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Top 5 Tuesday

Top 5… character driven books

Today’s Top 5 Tuesday is ‘character driven books’, and is hosted by the super lovely Shanah over at the Bionic Bookworm. You can visit her here, and join in for Top 5 Tuesday by checking out all the amazing topics we have coming up!

For those of you not across literary terms, character driven means: When something about the character’s essential self leads to a particular action or event in the story.

Save the Date

A great book I’ve read very recently that has a very character driven plot is Save the Date by Morgan Matson. The story is that of 17-year-old Charlie who has a lot to learn about her relationships with her other family members. Now, some of this story is plot driven (most of the ‘mishaps’ with regards to the wedding), but so much of the story is centred around how characters have reacted to certain things, which then drives additional plot points.

The Start of Me and You

Next on my list is The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. I love this book, and its characters. The evolution of how Paige comes to terms with the horrible hand she got dealt that one summer is really lovely, and I was totally cheering for her from the sidelines.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is probably my number three character driven novel. I love this book (and in fact I love all of Albertalli’s books) so much, and Simon is such a precious little cherub who needs to be preserved for all of time.

Eleanor and Park

Number two on my list absolutely goes to Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. This book is delightful and leaves you wanting more. Wanting to know what happened after the characters left the safe pages of this heart-wrenching novel, and if you could protect them! This is an absolutely beautiful story, and if you like YA contemporary books that deal with real issues, then this is a must-read.

My number one character driven book (or rather, series) is The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. Yes, these books are fantasy, which normally isn’t hugely character driven; however, I think Stiefvater tells the plot around the character development. Each of the five main characters has a huge role to play in how the story evolves, and its through them that everything exciting (or terrifying) occurs. PS, I might fight you on this. (joking!)

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