Top Ten Tuesday

My eyeballs are quite fond of the delicacy that is unique formatting in books.

What is “unique formatting???”, you might be asking whilst you gnaw on a cupcake or a piece of cheese or the souls of your mortal enemies. WELL. It’s when a book frolics past normality and adds illustrations, or uses verse, or changes the font size, or explodes the font all over the page, or just does some little things that shake up the way an average book is written. Because uniquely formatted books are Not Like The Other Books™ and they are Independent Young Hipsters Who Can Stand On Their Own And Don’t Need Society’s Approval. *

And, quite frankly? I absolutely LOVE IT. Books with peculiar formatting are auto-need for me. I read a lot, okay? And everything starts to sound the same after you’ve read 2,401 books about red-haired rebellious heroines with two boyfriends and a country to save, who’s probably a lost princess and has the personality of three collective dead onions. I want to read text that illustrates the book’s emotions! I WANT VISUALS. I want to go “ooooh woah” while reading like the eloquent fish I am.

bRING IT.

I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday for their prompt “Top Ten Of The Most Unique Books” and I’m going to list some with epic unique formatting! Mostly because I’m actually a child and think more books should have PICTURES in them. Or something crazy happening with the font, at least. **

How am I a bookworm with the attention span of a dead moth? No one knows. It’s one of life’s best kept secrets.

* Unless they are a paperback??? And they they aren’t going to stand. They’re going to flop around like a spineless eggplant and need life long assistance. Reason #9289 why hardcovers are better.
** I’M ALSO GASTON BECAUSE WHY DOESN’T THE BOOK HAVE PICTURES IN IT???????

 

1. THE BOOOK THIEF

[goodreads]

This one is unique for a whole conglomeration of reasons like, HELLO IT’S NARRATED BY DEATH. And Death likes to put little existential crises statements in now and then because why not apparently.

They’re also delightfully quotable and Death just might be my favourite character…which makes me feel a little bit odd.

But these things happen.

 

 

2. THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

[goodreads]

I loved this book. Have I read the others? HAHHAHAHAH #NO OF COURSE NOT DON’T BE RIDICULOUS. I haven’t had time. Honestly I don’t have time for anything on my TBR at the moment??? There’s a conspiracy in 2017 to give us less hours and I’m lodging a formal complaint to the atmosphere. I may even stamp my foot. I’m pretty riled.

Anyway.

There are lots of confusing explosions of font in this book to summarise what it’s like to live in a town where everyone can hear your thoughts.

BASIC REPRESENTATION OF MY MIND TOO. But holy kelp, please let no one ever read my thoughts. There are dark mad dragons there and I don’t know who’d start crying first, me or you.

 

 

3. CHALLENGER DEEP

[goodreads]

This book took me a looooong time to actually get into because it was so endlessly confusing. But that was also the point??!? It’s about schizophrenia (the author wrote it based on his son’s experiences!) and it’s smushes together reality and delusions and IT’S ACTUALLY A PIECE OF ART, TO BE HONEST. Plus it has these fantastic drawings that I am 1000% here for.

It just really adds to the experience of this glimpse of what it’d be like in Caden’s mind.

 

 

4. ME BEING ME IS EXACTLY AS INSANE AS YOU BEING YOU 

[goodreads]

THIS BOOK IS ENTIRELY WRITTEN IN LISTS AND THAT’S JUST PHENOMENAL. I LOVE LISTS. WHO DOESN’T LOVE LISTS??? LISTS ARE THE REASON LIFE CONTINUES. *

Unfortunately the book is about a seriously angsty boy who’s 78% ungrateful and kind of like a potato salad without the mayonnaise or the potatoes so really just salad and that’s a small horror story right there. But lists. It’s nearly worth it just for that.

 

* Some people think the reason of life is, like, family or happiness or achieving contentment but pfffft. It’s making lists.

 

 

5. THERE WILL BE LIES

[goodreads]

Since the narrator is deaf, there are lots of gaps in the dialogue in this book! I think that’s such an excellent visual of how inaccurate lip reading is and how often people forget to cater to a Deaf person’s needs.

And sometimes I felt like I was only getting half the story, which is exactly Shelby goes through.

 

 

6. HALF BAD

[goodreads]

OKAY JUST PAUSE A MINUTE FOR MY PRECIOUS HALF BAD CHILDREN OF NATHAN AND GABRIEL WHOM I LOVE SO MUCH AND DON’T TALK ABOUT EVEN HALF ENOUGH. This series is 500% destined to smush your heart into little pieces. I’m still not okay, to be honest. Whenever I glance at the covers, I go back to howling.

10/10 recommend having your heart broken by these books.

 

Also Nathan has a learning disability and serious PTSD from the torture he’s been through, and the font goes wild to reflect when he’s having a meltdown. And the book has lists. Like we’ve established: any book that has lists is excellent.

 

 

7. 5 TO 1

[goodreads]

I’m not a real huge fan of books partially told in prose?? I mean, it’s cool. But I have about as much poetry comprehension as a piece of bread. I’m a cute piece of bread, but yet…unpoetic nonetheless.

I did like how this book is an Indian dystopian though!! AND THAT COVER, RIGHT?!?

 

 

8. NEVERNIGHT

[goodreads]

Did I ever tell you I have a huge weakness for footnotes?!? I MEAN IT’S HARD TO TELL ON THIS BLOG OF COURSE. * And while Nevernight and I were a bit skeptical of each other at first…I’m quite mildly fond of it now. It’s super stabby. Super bloody. SUPER FOOTNOTEY. **

I heard most people hated the footnotes, because they just give random bits of world building…but the narrator is super sarcastic and I relate. Except I’m not very sarcastic. Just on Thursdays through to Mondays. Occasionally on Tuesday afternoon. From 3pm to 4:15pm on Wednesdays. That sort of thing. I have a schedule.

 

 

* I use footnotes only rarely.
** This is a word. And if not, when I rule the world officially, it’ll be a word so best prepare your dictionaries now.

 

 

9. THE LEAVING

[goodreads]

This has 70 billion narrators but one of them has unique formatting in her chapters AND I LIKE IT. When the words start acting like they’re on a roller coaster of emotions or else the printer got stuck??? I’m totally a fan.

It captures the feeling of the words visually and I need all the help I can get with feelings. #VulcanAtHeart

 

 

10. ILLUMINAE

[goodreads]

This is obviously the ULTIMATE BOOK OF UNIQUE FORMATTING because the entire book is told in emails, transcripts, art, photos, and glorious maps of spaceships. I’ve never been more in love with how a book looks??? This is just TOO AMAZING and I want 99 more books like this.

It just makes me so so happy to read books with pictures. Apparently I am Peter Pan. Feel free to use my new title.

And I was about to shout “WHO’S READY FOR ILLUMINAE 3 THIS YEAR?!?!?” but I realised none of us are ever going to be ready. We basically just need it to put us out of our misery. These books are so so good. So so pain. The authors actually snack on bagels made of our pain and sip our tears for their morning brunch. #TrueStoryMate

 

have you read any books with unique formatting?!? do you like unique formatting or would you rather a book be normal/straight-forward text??? does it ever detract from the story? and do YA books need more pictures??? (spoiler: yes) and feel free to link me to your TTTs!

It’s time to speak of my favourite topic of them all: VILLAINS.

Come settle down with a dark chocolate truffle cake and get comfy so we can have AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS TOGETHER OVER HOW MUCH WE LOVE VILLAINS AND HOW MILDLY CONCERNING THAT IS. But before I launch into my list of books that are actually (sneakily) by the perspective of villains, I want to explain why villains are my favourite. Because you’re totally curious. *

 

* And even if you’re not curious, guess what? YOU GET TO KNOW ALL THE REASONS ANYWAY because my #2 life skill is talking about dark-hearted cinnamon rolls. (My #1 life skill, by the way, is cake. Cake is a complete life skill.)

 

• Their thought process is intensely intriguing. Like Tom Hiddleston said “Every villain is a hero in his own mind.” <– That right there? That is sucks me in. I love analysing how they think and their justification processes. Excuse me while I just flail over THE BRAIN.
• Villains have complex plots. Well, there should be complexity and if there’s not the following consequences are (A) I am an angry grape of strife over wasted potential, (B) the villain is just a sneezing joke because no one wants paper plate villains. THIS IS NOT A PICNIC. Now back on topic — I adore the complexity of villains’ plots. Because it shouldn’t be “I woke up this evil mwahhah”…there should be reasons. My very very favourite is: doing evil to do good. BECAUSE THAT TWISTS YOUR BRAIN AND LOVE THAT.
• Cookies from the dark side. Because dark chocolate is the best and OBVIOUSLY that’s what cookies from the dark side are made out of. I want.
• The tortured tragic villains are, ultimately, my favourite. Excuse me while I become a puddle of squish in the face of a villain who never MEANT TO BE BAD but life was cruel to them. They need love. They need warm pretzels. Everything will be okay, slightly-psychopathic smol child.
• And even if I hate the villain with the power of a thousand suns…I appreciate that. Like, make me feel things, mate. All the things. I want to rage against an unfair dark-souled-slightly-squinty Sauron too. Epic stories need epic villains.
• I just adore morally grey stabby complex characters. Heroes, villains, innocent bystanders, a local cat — I don’t care, if they’re morally-grey, I just love ’em. Who wouldn’t??

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is, obviously, all about VILLAINS so let’s discuss evil that DOES NOT SLEEP. Also, I’m not going to sit here and call ALL VILLAINS adorable cinnamon rolls. Some I want to smack in the face. For instance: Voldemort is like the worst kind of burnt toast. * But I still have 938 questions about what made him like that and why. SEE? VILLAINS ARE INTRIGUING.

And things that make me curious = I love it.

Today’s post really focuses on the more anti-hero style villains, who are my favourites. I love tragic villains because they have elements of reedemableness ** in them. And that just makes them even more complex and interesting. And also just dark books are my favourite. #TrueStory

AND ALSO I JUST REALLY LIKE COOKIES, STABBINESS, AND THE DARK SIDE. ***

 

 

* Not true. UMBRIDGE IS THE WORST KIND OF BURNT TOAST.
** Apparently this isn’t a word? #rude
*** Oh, and also: yes I swear I’m a normal nice creature. I don’t get library fines. I wear matching socks. I clean my room and pet my dog. I mean, sometimes I talk about magnanimously taking over the world and reigning supreme as evil overlord dragon queen of all. But, you know. I can be whatever I want.

1. SIX OF CROWS DULOGY

[goodreads]

Deja vu? Wasn’t I just flailing over these books YESTERDAY? TRUE. I WAS. BUT HERE I AM TO FLAIL AGAIN BECAUSE INFINITE FLAILING IS NEEDED. (Sorry my all caps key got stuck…hahhhahahah. It totally didn’t. I’m just that obsessed with this series.) This is my favourite band of villainous misfits of EVER. Kaz is terrifying and tragic and a genius. All synonyms for “Cait Will Like This Book”. Plus Kaz is my favourite of villain because he can (A) be evil as the dark side of the moon, but (B) also has panic attacks and cannot talk to his crush because #anxiety.

Be still my darkly beating heart.

 

2. PRINCE OF THORNS

[goodreads]

This is actually an adult fantasy despite the protagonist being 14…because IT’S SERIOUSLY VERY DARK AND VIOLENT. And actually there is no way I like Jorg. He is evil. But the story is brilliant. So somehow that works?? But Jorg is Game of Thrones level despicable although he has occasional kind moments which are baffling to us all and his sass is on point.

3. ROCKS FALL EVERYONE DIES

[goodreads]

Okay but firstly: DARN YOU LIBRARY BOOKS AND YOUR SHINY WRAPPERS.

And now that that’s out of the way — I liked this one! I enjoyed it more in retrospect than while reading because Aspen is an A+ jerk. He has the magical ability to steal from people. Thoughts, ideas, feelings, motivations etc etc. And he manipulates a girl into being with him and he’s horrible to his friends and — oh wait. HE’S A VILLAIN. Technically his whole family is kind of villainous. So A++ for making me hate you and also be intrigued by the entire story, Aspen.

4. VICIOUS

[goodreads]

Because apparently all my lists must have SCHWAB ON THEM THESE DAYS. Vicious is a super-villain origin story and it’s so freaking brilliant I CANNOT EVEN. It features two villains and you’ll honestly not know who is the “right” side. They’re both awful. Everything is awful. Except for (A) the adorable little mostly dead girl, and (B) the huge brutish tech guy who likes chocolate milk.

I love this book. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I lost my sense somewhere along the line because one shouldn’t probably love villains as much as I do for this book. I’d be sorry? But I’m not.

5. CURSEWORKER TRILOGY

[goodreads]

CRIME !! FAMILIES !! That’s all I can say.

No wait. I can say more. Because this is magical realism with MAFIA and people who’s touch can curse you and a simply delightfully sassy sociopath protagonist whom I basically adore over all things. Cassel is actually downright scary at the end, but hey, he tries to be good and can honestly be a real sweetie. And then con you so bad. Lovely.

Did I mention CRIME FAMILIES?!?!?!

6. V IS FOR VILLAIN

[goodreads]

Surprise! This is a super-villain origin story. YOU DIDN’ SEE THAT COMING, HUH, HUH?? Anyway, despite it’s alternative title being C is for Cliche * I still think this is a fun story! I mean, I think I do??? It’s been 39 years since I read it. And I don’t even know what I ate for lunch yesterday, let alone what I read back in 2014. **

* SORRY I COULDN’T EVEN RESIST MAKING A BAD PUN HERE.
** 2014 was 2 years ago, not 39 years ago. But it’s only a slight difference and don’t get so hung up on the details omg.

 

7. HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME

[goodreads]

I sooo need to re-read this because I remember LIKE NEXT TO NOTHING except for the fact it’s one of my favourite books ever. A school to turn you into a psychopath/sociopath??! With the protagonist being a tragic little cinnamon roll that is equal parts scary and adorable?? I CAN’T EVEN WITH THE LEVELS OF APPRECIATION HERE. *

* Fun Story: I bought my copy at a library sale and TORE THE COVER trying to get the stickers off. So you will only ever see the spine to hide my shame. Also this is not a fun story. Who said it was??? Who is writing this post because they are fired.

 

8. MY SISTER ROSA

[goodreads]

This is technically cheating because the story is from Chee’s perspective, but his little sister Rosa is the psychopath. BUT STILL. Chee does some thing that made me go “Um, but wait dude, you are eating cookies from the dark side yourself there” so onto the list it goes!

Plus I just needed a chance to flail because this book is downright brilliant. It’s diverse, it’s an Aussie author, it’s gloriously written, it’s kind of terrifying.

I am pleased.

9. AND I DARKEN

[goodreads]

Because the world needs a Vlad the Impaler retelling…GENDER BENT. Woooo for actually scary YA females! Lada will actually stab you in the face and was yelling “SMITE INFIDELS” from the age of, like, 2. You know she’s going to be fun at parties in the future.

By the way: I started off rating this book 3-stars, but now it’s like one of my top-read books of the year??! I just love it so much in retrospect that I WANT TO RE-READ. What is this dark wizardry.

10. HALF BAD TRILOGY

[goodreads]

And lastly WELCOME TO MY FAVOURITE TRAGIC WITCH STORY. This is fully a villain origin story, but it’s the “let’s do evil to do good” tale which melts me every time. Everyone is horrible to Nathan. He’s so abused and yet so precious and — fair warning — this series will STAB YOU IN THE FACE WITH FEELINGS. But it’s so so good. Plus it contains a fair amount of sass. Hey I’m sensing a pattern here…so many sassy villains??? *

* You know what this means, right?! I have my moments of glorious wit = ergo I’m obviously in the prime position to take over the world and eat it maliciously mwhaahhahh. Ahem.

 

obviously i must ask: do you often end up adoring the anti-heroes/villains/morally grey grapes in books?!? if you’re a villain-enthusiast: TELL ME YOUR FAVOURITES!! and please do recommend me any other villain-centred books because obviously I need more. (plus link me to your villainous TTT posts!)