“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.
Today’s guest is Tahereh Mafi, a debut Young Adult author with one of the most talked about novels of the fall, Shatter Me. A romantic, dystopian, and highly stylistic book, Shatter Me tells the story of Juliette, a girl who can kill with a single touch.
Please give a warm welcome to Tahereh!
I’ve been in love with dystopian novels just about forever. The Giver changed my life in seventh grade; I’ve read 1984 too many times to count. I grew up watching documentaries about Nostradamus and his eerie predictions for the future, so my mind, at a very early age, was always looking forward and wondering where we would end up and what we might do to get there.
Action/adventure stories were also very central to my adolescent life; I spent many, many afternoons watching every Bruce Lee movie ever made and too many Old Westerns and episodes of Kung Fu and Walker, Texas Ranger with my dad — the same person who introduced me to Planet of the Apes and Terminator and RoboCop and Lost in Space and Soylent Green.
On the other hand, I was also lucky enough to have a mom who bought me The Secret Garden and A Little Princess and Little Women and sat me down to watch every Jane Austen novel adapted for the big screen. She and I have seen (and own) every episode of Little House on the Prairie. We’ve also watched just about every movie Jimmy Stewart has ever played in.
So I don’t know; I guess deep in my subconscious I was meant to end up writing something that would have action and romance, but would also ask questions about the world and what we’ve done to it.
I never thought I was capable of writing a book, much less anything dystopian, but I think Shatter Me became exactly what it was supposed to be: the amalgamation of 23 years worth of questions and experiences in my head.
About Tahereh Mafi: She’s 23. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where the weather is just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts.
SHATTER ME is her first novel.
You can find out more about Tahereh on her website: www.taherehmafi.com. Thank you, Tahereh!
About the Blog Tour:
Make sure to check out the other stops on the tour!
Monday: The Story Siren
Tuesday: Bookalicio.us
Wednesday: Reading Teen
Thursday: Girls in the Stacks
Giveaway Details:
We have ONE autographed copy of Shatter Me up for grabs! The contest is open to US addresses only and will run until Saturday, November 19 at 11:59 PM (PST). In order to enter, simply leave a comment here letting us know what your favorite dystopian YA novel is. Only one entry per person, please! Multiple comments will be disqualified. Good luck!
87 Comments
Carolyn Hester
November 11, 2011 at 12:39 amFor me, nothing will ever top The Giver (although Gathering Blue and The Hunger Games come close). Thanks for the giveaway!
Ashley
November 11, 2011 at 3:27 amI’ve also got to say The Giver. A teacher read it aloud to our class, but never finished it, so during the summer break I got my own copy and started reading from the beginning. I was shocked to discover that the teacher had been leaving out major portions of the book when she read it to us, so the double-whammy of being introduced to dystopias and learning that ‘the Man’ (well, woman) was *lying* to me (kinda sorta) left an impression.
Justine
November 11, 2011 at 4:23 amThe Hunger Games re-introduced me to YA as an adult and I’m continually YAvangelizing the trilogy.
Is The Giver categorized as YA? It was assigned reading when I was in elementary school so I always considered it to be children’s or MG. I saw Lois Lowry at a signing recently (for The Chronicles of Harris Burdick) and she said the fourth The Giver novel should be released in Fall 2012.
Mini Bookdom
November 11, 2011 at 4:49 amMy favorite YA dystopian novel is Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres. After reading it I decided to give the dystopian genre another chance.
Katy
November 11, 2011 at 5:52 amThe Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, hands down!
SwiftScribbler
November 11, 2011 at 6:06 amI have to say the Hunger Games. It just rocked my socks.
Ellie
November 11, 2011 at 6:14 amThe Giver was my first favorite, but now it’s a tie with the Hunger Games.
Ashleigh
November 11, 2011 at 6:32 amI’m not a huge fan of dystopian novels (I’m waiting for the right one to come along and wow me), but I quite liked The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge. It’s more steampunk than anything, but I feel it has dystopian elements to it too and I enjoyed it.
rissatoo
November 11, 2011 at 6:54 amI’d say the first YA dystopian that I read a million years ago as a young teen is my favorite, because it has stayed in my mind. I can’t remember the author, but it was called The Girl Who Owned a City. More recently, I very much liked Ann Aguire’s Enclave.
Thanks for the giveaway!
rissatoo AT gmail DOT com
CrystalGB
November 11, 2011 at 7:15 amI would say The Hunger Games is my favorite. Shatter Me sounds good. 🙂
draconismoi
November 11, 2011 at 7:22 amThis Time of Darkness by ….. I can’t remember who. But I could find it in my old library blindfolded.
Kaethe
November 11, 2011 at 7:25 amI love too many. I’ll say the collective Chaos Walking trilogy. I can’t wait to read Shatter Me.
Natalie H
November 11, 2011 at 7:55 amI hate to say the same thing as everyone else but I’d be a liar if I didn’t say the Hunger Games!
Shannon H
November 11, 2011 at 7:57 amI snagged an ARC of Under the Never Sky and I absolutely loved it. From stuff that is already out, I liked Divergent a ton as well
MarieC
November 11, 2011 at 8:20 amI would say right now, Hunger Games and Divergent.
bigfoot24
November 11, 2011 at 8:55 amI absolutely loved the Hunger Games trilogy, my favorite of the three being Catching Fire!
SandyG265
November 11, 2011 at 9:04 amDivergence is my favorite.
Sara M
November 11, 2011 at 9:21 amDivergent is definitely my favorite YA dystopian novel, closely followed by Wither.
de Pizan
November 11, 2011 at 10:17 amProbably the first one I read is still the one that stands out the most to me, The Tripods series by John Christopher.
Beth S.
November 11, 2011 at 10:32 amMy favorite dystopian novel is the classic 1984 by George Orwell. I think this is the novel that led the way for all others.
melissa @ 1lbr
November 11, 2011 at 10:41 amTough question. I’ll have to do a three-way tie between The Giver, Fahrenheit 451, and Hunger Games. Cheating or what? 🙂
Sheila
November 11, 2011 at 10:46 amGonna go with The Hunger Games. Great use of first-person narrative, in my opinion. Thanks!
Rachel
November 11, 2011 at 10:47 amOh, “The Giver,” or “Feed,” definitely.
Kendra
November 11, 2011 at 11:46 amGoing to have to go with The Hunger Games-never read any YA dystopian, so it pretty much introduced me to so many other great reads!
Can’t wait to hear what you think of Shatter Me!
Angie
November 11, 2011 at 12:21 pmGotta go with HOW I LIVE NOW.
Also, yay for Jimmy Stewart love!
Lauren
November 11, 2011 at 12:29 pmMy favorite is Feed, but so excited to read Shatter Me too!
Liz
November 11, 2011 at 12:31 pmI’ve always loved Gathering Blue, but The Hunger Games has finally managed to unseat it as my favorite YA dystopia.
Scribe Kira
November 11, 2011 at 12:35 pmThe Giver (the classic), The Hunger Games (the epic), and the Chaos Walking Trilogy/ How I Live Now (the ones that may not count, but i love so much i’m including anyway)
Kristyna
November 11, 2011 at 12:43 pmI have to say Matched by Allie Condie. It changed my world.
Jennifer P
November 11, 2011 at 2:26 pmI love The Giver. And then I read the Hunger Games. And I like that one too. =)
JenP
November 11, 2011 at 2:38 pmThe Giver has to be my favorite of all time.
ashelynn hetland
November 11, 2011 at 3:04 pmi like the old dystopians — a handmaiden’s tale, the giver, etc. — but if i actually had to CHOOSE what dystopian is my favorite? The Hunger Game series. Catching Fire still remains my favorite of the three, but that series is just mindblowingly awesome. i love them.
thanks!
jenn
November 11, 2011 at 6:43 pmThe Giver, I suppose because it was the first dystopian novel I ever read,.. I read it when I was 7, I remember, and it was just amazing. =D
Ruby
November 11, 2011 at 6:50 pmUnwind by Neal Shusterman, definitely. I’m thrilled there’s going to be a sequel. More recently, I loved Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari, but that’s more Post-Apocalyptic than Dystopian. Though the argument could be made that Post-Apocalyptics are Dystopians (but not all Dystopians are Post-Apocalyptic).
Evika
November 11, 2011 at 6:52 pmI would have today that The Giver is my favorite dystopian novel.
JenM
November 11, 2011 at 6:52 pmI don’t read much YA dystopian, but The Hunger Games was an exception. I only read it because it was for my bookclub, but it was great.
Jen B.
November 11, 2011 at 7:24 pmHands down, it’s the Hunger Games. I recommend it to everyone!
Chris Bails
November 11, 2011 at 7:53 pmI have not read any dystophian novels before. I would love to try out this genre. I would love to win and read this book, so please choose me for the giveaway. I love this cover.
Emily Thompson
November 11, 2011 at 7:54 pmCan I say the “Uglies” series by Scott Westerfeld and not get any frowny faces? I just think it’s great, and also greatly under appreciated. And I kind of wish it was real life…
Emily L
November 11, 2011 at 7:57 pmMy favorite YA dystopian novel is Delirium by lauren Oliver!
LiLi
November 11, 2011 at 8:01 pmMy favorite YA dystopian will always have to be The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not only was I introduced to a whole new setting and style of writing, the intricacies of her plot lines are absolutely amazing! 🙂
Emy Shin
November 11, 2011 at 8:05 pmAside from THE HUNGER GAMES (which would be a very predictable answer), my favorite YA dystopian novel is LEGEND by Marie Lu, coming out at the end of this month. I just adore the two main characters in LEGEND.
Sumner Brinkley
November 11, 2011 at 8:55 pmI love the book Divergent by: Veronica Roth 😀
Tiffany M.
November 11, 2011 at 8:55 pmI haven’t really read that many, so I’ll go with The Hunger Games. 🙂
Stephanie K.
November 11, 2011 at 10:12 pmMy favorite is the Hunger Games.
Nimue
November 12, 2011 at 12:27 amI’m still getting into dystopian literature. At the moment I have to say Mockingjay would be my top dystopian book. So disturbing but brilliant.
Audra Holtwick
November 12, 2011 at 12:43 amI love the HUNGER GAMES
audie@wickerness.com
Susan Laura
November 12, 2011 at 5:23 amMost recently I have enjoyed Teri Hall’s “The Line” and the follow-up “Away”.
Lina Moder
November 12, 2011 at 5:28 amMy favorite is The Hunger Games.
Thanks for the giveaway:)
linamoder at gmail dot com
Becky
November 12, 2011 at 6:38 amThe Hunger Games is my favorite of my favorite genre. But I also love The Gone series and pretty much everything written by Lois Lowery and the Uglies series I love too! Actually, I think I love too many to list! YEAH DYSTOPIANS! 😆
Mandi Venard
November 12, 2011 at 7:23 amI have to many to name just one,a few are Gone by Micheal Grant,ShipBreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi and Girl in the Arena by Lisa Haines.Please enter me in the contest.Thanks.
JJ @ JJ iReads
November 12, 2011 at 7:45 amI have too many because Dystopian has become my favorite sub-genre, so I cannot pick just one. My favorites are:
Hunger Games
Divergent
Wither
Matched
Dearly, Departed
All These Things I’ve Done
Eve
and of course, Shatter Me, Duh!! 🙂
Tina
November 12, 2011 at 9:36 amI think Divergent is probably my favorite Dystopian.
Julie Witt
November 12, 2011 at 10:40 amI would say as of now The Hunger Games is my favorite 🙂
Carol M
November 12, 2011 at 10:52 amDivergent is my favorite!
erin
November 12, 2011 at 12:52 pmI’m torn, because I love The Hunger Games, but I think I’d have to say that my favorite dystopias are the ones that stuck in my head in middle school and never left: This Time of Darkness by H.M. Hoover and The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Renee
November 12, 2011 at 2:19 pmAll These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin or the Mazerunner by Daschner
Ashley Holt
November 12, 2011 at 5:19 pmI would say Divergent by Veronica Roth!
ashtreygonesmokeya@yahoo.com
Sophia
November 12, 2011 at 5:56 pmDivergent by Veronica Roth is not only my favorite dystopian, but my favorite book ever! The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Delirium by Lauren Oliver are close seconds. 🙂
Allison
November 12, 2011 at 6:29 pmMy favorite dystopian is, of course, the first I ever read–The Giver
Lucia Hua
November 12, 2011 at 7:31 pmI would say The Hunger Games. Nothing else has ever really compared.
Priya
November 12, 2011 at 7:53 pmMy favorite dystopian is definitely the Hunger Games series! They’re such incredible books.
latisha depoortere
November 12, 2011 at 8:20 pmI have to say my favorite is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ! This sounds like a great book can’t wait to read it! Thank you for the great giveaway!
Kristen
November 13, 2011 at 9:54 amDefinitely The Hunger Games, but Maze Runner is winning my heart!
Rachael L
November 13, 2011 at 6:47 pmMy favorite dystopian novel is The Hunger Games. Thank you for the giveaway!
emily
November 13, 2011 at 8:08 pmMy favorite dystopian books are the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix!
Karen
November 14, 2011 at 7:05 amMy favorite is still the one that made me love dystopian novels in the first place – The Hunger Games.
Throuthehaze
November 14, 2011 at 7:49 amDivergent by Veronica Roth is my favorite.
Merry Gravett
November 14, 2011 at 12:26 pmI really like The Giver, by Lois Lowry.
Rena
November 14, 2011 at 1:46 pmDefinitely the Hunger Games! and Among the Hidden! 🙂
Elena
November 14, 2011 at 3:32 pmooh, it ends on my birthday! Anyway, my favourite dystopian novel is Divergent. I also really appreciate Fahrenheit 451! 🙂
Jessica R
November 14, 2011 at 8:21 pmMy fave dystopian YA novel is Delirum by Lauren Oliver. The world building is amazing and the characters are realistic and the love story is heartbreaking. I read it in two days and thought about it for days after.
Jessica R
November 14, 2011 at 8:22 pmMy fave dystopian YA novel is Delirum by Lauren Oliver. The world building is amazing and 😈 the characters are realistic and the love story is heartbreaking. I read it in two days and thought about it for days after.
Ivy Hawthorn
November 14, 2011 at 8:36 pmI really loved the Matched trilogy, am reading Crossed right now, and I also loved Delirium by Lauren Oliver! There are so many good ones out right now!
Joint Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi | The Book Smugglers
November 15, 2011 at 2:28 am[…] Shatter Me Blog Tour & Giveaway: Tahereh Mafi on Inspirations & Influences […]
April X
November 15, 2011 at 12:42 pmSo far, it’s the 26 chapters of Shatter Me I read on Shatter Day 😀 But I can also say Divergent by Veronica Roth and Possession by Elana Johnson 🙂
Meg S
November 16, 2011 at 8:46 amI will probably have to say The Hunger Games!
Mindy Zhang
November 17, 2011 at 7:08 pmMy favorite YA novels is Paranormalcy, Supernaturally, Shiver, Linger,Forever, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, Matched, Crossed,Fool’s Girl,Entwined, evermore,blue moon,shadowland,dark flame,night star, everlasting,shimmer,radiance,dreamland,So B. It, hush,hush,incarceron,twilight,new moon,and Hoot.
Tammy H
November 17, 2011 at 10:14 pmI love the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (:
Julie Thompson
November 18, 2011 at 11:24 amI love Divergent by Veronica Roth and can’t wait for the next one!
Audrey M
November 18, 2011 at 3:37 pmthe giver all the way!
Karen
November 18, 2011 at 8:06 pmI’d have to say SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi is my pick for this year!!!
Lana
November 19, 2011 at 9:54 amI love The Hunger Games and The Giver is a classic dystopian novel, but I think Shatter Me is going to become my new favorite!
Hoot
November 19, 2011 at 9:14 pmI loved Delirium
Shatter Me- Tahereh Mafi |
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Thinking, Fast and Slow For Sale!
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Laura
July 25, 2014 at 8:16 amI would have to say the hunger games, it really introduced me to the genre, and I loved the fast paced books. I went through them very fast and they were very thought provoking.