skygiants: Princess Tutu, facing darkness with a green light in the distance (dickon mary cuteness)
skygiants ([personal profile] skygiants) wrote2009-09-25 10:14 am

(no subject)

I actually had two unrelated people rec me Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett in the same day, which seemed to me a pretty strong indication that I should read it. (Of course, it is always possible that [livejournal.com profile] emmlet and [livejournal.com profile] obopolsk secretly know each other and are embroiled in some kind of conspiracy that uses YA novels as secret code. SORRY FOR BLOWING YOUR COVER, GUYS.) Anyway, conspiracy or not, they are both pretty good at judging my taste; Suite Scarlett is a book that centers on a.) zany hijinks, b.) Hamlet, and c.) sibling relationships! And you guys know if there is one thing I really love in YA lit, it is awesome non-romantic family relationships.

(You wouldn't think I would have to put 'non-romantic' in there, would you. Unless you've been in fandom. Then you would, in fact, realize why. Scarlett/Spencer 'shippers, you can sing out, it's okay! I won't judge! Well, okay, maybe I will a little.)

I have said before that I think four is an awesome number of siblings to have in books, because it provides for such a cool variety of dynamics. Coincidentally, Suite Scarlett has just this number of siblings! There is Scarlett, our protagonist, fifteen and pragmatic; her older brother Spencer, the wacky actor who specializes in pratfalls; her poised and beautiful older sister Lola; and youngest sister Maureen, an angry spoiled brat. Spencer and Scarlett are semi-codependent BFFs, Scarlett and Lola are different but get along very well, Spencer and Lola love each other but don't understand or respect each other's choices, Maureen adores Lola (and her rich boyfriend) and lashes out at everyone else. Most of the conflict springs out of this set of relationships as they play out among the financial difficulties of their family's hotel, the DRAMATIC!!! hotel guest who has decided to monopolize Scarlett's life, and the low-rent production of Hamlet that may possibly potentially launch Spencer's career. I completely loved all the sibling-fighting-and-bonding stuff (and I especially love how Scarlett and Lola's main point of conflict is not jealousy, but rather the weirdness of their mutual relationships with Maureen.) On the other hand, I was completely bored by Scarlett's romantic plotline and I resented it for taking time away from Hamlet dorkery. Also, weirdly, I kept wishing the book was written in first person.

Speaking of non-romantic family relationships, I just read the third book in another series that is near and dear to my heart because it is fantasy adventure that stars cousins! I hear a lot of talk about Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, which is a book that I definitely do plan to read one of these days, but as far as wacky-adventures-with-Greek-gods go, I am really fond of Anne Ursu's Cronus Chronicles. It's nothing spectacular or deep as far as literature goes, but there are a few things that make this series stand out a bit from many of the other teenagers-fight-the-gods series for me -

- as I said: in conclusion, no really, they're cousins! Zee (short for Zachary) and Charlotte are a fabulous team, and, while I am certainly not anti-romance, it's kind of nice to see a boy-girl pair who are really close and completely devoted to each other without romance being an issue.
- also, their family is multiracial; Charlotte is white, but Zee's mom is black British and his grandmother is Malawi, and all of these things affect his life while not being the whole sum of his character. And again, just in terms of bucking the trend, it is cool to have neither of our protagonists be a white dude for once. (Which is even reflected on the cover! It is sad that I have to award Atheneum Books points for this, given that it should be standard, but go Atheneum anyway.)
- Ursu does a really good job of balancing the teamwork - I was keeping track throughout the three books of the series, because sometimes I'm a freak that way, and the rescues and world-saving hijinks are exactly evenly divided! It's awesome!
- also, Anne Ursu is just a funny writer. Her style would probably not be for everyone, and sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes when it slides a shade into the cutesy, but much of the time I am giggling my way through the books, which makes for a fun time.
(- the entrance to the Underworld is through the Mall of America, there is a jovial elderly British kraken, and the destined one of the prophecy is a Canadian Quiz Bowl champ named Steve. I can't help it, okay, I just like Anne Ursu's brain!)

Having just finished the series, I can say there are a few things I am disappointed in, but overall the books are excellent brain candy. If you're burnt out on Greek gods, I cannot in the least blame you, but if you are in the mood for YA mythological hijinks, maybe give these a go!

[identity profile] obopolsk.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you liked the book! I agree with you about Scarlett's romance. I don't think Maureen Johnson writes romance very well in general -- the romances are always my least favorite part of her books, with the exception of the novella she wrote for Let it Snow, which is all romance and still pretty good.

possibly getting spoilery

[identity profile] areyoumymemmy.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*is secretly emmlet, co-recommender!*

Yeah, I was not super fond of the romance aspect either, and I have to say, I thought Eric the 18-year-old college freshman was a wee bit skeevy for hitting on his friend and acting partner's just 15 year old sister, no matter how grown-up and New York-y she supposedly is.

Re: possibly getting spoilery

[identity profile] areyoumymemmy.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I was too! And then he was just sort of vaguely guy-evil, whatever, so he wasn't even that interesting.

I think one of the reasons people ship Scarlett/Spencer is because Eric sucks so much. He's not that interesting! And probably not that cute! But you know, it is at least realistic that a 15 year old girl would crush that hard on a semi-hot Southern actor type even if he wasn't actually all that special.

Some of my 15 year old crushes? MAN. Of course, the ones who were 18 or older would have never even looked at me twice, let alone made out with me and led me on.

Re: possibly getting spoilery

[identity profile] areyoumymemmy.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
*agrees*

Okay, so I read Maureen Johnson's blog, since it is hilarious and fun and thus I know there are Spencer/Scarlett shippers out there and one of the most vocal is Cassandra Clare. Oh, internets. You are so small and peculiar.

Re: possibly getting spoilery

[identity profile] obopolsk.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Jumping into this comment thread just to say how much I love Maureen Johnson's blog! I wish she posted more often.

[identity profile] blacksheep91.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"The entrance to the Underworld is through the Mall of America,"

I knew it.

[identity profile] blacksheep91.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Underwater World? A clever ploy!

[identity profile] dramawench.livejournal.com 2009-09-25 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I read the whole Rick Riordan "Children of the gods" series in about 3 weeks and I really really enjoyed them. They aren't deep, philosophical books, but the author really knows his Greek mythology and gives the characters and stories new life. I especially liked the Labyrinth story and how he uses Daedulus in his story.

The characters are well-developed and nicely age-appropriate (ie they act like their age, go figure!) and there is lots of action. If I were still a book seller, I'd be reccing these left and right to reluctant readers.
jothra: (Default)

[personal profile] jothra 2009-09-25 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
The Lightning Thief was entertaining. And he does mostly know his mythology. But there was one HUGE BLINKING error that distracted me throughout the entire book. It was probably for author's convenience, but he got everything else right! Why change that?!
jothra: (Default)

[personal profile] jothra 2009-09-25 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Athena has a daughter!
jothra: (Default)

[personal profile] jothra 2009-09-25 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
A human, I think. That's how it works at the camp, all the kids have a human parent and a god (heh) parent.

Athena was always tiny Jo's favorite one in the Greek pantheon, so that made me mad.

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermes vs. Eugenides: the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny.

(And watch, you haven't read The Queen's Thief yet, so that goes completely over your head.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermes never had his hand cut off. 8)

Ahhhh, but which Eugenides? God!Eugenides or King!Eugenides?

(I need to reread them in time for that. Except I'll be sane and start in January. *u*)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
(If Gen has taught me anything, it's that hook hands are sexy.)

This is true! God I want Gen and Irene to have kids sooooooooooooo baaaaaaaaad so they can be just as badass as their parents.

(I think we need to have a giant group reread. Which there will probably be, anyway, over at [livejournal.com profile] sounis.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
(Captain Hook's got nothin' on Gen.)

If Irene isn't at least pregnant in Conspiracy, I will be very, very sad.

(Well, I don't know for sure if they are, since I'm not actually a member, but it seems like just the sort of thing they would do.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
(Of course not. Because Gen styles the traditional, but never passé, and always functional braid, with his bangs flopping dashingly into his face.)

It depends on interpretation. I know [livejournal.com profile] sounis has this whole big post where everyone discusses ages. Personally, I think of him as 18 or 19 in King.

(It is! And even if they don't, I have a couple of other Queen's Thief friends on my flist I can wrangle into a big happy group reread.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
(But the braid is so very suave and gentlemanly.)

And historical lit! I always have trouble describing TQT because it's like.......historical........except not.......and it's fantasy.......but not how you'd normally think of fantasy..........THERE'S LOTS OF POLITICS OKAY.

(Will do!)
genarti: ([middleman] WHAT ABOUT ME???)

[personal profile] genarti 2009-09-28 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
I would like you to know that this whole conversation is MESSING WITH MY HEAD.

*tragic*
genarti: River from Firefly making a face. ([ff] o rly)

[personal profile] genarti 2009-09-28 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
Is it at least pronounced with a hard G or some such? *plaintive*
genarti: ([pooh] one of those days)

[personal profile] genarti 2009-09-28 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
In the words of the illustrious Middleman: well, phooey.

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I will add these Cronus books to my to-read list! (And maybe be really bad and order the first one on Amazon so I don't forget, even though I have no money to spend.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, I ordered the first one. (It should be ILLEGAL how easy it is to order stuff on Amazon. I don't even have to get out my credit card. All I have to do is click a button. ILLEGAL.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I will definitely make a post about it whenever I actually get to reading it! Right now I'm rereading all my Tamora Pierce books. (Except library books are prostitutes and I'm a Mormon about marrying my books.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
You wrote your thesis on Song of the Lioness? (They do. We're one big family of polygamists--except the Pullman and Le Guin books. For some reason, they don't like playing nicely with the others.)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I LOVE BLOODY JACK.

(Only as far apart as the alphabet allows. I run a strict, organized ship in my family!)

[identity profile] spellcoats.livejournal.com 2009-09-26 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
owijefioew JACKY IS SO AWESOME. omg that man is like a rabbit, only instead of breeding children, he breeds books. I AM SO BEHIND /left off in the middle of the third book woeijfwe

(YOU CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN YOU. BELIEVE IN ME WHO BELIEVES IN YOU &c.)