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dustydigger
Posted 2015-02-25 6:38 AM (#9718 - in reply to #9182)
Subject: Re: Pick and Mix 2015		Quote Reply



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Location: UK		Sheesh! I am SSOOOO behind withadding my books and comments.So ,quick summary. I have read several YA books,with mixed results.
Veronica Roth - Divergent. it was a fairly entertaining read,more than I expected. No wonder teenage girls resonated with this highschool drama,teenage angst, etc transposed to a world where everyone has to choose at sixteen a ''Faction'' for life. ,since the author was barely out of highschool herself,around 21 when she was writing it. Also explains all the very dodgy premises of this very simplistic and improbable dystopic novel,which stretched suspension of disbelief to the limits. But it did have a very appealing heroine.a great role model for teens. The book was smoothly written and very fast pace and helped to gloss over the improbabillities. I wont be reading more though. Once the tight focus of the first book is dissipated in an on-the-run scenario I doubt I could stand all the gaping holes in the story.The end scenes reminded me of a Dr Who episode,everyone running down endless corridors having narrow escapes,and someone stays behind,sacrificing themselves for the sake of the rest But I do see why teens loved it so much.And I certainly liked the heroine a lot more than the famous Katniss!
Pittacus Lore - The Revenge of Seven. I have enjoyed the rest of the series but this one seemed to drag at times. Also the print is a bit annoying. There are several narrators,and for some reason the author insists on a different typeface for each. Some are dark and heavy,one of them is so small and light I can barely read it.,especially by artificial light. I never remember anyway which type is which,so I have to puzzle out from the first lines of each chapter who is talking! lol. It did pick up at the end,with a cliffhanger,but I think the author should finish the series soon. Not likely though. Apart from the main series - this was the 5th - there is a spinoff series,eleven and counting. Obviously a major cash cow for the author :0)
Also I have read several UF books,including Nalini Singh's latest in the Guild Hunter series,one of my fave series in that genre,and,read for my Women of Genre Fiction challenge I read
Karen Lord - The Best of All Possible Worlds. - Synopsis- This a stunning science fiction epic that is also a beautifully wrought, deeply moving love story. A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, and the survivors have no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but come to discover that in order to preserve their culture, they may have to change it forever. Now a man and a woman from these two clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing raceand end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, this unlikely teamone cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsivejust may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all. This fascinating and thoughtful science fiction novel breaks out of the typical conflict-centered narrative paradigm to examine adaptation, social change, and human relationships. Ive not read anything quite like it, which it makes that rare beast: a true original.Kate Elliot
Hmm,I feel perhaps the blurb is overstating it a bit,though it is a very enjoyable book,. Its a sort of road trip book,as a team of scientists map out some older communities of Sadiri heritage to see if a new society of Sadiri,which was left with a huge surplus of males,and will need to integrate locally ,combined with. a slow building romance between a dignified Sadiri elder and a volatie free spirited young local woman. It has been widely noticed that there are distinct echoes of Star Trek Vulcans here,a sort of rerun of Spock's parents romance,and it is delightful seeing the staid courtship,but sometimes getting the balance between science fiction and romance is a bit clumsy or uneven An engaging read though with fun glints of subtle humour and rapport between the two protagonists,and nicely written.

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