Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

I went into this in my review of this book on Wastepaper Prose, but I'm certain I'll be a bit more ranty here.  This is your ranty warning.



Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Gosh, I was expecting a lot from this one.  The publishing story for this book is one that is out of the ordinary.  The author posted this on a site called Inkpop (which is now merged with Figment), and it's essentially an online creative writing community where you can post your stories and get feedback.  This was posted there, and it was selected from all the stories to be published.  This sort of made it the Golden Ticket of YA books, and a ton of people were really excited for this just because of that publishing story alone.  From what I had read about it, the book took place in Ireland- which YAY I love Ireland- and it had supernatural elements, romantic elements, and all the signs that I would enjoy it.

And oh I so did not.

Earlier in the challenge, I discussed how it's uncool to like Twilight these days.  Well, this is one of those reasons.  Twilight brought about the need to create the genre "teen paranormal romance."  Which always makes me giggle.  I read a lot of "teen paranormal romance" but it always sounds so lame-y to say out loud.  Anyway, the author of this pretty much took every aspect of the "teen paranormal romance" and put it in her book.  In a non-well-written way.  To the point where it reads like bad Twilight fan fiction.  It's almost the exact same plot to Twilight with names changed and not-as-good writing and some weird elemental aspects added in.  The whole plot frustrated me so much that all I could do was complain to Jack about it, to which he replied, "Why are you reading Captain Planet?"

I love that boy.

Anyway, I feel this had so much potential that was just so wasted.  Ugh.  And the cover is so pretty!!  Blergh you, Irish Twilight.  You're like the book version of a B-movie.

Day 17 – Favorite quote (from your favorite book)

so when you sleep in until almost 10:30 am and then it's St. Patrick's Day and you forget to do anything other than eat corned beef and drink cider and wear your Guinness shirt, you also forget to update your blog.  Nerts.  This is the first entry that has been late in this challenge, so I'm still feeling pretty good.  Or maybe that's the cider talking.

Anyway, today's choice is kind of strange, because it says that I'm supposed to pick my favorite quote from my favorite book... but that's sort of impossible.  I have 400 favorite books, depending on the day.  Harry Potter is usually where I end up, just because it's my favorite series, but I'm trying to use non-HP for most of this.  So, I decided to choose my favorite quote from an amazing book that has always stuck with me.

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
image courtesy of I'll Be Your Hiding Place on tumblr

Great googily moogily, doesn't this quote encompass adolescence in the best and worst way?  I love it so much.  It's the book quote equivalent of the song "We Are Young" by fun.  It's just a little slice of perfection in the middle of this book that's a little piece of perfection that subtly and wonderfully blows you away.  It's been years since I last read it, but I've carried it with me since.  I'm terribly excited for the movie (and not just because Emma Watson is in it!).

And now I kind of want this as a tattoo...

ALSO, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's one of my favorite songs!  It's written by an Irish man, sung by a different Irish man.  For some reason, it feels like a fitting song to include in this post as well.

Day 16 – Favorite female character

I recently bought 3 prints from Nan Lawson.  Her work is my favorite, and she also has really excellent taste because she tends to illustrate all of my favorite characters.  The reason I bought those specific prints is so I could frame them and hang them somewhere in my house that would constantly inspire me to think of my favorite strong female characters and inspire me to write and read and basically get things done.  First is Elizabeth Bennet, and I will speak more about her at a later date.  Second is Katniss Everdeen, and I spoke about her on Day 01.

In the third spot in the frame sits this girl.

Hermione Granger
(image courtesy of featherofthephoenix.tumblr.com)

Reasons Why Hermione is an Excellent Role Model
-She's brilliant.  And by brilliant, I mean she's the smartest person that you've ever met.  She thinks of things you haven't even thought of before.  Her brain works in a way that can't be understood by Muggles; thus, she's a witch.
-She doesn't realize just how brilliant she is.  This makes her more brilliant in my eyes.  She doesn't get cocky or conceited about her brains.  They are simply who she is.
-She stands up for what she believes in.  S.P.E.W.  Telling Harry when she thinks he's right and when he's not.  Going with Harry and Ron in the search for the horcruxes, even though that means leaving school.
-She doesn't lay down and die when she doesn't have a man.  I know that the relationships are not the same, but Hermione had been in love with Ron for many years at the point in Deathly Hallows when he leaves the group.  He and Hermione had been flirting around each other for years, and by this point, it was clear to everyone that they had feelings for each other.  So, it's no surprise when Ron asks Hermione to leave with him.  But, since Hermione stands up for what she believes in (this time, it's the mission), she stays behind.  She begs Ron not to leave, but he does anyway.  What does she do?  Does she stare off into space for months at a time?  Or does she mourn his loss, cry her tears, and keep moving toward the goal?  (Full disclosure: I've been through a terrible break-up where I lost months without realizing they were passing, so I know how it feels.  But also?  I didn't have a life-or-death mission to save the world to complete, and my behavior during that time isn't something I'd want anyone to use as a model ever.)

Hermione is amazing.  She proves that time and time again over the seven years we are lucky enough to spend with her.  She inspires me by being brave and loyal, honest and true.

Day 15 – Favorite male character

Of course, I have more than one (HELLO, don't you know me??)  However, like with the authors, I'll only write a little extra about one.  So, first: I mentioned Michael Moscovitz yesterday, and he's definitely one of them, because he's a real boy written like a real boy.  And he'll show you his Blueside.  My second one is the incomparable Boy With The Bread, Peeta Mellark.  Oh, my #PeetaPocket.

I'm not going to say anything about that except... I love tumblr.  (All credit to that goes to lilliansblog.)

Okay, for real now, here's my pick and why.

Cricket Bell from Lola & The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
*as imagined by Simini Blocker

I've never been one of those girls that goes for the bad boys (I did once, not quite realizing that he was one, and let's just say it didn't end well).  I never really wanted to date the boy you needed to change or fix.  Frankly, I'm awesome, and I should be treated awesome.  When I am treated awesome, I respond by treating you awesome in return.  Win-win, as they say.

HOWever, I've found that I'm the complete exception to this rule, and it was especially evident when I was a teenager.  While other girls at my school were going after jerky dudes who didn't even know they existed, I was always the one chasing after the musicians, the theater geeks, the smart guys... essentially, the nerdy guys.  And Cricket Bell is just about as nerdy as they come.  He is the epitome of all the things I love best about nerdy guys.  He's sweet and charming, he cares about people and isn't afraid to show it, he's awkward and tall and has crazy hair and... I just love him.

Cricket is sort of an anomaly in modern YA, where he's presented from the beginning as already in like with the main character, rather than assuming they don't like each other and will have tons of ridiculous conflict together over and over until finally he says, "Oh wait, this girl is kinda amazing, I should stop being mean to her."  And then the girl says, "Well, I know you've been mean to me for a long time, but I know it was really because you lurved me!"  (Yes, this is a GINORMOUS generalization, but whatever.)  Cricket's just like, "Yep.  Like you!  Let's go out!"  And when he finds out Lola has a boyfriend who's kind of a dillhole, he says that while he desperately wants to be with her, he'd rather she BE HAPPY and he will LET HER GO if the dillhole is really what she wants.  But he's also willing to fight for her, to wait for her to realize that he's the much, much, MUCH better choice.  He stands up for her, understands her, sees that she's not perfect in the larger sense of the word but that she just might be perfect for him.  Some argue that being sensitive isn't manly, but I disagree.  I know I always be saying this but to me, there's nothing more bad-ass than being yourself.  You don't have to punch some guy to prove that you're strong.

So when Cricket leaps back into the scene just in the nick of time, I'm basically just a big ball of swoony swoons until the very last page.

That's why I love this boy, because he understands what true love is.  It's wanting the one you love to be happy, regardless of your own happiness.  And that's why the sensitive/nerdy guys of the world- the Cricket Bells, the Peeta Mellarks, the Michael Moscovitzs, the The Hubs Jacks- will always have my heart.  I don't want to chase.  I want to be truly loved.  Thankfully, I am.

<3

Day 14 – Favorite book of your favorite writer

I said I'd talk more about Princess Mia today, so... heeeeeere we go!

Forever Princess by Meg Cabot

As I said in the last entry, I devoured the entire Princess Diaries series as fast as I possibly could back in the summer of 2010.  I hadn't read any of Meg's YA works at that point, and I was very impressed with these.  The gist of the series is this: Mia Thermopolis has always been one to refer to herself as "average."  Sure, she's got her distinct qualities- her height, her combat boots, her vegetarianism, her backpack covered in Greenpeace patches- but she's just Mia, living in a loft with her never-married artist mother and her best cat Fat Louie.  Then her father drops a bomb on her: she's actually the Princess of Genovia, the country where her father was born and still lives.  The Diaries chronicle her high school years as she struggles through princess lessons with her cartoonishly awesome Grandmere, Algebra and the headaches it creates, her mother's dates with her Algebra teacher, and her enormous crush on her best friend's brother.  Each of the 10 books (plus the occasional "half" books) detail a certain big event or important moment in Mia's life.

I adore Mia, in so many ways.  She is so very authentic, and so very hilarious.  She is just a heroine I can support because, despite being a princess, she's also uniquely her!  She sounds like a real teenager.  My favorite is when she and Lilly (her BFF) do one of their infamous lists, from their favorite movies (which always includes something from Lifetime) to the boys they think are the cutest (which are almost all fictional characters) to the most kick-ass ladies (Buffy Summers makes the cut!).  And Mia and Michael?  Oh, that's a love story for the ages.

I chose the last book in the series, Forever Princess, as my favorite for many reasons.  First, it's a fantastic conclusion to an already fantastic story.  Secondly, Michael Moscovitz returns from his long trip to Japan all extra genius-y and gorgeous and somehow even awesomer than before.  Third and finally, the writing is perfection.  Granted, I feel the entire series must be read to full appreciate how perfect the writing is in book 10, but I still think it's great.  The reader has spent years with Mia, experiencing her voice, going through this journey with her, becoming her friend.  This book starts 2 years after book 9, and Mia is more mature and just a little bit different.  She's older, yes, but the way she writes is a bit... off.  You can tell it's almost like a show, like she's trying to hide her nerdy self under her new, matured persona.  Yet, as the story goes on, little pieces of the old Mia start to peak out, and it is like a breath of fresh air.  The style itself is so subtle, but I think it's really a showcase of Meg Cabot's talent.  It was one of the best endings I could have imagined for Princess Mia.

Day 13 – Your favorite writer

I have many!  MANY.  Here they are.


EDIT 2020: I wrote this a very long time ago, and I don’t want to dirty delete. However, I would like to state that I no longer feel this way about Joanne Rowling. She is uninformed, hateful, and harmful. I support trans rights as human rights, because that’s exactly what they are. The art is separated from the artist for me, forever.
JK Rowling, aka The Queen
I love her so much, I often refer to her as Jo, since JK is her pen name. AND I'M A NUTCASE.

John Green
Love you too, buddy.  It's an honor and a privilege to have my heart broken by you.

Stephanie Perkins (image from her website stephanieperkins.com)
Girl is so talented, it physically hurts me but in that good way that inspires you and makes you feel all the emotions and I'm not crazy I swear.

But the winner winner chicken dinner is

Meg Cabot aka The Princess!!

I have been a Meg Cabot mega-fan for years, since The Boy Next Door, which is not YA.  I read all of Meg's adult books as fast as I could and as soon as they were released.  She is definitely one of my pre-order-without-question authors.  A few years ago, armed with a library card and a Paperback Swap account, I decided to read her most famous YA series, The Princess Diaries.  Just when I thought I couldn't love the woman any more than I already did... she went and created one of my favorite male characters in YA literature, Michael Moscovitz.

What I love about Meg Cabot's writing is that it's so down-to-Earth.  She writes in a very universal way, but it's still so good.  It's lyrical and sweet, hysterical and honest.  She does an amazing job establishing a voice for her characters, especially Mia (who I will rave about tomorrow!).  I love simple, attainable, delightful writing, and Meg writes just like that, every time.  I'm never disappointed.

Also, Ms. Cabot?  If I ever get the chance to meet you, I apologize in advance for the extreme amount of fangirling I will do.  Squealing, stuttering, telling an awkward story that has no relevance to the topic at hand- yeah, it's all happening.  Sorry, Meg.

Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

Well, this should be fun.



Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (this image was intentionally chosen over the actual cover)

Let me first state that I actually still like the Twilight series.  It's basically my secret shame at this point, but there you have it.  I don't really feel like I'm allowed to openly like it anymore, though.  It seems like the uncool thing to do.  While I agree with so many arguments against this book (Bella is a terrible role model, the writing isn't great, Edward Cullen is a creepy stalker, Jacob Black's wig was atrocious), I cannot not like Twilight.  And here's why:

If it weren't for Twilight, I would not be reading any of the amazing books I've had the pleasure of reading these past few years.

When I first began these books, I was right in the middle of my Harry Potter readathons.  I didn't read anything else but that.  My (almost!) sister-in-law lent me the books, and I tore through them in a matter of days.  But something about the first book always stuck with me.  Reading it was like an awakening that I didn't know I needed.  There's a much longer version of this story that I won't really go into fully, but the gist is that becoming an adult is hard, and it's been hard on me personally because I tend to live inside my head a lot and internalize things too much and make myself batty-bat crazy.  I don't feel that a ton of people truly understand me, and I'm kind of weird, and it makes me withdraw and become a person that I don't always recognize.  So, while I was reading Twilight for the first time, I was reminded of my teenage self.  A girl who wore her weirdness proudly, who flaunted it out into the world much like those purple polyester pants she loved so much.  A girl who didn't really care whether people thought she was being odd or awkward or anything else besides herself, because to that girl, nothing was more honest than being yourself.  I came to realize that I really, really missed that girl.  And I didn't know why I felt I needed to change.  I'm me; deal with it.

AND THEN, the movies happened.  One fell swoop and a spider monkey later, Twilight went from being my blessed awakening to the eternal YA whipping boy.  Now that I'm much deeper into the YA world, I've found tons and tons of books that exceed how I felt about Twilight and that completely support my opinion that there's nothing more bad-ass than being yourself, but I still feel a bit of sadness when I think about what happened to this series.  Oh, Dead Diggory.  Oh, Kristen Stewart's One Expression.  Oh, Jasper's Phil Spector hair. How you've broken my sweet sweet heart.

(That broken heart didn't stop me from buying all the movies on DVD, though!  What has two thumbs, a funny voice, and loves cheesy awful movies?  Jessica BS!  Thank you, Dr. Kelso.)