GROUP READ: Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Spoiler-Free Thread)

Thought I would go ahead and start a thread for our group read of Graceling!

Consider this the general thread for pre-reading impressions and please do not post any spoilers here!

*Is this your first time reading it or are you rereading?
*Have you started already or when are you planning to?
*What are your thoughts on the cover, book description, title, author, premise, etc.?

(Also, feel free to weigh in - do we want threads for specific parts of the book i.e. divided by chapters or is it easier to just do a spoiler free and a then a spoiler thread for when people are finished?)

I just got the book from the library so I haven't started it yet. This will be my first time reading it, but I've heard lots of positive things about the work and about Kristin Cashore's writing.

One thing that's odd to me - and I don't know if anyone else has this issue - but I have a hard time seeing/reading the name Katsa without thinking of Katniss (from The Hunger Games). Not sure why my brain keeps making that association but hopefully once I actually get into the book it will go away. :)

(And to answer my own question about the thread styles, I kind of like having just two threads - spoiler-free and spoilers - because I read pretty fast and have a hard time keeping track of what happens in which chapters, but if people would rather have more threads to divide the book up, I'm cool with that way too.)

I'd never heard of Graceling before it was suggested for the group read. I started reading it on Sunday and am now nearly finished, even though I originally intended to read through it slowly. Whoops. Needless to say, I've been enjoying this book a lot!

I had the same problem with Katsa and Katniss having such similar names. But I don't object to being reminded of The Hunger Games, because I enjoyed that series tremendously and I think YA literature could always use a few more Katniss-type characters!

(Re: Thread styles, I think two threads is a good manageable number, but then that's easy for me to say; I don't have to worry about spoilers because I only have about 50 pages left...)

I'll be rereading, and I plan to start it as soon as I finish my current read. I like the cover a lot, and I already know that I really like the story, so I'm looking forward to rereading!

As for the number of threads, anything is fine with me -- if we decide to just do one spoiler thread, we should make sure that we have a lot of questions / discussion points, or the conversation dies away pretty quickly (based on past experience).

This is my first time reading the book, and I'm still waiting for it to arrive from amazon.

I'm good with the two threads thing. If we feel we really need to discuss something about a particular chapter, though, mind if we start a new thread?

Two threads are good with me, but I agree with Rozax on starting another thread if we need to.

This will be my first time reading Graceling, although I've read the second book of the series, Fire, which I hadn't liked that much, but one that wasn't bad. I'm hoping that Graceling will be better, though, and I am looking forward to reading it.

I'll be re-reading.

I don't know how to do this spoiler-free so please let's start another thread.

#6--> Graceling's reeeally great! Hope you enjoy it more than Fire.

I read Graceling long before I read Hunger Games, so I didn't have that problem! Ha ha ha, El! Hopefully I wont have that issue this go around.

#7 - Just for you dear suge (and everyone else who is done with the book) here is the SPOILER thread!

I actually still haven't started Graceling. My current read is at fault because I just can't put it down, so in a sweeping stroke of coincidence I blame Blameless. ;)

And for the sake of more spoiler-free discussion, which cover does everyone prefer?

The sword! The one on the left. It seems like every other teen book has a picture of a person on it, so it's nice to see something different.

Ditto from me. I like the original non-person cover.

My copy has the cover on the left and I do like it, but I think I actually like the person one better. I suppose it is a bit overdone, but with the back-lighting and the sword over her shoulder she looks fierce!

I definitely prefer the cover on the left. The one on the right looks like part of the Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce . . . not that there's anything wrong with that, but I tink the one on the left is more distinctive.

I prefer the one on the left, too. It's more elegant, although admittedly the one on the right has an excitingly epic look to it.

I have the one on the left and it is my favorite but Katsa (man! I almost called her Katniss!! *shakes fist at El*) looks so strong and badass in the right that I like that one too.

eta: #8--> Thanks El!! U da bomb!!

9: Mine just came in, today, and it has the left cover. I'm so angry at the seller, though. I ordered the most inexpensive copy I could, so I shouldn't have expected much, but when they say it's in "good" condition, here's a list of things I don't expect to find:

- multiple bent pages
- cover bent in multiple places
- stickers on the front and back covers
- a sticker on the binding
- a sticker inside the book
- obvious water damage
- damage to all edges of the book
- writing on the top and right edges of the book

I really wouldn't care what sort of condition this book arrived it, but it really cheeses me off when they claim one condition and it's in another. Furthermore, this book is five days later than my confirmation e-mail (from the seller) said it would arrive.

What chapter is everyone up to?

I just started reading last night I'm on chapter 2

Rozax I think you should write a bad review for that seller and let every potential buyer know what an irresponsible charlatan that person is.

I think that you have grounds for returning the book.

#16 - Sorry to hear about that Roz. I would be really annoyed by that too and I agree with suge that you should leave a review or contact the seller with those complaints. Besides sometimes things like that happen where it turns out they just messed up and sent the wrong copy of the book.

I'm about halfway through right now and enjoying the story. So here's my next non-spoilery question:

If you lived in Katsa's world and could choose to have any Grace (specialized talent) you wanted, what would yours be? Or would you choose not to be Graced?

I'd like some kind of memory-control Grace- ideally one that would allow me very accurate photographic memory combined with the ability to selectively forget things. Then I could have lots of first experiences again and again; for instance, I could read the Harry Potter books for the first time over and over.

19- Rereading the Harry Potter books with all the action and suspense of not knowing whats going to happen? That's about as close to heaven as you can get! :^)

19, 20: Reread them without the risk of spoilers, because people won't be talking about it everywhere you turn! I rushed through book 7 to avoid spoilers, and I think that took away some of the joy I experienced while reading 1 through 4.

#21--> Same here. I cloistered myself in my room and wouldn't even come out for meals until I was done. Looking back now, we were all a little crazy, weren't we?

I would choose to be graced. I'm having a really hard time choosing a grace but I know that it would have to be something physical like the ability to fly, or to time travel or to teleport

Just realized I never answered my own question. I think if I could choose my own grace, I would want the ability to never need sleep. I would love to be able to nap and dream when I wanted just for fun but to not have to rely on sleep to be fully functional. I would never have to be tired and I could get a ton of things done (and more books read) if I could stay awake all night!

Considering how stigmatized Graced people are in Katsa's world, and that they generally become slaves of the king, I'm not sure I would want to be Graced. However, if I were Leonid, so not enslaved and less stigmatized, I think I would choose a singing Grace, or a cooking/baking one. Then again, AP's idea of being able to modify one's own memory would be interesting!

ETA: A speed-reading Grace might be nice, too!

23: That would be a wonderful Grace, and fairly easy to hide. I wonder if I'd feel less constrained by time, or if I'd just get used to it and feel as stressed as everyone else in the world.

Just thought I'd mention that Bitterblue is one of the books on this month's Early Reviewers list. I'm sure competition for the copies they are giving out will be stiff, but it's worth a shot. . . .

Wow! I haven't had a new book iin ages!!