Blog Light - it’s not a new brand of diet soda or beer. But I am going to cut back my blogging over the next 3 weeks. Don’t worry. This is not going to be one of those posts in which I describe how busy I am. Nope. I promise (even though I am and might be only slightly freaking out about it). Who’s not busy, right?
So, I need to prioritize what little free time I have during the month of May. After work and family obligations, I will be alternating between working on my draft one and critiquing a friend’s manuscript the next (and so on), and also squeezing in some reading time. I always make time for reading.
As for blogging during this time, I’m going to blog once a week until the beginning of June.
Speaking of reading I’ve been noticing a trend in my choice of YA fiction lately. I’ve been reading quite a bit of science fiction during the last year. Psssst. Don’t. Tell. Anyone!
Not that there’s anything wrong with science fiction, trust me. But if you had recommended a sci-fi book to me when I was a teen way back when, I probably would have either laughed out loud (since LOL wasn’t invented yet) or said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Or I’d pass it on to my friend Brian who loved all things Star Trek. Please don’t judge. I’m not proud of my closed-minded, judgemental sci-fi snobbishness. The closest I came to sci-fi back then was when Star Wars hit the theaters. What’s not love about Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewie?
As far as fiction goes, I guess I could say that I didn’t hate Lord of the Flies, 1984, A Brave New World, or even A Wrinkle in Time when I was a teen. But they didn’t exactly fuel my fiery love of reading either. In fact, during those years my focus shifted from Nancy Drew to cute boys, REO Speedwagon, General Hospital, and trying to survive high school. I hardly read at all. Again, I must implore you not to judge.
My first dip into contemporary YA sci-fi was The Hunger Games trilogy. My heart raced as I devoured this series. My next sci-fi choice was The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. Adored it! Since then I’ve read M.T. Anderson’s, Feed, and the Uglies series (Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras) by Scott Westerfeld and enjoyed them all. Currently I’m in the middle of Across the Universe by Beth Revis. The chapters alternate between two characters' point of view, Amy and Elder, and let me tell you, I cannot put this book down! The pacing is excellent and the suspense builds slowly through the novel.
What I love about these books is that the sci-fi elements of the book are not in your face. The relationships between the characters and the internal and external conflicts they have to deal with are the main focus. That's what I like in any genre.
How do you feel about sci-fi? Do you have any favorite YA sci-fi novels?
I'm not a huge Sci-fi reader, but I did enjoy Timeline by Michael Chrichton :)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't either, Samantha. But after reading great reviews, after a while I picked them up to see what I thought. It opened up a brand new genre for me that I had previously been reluctant to read.
ReplyDeleteI will be alternating between working on my draft one and critiquing a friend’s manuscript the next (and so on)...
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE you for it!
I've never thought of The Hunger Games as sci-fi. I always assumed it was our world in a dystopian future. Have you read The Host by Ms Meyer? It was pretty good.
I've never been very drawn to sci-fi, but sci-fi elements keep SNEAKING INTO MY STORIES. I don't know how it happens, but sci-fi is super ninja. So I can't hate it :P but the last sci-fi I read was Ender's Game in high school.
ReplyDeleteLove you back, Donna!
ReplyDeleteThe Hunger Games is a dystopian but has overlapping sci-fi elements. Think, hovercrafts, animal mutations (mockingjays, tracker jackets, those crazy monkeys, etc.) Also, the Capital's technology and even the Games (changing the conditions to challenge the tributes).
I forgot about The Host. After reading the Twilight series I was ready to move on to another author. I'll have to check it out.
I know what you mean, Jessica. In fact, I'd put off reading books that were labelled "science fiction" until the great reviews piqued my curiousity. I haven't been disappointed so far!
ReplyDeleteI've been a SciFi fan since classic Star Trek was being broadcast new each week. I've been glad that I broadened my tastes to fantasy, since there's been so little in the SciFi genre in comparison. I love that it's coming back. Hubby and I just finished "Across the Universe". We enjoyed it. I agree with Donna. If you haven't read "The Host" you ought to give it a try. I liked it much better than the Twilight books. These books are not going to give you a science lesson. =D
ReplyDeleteI don't read a lot of sci-fi or YA, so I can't really answer that. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy blog lite!