"Readers may simply forget to breathe."

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Did anybody notice that in School Library Journal's article Be Still My Heart: A Shameless Guide to Sweet, Sexy Romance Novels for Teens and Tweens there's a major mention of MWT's books?

In fact, Gen wins the article writer's award for "Best Declaration of Love" in all of teen and tween lit... check it out.

Comments

[pigrescuer.livejournal.com]

Lol we were discussing it in Chatzy the other day... Apparently it nobody thought to post it into Sounis.

I thought that article was very funny. And, of course Gen has the best decleration of love!

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this link -- I think I would have missed it otherwise. I'm glad to see Graceling on the list, too, since it's a fabulous book. I actually recommended that people who like the Queen's Thief series read Graceling on my own journel. I think they go well together, for the romance and the political intrigue and the well-developed characters.

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

My only qualm is that I like that I didn't know to expect a romance when I read QoA - it would have been strange waiting for the romance to happen. I think I would have found it harder to forgive and understand Attolia cutting off Gen's hand if I hadn't had half a book to calm down.

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

Word! MWT gave us time and some subtle hints (that I only picked up after multiple readings of the series) before she had Gen and Attolia realize and confess their love for each other. I needed a little emotional distance from the hand before I could accept it.

[ladymoon-kora.livejournal.com]

Half a book didn't do it for me. I needed to read it a few times to forgive Attolia for what she did. I love Gen too much...

[kitsune-rains.livejournal.com]

I've had people desert after reading the beginning of QoA, and they won't read the others no matter how much I tell them it's worth it. Or necessary, anyway.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

That always surprises me, because I thought the beginning of the book was awesome. But maybe I'm morbid or something? Haha, I don't know, but I love it when authors actually have the guts to put their characters through terrible things. It makes for a more interesting story, and allows for more character development. And then the fact that Gen is still as badass (arguably more badass) minus a hand . . . !

[kitsune-rains.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I agree it makes for a better story and richer characters and all... but I still nearly bit off my own hand in empathy while reading that part.

I still don't understand how people can stop reading it though. :(

[inkasrain.livejournal.com]

Same here! I am a ridiculous sucker for angst, and it's just so well done in QoA. It's hard for me to imagine not liking it!

I also definitely agree that it's an incredibly brave thing for an author to seriously maim the main character; if you think about it, though, the amputation has acted as a tremendous emotional driving force in both QoA and KoA. It's pretty clear that Attolia's decision (to take, really, the only thing Gen couldn't stand to loose) weighs heavily over both her and Gen as individuals, and over their marriage. (What do they tell their children, for example, when they inevitably ask why their father has only one hand?) Gen's hook is constant evidence of the time when they were most deeply at odds; any kind of tactile reminder of that would serve as a significant obstacle. The fact that the reminder is what is, and carries the implication of so much violence and hatred only magnifies the existing emotional problem that I'd imagine both Gen and Attolia are really going to be dealing with (in some form or another) for the rest of their lives.

(And incidentally, the loss of Gen's hand and resulting anxiety is not just a revelatory experience for the characters-- it serves just the same purpose for the reader.)

*Teeters off soapbox and back to school reading*

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

I think the start of the book was great too. Just that I'm glad I had time to heal along with Gen and see him recover before the romance aspect dawned on me :)

QoA isn't a very long book. You'd think people would stick with it out of curiousity!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

It was the exact same for me, ladymoon_kora

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I knew about it beforehand, the romance and the hand thing, from spoilers (Viviolooooooooo! *shakes fist*), but Attolia was so awesome I forgave her. Going in, I was prepared to hate her, but... dude! She and Gen fit together so well. <3

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this, RJ.

While I completely agree with author of the article Donna Freitas (whose recent book The Possibilities of Sainthood is getting rave reviews from the students in my library) that QoA is the most romantic of books, I hate to spoil the story for people by hinting about the romance. One thing I loved about QoA was how it completely took me by surprise. Very cool that it got mentioned in the article in such a positive way, though!

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

Yay, how awesome is that? More Gen-recognition is always good :D

[ladymoon-kora.livejournal.com]

I was so happy to see the books on the list. I actually emailed it to a friend I'm trying to get to read the books as extra incentive. I hope it works! Thanks for posting!

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

heh heh.
I mentioned this article to my friend yesterday, and he was absolutely in stiches. It's not that it's wrong, it's the exact opposite - it's put so wonderfully.
"Best declaration of love"
You have to see the person who wrote that article just thinking, 'how on earth do I put this into words?'
This ROCKS.

And I'm very glad Graceling is on the list, too. That was an AWESOME book.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

"Lucky are those readers who still have this series ahead of them."

YES.

God bless 'em. I'll find some more if I make an idiot of myself trying...
*proud propagator of the agony that is finishing KoA*

[octopirock.livejournal.com]

Oh! That just reminded me how awesome that scene was!