Thursday, October 29, 2009

Kicking Off *Dystopian Teen Week* with a short intro and a Book Giveaway!


Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. From ReadWriteThink

***

It's funny. I've been reading a lot of so-called dystopian books in preparation of Dystopian Teen Week, and I realize how slippery this term is. I worried and worried about defining it, having specific books that fit directly within the parameters of this theme. But I've decided to throw most of that out the window.

I want to know how many different books share similar dystopian themes. I'm using the small 'd' for dystopian this week because readers who enjoy books which can be classified as speculative fiction will usually read everything under its umbrella. That said, while I enjoy a good steampunk novel or crazy zombie post-apocalyptic story, any book with elements of a dystopian theme really captures my attention.

What I love is a good mystery, and I realize that what makes a good dystopian read is the driving question, "How did it get this bad?" Usually you are plunked down in the middle of a setting which is so foreign to you that every sense is heightened. In The Maze Runner by James Dashner (review to come) Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator-like lift, with no memory of who he is, except his name. Or so he thinks. Right away I was like, "Where is this kid? What happened to him? Is he in a building? Is he in space? What does he have to do? What would he remember if he could?" (I always think people are in space when I am confronted by a strange setting in a novel which I know will be speculative in any way. Space is cool). So right away I am driven to find out what's going on in this world, what it's rules are, how it's governed, where it came from, and really, what its secret is. I read and read until I can pull back the curtain.

So I thought I would kick-off Dystopian Teen Week with a Giveaway for a finished copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins! I loved reading The Hunger Games a month ago, which really was kind of the catalyst for events this week, and you can read my review and a spoiler-filled reading of the last hundred pages here. The extreme popularity of the first two books in the series has opened up a trend in dystopian themed teen fiction, and I love it. So, simply leave your name and your e-mail to win a copy of Catching Fire! I also invite you to tell a friend about this contest or about Dystopian Teen Week in general, spread the word electronically and add "x2" beside your name when you enter for TWICE the chance to win this book! So pass on the link to this contest or my blog in general and enter twice to win; it's the honour system but I trust ya!


This is only the beginning of events here this week. Check back for more book giveaways, very cool author interviews and author guest blog spots, and of course, book reviews!


Mandy

66 comments:

Cherry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cherry said...

Re-posted your contest at http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2009/10/kicking-off-dystopian-teen-week-with.html

Cherry
mischivusfairy-inbox12@yahoo.com

Jo said...

Awesome contest! Thank you for emailing me about it! I'd love to win Catching Fire!

I have tweeted about this contest:http://twitter.com/jo_scrawls/status/5286138802

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

M!! i better win this book! ( not pressure lol :-P )

jpabloarango@hotmail.com

juan

Misty said...

I'm telling EVERYBODY, but I'll just count the one! And I am excited for a week of dystopia, it's my favorite sub-genre!

~Misty x2
mbradenwf@gmail.com

Erin said...

Hi Mandy,

Thanks for the email about this contest for the chance to win. I do have to confess that I haven't read Hunger Games yet, but it is in my pile to read. I've heard so many good things about this series so I am sure I will love it. I can't wait to see what else comes out this week in your blog. I like the topic!

erin(.)dubrock(@)comcast(.)net

Ellz said...

I have heard great things about this series. Thanks for the chance to win this book.

Elie (Ellz Readz)
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

Lilixtreme said...

Thanks for the email! And just so you have proof of my spread-the-word I have the link: http://twitter.com/Lilixtreme/status/5287684010

chicareader@gmail.com

Tales of Whimsy said...

Awesome awesome. Please count me in.
Is the book hardcover or paperback?

Thanks again.
Such a cool contest.

suitejuju(at)gmail(dot)com

Erica said...

Please enter me!

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

in which a girl reads said...

I added this to my sidebar at http://inwhichagirl.blogspot.com/ :D

choco x2

chocowrites[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

Catching Fire was SUCH a good book can't wait for book 3

http://themockingjay.vndv.com
http://themockingjay.vndv.com/forums

Mandy said...

I loved the first and have been really wanting to read the second for a while.

Mandy x2

bratdownstairs@yahoo.com

Mandy said...

I loved the first and have been really wanting to read the second for a while.

Mandy x2

bratdownstairs@yahoo.com

Mandy said...

Juju: It's a fully published hardcover. It's pretty and shiny :)

Jordan Perryman said...

I would love to be entered into this contest. I will post about it once I get home, so please add me for 2.

I will comment again with my link.

Thanks
jmoose09@gmail.com

Misty said...

misty_labean@yahoo.com

Andrea [Buried In Books] said...

Thanks for the e-mail! I'd love to enter :]

andrearobbins10@yahoo.com

Miss Haley said...

thanks for the giveaway, and thx for the e-mail ;)

haleymathiot at yahoo.com (+2)

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

thanks for the email & the contest!!

Would love this one!!

Dani. said...

I loved this book and would love to have a copy for myself:)

+2: Tweeted-
http://twitter.com/Danidlion/status/5320990742

-Dani.
lightningstreak123@comcast.net

Helen's Book Blog said...

Count me in! I have heard so many great comments from my students about this book

hcmurdoch (at) gmail.com

Sandy said...

I'm so dying to know what happens in the next book so count me in!!!

piratepenguinreads(at)gmail(dot)com

AnAddictedBookReader said...

Awesome, thanks!
Adrienne
adrienne2093 at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Esme said...

Please enter me

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

http://bit.ly/1nklO3 giveaway for Catching Fire

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Jess. said...

Great contest :D I'm linking to it on my blog HERE

:)

-Jess
(findtimetoread @gmail.com)

Sheere said...

Awesome giveaway! The series are great.
Enter me please :)

PS I have tweeted about it
http://twitter.com/Sheeredry/status/5349478220

Sheere x2

sheere.dry@gmail.com

Robyn @ Robolobolyn's Universe said...

I'd LOVE to win a copy of Catching Fire! :)

Robyn :)
robolobolyn03(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancye said...

This looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Paradox said...

I'd love to win this book!

x2 - Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ParadoxRevealed/status/5353765313

paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com

Zia said...

Great giveaway! Enter me please

Zia
ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com

andrea b said...

I'd love to win the book, I read Hunger Games and it was excellent...

and I tweeted it here http://twitter.com/andreadbc/status/5356952038

thanks for the giveaway!
adbcoz(at)gmail(dot)com
Andrea x2

Alessandra said...

Great giveaway! If it's international, please enter me.

Alessandra
outofblue1(at)gmail(dot)com

Amelia said...

amelia rainier

ameliarainier@hotmail.com

Kelsey said...

Please enter me in the contest!

Thanks,
krae991@yahoo.com

Andrea said...

Please enter me!

+2 And I blogged about the contest here.

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

Llehn said...

Is this international?

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

MarionG said...

Hi I would love to read this; have heard many good things about it. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com Please count me in. Cheers.

ccqdesigns said...

Great giveaway! This way I would only have to go back and buy Hunger Games. I keep putting off reading them.

rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

ccqdesigns said...

http://twitter.com/ccqdesigns/status/5429502671
Here's a tweet!!

Debbie F said...

Count me in on this one too! Thanks!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Anonymous said...

Great contest!

I added the contest link to my sidebar
(the-bibliophiles-lounge.blogspot.com)

Chase x2

hanjie.1992@live.com.my

Thanks!

kalynnick said...

Marjana K.

kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

Holly said...

+1 NEW FOLLOWER

+1 Linked to sidebar:
http://goodgollymisshollybooks.blogspot.com/

hollyy.heart.attack(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

Bleuette said...

Sounds good!
tirachii@yahoo.com

Bleuette said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ninefly said...

I would like to enter!
Is this open to Canadians?

ninefly(at)gmail.com

ninefly said...

also, added to my sidebar:
http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com/

ninefly(at)gmail.com

Lindsay Frost said...

I would LOVE to win this!!
Thankyou!! :D:D:D:D

-Lindsay :D:D:D

lindsay15photo@gmail.com

Bookie00 said...

x2 facebook

homefri794@aol.com

Sunshine Edition said...

oooh i want

Rachel Davidson

sunshineedition132@yahoo.com

xoxoxo
rachel

InfinitePlaylist said...

I just finished The Hunger Games and I'd love to read this sequel.

infiniteplaylist (at) gmail (dot) com

cait045 said...

I loved Catching Fire and Hunger Games. I would love my own copy

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

cait045 said...

I loved Catching Fire and Hunger Games. I would love my own copy

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

TheOutspokenYam said...

half_blue_sky@yahoo.com

I'd love to enter. Thank you!

TheOutspokenYam said...

half_blue_sky@yahoo.com

And I tweeted about this here:

http://twitter.com/halfbluesky/status/5603525698

Darlene said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
Darlene
wrig9945@charter.net

Amy said...

Would love to win!
amy
addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com

Andrea [Buried In Books] said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrea [Buried In Books] said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Milka said...

wow, i really want to read this book!
Please enter me! :)

milkavainamo@lyseo.edu.ouka.fi

Bella said...

Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

I retweeted! http://bit.ly/45PpxD

b42bella AT gmail DOT com (x2)

wheresmyrain said...

would love to win, feel left out of this series, havnt read hunger games cause im weird and like to have both before i read one, if i win, i will def get hunger games, thanks for the contest!

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

L said...

I really want to read Catching Fire!!!
I posted a link on my sidebar:
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/

Alexa (x2)
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

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