More unpopular thoughts about The Hunger Games

Camy here, and I am in the middle of Mockingjay so if you’ve already read it, PLEASE don’t spoil it for me. But for what it’s worth, here is a thought that came to me today:

In The Hunger Games (book one), Peeta doesn’t actually know that much about Katniss because he never spoke to her much before the games, yet he said he’s in love with her. That’s not really love.

I know, all you bleeding romantics will be complaining. But it’s true. How can you love someone when you don’t know them? That’s not love, that’s attraction. Or infatuation, which starts going into stalker category. (Yes, I know Peeta’s not a stalker.)

Infatuation doesn’t live long in the real world when you realize how different the two of you are, or when you see him pick his nose while farting.

Infatuation can grow into love, but I don’t think someone should say they love you if they hardly KNOW you. If someone says they love you, it should mean they know you, your good side AND your faults, and they love you anyway. That’s the kind of love Jesus modeled for us.

I’ve just got to the point where they discover Peeta is … ahem, sick.

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is like Stephanie Plum meets The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

A Rant About Out of Print Books

Camy here! Forgive me, but this is going to be a full-on rant.

My friend let me borrow her copy of Practice to Deceive by Patricia Veryan, a Georgian romance author who died a few years ago. Practice to Deceive was published in hardcover in 1985 (with a rather nice pencil drawn cover) with one other English version, mass market paperback with a truly horrid cover in 1986.

Practice to Deceive is the first book in the Golden Chronicles, one of the Georgian romantic intrigue series that Patricia Veryan was famous for. The series premise is fascinating--in the months after the Jacobite rebellion in England, there was a six part cypher that pointed to the location of Prince Charlie’s treasure and also the names of his financial supporters. The series is about the six parts, each carried by a different man, escaping the agents of the Crown.

The book was incredibly entertaining, but I also knew, even before I started reading it, that the copy I held was extremely rare. The paperback copy sells for a minimum of $45 on Amazon! It’s because the book is out of print, and the publisher no longer prints copies of it. Therefore, the few copies left out there are for sale for exorbitant prices.

I’m returning my friend’s copy to her (carefully stored in a plastic bag to protect it), and I’d like my own copy of this book but I can’t afford it! I think it’s ridiculous how some of these out of print books are being sold for so much!

Most of the time, readers just want to read the story, they’re not out to collect the books. Readers might want a copy (like I do) to reread occasionally, or to let someone else borrow it. Most typical readers don’t need pristine copies to keep on their climate-controlled collectors’ bookshelves.

(Okay, well, I’ll admit I’d prefer a nice copy but only because I’m a germaphobe, not because I need a pristine copy to collect. But I’ll settle for a used copy just to have the book to reread.)

Why do books go out of print? Why can’t publishers go through the contract processes to reprint them? Why do online book sellers have to charge an arm and a leg?

Why is it so hard for a reader to read a good book???????

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is like Stephanie Plum meets The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

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An Incredible Survival Story

I received an exciting package in the mail the other day—a copy of Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson and Susy Flory. You may have heard of Michael and his Guide Dog Roselle, who survived the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center by descending 78 flights of stairs then narrowly escaping being crushed by Tower Two. Mike and Roselle have appeared on CNN’s Larry King and many other television shows. Thunder Dog portrays their 9/11 experience in powerful detail, while also weaving in key events from Mike’s unique upbringing, raised by parents who refused to treat their blind son as handicapped. Scenes include Mike frightening neighbors by riding his bike around town unattended, driving a car around his college campus, and even accepting an offer to fly an airplane. During his escape from the World Trade Center, we see the tight bond between Guide Dog and handler prove lifesaving, as well as experiencing the faith, courage, and perseverance that kept Mike, Roselle, and many others going on that terrifying day.

Susy Flory (a friend of mine) introduced me to Mike and Roselle several months ago, so I have a special interest in this book. Immediately, I found myself inspired by Mike, not only because of his incredible story, but much more so because of his enthusiastic spirit and his commitment to educating the public about living with blindness. As he puts it, there is very little that the blind and visually impaired can’t do, we simply do things differently. As one who has been visually impaired since birth, his attitude and outlook makes me want to get out there and try more than I have already!

If you are looking for an exciting, inspiring book to wrap up your summer, look for Thunder Dog at your local bookstore or on Amazon. You might even fall in love with Guide Dogs like my youngest son and I did.