My Top Ten Book-Into-Movie

In honor of The Hunger Games being released tomorrow, this My Top Ten is on movies who didn't screw up the book. Fingers crossed I'll be able to add The Hunger Games to this list after tonight!

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

This had everything a Potterhead could have wanted. Kept the action up and covered everything important to the book, and the actors were simply amazing in it.

2. Pride and Prejudice (A&E, 1995)
So they had 6 hours to get this right. But it's more than that. They picked the right actors for the right parts (with the exception of Jane, imo). Kiera Knightly can't even hold a candle to Jennifer Ehl's performance of Lizzy. Practically perfect in every way.

3. Gone with the Wind
I feel like this movie just wouldn't be the same if it were made now. The classic feel of it makes it so perfect for the book. Also, again with the actors. Could you imagine anyone else playing Scarlett or Rhett or Mammy?

4. The Princess Bride

Hilarious just like the book. Same storyline as the book. Same feel as the book. Great actors and jokes. I love it.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird
Again with the iconic actors portraying these characters! Gregory Peck especially makes the movie with his portrayal of Atticus. Carries the same wonderful message as the book does.

6. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Emma Thompson did a marvelous job adapting Austen's classic book into this movie. She and Kate Winslet portrayed their characters so fully and richly that it's one of those movies you can just love while also thinking about the book.

7. The Age of Innocence.
Wonderful feel that the book had, too. It's for a contemporary audience but captures the audience Wharton had with her classic book.

8. A Christmas Carol (1999)

This is the TV version with Patrick Stewart. Such an amazing adaptation of the classic Dicken's story. The only one that I feel really does the story justice and covers what the book does. And Patrick Stewart? How can you go wrong?

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
All right, so I know some people weren't thrilled with this adaptation because the trio and rest of the kids didn't have much experience in acting, so they're not the best, but to me, this first Harry Potter captures everything Hogwarts and the whole Wizarding World is to a kid. It's magical and wonderful, with danger and adventure. It hit the series off on a perfect note.

10. Emma (1996)
There are a lot of fantastic versions of Emma, but I really like the Gwyneth Paltrow version the best. So much fun and a lot of how I envisioned it while I read the book.

What are some of your favorite book to movie adaptations? Are you going to The Hunger Games tonight?

Top Ten Books I'm Glad I Picked Up in 2011

First, have you entered my blogiversary giveaway? You should.

Now, here's a list of my top ten books that I'm so glad I picked up this past year.

1. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

 Last year, I entered college and got into this mindset that I was too busy to read. Or, at least read things outside of my classes. I hardly read anything for fun. Then, a girl in one of my classes suggested this book to me. And I'm so glad that I picked it up. I remembered how much I loved reading, and how fun it was to lose yourself in a book. Paranormalcy re-vamped my love for reading with its characters and humor.

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I thought I was done with dystopian books for a while. But then I picked up Divergent, and man, I'm glad I did! I remembered how creative people can be and that I really do enjoy a good dystopian novel.

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Before, I was never crazy about contemporary. But Anna and the French Kiss was just too much fun, and this book has made me more open to the genre to show that I can really love any type of book as long as it hooks me.

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book was so interesting and so intriguing, it had me getting shivers down my spine. I loved the complexity of Mara's character and I'm just so glad I got a chance to read it.

5. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

An awesome, thought-provoking read that made me think so differently about my actions. I loved this book.

6. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

I'm glad I finally picked up the first series by Suzanne Collins, because the themes in her books are rare to find, and I feel that they are so important to read about. Plus, the awesome story doesn't hurt it at all, either.

7. Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This was an awesome book to escape into, and had such a great creep factor.

8. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

 I used to be afraid to read this book because I thought it would be too graphic for me. But I'm glad that I picked it up because it talked about an important and hard issue to bring up, but at the same time, it felt safe.

9. White Cat by Holly Black

I loved the interest in this book, the unique world-building, and the characters. It was a lot of fun to get sucked into this book.

10. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Ah, Wilde. So witty, and yet in this piece, so dark. This was an amazing look into vanity and sin, I'm glad I finally picked it up.

What are some of the books you're glad you picked up during 2011?

My Top Ten: Book Covers

All right, so this has nothing to do with improving writing like my other Top Tens, but this one's just too much fun! :) I may have loved the book, I may have hated it, or fallen in the middle, this list is just of covers that I think are beautiful.

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4. For me, this one is all about the actual book cover. A computer screen can't give justice to the sheen and color of this one:

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What about you? What are some of your favorite covers?

My Top Ten: Settings

To make a story feel real, really real, then there needs to be some awesome setting, details that make the world uniquely its own. And so, here's another one of my top tens. Again, this isn't ranked.

1. Hogwarts/The Wizarding World, Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

I think that J.K. Rowling has convinced many people that Hogwarts and the Wizarding World actually exist. The precision of details is astounding. And I think that the strongest suit that Harry's world has is that there are parallels to the Muggle world (the Ministry, sports, banks, shops, etc) that it feels natural to us, but so much more magical at the same time.

2. Avonlea, Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
After reading these books, I wanted to go and live in a place just like Avonlea. The description is so beautiful, and it almost seems magical. There's a real special feel that Montgomery gives Avonlea, a quiet but fun town that's home.

3. Panem, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Now this is a place that you wouldn't want to live in. But the world and all of its chilling circumstances creates a vivid world to the readers.

4. Narnia, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The fact that this series focuses around the events in one setting means it really had to come alive, and it did. Whenever I read one of these books, the land and its inhabitants, the very soil of it, is so fantastic, and yet I never felt that it could be too far from truth.

5. Inkworld, Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
This Inkworld seems to incorporate all of the elements of fantasy; from the creatures, to the countries and political divides. Everything is marvelous, but at times also deadly, and amazingly described.

6. Uglies world, Uglies series by Scott Westerfield
This was the first dystopian I'd ever read. The inventions, the rules, the philosophy, all of this became a possible future for us. When Tally goes to the Rusty ruins, that part always chills me, to think that's what we could become.

7. The Moors, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 The moors become like its own character in Wuthering Heights it's astounding. The wildness, the unpredictability of it, it's the only place that Cathy, Heathcliff, and their children's story could have been told, as it reflects the mood of it perfectly.

8. Venice, The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
I've never been to Venice (unfortunately) but after reading The Thief Lord I almost feel that I have. The description of the city is thorough, and I can just imagine the kids running through the streets and into the movie theater, and all of the boats around it.

9. Wonderland, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Just another one of those fun, quirky type of settings that's interesting to read about and discover. I love all of the twists on reality that Carroll brings to the (tea) party.

10. Paris, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
While this had a tourist-y feel to it, it's appropriate since Anna essentially is a tourist in this town. But Perkins describes a lot more of Paris than just the sight-seeing locations. They're really beautiful descriptions, and makes me want to go to Paris even more.

Minor Characters

I started making up my post for my Top Ten minor characters, only I came to a halt after a while because I found myself wanting to repeat a lot of books with my favorite minor characters. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, these were pretty much the only books that my favorite minor characters are in. Perhaps not coincidentally, these books are also a few of my all-time favorites.

It's pretty easy for writers to flesh out the few main people we spend the book with. But for J.K. Rowling to have our hearts torn out at Dobby's death, or Suzanne Collins to have our sympathy reached for Finnick when we hear his past, or Jane Austen to have us anxiously waiting for Mr. Bennet's next humorous line--this is real talent, and what separates a good book from a great one. When every character, no matter how small, is as meaningful and alive as the protagonist and their close sidekicks, mentors, enemies, and love interests, I think that is a huge sign that this book will be memorable.

I wish I had a formula for making a minor character memorable and beloved, but I'm still searching for it myself. One thing I do think about it, though, is that stereotypes for meaningful minor characters (not just the old man on the bus without a name) is not the way to go. Make them as fresh and interesting as the main characters, with something just as unique about them as the protagonist.

My Top 10 Love Interests

Romance is the spice of novels. And so next in the series of My Top 10, I present my favorite love interests (not necessarily ranked).

1. Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
You know how I've made it clear that in these, I just can't bear ranking these people? Not so with Peeta. He is my number one. I love this boy to death, and not just for the surface layer of his character. I love his contradictions, how he is the most moral character and yet the best liar, how he can be so in love with Katniss but strong enough to put her in her place. I love him for his own special strength and his tender heart And I love his character arc. Yes, I mean all of it, even in Mockingjay. I simply can't put it down how much this character amazes me to no end.

2. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Quick funny bit about this picture: when we watched this part of the movie in my lit class in high school as we studied the book, my teacher paused it and told us, "If anyone ever looks at you like this, either get really excited, or run, because this is the look and means they're in love with you!" Anyway, so Mr. Darcy. I love his aloofness and how he's brought down by Lizzy, but you find out that he's actually a sweetheart and a good person, just shy/proud (depending on how you read him) on the outside (I can relate to him there).

3. Char (Prince Charmont), Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
My first book crush. I think for him, it's his connection with Ella that makes him so great (as the only time he's in the book is when Ella is, as well). He definitely has his flaws as he points out, but his willingness to love and just be what a prince ought to be makes him a memorable love interest.

4. Captain Frederick Wentworth, Persuasion by Jane Austen
He is the most human of all of the Austen men, in my opinion. He is hurt from Anne's breaking off the engagement and acts just as a snubbed man would, but his feelings run deeper than that, and his undeniable love for Anne make him stand out. And who doesn't love a guy in a uniform?

5. Tamani, Wings Series by Aprilynne Pike
Tamani isn't usually the type of love interest that catches me, but ultimately, his loyalty is what drives me in. His duty to Avalon, his loyalty to Laurel, the fact that he waited so long for her and is willing to do anything for her is astounding. He's tough and sly, but also caring when you get to his core.

6. Mr. George Knightley, Emma by Jane Austen

Mr. Knightley is the perfect gentleman. But more than that, he's willing to scold Emma for what she does. I love that he's not afraid to remind her of her folly. He's a kind man, and so mature (then again, he is about sixteen years older than her...)

7. Almanzo Wilder, Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Am I allowed to have real-life guys on my top ten love interests? Well, if not, I don't care! More props to him because he was real. Kind and brave, he was a man to be admired because of how much he respected Laura. He loved her for her strength and didn't disagree when she said that in their vows, she could not say that she would obey him. He's the kind of man we all hope to marry.

8. Westley, The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Most people have only seen the movie, but the movie does a good job of adapting into the book. Now, I don't know why he loves a empty-headed girl like Buttercup (you know what I mean if you've read this book) but that doesn't stop him from making my list. I mean, everything he does for her, plus the fact that he's cunning and a great fighter, as well as hilarious? Totally deserving of my top ten.

9. Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
It is the sweetest thing watching Gilbert trying in his boyish ways to win Anne over, and then maturing into a young man. You can't help but cheer him on as he tries to make Anne realize how they're meant to be together. He's smart and good, with a wonderful story arc to him through the series.

10. William, No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull
William makes it in it not just because of how much he loves Susanna, but because the growth he experiences in this book is very admirable. He is able to go from being a wealthy merchant to listening to his heart and coming to a religion which was widely persecuted and still stays strong.

Well, I certainly learned something through all of this. I like the old-fashioned boys. This is just my personal preference, but I think that there is still something underlining all of these heroes which is the fact that when it comes to love interests, he needs more dimensions than just the girl. Of course, I think that the stronger the love for the girl the better (not sappy, just strong), but he needs to be able to stand on his own as a character as well.

Who are some of your favorite love interests? What about them draws you in?

My Top 10 Villians

Welcome to this week's My Top 10. Right now we are tackling those guys we love to hate, the villains *cue evil laugh*
Like I said for the protagonists, I have a hard time ranking and it just gives me a headache and a jumble of a list. And so, in no particular order, the villains:

1. Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling

First, did you know that the reason why Voldemort can't love is because he was conceived under the influence of love potion? It's true. And this is one of the reasons why he makes it into my top ten. Rowling gives Voldemort real reason to be evil, delving into his psyche and past. And it's not some lame one-dimensional reason. It's rich and thorough and amazing. His coldness and brutality (and lack of a nose) makes him truly frightening, as well.

2. President Alma Coin, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
So you read Catching Fire and expect District 13 to be a warm fuzzy utopia, right? With plenty of food and love for the rest of Panem? WRONG. Enter in President Coin. You're suspicious of her at first, you don't know whether or not to trust her, but hey, she's taking down Snow, right? Yeah, sure, while also willing to do things that are just pure evil and yet some may debate that they weren't. For the gray area which surrounds Coin, I present her into my top ten. Because in real life, pure evil is rare. And Coin isn't pure evil, but that doesn't make her to be a weak villain. In fact, it makes her stronger.

3. Vaughn Ashby, Wither by Lauren Destefano
Keeping dead bodies in your basement? Forcing three girls to marry your son? Using babies as experiments? Yeah, this guy definitely makes it into the top ten. His ideals and what he does, the threats he uses to get these girls to do what he says makes for a sickening, although realistic, villain.

4. Iago, Othello by William Shakespeare

Oh, Iago. This deluded and crazed man is an absolute terror! How devote he is to ending Othello and everyone who he believes did him wrong makes for an amazing drama as it unfolds, his layers are overwhelming. His brilliance and his determination make him the most fascinating character in the entire play.

5. Valentine, The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Now, for this series overall, I'm lukewarm about. But Valentine is an excellent villain because he skews what is wrong into good, and even at times I questioned whether he was really the bad guy. In the end, doesn't that make him a scary good villain?

6. The White Witch, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Anyone who dumps snow on me and takes away Christmas is just plain mean. Her manipulations and cold-heart as well as her persistence to stay queen lands the White Witch on my list.

7. President Snow, The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
I tried to avoid having another villain from the same series again, but I couldn't leave Snow out of here. The man who began the Hunger Games, I mean really, how can he not make my list? I find the most chilling part about his character is how honest he is, how he lets Katniss know right away she's being watched. And oh my gosh, what he did to the victors? He's awful. But the fact that he wasn't so evil as to be "wasteful" as he put it, again makes him realistic.

8. Capricorn, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

 Gah Capricorn! He burns books! That in and of itself is evil! He scared me so much in middle school when I first read this book, how just plain determined he was to take over our world, how fascinated he was by our weapons. Evil, evil.

9. Nellie Olsen, The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I almost feel silly putting her down, but not all villains are out to murder people or take over the world. Nellie is the type of villain you see every day. She's selfish and stuck-up, and she tries to steal people's beaus. And she takes their candy and teases them. I absolutely detested Nellie.

10. Hattie, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
More like Nellie than Voldemort, but still so awful. She's stupid, but not quite as much as you'd think, and she manipulates Ella for her own gain. She's selfish and horrible, attempting for nothing more than her own desires.

Villains. Without them, the story would be a snore. They're as diverse as our protagonists, but I find there to be one serious difference: their flaws outweigh their virtues, whereas the opposite is true for the protagonist.

Who are some of your top villains? What is it about them that makes them so evil to you?

My Top 10 Protagonists

And so begins a series of My Top 10's. Because if we're going to write great books, we need to look at the best and pick out ideas of how to emulate the greatness, right?
Now, I am horrible at ranking things I love (especially books and everything in them) and so this is list is not at all made up as a rank. I can't choose between all of these protagonists, I just can't. 

1. Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Ok, does this picture make anyone else want to absolutely freak out?! Anyway. Katniss. This girl is amazing. And I mean besides the obvious toughness of her, and her fierce love for those who manage to wiggle their way into her heart. She has a strength that is rare in other heroines. To me, it seems whenever a heroine is strong it's to prove to men that women are strong. Katniss does it because she just is that way, she has no one to prove it to. And her story arc is phenomenal. She had my heart and my cheers the entire time.

2. Harry Potter, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I think what makes Harry so great is that you essentially grow up with him. And I love seeing the growth of his character, and what is a huge part of making him one of my top protagonists. But beside this, he is very real to me, with his flaws (Order of the Phoenix anyone?) and his overwhelming courage. The struggles and doubts he has in the last book, but still persevering is something to admire.

3. Ella of Frell, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
This is my first heroine. She was strong-willed, which made her struggles even more aggravating and made me want her happy ending so badly. She was smart and quick, and most important, willing to sacrifice for those she loved.

4. Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

How can you not love the genteel snark on this girl? Many a chick flick try to find a heroine who captures Lizzy's wit and match it with their own sad version of Mr. Darcy, and all have failed. Being in society while also going against it in her own special, subtle way makes Elizabeth one heck of a heroine. She learns more about herself through her mistakes, flaws that are also toned down and more realistic than some tragic flaw.

6. Evie, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
This girl felt so real to me. Her desires and dreams, her attitude, everything felt true and realistic. The fact that she kicks butt doesn't hurt her, either. She was just this teenage girl that I could sympathize with and cheer for the entire time.

7.Anne Elliot, Persuasion by Jane Austen
Love this girl, maybe because I see so much of myself in her (egotistical much?...maybe a bit). One of Jane Austen's least regarded heroines, but an amazing protagonist. She is of a quieter kind, but her loyalty is stronger than anything. Wise, and good-hearted, she's just the type of person you want so badly to have a happy ending.

8. Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables (and other sequels) by L.M. Montgomery

I love this girl's imagination and dreams. She's so driven, with a flare inside of her. I mean, who doesn't cheer inside when she breaks that slate over Gilbert's head? She wants to be loved, like everyone, and her ultimate dreams (while often carried away) are things that deep down, we all want, too.

9. Tally Youngblood, Uglies series by Scott Westerfield

Tally's sense of adventure, her desire to be included, but also doubting that which would make her included had me from the beginning. I loved her strength as well as her struggles, and the story arc of everything society did to her was absolutely heart-breaking.

10. Julianna Baker, Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
I absolutely love this character arc. I love the growth this girl goes through, I love seeing her free spirit and liveliness, of coming aware of her own feelings and the world around her. The fact that she is the only character from a contemporary book on this list says it for itself--her character is simply awesome.

A few things I've noticed: Harry is the only male on this list, probably partly because I don't read a whole lot of books with male protagonists, and females resonate with me more anyway. But more along the sides of writing, I find that a lot of these characters are strong-willed, but still struggle with internal dilemmas and the world around them. They also have obvious flaws, but they make up for it through their other traits.

What about you? Who are some of your favorite protagonists and why?