Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

This week’s topic for the Broke and the Bookish's top ten list was hard, mostly because if I don’t like the characters, I usually stop reading the book. Still, after scanning my book case, I realized there are some characters I could do without.

1. Bella-(Twilight series) Ugh. She’s just so whiney.

2. Buttercup- (The Princess Bride) I have the same problem with iiiher that I have with Bella. They’re useless. The difference is that I happen to love the other characters in the Princess Bride (movie version) so much, I can push my irritation aside. Plus, you’re seeing her through the eyes of a very young boy, it stands to reason he would see In the spirit of complete honesty, I’m not impressed with the book

3. Christina- (Phantom of the Opera) I adore all versions of the Phantom of the Opera, but that doesn’t mean I have to love Christina. She shares many traits with Bella and Buttercup, especially in the book version. In the movie and the play I make her tolerable by telling myself she’s been brain washed. When it comes to characters, I like them to be pro-active. I don’t like them standing around, waiting for things to happen, and then blaming the world when things don’t turn out the way they’d hoped.

4. Nancy Drew-She’s just a little too perfect for my taste. It’s probably why I preferred the Hardy Boys while I was growing up.

5. Jason Grace (Heroes of Olympus) I don’t know what it is about this character, but I grind my teeth together each time he takes a turn as a narrator. His romantic interest, Piper, tends to generate the same response.

6. Eustace Scrubbs (Chronicles of Narnia) I love the series but have always felt this character should take a flying leap off a tall cliff. The only time I truly enjoyed him was after he turned himself into a dragon.

7. Ron Weasley (Harry Potter Series) I understand Ron’s purpose in the series. There’s even large chunks of time when I enjoy him, but there are other times when he drove me nuts.  I always felt he was a bit to wishy-washy

8.  Sarah Byrnes (Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes) I have mixed feelings about adding Sarah to this list. I love this book. It’s a great story, if you haven’t read it you should. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The Sarah character’s situation is about as bad as things get, but that doesn’t stop her from both irritating and confusing me.  I suspect that was the author’s goal. 

9. Louis (Interview with a Vampire) I don’t know what it was about the character of Louis, but he bothered me.

10. Whitely (A Midsummer’s Nightmare)-Whiney twit. It’s a good thing I liked every other character in this book.

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of in Books

The topic that the Broke and the Bookish came up with for this week's blog hop was hard. Looking through my own bookcase it was obvious how many great and varied settings authors have used. While I have found most of these settings in books I've read, I would like to see them show up more often.

1. Farms- I don't think authors understand just what they're missing out on. There's a million different types  of farms they could use, and so many different, entertaining people they could base characters on. Farming has been greatly underused in literature.
I think this would be a fantastic setting for both historical,
contemporary, and sci-fi novels.


2.Hockey games-I love hockey and feel more authors should right about it. The best thing about hockey showing up in more books will be the diverse cultures it would allow the author to use.

3. Chincoteque/Assateque Islands-Yep, O' Henry's fabulous Misty trilogy was set on these islands, as was a very badly researched episode of Bones, but I'd still like to see both islands in more books.

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                               

4. Michigan's Upper Peninsula-I think I've read one, maybe two books that have even acknowledged the U.P., AND THAT'S JUST WRONG! The U.P. is a beautiful place full of wildlife, copper, mining, pasties, farming, water, and a million other things. Truthfully, I'd like to see Michigan in general appear in more books.

Source: Uploaded by user via Alison on Pinterest

5.County fairs-How come no one writes about a county fair? It's the perfect setting for YA books!

Source: deliciousindustries.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

 6.The 1600's-I've been able to find very few books set in this time period, which doesn't make any sense to me. So much happened than, it should be a gold mine of possibilities.

7.  Mummy Crypt's-Mummies are slowly starting to show up in some books, and as far as I'm concerned this is a very good thing. I just want more mummy book, like, right now.

Source: imgur.com via Hudson on Pinterest

8. Pig farms-Okay, I'm a little biased. My WIP happens to be set on a pig farm, but that doesn't mean I don't want more books to come out with the same setting.As an added bonus, hands down hog farmers happen to be the nicest group of people I've ever met.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Lacey on Pinterest

9.Traveling Circuses-Sarah Gruen effectivly showed what a great setting this can be. I'm hoping more authors follow suit

10.  The World Fair-I don't think I've read a single book set at the World Fair.            

What about you? Do you have any settings you wish would show up more in the books you snuggle up with?

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

 I'm making an effort to participate in the Broke and Bookish's Tuesday top ten lists. This week the them is debut authors.

1.
 
There's so much I already love about this book. The title, the concept, and the cover. I can't wait to get it on  my bookshelf.

2.

I haven't quite figured out if the MC is a succubus or an actual nightmare, but either way, I'm intrigued

3.
 
I like Selke lore, and the blurb sounds interesting.

4.

I don't know much about this one, but I like the cover the FMC is suppose to be sarcastic. I like sarcastic
characters.

5.

Spies in Elizabeth's court! I've gotta read this one. Plus, the cover model looks a bit like one of my sisters.

6.
 
This story has me intrigued, though I'm not sure why. The author scored the jackpot with the cover.

7.
 
The title caught my eye, and the concept of a genie with a murderer hot on his tail has captured my imagination. This sounds like it's going to be a great read. 

8.

 I love cemetery's, especially old ones, and can't wait to read this book, which, based on the blurb, focuses on some interesting cemetery lore.
9.

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but look at this one. How can the story be anything but amazing? My only hesitation right now regarding this book is that the way Goodreads currently has it listed makes it look like the first in a series.

10.

I can't find much information about this book, but I'm intrigued.

 Additional lists of debuts other bloggers are eagerly anticipating can be found at the http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/.