Lydia Schoch

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

No, that isn’t me in the photo, but it does evoke all sorts of beautiful memories of reading outside on warm summer days.

This is one of those topics I could talk about all day. My list is a wonderful mishmash of genres and eras. I couldn’t be confined to just one small slice of the bookish world today.

Some stories are so amazing that I wish I could experience them again for the first time.

There’s nothing like the thrill of getting to know a well-rounded, beloved character or being delightfully surprised by a plot twist.

Rereading is lovely, but it’s never quite the same as experiencing those moments the first time.

1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Why: The ending was spectacular. I spent years pondering it before the sequel was released and the television show explored what happened to Offred after that pivotal moment.

2. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Why: There are so many parallels between this futuristic version of Earth that was written in the 1990s and what we’re actually experiencing with climate change and political unrest today. It would have been fascinating to experience it for the first time as versions of so many of her predictions came true.

3. Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer

Why: The author’s depictions of aliens was astounding. They were nothing at all like any sentient creature found on Earth. That’s difficult for any writer to do, and I adored “meeting” characters who felt so otherworldly.

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Why: It’s my favourite classic novel. It’s filled with the sort of sturdy hope that can withstand the hardest times. I’ve returned to it through some of the most difficult portions of my own life, and it’s given me the courage to keep going when I need emotional support and encouragement.

5. The Deep by Rivers Solomon (My review)

Why: This is one of my favourite books of the twenty-first century so far. I know I discuss it regularly here, but it’s one of those stories that only becomes more meaningful over time. I keep going back to beautiful little details from the storyline that tied all of the plot twists together in ways I didn’t necessarily think twice about at the time.

6. The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence

Why: Hagar was a fiercely unlikeable protagonist. If I were to meet her in real life, I’d be unflappably kind and polite to her while also feeling utter relief when she was no longer in my presence. With that being said, her character development was so excellent that she felt like a real person to me. There were good reasons for her cruel, vindictive, and emotionally abusive behaviour that I’ll leave for other readers to discover for themselves. That isn’t to excuse any form of abuse for any reason, only to say that sometimes people take their pain and fear out on others.  I think it’s a sign of amazing writing when one genuinely wants to learn more about someone as awful as this character.

7.  The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

Why: While the last few books in this series weren’t really my cup of tea, the first instalment had fabulous character and plot development. I’ve literally had dreams about living 30,000 years ago and doing all of the hunting, gathering, and other tasks necessary for survival that were explained in such exquisite detail here.

8.  Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (My review)

Why: The ending couldn’t have been better or more satisfying. I pictured every incredible moment of it in my mind as I was reading. It would be delightful to experience it again while we wait for the film version that is currently in the works.

9. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Why: It was written for an adult audience who sympathized with Valancy as she endured emotional abuse and mistreatment with little hope for rescue when we first meet her. As much as I loved Montgomery’s lighter works that were written for children like Anne of Green Gables, her stories for adults were where she truly shined. She didn’t sugarcoat Valancy’s predicament in the least, and yet she still found a multitude of ways to show her audience how to survive when it seems like one’s difficult circumstances have no hope of improvement.

10. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (My review)

Why: The ending was incredible. It left me yearning for more, and I still wonder what might have happened to the main character as she became an adult. I will continue hoping for a sequel that explores her world in greater depth.

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This was one of those prompts that I was able to rapidly answer. There are so many incredible places to read in this world!

Here are my favourite spots to do so.

This isn’t my photo, but it does show how pretty Toronto is from the Toronto Islands.

1. At home in bed and right before bedtime. It’s a nice way to unwind and get ready to sleep.

2. While sitting on a bench at the park. (This generally doesn’t happen in the damp heat of the summer or the deep chill of the winter, though, for obvious reasons).

3. On a bench at the mall while waiting for my spouse to finish chatting with acquaintances.

4. After ordering at a restaurant.

5. In waiting rooms of any size, especially if I’m a little nervous about the appointment.

6. In an airplane seat after we’ve landed. There are certain portions of the flying experience that I honestly don’t enjoy very much at all, so reading is a lovely distraction while other passengers try to be the first ones off the plane. It’s more relaxing to walk off the plane without all of that jostling anyways.

7. With small children who enjoy having the grownups in their lives read aloud to them.

8. While waiting for the ferry to and from the Toronto Islands.  I like to look around at the beautiful Lake Ontario scenery when I’m actually on the ferry, but the wait to board it is generally long enough to get at least a chapter or two of reading time in.

9. When I’m peopled out. That is to say, I’m deeply introverted and also a little socially anxious at times. I love socializing, but there does come a time when I need to be alone and recharge. Reading is one of the ways I do exactly that.

10. In quiet reading rooms. My local libraries honestly aren’t all that quiet most of the time, but I have found a few other quiet places to read as well as figured out the best branches and times to try the library if other options don’t work out well.

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s topic was a little tricky for me, so I wasn’t able to come up with a full list of ten responses.

Interestingly enough, all of the answers I did think of were from the Young Adult genre!

I don’t know if that genre tends to have fabulous secondary characters in general or if we tend to remember them better if we first meet them as kids or teenagers. Then again, maybe there is another explanation for that entirely.

What do you all think? Have you noticed a similar pattern in your reading habits?

There are some mild spoilers in this post, so reader beware if you haven’t read any of these titles yet. I’m hoping they’re all old and well-known enough that you’ve all either read them or already know they’re not your preferred reading material.

Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Character: Haymitch Abernathy

Why I Loved Them: Physically, he survived a previous Hunger Games. I’d argue that his emotional survival of that event was an entirely different story due to how his alcoholism and harsh, self-imposed social isolation afterwards were described in this series. If only we could have a prequel that dug into his life in greater depth. Wouldn’t it have been fascinating to see how he survived and why his life turned out the way it did?

Book: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Character: Jonas’ father

Why I Loved Them: Jonas’ father worked as a Nurturer. That is to say, he took care of infants and young toddlers before they were assigned to permanent homes. Occasionally, he was expected to end the lives of infants who were disabled or otherwise didn’t meet the Community’s criteria for citizenship. I can’t imagine being expected to do that. What did he really think about his assigned occupation? Was he horrified by that portion of the position when he first began training for it?

Book: The Harry Potter series from J.K. Rowling. (I will always love this series, but have chosen not to include a link to it due to the author’s behaviour).

Character: Luna Lovegood

Why I Loved Them: She was an incredibly perceptive and hopeful character. I thought her quirkiness made her more memorable in many ways than the actual protagonist of this series.

Book: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Character: Uncle Carlos

Why I Loved Them: His perspective as a detective who was so emotionally connected to the key witness gave him a unique view into this case. While I totally understand why the story was told through Starr’s eyes instead due to her being the only witness of Khalil’s murder, it would have been cool to spend more time exploring how Uncle Carlos felt about all of it.