Top Ten Female Characters Who Are Strong Without Being Kick-Arse

This is something I feel really strongly about - too often, it seems that female characters are dismissed as weak just because they can't use a bow and arrow like Katniss or jump off a building like Tris. Conversely, girls who CAN do these kinds of things are automatically labelled as strong even if they are actually inherently weak characters. Basically, as Melina Marchetta has pointed out several times, strong and kick-arse are not the same things. So here are my fave strong (not kick-arse) female characters.

1. Phaedra from The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. MM has sooo many amazing strong female characters in all her books, but I'm rereading this series at the moment and I have such a soft spot for Phaedra. She is the antithesis of the "kick-arse" heroine, and seems weak at first, but she turns out to be one of the strongest characters in the series.

2. Sansa from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. Sansa gets a lot of hate which makes me really mad. I feel like she is disdained for being traditionally feminine, which people interpret as "weak" in contrast to Arya's cross-dressing kick-arsery. Now I love Arya, but Sansa displays a different kind of strength. The fact that she has survived so long shows her emotional and mental power. Indeed, in that respect she is probably stronger than Arya. I just love Sansa and anyone who doesn't is clearly wrong.

3. Judith from All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry. Judith has been through all sorts of trauma but she remains strong and determined to get what she wants. She uses her outsider status to her advantage and gets things done.

4. Anne from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Oh, Anne with an E. She is one of my favourite characters of all time. She is fierce, brave, strong-willed, intelligent, imaginative, creative, fun-loving, and more than a little bit ridiculous. Her flaws are what make her so perfect.

5. Jane from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane knows her own mind and doesn't let anyone try and convince her otherwise. She never betrays her own sense of self, even when it means giving up the love of her life. She is no bird.

6. June from The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. June has her heart broken early on, but instead of wallowing she does what she can to heal and then forges on with a rich, full, unconventional and awesome life.

7. Charlotte-Rose from Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. This character is based on a real person, which just makes her even more brilliant. Charlotte-Rose defies convention to follow her heart and get what she wants, and is punished for it. But she doesn't let that dampen her spirit.

8. Lou from Wildlife by Fiona Wood. Lou is quiet, reserved, grieving, broken but oh, so strong. I just want to hug her.

9. Hermione from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I debated including Hermione because she actually is quite kick-arse, but I listed her because it's her organisation, studying, and planning that really allow her to win. Her strength in holding the other characters together when they're falling apart, and keeping a level head in the most dire circumstances, are some of my favourite things about her.

10. Amy from Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. Poor Amy. She is treated like a slave by her whole family, and grows up in a prison because of her father. The man she loves is too blind to see it for a big chunk of the book. She puts up with so much and just gets on with it. She's resilient and smart, and so while she is tiny and perceived as weak, her character is really the strongest in the book.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Unique Character Names

1. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. So pretty much all the names in this book are the best - Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Boo Radley... but Atticus is the most memorable of all.

2. Uriah Heep from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Dickens had a knack for unique names. There are sooo many to choose from, but Uriah Heep is up there for me because it perfectly encapsulates the creepy, icky character it's meant for.

3. Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The name is so brilliant he only needs one.

4. Hans Hubermann from The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Such a friendly, delightful name for a friendly, delightful fellow.

5. Lady Amalthea from The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. A lovely name befitting a unicorn in human form.

6. Bastian Balthazar Bux from The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Not two, but THREE alliterative names. It doesn't get much better than that.

7. Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride by William Goldman. Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

8. Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Rowling's writing is filled with one-of-a-kind names, but Bellatrix Lestrange's is my fave.

9. Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I didn't love the book but I do love the name. It's a strong name for a strong character.

10. Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. A light, lyrical name for a deceptively dark and complex character.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Top Ten Books I Wish Had Sequels

I don’t know that I actually want sequels to any of these books, coz I’m a big fan of standalones these days. But there are some books that have left me wanting more, with characters that stay with me well after I’ve finished reading…

-Liar by Justine Larbalestier. This was a mindscrew of a book and I just want to know the TRUTH. But Larbalestier has said even she doesn’t know, plus I think a big reveal would undermine the power of the story somewhat. But on the other hand CLOSURE.

-Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. This was an adorable, heartfelt roadtrip book that made me happy sigh when I finished it. I loved the characters and would like to read more about them, although I felt satisfied with the story told in this one.

-The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Mary grew up to marry Dickon and have lots of forest animals and babies and a beautiful big garden and she definitely didn’t marry her broody cousin Colin and Dickon definitely didn’t die. The end.

-Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington. Although I loved how this one ends, it definitely left me wanting MOAR.

-The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I’d love to see Buttercup’s Baby, Goldman’s joke sequel chapter, actually happen. I have to know what happens to Fezzik. Namely how he gets saved because HE CAN’T DIE.

-North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It would be awesome to see the wedding and Margaret settling into life as Mrs Thornton. And the actual reaction of the elder Mrs Thornton. And maybe the wedding night… you know, the feast and stuff. Yeah.

-Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. OK, so technically this does have a sequel in Lola and the Boy Next Door, but another story focused on Anna and Etienne would be great. I love those two.

-Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. I'm keen to spend another night with these characters. Perhaps a year after the events in the original.

-Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. I’d love to see Josie as an adult. I related to her so much as a teen, I wonder if I’d still relate to her as a (not quite) grown-up. I like to think she achieved her dreams. And made it work with Jacob Coote.

-This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. This is another book where really, I just want to know what happens on the page after the last one. It had quite an ambiguous ending, and I like CLOSURE. But as with Liar, I think if I actually got it, the book wouldn’t be nearly so powerful.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Movie Adaptations

1. Jane Eyre (2011), based on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It packs a lot into its limited running time, and manages to capture the emotions and feel of Bronte's classic beautifully. Plus Michael Fassbender.

2. The Princess Bride (1987), based on The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It's so faithful to the book and just plain awesome.

3. The Notebook (2004), based on The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. One of those rare movie adaptations that's actually better than the book. Much, much better.

4. Never Let Me Go (2010), based on Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Gorgeous, heartbreaking movie to fit a gorgeous, heartbreaking book.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), based on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The acting is a highlight of this classic adaptation.

6. The Secret Garden (1993), based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It may not always be faithful to the letter but it is very faithful to the spirit of the book, filled with the same whimsy and magic that's present in the original.

7. The Last Unicorn (1982), based on The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Sure, the animation isn't exactly high-tech, but it does manage to convey a lot of the same beautiful imagery that's in Beagle's book. Such a strange, kinda creepy but magical tale.

8. Clueless (1995), based on Emma by Jane Austen. It says a lot about both the movie and the novel that studying them in high school didn't forever sap my enjoyment of them. On a superficial level Clueless doesn't have a lot in common with Emma, but below the surface they are clearly kindred spirits.

9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It's just not Christmas without this book or movie. And Gonzo as Dickens? Pure genius.

10. Little Women (1994), based on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A gorgeous movie that hits all the right emotional notes. Which means a few laughs and a helluva lot of tears.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Beach Reads

1. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares. It's all about summer (amongst other things), and it's so much fun. My kind of beach read.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Teen romance at its best.

3. Adorkable by Sarra Manning. Teen romance at its second best.

4. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. Just pure fun.

5. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. Not exactly a light beach read, but the ocean is such a central part of the story it would be fantastic to read this book surrounded by the sounds and scents it describes.

6. Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst. A book featuring vampires that are actually deadly, that's still fun, light-hearted and highly entertaining. Awesome.

7. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Teen romance at its trashiest. Perfect for sunny, no-brainer days on the sand.

8. Cargo by Jessica Au. This is another book which is not exactly light, but the beach is central to the story.

9. Puberty Blues by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey. Again, it's all about the beach and surf culture. Even though it goes to pretty dark places, it's also hilarious.

10. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. It's Toddlers and Tiaras meets Lost. And it's as brilliant as it sounds.

Top Ten Books Featuring Travel

1. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. The best roadtrip book I've read. It will make you laugh, cry and swoooon.

2. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. I could put the whole of The Lumatere Chronicles, but Finnikin is the one with the most travel. They're all wonderful.

3. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. The magical, gorgeous tale of one unicorn's quest to find others like her.

4. The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams. A roadtrip book with a very unique twist. Not for everyone, but I loved it.

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Trip to the Peak District, anyone? Namely Derbyshire.

6. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. What better way to travel than through time? Though it doesn't exactly work out well for Henry. This book gives me All The Feels.

7. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. Four friends use a magical pair of jeans to stay in touch when they're separated over the summer. It's nowhere near as lame as I thought it would be before I read it.

8. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Second star to the right and straight on till morning!

9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. One of my favourite books of all time, I wouldn't mind a trip with Fezzik and Inigo - and Westley, of course. Buttercup can stay at home.

10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. While it's mostly set in Paris, the kids do travel there to start with (and to America and back again over the holidays). Anna may whinge about it at first, but I wouldn't have minded going to school in such a gorgeous city!

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More/Less

I'm ba-ack. After a pretty overwhelming week last week in which I didn't blog at all (terrible, I KNOW), I'm back with bells on. Or at least with a list. Of books I thought I'd like more...

1. Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. I was sooo excited when I heard the Fug girls were writing a YA novel. And I was sooo disappointed when I didn't enjoy it very much.

2. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. After enjoying The Thief, the first in this series, I was super keen to read The Queen, having heard from a bazillion and one people that it was ah-mazing, and even better than the first. Unfortunately it frustrated the hell out of me.

3. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I love, love, loved the movie version of this growing up, and I also adore Burnett's The Secret Garden. But the little princess in question drove me nuts when I read the book.

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. Lizzy Bennet fighting zombies?! I thought it couldn't get more awesome than that. But I was wrong. Because it wasn't awesome at all.

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Anna and the French Kiss quickly became a favourite (see below) so I had extremely high expectations for Perkins' follow-up novel. They were not met.


And some I thought I'd like less...

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The lame name and lame cover turned out to be hiding an awesome book.

2. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Having never read Bray's work before, I didn't realise how amazing she is. I thought this would be a trashy read, and it was so much more.

3. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. I avoided this book for a long time because it looked depressing and sappy. But although it was heartbreaking, I found it strangely uplifting and lovely.

4. The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. I didn't think I enjoyed verse novels - until I read this one.

5. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Not only is the cover really embarrassing, the plot didn't particularly interest me until I read some great reviews. So I gave it a chance and I was instantly hooked.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Fictional Crushes

When I saw this topic I knew I just had to participate in Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) this week. I love me some literary man candy. I used to do a meme called My Book Boyfriend so I have whole posts devoted to my many fictional crushes, but I managed to get the list down my faves…

1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Do I even need to say why?

2. Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen. The lady sure knew how to write amazing heroes who write amazing letters. Swooooon.

3. Westley from The Princess Bride. He’s actually the perfect man.

4. Etienne St Claire from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea because of the whole, er, cheating thing, but he sure got my heart beating. He has great chemistry with Anna, is obsessed with history and does things like give books with hidden messages as gifts. Sigh.

5. Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. He’s so broody but still has a great sense of humour. I adore the way he treats Jane with respect and meets her as an equal. Let’s just not mention the whole crazy wife in the attic, though…

6. Mr. Thornton from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. He just wants to be a gentleman! And be loved. I could give him so much love.

7. Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. He’s the strong, silent and sexy type, with badass fighting skills and a killer bod. Literally.

8. Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. He’s a tall Viking vampire with a cheeky sense of humour and a lot of, er, talent. Ahem.

9. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. He immaturely shows a girl he likes her by insulting her and spends the next five years trying to make up for it. Silly, adorable boy.

10. Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This book is totally cheesy but completely hot – just like its hero, Alex.

Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

Actually, I push books

 1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's so beautiful and exquisite and wonderful and all the amazing things.

2. Anything by Melina Marchetta. She is the best.
 
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen. A lot of people have read Pride and Prejudice, but I love Persuasion almost as much and not nearly enough people have read it.

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I also recommend this to fans of Pride and Prejudice; it's a lot darker but has the same kind of awesomesauce hate-turned-love story and a totally swoon-worthy hero.

5. Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters. I was blown away by this biography when I read it last year so I push it on to everbody.

6. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The lame name and cover for this book really don't do its delightfulness justice (although it has had a redesign!), so I try to tell everybody how fun and non-lame it really is.

7. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. I devoured this book in a day. It's a remarkable, beautifully-crafted Australian story featuring brilliant characters.

8. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. I read this quite recently but I've already pushed it onto several people. Such a sublime read.

9. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. A gorgeous fairy tale adaptation/historical romance. It's pure magic.

10. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I think pretty much everyone has seen the movie (if you haven't, what are you doing with your life?!) but not a lot have read the book, which is a shame because it's wonderful.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Bookish Goals For 2013

1. Read more than last year. My goal for 2012 was to read 100 books, and I failed miserably. This year I'm aiming for 75, but I'd like to at least read 52 - one per week, and one more than last year.
2. Blog regularly. The first half of last year was taken up with wedding planning and then the actual wedding, and then it was hard to get back into a good blogging rhythm. But I feel like I'm off to a good start this year, and plan on posting at least five times a weak, as I did when I first began my blog.
3. Stay up-to-date with reviews. A big problem with my blogging last year was getting behind on reviews. At one stage I was nine books behind! It created unnecessary stress and made it harder to actually write the reviews when I finally got around to it. This year I intend to write reviews on the day I finish the book. So far, so good!
4. Ignore the drama. I feel like 2012 was the Year of the Drama Llama in the book blogging community. I've made a conscious decision to step back and ignore it all (although hopefully it doesn't happen this year!). It just sucks the fun out of blogging.
5. Read more classics. Back in my uni days, the classics took up the majority of the books I read. Some of it was for my English Literature major, but a lot of it was just for fun. When I started working full time I had much less time on my hands and found myself drawn to quick and easy reads. Now I want to get back into reading the classics, so I'm aiming to read at least six this year. That's only one every couple of months - I think I can do that!
6. Finish all of my challenges. I signed up for waaay too many challenges in 2012 and failed most of them. This year I'm only doing four and I intend to complete them all. That means reading at least 12 Aussie books for one challenge, 10 by Australian women writers for another (obviously these will overlap), knocking at least 36 books off my TBR pile, and, as stated above, reading 75 books in total.
7. Buy less books. I have a bit of a book buying addiction. There was one stage last year where I was getting packages nearly every day, and half the time I couldn't even remember what I'd ordered. Indeed, I ended up ordering multiple copies of a couple of things! This year I need to make sure I read the books I already own and...
8. Use the library more (and get books back on time). I finally joined my local library last year after living in the area for four years. I used it quite a bit at first but then I racked up some heavy fines and have been too chicken to go back since. I need to square off my debts and get back into it. That, or sign the husband up for a card and use his. Mwahaha.
9. Read books I've been meaning to get to for ages. Like those in last week's Top Ten.
10. Reread some of my favourites. I've only reread one book since starting my blog, because I'm inundated with new books I want to read all the time, but I really miss revisiting some of my favourites - like Jane Austen, for instance. I've also been contemplating reading some of my childhood faves, like The Babysitter's Club, but I think that would be a bigger project that I need to plan out and right now I'm just concentrating on getting my blogging mojo back.

What are your bookish goals for 2013?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fantastic evening and 2013 is off to a good start for you all. I personally have big plans and high hopes for this year. Including (but not limited to) reading these books...


Source

1. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. This book received so much buzz in the blogosphere that I knew I just had to read it. I managed to get my hands on it when it came out, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Here's hoping I get to it soon.
   
2. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. This one received even more buzz and I pre-ordered it despite never having read John Green before. I figured it would be as amazing as everyone was making it out to be. But I've been too scared of being totally depressed to actually read it yet.
   
3. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. It sounds amazing and is another that has gotten brilliant reviews. I can't wait to read it!
   
4. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. An Aussie gem (or so I've heard) that I'm ashamed to admit I haven't read yet.
   
5. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. Anne is the only Bronte I have yet to read, and I plan to remedy that.
   
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth. Of the many dystopians to hit the scene post-Hunger Games, Divergent was one of the few to get resounding praise. I finally picked it up at a book sale after Christmas so I can read it soon.
   
7. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. The first in a series that came to my attention when I found out it was one of Melina Marchetta's faves – so it must be good!
   
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This has been on my bookshelf for years and for some reason I've never read it. I think it's probably about time I did.
   
9. Night Beach by Kirsty Eager. Eager is another Aussie author that I've heard great things about, and I've been meaning to read one of her books for awhile.
   
10. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. When I was at uni I was obsessed with Dickens and read a bunch of his books, but I haven't read much of his lately. I plan to rekindle my love this year, and NN looks like a good place to start.
    

What books do you want to tick off your to-read list this year?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

 

1. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. An instant favourite – I’m talking top ten books of all time. I loved Silvey’s style, the authentic characters and the intriguing story.

2. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. It’s Melina Freaking Marchetta. Nobody does beautiful, heartfelt and realistic character-driven stories like she does. This is probably my favourite of her contemporary books.

3. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver. This was a magical little book about grief and friendship and love. And magic, of course.

4. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. A unique contemporary novel featuring a bunch of broken and messed-up characters who burrow under your skin and take up residence in your heart.

5. Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters. The compelling biography of an “ex-homeless,  ex-junkie psychopath", it's the type of book that stays with you long after you've finished it,

6. Fury by Shirley Marr. A darkly funny mystery featuring a smart and spunky heroine, I was hooked from the first line.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Yes, I only read this for the first time this year. And of course it was brilliant.

8. The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta. Another Marchetta, I know. I went on a bit of a MM-binge earlier in the year, and it was probably my best reading period of the last 12 months. So much gorgeous writing.

9. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. This rich retelling of Rapunzel weaves together the stories of three powerful women: the "real" Rapunzel, the witch who entrapped her, and the woman who wrote down her story.

10. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. This was the scariest book I've ever read. While I wouldn't say I particularly enjoyed it, it had some powerful (and creepy) imagery, a haunting story and beautiful writing.

What were your fave books of the year?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012

1. Craig Silvey. I read Jasper Jones in one day on my honeymoon and it instantly became one of my favourite books. I totally have an author crush on Mr Silvey, thanks in no small part to meeting him at an event for his novella, The Amber Amulet. I totally fangirled.

2. Kat Zhang. As I mentioned in my review, I had a lot of problems with What’s Left of Me, Zhang’s debut novel, but I still loved it nonetheless. There’s something special about her storytelling ability, so I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in the future.

3. Shirley Marr. I was first introduced to Ms Marr when I won a competition to have a cameo in her book, Preloved. I was beyond excited – even more so when I became friends with her on Goodreads (her author profile is sadly no longer active) and quickly discovered how witty, funny and lovely she is. I finally got around to reading both Fury and Preloved towards the end of the year, and adored them both!

4. Lauren Oliver. I’ve had Oliver’s Delirium on my bookshelf for awhile and still haven’t read it, but I did manage to fly through Liesl and Po earlier in the year and thought it was absolutely beautiful. I really need to read more of Oliver’s books now!

5. Sarah Beth Durst. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Drink, Slay, Love; especially how funny it was. Considering how over all things vampire I am, I was very impressed that Durst delivered a fresh and fun take on the genre.

6. Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I finally read The Language of Flowers this year and it was every bit as emotional and beautiful as I expected it to be.

7. Alexander Masters. I don’t often read non-fiction, but Masters’ biography of Stuart Shorter blew me away. It was clever, funny and incredibly raw (in a good way).

8. Kate Forsyth. Bitter Greens was a complex, gorgeous historical retelling of the Rapunzel story, which made me eager to try out some more of this talented Aussie author’s work.

9. Gabrielle Williams. I wasn’t really expecting to like The Reluctant Hallelujah, but it completely drew me in – and broke my heart. The writing was powerful and I loved the characters. I must check out more of Williams’ writing.

10. Katja Millay. The Sea of Tranquility has been getting a lot of buzz in the blogosphere, and for good reason – it’s a moving story about two broken people who are slowly helping each other to heal. It reminded me a lot of The Language of Flowers.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Kick-Ass Heroines

If you haven't already, you need to watch the BAMF Girls Club

1. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games trilogy. If you looked up kick-ass in the dictionary, there'd be a picture of Katniss.

2. Lisbeth Salander from the Millenium trilogy. She may be socially inept, but she's intelligent, feisty and sure knows how to get revenge.

3. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. Without Hermione, I'm pretty sure Voldemort would still be around... and Harry probably wouldn't be. The boys wouldn't have gotten anywhere without her.

4. Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series. Oh, Anne-girl. I have a special place in my heart for the little ginger. She belongs on this list purely for the moment she broke her slate over Gilbert Blythe's head - although she's all other kinds of awesome, too.

5. Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie doesn't have to be a zombie slayer to kick butt: she does it classic-style, with her sharp tongue and fine eyes.

6. Josie Alibrandi from Looking for Alibrandi. I love all of Melina Marchetta's heroines, but Josie is special to me because I grew up with her. Sure, she's kinda annoying at times, but I adore Josie for her passion and her ability to fight for what she believes in.

7. Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre. C'mon, the freaking book is named for her. How kick-ass is that? What's even more kick-ass is Jane's self respect: She demands to be treated as an equal, and won't compromise herself or her values for anyone (even the swoony Rochester).

8. Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is everything I wasn't as a kid: tomboyish, brave, unafraid to speak her mind... but I think she's amazeballs. She packs such a big punch (in more ways than one) for someone so small.

9. Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series. I read this series straight after Twilight, and it's safe to say Rose is the antithesis to Bella Swan. Forget falling for vampires - she stakes them! And, uh, just falls in love with her teacher instead... moving on.

10. Matilda from Matilda. Look at that, another title-worthy character. Matilda is intelligent, brave, cheeky, strong-minded and magical - and her favourite thing in the world is books. What's not to love?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Book Quotes

1. “I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant... I am haunted by humans.”- Death in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2. "What I'm feeling, I think, is joy. And it's been some time since I've felt that blinkered rush of happiness. This might be one of those rare events that lasts, one that'll be remembered and recalled as months and years wind and ravel. One of those sweet, significant moments that leaves a footprint in your mind. A photograph couldn't ever tell its story. It's like something you have to live to understand. One of those freak collisions of fizzing meteors and looming celestial bodies and floating debris and one single beautiful red ball that bursts into your life and through your body like an enormous firework. Where things shift into focus for a moment, and everything makes sense. And it becomes one of those things inside you, a pearl among sludge, one of those big exaggerated memories you can invoke at any moment to peel away a little layer of how you felt, like a lick of ice cream. The flavour of grace." - Charlie in Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

3. "If you stop to think about it, you’ll have to admit that all the stories in the world consist essentially of twenty-six letters. The letters are always the same, only the arrangement varies. From letters words are formed, from words sentences, from sentences chapters, and from chapters stories." - The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

4. “And this, really, is the story-within-the-story, because if you do not believe that hearts can bloom suddenly bigger, and that love can open like a flower out of even the hardest places, then I am afraid that for you the world will be long and brown and barren, and you will have trouble finding the light.
But if you do believe, then you already know all about magic.” - Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

5. “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.” - David Copperfield in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

6. “I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.” - Jacob in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

7. “I have for the first time found what I can truly love–I have found you. You are my sympathy–my better self–my good angel–I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you–and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.” Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

8.  “My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die.
I counted.
It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of miles away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, 'What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?' and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand,' and that was the last thing he ever said.” - Narnie in On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

9.   “The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone... she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night.” - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

10.  "You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago." - Captain Wentworth in Persuasion by Jane Austen

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten: Books I Push

I'm a [book] pusher.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Hey, you there! Have you read this book? No? Go read it. Now. Seriously, it should be compulsory for everyone in the world to read this book. The language, characters, structure, plot... everything is just magnificent. I've literally pushed it into the hands of everyone I know.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. This book took me by complete surprise and made me so incredibly happy, so I like to try and pass on that experience to as many people as possible. So far I've succeeded - everyone I know who has read it has loved it. Don't let the naff cover and title fool you!

3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I adore this hate-turned-love classic almost as much as Pride and Prejudice, and jump at the chance to tell fans of the latter who haven't read North and South to do just that. Oh, Mr Thornton...
 
4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Like Anna and the French Kiss, Beauty Queens took me by surprise. It's not just really funny, it's also incredibly clever and has some awesome kick-ass characters. Great for fans of satire.

5. Anything by Melina Marchetta. She's one of my favourite authors. Most Aussies who went to high school in the mid '90s and after would be familiar with Melina Marchetta from Looking for Alibrandi (it's not only iconic, it's required reading in a lot of English classes), but the rest of her books are just as awesome - if not more so. As I tell the world at every chance I get.

6. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It's one of my all-time favourite books, and is the basis for my all-time favourite movie. It's a classic and has pretty much everything going for it. A must-read.

7. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver. I only read this recently, but it's definitely one of my favourite books of the year. It's a simple, bittersweet exploration of grief, filled with elegant language, touching emotions and a great cast of characters. It's a magical book - and who doesn't need one of those in their lives from time to time?!

8. I Came to Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington. This book stayed with me for a long time after finishing it. In fact, I still find myself thinking about the main character, Med, from time to time. He is so realistic and heartbreaking - as are all the characters, really. A beautifully written Australian story.

9. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I adored this book and if it wasn't for the cliffhanger at the end I would recommend it unreservedly. As it is, I think EVERYONE should read it - when the sequel comes out. Unless, unlike me, you're patient and don't mind cliffhangers - in which case, go ahead and read it now!
 
10. The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. I didn't think I liked verse novels - until I read Sarah Crossan's The Weight of Water. It's so beautiful and powerful, and convinced me that verse novels can be brilliant. So I highly recommend it for anyone who is a bit iffy on the genre!


What books do you push on to others the most?


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Reading Icons: Morgan Freeman

It's all about the voice.

Bookish Fun: Hey Girl, Ryan Gosling Memes Will Make Your Day

These memes have been kicking around for awhile, but they always make me smile, so I thought I'd make a post about them and hopefully make someone else smile, too. Really it's just an excuse to post pictures of Ryan Gosling (like I need one).

Ryan Gosling Reads Young Adult

 

Ryan Gosling Works In Publishing

Hey Girl. I Like The Library Too.

But wait, there's more!

• Fuck Yeah! Ryan Gosling (the original!)
• Is Ryan Gosling cuter than a puppy? 
• Ryan Gosling Disneyland Cats
• Feminist Ryan Gosling
• Typographer Ryan Gosling
• SEO Ryan Gosling
• Vintage Ryan Gosling
• Archaeologist Ryan Gosling
• Socially Conscious Ryan Gosling
• Environmental Ryan Gosling
• Shakespearen Ryan Gosling
• Ryan Gosling Bakes
• Gazing With Gosling
• Gosblr (with links to even MORE RG memes)

Bookish Fun: Lit Major Lemur

My blog (and I) need a bit of a fun injection, and what better way than with a craptastic meme? Presenting... Lit Major Lemur.

My Book Boyfriend: Cricket Bell

 

My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. While I mentioned in my review of Stephanie Perkins' Lola and the Boy Next Door that Cricket Bell was more friend than boyfriend material for me, he's still adorable enough that I had to feature him in MBB anyway. He's tall, with piercing blue eyes and crazy hair, and cares a lot about the way he looks; not in a conceited way, though - he just puts a lot of effort into the way he dresses and has a definite style. He's been in love with Lola forever and spends every chance he can get with her. He's open about his emotions and expresses them in the sweetest ways. He's also super smart, with dreams of being an inventor. I pictured him as Darren Criss.

Swoon-Worthy Quotes

“I know. And I couldn't wait any longer, I have to tell you - "
The panic rises, and I grip the French band tighter. "Cricket, please -"
But his words pour forth in a torrent. "I can't stop thinking about you, and I'm not the guy I used to be, I've changed -"
"Cricket -" I look back up, feeling faint.
His blue eyes are bright. Sincere. Desperate. "Go out with me tonight. Tomorrow night, every ni -" The words cut off in his throat as he sees something behind me.
Cigarettes and spearmint. I want to die.
"This is Max. My boyfriend. Max, this is Cricket Bell.”

Cricket’s limbs are still, but his chest is pounding hard against my own. “But you’ll want me someday? That feeling you once had for me … that hasn’t left either?”
Our hearts beat the same wild rhythm. They’re playing the same song.  “It never left,” I say.

“Lola?" Cricket is on his knees at the side of my bed. I feel it. "I'm here," he whispers. "You can talk to me or not talk to me, but I'm here.”

“So do you believe in second chances?" I bite my lip.
"Second, third, fourth. Whatever it takes. However long it takes. If the person is right," he adds.
"If the person is... Lola?"
This time, he holds my gaze. "Only if the other person is Cricket.”