Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist

5/09/2017

Top Ten Tuesday is back with another topic. And this week The Broke and the Bookish are asking us all: What would we have on our reading wishlist? Following a good long think, this is what I managed to come up with.

Travellers – As soon as I know that a book is about a circus or a group of people who travel, I instantly want to read it. It’s a lifestyle that is so different from my own, so I somehow find it magical.

90's Setting – After reading Attachments by Rainbow Rowell I am craving to read another book set in the 90's. I grew up watching rom-coms where the characters emailed each other instead of texting or met up in person. Reading a book like that brings back so many memories!

Obscure Retellings – I love retellings, but everyone always seems to pick the same fairytales. Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood. I’d love to read a modernised version of Bluebeard, or The Tinderbox. I saw a modernised play of The Little Mermaid by Shared Experience where our society causes her to fall into depression, and eventually she goes back to the sea. It was so interesting! Also, if someone writes a retelling of Jane Eyre then I am reading it as soon as I can.

Struggling Romance Stories with a Happy Ending – For some reason there is this ongoing trend with romance, whether it be films or books, to show a relationship working, failing and then ending. I don’t know whether these writers are trying to be realistic, but after reading numerous stories like it I’m bored of it. I’d love to read a book that is realistic, the couple have issues, but they constantly work on them and in the end it shows an indefinite future where all the hard work pays off.

Fated Romance – On a slightly more unrealistic note, books containing fate are wonderful to me. Especially stories where two people meet at the beginning, and then don’t meet again until the end. It explores the magic of coincidence, what ifs and beginnings.

Goofy Characters – You know when a character does something so stupid and ridiculous that you find yourself laughing out loud.

Musicals – Musically minded characters are one of my favourite. Whenever there’s a reference to a song I know or musical I get a little buzz.

Poetry – I don’t read a lot of poetry, however, I have read a few books where poetry has been integrated into the story. A good example of this is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I’ve found reading poetry within a novel a great way to open myself up to the literary form that I’m most unfamiliar with.

Famous Characters – From a young age I have always found wonder and fascination in seeing through the eyes of a character who is famous or suddenly comes into fame. Whether that be as a princess, model, actress or singer. Meg Cabot is great for this! I also love reading about a normal character befriending a famous one.

Self-Fulfilment – Characters that are open about their struggles and insecurities are the most relatable. Although tragic storylines are important, I sometimes prefer seeing a character struggle when a tragedy hasn’t happened, or when it’s something small. Even when life is going okay, we should still be striving to improve ourselves every day.

So that’s my wishlist completed! If you’ve seen any of these things in any books then please let me know! Having these things in books makes reading even more addictive!  


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27 comments

  1. Definitely need more travelers stories. In addition to circus type stories I'd like to see a renaissance faire or traveling show like that, with maybe some supernatural elements? Ditto for 90's setting. I like it when a book really captures the time period. And fated romance can be good- I'd love to read more books like the movie Serendipity, say, where it explores what might have been or second chances, all that stuff. Those can be funny too!

    Great list!

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    1. Yes! A thousand times yes to all of these! A travelling show would be great, especially if it was a theatre group. Serendipity was what I was thinking of when I wrote that point, how small moments can change events, what scenarios would've been- a bit like Sliding Doors too.

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  2. I think of Jane Eyre as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, actually. Have you read "Sweet Remembrance" by Emily Ann Putzke? It's a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Match Girl," set in a Jewish ghetto during WWII. Very poignant.

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    1. That's interesting, I've never thought of it that way. No, you mentioning "Sweet Remembrance" is my first encounter of it, but it sounds fascinating! Definitely going to look more into that one.

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  3. I'm also a music fanatic so Musicals definitely make it to my TBR- for some strange reason I seem to have excluded them from my actual TTT!

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    1. It's always the most obvious things you seem to forget! ^.^

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  4. This is an excellent list! I was a young adult in the 90's, so my tendency is to yearn for the 80's, but both eras are equally fascinating to read about.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!

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    1. I was a 90's baby, so some of my earliest memories are during that period. It definitely brings a lot of nostalgia!

      Thanks for the link, I'll have a read! ^.^

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  5. Yes, I love the '90s! What a great, fairly contemporary time setting for people to explore. And let's be real, I'm sure there's plenty of plot to be found when not everyone had a cell phone or GPS or whatever. :) And I'm absolutely on board with obscure retellings... once you get past the primary fairy tale canon, there are so many weird and wonderful stories to find inspiration in.

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    1. Exactly! More chance meetings and things. Plus, most of my favourite films were set in the 90s. Yes! If you find any obscure retellings please let me know. ^.^

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  6. Yes, I love finding a good obscure retelling. :)

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    1. Are there any good ones you know of? ^.^

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  7. Love the idea of obscure retelling's, there are so many that would make for an interesting read. Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my TTT today.

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    1. They definitely seem to be very popular! What stories would you like to be retold?

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  8. I love your goofy characters! That is such a good one because it doesn't have to be a light book but the character can be used for moments of levity! I also love the idea of more obscure retellings... I also read on who said classic retellings I like that idea too! Great list! Thanks for visiting me 🌟

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    1. Exactly! I'd say it's one of the best ways to make the reader laugh. Classic retellings would be fantastic, even if they are lightly based.

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  9. Hi! Great list :) I'd love to see a Princess and the Pea retelling! And I love the 90s. Check out Fireworks by Katie Cotugno. It just released. It's set in the 90s. I haven't read it yet :)
    My TTT
    Leslie

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    1. Ooh! I'll have to check that out! Thanks so much!

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  10. Oh I love some of these things on your list SO MUCH too!! I really love obscure retellings and definitely think we should have more of them. Enough of Cinderella. What about the Little Matchstick Girl or something, right?! And I also adore adorkable and goofy characters. They can be so sweet and endearing. 😂

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    1. Awww yes! The Little Matchstick Girl would be adorable! I'm thinking something more gruesome though, Bluebeard? No one ever seems to mention that! Goofy characters feed my soul, books are so fun to read when you're laughing all the way through. ^.^

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