I know, so stereotypical!! It drives me round the bend when characters in books do things like that, because you can't talk to them and set them straight.

I think, though, that it's not too big a deal. It's only a story, after all, and if you keep reading some interesting things do happen. Even though the complete obtuseness about cultures and ethnic groups does drive one round the bend, like I said...

I've never read Wings of Fire - in fact I don't remember even hearing about it before I came on the CB. But I think it would make my stomach feel funny too. (Please don't be offended, WoF fans!!)

I used to read the Warrior books, but I stopped after about the first two, because I realized they were too gory. Also, I don't understand what all the fighting is about. It's not good against evil, it's just battling between the clans because all the cats are manipulating and distrustful, which doesn't seem like a very healthy atmosphere. And there aren't any heroes, just leader-figures and lower-ranking figures. It's not well-written, either, or helpful and inspiring, and it's not even natural for cats to behave like that. All in all I don't think it's a healthy series.

It seems to me that a lot of recent books are just written to make money, which is why they don't come out very well. And they're all so dark. Why, in a country that (knock on wood) is functioning pretty well, should dark books be so popular? Why don't people get interested in nice things, instead of dreadful ones, in books? 

Anyway, that's what I think.

Yeah, I agree. The movies are good, though.

yes same! my friends were all obsessed with that series so I tried it and only got a few chapters in before I had to put it aside out of boredom. I don't like fantasy books in general, I think, so I'm already prejudiced against it, but still. I found it dreadfully boring.

hm. I like Harry Potter all right, although the whole JK Rowling/transphobic thing kind of makes me uncomfortable reading it now. But the books were good when I was seven. And, I never bothered to read Percy Jackson.

y'know what, I think that the good book I don't like for weird reasons is Tuck Everlasting. I had to read it in fifth grade, and the whole concept of immortality in that book really freaked me out. I just... I think my worst irrational fear at this point is probably immortality. Like, can you imagine how horrible that would be? What happens when humanity finally goes extinct? What happens when the sun finally grows so big it swallows the Earth? And gets so old it collapses into a black hole? What happens after that? yikes.

I don't really like Keeper of the Lost Cities. Honestly, the book series is fine itself, but the main character bothers me so much. This is just my opinion, but she's a prime example of a "Mary Sue" character, someone who's overpowered, liked by everyone, and has little to no flaws. Seriously! Sophie's beauty has been described in the book a lot, and her brains, which is all well and good, but she lacks character development, and the author created three boys who are in love with her. And she's oblivious, and sweet, and shy, the stereotypical lovely, little Miss Perfect. Also, the books have more dialogue than action which is annoying and makes getting interested difficult in some parts. This might just be me being judgemental, but the author overuses the cliffhanger at the end of every single book. Goodness me, can't we settle things for the slightest bit? Sophie's relationships are overused too, "Omg, he likes her, and he also likes her, and he likes her too, but she likes him." The other characters love her and the villians seem like they were only put in there to keep the series going.

Whoa, sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest. Is there anyone else who agrees with me though?