Top Ten Book Characters Who Remind Me of Real People

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at the Broke and the Bookish. Book bloggers from all around create lists based on the chosen topics, and post links to the host blog to share our love of books. This week’s topic is a doozy! Not only in the length of the title, but in the topic at hand. We all recognize a bit of ourselves and our family/friends in the characters we read in books, but usually only in small doses (a characteristic here and there). Thinking of a 100% whole character who reminds me of a 100% whole person in real life is a pretty big comparison to make. There are a few, but I’m interpreting this topic to include partial comparisons, too.

Top Ten Characters Who Remind Me of Real People

[starting with 6 who remind me of other people...]

1.) Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume: Rachel Robinson

Rachel reminds me of my childhood friend Emma. Emma was always a busy overachiever, like Rachel. We had a lot of friendship jealousy in the fourth grade, when Emma hated me because I also friends with her friends. We worked it out, though, and became really good friends after that.

2.) Delirium by Lauren Oliver: Lena

Lena reminds me of my friend Jennie. I think this is because Lena was always running and lived in Portland. But also because Lena appeared to be a perfect, rule following kid…until she fell in love, which wasn’t allowed. So she becomes really kick-ass and fights the government in order to protect her right to experience love. I may not have loved the books, but I definitely saw some of Jennie in the character.

3.) Every John Green Novel with a Male Protagonist

I see my brother in these characters. He’s smart, he hangs out with some interesting characters, and I can see him talking like the characters in the books. I don’t know if I can see him road tripping across the country to chase some unrequited love, but I can see him road tripping just for the fun of it.

4.) Laurie Notaro

She reminds me of my camp friend, Nugget. Laurie was a hilarious girl who partied her way through her twenties…and then settles down with a grad student and awkwardly tries to navigate life as a “grown-up” and a wife. Nugget was always my crazy, fun friends and life with her around was always a hilarious adventure! Then she fell in love with a military man and had a baby. I know she’s a great mom, and I’m pretty should the girl could write some great essays about her transition to mommyhood!

5.) The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

I don’t actually know them, but Kyra reminded me of the girls in the Dugger family. They don’t live on a polygamist compound, but I’m still rooting for one of them to run away. Now there’s a reality show I would watch!

6.) The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie reminds me of my friend, and fellow teacher, Amanda. Amanda is an activist and fights for what she believes in. Neither Frankie nor Amanda would take injustice quietly. Frankie is going to take the world by storm when she grows up, and she’s going to make things happen…and so is Amanda.

[...and ending with 4 who remind me of myself]

7.) The Babysitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin

Kristy Thomas was my hero when I was a kid, probably because we’re quite similar. Though I played soccer instead of softball, I definitely had Kristy’s function-over-form fashion sense and bossy nature. We even share the same birthday.

8.) The Ruby Oliver quartet by E. Lockhart

While I don’t share Ruby Oliver’s cute/quirky nature, I do share her exact brand of anxiety. I didn’t have all-out panic attacks, but I understand her character completely. When I read her books, I feel more normal. I was just like Ruby Oliver at age sixteen, and I loved watching her character grow up and mature. I’ve come a long way in the past twelve years!

9.) Harry Potter by JK Rowling

I see myself in Ginny Weasley…and Minerva McGonagall. Ginny because she’s a great mix of social, brave, and smart. McGonagall because she’s a great teacher who’s firm but fair. I may not be as good as McGonagall, but she’s certainly the ideal that I’m working toward.

10.) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashears

Though I’m not Latina like Carmen, I always identified with her because she was the curvy one in her group of friends. Trying to share a pair of jeans with my BFF’s would have been a nightmare for me…I wish all jeans could be magical and fit everyone like the jeans in the story.

Which book characters remind you of someone you know? Which do you see yourself in?

Top Ten Books On My TBR List for Summer

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at the Broke and the Bookish. Book bloggers from all around create lists based on the chosen topics, and post links to the host blog to share our love of books. Last week we got ready for summer by reviewing our favorite beach reads and recommending them to friends. This week we will be looking at our TBR reads for this summer. Bring on the lazy days of summer!

[I've got nothing but time]

1.) Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

European adventure? Yes, please!

2.) Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

I have this on my Nook, I just need to commit to reading it. Sounds like fun, contemporary YA.

3.) Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This has been on my TBR list forever, y’all. And it remains.

4.) The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

It comes out this summer, and sounds reminiscent of Life As We Knew It, but for adults.

5.) Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style by Tim Gunn

I mean, it’s Tim Gunn. I love that man. MAKE IT WORK.

6.) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

A quest inside a virtual reality? Yes, please. I’ve heard lots of good things about this one, and it’s “grown-up” fiction.

7.) The List by Siobahn Vivian

The tale of each of the eight girls on a high school’s annual “hottest/ugliest girl of each class” list. Intriguing premise.

8.) Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

The first book in the Jessica Darling series. I hear it’s funny, true-to-life contemporary YA. Plus I really want to meet this Marcus Flutie everyone is always talking about.

9.) Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Reading megtao’s recent review made me even more excited to read this year’s Printz Honor book.

10.) Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

I enjoyed Hate List, so I thought I’d give this book about the downward spiral of an abusive high school relationship a try.

Runners Up: Not so much beach reads, but I have a whole host of dystopias high on my list, including The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, Feed by MT Anderson, and Starters by Lissa Price. Each is already loaded on my Nook and ready for reading!

Top Ten Books I’d Recommend as Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the bloggers over at the Broke and the Bookish. Book bloggers from all around create lists based on the chosen topics, and post links to the host blog to share our love of books. This week is a we’re gearing up for summer by reviewing our favorite beach reads and recommending them to friends. This post will complement the topic next week, which is our Top Ten TBR Books for Summer. Bring on the lazy days of summer!

[light, fluffy, and easy-peasy]

[all featuring a 1-sentence synopsis!]

1.) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Airport romance taking place over 24 hours.

2.) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Friendship and romance at a boarding school in Paris, France.

3.) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Four girls, four summer adventures, and one shared pair of jeans.

4.) Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Ex-teen pop star turned assistant residence director in a college dorm investigates murders.

5.) The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Smart, quirky Ruby Oliver deals with boys and being shunned by her BFF’s.

6.) The Season by Sarah MacLean

Teen historical fiction (Regency London) meets murder mystery with a heaping tablespoon of romance.

7.) Empress of the World by Sarah Ryan

Lesbian romance (and regular-old friendships) at a summer camp for gifted kids.

8.) Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Georgia Nicholson navigates boys, friends, and make-up with hilarious silliness and insight.

9.) I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Friendship and romance at a boarding school for spies.

10.) A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail to see what all the fuss is about, and tells some of the history along the way (adult non-fiction, humor).

What books would recommend as great beach reads? What should I be taking with me to my cabin by the lake ?