Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Secondary Characters

Every week, The Broke and the Bookish hosts Top Ten Tuesday.

This week, the topic is:

Top Ten Favorite Secondary Characters:

1. CooRoo from The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea:

CooRoo is the children's guide through the mysterious world of fey,

and I love him to death.

2. Puddeneen from The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea:

Puddeneen is a bewildered frog who is put to work by The Morrigan.

3. The Nac Mac Feegle from Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching Series:

There have never been secondary characters that make me laugh so danged much.

Now, you might argue that they're the main characters as well... but really,

these books are about Tiffany, and she is THE main character... so I'm counting the Feegle as supporting cast, HILARIOUS supporting cast.

4. Belen and The Monkeys from Maria V. Snyder's Healer Series:

Ok, time to fess up... it's safe to say that when reading these guilty pleasures (aka, any book written by Maria V. Snyder)... I always seem to like the secondary characters more than the main ones... so I put a few of my favs on this list... but it really counts for every book she writes, LOL.

5. Dog from Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett:

Really... the whole concept is just too funny.

6. Tom Bombadil from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:

There, I said it, I loved Tom Bombadil...

was I sad they left him out of the movies?

No.

He would have been a bit too wacky for the mood Jackson was setting,

I think, but I still love his character.

7.  Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

What can I say, I love the quirky oddballs :)

8. Mouse from The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:

Harry's pet Foo Dog... Mouse is just about the coolest dog EVER.

9. Beth from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:

She was just such a tragic sweetheart, and my favorite sister.

10. Nico di Angelo from The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan:

I also like the darker characters... lol.

Top Ten Tuesday

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Top Ten Books on my TBR List for Summer 2013!

1. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Have I been hearing anything other than rave reviews about this book?

Nope. I want it, I want it now!

 2. The Long War by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter
I'm always up for some Pratchett, and with Baxter's tendency to blow up the world,

this could prove to be an interesting book.

 3. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I received this one as a request to review... so it's next on my list. :)

The funny thing... even though I was contacted to read this... I'd always wanted to read it anyways.

4.The Age of Zeus by James Lovegrove

So, I read The Age of Ra... and honestly, I'm still not sure exactly how much I did, or didn't, like it... so I figure I'll at least try to make it through two or three in the series before making any final decisions... the story was amusing, but of course, the gods were entirely predictable.

5. Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey

I just read the first in the Sandman Slim series... so, yeah... all the Kadrey books on this list are part of Sandman Slim's book series. I loved the first one, it's a GREAT summer read. I devoured book one in a matter of hours.

6. Aloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey

7. Devil Said Bang by Richard Kadrey

8. Kill City Blues by Richard Kadrey

9. The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

I LOVE Leviathan, Goliath and Behemoth... soo, so, so much, so I figured I'd give another Westerfeld book a try and see if I love his writing style as much as I love those books.

10. We, THE DROWNED by Carsten Jensen

I'm going to be honest... I don't know a thing about this book. I saw it on the shelf... and lately I've just not been feelin' the YA genre, so I've been branching off and grabbing adult fiction (Sandman Slim, The Age of Ra? Yeah...) and this just happens to be one of them.

Top Ten Tuesday

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When I first sat down to make this week's top 10 list of

The Top 10 Series I have Yet to Finish,

I thought it would be really hard...

then I realized... NOPE.

I have more unfinished series than I thought! 

If the title is in RED, it means that's a series I don't intend to ever pick back up again!

1. The Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie

I read the first book in this series... but I probably won't read the rest unless someone gives them to
me for free. I just wasn't impressed.This was a series where I expected more because of all the hype, and all the talk of the author's contract.

2. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

I've read the first book, which I enjoyed... but then I stumbled on a spoiler on someone's blog (someone not considerate enough to mark that their post contained spoilers) and it just sort of killed my desire to read any more of it. Will I pick it up again someday? Yes, I already own the first three, so I might as well read them.

3. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

Here is a book that I felt was just over hyped all around. I mean, yeah, it's really cool that a kid got published (but it wasn't like he didn't have connections), or dedicated himself to something so passionately... but the writing, plot and pacing are all very beginner when it comes to fantasy. His book was a vivid map of all the greater fantasy writers that came before him. It offered nothing original. I won't be reading the rest of this series.. I did *try* to read book two... but when I was hit with the million page recap of book one, I gave up.

4. The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik

I really loved the first book in this series... but the second book was *literally* a slow boat to China. It bored me to tears, nothing happened, and reading it was tedious. THEN I was told that about every other book in this series is a slow trip to somewhere... so I stopped reading it after book two.

5. The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie

I have no excuse. I've read book one and two, and only have book three left to read... and this series is AWESOME... I mean it, if you like fantasy, pick this series up. NOW. Obviously I will read book three... but for whatever reason, I've put it off... since I read book one and two over 2 years ago now.

6. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

I will never pick this series back up. I read it through the beginning of book three and realized it was just the same story over and over and over. Not to mention that the author didn't know when to quit, and went well beyond the original number of books that were supposed to be published.

7. The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

I LOVE this series... LOVE IT. I have been reading it since long before the hype, and after the wait for this last book (and the wait was a doozy)... I just can't bring myself to rush into the latest release in this series... because I absolutely fear it'll be another almost decade long wait for the next one ;_;
Will I read it? Heck yeah... but I'm in no hurry.

8. The Abarat series by Clive Barker

Another series I really, really love... but it took Barker 8 years to release the third book. Now... granted, the man had an excellent excuse (very traumatic health issues)... but I am in no hurry to read the third book (which I own, it's sitting on my shelf at this very moment) until the next one comes out.

9. The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

I've read through book 17 in this series... but have just kind of lost my momentum on it. They're fun, light summer reads,  and I'm sure I'll read another one someday... but at the moment, I just don't feel like picking them back up.

10. The Age of Unreason series by Gregory Keyes

I've read the first book, Newton's Cannon, and loved it... and I will read the rest, eventually... but every time I go to buy it or check it out, my boyfriend goes, "But I OWN that entire series!" Unfortunately, they're packed in a box in our basement somewhere, so until he gets off his duff and finds them, I won't be reading them, LOL.

Please feel free to stop by and check out my reviews of two other series:

Barnaby Grimes

Anna Dressed in Blood

What am I reading? and Top Ten Tuesday

Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce

I am only 2.5 stories in, but so far I'm enjoying it.

The Foundling by D.M. Cornish

been reading this one for a while. I've read it before and love it... but I'm taking my time because I'm waiting to borrow the third book in the series from friends, and they aren't done with it yet.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Just finished this one this morning... still processing my opinions on what I've read. Review to come shortly.

Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves

(to join in, go to THIS BLOG)

1. Series, there... I said it. I am so sick of reading a book, getting to the end, and finding out it's part of a series. Whatever happened to books that could wrap it up in one go? Not to mention that half the series out there are YA books that *really* should have had their story wrapped up in the first book, but that are being dragged out... often painfully... so as to make more profit in book sales.

2. Bad Editing. I swear, I am finding more and more spelling errors, grammar errors and just plain typos in books these days. Is it because I'm reading more? Am I more sensitive to these things now? Or are publishers just trying to push out too much too fast? I have no idea, but they detract from the story... because they pull me out of the story and remind me I'm reading a book.

3. Crowd Mentality: I read so many blogs that hype books that are coming out, all of them proclaiming, "OMG BEST BOOK EVER!"... and then I read the book and think, best case, it's mediocre. Worst case, it's pure drivel. I have a hard time believing so many people really think it's so awesome... I am more prone to believe that they are afraid to go against the grain and say they thought it sucked... because I've seen what happens to people who do that. They get flamed for disliking something. I read a review of a reader who hated The Hunger Games... and while I disagreed, I thought their review made some really valid points and could absolutely see where they came from, and thanked them for their thoughts, because they forced me to look at the book from a new perspective. Sometimes it's ok to be a hater. :P

4. Mary Sue: I hate characters that can do everything, have everything and it's obvious ten pages into the book that they're going to win, because they're pretty much Superman without Kryptonite.

5. Weak Endings: I hate reading a good, action packed book, getting to the end and having it be a let down. Two examples? Jaws (I much prefer the movie ending over the book ending) and Wicked (I really felt like, after building such an interesting, deep character, the author shoved the Wicked Witch into her movie role... kind of like cramming your foot into a too small shoe, based on the character he built, I really thought he needed to work harder to turn her into the Wicked Witch Dorothy fought)

6. Authors who insist on writing series, and then don't work on them: George R. R. Martin and Clive Barker... I'm looking at YOU.

7. Love Triangles: Do I need to say more? Ok, I'm really sick of book plots being usurped by love triangles. Yes, teenagers are horny... but no, when the world is ending, or monsters are trying to eat you... I don't think even teenagers would only think about how dreamy one boy is is... but how warm and reliable another boy is.

8. Plot Holes: Sometimes, things really DO need to be explained.

9. Introducing a major plot device/character at the end of a book or series: Ok, Rowling, I'm looking at you. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Harry Potter... but it really irks me that Rowling waits until the last book to mention the Deathly Hallows... I mean... that's a major series plot issue... you would have thought something like that could have been mentioned before hand. Heck, in the first book it's said that Invisibility cloaks are rare... what isn't mentioned is that there's only one, ever. That's beyond rare. It's one of a kind... you'd think that would have been something that wizarding born and raised kids would have picked up on. I also hate it when the character that saves the day shows up at the end of a book and hasn't been at all hinted to earlier in the book/series. Convenient, anyone?

10. Discrediting Graphic Novels because they're Graphic Novels: Often times people think that because it's a comic, it's not literature. All a graphic novel really does is cut down on the telling by involving more showing. There's no need to describe a setting when you can see it. That does not make what is written there worthy of less recognition than a novel. Case in point? Maus.

Top Ten Tuesday

 

 

Top Ten Inspirational Characters

 

Ok, here goes:

 

~1~

Atticus Finch

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

For me, he's the most Inspiration Fictional Character out there. To this very day, I use him as a moral compass... and often wonder... "Would Atticus disapprove?" Atticus inspires me to be a better person, always.

~2~

Miki

Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi

Ok... so this may seem silly to a lot of people... but I was absolutely inspired by this character to work harder and stop complaining. I know it's dumb... but... the dogged perseverance that is shown by quite a few shojo manga girls actually has made me stop and think, "What the heck AM I complaining about?"

~3~

Boxer

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Hmm, maybe this wasn't what was meant by Inspirational... but... Boxer has always inspired me to look out for those who, for whatever reason, cannot look out for themselves. The world is full of hard-working, just people who get trampled and discarded for reasons that are unbelievable. Boxer inspires me to pay attention.

~4~

The Lorax

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

No character has ever struck the fear of global destruction at the hands of man into me the same way that the Lorax did. I was a child, I was petrified, and after reading this book, I took The Lorax's words to heart.

~5~

Horton

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Suess

Ok... listen... we're talking about Inspirational characters, and I'm not picking ones that I *think* other people will go, "Oh yeah... Soooooo inspirational"... I'm picking ones that have influenced me personally to a degree where it actually changed my thinking, or my way of life.... so... on to another Dr. Suess character. Horton changed my way of thinking with one little sentence.

A person's a person, no matter how small.

~6~

Big Brother

1984 by George Orwell

No other character has inspired me to spend more time looking over my shoulder, checking behind paintings and being suspicious of television. Seriously. I spent weeks being paranoid after reading this book... Big Brother struck a fear into my heart like no other character ever has.

~7~

Naruto

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto

I know. Trust me, I know... but hear me out. He's a ninja... a good ninja... in an orange jumpsuit. ORANGE! It's not so much that he profoundly changed my world... but he made me realize that a lot of the time, things are mostly about perspective. Sometimes, it really is effort and will that carry you through. Not everything is going to be easy. Not every ninja gets a camouflage jumpsuit to work with.

~8~

Ebenezer Scrooge

A Chirstmas Carol by Charles Dickens

He's a fascinating character... spending most of the book as the villian... he teaches us all that redemption is possible... no matter how cold and cruel one might be.

~9~

Gollum

Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

He inspires me, every day, to not become obsessed with possessions and material things. Yikes.

~10~

The Nac Mac Feegle

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

These small, goofy characters have been the inspiration for many of my mad, hair-brained schemes that I pull off without apologies. They have taught me never to apologize for doing what needs to be done, that it's ok to steal from those who deserve stealing from (ok, maybe that's not such a great lesson... but it is applicable, sometimes, really it is) and that sometimes you just have to shout 'ACH CRIVENS' before everything will seem ok again.

Top Ten Tuesday

This week I have decided to participate in

Click the Picture to join in

and the topic for this week is:

Top Ten Bookish Resolutions 

1. Review more manga:  I read manga ALL the time... and do I usually review it? No. Why not? Because I read so much of it, and so fast... that often I forget about it because I'm already trying to work on my next book review... so I am going to try to be better about sharing the manga I do read with the rest of you.
2.  Check out more Library books:  My boyfriend WORKS at a library for goodness sake... all I have to do is ask him to pick me something up. I *have* been asking him to check me out Terry Pratchett audio books (how many times have I listened to the Wee Free Men now?!) but I need to utilize this option more.
3. Work hard to keep to my "daily theme":  This is something new that I've just implemented this year, in an effort to try to keep my blog posts on track. Often I feel like I'm just flailing about, trying to remember to do this or that. Well... now I have a schedule. :)
4. Buy Bookshelves:  Oh yeah, it's time. I have too many books, not enough bookshelves.
5. Buy a Kindle:  I have all these awesome downloads waiting for me at NetGalley... but I can't... CAN'T (thanks to migraines) read pdfs on my computer... and I'm certainly not going to print them all out! So... it's time to bite the bullet and buy a Kindle.
6. Work on my review style:  Right now I'm ok with my review style, but I'm not loving it. I've set it up in an 'answer the question' sort of style, mostly so people reading my reviews can just skip to the parts they're interested in. I HATE when I'm reading a review and can't ever actually find the person's opinion on the book... I'm going for ease for the reader here. At the same time though, I want a more informed review. I've read some really wonderfully intelligent reviews and I feel mine are still just sort of namby-pamby and stupid sounding. I need to work harder.
7. Really *think* about why do I or don't like a book:  A lot of times, when I finish a book, I just have this gut feeling about my overall attitude towards it. "It was boring" "The characters were lame" "I really loved this" "It was action packed"... but responses like that really aren't any better than reviews that say "OMGZ I LUV THIS!"... and that bothers me. I've read reviews by bloggers who have HATED books I love... and after reading their reviews, I sat there thinking, "Oh, yeah, I absolutely see where they're coming from..." and can agree with them... while still loving the book. So I'd really like to spend more time focusing on the whys, and what informs those whys, and where they come from... and how I can write my reviews so as to get the right person to the right book... and not just direct everyone to a book that I love because I love it for reasons I can't even explain to myself.
8. Work on the style of my book blog:  I think it could be a little cooler. I've seen quite a lot of blogs with some pretty neat features. I don't want it to be confusing though. I've also stumbled across A LOT of really confusing to navigate book blogs, and to be honest, when I can't find something after about 30 seconds, I give up.
9. Research and participation:  The book blogging world requires quite a lot of research and participation. I need to sit down and schedule time to work on this book blogging stuff... not just throw it in when I can fit it.
10. Read Faster:  I average about a book a week... but, I want to read more. I've set my goal for this year at 55 books. I want to surpass that. At the same time though, I don't want to miss out on aspects of the story because I was reading too fast. GAH.

 

Now on to "Currently Reading Tuesday" 

 

 Right now I'm reading Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. It's a steampunk novel, and I've never read one of those before, and so far, I'm loving it. There are interesting little mechanical gadgets everywhere, and I can just imagine the outfits, with the worn leather and faded colors.

The story itself is pretty interesting. It's set back in Civil War period Seattle, and the city has been destroyed, divided, and in some parts, overrun with zombies.

Last night I just finished up The Walking Dead: Compendium 1... and I have to say, Compendium 1 went out with a bang. A terrifying, terrifying bang. This one is a good read, but not for the weak stomached. There is blood, gore, violence of all kinds, sex, and murder. Not to mention sadistic acts, insanity and overall wickedness of the human spirit.

 

 

I also am reading Bakuman!... which is the next Manga by the creators of Deathnote. So far, it's pretty entertaining, although I am suspicious of it taking a darker turn. I'm not sure it will... but considering the source of its creation (Deathnote was pretty dark) and the fact that there are already obviously insane characters in it... I'm a bit worried that I'm going to see these main boys spiral into insanity... then again... a friend of mine read the same series in Shonen Jump and said to me, "Is it wrong I just thought it was an uplifting story of two boys trying really hard?" and I told her, "No, no it is not. I hope that's what it is" :)