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Some Advice Requested ...; .. about teenage girls and Cherryh books
Topic Started: Feb 14 2007, 12:25 AM (1,927 Views)
Surtac
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Nadiin,

I need some advice. Many of you will recall several discussions over the past few years on the topic of how to introduce an associate to the works of the Goddess. Which specific books to suggest, or which series to start with, and so on.

Last night, Eldest Daughter (13 and 1/2 yo) asked me to recommend a Cherryh book for her to read. My dilemma is this - I want her to be able to enjoy the books, but I don't want to pick the wrong one for her to sample first.

She has recently started to (surreptitiously) sample my SF&F library, and I know she has read and enjoyed Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle, Walter Moers' A Wild Ride Through The Night, and Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys, so I'm thinking I should start with one of CJC's fantasy titles.

But on the other hand, she has also been reading many YA books about Eastern cultures (young girls growing up in rural China or Turkey, a biography of Japan's Princess Masaki and so on), so Foreigner might appeal also because of its feudal Japan similarities.

However, I'm actually a little bit loathe to go down this path right now because her mother, SWMBO, did not find Foreigner at all appealing after the first two parts of the story (up to Ian and Manadgi). Also she's a little young I think to handle all of the political intrigue, which is also rampant throughout the Alliance/Union titles and the Chanur books.

So I'm thinking of titles like Ealdwood, The Dreamstone, Faery In Shadow, and maybe The Goblin Mirror or even Rusalka.

Anyone else out there faced this question before or have any suggestions?

I've distracted her momentarily with Pratchett's The Wee Free Men, but the issue hasn't gone away - she asked again this morning.

:invert
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marie53

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You might try "Rider at the Gate" and "Cloud's Rider". My daughter enjoyed them in her teens and as I recall they were not filled with quite so much political intrigue. I enjoyed them myself also.
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hrhspence
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Try Cuckoo's Egg.
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morgaine0000

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Of the Alliance/Union stuff, I would think young people might like Finity's End. I also second the Cuckoo's Egg suggestion.
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Aja Jin
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number one good, A ?
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The Goblin Mirror would be a very good choice, though I find it somewhat unrepresentative of :cherryh:

Have you considered Pride of Chanur ? If your daughter is like mine, she would like the female protagonists. Girlz rule and all :lol:
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Kokipy

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I agree about Chanur. Good clean fun with a message you can take home with you about tolerance, loyalty, trust and the fundamental importance of good grooming and really good earrings!
I think the Foreigner books would be harder to take at that age. There are many parts that are a bit slow, while Bren is ruminating, as well as all the intricacies of the politics.
I like the Rusalka books and the fortress books better than the other fantasy ones. The Morgaine books also.
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Felicitous Sk8er
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Merchanter's Luck.

Shorter, less political intrigue, and a romance to boot.
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starexplorer
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I can't speak from the perpective of a reader of the full ouvre, but I am concerned about starting with a book with tremendous political and social subtlety, like Foreigner or Downbelow Sta. or Cyteen. On the other hand, I hated Faery in Shadow -- just couldn't get excited at all about it, and of course I expect everyone to have the same reactions that I do. ( ;) )

I could easily see Merchanter's Luck going down well, as Sk8er-ji suggests.

Doesn't anyone start with Foundation anymore?
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Felicitous Sk8er
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Quote:
 
the fundamental importance of good grooming and really good earrings!


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Sounds like my kind of book!
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Theta9
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marie53,Feb 14 2007
12:36 AM
You might try "Rider at the Gate" and "Cloud's Rider".  My daughter enjoyed them in her teens and as I recall they were not filled with quite so much political intrigue.  I enjoyed them myself also.

Excellent suggestion! What young girl doesn't like a good horsey book? :P
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cicely58
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*raises hand*

That would be me. I never cared for horses (that was my sister's job). Vicious, carnivorous beasties. Graceful in motion, though. But not up to feline standards.
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Theta9
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cicely58,Feb 14 2007
02:59 AM
*raises hand*

That would be me. I never cared for horses (that was my sister's job). Vicious, carnivorous beasties. Graceful in motion, though. But not up to feline standards.

Horses are carnivorous? :hmmm:

I think "vicious carnivorous beasties" seems more appropriate as a description for :kitty:
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Eupathic Impulse
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I could never get into the Rider books. They just didn't do anything for me. A Cherryh "miss".

I think that Cuckoo's Egg is a great idea, as are the Chanur books. Also, for the Eldest Daughter, note that the Chanur books have female protagonists and heros making decisions.
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Keenir

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Theta9,Feb 14 2007
04:13 AM
Horses are carnivorous? :hmmm:


Just because they're heavily-clawed, does not make them carnivorous!
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Reading_fox

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I liked Dreaming tree but wouldn't recommened it as an entry point for young CJC readers. I agree with the above comments on Foreigner - and does she have the patience to read 9 books of the same series?

I'd suggest Fortress, Morgaine or Chanur, though none will be an easy read at 13.
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