'Ware!

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(Before you get outraged, the Advanced Reader's Copies, or ARCs, for the rest of this year's books have already reached Publishers Weekly, so they aren't jumping the gun. They have read this year's books.)

Here's their list for teen and tween fiction:


Wintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking)
A powerful exploration of anorexia, dysfunction and death, Anderson's story of a friendship ripped apart is moving and haunting.

Going Bovine
Libba Bray (Delacorte)
An angel, a dwarf, cults, wormholes and mad cow disease all factor into the surreal cross-country road trip that teenage Cameron takes, in a satirical story that's as memorable as it is funny.

Fire
Kristin Cashore (Dial)
Introducing Fire, a human “monster” with psychic abilities, this companion novel to Graceling expands the scope of Cashore's fantasy world and offers twists, intrigue and romance aplenty.

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press)
This much-awaited sequel to Collins's dystopian bestseller, The Hunger Games, doesn't disappoint; it's immersive, voracious reading as the ramifications of Katniss's actions in that book spread.

If I Stay
Gayle Forman (Dutton)
Masterful characterizations make the tragedy at the core of this novel all the more devastating, as narrator Mia weighs the decision to live or die.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Jacqueline Kelly (Holt)
With a detailed, evocative setting and an authentic, relatable protagonist, this turn of the century coming-of-age novel teems with humor, spirit, and energy.

Purple Heart
Patricia McCormick (HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray)
This timely and provocative thriller, with a teenage American soldier at its center, is a nuanced exploration of war, heroism, and morality.

The Ask and the Answer
Patrick Ness (Candlewick)
Set on a planet colonized by men and now wracked with strife, Ness's sequel to The Knife of Never Letting Go entwines themes of sexism, terrorism, genocide and human nature, while bringing the action to a fever pitch.

A Season of Gifts
Richard Peck (Dial)
The singular Mrs. Dowdel from A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicagobrings humor and heart to this holiday story; as ever, Peck's writing has a comforting, evergreen quality.

When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead (Random/Lamb)
Every syllable feels rich with meaning in this atmospheric mystery involving a girl, her former best friend, and her mother, set in 1970s New York City.

Shiver
Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press)
Lyrical and thoughtful, this paranormal romance between a girl and a werewolf offers wit, an intriguing mythology, and dual (but equally honest and compelling) narratives.

Marcelo in the Real World
Francisco X. Stork (Scholastic/Levine)
Artfully crafted characters form the heart of this riveting novel about a 17-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, who grapples with issues of ethics, love, and other real-life conflicts.

Tales from Outer Suburbia
Shaun Tan (Scholastic/Levine)
Tan proves that his prose is every bit as hypnotic as his artwork in this wondrous collection that reveals the banality and strangeness of the suburbs.

Lips Touch: Three Times
Laini Taylor, illus. by Jim Di Bartolo (Scholastic/Levine)
In lush prose, Taylor offers three utterly captivating stories, each centered on a kiss; comic book–style prequels from Di Bartolo, her husband, add to the enchantment.

The Uninvited
Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick)
In this thriller about a college student uncovering twisted family secrets, Wynne-Jones expertly draws his characters and setting while ramping up the tension and the creepiness.

I don't think it's going to surprise anyone that I am VERY happy about this list. I've never seen a list with so many books I absolutely love: Wintergirls, Fire, Catching Fire, When You Reach Me, and When You Reach Me. (Libba, I swear, I'll read Going Bovine soon! I'm a rat for not reading it before now!) I think all of these titles are going to be around for a long time--all are unusual, all have meanings that will occur to the reader long after s/he puts them down, and all of them will haunt you until you find yourself re-reading them in college and beyond.

I didn't include the younger readers' list or the nonfiction list: here's the link to those. And if you want the link to the much more controversial adult list (no women writers on it!), here is that link as well.

This is why I prefer kidlit.

Publishers Weekly has issued its list of the ten best adult books for 2009 (they get ARCs, Advanced Readers Copies, so they have seen the "important" books of the year as judged by the important people of publishing). And o my stars and garters, have they raised themselves up a fuss. You see, if you look at that list, the authors are all men.

WILLA (Women in Letters and Literary Arts) is claiming bias, as are quite a few other writers and readers. PW is saying they judged fairly and freely, "without political correctness."

The response is coming now just from WILLA. Britain's Guardian reported it; The New York Times is inviting its readers to post their ideas on which books they think should have made the list. Salon, of course, has an edgier take, including this wonderful quote: Comments on P.W.'s Web site likened the list to "a flier tacked to the wall at a men's club".

I actually like Laura Miller's Salon article very much. It's well thought out, intelligent, and rational. And it's informative.

For my own part, my feeling is, why is anyone surprised? Look at the high school and college required reading lists (unless they are for women's literature or world literature or for alternate schools). They are dominated by White Males (except for Hemingway, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner, the rest are dead before the turn of the 20th century). Look at what's considered valuable in literary publications, and who is considered "great" in literary classes. Look at the writers who are given face and page time in journals all over the world, even when it's not about a writing-based issue. The majority are men.

The bias is an old one. Historically women have been relegated to "women's issues" (said Bryon and Shelley, patting Mary Shelley on the head--girls writing "science"!) revolving around relationships, house, church, and community. We don't write about war, the death of the soul, the future of society and the morality of man (yes, it's still said "of man"). We don't write about the Big Issues. We write improving children's books, sweet little books about family, or torrid and hysterical romances. We don't write about war which sweeps over a devastated landscape (take that, Margaret Mitchell!), or the Hero's Journey, or striving for A New Tomorrow. So it has always been in publishing, and so it is in the literary community.

( Read more )

PW did a children's list which I liked better. I'll post about that on my fan journal later today.

I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen Joyce Carol Oates, Joan Didion, Margeret Atwood, or any of the other highly admired female literary writers referred to as "great."

Finished, just under the wire!

For the last day of karaokegal's Come As You're Not Halloween party, I present...

Title: Backwards Psychology
Author: Akuni
Universe: Due South
Genre: post-CotW, Romance, Drama, first time
Rating: R
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Spoilers: entire series
Word Count: 8116
Summary: Fraser and Dief are at odds, and Ray tries to help.

Disclaimer: I do not own Due South, I'm just borrowing it for a while.
Distribution: Please ask if you want to share it. :)

Dedication: To the wonderful DS community, whose members have built one of the best fandoms I’ve ever seen. And for annieroo2, for letting me drag her kicking and screaming through some new/old fandoms (I really will get Jim and Blair to go camping, someday!).

A/N: I had such a blast writing this story. It’s been a while since I’ve had a story idea hit me so hard and so fast, but it’s gratifying to know that even after a break in writing, it’ll still always come back.

Many thanks to moshesque for her usual excellent behind-the-scenes efforts. Calling her my beta doesn’t come close to encompassing all she does for me. :) Thanks also to annieroo2 for the brainstorming and hand-holding sessions.

Special thanks to sageness, who wields a wonderful red pencil and did her best to offer guidance for writing in this fandom. Any missteps that remain are not for her lack of trying to steer me right. :)

( Read 'Backwards Psychology' )

Title: The Creators
Author: batsutousai
Beta: The amazing, the beautiful, tsuki_no_suzu!
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Susan/Neville, Draco/Ron, Hermione/Bill, Harry/NO ONE, DAMNIT!
Warnings: Mentions of child-abuse, anti-Muggle sentiments, mentions of murder and rape, anti-Dumbledore
Summary: 'When their Creators return, their world shall be remade.' Four children hold the fate of the Wizarding World in their un-tried hands.

Disclaim Her: So, the only problem with the kids solving these problems so quickly, is that there's nothing else for them to do during the rest of the year.

A/N: There were a number of questions about Tom being unable to kill Harry. YES, Tom can hurt him, even going so far as to bring him near to death, but the ritual Sal did keeps Harry from dying from any wounds dealt to him by an Heir. (So, if Tom were to wound Harry enough that he would die from one more hit, and someone that isn't Tom were to deliver that hit, Harry would die.)
Also, just because he CAN'T die, doesn't mean he wants to get hit with any curses; Harry's not a masochist. And surviving the Killing Curse hurts.


( Fallen Star )

Previous Chapter: Tomorrow Will Come
Next Chapter: A Dream Comes True When It Will

Title: Broken
Author: batsutousai
Beta: tsuki_no_suzu & magickmaker17
Rating: T
Pairings: HPLV, others
Warnings: Dumbledore bashing
Summary: Dumbledore knew before Harry Potter came to Hogwarts what he needed the boy to do, and he knew exactly how to make him do it. A twist on the normal manipulative!Dumbledore story.

Disclaim Her: Hmmmm... Kinda forgot about this yesterday. Sorry.


( Chapter Six - The Light )

Previous Chapter: The Wedding
Next Chapter: The Dark

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My prayers, hopes, and sorrow for you and your losses.

Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning crazy.

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( Also written like a crazy person )

( I wrote like a person possessed )

( This chapter is ridiculously short... )

This sucks.

Big-time.

I don't understand. Why can't people vote like this is a free country? I don't tell anyone else how to marry, worship, or raise their children. Why can't other people extend that same right to other human beings? You don't force your way of life on me; I don't force your way of life on you. quid pro quo; everyone ends the same.

And they're using officially sanctioned protests as cover to stage their own, "We're still here and we're still angry" protests, according to the BBC. The most recent round of protests, broken up by tear gas and batons, came during an officially sanctioned protest to mark the 30th anniversary of the Iranian seizure of the American embassy.

Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent, gives this analysis of the protest-counter-protest strategy:

With all opposition protests banned in Iran, members of the opposition are using official government demonstrations to get their message across.

Last month, they hijacked the annual Quds Day protests, organised by the government in support of the Palestinians. There have been reports of protests at other public gatherings, such football matches.

The demonstrations have been met by an increasingly strong turnout from the police and the pro-government Basij militia. That has prevented the opposition from gathering together in any one major rally, as they managed to do immediately after the election.

The fact that the protests are continuing at all despite intense government pressure shows the depth of anger over the disputed presidential election and against the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. If the protests continue, the government's next step may be to arrest key opposition leaders.

My admiration for the Iranian opposition movement is more intense than ever. They know what they risk, but they protest anyway. They known they defy the ruling theological government, which has acted mercilessly in the past, claiming to cut them off from God, and yet they insist on pursuing their idea of a secular state, and a fair one.

  
That's a ridiculous question. Of course I still have one. I check on my f'list and stuff, I just . . . haven't posted. Because I got sick of myself only posting to complain. And I only feel like posting when I feel like complaining, so . . . yeah.

Anyway, I'm alive and doing NaNo. I'm the ML (municipal liaison) for my area this year, which just means I'm the coordinator of events and so on. That's fun, and different.

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O flist, I have posted a preview to my Big Bang!

It be here.

community.livejournal.com/sgabigbang/66280.html

:D :D :D

Today's Election Day, and you have a big one on your plates: Question 1.

It would be very nice for the GLBT folks and those of us who care about them if Maine votes a resounding NO! on this one, but vote in any case. It's not just the every-four-year votes that decide the fate of Americans.

If you aren't registered: you can register at the polls in Maine.