rgz

readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!

Friday, October 8, 2010

October: What's Your Favorite Story in Lips Touch?












Laini says, "Did you have a favorite story of the three in Lips Touch? Why that one?"


31 comments:

Enna Isilee said...

"Spicy Little Curses" because I LOVED the resolution! I don't want to spoil it in the comments, so I'll just say:

Karma!

Oh. And I love Estella.

Priya said...

The last one! It was the most fleshed out and I liked the characters a lot.

holly cupala said...

It's hard to choose one, I think - Laini's writing is so gorgeous!

Lorie Ann Grover said...

It is too hard to choose. Each leaves lingering images in my mind.

Laini Taylor said...

I have different reasons to love each one, but I *think* that Spicy is my favorite because it is the most romantic :-) However, I loved writing Kizzy and her friends (the dialogue in Goblin Fruit was SO MUCH FUN), and Hatchling was just this other thing entirely. The whole book was so much fun to write, actually -- because I wasn't thinking of it as a "book"! It was exercises I was doing for fun, that just ended up revolving around this kissing thing. Once I realized it and the "bookness" began to take shape, then there was more pressure . . . Ah, writers can be a little bit nuts. But it was still fun!

There was also a freedom in writing short pieces, because I felt like I could start down a path without a plan, which my brain finds hard to do while undertaking a novel. It's too scary! But with a short piece, I could keep in a "play" mindset and see what happened, which was awesome, especially since I wrote Lips Touch in between two long novels. It was like an interlude :-)

I think any of them could have been fleshed out into a full-length novel, especially Hatchling, and I definitely have plans to write more Druj stories in the future!

Kristen said...

Hatchling was my favorite - it was so eerie and I loved the setting. It was beautifully written as well, but that would apply to any of the three stories. I am thrilled to hear there will be more Druj stories; I was hoping for that. Actually I really wanted to see a full length novel version of Hatchling - it was such a fascinating story!

Candace said...

Definitely the last one! I'm happy to hear there are plans for more Druj stories!

Laini Taylor said...

Kristen and Candace, I'm glad to hear it! So many potential tales for the Druj and the humans who cross their paths :-)

Anonymous said...

I loved them all but the first was my fave. Because that dialog bit about "mouth babies" killed me. So strangely hot and weird all in one! Plus, being Polish in America, I could relate to Kizzy's strange family life :)

Katie Anderson said...

Mmmm... the first one :)

storyqueen said...

I loved Spicy Little Curses best of all. The writing in all three was so amazingly fun, but....sigh....there is just something about taking tea with a demon.....

The Geek Bride said...

Wow - I must admit I couldn't pick one. I love them each individually. I ate the stories right up, eager for more ... especially if in full-length novel mode :)

KeliaMegan said...

Definitely the last one! The world was amazingly well built and I wanted it to be a full length novel the whole time. SO excited to hear there might be more Druj stories!!

Jenn said...

Lips Touch was my first experience reading Laini- and boy, what a ride! I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite, I love each of them for different reasons- I love Goblin Fruit for Kizzy's crazy gypsy family, Spicy for the choices that Estella made and Hatchling for combination of mythology and originality. I'm so thrilled to hear we might get some more! I'm also anxiously awaiting Daughter of Smoke and Bone... basically anything Laini writes, I'm there!

kosebose said...

"Spicy Little Curses" was awesome! The story was really great and the title is truly inspired! :D
I even wrote about it on my blog: http://kosebose-nest.blogspot.com/2010/03/gorgeous-book.html

Ariadne said...

"Spicy Little Curses Such As These" was easily my favorite. I loved Estella and the tricky, clever way the story was resolved. Just fantastic!

Laini Taylor said...

Thanks for the great comments, everyone! :-)

Little Willow said...

I enjoyed all three, but I think I liked Spicy Little Curses the best. As I typed this, someone on TV sang, "A word wasn't said." Coincidence is my life.

*--Davonna Juroe--* said...

I'd have to say "Hatchling" was my favorite. I liked the world building aspects of the story and the legends/mythology of the Druj.

It would be fab to see more Druj stories.

Liana said...

"Spicy Little Curses" is definitely my favorite- I loved what ends up happening in the Underworld- so beautiful! But of course, I thought all three were amazingly written :)

TeresaD said...

I love them all, because I'm so impressed with Laini - I'm the type of reader who repeatedly tries to guess the ending - and not a single one of these ended how I thought it would. And each one seemed more clever than the last. I was floored by all of the details in "Hatchling."
That being said, I think I prefer "Spicy Little Curses Such As These."

Natalie Whipple said...

Goblin Fruit! I still ache for Kizzy, and I read it almost a year ago!

Erin said...

My favorite is "Spicy Little Curses" but honestly I so loved each of them! But there was something about the overall feel of that one that made me fall in love with it especially.

Shelf Elf said...

Another vote for Spicy Little Curses. SO romantic. And I love a good curse story :)

Jennifer Morian Frye said...

Loved all three. Loved the beginning of Goblin Fruit....the romance and exotic feel (and ending) of Spicy Little Curses....the Hatchling story was mesmerizing. Great characters, and quite original. If forced to pick a favorite, I would have to go with Spicy Little Curses. I would definitely read a novel or series that expanded Hatchling. I would read anything by Laini Taylor. This is a wonderful author!

Dia Calhoun said...

I loved what Laini said about lettering herself run free on the short pieces. Sometimes it is fun just to see where the creativity will lead, rather than planning it out. It obviously worked very well for Laini~ I can't choose a favorite story. I like them all for different reasons, especially the luscious use of language.

Myrna Foster said...

Spicy Little Curses was my favorite!

Evie said...

Lips Touch Three Times was my introduction to Laini Taylor and now I can't get enough.

All three stories are exceptional and I love them, but Goblin Fruit is my favorite.

" Kizzy wanted it all so bad her soul leaned half out of her body hungering after it, and that was what drove the goblins wild, her soul hanging out there like an untucked shirt."

She had me at untucked shirt. :D

Hatchling is frightening yet beautiful-a very close second. I can't wait to read more about the Druj.

Laini Taylor has such a wild, vivid imagination. I'll follow her anywhere.

epaphroditus said...

KISSES SWEET

The tears of sadness are dried in the wind,
As though the heart can never find rest,
Than I shall find where my true love lives,
The one I love the best.
On hillsides flowers grow, and rivers flow,
And my loves spirit sings to the wind,
But day and night my heart longs for her,

For this love that will never end.
I see her when the spring roses bloom-
I see her face that’s so lovely and fair.
I hear her spirit dancing in the moonlight-
As warm summer breezes stirs the air:
There’s not a moment that passes me by,
Where the crossroads of time will meet,
And desire over powers my endless need,
To taste the lips that are kisses sweet.

Epaphroditus© April 6, 2002

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.