I'm on my summer break and this is pretty much going to be a countdown I guess until I have to go back to school, but I figured why not at least every day until then really think about what I've read and decide for myself which ones I deem special enough to stand out and make the list? I've never done a challenge before so despite being intimidated for the 30 day commitment--I'm wicked excited. Is that even a phrase? De toute façon! (I don't know why I said that in French, I don't know French...)
Day 01 (5/13/13)– A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just end already
Hmm this is a toughie. There are some series that I haven't read that I think are way too long and should just finish because it isn't about making a million books but telling the story, but since I haven't read them I won't name any names. So a series that I've started and already wish it to end is The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I know that the series is complete already but I haven't personally read them all yet. My sister gave me the first four books as a gift and I feel bad because she really thought I'd enjoy them, but I'm still stuck on the second one. I'm genuinely afraid to start it because I'm pretty committed to finishing books once I've started.
Day 02 (5/14)– A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
This one is hard for me to think of because I read a lot of books that are more popular on the bestseller list or talked about by booktubers, however I'll just go with one that's newer that I really like. The Archived by Victoria Schwab came out in January a couple of months ago and while I see a lot of booktubers reading this book and enjoying it, I still wish this book gathers more fans. I'm a huge fan of the writing in this book, and then the world created by such imaginative and beautiful writing makes me wish I could live in it and be a Keeper alongside the protagonist Mac. While she isn't my top female protagonist of all time, she's one of my favorites and I can't read on in the next book and learn more about her. This is a young adult book with some mystery, action, and charming hunks, and it deserves more hype than others that are more "popular" nowadays.
Day 03 (5/15)– The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months
I want to try and stay away from repeating the same book in challenges, because if I didn't I'd probably end up repeating only the same books. To stray from titles avid readers such as myself always hear about, I'll do my best to mention not as talked about books, new or old. One of my favorite reads I've read in the past year has to be And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. The beginning was slow but once all of the visitors got on the island and murders kept occurring left and right without a clear sign who the murderer(s) might be, I couldn't put it down. And it was the first book to give me the spooks, I almost set it down to continue in daylight. I'm happy I didn't because the ending was such a twist and I can't say anything but it's worth wanting to reread. And the plot, oh my word my brain hurts just trying to think about it! So much respect to authors that go up and beyond!
Day 04 (5/16)– Your favorite book or series ever
There hasn't been a series I've completed recently that I'd call my favorite series of all time-- absolutely loving every single book in the series. But one that I do remember loving was The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy by T.A. Barron, a fantasy-adventure retelling of Avalon from the King Arthur and Merlin's Avalon. I really enjoyed the main characters and the mythical places and creatures they encountered on their quest.
Day 05 (5/17)– A book or series you hate
A book I hate? Easy. The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Out of every book I've ever disliked, there has always been a redeeming factor in the book, perhaps a character or an honorable scene, but I could not find one in this book. I should've forseen that I wouldn't have liked it, the synopsis says it all, but it was probably my wishing for something more. However the only thing I liked about the book was it's cover, but I'd say it isn't even worth it's beauty on the outside for a spot on your shelf. I could rant on for hours about this book, but all I'll say is don't buy it and definitely don't read it.
Day 06 (5/18)– Favorite male character in a book and why
At first I had difficulty thinking which male character I favored over the rest, but when it came to it, it seemed obvious. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End to me can do no wrong. Even when he does make the wrong choice, it works out for him in the end. Bilbo tries to act like how a hobbit is supposed to act, but by the end of The Hobbit he changed to an independent hobbit who doesn't take crap from any Sackville-Baggins. And he gave up the Arkenstone when it belonged to Thorin which showed some cajones doing that; he really is a courageous creature. I just loved his adventure across Middle-earth and how much he grows alongside the rambunctious dwarves and he is relatable to young and old.
Day 07 (5/19)– Favorite female character and why
This award has to go to Eowyn from the second and third Lord of the Rings books. And she didn't have a major role in either book, especially in the second, but she just impressed me so much in the little moments I was able to read about her. If you've read the books, I'm sure you'll agree with me. She is the definition of a badass. In Middle-earth, women don't have a big role. In fact in the entire trilogy, only three women are mentioned: Galadriel, Arawen, and Eowyn. And even then, they had little or no say in anything that was happening. But duh-duh-duh-daaaaa there's Eowyn who knows that the chances of the men of Middle-earth from surviving the major battles are very slim, so instead of standing aside, she made a fake identity and posed as a man to help in the fighting. She even takes a hobbit with her, despite knowing that his presence could blow her cover and blending in with the rest of the riders. It's the bravery in his heart that she recognized what she saw in herself, someone that would do anything to help fight for those she loved but otherwise couldn't because of their rank. And then there's the whole her hooking up with Faramir, making one of my favorite literary couples.
Day 08 (5/20)-Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Endings are incredibly hard to write. Stand alone novels or books in a series, the endings are what the readers are most anxious for. If the book is truly good and you're entirely invested in the characters and the plot and the world, the endings can sometimes ruin everything you've worked on. When you have a three or ten or fifty pages left in a book, and you feel the three, ten, fifty pages right under your fingers, it brings up a feeling of terror. Will the end resolve everything, will the book leave me aching for more, will the book have a cliffhanger that I'd rather have put off instead of having to wait for the next book? Beginnings are meant to hook us, the middle is meant to place us, but the endings are meant to live and remain with us readers, and should leave the reader with an adventure, a lesson, a thrill, a cry. I truly believe books should impact it's reader. Therefore, my least favorite plot device is deus ex machina, where the author doesn't know what to do and ends up resolving the conflict within a span of several pages, with a quick easy solution.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is such a vivid, beautifully written fantasy that revolves around a traveling circus that arbitrarily appears near towns and cities all around the world. And like the title, it only opens at night, staying in one place for only a short amount of time. I've read it once and I wasn't blown away by the ending, nevertheless the story itself is enchanting and time escaping. The story bounces back and forth between two different plots; one centering on a contest between two magicians with different trainings set around the 1870s to the present, and the other on a young boy who meets some of the circus children and how his life is intertwined with theirs set in the early 1900s. I'd have to say if I had control in any book in becoming a movie next, The Night Circus would be my first response hands down. I hope to be rereading it very soon.
Day 10 (5/22)– Best scene ever
This is going to be one of the hard ones, because there are hundreds to thousands of scenes in all the books I've read and I can't remember most of them. However the one that I couldn't wait to see from it's film adaption that I absolutely enjoyed reading was the Riddles in the Dark chapter in The Hobbit. Personally I'm horrible at riddles and just found it so much fun trying to guess the answers along with Bilbo and Gollum. It's tense because of the stakes and the scenario that Bilbo has himself in, and with a creature like Gollum who would make it even more eerie and terrifying.
Day 11 (5/23)- A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
My senior year in high school I took AP European History and for extra credit I read the book Candide: or, Optimism by Voltaire. It's a satire and not very long, my copy was only 100 pages, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It's about a guy named Candide and how he fares through life, through all the good and the bad, the luck and the misfortune, the deaths and the resurrections. And throughout it all, Candide tries to keep the same mentality that everything will still work out. My copy also had little cartoons on the front and back which related to the events of the story which made the read even more fun.
Day 12 (5/24)– A book that disappointed you
This is quite easy, I bought Looking for Alaska by John Green expecting for it to live to its hype and I was utterly disappointed. I just wasn't a fan of the story or the characters, and sadly because of this I don't even really want to read The Fault in Our Stars since I'm afraid I won't like it either.
Um this choice is partially embarrassing, I have read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer several times, I'd say a safe guess is three or more. But unfortunately it's the most I've ever read from book. I first read this book in high school and couldn't get enough of it. I've read the entire series twice or so, thinking it the most romantic book ever. No judging! I'm very proud to say I've read many books since that mentality and now find many other books more romantic and more worthy of countless rereads.
Day 14 (5/26)– Favorite book from your favourite author
I don't have a favorite author. I have many. And probably an author I've always admired is C.S Lewis, so that's who I'll say it is for today. I read all of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia when I was little but I only remember the first two, both of them being my favorite from the series. However, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be considered one of my favorites when I'm young, now, and when I'm old. I read many books in elementary and middle school, remembering about 1% of them, and this book withstood it all. The story, the world, the magic is so special and timeless and was one of, if not the first book to really get me to enjoy reading.
Day 15 (5/27)– A book that changed your opinion on something
I read novels; so not many of them leave me with something to really ponder on, let alone change my opinion on something. Although I read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell in the beginning of this year and I remember it made me sit back and think about our place in life and in the universe. Also it's a fantastic book, each chapter like a different genre.
My comfort book is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I've read it in its entirity about two times. No, there's nothing precarious about that, I've read it two times. But I just love the romance, the characters, the relationships, the world. And it's one of my books that I don't look to see what page I'm on or how far I am from the end, I just enjoy the story and what's going on.
Day 17 (5/29)– The most hilarious book you’ve ever read
There are some books that have characters that are quirky and sarcastic and witty, but that's just the characters. I'm going to answer this with Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I read this earlier this year and while I was expecting more since I read many good things, I still enjoyed the story (of what I understood of it) and found the characters and the scenes hilarious. It's great because I couldn't tell when one writer wrote or the other, and it looks that the writers just enjoyed seeing how the other would react and respond to what they wrote, making the story funnier and funnier.
I don't really like any beginning scenes in books. Movies yes, but book not so much. So I'll just have to say The Fellowship of the Ring is my most liked of the disliked.
Day 19 (5/31)– Favorite book cover
I think that Every Day by David Levithan has the prettiest jacket cover on my shelf. But also inside it has the negative of the sky and clouds, which I'd never thought about before and is really stunning.
I don't really have a favorite kiss. However the one I most anticipated was from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The book is just about Anna kissing the main guy, Etienne St. Clair, and when they finally do. I was happy. :)
This one I have to give to Tatiana and Alexander from The Bronze Horseman trilogy by Paullina Simons. They're relationship is tough but when they're together, it's tense to relaxed to stressful to romantic and I can't think of any other couple that is at the same level.
Probably my favorite non-romantic/non-sexual relationship is Aziraphale and Crowley from Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. They're probably my favorite literary bro couple. Aziraphale is an angel and Crowley is a demon; with limited common interest but that they need to watch over the Antichrist as he grows up as well as a mutual affection for people of the world, these two feed off each other how best friends should. It's been centuries, and even though they're enemies, they only have each other over the years so it's an enmity but a friendly one. Plus they're hilarious, which makes their relationship simply ineffable!
Day 23 (6/4)– Favorite mythical place in a book
Arguably any Elven city in the West. Of Middle-Earth. In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Rivendell is beautiful and stunning, and then there's the ethereal Lothlórien in the Lorien woods. Maybe since I had begun a novel with a culture residing in the trees that I'm drawn to Lothlórien, so I'll just say that is my favorite. I'd want to live there, then retire in the Grey Havens.
Day 24 (6/5)– Best quotation from a novel
This is harder than trying to pick a favorite book. More challenging than picking a favorite character. More challenging than becoming president! Haha, well, almost to that caliber. Still pretty darn difficult. Many books that I read have characters that I love and places I wish were real, but most of them don't have many quotes that stick with me. Except one, which I'm sorry to say is from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (you know I try to have each day dedicated to a different book and I've mentioned this series more than once). However, this quote is probably the only one I can think of from any novel if I had to think back on all the books I've read, the thousands upon thousands of pages I've read.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
I think this means books I've yet to read that I own-- because that list is a lot shorter than my to be read pile that I don't own. (Obviously. But still...) The next couple books I'm planning on reading are, in no particular order:
1. The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons (the last book in the Bronze Horseman trilogy)
2. Sirens by Janet Fox
3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
4. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (2nd book in the Song of Fire and Ice series)
5. Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (2nd book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series)
Day 26 (6/7)– A book that you liked reading until the ending
One of my favorite books is The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers. I absolutely loved it. It was filled with puzzles and suspense and some romance (yes me love the romance stories) and traveling and mystery and it was fantastic! I loved every minute of it-- until that ending. Oh my gosh, why? I mean just, why?? There was a certain detail that didn't need to be added and I really really wish the editor didn't let it slide. One of my best friends who read as much as I do read it and agrees with me when I say it ruined the book. No matter, I still love it and I would read it repeatedly read it again. It's only a shame the ending had to have that ending. No spoilers for you! ;)
edited: (6/9)
Sirens by Janet Fox which I finished about an hour ago (just finished writing my review) was the book I absolutely adored before. I was in love with this book until that ending. See my review for further thoughts on the ending. But it was very disappointing. Otherwise-- good book! ^_^
edited: (6/9)
Sirens by Janet Fox which I finished about an hour ago (just finished writing my review) was the book I absolutely adored before. I was in love with this book until that ending. See my review for further thoughts on the ending. But it was very disappointing. Otherwise-- good book! ^_^
Magic! I love magic and I'm always eager to see how authors interpret in their books. Will it be something new? Or just the plain old abra kadabra with a witch and large cauldron? Or maybe the magic is similar to another author they admire and are inspired by? Magic with wands, or magic with hands, or magic only by reading through books. Is this magic cursed in the land and rarely seen or is it commonly practiced? Are there legends as to how it first came or has magic been there as long as time itself? Can magic be practiced by anyone or is it exclusively practiced through the elite? Is magic even the central player in the plot or is it just another feature like hair on a person? Most importantly will I find myself wishing to be in the world because how the author interpreted this magic, or will I forget it as soon as I turn the last page? Magic, I love it!
This is easy. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin was so amazing. I was scared stiff because of it's mammoth size, but if you're at least a little bit interested, I promise it won't disappoint. It took me three days to read in which I just read all day (I'm on my summer break) and as soon as putting it down I wanted to start on the next one (but I didn't so I didn't overwhelm myself). However the characters and politics of the book is jaw-dropping, so amazing, and you'll just want to keep reading until the end. And the end, let me tell you, does not disappoint. Perfect ending to the first book!
Day 29 (6/10)– Saddest character death
I can't believe I'm going to finish this review on sad thoughts because most have been happy! Not many deaths are tear-jerkers for me. Well, I've never cried in a book, but there have been some emotional departures. And I'll have to say even though I was spoiled this death way before I read the book, Eddard Stark from A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin was a very depressing departure and I'll defend why. One, because I honestly didn't know he died until I reread that page several times. It was so subtle. The executioner raised his axe and then there was a sigh throughout the crowd. When I type it out now it doesn't look as easy to look over, but believe me, when you're anticipating it, you read fast and you fly right over the words almost without registering. Two, Eddard Stark is one of the noblest characters I can think of in all the books I've read. He's morally grounded and believes in the honor in his words, and he doesn't betray them easily, even to the king! So when he does to save his family, and he's still sentenced, it really just tears a whole in the heart. At least mine. Thirdly, Sean Bean did a tremendous job acting alongside his co star Maisie Williams (Arya). That scene in the show is heartbreakingly stunning. And the credit music is lovely.
Day 30 (6/11)– What book are you reading now?
The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons, the final book in the Bronze Horseman trilogy. Yay for completing this challenge! I'm very shock and proud of myself for sticking with it. If anyone has any new ideas for book related challenges you'd like me to do or you know of another challenge you think I should try (favorite characters, or character wars, or hall of fame for characters or places or books, or just anything dealing with books, please let me know because I had so much fun!)
Happy reading! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment