Tag Archives: harry potter

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character

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It’s normal to fall deeply in love with a character…right? It sure looks like it, from what The Broke and the Bookish’s weekly meme is revealing! Well, regardless, over the years I’ve been smitten with many memorable male characters and I’m all too happy to share my obsessions with you! So, without further ado and in no particular order, here they are:
10) Augustus Waters from John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. He’s charismatic, funny and will fight to the end. I don’t care that he’s younger than me; he’s a total babe.

9) Kartik from Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty series. For one, he’s Indian and I’m half-Indian. Secondly, he’s gorgeous, and has a bit of an attitude problem. He’s dark (and no, I don’t just mean his skin colour!), mysterious, a fantastic kisser and cares a ton for Gemma but has a hard time showing it.

8) Gilbert Blythe from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. He was my first fiction crush (grade three) and I grew up wanting a boy just like him. I’ll always harbour a soft spot for him and will continuously be envious of his and Anne’s chemistry. The movie’s version of Gilbert (played by Jonathan Crombie) was definitely a great casting decision. Mmmm :)

7) Fred Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. As you’ll see further on, Rowling wrote many wonderful male characters—many of which I fell in love with at least once in my years of reading. But Fred was always my favourite of the twins, mainly because he usually offered the most quips and his personality just radiated through the pages. I love his sense of humour and the way he always cared for Ginny. And the actor who played him in the movies (James Phelps) was absolutely perfect—but I’m still crying over the way they portrayed his death in the seventh movie.

6) Simon Lewis from Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. Simply put, I loved him WAY more than Jace. I have a thing for guys in glasses and with dark hair, and he fit the bill. Not to mention his total geekiness and strange ways. And his secret love for Clary—unrequited love sucks and back in high school I could more than relate to him.

5) Will Traynor from Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You. As you know from my latest review, I absolutely love this book—and a lot of that has to do with Will. I can’t blame Louisa for falling for the guy. Even though his mobility was limited, his mind was sharp and his personality mesmerizing. He was knowledgable and worldly, he had a great sense of humour and he genuinely cared for Louisa more than he cared for himself. A man like that is hard to find, which is why it was so easy for me to love him.

4) Ron Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Love. Love. LOVE. I cannot begin to describe my love for Mr. Ronald Weasley—in both the books and the movies (especially the movies). I didn’t fall for him right away, however. It took me a few years to appreciate him, but it definitely hit me in the fourth book when he was trying so hard not to fall for Hermione and ultimately hated Krum. He was too cute. And Rupert Grint made me love Ron Weasley more than Harry Potter in the movies (which is a hard feat, let me tell you…)

3) Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Need I really explain? His dark, brooding, proud, attentive and sexy ways would make any woman swoon. And as you can tell from my in-depth analysis of the movie adaptions, I think that Colin Firth’s portrayal of the infamous man is the best. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen for a movie character so fast as I did for Firth’s Darcy.

2) Peeta Mellark from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. His character made me laugh, cry, scream, sob, smile, bawl, fret… He made me realize all the emotions I was holding back. I often dreamt of him at night, thought of him during the day, pictured him holding me in his strong arms, and my life with him. Yes. I was that obsessed last year. Josh Hutcherson is a cute Peeta, but not exactly how I pictured him. The Peeta in my head will never be beat. Ever.

1) Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. I’ve been saying it since I first laid my eyes on him in the first book: He’s my soul mate. I grew up with him. I cheered for him. I hated him. I feared for him. I laughed at him. I fell in love with him with each book. I didn’t care if he got moody in the fifth book. I didn’t care that he got overshadowed by Ron and Hermione’s love story in the later books. I can even forgive him for falling for Ginny. But I will never let my love die for him. He shall be mine always, and I’ll always be his. Whether he wants me or not.

Thoughts for a Thursday: Post-Book Syndrome

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Read the following picture. What book instantly pops into your mind after reading Markus Zusak’s quote? And why do you think that is? For me, I think the book that has influenced me the most and had a heavy impact on me upon its completion would be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I know you know I’m a Potterhead and that there must be another book out there that made such an impact, but I can’t think of one that made me cry throughout it all, and that made me want to scream, laugh, bawl, sigh and be left in silence afterwards as much as the last book in the Harry Potter saga. Of course, I’m sure there are others but the fact that none are jumping to me right now must mean something.

Anyways, for this Thoughts for a Thursday, I want to know what book made you feel like this and why you think that that was?

Top 10 Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books

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I haven’t done this in a while, and I thought that today’s Top Ten topic (created by the ever fabulous The Broke and the Bookish) would be a very good one to get back on the train again! The setting of a novel is what makes it or breaks it for me — if I’m not captivated within the first chapter or two, it’s hard to get me totally invested in the novel. I love when the author (or the narrator) takes me away to a place that I can only dream about, to a place where I would love to visit. I’ve read many books in my life, but here are my Top 10 Favourite Worlds/Settings in Books:

10) Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I’ve been obsessed with this little orphan girl (and no, I’m not talking about Annie) since before I can remember. I think it was Anne’s rich imagination and language that really drew me into her world, and that made Prince Edward Island one of my top places to visit. From the Lake of Shining Waters to the White Way of Delight, Anne has such a way of making her surroundings come alive and place you right there next to her.

9) Night by Elie Wiesel

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, this is one of the most terrifying novels I’ve ever read — and that’s because it’s all true. It’s hard to recall a moment in time that was as scary as the Holocaust, and Elie Wiesel’s account of what happened to him and others in the concentration camps really plays with your mind. You see things you don’t want to see, hear screams you don’t want to hear, and smell the decay and destruction of lives that you don’t want to smell.

8) The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

I’m a big fan of fantasy novels, and this series is one of my favourites. I love the mix of modern day New York City with the twist of Old World (and Underworld!) charm. The characters are fantastic, but what I love most is the setting. It’s like I’m there with Clary on her adventures and can feel the anticipation and fear with each breath at every climax. Love it!

7) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Pretty much every person acquainted with literature knows about The Hunger Games, and for good reason! It’s an amazing novel written in a dystopian country called Panem. With every single new scene, Katniss takes the reader on an unforgettable (and often times nerve-wracking) journey — from District 12 to the Arena, and everywhere in between. It’s hard to think of much else once you finish the novels and it’s most difficult to return to reality after being immersed in a world so unlike (and yet so eerily parallel) our own.

6) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For many of the same reasons as why I both love and hate Night, The Book Thief also is set in World War II. But instead of it being set in the concentration camps, The Book Thief follows Leisl in Nazi Germany, around her town and within her unique relationships with her family and friends. By the time I read half the novel, I was so engrossed with her tragic surroundings and events. And when the final climax happened that put an end to the novel, I couldn’t breathe for the longest time. Her world was gone, and with that, my world too.

5) Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Who doesn’t love the sweeping landscapes, the cool waters of Mermaid Lagoon, the swashbuckling pirate ship of Captain Hook and the heated Indian tribe of the infamous Neverland? There is so much to relish in and enjoy as one heads to the second star on the right and straight on till morning, and J.M. Barrie couldn’t have created a more captivating world.

4) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This is one of my all time favourite books ever. I’m in love with Victorian and Steampunk settings, and this is the best. But the reason it’s a cut above the rest is because it doesn’t only take place in the 1800s — it also takes place in a great and terrible place called the Realms (ha, pun totally intended).

3) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Much like Neverland, Narnia is another amazing world set apart from our reality. With beautiful waters and grand hills, lovely castles and mysterious woods, C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world is amazing — and hey, the talking animals don’t hurt either!

2) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Middle Earth is one of the most famous literary worlds out there. Even though the books aren’t necessarily the most exciting, it’s the setting that I will remember forever. The Shire, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Helm’s Deep, Fangorn Forest, Dead Marshes and Mina Tirith… all the many haunting, beautiful and grand places of Middle Earth make the trilogy so worth the read.

1) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Thank you J.K. Rowling. Thank you. I’ve pretty much lived in the magical world of Harry Potter since its inception, and my heart and soul will always remain there. Hogwarts is my home. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are my playgrounds. The Burrow is my vacation home. A beautiful quote by Rowling herself says it best: “The stories we love best do live in us forever. So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Sing Your Praise for Thee

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For any of you who don’t know (aka, for anyone who’s been living under a rock since this morning), the world was given great news today. And no, I’m not talking about The Jersey Shore being cancelled (oh, if only).

I’m talking about the greatest thing to happen to us since J.K. Rowling last graced us with her ingenious series Harry Potter. A release date and title has finally been given for her newest adult novel that she promises will have no magic in it whatsoever. Tear.

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Our Lord and Saviour

So here’s the lowdown –
Title: The Casual Vacancy
Release date: September 27, 2012
Synopsis (courtesy of Little, Brown Book Group): When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

Are you as excited as I am? You better be!

Top 5 Books With Strong Heroines

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In lieu of International Women’s Day, I’m going to share with you my top 5 favourite novels that have really strong and independent heroines — and none of those heroines include Bella Swan (sorry to all you Twilight fans).

Here’s my list (in no particular order):

5) The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

While I have not yet finished this beautiful novel, I have noticed the strong female characters that grace the pages. There are three protagonists in the story — Cassandra, Nell and Eliza. All three women narrate the story during different eras, but each have their own streaks of independence and believe that they don’t need a man to rescue them or solve the secrets of their pasts.

 

 

 

 

4) Emma by Jane Austen

For the Regency Era, Jane Austen wrote a surprisingly witty, independent character with a strong sense of who she is. From the start, Emma made sure everyone knew that she didn’t need a man to make her happy because it was her place in life to make others happy. Did her plans always work out? Of course not, but that’s half the fun and enjoyment of it all.

 

 

 

3) Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Okay, so she may not be the main character from Harry Potter, but I would have been stupid not to include Miss Granger in my list of strong heroines because she is the picture of what a strong, independent and perfect role model should be. In more than one instance, she saves her friends’ lives and is at the top of her class. Sure, she’s a girl and has feelings — but she doesn’t let those feelings get in the way of what’s important to her.

 

 

 

2) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

So this is another classic, and it was a tie between Jane Eyre and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice, but Jane Eyre is an amazing character who has such strong sense of self and morals. She knows who she is and doesn’t sacrifice herself to fit in or please others. Despite her love for Mr. Rochester, she leaves him and comes back to him on her own terms.

 

 

 

 

1) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson 

When I think of a kick-ass heroine that doesn’t give a crap about what others think, the first person I think of is Lisbeth Salander. While I haven’t read the series in its entirety, I know from what I’ve read and from watching the movie that Lisbeth knows exactly who she is and won’t back down for nobody. As scary as she may be, she really does mean well — and that’s what counts, right?

 

 

 

There are so many novels out there with wonderfully independent female characters that it was really hard to choose. So what do you think? Agree or disagree? Who are your favourites and why? 

Pottermore!

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Good news to all who have not yet experienced the magical world of Pottermore — J.K. Rowling has announced that the site will be fully operational to all her millions of fans early April. Exciting, huh?

I was one of those over-eager, Harry Potter-obsessed adults that signed up for early acceptance and was granted it. I’ve already gone through the first book’s (The Philosopher’s Stone, to anyone who doesn’t know or remember the series) experience. I’ve duelled and brewed potions with the best of them (well, not really, as I’m complete rubbish at duelling). But what really disappointed me with the site is that not all the books were available when it opened in October for us. It only worked for Book 1. I’m not sure when they plan on releasing Book 2, but hopefully it’ll be soon. I want to get to the Chamber of Secrets asap!

Are you excited for Pottermore?

100 Best Books for Children

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Scholastic has named its list of the 100 best children’s books, with the classic story Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White winning first prize. Take a look at the list and let me know what you think — these are the books I most agree with/have read:

  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (my favourite novel when I was young!)
  • Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (my favourite series of all time!)
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  • Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Gilbert is one of my all time favourite crushes on characters!)
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  • Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
  • Corduroy by Don Freeman
  • The Little Engine That Could by George and Doris Hauman
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry
  • The Mitten by Jan Brett
  • The Runaway Bunny by Clement Hurd
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood (my favourite story when I was really young!)
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
  • Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Of course, with every book list, there are those who disagree with some of the books. Like myself, The Guardian also thinks it inappropriate to include The Adventures of Captain Underpants in the list (ranking at #97), but entirely forgetting about Little House on the Prairie. I also wish they had included The Berenstain Bears in the list, as it’s probably one of the best collection of books for children. I loved to read when I was young, and many of the books on the list were my favourites (as you can tell from my list above), so I’m quite excited about a lot of the books mentioned.

What are some of your favourite children’s books and how do you feel about Scholastic’s list? 

Challenge: Day 27

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I’m sorry I missed yesterday’s daily challenge! I spent the entire day working on an essay and nursing a terrible migraine. Anyways, here is the challenge from yesterday.

This book challenge has given me the opportunity to remember all the books I’ve read in the past, and has reminded me that Harry Potter is not the only favourite book/series of mine. I can confidently say that Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and The Book Thief are all on the top of my “favourite fiction books” list. Pride and Prejudice is a lovely romantic novel and it always makes me smile when I think about it. Harry Potter has been there with every step of growing up, and I have a lot to thank for this series. And The Book Thief is one of the saddest novels I’ve read, and I can’t but cry thinking of what all the characters went through over the course of the novel. These three literary works of art are some of the best written stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and I cannot recommend them enough.

What is your favourite fiction novel?