Top Ten Tueday: Unusual Character Names

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke & The Bookish. Each week they host a different top ten topic. This weeks is:

Top Ten Unusual Character Names

Now I can probably think of a list as tall as I am so I will just think of the first ones that pop into my head!

1. Maya & Lochan

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma is filled with unusual character names. But the main leads are called Maya and Lochan, which at first I wasn't too sure about but then starting to fall in love with. Lochan was definitely a name I had never come across before.

 
2. Persephone (Sephy)

When I first came across this name when I was about ten in Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman I instantly loved it. It was very unusual to me and I also adored the shortening of it to Sephy. I ended up naming my cat after the character as well.

Here is the cat, proving fruit bowls aren't just for fruit.

 
3. Lyra & Pantalaimon

From the wonderful Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, this book made me fall in love with the name Lyra. When I first read the book, about age 10, I told my mum that that's what I wanted to call my daughter if I had one. I eventually settled for naming my Mass Effect character it! Panatalaimon, I heard that name and instantly adored it - so unusual and who doesn't want their own Pan?




4. Cassia, Ky & Xander

Matched by Ally Condie is full of unusual and interesting names, the three main characters all have unusual names that I really quite liked.



 
5. Hermione Granger

When I first read HP1 I was about seven or eight and had never come across the name Hermione before. Well I could not for the life of me figure out how I was supposed to pronounce it so I had to ask my thirteen year old sister.





 6. Four

So yes technically Four is just a nickname for a character in Divergent by Veronica Roth but I actually really came to love the name Four. As far as I am concerned, Four is always going to be Four to me. 





7. Larka & Fell

The names of two wolves in The Sight, Larka is a white wolf and Fell a black one. This book, still to this very day, makes me want to get a pure black German Shepherd and pure white German Shepherd and name them after those two.



8. Tarver

This was a name I came across recently in These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and I really liked the sound of it.





9. Daenerys Targaryen

Game of Thrones is full to the brim of strange and unusual character names. But I have quite a soft spot for Daenerys, I mean, the girls got dragons!


10. Tyrion Lannister

I adore Tyrion, he is such an amazing character in these books and has so many hilarious, witty moments.



So that's just a few. Leave a link to your own TTT so I can kick myself over the ones I forgot!



Last week on the blog:

My Wednesday WWW.
My review of How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.
 My weeks book haul.
 My Feature & Follow Friday.
My Liebster award post.
My review of Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman.
My Musing for Monday.


Thanks also to Spiced Latte Reads & Pages of Comfort for following me!

Musing Mondays #5

 

This is a weekly meme hosted by shouldbereading, which is where you can post your musings of the week. This can be describing a reading habit, what books you've bought, what books you want, what you're reading or any rant you can think of book related.



This week I am thinking about displays, more specifically library displays. My library is kind of limited to the use of a printer, some scissors and a laminator so you have to try and get as creative as possible with that. It would be quite nice to have a large selection of materials to work with, but it's never going to happen. So I am curious about the kinds of book displays your library do. Or what your favourite one is that you have seen so far? I have seen so many amazing and creative ones on the Internet, I wish our library could pull them off.

In our Teen section I recently have done a display for the books, it incorporates books and their TV or movie adaptions. It works quite well I think but for some reason our question mark on one of them was taken. Don't ask me why, I have no clue why you would want or need a large laminated question mark!

Blog Design

I have finally got around to changing my background. I didn't mind my old one but I thought it was too bright and plain and wasn't really me. I'm more satisfied with the one I have got but am still not happy. I will keep it for now but I know I need to start designing my own if I am going to be 100% satisfied. I just want one that's not really plain and brings across more of my personality I guess.

Last Week On The Blog

I read and reviewed:

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff 

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Also on the blog:

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Was 'Forced' To Read

W.. W... W... Wednesday

Fridays Book Haul

Feature and Follow Friday

 Getting To Know Me

And as always I will take the time to thank the lovely people who have followed me. Thank you:

My Books n Things, Thoughts and Pens, Musings on Fantasia, Fantasy Is More Fun, Moonlight Reader, The Reading Chic, Caught Reading Redheaded, Marilyns Mystery Blog, Whatever You Can Still Betray, Magic of Words, Jackie's Book World, Read by the Undead, Shayna Varadeaux Books, Confessions of a Book Addict, Rather Be Reading YA, Fanciful Fiction, Beyond the Bookshelf, Annette's Book Spot, Chapter Break, Shooting Stars Reviews, Studio Reads, Flip That Page, Daily Mayo, Love, Literature, Art and Reason, Natflix and Books & Notes on Novels.

Leave a link to your own MM and I will check it out.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman: The Review

Noughts and Crosses

by

Malorie Blackman

Title: Noughts and Crosses

Author: Malorie Blackman

Publisher: Corgi Books

Buy This Book: Amazon

Sephy is a Cross and, as a privileged black girl in a world where the colour of your skin determines what you can do in your life, her options are seemingly limitless. Callum is a nought, and his white skin and poor family seem far removed from the life that Sephy leads. These two should never be friends, but they are. They grew up playing together when Callum's mother still worked for Sephy's family. Even after Callum's mother is fired and their friendship is expected to end, Sephy and Callum refuse to be separated. They have been best friends for as long as they can remember and they are all the other has. But as tensions rise between noughts and Crosses and with people turning to violence to solve their issues, their friendship is about to be tested. As friendship begins to evolve in to something more, an unexpected attack will push their relationship to the limit. Can Sephy and Callum find a way to be together, even when it seems the whole world is against them?

This was one of the first books I reviewed on this blog, as it is one of my all time favourites but I wasn't happy with the review so I've decided to redo it. I absolutely adore this book, always have and always will. It is one of the first books that I read that managed to make me an uncontrollable, inconsolable, blubbering mess. Quite honestly, I cried like a baby because this book made me care that much. I read it first when I was about eleven and since then I reread it practically every year along with all the other books in the series. 

It is told from both Sephy and Callum's points of view, which at the time it was one of the first books I had encountered that did this. I really enjoy getting different perspectives in books, I feel it brings something more to the book and now it's something I really like to find in a book. I think it's part of the reason Jodi Picoult is one of my all time favourite authors, she always provides different point of views in her books. 

This book will get you thinking, and though it is a love story at heart it is full of suspense and nail-biting moments where you don't want to turn the page because you're scared of what you'll find. So a word of warning to all who read this magnificent book, have your tissues at the ready as it will make you cry, all expensive objects far away from you as you will be tempted to hurl things across the room when it all gets a bit too much and it would also be a good idea to not have anything planned for the next day, you will most likely be sitting up all night trying to finish this.

This to me is a classic and a book that everyone should read. It will get you thinking and really make you care for these characters that you will still be thinking about them for years to come. Now my baby cousin has turned eleven I already have a set purchased for her for Christmas. And she will love them, otherwise I will have to disown her - I'm only slightly kidding. 

I don't think I could love Callum and Sephy more if I tried, I have never wanted a couple to work out as much as I wanted it with these two. I loved this book so much, and though the characters are more juvenile then most young adult books I read now it is still one of my all time favourites.

In order to prove just how much I adored this book, seven years ago when I got my cat I named her Persephone (that's Sephy's real name by the way!), but like the character in the book, we all call her Sephy.

5/5 Stars

Getting To Know Me!

I had no idea what a Liebster award was until I was nominated. Now I see why so many blog say they are award free zomes, this takes time and effort but for new bloggers I think it is a great way to get your blog out there. I really found the information on here very useful as well.

The Liebster award, for anyone that is as unfamiliar as I was, is given to new bloggers with under 200 followers. It is a way to allow people to get to know you a bit better but also bring new people to your blog. 

The rules, or at least the ones given to me are:

1. Link back to blogger that nominated you.

2. Answer the questions the blogger has set you.

3. Nominate 10 others and set them a list of questions.

4. Tell your nominees about the award and link to your post.

I was nominated by Whatever You Can Still Betray, so thank you for the thought. So now to answer her questions.

  What's the one book you've read multiple times? I can already tell I am going to find these difficult to answer. If I love a book then it is guaranteed that I am going to keep coming back to it. So the Harry Potter series must be on here, I've read them more times than I can actually count. The Sight by David Clement Davies as it's a childhood favourite that I still reread often. The Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman, again it's one I read when I was quite young, about 11, and still reread now. Now I am finding new books and series that I know I will come back to over and over again: The Divergent series by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. Quite honestly, this list could go on and on.      What's the best sequel ever?   Argh, I can't even begin to try and answer that one. One thing you will learn about me, I am terrible about making decisions. This really is a tough one and I honestly can't think of an answer.      Choose your zombies: Zombies that are smart but run slowly or zombies that are mindless but run like gazelles.   I like this, a toughy but a good choice. Now slow zombies can't chase you as fast but they know how to open doors, windows, how to trick you and everything. Fast ones could catch you but they are easy to fool I guess. I want to say fast & dumb - hide indoors, lock the doors and they will be too stupid to get in.        What are the kinds of books you won't read?
  I do not like, nor will I ever like the erotic romance fiction that is so popular right now - from what I can tell all the storylines and characters seem to be the exact same. I caved and read Fifty Shades and it was the worst thing I have ever subjected myself to. I am also not a fan of romantic fiction, the ones that are purely romance novels; it takes something really special and unique for me to like one.       If a book character could come to life, who would it be and why?
  Why are you doing this to me? How could you pick just one? That is actually an impossible question. I have a list that's taller than I am. I really couldn't think of just one if I tried.        Describe yourself with a haiku (kidding).
   Thank god because if I tried, it would be awful.    
Biggest book pet peeves.    Insta-love! Oh look we have just met but you are quite obviously the love of my life and I would do anything, say anything, even die to be with you. Urghhh, that is annoying, frustrating and unrealistic. Also when people get married in books after knowing each other for what feels like five minutes.  Also hate when nothing is ever really explained in a book, where it kind of feels like the author was just being lazy because they couldn't even think of answers to the questions they have raised.       Favourite quote from the book you're currently reading.
   Currently rereading Divergent and I could pick many. But I will pick a favourite from near where I am reading now. “I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. "I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.”    You've got to love Four.      Favourite book cover
   This is a question I feel like I should answer, but can't. There are so many amazing, beautiful and stunning covers around that it's hard to pick. I really love the UK paperback for Divergent and Insurgent though, I really think they are beautiful. I always loved The Sights cover, with the face of the wolf on it. But really off the top of my head I can think of so many I really like. These are some tough questions. Drink of choice while you're reading.    I actually don't have one. When I get stuck into a book, I kind of get sucked into the world. I can go hours without even noticing the fact I am hungry or thirsty if I'm honest.  So there are my answers, I actually found those questions really hard!  
I am nominating the following people:     Fathomless Reveries Diary of a Book Maniac Katie's Corner Debs Crazy Obsession Icy Cold Reads Tsuki's Books Sim-sational Books YA Escape From Reality Chrissi Reads Chuckles Book Cave  Confessions of a Book Addict    I just think that if you are trying to get your blog out there, this could be a good way. It's hard to figure out exactly how many followers a blog has, so if I was wrong I am sorry. So if you choose to take part here are the questions: 1. When & why did you start blogging? 2. What has surprised you the most about blogging?    .3. What is your favourite book to film adaption and why?  4. If you had to pick your favourite books series, what would it be? 5. What book are you most looking forward to in 2014?   6. If you could have dinner with one author, who would you choose and what would you want to ask them?   7. What is your favourite & least favourite genre?   8. What would you say is the worst book you have ever read? 9. If you could live inside the world of one book which one would it be? 10. What is the one book or series you would recommend to people above all others? To take part post your own Liebster award post, link back to me, answer the 10 questions, leave 10 questions of your own and then nominate 10 blogs of your own. 
Enjoy. 

Feature & Follow Friday #2

 

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog of the week. It is a way for blogs to gain exposure but also so you can check out and follow other blogs

This weeks question:

What are some of your favourite magazines?

Okay, confession time: I don't read magazines anymore. If I have time to read then it's usually always going to be a book. I used to read magazines all the time when I was in my young teens, now at twenty-two I don't have any I really like to read. I was absolutely obsessed with Kerrang! magazine when I was younger, it helped me keep up to date with all my favourite bands.

When I accidentally leave the book I'm reading at work I will pick up one of the magazines on the table and skim through it. One of the women in our stock department has a, what I deem, unhealthy obsession with the American magazine The National Enquirer, it's £1 and she loves it. From skimming through it I can kind of get why she loves it so much, it's hilariously trashy. Most if not all the stories have about 10% truth in them if that and I've never heard of half of the supposed 'celebs' in it.

So not a huge magazine fan, if I'm honest. I'll always prefer a good book. 

Remember to leave a link to your blog so I can come check out your answers!