Sciatrix Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 So yeah, I recently purchased Karen Healey's new YA novel Guardian of the Dead, on the theory that I had heard that there might be some asexual representation in it and also it had been compared to Neil Gaiman's American Gods, which is one of my most favorite novels ever. And it got in to my mailbox today, so I curled up on a couch and read it. I was not actually expecting one of the supporting characters, Kevin, to come out to his best friend as asexual within the first couple of chapters. As in, I think this may be the second explicit "I identify as asexual" character in media that I've ever heard of. And the scene is done wonderfully--the main character has a lesbian older sister and it is implied that her parents reacted uncomfortably, so she makes a point of not questioning his experiences or telling him he's wrong or anything else. The asexuality isn't really connected to the main plot of the story, mind. I find it interesting that the story is set in New Zealand and written by a New Zealander--I wonder if the author saw Short Street at some point? And the character's orientation becomes very much tangential about midway through the book, when the circumstances surrounding the main character change somewhat and Kevin sort of gets left behind a little. I'm not saying this is the Great Asexual Novel or anything, but it's really refreshing to actually see a character treat asexuality like a real orientation and not a "X is uniquely odd in this way" sort of thing. And the novel itself is really good, too. (The Gaiman comparison is pretty apt towards the end, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes myths, particularly Maori myths, which are mostly what the author is drawing from.) If you're a fan of YA urban fantasy, I'd give it a shot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 New Zealand novel. American Gods similarities. Asexual character. TO THE BOOKSHOP Link to post Share on other sites
Amputation Defenestration Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Logging on my library site right now. Thanks for sharing :] Link to post Share on other sites
ily Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Very cool find, thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites
ExeCUTE Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 TO AMAZON! (My bookshop doesn't stock stuff like that, and Amazon is cheaper. Yeah, I know I should shop local. *hangs head*) Link to post Share on other sites
Herr Joseph von Löthing Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 TO AMAZON! (My bookshop doesn't stock stuff like that, and Amazon is cheaper. Yeah, I know I should shop local. *hangs head*) If they don't stock it its their loss :P Link to post Share on other sites
No_Celery Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Wow. FTW. I'm getting that. :D Link to post Share on other sites
Mnemosyne Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 Must be mine!!! Thanks so much for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites
tk218 Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 Sounds like a good read to me. :) Link to post Share on other sites
Cicero Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 Somehow New Zealand just became even cooler in my estimation. AVEN field trip anyone? ;) Link to post Share on other sites
asexual cake Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Somehow New Zealand just became even cooler in my estimation. AVEN field trip anyone? ;) I am in support of this. Now, to find parental support, both general and financial, for me to organize a trip across the Pacific ocean with a bunch of strangers from the internet... hmm. Link to post Share on other sites
~Salem~ Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I will definitely have to read this. I saw it at Borders the other day but unfortunately didn't have the money to get it Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Somehow New Zealand just became even cooler in my estimation. AVEN field trip anyone? ;) I am in support of this. Now, to find parental support, both general and financial, for me to organize a trip across the Pacific ocean with a bunch of strangers from the internet... hmm. Everyone can come and stay with me! You can hide under the bed when Dad walks past my room. :P Link to post Share on other sites
------ Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Somehow New Zealand just became even cooler in my estimation. AVEN field trip anyone? ;) I am in support of this. Now, to find parental support, both general and financial, for me to organize a trip across the Pacific ocean with a bunch of strangers from the internet... hmm. Everyone can come and stay with me! You can hide under the bed when Dad walks past my room. :P I am going to hold you to that. Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I am going to hold you to that. And I am taking that as permission to try to jam you under there. :P Link to post Share on other sites
------ Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I am going to hold you to that. And I am taking that as permission to try to jam you under there. :P Which still means I am going to be in New Zealand in your house in your bedroom at some point. *scribbles signature that legally allows Tanzaria to shove a pear under her bed by force* Link to post Share on other sites
Topher Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Aw shucks! It's not out in the UK yet! I must admit, I do find it amusing how this one post has caused ALL of us to want to buy it now.. Note to future-author-self: include an asexual character in whatever you are writing (I was really considering that anyway..) It'll sell like hot cakes on AVEN. :P PS. Second dibs on the under-your-bed scenario... :P Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I have the book! It was actually really easy to find, seeing as NZ authors are a big deal and the books must be dislayed prominently when they come out. The part that I read on the bus on the way home was pretty good, even if the main character seems to dislike my city. XD Link to post Share on other sites
Hypatia7 Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I actually work in a bookshop so I can tell my collegue who runs the children section to stock up on it and then all of you who live in the uk can come and buy it! On a similar note I recently started an asexual bookclub in London. It's only two of us at the moment but if any one feels like joining they are more than welcome. Have a look in the meet-up section for more details. We already decided on next month's book ( The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith) but we could make Guardian of the Dead the book to read for june! Link to post Share on other sites
Hypatia7 Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Here's the link for the book club : http://www.asexuality.org/en/index.php?showtopic=48416. Sorry for hijacking the thread. Link to post Share on other sites
Lucrezia Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Everyone can come and stay with me! You can hide under the bed when Dad walks past my room. :P If you have a closet, I'd like to hide in there. Not ready to come out yet. *bricked for the bad pun* Link to post Share on other sites
asexual cake Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Everyone can come and stay with me! You can hide under the bed when Dad walks past my room. :P If you have a closet, I'd like to hide in there. Not ready to come out yet. *bricked for the bad pun* Nice. :lol: Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Everyone can come and stay with me! You can hide under the bed when Dad walks past my room. :P If you have a closet, I'd like to hide in there. Not ready to come out yet. *bricked for the bad pun* I do! You'll have to fight my coats and hockey stick for space though. :P Sudden thought: Some of you could probably fit under my couch. XD Link to post Share on other sites
Milvanil Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Ooooh...I must find this. The title itself looks awesome. Yay!! AVEN field trip! :lol: *starts packing* Who will be the chaperones? Link to post Share on other sites
------ Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Ooooh...I must find this. The title itself looks awesome. Yay!! AVEN field trip! :lol: *starts packing* Who will be the chaperones? Now that Tanzy has started this she's going to have to organise it. XD Her pet doggie, Buster the hover doggie, will be chaperone. Link to post Share on other sites
Plaid Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Now that Tanzy has started this she's going to have to organise it. XD Her pet doggie, Buster the hover doggie, will be chaperone. Uh oh. Have you seen me try to organise anything? D: If Buster is the chaperone we'll end up feeding him cat food while he uses Zeph the kitty as a cushion. Link to post Share on other sites
Miselle Serafine Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Oooh! My dad goes to NZ regularly! I'm getting him to send that to me! Link to post Share on other sites
------ Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Now that Tanzy has started this she's going to have to organise it. XD Her pet doggie, Buster the hover doggie, will be chaperone. Uh oh. Have you seen me try to organise anything? D: If Buster is the chaperone we'll end up feeding him cat food while he uses Zeph the kitty as a cushion. That sounds like fun. Practise makes perfect. Get organising. Link to post Share on other sites
CowsRSkary Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 That sounds amazing. Maybe I'll search this summer. Link to post Share on other sites
+Lee Posted July 18, 2010 Share Posted July 18, 2010 I just got the book! I was happy reading the part (It's page 13, but she hints at it from the beginning) It was cool! I'm not done with the book yet, so no review. I'm still at the beginning. I'm so glad my library has it! Link to post Share on other sites
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