Shiver and Linger

[Kimmy]

I read Shiver and am reading the sequel, Linger.  Anyone who likes YA paranormal, check these out.  Her writing is fantastic; I am jealous over the wonderful way she uses words and describes things!  Great YA love story.

[justwrite]

I totally agree. Maggie the Magnificent has such a gift of character portrayal, you feel like they are in the room with you. Sam is quite possibly the best YA love interest there is. Her characters are real, flawed and three dimensional. I'm midway through Linger and I just want to..linger.

[Silence18]

Omigod! I was getting on here expressly to post about having just finished Linger(and starting over again on Shiver!) In my opinion, u know a book is good, when you finish it, and ache afterward. It's like a piece of Shiver and Linger's world has broken off and wormed its way in me, and just under my skin are wolves, and Sam and Grace, the woods, and the hurt of goodbye.

And from the above, u can tell that I'm still on a high from finishing Linger at five in the morning!  But seriously, Maggie is terrifically awesome!!! I've always liked wolves(one year for my b-day, my Mom got me a figurine of a wolf howling, and that played Moonlight Sonata). I think what calls to me the most from Sh. & Li. is just how well Maggie portrays good-bye. How bad it sucks, and hurts, and just plain changes everything.

My Mom died when I was fifteen, and I remember that first night, how it felt realizing she was just...gone. That I couldn't touch her again or hear her voice, and that from now on, it would all be memory. And I know that memories are wonderful, beautiful things(trust me, I know), but at the time, it wasn't enough, all I could focus on was the good-bye and how bad it hurt.

Right, so forgive me for rambling(and if I reread this post again, I'm going to kick myself for posting at...oh, six-oh-six in the morning, when I'm still riding an awesome reading high!)! Today, while I'm making withdrawals, and deposits, and loan payments, and generally getting sick of lookin at money-Fridays are crazy in the banking world- I'm gonna be thinking about Linger! 

[stephcamp]

Weren't those books fabulous?! Can't wait for the 3rd!

Silence, I thought your post was beautiful. 

[Kimmy]

I cried at the end of Linger. For some reason, when a guy is hurting in fiction or movies (and real life, I guess, too!) it seems more dramatic than a girl hurting. We are so used to the female drama and emotions, but when the guys get upset, its difficult! Loved them both. They are now on my list of YA faves!

[stephcamp]

Kimmy, did you read Hush, Hush? Counting down the days until the 2nd book comes out to that series as well!!

[Kimmy]

Not yet, but I have it to read on my vacation!

[violet]

You know, I've been struggling lately with YA. I write it and yet, when I read it, more often than not, I'm disappointed.

The only YA I loved was Graceling. I'm finding the books I really love are adult and non-fiction.

This has really been bumming me out because it makes me think I just don't get it.

 

[Kimmy]

Violet, I love YA and read it and write it. Maybe you are just reading YA that you dont care for. Graceling was more sci fi and I didnt care for that!  Try other YA fantasy or sci fi. I like paranormal like vamps and werewolves, but I also like real stuff like Sarah Dessen writes. Looking for Alaska and the Secret Year were both literary YA and they were fantastic.  I love YA for the first kiss, the first love, the love triangles, the deep feelings. They dont yet have to worry about bills and mortgages and divorce and kids and jobs.

[violet]

I really liked LFA and thought it was beautifully written.
 
I'm going to try Sarah Dessen. Haven't read her stuff yet.

For me, a "first kiss" is just as exciting between two adults. It's still their first kiss together, you know? *shrugs* It's strange...I just haven't been all that impressed with YA. 

[Kimmy]

I really loved Sarah Dessens book Just Listen.  Check that one out!

[stephcamp]

I have a hard time making it through Sarah Dessen's books, idk what it is.

Violet, some recent *amazing* (imo) YA books were IF I STAY & THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE. Both of them were so beautiful!

[violet]

Thanks Kimmy and Steph--I'll definitely check them both out. 

I just started reading Stay With Me. Anyone read this?

[RPG123]

I am always to tempted to get Shiver, but there is always something that interests me more on the shelf.  You guys have definitely made me want to check it out.  I'll be doing that tomorrow.

On the Graceling note, I liked it a lot.  I didn't love it, (love for me means that I don't sleep until I'm finished) but I found the characters and the concept interesting.  Now the plot was a little thin at times.  The last books I LOVED was Hunger Games 1&2 and Great and Terrible Beauty 1-3.  I love really strong female characters which the MC of all othose books are.

Everything goes in phases for me.  I find that the only YA that interests me right now has some level of fantasy. 

[Kimmy]

I like Saras books because they are real life issues. I also like paranormal. The one thing I dont care for is fantasy. I prefer my YA set in contemporary times. But I swear Shiver and Linger are now on my top ten.  Fallen was fantastic too.  And I am a  Twihard, what can I say?  Oh, and Nightworld and House of Night I really like too!  Both paranormal. Vamps and stuff.  Keep reading and you will find something you love!