What book are you reading at the moment ?

[Aquila ka Hecate]

I would not call the Earthsea books kids fantasy, way too dark for that. Kids can read it, don't get me wrong, but unlike Harry Potter it is not aimed at a younger audience.

I beg to differ - everywhere you look the Trilogy up, it's described as "Young Adult". I won't bore you with links.

Can I make some kind of crack about "when I were a youngster" as compared to the far more molly-coddled specimens of today? No? Alright then.

 

[R13...]

I beg to differ - everywhere you look the Trilogy up, it's described as "Young Adult". I won't bore you with links.

Can I make some kind of crack about "when I were a youngster" as compared to the far more molly-coddled specimens of today? No? Alright then.

One of the books in the series won a children's award.

 

[Readsalot]

Speaking under correction, I believe Jack London's White Fang and Call of the Wild books are also classified as young adult fiction - and I have no idea why. Because they're about animals?

I read Wizard of Earthsea when I was a boy and I used to teach it to Grade 9s (along with books like Shane, The Outsiders, Lord of the Flies and, of course, Romeo and Juliet).

It became pretty clear that just because a book is categorised as YA doesn't mean every teen is able to grasp it. Kids' reading level depends on their emotional maturity, imo.

 

[C4Cat]

Some books don't fit into age related categories very well - they are those remarkable stories that can speak to you on your level, no matter your age. I think Earthsea is one of those stories. Read it as a child and you'll get certain simple themes from it, magic and fantasy and hero's etc. Read it as a teenager and you see more in the story than you did as a child, you recognise the darkness more and how it relates to the human spirit. Read it as an adult and realise how deep and timeless it actually is. Obviously YMMV

 

[Nerfherder]

Speaking under correction, I believe Jack London's White Fang and Call of the Wild books are also classified as young adult fiction - and I have no idea why. Because they're about animals?

I read Wizard of Earthsea when I was a boy and I used to teach it to Grade 9s (along with books like Shane, The Outsiders, Lord of the Flies and, of course, Romeo and Juliet).

It became pretty clear that just because a book is categorised as YA doesn't mean every teen is able to grasp it. Kids' reading level depends on their emotional maturity, imo.

I think YA just means they have marketed it to that group. Usually the themes and characters are relevant to the age group.

 

[Nerfherder]

Cool thanks. Was also advised to read good omens. I'll add it to my list

Just picked up the audio book... Its pretty cool. Enjoying so far.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I'll play peace maker - HP, LOTR, The Hobbit and Earthsea are all, in fact, good.

 

[Cius]

Yep, some books are clearly aimed at teens, like the Harry Potter series, Narnia, David Eddings etc. Other stuff is fine for kids but also adults. Things like Watership down and the Cold Moons where categorised as YA but I also thought they contained some mature themes. Most of the stuff by guys like Feist, and Jordan are very much read by young adults but categorised for all ages I guess.

And then you get George R Martin. No mistaking the audience for that!

 

[faniebraai]

So let's do this then: A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin

So now about 60% through. And this is definitely not something that I would class as "for kids". Good story so far, but I really don't like how it's being told. It's not like you are engaged in the tale... more sitting next to someone next to a campfire at night, and them retelling the story.

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

Yep, some books are clearly aimed at teens, like the Harry Potter series, Narnia, David Eddings etc. Other stuff is fine for kids but also adults. Things like Watership down and the Cold Moons where categorised as YA but I also thought they contained some mature themes. Most of the stuff by guys like Feist, and Jordan are very much read by young adults but categorised for all ages I guess.

And then you get George R Martin. No mistaking the audience for that!

No indeed. Ancient Greek mythology went down very well with Ancient Greeks.

 

[faniebraai]

So finally finished book 1 this morning on audiobook. Will start book 2, but only after I do All These Worlds (Bobiverse #3) by Dennis E. Taylor on audiobook, will only take me a couple of days, and then i'll be back on Sanderson.

Done. Damn I love these books. So much fun and quite well thought out...

 

[faniebraai]

So let's do this then: A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin

Finished this now. Not my style thanks. Like I said, story is good enough, but the way it's told is not for me.

Feel like a bit of Sci-fi... anyone read the Vorkosigan Saga? Thoughts? Also, I've read up on reading order, and even the writer herself has an opinion on it, so I will follow what she said

So will start this next: Falling Free (Vorkosigan Saga #4) by Lois McMaster Bujold

 

[faniebraai]

anyone read the Vorkosigan Saga? Thoughts? Also, I've read up on reading order, and even the writer herself has an opinion on it, so I will follow what she said

anyone?

 

[Kosmik]

So now about 60% through. And this is definitely not something that I would class as "for kids". Good story so far, but I really don't like how it's being told. It's not like you are engaged in the tale... more sitting next to someone next to a campfire at night, and them retelling the story.

We had it as a set book in std 6, so young teen would fit. But then again, we got to read Macbeth, Julias Cesar and Hamlet, so exactly where do you draw the line at "kids or young adult" books?

 

[Kosmik]

Started "To Honour you Called Us". Space opera, going well.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18318651-to-honor-you-call-us

 

[Cray]

anyone?

Big fan of the Vorkosigan saga - here is a good post on the reading order based on getting the Omnibus editions

http://thewertzone.blogspot.co.za/2014/02/the-vorkosigan-saga-reading-order.html

But Bujold's reading order is fine. Keep in mind that Falling free is not a Miles Vorkosigan novel - although the universe is the same.

Shards of Honor and Barrayar qualify as direct prequels without the main protagonist (except at the very end of the second novel)

I think I started with The Warrior's Apprentice (first book with Miles), might be better to start with this one and then revert to the authors order if you like the writing style.

 

[faniebraai]

Big fan of the Vorkosigan saga - here is a good post on the reading order based on getting the Omnibus editions

http://thewertzone.blogspot.co.za/2014/02/the-vorkosigan-saga-reading-order.html

But Bujold's reading order is fine. Keep in mind that Falling free is not a Miles Vorkosigan novel - although the universe is the same.

Shards of Honor and Barrayar qualify as direct prequels without the main protagonist (except at the very end of the second novel)

I think I started with The Warrior's Apprentice (first book with Miles), might be better to start with this one and then revert to the authors order if you like the writing style.

Very nice. Thanks. Yeh - I'm about 30% in and love the writing style and story so far... can't wait to get further into this. Have a feeling this might turn into my favourite sci-fi series...

 

[Cray]

Very nice. Thanks. Yeh - I'm about 30% in and love the writing style and story so far... can't wait to get further into this. Have a feeling this might turn into my favourite sci-fi series...

Awesome, enjoy

 

[faniebraai]

So will start this next: Falling Free (Vorkosigan Saga #4) by Lois McMaster Bujold

Finished. Ahhh... my kind of sci-fi I'm jumping straight into: Shards of Honour (Vorkosigan Saga, #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold (Cordelia's Honour Omnibus)

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I'd be curious to know what you think of China Miéville, fanie. Don't expect you'll like it, though.