30 Day Book Challenge: Day Sixteen

"Favorite female character"
 
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Not only is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn one of my favorite books of all time, but it also holds my favorite female character: Francie Nolan. Francie Nolan is portrayed as a bit of an outsider and introvert, as she grows up in poor territories and has to help care for her family. I admire her courage, honor her strength, and adore her personality. She's the kind of character I'd love to have as a best friend, not only for the wondrous stories she would tell, but also for her caring heart and open mind.

If I haven't given you enough reasons already, I really recommend going out to your nearest library and borrowing A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: it's absolutely fabulous!

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Fifteen

"Favorite male character"

Ètienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Oh my goodness. The way Stephanie Perkins describes and portrays Ètienne in this books made me fall head over heals in love with him. :-) He's British (with pieces of American and French thrown in) with messy brown hair who's hilarious, kind, and an artist. He's no doubt my favorite male character. :-)

EEP!

So omygoodness. I can hardly wait. In exactly 17 days, 19 hours, 3 minutes, and 10 seconds, I'll be heading out on the adventure of a lifetime... to FRANCE! As you may have picked up from early posts, I'm a HUGE Francophile (obsessed with France and French cultures, I actually plan on living in France when I'm older). So as you may imagine, I'm pretty ecstatic... I'm a little nervous but mostly THRILLED! WHOOPEE!!!

While on my voyage, I'll be sure to update regularly with pictures and experiences so stay tuned!

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Fourteen

"Favorite book of your favorite writer"

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This, along with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and others, are at the tippy-top of my favorite books list.This book, as the loads of reviews mentioned, makes me fall in love with it. It features two of my favorite things: France and romance. Anna, a movie-critic aspirer from Atlanta, Georgia, is sent of to the School of America in Paris, contrary to her wishes of staying home and working with Toph, her coworker (and "heartthrob") at the local movie theater. However Anna finds out that Paris isn't nearly as bad as she expected as well as discovering what, or who, her true home is. (Certainly where the heart is). Please read it. It makes me happy. :)

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Thirteen

"Your favorite writer"
 OR  OR 
Stephanie Perkins, Maureen Johnson, or Laura Ingalls Wilder

DING, DING, DING! Three-way tie! Stephanie Perkins and Maureen Johnson both have seat-gripping techniques to keep me hanging on to every word I read, not being able to put down the novel until it's finished (in which I mope around afterwards, upset that it's over). While Laura Ingalls Wilder (author of the Little House on the Prairies series) has such a way with words and details, I feel myself become a pioneer school girl along with Laura and her family. If you don't know these authors or any of their accomplishments, run, bike, skip, hop, or dance to your nearest library and look them up. If you're anything like me, you'll be more than pleased with their works [of art].

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Twelve

"A book you used to love but don’t anymore"

The Beacon Street Girls series by Annie Bryant

I know, the challenge says "book", but I have to put a series down for this one. At around age 9-12, I was head-over heals OBSESSED with these books. (I even liked to pretend to be the characters. Don't laugh.) They're pretty fantastically written, actually, but as I've grown older, the content doesn't seem to please me as much. (Not to diss the series in any way, as I plan on passing my collection down to my future children when I'm older.) The series tells of five best friends: Charlotte (my favorite), Maeve, Avery, Katani, and Isabel and different obstacles (mean girls, arguments, run-away puppies, etc) and adventures they overcome and encounter. I would recommend these to any middle-school girl (or boy, if you wish).

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Eleven

"A book you hated"

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Hate is a strong word, I agree. I don't think there's ever been a book I've actually hated, like wanting to be banned for eternity, but The Pearl is probably one of the worst books I've ever read. It's a classic, I know, and it was a required book for me to read in seventh grade, but it was completely unbearable. Not only was the text inexplicably boring, but in the end (skip this passage if you don't want me to give away the ending), the small child, Coyotito, gets shot in the head. As a seventh grader, this was horrifying to me and it stills is. The plot didn't make much sense, and quite frankly, I didn't like it.

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Ten

"Favorite classic book"

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This has probably been my easiest entry so far. There is no doubt in my mind that this book is towards the top of my list of favorite books of all time. Taking place in the turn of the century (early 1900s), Francie Nolan grows up in the crumbiest parts of real estate in Brooklyn, New York having only her imagination and books to keep her happy. Betty Smith tells of the wondrous ups and the horrifying downs as Francie reaches adulthood. Although this book is a classic and is HIGHLY recommended, it might be best for girls ages 12 and up due to some references not suitable to others.

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Nine

"A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving"

I hate to break it to you, folks, but this is another entry that will have to remain undecided (as of now, it can always be changed later). I don't usually (if ever) go into reading a book and expect the worst. I like to think it'll be a fabulous book that will leave me in awe.

30 Day Book Challenge: Day Eight

Whoops! I haven't updated my blog since June 27, so I'm slumping out on my 30 Day Book Challenge. Thus, tonight I will complete SEVEN challenges.

"Most overrated book"
 OR 
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer or the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I have a feeling I'll be getting some flak for these titles (especially Harry Potter) since most of my book-loving acquaintances are madly in love with them. However, I'm just not in to mystical, vampire, wizards sort of things. I prefer books that are either about real things or could be about real things. Thus, these titles have been placed under the category: overrated.