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If You Like This, You Might Like That: The One Where I Bribe My Sister, Aileen, To Give Some Recommendations

8/24/2012

30 Comments

 
Picture
Le sisters at La Push, WA.
Bribery goes hand in hand with having siblings.  I have three siblings and we absolutely work according our own sort of barter system where we call in favors to balance things out from years ago. Elephants never forget? Well I would argue that siblings never forget--it's one of the best and worst things about them. The other day, my sister found two huge spiders and she was too chicken to kill them. "Would I do it?" Of course I would...if she wrote a guest blog post for us! Muahahaha!  Luckily, my younger sister Aileen is quite a reader. Though I tried to get her to explain why she likes several romance authors--Julia Quinn, Teresa Medeiros, Judith McNaught--she instead chose to not listen to me at all (as usual) and picked her own recommendations. Take it away, Aileen.


Flannery agreed to dispose of a spider in my room if I agreed to do an “If You Like This, You Might Like That” blog post.  So here I am, arachnophobe and all.  I’ve read different books than Flanna and she requested that I recommend a few:
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain: How do I love thee, Lloyd Alexander.  The movie version of The Black Cauldron does little justice to this wonderful series.  Through five books, we follow Taran, assistant pig keeper, as he protects his land of Prydain from Arawn Death-Lord, who commands a legion of the undead and unsavory.  This book is based on the same Welsh folklore as that of the Lord of the Rings, but each takes a very different interpretation.  You will find some similarities, but they are very different novels.  If you liked Harry Potter and are looking for something to fill that hole in your heart, The Chronicles are a good place to go.  These novels are written for a younger crowd, but stand up well to adult reading.  I could read all five in a weekend, and sometimes do.

Beauty Robin McKinley cover


Beauty: Beauty, by Robin McKinley, is a retelling of (you guessed it!) Beauty and the Beast.  McKinley’s Beauty is an awkward, pimpled, clumsy bookworm in a family of great beauties.  Great beauties who are terribly nice, to boot.  Beauty is funny and caring, and a good role model for young girls.  If you like books with strong female characters who are into books and learning, you will like Beauty.  Also, if you like Gail Carson Levine’s fairy tale retellings or Howl’s Moving Castle, you may like this.


Sabriel Garth Nix cover

Sabriel: Speaking of badass heroines, Sabriel has to be up there for books with a strong female lead.  Garth Nix created a world in which the Victorian Age of a country much like England is separated from a more magical kingdom by a wall.  The magical kingdom, much like in the Song of Ice and Fire series, is a place where the dead can walk.  Sabriel is a necromancer in training who must leave school in the un-magical world and return to her birthplace once her father, the Abhorsen, dies.  If you like Anna Dressed in Blood or Blood Red Road, chances are you will like Sabriel.


The Forbidden Game LJ Smith cover
The Forbidden Game: Ah, here we come to what may be my most controversial “If You Like…” recommendation.  The Forbidden Game is a trilogy of novels by L.J. Smith, of The Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle fame.  Obviously, if you like either of those series, pick this one up.  The Forbidden Game follows Jenny, our main protagonist, and her group of friends as they unleash a terrible evil while playing a board game.  This might sound ridiculous, but it’s not.  It’s actually a pretty freaky novel.  Jenny’s whole life has been stalked by a supernatural creature who fell in love with her while she was a child and uses the game to escape into her world.  She and her friends each have to live through their worst nightmare, as the game progresses and it’s both frightening and enlightening.  Here’s the controversial part…If you liked Twilight, or any other book with a sort of helpless love/love triangle/beautiful men fighting over me novel, you’ll probably like this.

Maus Art Spiegelman cover

Maus: Maus and Maus II are divergences from my earlier recommendations, but the graphic novels are fantastic.  Art Spiegelman retells the story of a Holocaust survivor through a graphic novelization with mice as the main characters.  As a junior high/high school student, these graphic novels helped me get a narrative of the Holocaust that wasn’t too overwhelming while respecting the seriousness of the subject-matter.  If you like The Book Thief or The Diary of Anne Frank, check these out.

The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie cover


The Blade Itself: Last but not least is Joe Abercombie’s The Blade Itself.  I’ve only read the first of this series, but that was due to lack of funds and law school rather than lack of desire.  Blade is a dark, twisted story of kings that takes place around the medieval era.  If you like Game of Thrones, but wish there was less politics, or if you like The Name of the Wind, but wish there was more blood and torture, The Blade Itself  is for you.  Dark, complex, twisted, and wonderful writing.



It's always surprising to me how people who spend so much time together can manage to read so many different books. I'm a little ashamed to say that I haven't read a single one of these, though I often flipped through Maus when I was a kid. Also, though I'm sure Aileen will roll her eyes at me for this comment as I'm sure she's told me before many, many times, I don't think I knew that The Black Cauldron was based on a book. (New mission: Get Aileen to do a Book vs. Movie post) I am sad that she will be going back to Oregon this morning but I'm happy that she fulfilled her part of the spider bargain and wrote this post. Thanks for the recommendations, A!

Have you read any of these books? Do you agree with her picks? Do you have any other recommendations for us?
30 Comments
Jasprit link
8/24/2012 04:49:53 am

Flann you're lucky that you had a sister that likes to read, if I ever asked my sister to do a blog post for me on books, I would probably get one on rap songs instead! I love these recommendations Aileen, like Flann I've never heard of a single one, but I think a lot of them still apply to me, I've been forever on the hunt for something to replace the hole that Harry and the rest of the gang left, so the Chronicles of Prydain looks like a good place to start. Also I will totally admit to loving the Twilight series, however, me and L.J have had a bad history so far with her Vampire Diaries series, but we will see, hopefully this will be a lot different. Thanks for the recs, I will be adding them to my already out of control tbr pile! :)

Reply
Aileen
8/24/2012 10:08:57 am

Thank you! My only grief with the Chronicles is that they're so short! I reread these every few years, and plan on indoctrinating any child of my family with them.

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Maureen
8/24/2012 05:06:26 am

Great post, Aileen!! Flan is pretty good at talking people into doing things, huh? :)

I read the first book in the Chronicles of Prydain series about a million years ago - but I do remember liking it a lot. I will have to get back on that and finish those books! I would love to see a book vs. movie post on Black Cauldron.

I have seen some stuff about Beauty - I am happy to hear it is good! I'll have to add that one to my list as well!

Reply
Aileen
8/25/2012 12:05:15 pm

....Why are you giving her ideas, Maureen?

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Jo [Wear the Old Coat] link
8/24/2012 08:04:02 am

I LOVE this post, Aileen and... well, I guess I have to thank Flann a little for getting rid of that spider for you.... but still mostly for you.

Anyway, I've always wanted to read Beauty. I've seen the film Howl's Moving Castle (actually on a 'watch-a-long' with Flann) but never read the book... will definitely have to look out for it.

And oh my god, I love Maus so much. It's pretty much my favourite graphic novel and one of my favourite books of all time. Have you read MetaMaus? It's just brilliant, wholly recommend it. :)

Wonderful post, ladies!

Reply
Aileen
8/24/2012 10:10:22 am

I haven't read MetaMaus, but I'll check it out! Beauty isn't as funny as Howl's Moving Castle (but, then again, what is?), but it's easily in my top five favorite books ever.

Reply
Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
8/24/2012 09:04:48 am

I have a weakness for "The Forbidden Game" and a few other L.J. Smith's books. It's hard to recommend them because they are, objectively speaking, are pretty juvenile and because now L.J. writes pretty crazy books, and yet, I have a very sweet spot for them.

Reply
Aileen
8/24/2012 10:07:25 am

Same. I know the story lines are simplistic, but I have such a soft spot for L.J. Smith's novels. This and the Night World series are the only ones I reread, though. Once was enough for the Secret Circle, Vampire Diaries, and Dark Visions books.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
8/24/2012 10:19:18 am

VD are definitely my least favorite of hers and, ironically, they are the most popular, with the TV show and all that. FG doesn't get nearly enough attention in comparison.

Aileen
8/24/2012 10:12:06 am

I should note that I didn't realize that Flannery specifically wanted some of the romance novels. I haven't read Medeiros or McNaught in years - really too long to make an appropriate recommendation - and I'm not sure I'd recommend Deveraux at this point in my life. Her male characters leave a lot to desire to the adult me.

Reply
Andrea link
8/24/2012 10:22:42 am

Y-you haven't read "Beauty"? Next you'll say you haven't read "The Blue Sword" either!

Not sure I can consider you a serious reader any more, Flann...

Reply
Aileen
8/25/2012 02:44:03 am

(She hasn't read "The Blue Sword" either. Which is, by the way, my favorite book ever.)

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
8/25/2012 08:28:55 am

I don't like what is going on in these two comments. TRAITORS!!

Maja
8/24/2012 04:39:08 pm

I haven't read a single one of these either, but I've had my eye on Sabriel for quite some time. I have a soft spot for necromancers (and reapers). I wish they would change the cover, though, I'm such a cover snob.

Maus is another thing I'm very interested in since The Book Thief is one of my favorite books (and Jo obviously loved it too).

I would get rid of a spider for my sister without asking for anything in return, but I'm so glad you two have different rules.

Reply
Chachic link
8/24/2012 08:26:45 pm

Yay for Beauty and Sabriel! Those two are included in my own list of favorites. I love that your sister Aileen reads too, Flann. You should try her recommendations. :) I remember reading the Prydain books when I was a kid (I tried to read as many Newbery books as I could) but I haven't had a chance to reread them as an adult.

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Regina link
8/25/2012 04:31:08 am

I love this blog post. So cool that there are 4 sisters in your family. I have had Sabriel on my to-read shelf for awhile, but those others look good. I like how, Aileen, you connected each recommendation to more well known books. Very helpful!

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
8/25/2012 08:30:20 am

Only 3 sisters. We have a brother and he is very good at exfoliating and watching chick flicks:)

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Regina link
8/25/2012 08:41:40 am

hahaa! That is my family -- I have 3 girls and 1 boy. I hear those only boys in a family of girls grow up to be great friends to girls and boyfriends. :) (in addition to exfoliating and tolerating chick culture)

Alexandra link
8/25/2012 10:25:12 am

I love the Prydain Chronicles. My Dad used to read them (along with the Narnia books and the first few Harry Potter books) to me and my little brother when we were younger, so I have a lot of positive memories of that, but I think I would have loved them anyway for the characters, the stories and the way Alexander weaves mythology through the series. The companions are an amazing picture of what true friendship is.
I wasn't such a fan of The Forbidden Game - I just kept thinking of Labyrinth and also Jumanji. I did like Julian's character though - L.J. Smith gives him a very archetypical feel. And the heroine, Jenny, is one of these people it would be awfully difficult to dislike.

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Aileen
8/25/2012 12:04:31 pm

I agree with you on all points. I think Julian is interesting because he is so elemental, and thus appeals to some deep part of human nature that other books poorly emulate. Jenny is an interesting counterpart because she is so good, and so conflicted, and her dilemma seems more real than other triangles I've read.

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Casey
8/25/2012 01:13:28 pm

I think a girl so interested in strong heroines should kill her own spiders

Reply
Aileen
8/29/2012 05:01:39 pm

Thank you, autre souer.

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Aileen
8/29/2012 05:02:20 pm

Damnit, soeur. french fail.

Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
8/26/2012 06:26:53 am

The Forbidden Game sounds like a crazier version of Jumanji. I'll add that (along with all the other books I shamefully haven't read before).

BTW, I wouldn't be surprised if Flann planted those spiders in your room!

Reply
VeganYANerds link
8/26/2012 01:13:05 pm

Hi Aileen! I think it's great that you did a guest post :D

I'm always happy to see an Aussie book pop up but I am still yet to read anything by Garth Nix and I've read a couple of L.J Smith's series (TVD and Night World, both pretty average) but I've been meaning to pick up The Forbidden Game - thanks for the reminder!

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Nomes
8/27/2012 02:12:04 pm

sorry, but i find it hilarious that flann has not read any of these faves! and you call yourself a reader, flann!?

the cover of the forbidden game makes me think of david bowie circa the labyrinth era. but on closer look, my comment seem stupid.

love the sisterly photo of la push

i should get my sister to do a post on my blog, but i have nothing to bribe her with... hmmm...

Reply
Aileen
8/29/2012 05:04:40 pm

Not a dumb comment, and actually a very good allegory. The book's main relationship is a lot like Gareth and Sarah's. Now that I think more about it, I wonder about the relationships I find compelling....

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Sparrow
8/27/2012 02:35:22 pm

Yay for coming back to Oregon!!!

I, too, had no idea that the Black Cauldron was a book first! And I, too, haven't read any of these. There are so many good books in the world!

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April Books & Wine link
8/28/2012 04:18:24 am

I totally need to read the Prydain books AND Joe Abercrombie's trilogy, particularly because I have it on my shelf and that Game Of Thrones/Name Of The Wind comparison has magnetism to me, I am unable to resist the pull.

Great recommendations, Aileen has wonderful taste.

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Heidi link
9/1/2012 01:44:22 am

Ah! I love everything about this post, mostly because it seems pretty tailored for me.

This is the second time in a week I've had Lloyd Aleander show up in my face screaming 'omg how have you not read me before', I hadn't realized before then that Black Cauldron (the most disturbing of all Disney animated features) was based on a book.

Sabriel may be one of my biggest shames. I'm pretty sure I've marked it as read, but I haven't. I borrowed it from my 6th grad English teacher (IN 6th grade), and have yet to return the copy which is sitting on my bookshelf in my parent's home.

I've been wanting to read Beauty forever, and can we just acknowledge that as someone who's never even HEARD of The Blade Itself, I'm pretty much fumbling over myself to get a copy after 'Game of Thrones' and 'Name of the Wind' were mentioned in tandem relation to it. And the trilogy is all out, so BONUS.

Thank you both for adhering to bribes. =)

Reply



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