Queer Teen Version Of The Odyssey

Jenn Northington Jun 8, 2017

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Amanda and Jenn discuss fiction about moms and dads, middle-grade books, asexual characters, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by Amazon Kindle and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber.

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Questions

1. For Father’s Day! – Hello Jenn and Amanda! Our little 5-month-old baby girl was born in November and is the light of our lives. My husband is an absolutely amazing father, and a complete natural. Fatherhood just agrees with him. For his first Father’s Day, I want to put a gift together that’s a little sentimental. I’m looking for something that explores or details the special bond between a dad and a daughter. Can be fiction, nonfiction, doesn’t matter. He does especially love “narrative” historical nonfiction (Erik Larson, etc.), sci-fi, and fantasy, but will try just about anything.

Thank you in advance!
–Melissa

2. Hello!
I am expecting my first child in July of this year. A lot of my reader/expecting mama friends are reading books about childbirth and parenting. I’ve read a couple but I’ve been finding it stressful and not helpful at this point in my pregnancy. I’m having a little girl, and my husband and I are so excited to help her become a tough, fun, smart little lady. Can you recommend any good books about daughter relationships with moms or dads even? Preferably fiction, something that will get me excited, not terrified, about becoming a mom.

Thanks!
–Kristin

3. My mom is retiring in June, and she recently told me that since she’ll have more time on her hands she’d like to start reading. I’m SUPER excited about possibly being able to share books with her, but she is concerned about not being able to stay focused/pay attention, especially with audiobooks. I’d like recommendations for books that are engaging and on the shorter side. She likes mystery/crime shows, funny movies and is super into interior design/home renovation stuff. Also she’d probably like something that doesn’t have too much “language”. 🙂
–Samantha

4. Greetings and Salutations Jenn and Amanda 🙂

I have listened to your podcast from day 1 and my TBR list is growing and growing thanks so much for the great recommendations! I am looking for a book for my book club. Lately we’ve read some great books but I would describe them as “heavy” and somewhat depressing – most recently we finished “In the Garden of Beasts – Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin” by Erik Larson. After reading this we all agree we need something lighter with more fun but something that has enough to it to hold up to book club discussion. One of our past favorites in this genre was Jonathan Tropper’s “This is Where I Leave You.” Would love some suggestions.
thanks!
–Dana

5. I am an adult who loves to read most genres. I have recently read The Candy Makers by Wendy Mass. It was such a fun middle grade book with twists and turns and fun characters. I am looking for other middle grade novels that are similar in length and have good audiobook versions. Other middle grade novels that I have adored are The Graveyard Book, Coraline, Harry Potter, the Inkheart series, Splendors and Gloom, and Far Far Away. I read a lot of nonfiction and long literary fiction, so it is nice to have a middle grade book to curl up with and just enjoy.
Thank you!
–Astrid

6. I was wondering if there were any books featuring asexual or aromantic characters that you could recommend. I really prefer fantasy or mystery books, both YA and adult. The characters’ sexuality doesn’t even have to be very prominent in the story, I’m just tired of love triangles and romance in everything. Thanks for all your help and I absolutely love the podcast!
–Martina

7. It’s not something I’m necessarily proud of, but I’m a total literary snob. I like well drawn characters, and most of all beautiful prose. I read a lot of classics, though I have recently started exploring modern literary fiction.
But my question is about YA lit. I have so many friends who read nothing but YA and love it with all of their hearts, which has of course made me curious about the genre. I’d really like to read some quality YA because I don’t want to close myself off to potentially really good books, but I don’t know what IS actually quality and what is… not for me. My friends recommended to me Cinder, Vivian Versus the Apocalypse, Fangirl, and The Hunger Games. I found them all very interesting, but not exactly up to my snobby standards. The prose didn’t draw me in, and (especially in The Hunger Games), I found the characters to be more one dimensional to my liking, and the plot fairly predictable. I DO however absolutely adore The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
So what YA reads would you recommend for an insufferably snobbish reader?
Thanks guys! I look forward to hearing your recs!
–Becca

8. I’m looking for fiction novels with a main lesbian character. I’ve found it quite easy to find lesbian romance novels that I enjoy, but I’d really like to read about lesbians outside of the romance genre as well (not that a mind a bit of romance in my literary fiction- that’s always a plus). I’m open to any genre, sci fi, fantasy, literary fiction (side note: can you really call that a genre?), etc.
Bonus points for the character being bi, and the author not being afraid of using the word bisexual. I’m bi myself, and I’m not sure I’ve actually ever read a book about a bi character who uses the word bisexual to describe themselves.
–Maya

Books Discussed

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

The Day of the Duchess Sarah MacLean

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Blue Jay’s Dance by Louise Erdrich

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

Aunty Lee’s Delights by Ovidia Yu

Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

The Wangs Vs. The World by Jade Chang

The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi