, that time warp, but once I got into it I was good to go.

("let's do the time warp again... ")

blackrose wrote: "I'm pulling for 'Un Lun Dun'. Don't get me wrong, I love Harry Potter - but I've read it a million times, and have pretty much talked it out. I'd love to read something new for dicussion."

That's my thinking/reasoning too....

blackrose wrote: "I'm pulling for 'Un Lun Dun'. Don't get me wrong, I love Harry Potter - but I've read it a million times, and have pretty much talked it out. I'd love to read something new for dicussion."

I'm with you on that one. I also like the Un Lun Dun is a stand-alone, not the first of seven.

Sandi wrote: "blackrose wrote: "I'm pulling for 'Un Lun Dun'. Don't get me wrong, I love Harry Potter - but I've read it a million times, and have pretty much talked it out. I'd love to read something new for ..."
I feel the same. I enjoyed Harry Potter, but China Mieville will be a great/intense read. I haven't read Perdido Street Station, and I think this will be a great introduction to his writing.

I went with Un Lun Dun too, only because I haven't read it and have read Harry Potter multiple times also...so see how it goes.

We have a winner at last:

Un Lun Dun by China Miéville