6 Characters Who Are Bound to Make You Smile

I have found a link-up that is destined to be marvelous! I adore link-ups and everything that goes along with them. 

This weekly prompt is hosted by the girls at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to have a top ten post every Tuesday. 

This weeks prompt is "Top ten books which feature characters who..."

I adore books. I live off them. I sometimes feel as though my only friends are in my books. And my absolute favorite of these books are the ones whose characters are bound to make me smile and totally forget the complete horror of reality. 

You'll notice there are only six. In a "Top Ten" post. I tried dearly to come up with more, but it felt more like filler than me actually thinking the characters fit the post. So I modified it to be just six.

1.  Razo from the Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

I love Razo. He is seriously one of my heroes. He's quick witted, funny, down to earth, and just all around a good guy. Plus, he's got the older brother protectiveness syndrome that I find quite wonderful.

2. Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Heroes of Olympus series' by Rick Riordan

Oh Percy. An obsession with blue food, an astounding ability to be simultaneously the smartest character in the books and the dumbest character to ever have been written. There isn't a lot of in between for my dear friend the son of the Sea God.

3. Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Gil is the kind of character that if you aren't in love with by the end of the books, you need your head checked. He's just wonderful.

4. Dustfinger from the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke

Dustfinger is amazing. His character has such depth. He is so pained and in anguish and trying so hard to find a lucky streak in life. It's hauntingly beautiful to read about him. (Though I suspect highly entertaining to write). I love how involved in his story I get when I read these books. 

5.  Sadie Kane from the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Sadie is pretty much one of my favorite characters ever. She's funny, sarcastic, totally real, and entertaining to read. On the days when I need a serious pick-me-up or escape from reality, I turn to Uncle Rick's books, and most often, the Kane Chronicles. (Although Percy Jackson never fails to disappoint either.) 

6. Leo Valdez from aforementioned Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

What can I say about Leo? He's totally crazy, entertaining, uplifting, and optimistic. What do I not love about this guy? Oh yeah. He's fictional. 

What do you think? Did I miss any? Which characters can make you smile no matter what?

The Return

Blogglings, I'm back!

I am so sad to have been away from you for so long. But to be honest, I haven't had much of a reason NOT to write.

I've been busy, sure. I just got a new job, I'm helping with some more ministry opportunities, I have to feed my book cravings, and I am newly addicted to Supernatural. (I'm in season two I believe. This show is epic! So scary though!)

Even though I've had loads of time to write, I never have. I'm not sure why. Maybe a slight rebelling against work is behind it. Anything I don't have to do, I don't do it. It's a disease. I'm stuck in a rut of not wanting to do anything.

Has this ever happened to you? An ever DEcreasing desire to do the things you once loved? It's happened to me before but I never usually go back to the project. I'm rather surprised to have come back to blogging actually.

Whatever the reason, I'm back! And I hope to be back for good. Coming up here on RaP (ha! My blog acronym is rap! Never noticed that before!) will be some posts on two of my all time favorite book authors: Shannon Hale and Rick Riordan!

There will be musings, lists, character analysis, pictures, and things to learn from these fabulous authors. I do hope you'll stick around!

If you haven't already, consider subscribing so you don't miss any of the amazing posts coming up!

Oh Sequels, I Love Thee!

I love sequels. They are so much much, don't you think? You get to revisit the setting and charries you love. This week's link up by the Book Chewers is all about sequels! Be sure to go check it out and add your own post!

(We'll see if the button works right this time.)

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1. Best sequel you've ever read?

Oh man...I don't know if this is really the best or the first one that popped into my head (thank you Claudia Donovan...) but The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan was really good!

2. Worst sequel you've ever read?

Inkdeath. Ick. It disgusted me the whole time. I loved Inkheart and so when the sequels didn't shine...I was sad.

3. Sequel that outshone the first book?

Hmmm...Catching Fire. I love that book so much!

4. Do you often read sequels or do you read the first book and move on?

I try to read sequels a lot but my library does this annoying thing where they get the first book in a series and forget the rest. Annoying I must say.

5. What's a sequel that really surprised you (in a good or bad way)? Why?

Catching Fire. "What?? She has to go back?? Epical!"

6. What's the last sequel you read? (Briefly, what did you think of it?)

I honestly don't remember...I'm pretty much Dory just so you all know. ;)

7. What are 3 sequels you're planning to read (eventually...)?

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Sapphire Blue by Kirsten Gier, and...the sequel to Princess Academy that I can't remember the name of.

8. What's the first sequel you see when you look at your bookshelf?

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery.

9. Best sequel cover!?

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale. I love the covers on her books.

10. What book(s) do you think desperately need a sequel...but don't have one?

The Book of a Thousand Days. Oh I love that book. :)

All The Feels: Link-Up

Oh how I love link-ups! They're so fun to do!

This ones about feels. What books really tapped into your emotions and made you feel with the characters?

I know this has happened to you.

Prompt: It's all about the feels this week! Walk us through the books that have had a profound emotional impact on you. Use the list below as a guideline, but feel free to adjust it to suit your purposes.

Made you laugh

Any Rick Riordan or John Flanagan. They're just funny dudes.

Made you cry

Rilla of Ingleside, Anne of Green Gables, I know there's tons more but I'm blanking.

Left you depressed

Forest Born by Shannon Hale. It puts me in a weird, half depressed, half inspired mood.

Stunned or shocked you

The. Mark. Of. Athena. Need I say more? Stupid cliff-hanger endings. (Ohmygosh. No pun intended...?)

A book that made you angry

A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. I couldn't even finish it. The MC just ticked me off to a point where I was kinda freaking myself out with how mad I was. So I didn't finish.

Terrified you

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The first one makes sense, right? But I'm sure you're confused why Jane Eyre would terrify me. I am too actually.

Makes you feel nostalgic

Any Shannon Hale books.

Mixed emotions

Inkheart. It's my favorite! (I'm sure you knew that already though.) I convinced a friend to read it, but he's borrowing my copy....I'm kind of scared for my baby... (Nerd problems right there. :P)

There's my list!

What books have put you through emotional trauma?

P.S. Be sure to join the Link-Up at The Book Chewers with your own post! 

5 Things I Learned From The Sea of Monsters

If you frequent the world of the living or are a Percy Jackson fan, you probably know about the recent release of the second movie. Despite how the first one had failed, I had pretty high hopes for this one. And maybe that was silly, I don't know. But here are five things I learned from watching it.

1. Clarisse is my favorite character.  How could she not have been before? She's pretty, funny, and totally kick butt. A lot different than book Clarisse but I thought it was a good change.

2. Some changes are okay in a book to movie. Usually I despise them, but I thought for a while they were doing a good job! ("For a while", key words here.)

3. Satyrs in dresses are hilarious. Nuff said.

4. Cyclops look awesome with dread locks. (Tyson, not Polyphemus if you were wondering.)

5. Never trust someone who eats their children. He will probably eat you too.

Overall, if the movie wasn't based off a book it would have been pretty good! As it is, I like to forget there was a book while I'm watching it.

What did you learn from The Sea of Monsters movie? If you haven't seen it yet, what about the book?

Top Fictional Guys I Fangirl Over (Books)

I'm a fangirl. I can't help it. It's really easy for me to fall in love with MCs or MC's love interests. Im sure the authors planned that. Sneaky sneaky. These are the ones closest to my heart. (In order) 

•Gilbert Blythe. Need I say more?

•Dustfinger. I can't help it. I just love him. 

•Nico Di Angelo. I have no idea why I love Nico so much. He's a dark and creepy person. But I adore him...I don't even know...

•Razo of the forest and of Bayerns Own.  He is perfect. He has faults of course but that makes him even more perfect. If that makes sense...And if you have never read the books of Bayern, what are you doing on the Internet? Go read them! 

•Murtagh. Again with the creepy ones...what is wrong with me? In real life I'm not usually attracted to these kinds of guys. Mostly it's when they're in books. Occasionally on TV. Weird. 

•Leo Valdez. He makes me smile...:)

•Percy Jackson. He just has to be on this list! 

•Peeta Mellark. Peeta. Mellark!

•Anubis from the Kane Chronicles. *dreamy sigh*

•Horace Altman from The Ranger's Apprentice. In the beginning I hated him, but by the end of the series, completely in love. 

•Mr. Darcy. I love him so much...

•Mr. Binghley. (Spell check?) I adore this man. He makes me giggle so much!  :) 

•Laurie from Little Women. :) Shoulda got Jo!! All I'm sayin. Though I did like Fredrick. Just not as much. 

•Finn. Also the Books Of Bayern. Go! Read them! 

•Farid! I love Farid! He's so naughty sometimes but I can't help loving him anyway. 

I can't think of any more but I do have quite a list! Who are your favorites? 

6 Worst Book-to-Movies I've Ever Seen

You know the feeling.

You fall completely in love with a book. With the characters. The story. The author. The scenery. Everything about it just makes you happy.

Then you hear the news.

They're making it into a movie!

At first you are elated. The excitement proves almost too much. But you stick it out. Finally, you see the midnight premier at the theatre.

And now. You just want to cry. They ruined it. Your characters. Your story. Your loves. All destroyed.

This has happened to me so many times I don't know why I bother with movies at all anymore.

Here is a list of the MOST disheartening of all of the worst books turned to movies.

1. Prince Caspian

This movie made me so sad...it was barely like the book at all. Peter and Caspian were supposed to be friends! And there was no romance in the book. Bacchus and his merry company were left out as well.

2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Lightning Thief

I can't even watch this movie. Barely anything was like the book. It was an okay movie in itself I suppose but definitely separate from the book. I'm kindof scared for the sequel they're making. We shall see I suppose.

3. Eragon

This movie...*sigh* Brom and Murtagh were good! Durza was portrayed well I thought. (I love Robert Carlyle...) But everything else was just sadly lacking. Most people blame a small budget but still. The book was so masterfully written and sculpted. You can tell Christopher Paulini poured his soul into the series and they kinda butchered it through the movie. I was extremely disappointed.

4. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Ever. But the movie...not so much. I get that they had to change it so there was a main "evil force" or whatever, but it was just sad. C.S. Lewis hated movies and I have a feeling this movie would make him want to weep. At least the dufflepuds looked like I had imagined. :)

5. Inkheart

I'm not quite certain this should be on here. I go back and forth. Sometimes I adore the movie, and other times I can barely watch it.
The book was such a masterpiece that it would take nothing short of an exact plot match for me to *love* the movie but considering, they did a pretty good job. I just miss the magical feel the book had. The stunning characters. (Although Paul Bettany was a marvelous choice for Dustfinger. Bravo whoever made that call!)

6. The Hunger Games

Ugh. Need I say more? Madge Undersee. Haymitch's drunken appearance at the reaping. So much more, all left out. It just made me sad...I enjoy watching the movie up until they get into the Arena. But after that it gets a little too yuck for me. An okay movie overall but I was expecting a lot more. I'm so pumped to see Finnick in the next one!! Hopefully they do a better job. Catching Fire is one of my all time favorite books.

What do you think? Would you agree or disagree with any of these? Have any to add to the list? 

Top 10 Best Book Series' To Read As A Teenager

As you may have realized, I love books. Especially if they're in a series. That way I can revisit the world and characters and it's not always the exact same story. So I put together a list of my favorite book series's (series'? I don't know how to properly say that...) for you!

Chased By A Minotaur

So I was driving to my best friend's house yesterday. It was the first time I'd driven there by myself and I was excited.

On this particular trip, I was being followed rather closely by an annoying fellow driver. Naturally, I began to imagine they were following me. It was only logical right?