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| Shannon Hale |
In the article, Shannon Hale indicated that she hears from her fans on Twitter and listens to what they have to say about her writing, the characters in her books, and what they want her to write next. It would be fun to follow Shannon Hale on Twitter!
A parent had to talk me into reading Princess Academy because I hate "princess books". She had to convince me it WASN'T one! Didn't know about the sequel...excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Marianne! I enjoyed it, and I'm thinking it would be a good read-aloud for a teacher. Thinking about going to her book signing at Deseret Book tomorrow! Margo
DeleteOkay, I admit it. I am not a fan of Shannon Hale’s books. She’s our own Utah author, and I know I should really like her books—but I mostly don’t. It may be that I have a short attention span and want constant action and dialog in books or something like that. Goose Girl just seemed really looonnnng to me. It seems like it went on and on and didn’t move fast enough. I never finished Enna Burning and never even started River Secrets or Forest Born. Book of a Thousand Days was okay, but it also dragged a bit for me.
ReplyDeletePrincess Academy seemed like it should have been right up my alley because I like fairy tale fantasy kinds of books and it had some magical powers in the quarried rocks of her home (I can’t remember all the details), but I thought it was also kind of slow. I did like Miri, though. I thought there was nice character development is how she changed and gained confidence in herself, and there was a nice message that education is important in our personal growth.
I’ve only read one of her graphic novels, Rapunzel’s Revenge, and I did like that.
Austenland is another thing. I didn’t love love this book---but parts of it just totally “spoke” to me. The protagonist is a young woman who is obsessed with Pride and Prejudice---not necessarily the book---but the A&E version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. She compares all men to Colin Firth. She has copies of Pride and Prejudice DVDs hidden around her house. Her elderly aunt gives her a trip back to England to visit a place called Austenland which is kind of a themepark for Jane Austen lovers. The visitors to this grand manor dress as though they live in 18th-century England, talk with impeccably good manners, and basically spend a week living as though they were in the middle of a Jane Austen novel. Since I’m also a little obsessed with Colin Firth and since I love everything about Jane Austen, this was a good book for me. I read that it is being made into a movie. Apparently, Shannon Hale is good buddies with Stephenie Myers, and Stephenie Meyers (who is now probably mind-numbingly rich from the Twilight books) produced the movie. I really look forward to seeing this movie when it comes out. Jeanene Prince listened to Austenland in audio format, and she really liked it.
I do like Shannon Hale books and am very excited to read Palace of Stone. My favorite would have to be Princess Academy and Book of a Thousand Days. Shannon Hale does a good job of making her characters come to life for me.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love her books but Book of a Thousand Days is by far her best in my mind!!! I do follow her and she is very funny online as well... she goes by Squeetus. Great writing.
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