Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read
The question that everyone was asked this week was:
Define what characteristics your favourite books share.
Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?
This is a difficult question! I like quite a wide range of books and I wouldn't really say that there is a particular characteristic that all of my favourite books have. I think that the storyline is probably the most important factor of the books that I read. I love books that have a good pace and are emotive. I'm not a fan of too much action, but something that has me on the edge of my seat is definitely a bonus! I think unexpected twists and turns - predictability can be so boring.
I like characters that I can emotionally connect with. I think that my favourite characters are often quite vulnerable and realistic but with a strong, distinctive personality. I do like reading contemporary books about angsty teens, but too much whining (and doing nothing to help themselves) is definitely a no-no!
I like my heroines to be strong, independent and determined - it's great to see strong females in books - whether they are fighting physical battles, or just fighting to be accepted for who they are!
I really enjoy some well written romance in my books, especially with a slightly different, imperfect love interest - someone who I can find myself falling for as the book progresses. I really like finding more out about characters throughout, and a little mysteriousness is always good! However, I have to admit, I think my number one fictional love interest may always be Étienne St Clair!
Oooh the characters that overally whine are SO annoying! I said the same thing: I love my heroines strong and independent. Sometimes being a DD isn't that bad, but I mean C'MON! Enough is enough. lol. Great answer.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like strong female leads are a pretty universal piece of criteria, and with good reason.
ReplyDeleteRenae @ Respiring Thoughts
New follower!
ReplyDeleteGreat answer :)
http://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2012/02/follow-friday.html
YESSSS I love Etienne :) I loved seeing him in Lola and the Boy Next Door!!! But the best books are the ones you emotionally connect with, whether for good or bad reasons. Hope you have a great Friday :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my FF!
I'm with you on everything you said. I don't think a female lead has to be able to beat everyone up to be strong. I think strength can be found in many different ways. But whining is for sure a turn off. Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI agree--I'll definitely take a female lead who kicks butt over a damsel in distress any day!
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My #FF
Dominique
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I am following you back now.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Emotional connection is a must, I agree. Thanks for stopping by my place, following you through GFC :D
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I agree I don't necessarily want a kick ass heroine, but if they whine too much it gets annoying(:
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old Follower
Hmmm... yes I agree that predictability is boring. Good point. Thx for stopping by my FF!!
ReplyDeleteI like a strong heroine as well!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Friday Hops
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower :)
I don't like wimpy heroine either.If the plot is not good the book doesn't interest me either.
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My FF
http://escapismfromreality.blogspot.in/2012/02/feature-follow-2.html
Great answer! As long as I connect with the characters and there're enough twists and turns, I'm good.
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Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire
Oh I agree, I love strong heroines. We really need more of them.
ReplyDeleteAlison at The Cheap Reader
New follower! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteYou know what, I'm not that big a fan of action either... I like more romance. :) I'm a new follower! thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeletehttp://notjustnonsense.blogspot.com/2012/02/ff-feature-9.html
I am always looking for books that keep me guessing because I've been reading so long predicting how the story plays out isn't hard. So I love when I do find something that has a jubilee of twists and turns. I do think that characters play an important role because if I don't like them or they aren't realistic enough I end up dragging through the book to the end. I like the characters that are vulnerable but they also have the side that is strong enough to be someone you want to believe in. You know, the characters that you wish were real.
ReplyDeleteDanielle @ Novelly Antithetical
My FF
All I can say is: I absolutely agree!
ReplyDeleteA book usually becomes boring when there isn't enough action going on, so it needs a nice pace to it that keeps me on my seat. Thanks for stopping by the blog
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I love the colors of yours. I'm a huge sucker for pink and brown.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer. I'm pretty eclectic too, although I do tend toward fantasy. I want to be able to connect with characters as well.
So true. I need to emotionally connect with a character too. If I don't I just can't get into the book like I would like too. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteJennifer @ Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
Ohhh!!! Your blog is so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway thanks for visiting my blog. I'm following back. By the way, if you like strong female leads, try Legend by Marie Lu.
Thanks again!
JoAnne
I completely agree with you about the importance of a story being emotive. I think that is a big part of a story being memorable.
ReplyDeleteShanan
http://thebookaddictnet.blogspot.com/2012/02/follow-friday-12.html
I hate when the characters just constantly whine. It's just ruins the aspect of literature in general!
ReplyDeleteMy FF!
I like characters with common sense, people who are positive even if bad stuff happens to them - not in a 'oh, it doesn't matter' way, but in a 'we'll get out of is' way . People who have humor and are smart and who are kind.
ReplyDeleteI don't like whiners and negative people.
I really enjoy the twists and turns as well. Predictability can ruin a book.
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Amazing answer! You're so right I agree with you too!
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here is mine
Great answer, Stephanie. I can't stand predictability in my books either, though I am a fan of action sometimes - I guess it depends on the type of book. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, I am tired of predictability in my books. Thanks for stopping by! New follower!
ReplyDeleteLove your answer here. I am trying some diff. genres myself thanks to my daughter. (Ali, from Ali's bookshelf) Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteMmm hmm, hate predictability too. And yay to strong heroines!
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Mmm hmm, predictability sucks. And yay to strong heroines!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to enter my giveaways!
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Yes! I get tired of books where I can guess what's going on. I was really pleased with myself becuase I totally guessed what the ending of Harry Potter would be - but then kind of dissapointed because there was no surprise! Thanks for visiting my blog. Old follwer :)
ReplyDeleteHey! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. I'm sorry it took me so long to return the favour!
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's probably the story that gets me caught up the most rather than the characters. And all that teen whining really gets to me, too! Not so much what I want to be reading about. ;)
I've never read Anna and the French Kiss. Maybe I should!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Thanks for visiting! Following back
ReplyDeleteI completely agree!! I like characters that, as weird as this may sound, I could be friends with if they were real. That'd I'd WANT to be friends with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I love your little owls!
Tara @ Shhh... Not While I'm Reading