Day 10: Favourite classic book.

I've got to start with saying that I've discovered a new "TOP BOOK OF THE YEAR" and I'm not going to surprise anyone by saying that it's by Catherynne M. Valente. Into The Night Garden is a gorgeously imaginative read and I adore every word of it.

Alright, now that that's over with...

What the heck is a "classic" book by any standards?

Does it have to be something written ages ago by a dead white man?

Nawh, not going to do that.

Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen

I had another one of those brainwrecking moments where I honestly couldn't think of something different. This book is... Well. It's pretty damn classic. And yeah, it's a romance, but whatevs.

It's one of those books that need no introduction. Most everyone has heard of this book and even a person who hasn't read it has presumably either watched the movie or at least vaguely knows about the plot.

I think this is the book that popularised the whole HATE AT FIRST SIGHT AND THEN FALLING IN LOVE WITH MUCH MORTIFICATION trope. It's been pretty influential in pop culture and come on, Mr Darcy has set hearts afluttering for centuries!

Note to future partner: I'm totally demanding a Pride and Prejudice style wedding or engagement, mmyeah?

“It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?” 

Day 9: A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.

Diana Wynne Jones. She shaped my love and thirst for adventure more than any other author has. I spent many happy days holed up reading about magic and mystery, time travel and so many other themes that grew on me. I progressed from series to series and ended up reading pretty much all of her books. Howl's Moving Castle and Sophie Hatter are my dear favourites, but of course, I started with the Chrestomanci series.

It's only fitting that her books find a place somewhere in this series of posts.

The first book I ever read by her:

Charmed Life (Chrestomanci series)
by Diana Wynne Jones

We have Eric "Cat" Chant. Timid and shy and forever living in the shadow of his manipulative and much talented older sister, Gwendolen. We have the enigmatic and handsome Chrestomanci (is that a name or title?). We have a whole host of animated background characterse, interesting in their individuality.

I didn't think I'd like the book, especially since at 7 I deemed the cover uninteresting and certainly uninspiring. I forced myself past the first page and then I got lost.

For the next several years, I bought books just because they had her name on it and I never regretted the decision. I remember coming home from college to the news of her death, utterly shocked. I don't know why, I just feel like I assumed she'd live forever.

Diana Wynne Jones will live on forever in my reading habits and imagination. Her books introduced me to magic and fantasy and that kind of thing can never be forgotten.

(Chrestomanci's sass, though)

“Chrestomanci smiled and swept out of the room like a very long procession of one person.”

 “Then watch out. I warn you!"  

"That is very considerate of you," said Chrestomanci. "I like to be warned.”

Day 8: Most overrated book.

I wanted to pick something different, I really did.

Fifty Shades Trilogy 
by E. L. James

Firstly, this is based off Twilight fanfiction. If that doesn't already sound like a trainwreck, I don't know what else does. The fanfiction aspect isn't a big deal at all (cue rant about how certain communities and activities are seen as devalued when females are involved - like TV series/band/etc fandom, when the sports industry is really one big overblown fandom) and the main issue here is that Twilight checks off most flags for abusive relationships.

Secondly, this book is a terrible representation of BDSM relationships and BDSM as a subculture. Go read The Boss Trilogy by Abigail Barnett (as Mara Wilson recommended). I checked it out and I find that it was a ridiculously good read. Pretty feminist, coloured characters not in the background, LGBTQA representation, accurate information... Pretty much the total opposite of Fifty Shades.

Thirdly, Christian Grey is a horrible person. His method of controlling his "submissive" is... well. It's disgusting. Plus the stalking. Plus. Ew. Everything.

I can't see why anybody could find this romantic and if they do, I highly suggest that they look at it critically.

I wanted to end this post with a quote from Fifty Shades the way I've ended my previous posts but all of the lines are so terrible I'm going to have to end it with this link.

Day 7: Most underrated book.

I can't decide I can't decide I can't decide don't make me pick anything Terry Pratchett or Catherynne M. Valente please please please

Alright, I'm gonna pick a book series that will appeal to anyone who likes a little bit of romance, a dash of adventure AND A FULL SERVING OF HEARTBREAK.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy
by Laini Taylor

I almost picked the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern but it's been getting a lot of publicity recently so I've decided that nahhh, these books are more deserving of the "underrated" status.

This book revolves around Karou, a young girl who... well, isn't. She's a strong character and she's got a pretty good cast of characters around her, the most notable of which is her best friend (“Hey! My body may be small, but my soul is large. It’s why I wear platforms. So I can reach the top of my soul.” and of course “Zuzana arched an eyebrow. She was a master of the eyebrow arch, and Karou envied her for it. Her own eyebrows did not function independently of each other, which handicapped her expressions of suspicion and disdain.”), whose boyfriend is a pretty epic character as well.

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. 

It did not end well.”

An angel appears in her life and for some reason (which isn't ~destiny~ or FATEE!!!!), he is drawn to her. Something about her reminds him of someone he once loved and lost. And so he seeks her out, compelled to be around her.

The angels and demons in these books, similar to Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, are so named for the want of a label. They are human in morality in that they are not inherently angelic or demonic. Each has their own ulterior motives and alliances. It's not quite so simple as it all seems in the start.

I first read the book thinking "wow, a lighthearted read, this could be what I need". I was so mistaken. This book is pretty heavy, but quite prettily written.

“It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry 'Monster!' and looked behind him.” 

It's a pretty good read, not the best, but I think it deserves more than it gets. It's definitely a better read than quite a lot of the teen romances out there (is this a teen romance? I'm not sure) and a stronger story than the flimsy excuse you get with most romances.