I was on a recent business trip and wandered into the airport bookstore. Always dangerous. I can rarely keep my purchase contained to just one book, even when I'm traveling. This time I was able to squeeze out with one literary magazine, a terribly thick nonfiction book, and "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.
I picked up "The Giver" because it had the gold Newberry Medal Award sticker on its cover and a fascinating illustration of an old man (not to mention the bare tree limbs that also look like crackles of lightning that merge with the old man's scraggly beard). It wasn't until after I read the back cover that I noticed that next to these copies of the book was another grouping with the same title but a cover that had the two hot teens on it with the blurb "Now a major motion picture!"
Being the book snob that I am, I almost put it back. I just don't like jumping into a book because it is already popular or because a movie is coming out. In fact, it almost ruins it for me. I like to find a book and love it all on its own long before someone tries to ruin it by making a movie of it (which I will inevitably get super excited to see, then afterward complain about all the details the screen version got wrong). And I never, if at all possible, buy a copy of a book that touts "now a major motion picture."
"The Giver" was a fairly thin novel, so when I settled into my flight I pulled it out first. What piqued my interest the most was that I knew absolutely nothing about it other than what the lovely jacket with the old man on it had hinted. I love going into books like that, don't you? When there are no expectations, no preconceived ideas, no pre-knowledge of plot lines.
As I got into it I saw that it was another dystopian YA book, but it was well done. Interesting. Held my attention. But the focus was a bit narrow and it ended somewhat abruptly and left me a little unfulfilled. I couldn't help but compare it to "Matched," "Hunger Games," and "Divergence." It had the same feel, but not quite the complexity of the others.
On the other hand, it felt ... clean. Clean like contemporary furniture or modern architecture. The plot line was direct, not overly embellished, and structurally sound, with a beauty coming from the complexity of its spare but perfect balance.
"The Giver" felt like the grandmother, the genesis, of all the others. The forbearer.
When I got home I did some research on Lois Lowry and I found that she is indeed considered the godmother of this type of book. I also found out that she wrote three subsequent novels of a similar vein with different characters, and then a fourth that wove all of their stories together. But the most interesting point was that she wrote these four books not as a preconceived series, but as what I can only describe as sister-books, related but individual, between many other novels and publications over some 20 years.
This may all be old news to many of you, but it was a delicious revelation to me.
I'm glad I found "The Giver," in spite of the fact that I must give credit to the movie for bringing even this Newberry Award edition to my attention. Because without the film, the book wouldn't have been in the airport for me to find.
I'm eager now to pick up "The Giver"'s mates and, I must admit, I'm curious about the movie.
But I'll be sure to read all the books before seeing the film, so that I have plenty to complain about at dinner afterward.
***
Have you been moved by "The Giver"? Eager for or dreading the movie adaptation?
OR
What book has recently surprised you?
Ally Condie (pictured, via) published several books before she came out with her recent New York Times bestseller, Matched.
We caught up with the author to find out how she landed an agent for her young adult manuscript–straight from the slush pile. We also found out what it takes to write dystopian fiction for a YA audience. Highlights from the interview follow below.
Q: How did you find your agent?
A: I sent out queries to agents who represented young adult fiction. I found their names online at agentquery.com and then researched them at Publishers’ Marketplace and online to make sure they would be a good fit (i.e., I wasn’t sending young adult fiction to those who didn’t represent it!). A friend clued me in to all of these websites—things had changed a bit since I originally queried my first book in 2004!
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
When considering the perks of working in publishing, I have only two words: free books. Between galleys and take shelves, there’s always something to bring home. But the best part is when Penguin decides to give away a free, hot-off-the-presses title… delivered right to your desk!
I’d heard about the famous “Penguin 5″, a selection of new YA titles whose advance copies were packaged and sent to industry folks, setting them all abuzz with excitement (did I mention the power of free books?). I’d be surprised if the above trailer and website didn’t send every teen reader of paranormal/romance/horror/dystopia/fantasy running “breathless” to the nearest bookstore. But the book I was excited to read myself was Matched… and guess what pretty, pretty hardcover showed up on my desk in honor of its release yesterday?
I think I can accurately describe Matched as The Giver for the teen girls of 2010. Heroine Cassia Reyes is a 17-year-old member of The Society, the universal government that dictates everything from your clothes and your food, to the art you consume, your job and – of course – your mate. Cassia receives her optimum match, and in a stroke of luck, it’s her best friend and resident blond hottie, Xander. But in an unlucky “error”, another face comes up on her match-card as well: outsider Ky. Ooooh snap!
Who is her true “match”? Will knowledge lead her to buck “The Society” and realize it isn’t all that perfect? Though the answers seem obvious, I’m a third of the way through… and I’m still enthralled. Definitely a great YA read!
Check out the super-mysterious website for Matched, as well as a video of the author, below.
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Lucas 'Fred' Cruikshank's tween empire (is growing with licensing deals, an upcoming sitcom and, yes, Fred: The Movie which, according to Variety, reg. required, will confirm parents' worst fears about prolonged exposure to the high-pitched... Read the rest of this post
Today, I interviewed Ally Condie for her new book, Matched, coming this fall.
In honor of our Twitter Agent Pitch Contest, I did it a little different and kept Ally's answers in Twitter (short) form. Am I smart or what?
What I loved about Matched....
I loved the world Ally created and was impressed that even though the world is different from today, she did not get bogged down in details and make it too convoluted. It just seemed natural.
And hello - is the cover gorgeous or what? I love the green and it is so relevant when you read the book.
What could be wrong with this book? It's got a cool cover, 2 hot boys (yay!), adorable girl, cool new world, a little action, and great writing. Oh yeah, and I've met Ally and she is super sweet too!
Here's what Ally had to say...
Hey Ally, give us your author bio in a twitter post.
I'm an author, a mom to three boys, and a former high school English teacher.Love reading, running, and listening to my husband play guitar.
Tell us about Matched in a twitter pitch.
MATCHED is the story of Cassia-who, on her 17th birthday, finds out who her government (the Society) has selected as her perfect mate.
What inspired the story for Matched?
Several things came together to make me think of the idea for MATCHED: an experience I had chaperoning a prom back when I was a teacher, the computer match dances that were popular when I was young, and several conversations about the role of government in private life.
Can you explain how the process changed for you from earlier books until now? Maybe give us a glimpse into your progression as a writer.
I think the biggest change in my process has been allowing myself permission to write non-linearly. It used to be that I would write scenes in chronological order. Now I write whatever I want, when I want, and then go back and fix it. This has been really freeing and helpful for me as a writer.
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I can not tell you how much I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is amazing. One of my all time favorites. A must read by all.
I'll definitely check out Ally's other books. Fan for life.
I'm on an ARC tour for this, and now i can't WAIT for my turn!!! Looks really good!! :o)
I want to read this book SO BAD! Great interview! Really inspirational (I ought to try writing non-linearly)
I think this is the book I'm most looking forward to this fall. And I'm obsessed with the cover! SO BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait until this one comes out! And your interview was great. She sounds like a really cool person. :)
Awesome interview! Ally is the nicest person ever -- and I can't wait to read Matched!
Love it love it love it! Fantastic interview! Ally was so sweet in person. So cool to learn more about her.
Great interview! I can't wait to read this book!
I love Ally, she is so sweet! Her book is amazing, isn't it? I can't wait to own it. :) Thanks for the review and interview.
Loved this interview. So many pearls of wisdom in those short answers. Thanks for sharing!
And I seriously cannot WAIT to read Matched. OMG I am dying to read it. ;)
I really need to read this book! Great interview.
真是太猛了，請受小弟一拜Orz(＞Ｏ＜)......................................................
Stepping away - terrific advice. Great interview!
Great interview. I've heard such great things about Matched. I can't wait to read about it. I like how you try to focus on things you can control. I'm trying to focus more on that too. Thanks.
Can't wait for it to come out! Great interview!
Great interview. I can't wait to read this book! October seems so far away ...
Great interview Shelli! I'm so excited for your book Ally! It's going to be great! =)
Awesome concept - can't wait to read this one!
I so want to read this book. Love the twitter style interview. Clever!
Great interview and congratulations. I can't wait until Matched is released.
-Lisa B.
I LOVED this book! And, yay!!! She's coming to Oxford this spring.
sf
Great interview!
I can't wait for Matched to be released! I've heard so many great things about it:)
請繼續發表好文！加油加油加油！.......................................................
Practice what you preach.............................................................