DISCUSSION: Elements of an Excellent Story

I've been wondering lately what exactly it is that makes a story excellent. Is it the plot? The world? The characters? Finally, I settled on two elements:

COMPLEX CHARACTERS

Cookie-cutter characters are quite dull, and they show up all over the place. You know them when you see them. They have one or two relatable aspects to their characters, but they have no distinct qualities to make them memorable or interesting. 

Instead of cookie-cutter characters, I look for people. I look for the type of characters who have multiple defining qualities, who are not purely good or bad, but are a mixture. Real. Authentic. I look for a character I haven't read before. A voice that is distinct, honest, and opinionated. A voice that is or is not like my own. 

Examples:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (review): Celaena grows and changes throughout this book – she’s fierce, but still girly. An assassin who is still vulnerable. Brave but sometimes afraid. She’s not either / or, she’s a complicated, multifaceted person.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab (review): I don’t think there’s a single 100% good character in this novel, and I adore it for that reason. The bad guys have a good side, the good guys have a bad side, and it’s easy to find yourself rooting for the supposed villain.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (review): Narrated by Tinker Bell, Tink makes this story feel like a 3rd person narrative due to her focus on Tiger Lily. Yet, both Tiger Lily and Tink end up being developed as fascinating girls with messy personalities.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy by Rae Carson: I kind of hated Elisa in the first novel. She was always whining, a bit dull, and difficult to like. But in the second novel? I adored her. Third novel? Loved her even more. If you want to see a character develop and change, Elisa is a good example.

A UNIQUE HOOK

By hook, I merely mean something that makes this book stand out from all the others. If it’s contemporary, what makes it unique from all the other contemporary stories? If it’s fantasy, what makes the world different?

It does not necessarily have to be never-been-done-before. It does not have to be entirely unique, even a slightly different hook will suffice. It just needs to have an element of interest and intrigue to the story or character. I need something to grasp, something different, something to make me eager to read, and curious to know more. A story with a unique hook is a story that makes readers pay attention by taking the familiar and giving it a twist. 

Examples:

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (review): A contemporary novel where the main characters’ love letters are accidentally mailed to the guys. It’s a simple, cute, awkward concept, and Han pulls it off wonderfully.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (review): Traveling to Central America, plus the author’s artwork is included. Both act as excellent hooks, and they are the reason I picked this book up (and so glad I did because the words, the art, and the descriptions are wonderful).

The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy by Rae Carson (review): While the princess / chosen one concept is popular, Elisa has something different about her that I hadn’t read before – Godstone. Very strange and peculiar, but it was enough to intrigue me.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King (review): Lucky Linderman and his dreams - I'm not going to say anything more, but the magical realism of this story is well done. 

What do you think are the elements of a good story? What elements make you love your favorite stories? Let me know what you think in the comments! 

Highlights & Lowlights: Brick-and-Mortar Bookstores

Highlight: BOOKS. BOOKS EVERYWHERE. Bookstores are pretty much like heaven for bookworms. You walk in, and there are books all over the place. How is that not awesome?

Lowlight:  If it's not on the shelves, they might not have it. Unlike the magical online bookstore that can hold all the books in the world, physical bookstores can only house so many books. Sometimes they hide a few books in the back rooms, but the odds are low. Certain books, possibly including that one you really want, might not ever make it to the shelves.

Highlight: Awesome bookish people. It's always fun to interact with other bookish people, and bookstores are the easiest place (besides a library) to find them.

Lowlight:  Snobby bookish people. You know the type - the ones that give you that LOOK when they see you head into your preferred genre section. Half the time I go through the YA bookshelves, I get the LOOK or even a comment like "you're not going to read that, are you?" - Yes. Yes, I will.

Kimberly Derting, Jessi Kirby, Suzanne Young, Sarah Ockler, Shannon Messenger, Morgan Matson

Highlight: Book signings / author events! I love my sort-of-local-but-not-really indie bookstores, because they host some fantastic book signings with authors I can fangirl over. It's so strange, but fun, to meet authors, other bloggers, and fellow readers. Thanks to bookstores, I've met authors such as Lauren Oliver, Leigh Bardugo, Marissa Meyer, Gayle Forman, Nina LaCour, Kristin Cashore, and more. 

Lowlight: Expensive. This is the biggest reason why I tend to buy most of my books online. It's so expensive to shop at a bookstore. If they offered more discounts, instead of forcing me to buy books at full price, I would buy all of my books at bookstores.

Highlight: Awesome salespeople. Booksellers are fantastic. They're willing to look high and low for that one book you really want, and if they don't have it in stock, they try their best to find a solution. *high five, awesome booksellers*

Lowlight: Pushy salespeople. I realize you're just trying to do your job, but if I don't ask for your help, it means that I do not need help. Fortunately, I've only had this problem a few times, since most booksellers are usually relaxed and kind. It's only in rare instances where a bookseller will refuse to leave me alone.

 

Highlight: Free swag! At some bookstore events, they might have free bookish swag (sometimes from the authors and publishers, although I've been to bookstores that have their own free bookmarks). I love posters / bookmarks / buttons / et cetera, so this is always a highlight.

Highlight: Atmosphere. I honestly do not know how to describe it, but bookstores have a great atmosphere. You walk in, and everything feels amazing. The mood is outstanding in bookstores. You can't replicate that with online bookstores.

Highlight: Book recommendations. Can't decide what to buy? Odds are, your bookstore has some sort of recommendation display. Other times, you can ask a salesperson and they'll usually have one or two books they can name off the top of their head. Or, you can just spy on other book buyers and see what they are buying...

Highlight: Reading is encouraged. I love any place that encourages people to grab a table, a book, and pull up a chair, so bookstores automatically earn my adoration. Not all bookstores encourage this, but some do tend to set up little reading sections for visitors to enjoy. 

In the end, I obviously adore bookstores. 

What do you love and hate about bookstores? Let me know in the comments!

Dear Book Banners,

I started falling in love with books when I was eleven or twelve years old, and my parents happily agreed with my newly discovered hobby. They brought me to the bookstore once every few months, and would buy me two or three books of my choice. When I strolled into Borders, I walked straight for the TEEN / YOUNG ADULT section. I browsed the shelves, made my choices, and told my parents when I was done. We went to the checkout counter, paid, left, and I thanked them. Every single trip, it was the same thing. 

My parents never, not once, asked to see my book choices. 

You might think, well, maybe you had parents who expose their children to anything, appropriate or not. Or, maybe even you had terrible parents who did not care about you enough to worry about your reading material. You would be wrong in both cases. My parents have always been very protective and concerned about me. They knew where I was at all times, who I was with, what I was doing, and were always present in my life. They always made sure that I was making good choices in my life. 

So, why did my (slightly controlling) parents never check my book choices? 

It is because my parents trusted me. They trusted me to know what I was ready to read and to know right from wrong (and be able to discern both from the content of my newly purchased novels). They trusted me to make good decisions, to use books as a learning experience. They trusted me to realize that novels are not real, and that my life will not always reflect the ones presented in the story. 

I’m sure they realized, at one point or another, that some of those YA novels featured sex, drugs, alcohol, cursing, and et cetera. But, they still encouraged my reading. They trusted me to learn from those stories and from the "bad behavior" featured in some of them. They preferred to have me read about those subjects in order to learn, as opposed to shielding me and possibly leading me to make those mistakes in my own life. 

YA novels taught me that I never want to do drugs. I learned that sex should be meaningful, and it should be something both parties are prepared for (including unintended consequences, such as pregnancy or STI’s). I learned to never cheat, and even if it means failing. I learned that alcohol can make people do stupid things, and I have yet to touch even a drop, despite the fact that I am legally of age to drink. I learned that people curse, and at the end of the day, those are merely words. They cannot hurt you, unless you let them. I learned that some words can, however, hurt others who are sensitive. I learned to treat others the way I want to be treated. 

I learned how to be the best version of myself through YA literature that is routinely challenged for banned for featuring “adult” or “questionable” content.

Now, I am a college student with two Associate degrees, and I will also (hopefully) earn a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature this spring. And, honestly, I feel that I have done well in life so far. I know I owe that to my parents, but also to the novels I read as a teenager. Those stories shaped who I am, and I will always be grateful for them. I will always be grateful to my parents for never telling me “You can’t read this” and even more grateful that they let me read anything and everything. Instead of censoring, they let me learn and grow through literature. They let me read about the "uglier" side of life, and I am a better person for it. 

I understand why some adults are nervous when it comes to letting their teenagers read YA novels that have cursing, sex, abuse, and etc. I understand completely. But, many of these topics are already in every teenager’s daily life. 

I had friends who had sex as teenagers. I decided to wait. 

I had friends who drank alcohol and did drugs as teenagers. I refused. 

I had friends who cursed like sailors as teenagers. I…well, I cursed as a teenager. Barely. 

The truth is that you cannot protect teenagers and children from everything. 

Literature is a safe haven. Let them read, and discuss it with them. Better yet, let them read, and allow them the chance to discover right from wrong on their own. If you cannot do that, I’m sorry. I wish you could, for the sake of your child(ren), who could learn so much from those novels that you are currently waving in the air and urging other adults to ban from schools and libraries. 

If you do censor your children’s reading material, I hope that you do not extend this censorship to public schools or libraries. You do not have to right to take books away from other people. I would never walk up to you and tell you what you or your child can and cannot read. If I did, you would be annoyed with me. Furious, even. I realize you only want to help, but you are hurting many teenagers by taking away literature that can change their lives for the better. 

I read YA books with “questionable” content, adult books with adult content, and classics as a teenager. Thanks to those novels, I made good life choices as a teenager, and I still try to do so as an adult. Reading those novels did not turn me into some sex-crazed, alcoholic, cursing, abusive person. They turned me into a young woman who tries to live happily and healthily, who always tries to be kind to others, and who strives to learn as much as possible. 

I think I turned out pretty well. I think your teenager will turn out pretty well, too, so long as you give them the opportunity to learn from literature. While sharing darker issues with your child is scary, it will help them grow. I hope you give them a chance to do so. I hope you look at literature and see it as a tool for learning, not as the enemy. 

I hope you embrace literature, because literature will never hurt you. Literature will show you mistakes you should avoid in life and teach you new ideas and perspectives. But, at the end of the day, YOU are the only person who can decide what you will learn from every story. There is not a single book that will force you to believe or behave in positive or disagreeable ways. You make that choice, all on your own. 

SOME BOOKS THAT I READ AS A TEENAGER (Both YA and Adult Literature): 

PRIVATE series by Kate Brian

ALL AMERICAN GIRL / READY OR NOT by Meg Cabot

More Meg Cabot books. I adored her novels. 

SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

HARRY POTTER series by JK Rowling

DREAMLAND by Sarah Dessen

THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen (and other Dessen novels)

WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson

ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card

THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton

THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

GOSSIP GIRL by Cecily von Ziegesar

THE BERMUDEZ TRIANGLE by Maureen Johnson

DEVILISH by Maureen Johnson

ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen

THE JOY LUCK CLUB by Amy Tan

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien

THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown

ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare

MACBETH by William Shakespeare

THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne

MOBY DICK by Herman Melville

THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinback

THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston

THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinback

LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding

NIGHT by Elie Weisel 

IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote

HONEST ILLUSIONS by Nora Roberts

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory

And many more!

This post was inspired by Banned Books Week

Visit ALA for more information

Highlights & Lowlights: Blurbs on Book Covers

Anyone who visits YA Book Queen regularly knows that I love to look for the highlights and lowlights in every book. And, sometimes, I like to look for highlights and lowlights elsewhere, too. Last time, I discussed the Highlights & Lowlights of Sequels. This week, however, I'm going to focus on something different but still bookish. When it comes to books, one of the first things I notice is the cover. I also notice of other little details – such as whether or not the cover has quotes / blurbs on the front. Here are some highlights and lowlights when it comes to blurbs on book covers:

Lowlight:  They don't fit the book at all. I'm looking at you, paperback version of IF I STAY. I mean, really? These two stories are nothing alike, aside from having romance (Forman's novel is undeniably better written), so I think it's a strange blurb that doesn't do this novel any favors. It's kind of like saying CODE NAME VERITY will appeal to HARRY POTTER fans (because both feature friendship...and that's it). It just doesn't fit. 

Highlight:  They can be fun! Maureen Johnson gives the best example of this with her blurb for ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS (which is actually on the back cover of the original paperback): "Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book." When MJ tells you to date a book, you date the book. I always love reading quirky, odd blurbs. A blurb like that makes me laugh, and want to pick up the novel to check it out. 

Lowlight:  I'm not a fan of the author who blurbed the book. I might walk on by if I see Author X exclaiming about another writer's work, especially if I dislike Author X's writing. I tend to assume that if Author X blurbs Author Z's novel, then they must write similarly...which isn't always true, but I still tend to move on to looking at something else. 

Highlight:  They make me curious about books I would NEVER read. The MJ quotation, once again, is the perfect example. It's amusing, catches my eye, and makes me wonder about the novel - which is exactly what a blurb should do! I never would have read A&TFK, simply because the title is a bit ridiculous, but the blurbs and good buzz convinced me otherwise. 

Lowlight:  Blurbs with comparisons set me up for disappointment. Tell me a novel is going to be the next HARRY POTTER, and I get excited. Really excited, because I love HP. So, when it turns out to be a so-and-so or even good story, I'm disappointment. I might have enjoyed the novel more if the blurb hadn't of compared it to HP in the first place.

Highlight:  The blurb is written by one of my favorite authors. One of the reasons I became even more curious about SHADOW AND BONE was because Veronica Roth had a blurb on the book cover. And, since I'm a fan of Roth's work, it made me curious enough about Bardugo's novel to convince me to purchase it, and I wasn't disappointed.

Lowlight:  Some blurbs seem like lies or are all the same. I have a hard time taking blurbs seriously when they (A) come from someone that seems to love everything, (B) compare books inaccurately, or (C) recycle the same phrases over and over. If I hadn't of read and loved an ARC of BLOOD RED ROAD, I never would have picked up the new cover version that features a blurb from MTV'S Hollywood Crush. It doesn't catch my eye in a good way. 

Highlight: They give me another author's work to check out. When I pick up a book I like that has a blurb by an author I haven't heard of, I'll usually check out that author's novels on Goodreads. Sometimes it's a great way to discover an author that has a similar writing style as the book I originally picked up. 

Lowlight:  They ruin what would otherwise be an awesome cover. I actually wish blurbs were mostly on the back cover of books, that way they don't ruin a lovely cover with unnecessary font. The THRONE OF GLASS cover, for instance, would look incredible if it didn't have the blurb on the front cover. 

Highlight: They describe the novel perfectly.  For example, Miranda Kenneally's blurb for TORCHED - it's short, sweet, and completely accurate. It's not an overly exciting blurb, but it does fit the story. 

Highlight: They add to the overall cover design. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS is one cover that really makes the blurb add something extra to the cover. The quotation doesn't look out of place, it fits in perfectly. I feel like this is pretty rare, though. Can anyone else think of a cover that uses the text from a blurb in an interesting way? 

While I, for the most part, dislike seeing a blurb on the front cover, I do love to read them! What are your thoughts on book covers with blurbs on the front? 

Let's Talk: Books I Read Because Of Another Blogger's Totally Awesome Review

LET'S TALK is a weekly discussion meme created and hosted by the lovely Melissa from I Swim For Oceans! Every Friday, there is a new discussion topic for bloggers to discuss. If you want to know more about this feature, then go check out I Swim For Oceans for more information! 

What books, if any, have you read only because a blogger's review convinced you to? Did it live up?

Fabulous topic! Below are four books that blogger reviews convinced me to read (after I originally - and stupidly - convinced myself not to check them out):

Book: THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER

Blogger: Melissa at I Swim For Oceans

Melissa's review was only one I had in the back of my mind when I stumbled across a copy of MARA DYER, and the fact that she loved it Hodkin's novel so much is what gave me the push I needed to purchase it. I was incredibly excited for MARA DYER prior to the release date, but then the hype scared me off early on (and books with a lot of positive reviews can go either way with me). Thank goodness that I read Melissa's review and remembered it all of those months later, because MARA DYER was incredible!

Book: OUT OF THE EASY

Blogger: Christina from Confessions of a Book Addict

I was very, very skeptical when it came to this book. I loved Sepetys's debut, but I doubted her latest novel could live up to that story. But, after reading Christina's fantastic review, I knew I needed to start reading my ARC right away. And, Christina was right -- the characters were fantastic and the setting was wonderfully written. Such a great book!

Book: SHADES OF EARTH

Blogger: Aylee from Recovering Potter Addict

I've actually purchased a lot of books after reading Aylee's reviews (like CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS, THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST, THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE - I just need to hurry up and read them). While she and I think differently regarding some novels, I've noticed that we do seem to enjoy similar stories for the most part, so I tend to take her positive reviews very seriously. And, no surprise, she was right about SHADES OF EARTH! 

Book: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Blogger: Can't remember - Multiple bloggers! 

All of the insanely positive blogger reviews for TFIOS convinced me to check it out of the library. It was, unsurprisingly, an amazing book that I had to purchase right away. I feel like an idiot for waiting so long to read this book, but I'm grateful to all the bloggers who reviewed TFIOS - I might have ignored TFIOS without those glowing reviews!

I could name a few more, but then we'd be here all day! ;)

Let's Talk image from I Swim For Oceans

Highlights & Lowlights: Sequels

Lowlight: I cannot remember anything that happened. Who are you people? What is going on? When did they start dating? So and so died?! This is definitely a biased issue, but I hate it when I can't remember those small (or big) details from book one. It'd be nice if every sequel came with a quick one-page recap. This is one of the reasons why I was glad that Veronica Roth created the "But I Read DIVERGENT a Year Ago" guide - very helpful. 

Highlight: More time with old and new characters! More of the awesome characters that I love? This is, undeniably, one of my favorite parts about series. There's nothing quite like curling up with a sequel and getting the chance to see all of your favorite characters again. Plus, then there are the newbies! Scarlet. Thorne. Sturmhond. And so, so many more. I love new awesome characters.

Lowlight: New love interest or love triangle. Very few writers can actually pull off a well-written love triangle/square/whatever, so I rarely find a love triangle to be fun or interesting. They can be especially annoying when, after all of that struggle to get together in book one, the MC finds a new love interest to swoon over. No thanks. 

Highlight: New and intriguing revelations. I love it when a sequel reveals new secrets, especially when it ties into the first novel. Because then I can be all "WHY DIDN'T I NOTICE THAT IN THE FIRST BOOK? OMG!"

Lowlight: The novel ends on a cliffhanger. And I want to cry, because that is just cruel. This is one of the many reasons why I'm a fan of JK Rowling's HP series - she wrapped up each novel's story arc, perhaps with one or two lingering questions, but never left her reader's with a big cliffhanger.

Highlight: Character development. Elisa and Alina, I'm looking at both of you. There's nothing better than watching a character grow, change, and evolve over multiple novels. 

Lowlight: Nothing happens. And I mean nothing. Just random and meaningless wanderings. Throughout the entire story, nothing significant occurs because it's a filler book. Who wants to read a book where the only obvious goal is to get to the third novel? What a waste of time. 

Highlight: More amazing settings. Like Hogwarts. I want to live at Hogwarts. Plus, sequels give readers a chance to view different settings. SIEGE AND STORM begins in a completely different area than the first story left off, and INSURGENT introduces readers to different factions and their homes. It's interesting to read about different settings, especially for fantasy or futuristic novels. 

Lowlight: The MC or Love Interest change from awesome to annoying. Which is always a shame. Character development works both ways, and sometimes, they develop in all of the wrong ways. I loved Four in DIVERGENT, but I really wanted to slap him (and Tris) by the time I was done reading INSURGENT. It drives me crazy whenever characters I loved in the first novel start acting like idiots in the sequel. 

Highlight: New perspectives. I loved BITTERBLUE, a sequel / companion novel to GRACELING, so much because it gave me insight into a different character and part of that world. The title character in SCARLET was a fantastic addition the cast of main characters, even though I was wary at first. 

What do you love and hate about sequels? 

Top 7 Comments I've Received From Adult's Who DON'T Read YA (And My Brief Thoughts On YA Being "Embarrassing")

Sometimes, I read YA novels in public (scandalous, I know). Other times, I go to the bookstore or library and browse the YA shelves. And sometimes, the most ridiculous statements come out of other people's mouths when see me reading or perusing a YA novel.

Let's get something straight here: I am an adult, but I am still young (almost 22). But, even I still receive comments whenever I read YA in public, from people who seem to think it's strange for someone in college to read teen literature. These are some of the more popular random comments I've received:

1.  "You do know that's for children, right?"

Thank you. I had no idea. I thought THE HUNGER GAMES was a new diet trend. My mistake. 

2.  "Isn't that story a little immature for you?"

I laughed at this statement, because I was reading BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY at the time - that book is far from immature. It's thoughtful, intense...such an excellent, moving story. 

3.  "I read a YA novel once. It wasn't deep or complex, unlike (insert very literary adult novel title), which I'm currently reading. Now that's a stimulating story."

I honestly didn't know how to respond to this person. I was too surprised by the statement to formulate a decent thought. But honestly, anyone that doesn't find YA to be deep has not read the right book. 

4.  "Do you read YA because you have a hard time reading more difficult and complex texts?"

Yeah, they might have called me an idiot to my face (in an underhanded way), but I didn't feel the need to explain myself or my reading choices. I'm happy with the A grades I'm earning as an English major, so his statement didn't bother me. What bothered me was the idea that all YA lit is "easy" and uncomplicated, because there are many YA novels with layers and meaning. 

5.  "So you must love Twilight then, right?"

Um, no. TWILIGHT is not the worst book ever, but it doesn't live up to the best of the best. All YA lit is NOT like TWILIGHT! *sighs*

6.  "Maybe you should try reading a novel that is actually educational and worth your time."

I'm 80% sure I said something like "I already am, but thank you so much for your concern" ;)

7.  "I cannot believe you're reading that in public. I would be so embarrassed to be caught reading a book for teens!"

And this, dear readers, is the one statement that always makes me sad. I usually just respond with my usual "Life's too short to worry about everyone else and their opinions of you - read what you want and forget everyone else if they don't like it" but it saddens me how often this conversation pops up. 

  

  

  

It seems as though, for the most part, people who do not regularly read YA have this inaccurate view of Young Adult literature. They think it's for kids, it's immature, it requires zero thought to read, that it's exactly like TWILIGHT, and that everyone will mock you for reading such uninspiring and meaningless stories. To anyone that thinks YA is like that...wow. I feel sorry for those people, because they are missing out on some of the more exceptional YA novels based on a couple bad experiences by not reading the right book for them.

YA literature isn't perfect (is anything?), but it is moving, meaningful, hilarious, sad, heartbreaking, and nothing to be embarrassed about, even if the book features a girl-in-a-pretty-dress (SWEET EVIL), a couple making out or almost making out (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE has the most gorgeous example of this that even makes me forget how much I hate this trend), an embarrassing title (like ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS), or even strange clouds that make it look like you're reading something very immature (I'm looking at you, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, but I still adore you), or some other typical YA cover and title trend.

So, the next time you try to hide that YA book cover or title from everyone else when you're out reading somewhere in public, remember why you read YA, and read it proudly. Because if we don't start reading YA with confidence, then how can we expect non-YA readers to take us and our preferred genre seriously? This post is my reminder to never be that woman who hides her reading material in public because she's embarrassed, but to be the one that reads them proudly - no matter what anyone thinks.

Have you ever had anyone say something crazy to you about YA lit when they catch you reading it in public?  What are your thoughts on YA being "embarrassing" for older readers?

All images from Goodreads. 

Let's Talk: Book to Film Adaptations

Let's Talk is a discussion feature at I Swim for Oceans

What are your favorite and least favorite 
book to film adaptations, and why?

 

Favorites 

Harry Potter - The movies aren't exactly like the books, but they are filled with the same charm that the books have. Plus, there are some truly talented actors in the supporting roles.

 
Lord of the Rings - It's been a long time since I've read the books, so I can't say for sure if the movies are completely faithful. Regardless, the movies are epic and deserved the awards they won.

Stuck-in-the-Middle 

Water for Elephants - Great book, pretty good movie, but with some weak moments. The scenery was great, but there were certain actors that didn't quite pull of their characters.

Hated It 

Ella Enchanted - This book is so, so good. The movie, however, made it look like a joke. It took a charming story, changed and altered it, and essentially ruined it. Such a disappointment.

Pictures from IMDB"Let's Talk" image from I Swim for Oceans

Waterfall Wednesdays Read-Along #5

Waterfall Wednesdays, a read-along of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren, is hosted by Tina, Joy & Serena, Nic, Jenny, and Missie. Join in on the discussion at anytime + you can win prizes! Click HERE for more info and to sign up.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 24-28 hosted by Irresistible Reads
1.  After Gabi is injured, the doctor gives her a tonic.  Gabi questions the doctor several times what is in it but he refuses to tell.  Would have you taken the tonic in Gabi situation?
    Hell no. No freaking way. I’d wait it out, travel forward through time, and then go see my doctor, because my doctor rocks. 
2.  Before the games Gabi asks Lia to let Lord Forabosch win in the archery event as people especially Lord Forabosch are becoming suspicious of them. But during the games Lord Forabosch upsets Lia trying to throw her off her game. So Lia decides to win.  Do you think she did the right thing by not letting Lord Forabosch bully her or do you think she took an unnecessary risk?
      It might have been better if she threw the game, but I can’t blame Lia for showing what she’s capable of. She’s a teen, of course she’s going to give it her all after some gloating jerk taunts her. 
3.  When Gabi is dying and she and Lia decide to return to the tombs so they can get the cure at home but they have to tell Marcello the truth.  Even though Marcello thinks that it is madness that they are from the future he believes in Gabi because he loves her.  Do you think this is believable?  What would you have done if you were Marcello?
     I honestly would probably think the person was crazy if I were Marcello. But hey, if they are dying, I care about them, and they want to go to some tomb in order to time travel, what’ve you got to lose? I’d say it’s definitely believable that Marcello just goes with it, thinking from that perspective. 
4.  In the end Gabi and Lia return home.  Do you think Gabi will return to Marcello? Would you go back?
      Considering that there are two more books, I’d say it is a given that Gabi travels back in time again. She's too into Marcello not to come back. I don’t know if I’d travel back, (especially after getting stabbed) but if some romantic, chivalrous guy was waiting for me…who knows? ;) 
5.  Looking back at Waterfall what was your favorite moment?
       Any scene with Luca was a favorite of mine (Fortino was pretty amusing at times too)...and the action scenes were pretty great! :)
Oh, no! The Read-Along's over! This was such fun though....Many thanks to everyone who put this whole read-along together!


Past DiscussionsDiscussion Questions for Chapters 1-6(hosted by Tina's Book Reviews)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 7-11(hosted by The Unread Reader)
Did not participate in week 3 Discussion (I forgot!)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 18-23(hosted by Supernatural Snark)

Waterfall Wednesdays Read-Along #4

Waterfall Wednesdays, a read-along of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren, is hosted by Tina, Joy & Serena, Nic, Jenny, and Missie. Join in on the discussion at anytime + you can win prizes! Click HERE for more info and to sign up.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 18-23 hosted by Supernatural Snark
1.  Gabi and Lia both face several life and death situations in these chapters, having to pick up weapons in defense of those they love and experiencing firsthand the brutality of close combat. If you had the choice between picking up a weapon and standing on the front lines or staying behind to tend to the wounded as necessary, which would you choose?
Give me a weapon, because I’m game. But seriously, if it comes down to people I love, I don't care if morally I have a problem with it - I'm protecting them. I would never want to look back and regret not actively protecting people I care about. I'd rather give it my all, and hope for the best. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it to defend the people I love....wow, that got personal really quickly ;) 
2.  Both girls get to wear extraordinary gowns to their victory celebration; what would your dream medieval gown look like?
I’d love a gown like Lia’s, it sounded gorgeous! Especially if it’s a pretty shade of blue. I'm a sucker for blue :) 
3.  Gabi has crude stitches put in and must endure both their removal as well as the cauterization of the wound. How is your threshold for pain? Do you think you would have simply gritted your teeth as Gabi does?
Pain threshold = not that great. I would be hurting pretty badly if I were in Gabi’s place. And probably also freaking out. Crude stitches? Yikes. 
4.  Marcello wants to properly court Gabi after they express mutual feelings of affection, wanting to speak with her mother about his intentions. What do you think is the most romantic aspect of medieval courtship?
        Didn't they used to write poetry in medieval times when courting? I haven't seen in the story yet, but I  believe they did. Anyway, I think that's utterly romantic. Nothing says "romantic" like the time and effort it takes to write a poem that expresses your feelings for another. Even just a plain old love letter would be romantic. 
5.  Gabi and Lia find themselves with conflicting desires toward the end with Lia wanting to return home and Gabi hoping to stay. Do you think that Gabi is being unfair to Lia for wanting to stay, or is Lia being unfair to Gabi for demanding they go? A little of both?
I think Gabi is being unfair to Lia for wanting to stay. It’s only been a week, and she’s already considering staying just because she has some intense crush that might be love (I’m a huge romantic, don't get me wrong, but I’m also a realist. Love takes time). Gabi and Lia are not from the time they're stuck in. Lia just wants to go home, to her life, to her correct era, and Gabi should respect that. 

Past DiscussionsDiscussion Questions for Chapters 1-6(hosted by Tina's Book Reviews)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 7-11(hosted by The Unread Reader)
Did not participate in week 3 Discussion (I forgot!)