Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: How do you feel about book banning and censorship?

Let me preface this post by saying that all I’m about to say is of my own personal and humble opinions. If you’re offended by what I have to say, don’t read it…and with that, I think that leads pretty well into the Talk to Me Tuesday topic of the day. We’re in a day and age where people seem to think that book censorship and banning is productive, or at the very least, useful. If you don’t believe me, you’ve probably been hiding under a rock. Some of the most powerful authors have had their books come under attack because of the content being deemed “offensive.” Now, I’m a conservative Catholic with a strong and pretty sheltered upbringing, but I can firmly state that I am completely opposed to book banning and censorship.

Take, for example, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It’s the story of a young girl learning to overcome her rape which, obviously, was brutal and traumatic. She lashes out. She’s angry, and yet, she overcomes. There are some people, however, that have called Speak a work of filth and “soft-core porn.” So where do you draw the line? The book educates teens about the importance of raising your voice for yourself. It expresses the need for self-worth and overcoming. Other books like Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler are criticized for being “loose,” as well, and while I’m not one for the casual sex scenario, that’s really not the point of the book.

Then, you have people banning books like the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. This series has been challenged and banned based on its fairly blatant criticism of organized religion. As a devoutly religious person, yes, I recognize the references, and sure, I’m not the biggest fan, but aren’t we all entitled to our opinions? Reading The Golden Compass at surface-level only let me enjoy the world the author created without being offended by the opinions or religious context. In the same breath, Harry Potter is being challenged in many areas because of the, and I quote “Pagan” context. Really? That’s utter ignorance.

Here’s what some of your fellow bloggers had to say about book banning and censorship:

Danna from Friendly Reader says, “I hate book banning and censorship. It’s stupid, and there’s really no need for it.”

Aimee from Coffee Table Press says, “Society shouldn’t be able to tell people what they are and aren’t allowed to read based on what they think is inappropriate.”

John from Dreaming Reviews says, “It’s douchery. People ban books because they’re ignorant of the content and misinterpret them to meet a twisted agenda.”

Ashley from What’s Your Story Book Reviews says, “Book banning is the product of extreme ignorance. Some people can’t see the true message, so they shun it.”

Ivy from Ivy's Updates says, “I think it can’t be something one person decides. Every parent and every individual has the right to decide for themselves what is and isn’t right for them and their children.”

Here’s what I really mean to say: Not everyone is going to like every book. Not every book is going to be appropriate for every audience. However, if you are only reading a book to harp on the small details that should be overshadowed by the purpose of the book, perhaps you shouldn’t be reading it to begin with. Yes, there are some books I’d rather not read based on their content, but I have the right to make an informed decision, and an author should have the right to write their own stories. So, you don't like a book? Nobody is forcing you to read it, so don't force others NOT to read it. Just a thought... always remember to #speakloudly.

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: What is your favourite genre to read, and why?

I've actually seen this question floating around the blogosphere a lot recently, and it got me to thinking...why do I read what I read? It's no secret that young adult is my preferred genre, though I read pretty much everything, but that's an all-encompassing category, and if we're going with a true genre, I think my favourite would have to be fantasy or dystopian. There are so many reasons why this is, but when I actually thought about it, the main reason is pretty simple. I read to get lost in a story. I get my heavy dose of reality in every day life, so when I read a book, I want to be involved in a world that's a little different than my own.

Dystopian novels like Life As We Knew It and Delirium presented harrowing tales of a future world where hope is lost, but manage to keep the humanity of the characters and plot alive while showing us, in various shades of gray, the difference between right and wrong. Take, for example, the dystopian world of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's not a happy world, yet it has elements of our own, weaving characters through a world where there's a clear right and wrong, but there's a sense of a gray area that keeps you thinking and feeling for each character.

Then there are fantasy books like Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. It was one of my first ventures into a higher level of YA fantasy beyond my safety zone of Harry Potter (which will always be my absolute favourite). It's a world completely outside of our own, but the human elements let me lose myself in a world that nothing like ours. It has kingdoms, and royalty, and deadly battles. It's every bit as adventures as my wildest dreams, and reading those words is like living someone else's life. That's what I want from a fantasy novel, and that's what I've come to expect.

Here's what some of your fellow bloggers shared as their favourite genres:

A Buckeye Girl Reads says, "Urban Fantasy. (no surprise!) I like it because the heroines are strong and kick butt-there's also just enough romance without it consuming the whole story."

Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell says, "Fantasy! Because it has magic, new lands, battles, and well, it just is the best ;)"

Hannah from Every Little Thing says, "I like to read paranormal. Everything you read about is practically non-existing, so it's easy to escape into."

Theresa from Fade Into Fantasy says, "Paranormal romance, hands down! There's nothing like escaping to another land with a hot, sexy, dangerous vamp!"

Jen from Makeshift Bookmark says, "I know it's "tired" now, but I love paranormal romance. The way I see it, I'll never fall in love with a fairy prince. Why not get in the head of someone who does?"

So, while I'm doing my best to get into contemporary fiction more, fantasy and dystopian books will always hold that special place in my heart and on my shelf. I just can't replace the feeling I get from reading those stories!

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: Do you have any specific literary pet-peeves in the genres you read and why?

There are so many things about YA literature that I love. I enjoy the no-holds-barred emotional plot lines that authors use to push the boundaries of the genre. I love the amount and vast nature of the sub-genres within YA including contemporary, dystopian, Christian, fantasy, science fiction and more. I love that the YA genre encourages all reading ages and levels to dip their toes into the proverbial waters of literature. All that aside, however, let’s be honest. There are always a few flaws lurking behind the corners or, shall I say, smacking us over the head repeatedly until we beg for mercy.

For me, my biggest literary pet-peeve in YA is the emergence of the love triangle. Good Lord. Really? Girl meets boy. Girl experiences instant love. Boy falls head over heels. Girl meets other boy. Other boy falls head over heels. Manly exhibition of brute force. Grrr! Argghhh! One boy wins! Girl and boy live happily ever after and make babies with strange names…oh…sorry…I went on a tangent. In all seriousness though, Twilight created a phenomenon with its popularity. And yes, I'm glad more people are reading, but no, I'm not glad so many books follow the same mold.

The amount of books with love triangles these days, including my beloved The Hunger Games, is a bit absurd. The only reason I could stomach the love triangle in The Hunger Games is because of the intensity of the action in the book overshadowing the need for a super-sappy subplot drenched in a boring romance. Here’s a thought - if you absolutely MUST do a love triangle…two girls fighting for one guy? But hey, what do I know? I'm just looking for something fresh like true love. Between two people. Now that is is a novel idea.

Here's what some of your fellow book bloggers said were their biggest literary pet-peeves:

Liz from Consumed by Books says, “I hate it when authors throw in so many unbelievable plot twists that their novel reads like a soap opera.”

Amber from Books of Amber says, “At the moment, it’s love triangles. It’s more of an annoying cliché at the moment – there are so many of them in YA literature!”

Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books says, “Insta-love. I hate it. Give me some buildup, some friendship, a little date time, then maybe I can accept that two characters are in love. I want people to get to know one another before they decide that they could die for one another.”

Jess from Tangled Up in Blue says, “When an author’s voice is too forced. Seriously, no one speaks like an English grammar text book.”

Heidi from YA Bibliophile says, “Characters that never grow…they go through the whole book and are the same as they started!”

Yes, there are other things that plague me in YA literature such as authors dumbing down the prose (sorry, we’re just fine reading at a high level, thank you very much), when the tone is overly conversational, or when the plot lags, but for me, it’s the love triangle that takes the cake. I want to see a book step out of the norm because I tend to find a lot of the love triangles formulaic. Again, yes, some work well, but others…well, I’d love to see something break the mold, or better yet – become something new entirely.

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: Do you have a preference between male and female MCs, and why?

Someone actually asked me this the other day, and I was a bit surprised because A) I’d never really thought about it before and B) I wasn’t sure it really mattered until I actually decided to sit down and think about it. Before I go on, let me preface this by saying that there is always an exception to the rule when it comes to my opinions on books and literature in general. I know…colour me fickle. But here’s the thing – whether it’s a male or a female MC, I want to be able to get to know the character because, frankly, if I can’t get into their head, the book tends to be a bit hopeless for me.

I also think when it comes to MCs that the tense is important in my preference. If it’s third person, I can get to know the character (male or female) a lot easier than in first person. For example, Harry Potter, and yes, HP is my go-to example because I think it’s a literary masterpiece. Harry’s character is accessible, continues to grow throughout, and takes us on a journey with him. For me, this works.

Now, if I’m reading first person, I have to say that I usually prefer reading from a female perspective. In a book like Crash Into Me (which I ended up not reviewing on my site), the MC was completely inaccessible to me because of just how masculine he was. I felt a bit lost. Another book with a male MC that didn't work for me was Girl Parts...it was much too teenage boy...and too crass. However, in Leaving Paradise, I see a perfect example of balancing both a female and male MC. Seeing both distinct POVs and finding an understanding with both Maggie and Caleb worked for me. I could relate to both.

Here’s what some of your fellow bloggers weighed in on their thoughts of male and female MCs.

Anna from Her Stardust Soul says: “Emotionally I connect with male and female MCs equally, like Harry in Harry Potter and Sarah Dessen's MCs. But as far as experiences go, it's easy and fun to relate to the girly troubles of female MCs.”

Tara from Hobbitsies says, “I prefer female MCs because I enjoy the male-induced swooning more than what would occur with a male MC.”

Rachel from Crack a Spine says, “I prefer female MCs, the reason being I feel a stronger connection when reading, as females are more emotional than males.”

Liz from Midnight Bloom reads says, “I like either male or female MC's as long as they are likable enough. It's also nice if I find some sort of common ground that persuades me to hear out their stories. Hearing either kinds of POV's has its advantages.”

So, I think my general thought is that if the character is accessible, relatable and honest, I don’t really think it matters if they’re male or female. Yes, I enjoy some nice male eye-candy from a girl’s perspective, but it’s not the end-all/be-all for me.

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: Do you prefer series or stand-alone novels and why?

It seems to me that there's a trend in the YA market today for authors to start series, rather than stand-alone novels, and I've been wondering a lot about this lately. Seriously, what is the last stand-alone fantasy or paranormal book that I've read? While I don't read too many contemps these days, even the ones I do read seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Take, for example, Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. I loved that book. The characterization, the plot, every little point led up to a tumultuous and climactic end. Granted, the end made me want to kill myself pull my hair out, but it made me think, and even more - it made me feel. Now, enter the sequel, Return to Paradise. Can I just say...disappointment much? No, the writing isn't bad, but we lost everything we gained from Maggie and Caleb in book one. Suddenly, we're on this new path that feels rushed and overbearing. I really wish I hadn't picked up the sequel.

Then there are series like Harry Potter, which we all know I'm clinically obsessed with. Seriously. I want to live in Hogwarts. But there is a reason to my madness, or insanity, if you will. In creating the first book, J.K. Rowling proposed a series and a chance for us to journey with her characters. She gave us the opportunity to grow up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, allowing us to know every detail of their lives so we could grow up in this imaginary world with them (I know, I wish it was real, too.) Each book had a clear purpose - show us Harry's progression, give us more of the background, and lead up to the final and ultimate battle of good vs. evil. That, in a nutshell, is pretty much the epitome of a series for me. Other series that worked for me were Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Mortal Instruments series. Obviously, there are more, but those are the ones that immediately spring to mind.

Some of your fellow book bloggers weighed in on the issue, too, saying what they thought of series and standalone novels.

Ginger from GReads says, "I like both, but I prefer series because I get more from the characters and the story. Everything isn't wrapped up so nicely."

Sarah from That Bookish Girl says, "I think it really depends on the book. Sometimes books work better with a clear, quick start and finish and sometimes they are better drawn out."

Misha from My Love Affair With Books says, "It depends on the book. If I loved the book, I like to see more of the characters and the story. But to be honest, I lack the patience to wait. Waiting for the next book in the HP series used to drive me insane!

Linds from Bibliophile Brouhaha says, "It honestly doesn't matter so long as the story is solid, whether it is a story throughout the series or a stand alone. I will say that I hate when a book originally is a stand alone, and it feels like the characters have come full circle, only to have a publishers/author later make it into a series. It messes with the story and distorts the message of the book."

And therein lies the main issue for me. I think there is such a pressure to create a series these days that we lose sight of the characters and plot that were originally created. Whether it's a series or a stand-alone novel, I don't want to feel like I'm being pulled unwillingly along. Shiver is a prime example for me. I think that book one could have been it. I feel no need to read past that. Basically, I want the same thing if it's a series or a stand-alone book. I want great characters, a fantastic adventure, and I want to feel like I went somewhere and came full circle. 

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: What books have better covers than content, and what books have better content than covers?

We all know that the YA market is currently dominated by incredible covers. From upcoming books like The Water Wars (om nom nom) and Across the Universe to recent releases like Virals and Dark Song, it’s clear that covers are fast-becoming as important as the content itself. So, what happens when a perfectly good novel is stuck with a rather, shall we say, unfortunate cover? I am by NO means a graphic artist or designer, but I am a self-diagnosed cover-slut, and I’m not afraid to admit that I’ll often judge a book by its cover.

Take, for example, The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum. The series is a fun, sci-fi/fantasy tale, but the covers are bit, well, flat. I get it. It’s a door…for time…in an hourglass. Go figure. Now, I loved the book, but I bounced over it for a long time because the cover felt so blah compared to others on the shelves. For me, a good cover hints at the story’s content without over-exaggerating the details (*cough* Zan-Gah *cough*). I want colour, a touch of beauty, a hint of mystery, and something that makes me do a double-take in the store because, let’s be honest, I judge with my eyes first. See a sampling of what I drool all over in the store:

Here’s what some of your fellow book bloggers have to say about covers that didn’t quite work for them:

Sandy from Pirate Penguin Reads believes that the same goes for Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. She says, “Born confused doesn’t have the nicest cover, but I LOVE that book to pieces!”

Linna from 21 Pages feels that the cover for She’s So Dead to Us by Keiran Scott falls flat. She says, “It’s terribly bland without conveying something meaningful about the actual plot or characters.”

Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y Castell thinks the covers for Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series just don’t live up. She says, “They are just so childish.”

Author, Melissa Walker says, “People hated my Lovestruck Summer cover, but loved the book.”

Capillya from That Cover Girl loves Jennifer Echols’ work but couldn’t connect with the cover of The Ex Games. She says, “What I don’t get is how I’m supposed to walk out of a library or bookstore without feeling completely mortified that I’m carrying a book that has cartoon characters on the front.”

Yes, there are times when books have far better covers than stories…Witch & Wizard is a prime example, but I will say that I bought that book based on the cover, so it clearly influenced me.