1. My computer is all busted and that is my current excuse for the no posting. Those of my acquaintance who are good with computers are unsure whether it can be revived ... or whether all the files can be saved. 3,000 or so pictures of Marko and 5 years of writing are at stake. I am very anxious about this.
So now I'm reduced to using John's computer. Isn't it funny that it used to be enough for a family to own one computer, and now everyone is so used to having their own? If we can't fix my computer, I'm kind of thinking we won't replace it. But maybe a netbook ....?
2. I recently finished The Hunger Games. Yes, it is just as good as everyone says, but no, I'm not going to tell you anything else about it. I've been plugging my ears when anyone talks about it for months, so I didn't spoil it for myself while I waited for it to become available at the library. I wouldn't even read the back of the book.
Anyway, it was wonderful wonderful wonderful, really drew me in, made me think, etc., but now I'm in that slack zone where all you want is another book like the one you just read. Any recommendations?
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your computer woes, Sheila. You're right that we all used to be able to share one computer in a family, but now inexplicably (and yet logically--LOL!) require our own personal hardware.
From what I've read, Melissa Marr's Carnival of Souls has a premise similar to The Hunger Games: once a generation, the daimon plebes are given a chance to fight to the death for the prize of joining the ruling class. It's a Paranormal Fantasy, though, and I've found that these are hit-or-miss when it comes to world building.
Conversely, you can always go for Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, the Japanese novel about school children forced by the government to kill each other until only one is left. It's closer to Horror than Dystopian, however, and quite graphically violent. Okay, perhaps I shouldn't have brought it up! =P
Is there something specific you're looking for? I'm focussing on books with similar competitions, but it might be another dystopian future setting that you want, or another YA love triangle, etc.
I think it's the dystopia I like best. That and the descriptive, thought-provoking writing. I like all kinds of books, but I insist that they be GOOD. I wasted too much time as a teenager reading stuff just because it was in a genre I thought I would like!
ReplyDeleteGoogle suggested Matched and The Handmaid's Tale. The first was excellent, and I'm almost done with the second -- it's great too (if kind of disturbing).