TGIF! {3}...or {4}, I've Lost Count

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by the ah-mazing Ginger of GReads as a basic recapping of the week and a question for her followers to answer/ask their own followers. Simply, it's awesome and makes you feel "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY." Go and join. Now.


Q. Love-hate relationship: Which characters from a book do you love to hate?

Hoo boy. This is going to be good, because I know for a fact that one character I DESPISE in particular is a heroine that most people adore and consequently rebuke (fuss, fume, throw rolling pins at me) for not liking her as well.

But hey, there's no accounting for taste.

Literary Losers (Or, If the World Thought According to Kaye)

Capricorn from Inkheart 

Let's face it - the guy is UGH-LY. Not to mention cruel, sadistic, a bit too obsessed with his evil pet, and at the same time hooked on Meggie's dad for most of the story. Doesn't anyone else find his whole "You must obey me, Silvertongue" hissing a bit...freaky?

Bella Swan from Twilight


Not even going to waste my time. Next.

Amy March from Little Women

Okay, so this might just be the disappointed elementary school girl within lisping, "But I want Jo and Laurie!" But who didn't? (If you were one of those people, please...don't say anything.) Besides, blond curls and simpering smiles may be nice, for the honeymoon period at least, but I don't think I'd want to stick around the first time she throws a tantrum about Laurie's socks not matching hers.

Mrs. Reed from Jane Eyre

I think she's right up there with Blanche Ingram - selfish, narrow-minded, grasping creatures they both are. Of course, you can't help but pity Mrs. Reed a little (her own daughters don't even cry when she dies, and her beloved son has dragged her down with him) but still...

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games

*scratched record*

...Okay, this is the part where you go, "SAY WHAT?!"

Go ahead. Get it out of your system.

Alright, let's continue.

Sometimes, I feel a little...unusual for not liking Katniss - especially when my friend gave me a long lecture on how independent she is, how kind, how firm, how both Peeta and Gale ADORE her (again, no accounting for taste...I mean, Cinderella's dad thought her new stepmother was the one. Romantic ties don't really amount to much in character)...

The truth is, I really couldn't connect to her. At all. I couldn't see her as this wonderful, all-encompassing girl-hero - just an unlikely shoe-in that begins a bloody revolution simply because she wears this dress that's on fire.

...Really?

Of course, this is just my opinion. If you can tell me something that I've missed about Katniss (or, wonder of wonders, Bella Swan) please, go ahead. Sometimes I do change my aspect on a book once I reread it or someone's pointed out a new point of view.

The Week in Recap

Victoria Schwab's The Near Witch 

Waiting on Wednesday: Dark Eyes

What I Am Reading Today/This Weekend (If You're Interested)

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

 Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Coming Up Next Week

I try to catch up on reviews and instead write posts for memes. As usual.

In other news, I am trying to draw up a list of books I should read to enhance my library visits (ie. keep me from running around the YA section frantically and irritating my younger sister with my lack of organization). Do you have any recommendations? They'd be much appreciated.

TGIF! {1}

Q. TBRs - How big is your pile? Which book keeps getting pushed down the stack, but you keep meaning to read it?

Oh, gosh. I knew this question would come to haunt me someday. At least, I can be happy to admit that my pile has (recently) become organized. I'm currently using a crate on the side of my working table to keep all my library books in - pretty much the bulk of my reading supply.

At the moment, since yesterday was my shelf-foraging day (I kid you not, I act like a hunter when it comes to searching for new books. I think I might have scared my YA librarian into making sure the new additions are always where I can see them - or else), I have a total of eight books in the pile. Really, though, they're all so thick that it looks much worse. Next time, I ought to take a picture.

Of course, I also have two giveaway books - and another three on the way - that will need to be accounted for, and at least ten NetGalley copies on my Kindle that I haven't even touched. And if you add all those overdue reviews from this summer to the picture...

*sighs* I'd better go and start writing a few so I can at least be caught up before I turn eighty.

A book that keeps getting pushed down the stack? Well, as a rule, I usually put aside books that our library had for a while, and any books that are sent to me as winnings, which means that I own it and thus it can gather dust until a rainy day slash hurricane slash apocalyptic event when I cannot make it to the library - read: never.

Right now, that's Juliet by Anne Fortier (from Random Buzzers) and The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, vol. III by Diana Wynne Jones (library copy that's a gazillion years old and is always on the shelf, but I can't seem to bear parting with it).

Well, now you know all my deep, dark, disorganized secrets. I'm off to straighten up the pile a little and make it look like less of a Mount Everest.

Follow Friday and TGIF (81911)

Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

Well. Confession time. As a writer, I'm pretty sure every character I've written to date has at least a smidgen of my personality somewhere within their inky veins. Most of the time, it manifests in a constant supply of big brothers (I always wanted a big brother, but being the eldest in the family - and a girl - you can see that never really happened), or sometimes a heroine that makes her male adversaries break down and start trembling at the knees.

Yeah. I'm not boasting or anything, but have you ever seen that button that reads "I make boys cry"? That's me. In real life. Totally true story.

That being said, to really put specifics to this question, I think I'd most like to be my main character in my newest work-in-progress (which is the one that I really want to query, fingers crossed!) She's fiery, she's beautiful, and she's got...bottoms...to kick and names to take.

Alright. That's my over-share for the day.

Have you ever read a book and not wanted to review it? Are some books too personal that we want to keep our thoughts our own?

Okay, here's the thing. When I don't want to review a book, it usually means that it was too disappointing, or not my cup of tea, or confusing (read: I HATED IT) and I don't know what to say without having a league of irritated fans chasing me down with pitchforks and razor-sharp comments.

(Prime example: my review of Ashfall. If you don't know what happened there, I won't be the one to fill you in. Suffice it to say that when I hate a book, it's probably better for all involved that I keep silent.)

If I really love a book, I will try my best to get that love out there. Often, I won't be able to find the right words to say about it ("Um, there was this part where she just...and then he...yeah, it was awesome") but sometimes you just have to let those emotions out without knowing how you're going to be able to express them.

Coming up from Kaye!

As you can see, the blog has been neglected for a bit, and for that I apologize. The reality of the matter is that Ramadan started and I usually don't read during that period because when I read fiction I go into this other world and thinking about unicorns and dashing heroes in leather jackets doesn't really go with religious fasting and thinking of those who don't have what we do.

Whew. That was a lot.

Anyways, I should be tip-top and back on schedule with a TON of new reviews and such around the 30th (which is when Ramadan ends). In the meantime, you'll probably see me around on Twitter, or entering hundreds of giveaways I haven't a prayer of winning. 

(Speaking of giveaways, the Maryrose Wood giveaway is still open and running. Keep that in mind if you're looking to win some total awesomeness.)

And the renovation, you ask?

To be honest, I'm not sure anymore whether a complete overhaul is necessary, or if I just need a little housekeeping. We'll have to see how it goes. 

TGIF! {2}

"What's the last book you could not finish, or had a hard time finishing?"

Usually, I try to dig my heels in and finish a book to the last page, if only for the sake of satisfying myself with a (mostly) scathing review later on.

That isn't to say that I enjoy writing scathing reviews. I mean, sometimes a girl expects to have something in return for forcing herself to swallow her medicine without the spoonful of sugar, you know?

That being said, I gathered up four titles that I recently had trouble finishing, or didn't finish at all (and as I mentioned before, thanks to my mule-like personality, that list is extremely small).

Here we go now.

1. The Secret of Castle Cant by K.P. Bath - Ugh, just typing his name gives me the creeps. If you've been following my blog before this, or even if you haven't, check out my post on exactly why you should never give this to your children, and why it's probably the only book in America I'd condone taking off the shelves completely.   

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - It just wasn't my thing. I'm becoming increasingly disappointed in paranormal YA and how everyone copies everyone else (and you probably have seen some titles and know what I mean). I might try to finish it when I, a) have nothing better to read, and b) for the honor of a good friend who insists it's one of the greatest series of all time.


3. Fury by Elizabeth Miles - He did. She did. *yawns* Next. 

4. Mockinjay by Suzanne Collins - Now before you get like this...

Ha ha. Minions are awesome. Ahem, anyway, before you get all ticked off and tell me how great The Hunger Games series is, let me tell you: I hate Katniss. I'll spare you the rant on how much, but after my sister read it and told me that FINNICK WAS KILLED OFF. FINNICK I TELL YOU!  I had it. And yes, I know Peeta was the one who saddled himself with Katniss for the rest of his life. He has my sympathies.

 So that's it for this week. I'm surprised I actually posted this meme at all - I'm having a really lazy Friday - but, if you want to know what else is going on with me, I'm headed out to the library, so there should be a little post on that tomorrow.

Have a good weekend, guys!

TGIF! {1}

Mr. and Mrs: Who are your favorite book couples?

Alright. At first, I looked at the question and was like, "Who are my favorite book couples?" And then I started making a list on the side and was like, "Oh man, gotta pick only a few of them."

So I did a Top Ten Countdown (not in terms of least to best, but more of just jotting them down as they come to me). Prepare yourself for romantic overload.

#10 

:: Percy Jackson and the Olympians :: 

Percy and Annabeth

  Alright. I cannot tolerate the idea of this pairing being called a "Percabeth". In my head, it always comes out "Porkabeth" and then I start thinking of Porky Pig (don't ask; I don't even understand the way my own mind works sometimes). To make a long story short, I think that Percy and Annabeth are absolutely adowable. I mean, growing up together (for the most part), fighting monsters and being able to understand those dylexia issues and couple visits to Olympus...what more could you want?

On a side note... I cannot tolerate Logan Lerman. He is not my idea of Percy Jackson, and he never will be. That also goes for what's-her-face Annabeth. Unfortunately, thanks to Hollywood, they are the only faces I see in my head. So yeah.

#9

:: A Wrinkle in Time ::

Meg and Calvin 

When I was younger, Meg and Calvin were the ultimate sweet couple IMO. I always remember that moment when Calvin takes away Meg's glasses and tells her to keep them on around other guys because she has "dreamboat" eyes. Guh.

#8

:: Avalon High ::

Will and Ellie 

I love this book. Love, love, love this book. Ellie is still one of my favorite female characters and Will - Will is just amazing. He's the perfect young reincarnation of King Arthur, even if he doesn't know it yet, and I was so relieved that he wasn't going to go with Guinevere after all. I mean, their love story is practically nonexistent in the first place. I could see Arthur and The Lady of the Lake having better chemistry. The manga spin-off totally disappointed me because WILL TOTALLY LOOKED LIKE A GIRL. No joke. I haven't seen the movie yet. I'm a bit afraid to.

#7

::  Northanger Abbey ::

Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland 

Yep, surprised you, didn't I? Well, when all is said and done, I adore all Austen couples (and yes, I know that the author herself was a spinster, stop rubbing it in), but to me, Henry and Catherine were more realistic. Misunderstandings, daddy issues, betrayals...And *cough cough* I might see a little too much of myself in Catherine sometimes - with the engrossed in reading and writing and living out this entire fantasy in my head with me as the main character...wait, ignore the last part.  At least that means there's a practical Henry to level me out somewhere out there.

#6

:: The Gallagher Girls ::

Zach and Cammy

To me, Zack works so much better with Cammy. He's in the espionage business, for one thing - no secrets to break the relationship - and who can resist a guy who knows at least a hundred different ways of defending himself? No wusses welcome here, boys.

#5

:: Heist Society ::

Hale and Katerina 

Hale, Hale, Hale. He's so debonair, so self-assured, and he has a sense of humor too. What's there not to like? He and Kat have this whole tug of war thing going on that makes you just want to push them together and be like, "Aww! You guys are so cute!"

Ahem. Anyway, their relationship is one of the main reasons I'm looking forward to Uncommon Criminals.

#4

:: Shiver ::

Sam and Grace

He's a werewolf singer-songwriter. She's a young girl who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Just looking at the book on the library shelf is enough to give me a shiver - but in the best sort of ways. I cannot even tell you how much I loved this story. Really. I won't be able to do justice to it. It's one of those things you have to read to understand for yourself.

(And no, not in the Twilight way. More in the lyrical "this poem just gets to me" way.)

#3

:: Taming of the Shrew ::

Petruchio and Kate 

Sorry, folks. Romeo and Juliet don't cut it.

Kate is the right type of heroine: fiery, still holding her spark even if love mellows her out a bit. If they could make Petruchio the way I see him - in his twenties, without the beer belly and moustache that most actors seem to wear for the part - it would be positively perfect.

#2

:: Howl's Moving Castle ::

Howl and Sophie

 

 

 

Honestly? They make such a good couple. The sensible, cautious, and almost boringly ordinary (at least in her own eyes) Sophie with the literal creator of the term "drama king" - and I say this with all due affection. If you haven't read the book or seen the cartoon, do so. Just have your hankies ready.

 

#1

:: Leviathan ::

Alek and Deryn

 Oh yeah. You're probably sick of hearing about it now.

Too bad. 'S my blog and I can talk about what I want.

Sure, Alek might not even be aware of the fact that Deryn is a girl yet, but Mr. Westerfield is going to fix that this fall, won't you, Mr. Westerfield? (Please keep in mind that I have a league of steampunk fans behind me also rooting for the same goal. You know, if your pen happens to slip and things don't work out between Deryn and Alek. Just remember that.)

***Bonus Couple***

Ron and Hermione 

   Okay, I've never read Harry Potter, but I've read enough of the fanfic and seen movie clips to vote on Ron and Hermione as the best couple. And, thanks to Emma and Rupert, quite adorable as well.