Some news:
Avery and I have left 3 Evil Cousins. We have some stuff up at our new blog, nineseveneight.
We hope you'll visit us there, as well as continuing to read 3 Evil Cousins.

Yours,

CLICK

Hallo,
Just popping back in to say that YA New York (formerly known as the YA Mansion) is an awesometastic new blog dedicated to YA lit (of course). GO LOOK NOW I COMMAND YOU.

orange juice, from concentrate

A challenge:
Describe a book, any book, in as few words as possible. Like, take the essence of a book, and distill it. Distillations, maybe I'll call them.
Here's some from books I've read recently:

How to be Bad:
Highjinks ensue.

Airhead:
Help! I'm trapped in the body of a supermodel!¹

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks:
Never underestimate the girl.

Kitty Kitty:
I will solve le crime wittily.

That's all I've got for now. Tell me yours!

Distillingly yours,

PS Do you like my fish?

¹Yes, I realize that this isn't that short but it was one of those Help! books.

Homophobia

I've been thinking about homophobia lately, on account of "Christie"'s comment on our review of Libba Bray's The Sweet Far Thing, and "anonymous"'s comment on my 'Dumbledore is Gay' post. I'll copy-paste them both here:

Christie said...
Libba~ i loved the Rebel Angel book so much, but I was disapointed that you had to add the sex and homesexuality. Girls at this age are already so pressured by the world, they could use a really good book that doesn't tempt them. could you explain why you added that? Although, yes, I, as well as others, love (absolutely adore) Kartik. Thanks for writing these!

Anonymous said...
You are SICK. So what if there are no gay characters in Harry Potter? So, you just make things up? I positively HATE people who make other sane people see their warped ideas and influence them. Go back where you belong, the mental hospital.

I have problems with both of these comments, but let's address Christie's first.
First of all, she seems to be speaking directly to Libba Bray, even though this was just a review of her book. Libba Bray didn't write the post, Christie. I would suggest that if you'd like to say something to her, you leave a comment on her blog, not ours.
Secondly, I understand why someone would have a problem with the (semi-implied) sex in The Sweet Far Thing. Personally, I don't think that there's anything wrong with two people who are in love with one another having sex, whether they're married or not. But some people disagree, and I respect that. I don't, however, think that anyone was 'tempted' by reading The Sweet Far Thing, but you never know.

The thing that I do have a problem with is the fact that Christy somehow objected to the homosexuality in the book. There is nothing wrong with being gay, and to imply that there is is, well, wrong. To hate, dislike, or even just disapprove of someone's sexual orientation is just as bad as racism, sexism, or a number of other -isms that I'm sure many homophobics would never dream of being. homophobia is a sign of ignorance and blind hate that should have no place anywhere, particularly at 3 Evil Cousins.

The second comment is another example, though anonymous was much more forceful than Christie.

My ideas are not warped. They are accepting. Also, I didn't make anything up, JK Rowling did. And I'll stay right here, thanks. Being someone who isn't filled with illogical, intolerant hate is not a sign of mental instability. I'm not the one who's sick.

I'm glad that so many prominent YA authors are including gay characters in their books-- Holly Black, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, and Cassandra Clare have done it, to name a few. It's realistic-- 10% of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual, after all-- and it's breaking the glass ceiling, to use a feminist-movement metaphor. For so long, there have been almost no gay characters in popular entertainment-- not just books, but tv and movies. People are finally coming around, and frankly, it's refreshing. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't like it, because that means that they have been taught to hate a group of people for no reason whatsoever.

Yours,

Meme. Again. With pictures!

So, B has challenged us to a meme duel. Who can come up with the most random facts? I say that I can TOTALLY PWN B.
I've done all 6 as MS paint scetches, because I live only for your amusement.

Your turn, B.

OMG!!!1!1!!

omg u guys so this post is prob just random rambling but wutever dont reed it if u dont want i dont care lol! luv u!!!

so i went 2 abercrombie yesterday & i got this rly kewt miniskirt its denim and it has lyk a ripped botom so the pokets show @ the botum u no? its rly cute lol. i wuz wondering lyk wut u guys lyk 2 get wen u go shoping? lol i luv 2 shop speshaly @ abercrombie & amrican egal ect u no! ha ha lol

also i went 2 this parti last nite & it wuz rly fun but then i saw ashly ttly hooking up w/ Brian evn tho he haz a girlfrend!!1! i no rite? anyway i lyk totly txted evry1 i no & told them.

also this week kinda sucked too cuz are teecher iz tryin 2 get us 2 reed this book i forget wut its calld but i hate 2 rede books & stuf (ecsept GOSSIP GIRL!!1! lol omg luv it!!). anyway that kind of sucks but wutevr. lol.

luv, xoxoxxxooo,

B has a blog and it's awesome.

Click here. Or you shall feel the wrath of the doomspork.