Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I wish would get their own book

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic that the participants come up with a top ten list for.


This is such a cool idea for a post! There are so many interesting side characters I'd like to know more about!

As always, my top ten are in no particular order.


Abby from Katie McGarry's Crash Into You
She's tough, I like her, and she definitely has a story to tell. I actually thought the fourth book in the series would be hers but so far it doesn't seem to be happening.


Gavriel from Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
I'd love to know more about his past before he met Tana! We do get some of his backstory but I'd like to hear it from his own point of view.


Sturmhond from the Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
One of my favorite characters there! I'd love to hear more about his days as a pirate or when he served in the army. Or really just a glimpse into his mind.


Durzo Blint from the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
He is such a prominent character but a big enigma for a large part of the series. I'd like him to get his own novel. Or a prequel trilogy. I know there's a novella that looks into his life, but it's short and I haven't read it yet.


Noah from the Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin
He's such a great character! I think I could listen to what goes on in his head for hours. And well, it's implied that his life before he met Mara was already eventful. So there'd be no shortness of story to tell.

 
Walter C. Dornez from the Hellsing manga series by Hirano Kouta
That guy is so badass. I always loved his fighting scenes! I really wish the author would continue the Hellsing: The Dawn series about Walter and Alucard's adventures when he was younger, during WWII. So much sass.


Fear from Kelsey Sutton's Some Quiet Place
He was great. I know he features prominently in the novel but I'd like to know what it all looks like from where he's standing.


Morpheus from A.G. Howard's Splintered series
He's one of my favorite characters. You never know what he's playing at. His head would be a... madly interesting place.


Ivy from the Hollows series by Rachel Harrison
I'm sort of cheating here because I think the graphic novel adaption of the series (which I haven't read) is from Ivy's perspective. She's awesome. And I've read a short story from her POV but I'd like to see more. Maybe also of her past with Kisten and growing up under the eyes of Piscary.


Zero from the Vampire Knight manga series by Matsuri Hino
I admit it. I was a Kaname person for quite a while, but at some point I did a 180. And when I re-watched the anime and re-read part of the manga... oh Zero, my heart aches for you. Such a great character, so much undeserved pain. Seems to be a thing with side characters.


Despite thinking the topic is awesome, this was actually harder than I thought it would be. So many great characters have already gotten their own book / spin off series / novella! (Adrian from Vampire Academy, Space and Mencheres from the Night Huntress series, Mae from The Demon's Lexicon, Tod from the Soul Screamers series, Warner from Shatter Me...) Or else it's the mystery that makes them so interesting and so I am hesitant about wanting to read about it all.
What do you think of my picks, and how did you fare with your own?

Top Ten Tuesday: Worlds I would NEVER want to live in

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic that the participants come up with a top ten list for.


Hey guys :) This week's top ten is about book world's we'd NEVER want to live in, no matter how much we liked the actual story. Or about character's whose shoes we'd never want to walk in. I'll give you 5 of each.


World's I prefer watching from the outside

Fever series - Karen Marie Moning
After the walls come down and the dark fey enter the world, most humans die. No power, little food, lots of baddies... I'd be toast.

Blood of Eden - Julie Kagawa
Either donate blood to your local vampire or live on scraps and be backstabbed or killed by rabids? Again, I'm not the most physically fit person. I wouldn't make it for too long. And it's a very bleak and hungry kind of life.

Wither - Lauren DeStefano
To be kidnapped on the street and sold to some old rich dude to bear his babies, then die at 18? Can't imagine anything much more horrible. Pregnant over and over, then death *shudders*

Any totalitarian regime that restricts knowledge and burns books
Book burning is one of the worst things ever, and one that makes me the angriest. Destruction of knowledge, of beauty... no. Think Fahrenheit 451. Definitely not a society I'd want to live in.

Coldtown - Holly Black
I'm actually divided on this one. Living in a Coldtown is very dangerous. You can never get out. Law is barely existent.You need connections, and you need your wits. Vampire slaying skills are advisable. And yet... I do feel the allure of the place. The never-ending parties. Immortal creatures. Desire. Passion. I admit, I feel torn. In the end I wouldn't make it though.



Characters I wouldn't want to trade places with

Cassel from the Curse Worker series by Holly Black
If you can't even trust your brothers or you mom, life is bleak. Loving the daughter of the biggest crime lord around, also not good. Having an ability everyone wants to use to strengthen their own position? Yeah, better make sure they never find out...
Seriously, ma heart ached for Cassel :(

Karou - Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
The things that girl is forced to do... and her position is even worse at the end of that book than it was at the beginning!

Juliet - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Slandered, beaten, bullied, put away into asylums and detention centers, isolated, forced into electroshock therapy... there's pretty much nothing that girl hasn't been subjected to. And her touch kills. Everyone. Apart from maybe the son of her worst enemy, who used to hold her prisoner.
Yeah, being Juliet truly sucks, despite her incredible powers.

Kaylee - Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent
That girl never gets a moment of peace. Some hellion always wants her soul, or her loved one's souls, or is possessing innocent strangers... her love life isn't a piece of cake either. Though I sure wouldn't mind spending some time with Tod ;)

Matthew Swift - Urban Magic series by Kate Griffin
That dude. Always in over his head! Made Midnight Mayor against his will. Always some crazy sorcerer or fey queen or other strange personified part of the city to deal with. Not to mention the annoyingness and not quite trustworthiness of his own Aldermen. Let's not even talk about the women in his life. The guy doesn't stand a chance. I feel this strange affection for him though. Can't resist the scruffy reluctant hero type with awesome magic, I suppose.


This was actually harder than I thought! What do you think of my picks, and what/who made your list?

Bookish Superlatives Survey

Jamie from the Perpetual Pageturner has come up with a new survey! Remember the A-Z book survey? Well this new one looks like fun too! Click the link to get to her post and participate :)

Characters

Most Likely To Change The World
Tris from Divergent. She's got the courage, the fight, and the principles.

Cutest Couple
This is actually really hard! What does cute mean anyway? There are so many couples I love but whether they're cute is another story. Hm. Maybe Tod and Kaylee from the Soul Screamers series? I also really like Bram and Nora from Dearly, Departed. Yeah I know, we're talking about cute and I give you zombie romance...

Class Clown
Maybe Jamie from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Or Alaska from Looking for Alaska. She sure knows how to pull off a prank. Or no wait! Puck, from the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Puck gets the title.

Most Likely To Become Famous For Their Athletic/Musical/Artistic Abilities
Music: Bailey from Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols.

All Around Good Person
Eddie from Vampire Academy / Bloodlines. He looks out for everyone.

Biggest Flirt
Adrian Ivashkov. Kaidan Rowe. Those guys know how to get a girl's number... 

Most Likely To Be Fought Over 
Noah Shaw from the Mara Dyer series. I can also imagine a lot of people fighting over St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss.

Mostly Likely To Be Friends Forever
Maybe Donna and Navin from Karen Mahoney's Iron Witch series. Or Emma and Kaylee from Soul Screamers. But I'm missing a really great friendship team, I just know it...

Most Likely To Have Their Own Reality Show 
Mimi from the Blue Bloods series. She's definitely conceited enough to have cameras following her everywhere from shopping to her stylist to her parties.

Most Unique
Varen Nethers. I'm not quite sure what he even is exactly but I've never read anyone like him.

Most Likely To Survive An Apocalypse
Katniss from the Hunger Games. That girl would survive just about anything.

Most Likely To Be A Villain
Jesse from Michelle Davidson Argyle's The Breakaway. He already is a criminal but I think he might as well rise in their ranks...
Or Lila from the Curse Workers series. She's a crime family heiress and one badass girl.

Biggest Wallflower
Um... Simon from The Mortal Instruments before he turns into a vampire?

Most Likely To Break Your Heart
Will Herondale. He broke it very badly. Or Noah from the Mara Dyer series. I'm sure he's broken his share of hearts twice over.

Most Changed
Mac from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Starts out as some sort of barbie, becomes one badass fighter against the fae.

Most Likely To Get Arrested
I know so many smartass characters, why won't none of them come to mind?!
Maybe Beth from Dare You To by Katie McGarry.

Self Proclaimed God/Goddess
Jace from The Mortal Instruments. I like the guy, but that ego...
Or Daemon from Obsidian.

Best Person To Bring Home To Mom & Dad
Erm... maybe Hale from Heist Society. You know, he may be a thief but he's also a filthy rich heir and he knows how to behave in polite society and charm people.

Books

Most Likely To Make You Cry 
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. Made me cry sooo hard!! Will, Jem, Tessa. What a knot you make.
Oh and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was book-hungover, and that's not usual with me.

Dares To Be Different (in world, plot, storytelling, etc.) 
In storytelling: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. I also find Holly Black's books to be different and courageous in what she depicts. She also often features LGBT characters.
Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement was also unlike anything else I've read.

Best Dressed (pretty cover!)
Oh my god, only one?! Anyway, I'm still impressed by this one.

Most Likely To Make You Swoon 
I'm not a swooner generally but some of the things Tod Hudson says to Kaylee certainly come close... so maybe If I Die? It's likely to make me cry too though...

Loveliest Prose 
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. Beautiful, beautiful writing. New descriptions and somehow... condensed. I also love all the E.A. Poe references.

Most Likely To Be A Favorite Of 2013
Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind
Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
April Genevieve Tucholke - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Michelle Hodkin - The Evolution of Mara Dyer

I've read a lot of amazing books this year!!

Most Likely To Change The World (or change your life)
Divergent had a very big impact on me concerning who I am and who I want to be.
As for contemporary books, I can recommend Just One Day by Gayle Forman.

Book You Are Most Likely To Keep Putting Off

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Shocking, isn't it? But I'm not sure I'll ever read it. I know I'm not ready for it. I don't feel like opening old wounds, and I know Green's writing well enough to know he'd make me feel it.

Most Likely To End Up As Christmas Gifts For Everyone You Know
Me giving other people books... not necessarily a good idea ^^''
But I think Pushing the Limits or Shadow and Bone would make fairly good presents.

Most Likely To Be Thrown
Does that mean from my collection?
I have an ecopy of Beautiful Disaster that I won. If it was print, I'd gladly throw it out. It glorifies are very unhealthy relationship and the plot is all over the place.

Most Likely To Be Reread More Than Once
The Mara Dyer series. Throne of Glass.  The Infernal Devices series. The Fever series. Loads and loads of books... I really wish I had the time!

Most Likely To Make You Read Through An Earthquake Because It’s THAT Engrossing 
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness was extremely engrossing!

Most Likely To Be Passed On To Your Children

My editions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, illustrated by Alan Lee. They're very beautiful!

Most Likely To Break Your Heart Into A Million Pieces
Isn't that very similar to the make you cry question? Take those from there and add Black Heart by Holly Black to it. It was a great conclusion to the trilogy but it did break my heart at points.

Most Likely To Brighten Up Your Day
Losing It by Cora Carmack. It was a lot of fun! Oh, or Croak by Gina Damico. Funniest novel involving reapers ever XD


Do you agree/disagree with my choices? So often I felt like if you'd have asked me at any other time, I would have come up with much better answers...

Discussion: Do characters/MCs need to be relatable?

As the title says: do you need to be able to relate to a character or like them in order to enjoy a book and form a connection to it?
This is a question I ask myself quite often and that arose a few days ago because I was reading Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. Regina, the protagonist, is someone I both feel sympathy for (she is first almost raped and then ridiculed, outcast and bullied by her former friends) and despise (she used to bully a lot of other people at her school and since I've been a victim of bullying myself, that makes it hard to like her).

However, I think that tension makes her an even more interesting protagonist. I can connect to her and the story, even though I've never been even close to her actual situation or in the kind of toxic girl-group relationship she is stuck in. I enjoyed the tension between these two sides of her and her struggle against herself and her peers.

So in general I think being able to relate to a character is not all that important to me. I don't even have to like them. It just has to be an interesting, complex character. For instance, I don't think many people like Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, but that doesn't mean he isn't interesting or that the book is bad. In some cases I find myself reading the book to a great part because of the villain (or maybe-villain).

Still, I often read in reviews that people liked a book/character because they could relate to him/her, or that they didn't like a book because they couldn't connect with/relate to/like the protagonist. I think there's also a pressure on authors to write this type of character, and sometimes I feel like it shows. For instance, the character is introduced/constructed in such a way that I feel like the author wanted him/her to be as similar to the anticipated reader as possible so they'd like him/her. If it's that transparent, it actually makes me dislike the character. It somehow feels insincere and  like I'm being sucked up to.

Maybe the fundamental question is what you're reading for. Do you want to find characters with traits that are similar to you, want to find someone who is 'like' you? Or do you want to disappear into a story populated with people who are completely different from yourself? I tend to find difference/otherness/strangeness more interesting than similarity/sameness. But that's just me, and it's not absolutely always the case. I guess in the end it comes down to the quality of the writing.

What's your opinion? Do characters need to be relatable? Likeable? Morally upstanding? Is that necessary for you to connect to the story? Or are there other elements that are more important to you in a book? I'd really like to know :)

Discussion: Do you cast your characters while you're reading? How do you imagine them?

Hey guys :)

I want to apologize again for being less active lately, both on the blog and on twitter. There's a lot of change going on in my life right now and I'm trying to deal and find a balance. Mostly I'm just losing myself in one book after the other, which leads to reviews piling up, which leads to me sticking my head in the proverbial sand... yeah.

Anyhow, this is a discussion post! I'd like to talk about how we imagine characters in the books we're reading. I've noticed that a lot of bloggers (and also authors) 'cast' the people in the books they read or write, i.e. choose pictures of actors or models they think represent or resemble the character.

I can never resist an opportunity to show off this cover

Apart from the fact that I'd be way too lazy to search through all those pictures of hot dudes and ladies (because let's face it, they usually are good-looking) I admit I personally don't really see the point. When I imagine a character, they never resemble any other person I've ever seen before, be it from my own life or from a movie/advert/whatever. They just pop into my head as I read them. Even if there is no clear description from the get-go, I always have an image in my head that  I can then adapt/concreticize. Before seeing all those casting posts, the idea of looking for that type of pictures never crossed my mind. But I've seen in a lot in guest posts or on authors' Pinterest boards.

The only thing I admit to is that I sometimes 'lift' a character off the cover if I like it a lot. For Nevermore trilogy is someone I imagine pretty much exactly like the guy on the book cover. Same with Daemon from Obsidian, because that guy is so in-your-face everywhere before you even start reading the book that it's impossible to picture him any other way :P
instance, Varen in Kelly Creagh's

So I'm interested... am I the only one who isn't into casting characters? Those of you who do it... why? Or why not? Or how? I'm curious :)
Also more generally, how does the 'imagining characters process' work in your brains? Do you base them on other people? Do you even 'see' the book in your head like a movie at all when you're reading? The reading process is something I find absolutely fascinating and I'd love to hear how you experience it!