Treasured Thursdays (2012-05-10)

Treasured Thursdays is a weekly meme I originally created here however, it’s being hosted over at Mel’s Book blog as I’ve not had the time to coax it into fruition. This week our topic (picked by Mel) is most treasured book boyfriends.

It seems like every time I pick up a book I fall a little in love with one of the characters. It's not always the leading man either, and there are several underdogs that have my unconditional love, but with so many, how do I pick one all time favorite?
 

I struggled with this. Book boyfriends are plentiful. I mean, there's Jem, and Etienne, and Irial, and Zach and Tristan and Patch and Four, and Ash, and Vincent, and the list goes on and on... They're all treasured for different reasons. 

Then I decided to make a list. I made a list of everything that I feel should be in the ultimate, above all others book boyfriend. Here it is:

#1 He needs to be able to protect the girl. It doesn't even have to be with super powers, or paranormal skills.  Protecting someone takes a lot of different meanings.

#2 Compassion.  Even a bad boy has compassion. It's important that he's not scared to care or too hard to be kind when needed. 

#3 A well of patience. Hot tempers only lead to angry tears; and rush and rush and rush leads to mistakes or missing the little things. A measure of calm and cool should temper him.

#4 Think, think, think. There are some (and I won't mention names) that jump to conclusions or don't think about reaction when completing actions.  He's got to be able to think clearly and calculate. 

#5 Listen.  Not just hear but really listen. This is a rare skill and it's more appreciated then some guys realize.

#6 He has to be there. Not just pop up when it's convenient for him, but really be there. He has to be able to support during a crisis.  He needs to be dependable.

#7 Sense of humor is a must. Even if it's only mild he should be able to laugh. Some situation can only be cured with laughter. And there are a lot of times when laughter is the alternative to screaming. 

#8 Half-assed-ness is not acceptable. Multitasking is cool , but not to the point where nothing gets accomplished. It's also a mark of commitment. If he can finish a task then he knows how to commit to something.

#9 Responsibility. Does he understand the meaning of the word at all? Or is he flippant and uncaring about everything except what effects himself? Or can he do what is needed to be done without the poking and prodding of others because he's responsible enough to acknowledge it as his burden?

#10 Pride goeth before the fall. He should have some pride but not so much it prevents him from asking for help or leaning on someone when times get tough. It doesn't stop him from crying if needs be or baring his heart. 

Okay, okay, so I realize I'm really, super, extremely picky but this is for the super, ultimate, above all others, treasured book boyfriend. AND I know whit this list there's a lot of my treasured men that don't make the cut. So, now that this list is complete there are only two that make the cut. And I'm okay with that.

*drumroll*

The two remaining above all others, ultimate, book boyfriends are:

Jem Carstairs (The Infernal Devices) and Zachary Moore (Shade)

Congrats boys, you are the best of the best. ^_^

Treasured Thursdays: Debut Books

Treasured Thursdays is a weekly meme I originally created here however, it’s being hosted over at Mel’s Book blog as I’ve not had the time to coax it into fruition. This week our topic (picked by Mel) is debut books we've treasured. 

I’ve read so many wonderful books I couldn’t just pick one, so I have two here that I’d like to share as my debut favorites.

The first one is:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

It’s a very fast paced, exhilarating story.  Another reason I’ve loved it so much is because it’s the first dystopia novel I’ve ever read.  It’s a definite must read for ALL YA readers.

The second one is:

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on--even if no one believes her.

All I really need to say is STEAMPUNK! Hello! But on a more serious note this story is so vibrant and well told that the steampunk feels real and believable. 

What are your picks? Why?

Treasured Thursdays: Debut Authors

Treasured Thursday is all about our most treasured. This week is debut author. So what is your treasure that you’d like to share with everyone? ^_^ Here’s mine:

This week’s feature is Amy Plum’s Die For Me. The book isn’t very old at all (it was just published in May). ^_^ I instantly fell in love with this book. From the cover, to the cadence of the story, the characters, even the supporting characters are great loveable people.

What I really enjoyed most was Amy Plum’s characters and their interactions. The Revenants aren’t blood related in any way (some born centuries apart) but they feel like a close knitted family. And while all families have their problems, they’re very open about identifying and fixing what they people to be a problem. They feel like a real family and that feeling makes them very likeable and relatable in my mind. I like reading about a group of people that work together like family, even if they’re not, even if once a month someone is dying.

Another thing that this book has going for it and I love, is that all the characters are real and personable. I can relate to all of them. They’re not just cardboard cut outs. A lot of today’s books have characters that are just there and we don’t really get to connect with them. In Die For Me we get the inside scoop on all the characters. Even if it’s only a paragraph here or there. At least I have something that helps me understand how they tick and I can relate to them.

The plot’s no push over either. While I’m not a zombie fan, this takes the concept to a whole new level. I wouldn’t mind being a revenant. It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s certainly a much different portrayal then eating brains for dinner. ^_^ I pretty sure we’re about to be at war too, which is going to be an awesome strain on our characters and I want to see how they hold up to that. (Since most of them died in battle at least once though, maybe some of them are blasé about it. It’ll be cool to find out.)

This is a really solid debut book. I wasn’t disappointed in the least with it, and really can find no faults to complain about. (And I’ve read it five times already since getting it.) I would certainly recommend it to everyone for a fun read. ^_^ (And it's set in Paris. How sexy is that? ^_^)

How about yours?

Treasured Thursdays

I've decided to try and run an event starting next Thursday. I thought I'd post up the theory of this activity ahead of time (on Thursday no less) so everyone can think ahead and get an idea of what they'd like to contribute.If they want to join in. ^_^

Treasured Thursday is about giving props to our favorites. Our most treasured.  A lot of times when we review a book, it's certainly not our favorite sometimes, and sometimes it becomes one of our favorites. Treasured Thursdays is for those that are our favorites of a specific topic. Say debut author, or childhood story, or even cover art, ecetera ecetera.

This gives us the opportunity to A.) share with each other our favorite books, and B.) give everyone the basic reasons why this is one of your treasures and perhaps may become one of ours too. ^_^

I know personally I have several dozen favorites depending on mood, time of year, and even how hot or cold I am. Lol. So I'm looking forward to reading about everyone's favorite next week and why it's your favorite.Just one a week is all I ask. ^_^ And perhaps from our discussions we'll have more to add to our TBR list by the end of the day.

 ^_^ I look forward to your most treasured books!