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Best books

'Les Miserables' by Victor Hugo. It's melodramatic, yes, but so incredibly moving. An unforgettable story of redemption of a criminal who tries to evade a police officer. A story that tells how the very outcasts of society struggle to survive. Basically tells how if we want to reduce crime, we must eliminate to conditions that lead to people committing crime (poverty, ignorance). Hugo had revolutionary ideas (and was lighyears ahead of his peers) for a person of his time.

'Looking for Alibrandi' by Melina Marchetta. A bildungsroman novel on an illegitimate born teen who comes to accept her Italian heritage. She deals with first love, death and finally meeting her father for the first time.

A tie between 'First Test' and 'Page' by Tamora Pierce. These first two books are part of a Fantasy quartet about Kel, the first girl to train as a knight in the European medieval world of Tortall. Simply written and for young teens, but told so well. The first book deals with hazing and bullying, and how to deal with bullies. The second one covers violence against women, self defense, bullying. These books have their flaws (Kel overcomes her fear of heights too quickly), but I love them all the same.

Worst books

Left Behind books, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins. Read hilarious and insightful summaries by slacktivist (Fred Clark, a liberal Christian) here:

http://exharpazo.blogspot.com/2007/01/index-to-slactivists-left-behind.html

Awful far right wing Christian propaganda. Sexist, racist, homophobic, prejudiced against other religions, with flat characters, awful Gary Stus who are more hateful than the villain...Fred Clark describes these books as having anti-Christian values, and I couldn't agree more.

( Read more... )

There was someone who came up with the great quote that bad morals make for bad writing(I think it was baeraad) . All in all, I can only agree.

To anyone who has read the Vorkosigan Saga:

Was anyone bothered by the racist portrayal of Indian characters? I notice that all of the Indian characters in the Vorkosigan saga books I've read so far are unlikeable, pathetic or cruel. In 'Cordelia's Honour', Dr Mehta drugs Cordelia against her will and treats Cordelia like an interesting experiment (she offers no sympathy, emapthy or compassion for all the horrors Cordelia has been through while she is talking to her).

See here for yourself:

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1fys98YnuGMC&pg=PT126&lpg=PT126&dq=dr+mehta+cordelia&source=bl&ots=4aBq5oPxIf&sig=4tKpqB-uO7zhyxCifOx-3viO_zI&hl=en&ei=oxAGS7rCDsuSkAXg9fneCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=dr%20mehta%20cordelia&f=false

Plus Gupta from "Diplomatic Immunity" is surly and has no good redeeming traits whatsoever. And Miles calls him "Guppy", so I get the impression from that rude nickname that the readers aren't supposed to take him seriously. I know Miles shows him some caompassion, but the fact that Gupta still remains ungrateful to Miles (and still has no redeeming traits) gives me the impression that Bujold regards Indian people negatively. I've never seen a positive or neutral portrayal of an Indian character in her stories before.

Plus for a saga set in the future, the Vorkosigan saga world is overwhelmingly white. There are few or no characters who are Asian (Middle Eastern or far east Asian characters. I know there's Commodore Tung, but he's the only positive Asian character in the VS I've encountered), black, first nations people, Aboriginal people etc (although to be fair, there are a few Spanish characters).

Now, some may say that the racist overtones are unintentional. However, that doesn't make them any less damaging, and it doesn't undo the hurt it causes.

SIX PAIRINGS I LIKE:

1. Severus/Lily
2. Suki/Sokka (Avatar)
3. Katara/Aang (Avatar)
4. Axel/Roxas (Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
5. Walter/Seras (Hellsing)
6. Katara/Haru (Avatar)

THREE SHIPS I'VE ABANDONED:


7. Ron/Hermione
8. Axel/Larxene (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
9. Harry/Cho

THREE SHIPS I'VE NEVER LIKED:

10. Edward Cullen/Bella (from Twilight. I don't find Edward's abusive behaviour sexy. I find it *creepy* as heck.)
11. Harry/Ginny
12. Light Yagami/Misa Amane (from Death Note. I don't think Light truly loves anyone except himself).

TWO SHIPS THAT HAVE PIQUED MY INTEREST:


13. Integra/Maxwell (Hellsing. What? I think it's cute! XD Plus they both have lovely hair! They could bond over that, maybe?)
14. Severus/Regulus

1. Why do you dislike 11 (Harry/Ginny) so much?

What elethian said. Plus, Ginny being the copy of Harry's mum struck me as creepy. And their relationship just came out of the blue. The chest monster bits were good for a laugh, though.

2. Who do you know that ships 13 (Integra/Maxwell)?

Um. I think Hannah (rosehiptea) used to ship it, and I remember she wrote wonderful fic for it (but I can't find those fics anywhere, dang it!)

3. What would be your ideal scenario for couple 3 (Katara/Aang)?

SPOILERS FOR AVATAR

So many! The kiss at the end of Avatar. Aang giving up his chance to learn to unblock his chakras to rescue Katara. The tiny moments where they comfort each other. Katara telling Toph to go easy on Aang when Toph teaches him to earthbend. The kiss they share before Aang flies off to battle. The dance between them was electric.

4. What is your favorite moment for 1 (Severus/Lily)?

When Severus says "Look at me" to Harry, just so he can see Lily's eyes back at him. And when he shows his Patronus and says, "Always." I couldn't stand DH (aka Harry Potter and the Camping Trip of DOOM). But those two parts from DH made my day.

5. How long have you been following couple 6 (Katara/Haru)?

Since I first saw the episode where Katara first met Haru. Yup. I love how Katara gives Haru the strength to stand up for himself and his people. And how Haru admires and respects Katara so much.

6. What's the story with 8 (Axel/Larxene)? What made you stop caring?

Hmm. Just the fact that Axel and Larxene don't get along, and they rarely interact. The idea of these opposites attracting was fun for a while, as they're both fascinating. Plus the fact that they have no chemistry and Axel betrays her is a big one.

7. Which ship do you prefer--2 (Suki/Sokka) or 4 (Axel/Roxas)?

Axel/Roxas. Because Roxas made Axel feel like he had a heart. And also because Axel was willing to sacrifice himself not just for Roxas, but for his alter/other, Sora, too. plus they're such BFF (if you love this pairing, watch the FinalMix vids. Like, now).

8. You have the power to make one ship non-existent. Choose from 10 (Edward/Bella) or 12 (Light/Misa).

Edward/Bella. Hands down. Physical and emotional abuse, plus Bella feels afraid when Edward is around. And I hate how Bella wants to give up her education and her family without remorse (at the age of 18) all for her lust for Edward. Need I say more?

9. What interests you about 14 (Severus/Regulus)?

They both go through a redemption arc, and are very clever. Both outwit Voldemort, and are good Slytherins. Plus I like to imagine that Severus was a mentor of sorts to Regulus.

10. When did you stop liking 7 (Ron/Hermione)?

When they started getting very nasty and childish in HBP. I hated how Hermione sent birds to attack Ron. And Ron using Lavender to get back at Hermione is *not* a sign of maturity (whatever JKR thinks). It's a disgusting thing to do.

11. Did your waning interest in 9 (Harry/Cho) kill your interest in the series?

No, but it did diminish it. I seriously disliked how Harry liked Ginny 'because she wasn't a cryer'. Poor Cho deserves a break. It's natural for her to be grieving - her former boyfriend was murdered by Voldemort, after all.

12. What's a song that reminds you of 5 (Walter/Seras)?

er...no idea. Let me know if you find one, though!

13. Which of these ships do you love the most right now?

Walter/Seras. Walter is the perfect gentleman, and Seras is adorable. They both fight and work together so well. And when Seras told Walter to go in good health even after he betrayed Hellsing...so sad and lovely.

14. Which do you dislike the most?

Edward/Bella. For the reasons already mentioned.

15. If you could have any of these pairings double date, who would they be?

Integra/Maxwell and Walter/Seras. I think their reactions would be priceless. XD

...Actually, that could make for a hilarious fic idea.

16. Have 2 (Suki/Sokka) kissed yet? Elaborate if yes.

Yes. At least twice, in fact. Sokka is quite a hit with the ladies. :D
I love how Suki says she's a girl *and* a warrior after their first kiss. I cheered inwardly when Sokka's ideas of girls as being helpless changed after that. Plus Suki saying "Let me refresh your memory!" (something along those lines when she was near Ba Sing Se) and then surprising him with a kiss was too cute.

17. Did 4 (Axel/Roxas) have a happy ending? Do you think one is likely?

Well, poor Axel didn't get a happy ending, as he died. But Roxas gets one - he gets reunited with his friend Namine, and is absorbed into Sora.

18. What would make you start shipping 14 (Severus/Regulus)?

I already sort of ship it.

19. If only one could happen, which would you prefer--2 (Sokka/Suki) or 6 (Katara/Haru)?

Sokka/Suki! Hands down. :) They're so funny and sweet together. And I love how they both protect each other.

20. You have the power to decide the fate of 10 (Edward/Bella). What happens to them?

Edward stops being an abusive douche. Bella grows a brain and a spine.