Do Books Belong to Their Readers? Does Author Intent Even Matter? Who's Right, John Green or J. K. Rowling?

In case you haven't noticed, Willow appears to be the booklist maker, the Whovian and Sherlockian and MCU fanatic, while
Citali appears to be the book reviewer and going-too-deeply-philosophical fangirl. Guess who is the one posting on author intent and BBTTR (books belong to their readers)? It's Citali today!

I am a huge huge huge huge fan of both J. K. Rowling's world of the Harry Potter books and John Green's world of TFioS (The Fault in our Stars), Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines, Looking for Alaska, and other awesomeness. Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light! Okay? Okay!

John Green has a very definite policy on "what happens after the end of the book?" questions, and that is that BBTTR. Books belong to their readers. Author's ideas of who died, who married whom, what happened, did they succeed or lose, are of equal weight as the views of fans who champion ships or theorize on the future of worlds that seem so real. John also, however, writes very metaphorically resonant books. He's set up blogs such as onlyifyoufinishedtfios.tumblr.com (which you should only visit if you finished TFiOS, if that wasn't obvious) to explain his metaphors. In one post, he said:

"So, like, to me the entire experience of human beings on this planet is all these people having a conversation about what we should and shouldn't do...  it's important to have these productive disagreements, because that's how we push literature forward. I believe that my opinion on extra-textual questions should not be privileged."

On the other hand, the lovely Joanne Rowling (J. K. Rowling) appears not to hold the same worldview. She's created a whole universe of books, both in the storyline of Harry Potter and others outside, such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages. She's released lots of awesome bits of information telling us the end fate of our characters (the ones we can't glean from the epilogue); for example, A——— and G——— have a child named Roxanne; G——— plays Quidditch before settling down with H———, et cetera (I hope that wasn't too spoilery).

So, who's "right"? Should we disregard these tidbits? I don't think so, as a fan I love seeing how real the fictional universes are and what happens to my favorite characters. But also I believe that the power of fandom and readers is real, that we should imagine, draw fanart, write fanfics.

In other words, I love both these authors and the worlds they've created and their philosophy on the worlds after. Yay! (Am I living in denial? Sure. Is it okay? I think so.)
Happy reading,
~Citali

"My Mind is Blown, I Bet Yours is Too, Well, I Guess This is Doctor Who"

Okay, so you guys probably know that I'm (Willow here, hi!) the Archives' resident Whovian. I've been itching to watch Series 9 (more Twelve! more Clara! I  have a MIGHTY NEED!), but, unfortunately, I don't have cable. This is a S9 spoilers-free post, so don't worry about that.

Anyhoo, I recently discovered the wonder that is Chameleon Circuit. It's a band that writes primarily Doctor Who-themed songs, and they are all FANTASTIC! (Thanks, Nine.) While the band is on hiatus right now, it's got two albums out already: Chameleon Circuit and Still Got Legs. Their songs are all wonderful, and they give me all the FEELINGS. My personal favorites are "The Big Bang Two", "The Doctor is Dying", and "Exterminate Regenerate."

A lot of you guys probably know all this already, but for those of you who don't, here's a little fandom news for you.

Chameleon Circuit's music is on YouTube, so go check it out if you haven't already!

~Willow
P.S. DOOOOOOOO WEEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :-)

"If-You-Liked": Even More Book Recommendations

Hiya from Citali!

While Willow and I are doing book recommendations I wanted to spotlight some books you might not know as well by comparing them to books you probably know and love! All of these are amazing books and series and I recommend them all!

1. If you liked the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, try the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger! Both are amazing fantasy worlds beautifully thought out by their author. Both have interesting and diverse female and male characters. Harry Potter is a modern classic, but Keeper deserves to be right up alongside it.

2. If you liked the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, try The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda! While Riordan's series focuses on Greek mythology (and later, Roman and Norse in other series), The Savage Fortress showcases ancient stories from the other side of the globe: India. Just as interesting as more mainstream mythology remixes and with much more reality, drama, and learning, this book also deserves more recognition.

3. If you liked the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, try Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card! Both Isaac Asimov and Orson Scott Card are pioneer authors in the field of sci-fi. Both books deal with a vigilante-like scientific society--Terminus' Foundation or Earth's Pastwatch--seeking to rebuild a better world. However, Pastwatch is relatively unknown compared to Orson Scott Card's other sci-fi books, namely Ender's Game. Pastwatch delves into time travel, history, family, sacrifice, and thought-provoking ideas and should definitely be read! (for younger readers, be warned that Pastwatch gets teen-y at the end.)

4. If you liked the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, try The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann! Both are dystopian series about societies that categorize "to stay alive." Both have been compared to The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. But The Unwanteds mixes fantasy and artistry into the dystopian world to create the world of Artimé. Personally, I'd say The Unwanteds more deserves a movie than Divergent!

5. If you liked Smile, Drama, or Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, try Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge! These are both fun coming-of-age graphic novels. Both feature siblings and slight romance as well as art (in Callie's case, theater; in Paige's, sketching). With a newfound group of friends, these strong female characters deal with family and school in inspiring ways. If you want deeply thoughtful themes and beautiful, bordering-on-surreal artwork, try Page by Paige!

Happy holidays! Happy reading,
~Citali

Questions about Books, Willow Edition

So a while ago Citali wrote a post answering a questionnaire she found, and I (Willow here, BTW) was instantly inspired and/or envious. This post is going to be me, answering those exact same questions.

1. Favorite childhood book

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A.Milne. I've always loved that little fat bear.

2. What are you reading right now?

The Weapon of a Jedi by Jason Fry, Convergence by Stan Lee, Stuart Moore, and Andie Tong, and A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

Wonder by R. J. Palacio.

4. Bad book habit?

Leaving my books all over the place.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Princess Leia #1 (by a whole bunch of people), Wake by Lisa McMann, Sidekicked by John David Anderson, Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull, and Sabriel by Garth Nix.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

Nope. I have an app on my tablet, though. It's got Jane Eyre and Anne of Green Gables on it.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Just one at a time. That doesn't stop me from reading several at the same time, though.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

Not really...

9. Least favorite book you read this year so far?

Um... lemme think. Maybe the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. (It's not that they were bad, just the rest of the books I read were better.)

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, hands down. I mean, wow. That is one amazing book.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

Like Citali said: anything, everything.

13. Can you read in the car?

No. I already get motion sickness really easily; reading doesn't exactly help.

14. Favorite place to read?

On the old sofa. I've had it for years, so it's kind of my go-to reading spot at this point.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

As long as the book is returned to me in the same condition, I'm fine with it.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Not really.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

Only when I've had to do annotations for school.

18. Not even with textbooks?

See #17.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English. While I can speak Bengali fluently, I can't read or write it.

20. What makes you love a book?

A good plot, humor, writing style, and three-dimensional characters.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

Basically what I wrote in #20.

22. Favorite genre?

Fantasy, fantasy, fantasy.

23. Genre you rarely read but wish you did?

Nonfiction, to be honest.

24. Favorite biography?

The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Does that count as a biography?

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Nope.

26. Favorite cookbook?

Ummm... next question, please?

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

28. Favorite reading snack?

I dunno, spicy chips, maybe?

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I expected much more from it.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

Often, actually.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

If I don't think the book is all that great, I'll say so. Bluntly.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

Either Latin or Sanskrit. Like Citali said: classics!

35. Favorite poet?

Does J.R.R.Tolkien count?

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

Five to ten.

37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?

Very rarely.

38. Favorite fictional character?

Ooh, that's a hard one. Ginny Weasley, or Eragon Shadeslayer, or Natasha Romanoff, or the Tenth Doctor, or Ahsoka Tano. (What? I literally JUST SAID it's a hard one.)

39. Favorite fictional villain?

Honestly, I like antiheroes better than villains. Does Loki Laufeyson (from the MCU) count?

41. The longest you’ve gone without reading?

I honestly don't know. A few days, maybe?

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. I mean, I finished it eventually, but the heavy-handed religious allegory kind of ruined it for me.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

The Lord of the Rings. The movies were amazing.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

Eragon. Pathetic!

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

999 rupees, on a three-volume graphic novel adaptation of the Mahabharata. So worth it.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

I usually flip through to get a glimpse of what the writing's like.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through?

If it was inappropriate, or boring, or stereotypical.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

I do, yeah. My bookshelves used to be a mess, but now I've got them organized pretty well, if I do say so myself.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

Keep, always. I could never give away a book, unless I really hated it.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Legend by Marie Lu. I've heard a lot about it, but it seems kind of cliched.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. The blatant racism put me off. Calling another religion's deity a "hag" is not cool.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger. It was... meh.

55. Favorite guilt-free pleasure reading?

Comics, especially Star Wars or Marvel.

Happy reading!
~Willow

Books for Fantasy Fanatics: More Recommendations

Hello, hello, hello! Yes, it is I, Willow! No, I have not been swallowed by the abyss that is winter break!

Citali posted a list of books for sci-fi lovers already, so it's my turn to write recommendations, this time for the would-be witch or wizard in your life. I'm not that good at writing little descriptions of books, so... yeah.

1. The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland. This is a book that fans of Rick Riordan will absolutely love. It's got a similar mix of mythology, pop culture, and humor. The main characters, Zoe and Logan, are three-dimensional and relatable. The authors skillfully create a plot that's fast-paced, original, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. First in a trilogy.
2. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. The world-building in this quartet is absolutely stunning. The universe this is set in could almost be ancient Greece. Turner's books are intricate, dramatic, and funny all at once. If you have read Jennifer A. Nielsen's Ascendance trilogy, these books are for you. I personally love these because they've got so much depth to them. The characters are beautifully layered, and you'll never see the plot twists coming. First in a quartet.
3. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. I don't usually read too many graphic novels, but holy bagumba, you guys, is this a good book! Ridiculous, charming, hilarious, and dramatic all at once, Nimona is probably the best book I've read all year. The first page draws you in, and you can't finish it fast enough. This is definitely a must-read.
4. The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien. No explanation needed... right? Right? ...ugh, fine. If you've been wanting to read Tolkien but are intimidated by the density of LOTR, try reading this. Less lyrical and more down-to-earth, The Hobbit is adventurous, well-written, and surprisingly funny. Three kind-of sequels.
5. The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton. This series is set in the United States of Asgard-- an alternate reality that meshes Norse mythology with the modern world. Now, you may be thinking, "Didn't Rick Riordan just do that?" Don't be fooled by the similar-sounding setting. Gratton's book is, in my opinion, more gripping and perhaps even better written than Riordan's newest release. The style of writing and world-building are unique. First in a trilogy.

That's all for now.

Happy holidays!

~Willow

Books for Sci-Fi Fans: Recommendations Week

Happy holidays from Citali!

Though we've mainly focused on fantasy and fandoms here on The Fangirl Archives, I, for one, consider myself a fan of sci-fi too! So begins my first Recommendations Week post, a list of five great books for sci-fi fans! Some are classics in the genre, some aren't, and they're in no particular order. I know I'm stealing Willow's specialty of booklists a bit, so I'll keep to my own specialty of offering small tidbits of summary or blurb.

1. The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke. I don't think I'd ever heard the name of this book before I plucked it off the library shelf, but I think it should definitely be better known! Nere, the main character, has always felt like an outcast with bad vision and breathing. But then her mother tells her she's part of a group of teens who have been genetically engineered... to be able to survive underwater, to escape.
2. Foundation by Isaac Asimov. This is probably one of the best-known cornerstones of the sci-fi world, but it is definitely a good book! It follows a man and his followers, Hari Seldon and the Foundationers, as they use math, science, and maybe a bit of realpolitik to bring their galaxy out of the falling age of the Galactic Empire and into a newer and brighter dawn.
3. Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund. While also not well-known, this takes place after a eugenics war in which the nobility genetically engineered their children and the poor weren't able to. However, after this "genengineering" led to Reduction, a disease, the formerly poor took revenge on the Reduced nobility and set off a chain of events leading to this sci-fi retelling of Baroness Orczy's classic The Scarlet Pimpernel. 
4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I've sung this book's praises forever and can't recommend it enough -- come on, it's Citali, you knew this would be on the list. Cinderella retelling meets crazy queen from the moon, New Beijing, cyborg, bioelectricity-manipulating Lunars, and a sweet, real romance.
5. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. When all on Earth came out to watch the beautiful astronomical event of an asteroid impacting with the moon, they didn't know it would lead to dystopian disaster. Nudged closer to the Earth, the moon throws off weather, sunlight, communications, and agriculture, sending the formerly tame, suburban life of Miranda into a struggle to survive through resourcefulness, isolation, and closeness with her family.

Happy holidays as you rocket off to the future!

~Citali

Book Anticipation: A Tale of More-Than-Slight Fangirling and Craziness

Citali here.

I recently received Winter by Marissa Meyer in the mail. By "recently" I refer to November 10, the release date. And since it was 1. The last book in a series I absolutely love (and I really do apologize, those who haven't read it. Don't worry, no spoilers or specific fangirling here. Just general fangirling about fangirling) and a book I preordered and have been eagerly anticipating, this post is about the various stages of a book fangirl. More specifically, me, fangirling over a book. More specifically, me fangirling over the last book in a series, especially when said book is long.

Step 1. Pre-order the book. However, Step 1 is further subdivided...

• Step 1a. Read the book preceding it. This is where fangirling begins: you realize it's the last book and you hope it's good.
• Step 1b. Reserve the said book at the library. Look at the "5000 holds on 5 copies" and sigh dramatically.
• Step 1c. Realize that at this rate, you won't get the book until the next year.
• Step 1d. Debate about getting it signed, because signed books are awesome!

Step 2. Finally you're past your pre-ordering decisions. Fast-forwards to when you finally receive the book: the first thing you do is cuddle it. 

• Step 2a. Admire the beautiful cover art. Not to judge the book by its cover, but... it's so pretty!
• Step 2b. Pretty pages! Smooth book jacket! Clean, unspoiled paper! Oh, the joy!

Step 3. Start reading. Of course, you've already read the first four chapters, since there was a preview in the preceding book, but reread them anyway, they're awesome!

Step 4. Reach the middle. Oh dear oh dear, what will happen to them now? The beautiful ships, the terrifying plot twists!

Step 5. Reach where the book would usually end, but the particular book is really long, so it always feels like it's the end buit you look reassuringly at the lots of pages left. 

• Step 5a. Here's where you wonder if the author will carry through with his/her threat of a cliffhanger or killing off a beloved character. Oh noes!
• Step 5b. Is it the end? Phew, no. Is it the end? Phew, no. Oh no, it is getting near the end!

Step 6. Finish the book. I react calmly here, but some might jump up in joy at a happy ending or bang the table at a sad ending. Usually, I close the book slowly. It was amazing!

Well, that's me done with fangirling. For now. I promise.

Happy reading! 

~Citali