I like characters. I like them a lot.
In fact, they’re my favourite part of a book (although I’m partial to good writing and interesting plots too). But, when the prompt was “character driven” all I could think of was cars. And driving.
So I apologise in advance. I really do. But this is a gif filled post. My condolences to your eyeballs.
I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for their incredibly awesome meme: Top Ten Tuesday. This is a meme involving lists, peoples. LISTS! I love lists.
This week’s prompt is: Top 10 Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels
1. Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts
I was actually cautious of this book because, hello, cancer book?! I do have a shred of respect for my feels (not much, but some). I AM TIRED OF CRYING OVER BOOKS. Just kidding. I so am not. But I kind of absolutely loved this. Zac was like sponge cake, to Mia’s peanut brittle.
The book is completely about them and their cancerous journeys.
2. Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Yeah, yeah, you’re sick of me raving about Maggie Stiefvater. Do I always put at least one of her books on my lists? Um. I think so. But HEAR ME OUT!
Maggie Stiefvater’s books are always focused firstly on the characters. They pop off the page faster than pizza from a box into your mouth. I’m sorry about all the food references. And Sinner? It is one thousand percent about Cole and Isabel and their raucous journeys to stowing their snark for two seconds and remembering that they like each other.
3. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
I had to think about this one for 2.4 seconds. Is it more character focused or plot? It’s a thriller…so the plot is a huge deal. But without us inserting ourselves into these devious little teenagers minds we wouldn’t be a) so shocked at the outcome, and b) so emotionally traumatised, and c) STILL SITTING HERE SCREAMING BECAUSE…
How could it turn out that way?!
4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
I practically wear out my fingers every time I type that title. I’ve read poems that are shorter. (What? I really have! And have you read Ernest Hemingway’s shortest story of all? It is 6 words! SHORTER THEN THIS BOOK’S TITLE.)
But I digress.
This book is so character-focused it’s kind of slow for the first 50%. But then you’re completely immersed in their lives and there is no stopping. It’s also the most beautifully written book of ever.
5. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
This book is horrifically depressing and sad and unfair. It made me wail for quite a few nanoseconds.
I highly recommend it.
6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
7. Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant
This book is wickedly a) freaky, b) awesome, c) characterised. Well, not all the characters are human. But that doesn’t matter, does it? How fussy are you going to be! It’s about Human Like Things, okay?!
8. Looking for Alaska by John Green
9. All The Truth That’s In Me by Julie Berry
10. Divergent by Veronica Roth
The entire book is Tris asking: “Who am I?” which would’ve been easily answered if she took a long holiday by herself…because (don’t they say) you figure out who you are when you’re not influenced by other people 24/7? If they don’t say it, maybe they should.
But no. Tris went the knife-throwing-boyfriend-punching-cake-eating route. It worked out.
Kind of.
By the way, I love all these books.
I recommend them to you by default.
Are your eyeballs okay? Not too overstimulated by crazy gifs? (Honestly, I don’t always do this. In fact, I try to have only 2 or 3 gifs per post unless I’m doing a specific gif review.) So calm your wee eyeballs sockets and freely admit to me: did you spend more time reading this or just watching the gifs again and again and again?
I am guilty of the latter. #5 is my favourite gif.
The books are good too.
Cait has been reading very hungrily today, since she started ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. She’s been tweeting about it she’s so darn enthusiastic for this beautiful book. The only problem is: it doesn’t come out till January. She has to wait THAT LONG to tell you about it. (This is the part where she cries.) Darnit reading ARCs too early. In other news, she picked EON up from the library. Dragons, peoples, dragons.
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