Sans the Fading

Jenn Northington Sep 22, 2016

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Amanda and Jenn discuss graphic novels, books set on beaches, Thai authors, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer and Penguin Random House Audio Book Clubs.

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS here, or via iTunes here.
The show can also be found on Stitcher here.

Questions

1. I’ve just started listening to your podcast, which I think is amazing. As I’ve been listening, I realize that I need to broaden my horizons and start reading graphic novels, but have no idea where to start. Some of my favorite books are Harry Potter, Pride & Prejudice, anything by Sarah Dessen, and Sherlock Holmes retellings. I read Persepolis in my freshman college literacy class about 9 years ago, which I believe I liked. Can you please provide me some recommendations of graphic novel must reads or ones to start with? Thanks!

Mikala

2. Hey, there! I just finished reading Second Star by Alyssa B. Scheinmel, and it has left me unable to function in any normal bookish capacity. I’ve never read a book where the beach was as much of a character as it was in this book. The textures and the sensory details completely blew my mind (I read the book on the beach, so it was a uniquely engaging experience). I have about a month of beach weather left, and I really want to read another rich, vivid book, but I have no idea where to go from here. Do you know of any other books that feature the beach in such a detailed way (where it becomes a character)? I would prefer a YA book, but I’m open to any type of fiction. My tastes are pretty broad; books I’ve read in this same vein and enjoyed are We Were Liars, The Beach, Seating Arrangements, Land of Love and Drowning, and The Descendants along with memoirs such as Kook and Barbarian Days. I’m not necessarily looking for a book that is a fairy tale re-telling or about surfing, just something that captures the beach in a similar way. I’m also looking for something that takes place somewhere other than New England as I’ve read several books set there this summer. Thanks so much–you two rock!!

Heather

3. Hi Amanda and Jenn!
Love your show so much. I have gotten so many great recommendations and my “to read list” is getting a bit out of control. I have always loved young adult fantasy series. While Twilight was my gateway drug, I’ve devoured so many since then and have loved Graceling, Throne of Glass, Hunger Games, Divergent, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, An Ember in Ashes, etc. I have two questions for you guys. First, can you recommend some books or series that are similar but perhaps more adult? In other words, I’d like to read some fantasy series where the main characters actually “do it” and I don’t mean at the very end of the book or after they are married.

My second question is which of your contributors/staff would you say have this type of book (either YA fantasy series or a slightly more mature fantasy series) in their wheel house and how can I follow them?

Many thanks!
Tina

4. I probably should have asked this a long time ago (sorry for that!), but my friend and I are driving down to New Orleans at the end of September for NoLA StoryCon. What I’m looking for are great books set in New Orleans or written by the authors who will be at the convention. For books set in New Orleans, I’ve read A Confederacy of Dunces and a few of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice; the first was okay and the latter awesome. For con authors, I’ve read the Age of Legends Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong, Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine, and a couple of Molly Harper books, all of which I loved! Any recommendation that is great on audio is a plus in case we end up listening to it on the drive down, but anything would be great! Thanks so much; love the show!
Hannah

5. I will be spending 10 days in Bangkok this fall. It is my first time in Thailand (or anywhere in Asia for that matter). I would love some recommendations on books to learn more about the area. Fiction or non-fiction is fine, and I am especially interested in learning more about some of the cultural, religious, and political factors at work in the country. If it is possible to get recommendations by early September, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. I love your podcast. You are responsible for my Goodreads “To Read” list never dipping below 500 books.
Ben

6. Hello!

I was a fan of “The Other Boleyn Girl” and other Phillipa Gregory books. I also like the Showtime TV show “The Tudors.”

I’m looking for some book recs that are set in Henry’s court. I like a balance of realistic / authentic and dramatic romance. I’m not big on nonfiction, I would prefer a novel. I’ve also noticed that many books set in this era are from a woman’s POV, which is awesome, but I’d like to read one from Henry’s POV.

Thanks! I’m looking forward to reading your suggestions!

Books Discussed

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson

March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

Fresh Romance Vol. 1 by Kate Leth, Sarah Kuhn, et al

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

The Veins of the Ocean by Patricia Engel

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh