We survived the snow, so have some meme?
We lucked out. We didn't lose power. We were really only homebound for about 36 hours, as we went out Tuesday night before it got really bad and then my sister went to work on Thursday afternoon and said the roads weren't too bad, though Dad and I didn't venture out until today.
We didn't feel the earthquake tonight either, though everyone on my facebook feed appeared to.
I haven't given up the meme completely yet! Huzzah?
Day 06 - Favourite book of your favourite series OR your favourite book of all time
My favorite book in the Harry Potter Series is Order of the Phoenix. I know that this is not a popular opinion, due, in part, to people's hatred for Umbridge and their finding Harry's angst exhausting, but I love it. I love the backstory of Neville. I love hearing about the Order. I love thinking that Ginny and Hermione have an awesome role model in Tonks. We get Luna in OotP. I love the creation of Dumbledore's Army, and the way the only people that end up showing up to help Harry fight at the Ministry of Magic are the outcasts. I love that we get a glimpse into Snape's mind. Ron as prefect! Ron as Keeper!
Day 07 - Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
I would not be surprised if lots of other people said this, but the love triangle in YA books. Harry/Ron/Hermione, although I still think that was less pronounced than oh say, FUCKING STEVE KLOVES did. UGH. I hate how much influence the way he wrote Ron is now having on the way the creator of the series feels.
Anywho, that's a rant for another day. But Katniss/Peeta/Gale and (even though I haven't read Twilight) Bella/Edward/Jacob is just tiring. If I want to read about a strong female character (and I do) I get that romance is part of her development as a character, oftentimes, but I don't see 1.) why she only has two boys to choose from and 2.) why she has to end up permanently with one of them. I was particularly disappointed in the end of Mockingjay, and am not looking forward to watching them split that book into two movies. (I still haven't seen Catching Fire yet, but am hoping to go this week!)
Day 08 - A book everyone should read at least once
I know I've already mentioned it during this meme, but I think everyone should read To Kill Mockingbird, at least once. It's a book about how life isn't always fair, how sometimes you have to the hard stuff, and how your savior sometimes comes from someplace unexpected. That's also not what I would have told you the book was about the first time I read it.
Day 09 - Best scene ever
It may just be because it's so well done in the movie, and so it sticks with me, but Scarlett fleeing Atlanta when Sherman's coming to burn the city to ashes in Gone With the Wind just sticks with me. She's frightened out of her wits, but knows she has to get out of there. The only person she ever truly loves is Melanie, and she proves it when she packs her and the baby in the back of the wagon and, along with Rhett, drives them on the road to Tara. At the time, she would have said it was for Ashley- she couldn't in good conscience expect him to love her if she let his wife and baby die in Sherman's fury- but really, Scarlett wouldn't have left anyone she loved there. She is a deeply flawed character, one who has few redeeming qualities, but she if she truly loves someone, she loves them fiercely.
Day 10 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
I don't often pick up books that I don't think I would like. I do sometimes pick up books that I feel intimidated by on audio, rather than print. I listened to The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and Empire Falls by Richard Russo because anything that starts getting mentioned for book awards always gets me a litle nervous that I'm not going to enjoy it, or that, more likely, I will start it, then put it down. It's not that I don't *like* intellectual books, but for the most part I tend to read for story. I want a good plot. I don't necessarily read for escapism, but I do read to hear about someone's experience, so I think that I always worry that books that are up for awards aren't really going to be *about* anything. I think that's why I always like a good memoir.
Joshilyn Jackson is one of my favorite authors (I know y'all haven't heard me say that, ever, lol!) and I heard her put it this way once: "I like a good scoop of plot in books. I like there to kissin' and shootin'. Prefereably on the same page."
And that's all I have to say about that. For today, anyway. ;)