Category Archives: Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday: Books I’m Thankful For

Posted on by

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday as hosted by gingerreadslainey from YouTube. Today’s topic is about the books we’re thankful for, and since I talked about my top ten non-bookish things I’m thankful for yesterday, I figured I’d participate in this week’s T5W.

So here are my top five favorite books that I’m thankful to have in my life:

5. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

acertainslantoflight

I had to choose a book for summer reading one year, and I actually had to read the book this time because it was my last year for summer reading and I wanted to actually make an effort, and so when I found this book on the list I was amazed: it was boring, old, or weird like the rest of the summer book selections from years past. This book surprised me in the best possible way: it had romance, it has drama, it had a young woman trapped in someone else’s body trying to live again. It was amazing and wonderful and I think this is the book that got me back into reading when I first entered high school, and for that, I am truly grateful.

4. Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

chinesecinderella

Though this story was extremely frustrating and saddening, it’s the true story of an unwanted daughter in China and it really just opened my eyes to a world in which I thought everyone could be loved, but really, it’s not that simple. This book showed so much hate and disdain for this girl, and how she had to deal with those things, and though I can’t exactly remember how it ended, I do know that it greatly impacted me, especially since I read it when I was a young teen.

3. Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer

twilight

I was a fan before these books got big, and let me tell you, I am thankful for it. This was the first book series I’ve ever fangirled over, and the one that I bonded with my friends over. Heck, I even got my husband to read them, too, back when we were just starting to date. Oh yeah, I’m amazing. I know this series gets a lot of crap for one reason or another, but during a time when I was just going into high school and trying to figure out life as a teen, this series was right there with me and for that I am grateful.

2. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

houseofthescorpion

This was one of the first novels I’ve ever reread. It was also one of the first ones that I remember effecting me so much and caused me to want to read more like it, even if I didn’t (I honestly can’t remember). It’s such a strong and powerful morally driven book, and it really explores the question of “what if the world was like this in the future.” It just brought out a passion in me for reading, I think, and I’ll be forever grateful to this book for that reason.

1 . Tokyo Mew Mew by Reiko Yoshida & Mia Ikumi

tokyomewmew

I’m so thankful to this series as it was the first manga series I was ever introduced to back in the sixth grade. It was one in which I found my best friend again after years of not seeing each other, and it was just a series in which I could escape reality from and imagine and dream of a world in which I could be a super hero with special animal abilities. Though that sounds kind of weird, it’s true, and I’ll forever hold this series in my heart.

So there you have it, the top five books that I’m grateful for. And I even still own all of these books because of how much I love them and how much of an impact they’v made on me over the years.

What books are you grateful for having in your life? Let me know!

 

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Diverse Characters

Posted on by

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today’s topic is all about our favorite diverse characters. What is a diverse character? Any character who is of a different race than white, is LGBTQIA+, minority religion, has a mental or physical disability, etc. So here’s my five:

5. Lara Jean from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Lara Jean, though frustrating, was still just a teenage girl trying to keep her traditional family values in place and alive throughout the story while also dealing with a lot of things on her own. I love that there is mention of her Korean heritage throughout the duology and how it is represented.

4. Eleanor from Eleanor and Park

Why did I pick her? Because she’s a heavy set girl, aka she’s fat. How many fat girls do you see in YA? Not enough. So I had to pick her because not only does she have an extremely difficult home life, but she’s also a girl that can represent large girls, and I was so happy to read about a girl who is heavy set because, well, I am, too. Plus I just love her personality.

3. Shahrzad from The Wrath and the Dawn

Even though I have a really hard time pronouncing her name, I love how Shahrzad is written and how she represents a whole slew of people. She is also strong, stubborn, and independent, which I think is important to show girls.

2. Simon from Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Well, you know, he’s hilarious and I love him to bits, plus he’s gay, which is even better. I don’t know why that makes it better, but it does. I just love this book and I love Simon and I just love everything about it.

1 . Jubliee Chase from This Shattered World

A kickass black girl who is the captain of her section of the army? Yes please. She’s fierce, smart, strong, brave, and just an overall amazing character. I really loved her and I want more from her.

So there you have it! Five of my top favorite diverse characters. Who are some of yours? Let me know!

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Maps

Posted on by

Hey peeps, I promise I’m not dead. Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today’s topic is all about our favorite maps in books. I love maps. They’re so helpful when you’re trying to get your bearings when reading and everything, especially for fantasy novels.

So here are some of my favorite maps!

5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

heiroffiremap

This map is simple, but it’s also large in that the world itself holds many places and secrets, so I just love the idea of the travel of just the one continent.

4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

embermap

This is a lovely map of the world. It resembles what our world looks like, but it’s definitely something of its own.

3. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

shadowbonemap

Though I haven’t read this book yet, I just love the map in it! I love the drawings and the detailed side designs. So lovely!

2. The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

kissofdeceptionmap

I love the color they used for this, plus I just love the design and layout and how it has the three flags of the three houses at the bottom.

  1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

themaradersmap

We’ve all heard of this map from Harry Potter and I still think it’s fantastic. A map that shows when and where people are walking, how fast, how long, etc. So cool.

What are some of your favorite book maps?

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Character Tropes

Posted on by

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday! Today’s topic is all about your favorite character tropes. A trope is a kind of dynamic within a book that you see played over and over again, but you just can’t help but love.

My list isn’t necessarily in any order, by these are some of my faves.

5. Kickass Female Heroine

There have been so many kickass female heroines popping up in YA lately, such as Celaena Sardothian, Katniss Everdeen, Princess Jezelia, and more. I love reading about a powerful woman because, well, women have been greatly underestimated in their strength, wits, and otherwise for long enough.

4. Love Triangles

WHEN DONE RIGHT, I love this trope. Sometimes it’s just highly unnecessary and just horrible. But there are some instances where I crave it and I’m rooting for one or the other and it’s perfect.

3. Best Friends Falling in Love

It’s just so cute when they grow up together and they gradually fall for each other and it’s just my guilty pleasure. It really is. I don’t read this nearly enough, but I really should. Give me suggestions!

2. Bad Boy + Good Girl

Oh, you know what I’m talking about. That guy with the attitude problem, but he’s really a nice and gentle guy down deep. And the girl who’s a goody-two-shoes who wants to live a little on the wild side. Yup. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

1. Goofy Sidekick

I love the goofy sidekicks! They just make the story so much better and they’re honestly just the source of comic relief, but I don’t care; they’re amazing. Examples: Ron Weasley (technically a main character, but whatevs), Simon from The Mortal Instruments, Kenji, and so on.

What are some of your favorite tropes in books? Let me know!

Top 5 Wednesday: Anticipated Pre-Orders for the Rest of the Year

Posted on by

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday as hosted by Lainey of gingerreadslainey. Today’s topic is all about the pre-orders that we are most anticipating for the rest of the year.

Well, since I never pre-order books – or rather, rarely do – I’m going to count this as books I’m most anticipating the release of for the rest of the year.

5. “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell

carryon

I’m so excited to see the fanfiction story from “Fangirl” come to life in its own novel. I’m really curious to see how the characters develop and how close they may or may not be to what was written from Cath’s point of view in the other book.

4. “Ice Like Fire” by Sara Raasch

icelikefire

I’m excited to see where the characters are now that they have their homeland back and how they’re going to access the magic in their land and when the villain is going to make a reappearance.

3. “Their Fractured Light” by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

theirfracturedlight

I need this third installment in my life like right now. I love this trilogy so much, and it gets better with each book. Like, my heart is so happy just thinking about it. I’m getting all the feels right now.

2. “Frozen Tides” by Morgan Rhodes

frozentides

I haven’t read the third book yet, but I am getting more into the series as it progresses and I am curious to see where the plot leads and who does and doesn’t die next and the magic in the world and all that jazz.

1. “Queen of Shadows” by Sarah J. Maas

queenofshadows

I’m so excited for this booooook. I mean, I’m sure you all already know that, but I needed to put it on here because if it wasn’t, then I’d call shenanigans. Blasphemy. Mutiny. You get it.

What books have you pre-ordered that you’re most excited for? If you’re like me and don’t really pre-order anything, what’s your number one book that you’re most anticipating by the end of this year? Let me know!