The whole world seems to have been taken over by Stranger Things. If you don’t have a Netflix account or haven’t been online in the last few months, Stranger Things is an 80’s throwback sci-fi series that revolves around three friends trying to find their disappeared friend, this is with the help of an escapee paranormal science experiment. Sounds good right? Because it is! I absolutely loved the series so when i found this tag online, i had to join in with it! Here’s the tag and my answers.
THE FIRST BOOK IN A SERIES THAT LEFT YOU INTRIGUED AND SLIGHTLY CONFUSED
Sarah: I don’t really know about a first book in a series that left me confused. I don’t think there is one. However there are plenty of books that have left me intrigued to carry on. One of these is definitely Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I picked up this book as a part of World Book Night 2016 and am yet to continue reading. I absolutely loved the first novel in this series, but it did leave me wondering about the world and more so if Aleksander is as awful as assumed (i’m going to go with yes).
Sophie: I also can’t think of a series I have read which has left me confused but the first I thought about for intrigued was I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. I remember reading this book years ago after Sarah recommended it. The way the first book ends is quite open with so much to think about. The action and trouble has barely begun and it leaves you wanting to know and meet the new characters that are hinted at in this first book.
A BOOK WITH A SETTING YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO LIVE IN
Sarah: The first thing i could think about was The 100 by Kass Morgan. I know that most of this book takes place on earth, and living in space i imagine would actually be quite great. However i cannot stand the political systems that the people in these novels adopt. Their ways towards their people are unfair and dangerous, not to mention untrusting. I could not imagine living in their world at all when they are new to a place and unsure of what is going on.
Sophie: My initial thought for this was Room by Emma Donoghue because that is a nightmare scenario for everybody but I feel that is too dark an answer! So I am instead going to go with The Martian by Andy Weir because that’s another terrifying setting. Mark Watney is stranded on Mars alone. The idea of being the only living thing on a huge planet is horrifying! I would never want to be on Mars with other people, never mind alone, so this is quite an obvious choice for me.
A BOOK YOU OWN THAT IS SOMEWHAT DAMAGED, BUT LOVED TO PIECES
Sarah: Without a doubt these are my Hunger Games books. When i first read them i completely wore them out from flicking through pages and rereading my favourite parts. Even now years later they are some of the best books to return to. I absolutely adore these novels, they’re such an easy read with an incredibly written story. They are completely damaged (the cover is coming off the first book) but i love them and could never let them go.
Sophie: This was a toss up between my Harry Potter books or The Host. My Harry potter books have been read by my whole family, often more than once, and many times by me, so they look pretty old and worn and beautifully well loved. However my copy of The Host by Stephanie Meyer is in BITS. I adore that book and so does my sister (blaming my family again for this one) and she takes it away with her every year on holiday so it’s been roughly packed in suitcases a few times now. I love it a lot though and would never throw it out.
A TRILOGY YOU ALWAYS GO TO WHENEVER YOU NEED A PICK-ME-UP
Sarah: The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin is a huge pick me up for me. It’s in no way the cheeriest of stories and gets quite dark towards the end. However Noah Shaw is one of my all time favourite characters (because, NOAH SHAW) so he’ll always pick me up when i’m down!
Sophie: I will admit I don’t have a trilogy answer for this however if I need cheering up then the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella are always a solid choice. They’re easy reading, fun chick lit novels and I adore them to absolute pieces because they make me smile! Kinsella has such a happy writing style and the protagonist, Becky Bloomwood, has such a warm heart but gets herself into such ridiculous situations and you can’t help but love her.
A BOOK WITH A TERRIFYING BEAST YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO FACE IN A DARK ALLEY
Sarah: The first thing that i thought of when i saw this question was the Dementors from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. It seems like such a simple, straight forward answer but imagine being down a dark alley with a Dementor at night, that’s absolutely terrifying! Every Harry Potter fan has imagined what they’d do in a situation where they were faced with a Dementor, I would just crumble.
Sophie: I’m cheating a little here and I’m going to say the White Walkers (or the Others) from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. It’s cheating because I haven’t actually read the books yet, I’ve only watched the TV show, but I am going to read them, I promise! The White Walkers are terrifying and if I saw one in a dark alley, I would definitely just cry on the spot because what other option would there be!
A BOOK WITH A VILLAIN WHO IS BOTH MANIPULATIVE AND DEDICATED
Sarah: One of the first characters that came to me was Tom Watson from The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Tom is one of the worst villains I’ve come across in the last few years of reading. He’s manipulative, sneaky and a pathological liar. I think he’s one of the most dangerous characters. He spends so much time turning the women in the novel against each other that you never suspect him. He was truly dedicated to making sure he wasn’t caught in the end.
Sophie: The word ‘villain’ always makes me think of fantasy novels however I think I will ignore that and put one of my favourite books for this, which is We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Kevin is so calculated and cold and he manipulates every single one of his family members. He doesn’t falter from his murderous plans and he is a terrifying character because of his manipulations and lack of emotion.
A BOOK YOU DIDN’T EXPECT TO LOVE
Sarah: The Catcher in The Rye by J.D. Salinger. For a long time Sophie kept telling me to read this book. I wasn’t convinced at all that I’d like it. However it’s turned in to one of my favourite books. I absolutely adore the writing and storyline of it!
Sophie: I had to read Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes for one of my modules on my degree. Based of the cover and synopsis I was sceptical about whether or not it was the sort of book I would even like, never mind love. However, I absolutely adored it! It was such an emotional read and I can’t believe how much I loved the story and the writing style. I think it’s a really great novel and I hold a special place in my heart for this book.
A BOOK WITH A SETTING THAT’S JUST A LITTLE BIT STRANGE
Sarah: I’ve always thought the setting for We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a little bit strange. The family visit the same island every single summer for their holiday, and the whole book is set on the same island throughout. Whereas i love books that are set on islands and secluded areas (i feel like sometimes the story is a lot more interesting and focused) this setting did feel a little strange and eerie to me.
Sophie: The first book that came to mind was Bright Young Things by Scarlett Thomas because the island the characters are taken to is really quite odd. I don’t want to spoil the book too much (which I seriously recommend) but there is a very strange house on the island which seems to be personalised in various ways for each character specifically. It’s a very surreal book and the setting becomes increasingly stranger throughout.
The Little Contemporary Corner 