My Top 4 YA Fiction Trilogies

Originally, I thought I would hate YA fiction. I imagined it all to be sparkly vampires, and cheesy romance. As more and more people talked about it, I decided to give it a go - that many people can't be wrong, right? In this case - right!
YA fiction has certainly outgrown where it was when I was a teenager and the section consisted of Sweet Valley High, Point Horror and The Babysitters Club to name a few. Now the books are a bit more edgy. Generally they have a futuristic utopian feel to them, but the characters are more realistic, and more relatable and the stories are a little edgier.
I'm so glad I decided to give it a go. If you've never tried it and are looking for somewhere to start, or if you have tried it and are wondering what to read next, here are my four favourite YA trilogies so far:

 

1. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

 

2. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

3. The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

(Although originally a trilogy, there is now a fourth Maze Runner book - a prequel to the series. I believe there is also a book set for release next year that details a time between the prequel and the first book of the trilogy.)

4. The Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver

(I haven't actually finished this whole series yet, but it is fantastic so far!)

 

 

I'm always looking for recommendation, so if you know of any good YA fiction, please let me know in the comments section!

 

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Why I Prefer Books To Movies

I love watching movies as much as the next person. On a cold day, it's so good to curl up in front of the fire with a hot drink and have a movie marathon.

But the book is still always better!
Ok, it's better 99% of the time! The one exception I've found to this (please don't hate me!) is Harry Potter. I hate myself a little for thinking it. To find out why I prefer the movie, have a read here: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/h-is-for-harry-potter.html.

Sorry J K Rowling!

Generally though it's true for me and they say the exception makes the rule!
There's two main reasons I prefer the books:

1. I hate when the film makers mess with the story, either giving it a "Hollywood ending" or in some cases changing it to the point where it's unrecognisable! For example, Brad Pitt's character, Gerry Lane in World War Z. The star of the movie and the character isn't even in the book the movie claims to be based on!

 

 

2. Most importantly, when you are reading, you see the characters and settings in your way. You actually have to use your imagination (the horror!). In a movie, you are seeing how the casting manager saw the character, not how you saw them. Sometimes, they get it right - think Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. In fact pretty much every character in the movie was well cast. But sometimes, they get is horribly wrong.

I think the best example of them getting it horribly wrong has to be The Queen Of The Tearling (due for release in June). Kelsea, the princess is described in the book as plain and a little dumpy. Who is the last actress this description brings to mind? Yep, Emma Watson!



 

Having said that, I'm still looking forward to the movie, but I'm looking forward to the second book more!

Do you agree or do you prefer movies?

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Desert Island Favourites - Books

I thought I would finish my Desert Island Favourites mini series with the five books I would take to a desert island, as that's the perfect lead in to June's theme. I feel these books should be things like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Chaucer, Bronte etc, but I am going to be honest, and tell you the ones I would actually take because I enjoy reading them, not ones I think I should be seen to read.
The books I would take have to be books I can happily read over and over again. So, on that note, the 5 books I would take are:

1. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel. This book is one of my all time favourites. I've read it more times than I can remember and every time I come away with something I had previously missed!
2. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. I remember being about 11 when I first read this, and I was truly horrified. I think it was the first adult horror book I ever read, and it certainly got me hooked on the genre.
3. The Pact by Jodi Picoult. This is one of those books that stay with you long after you put it down. I talk a little more about it here: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/j-is-for-jodi-picoult.html
4.The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I know a trilogy is maybe cheating a little, but I love this series and I couldn't take one without the others!
5. The Shining by Stephen King. This is the closest I can come to having a classic on my list, and many people will argue the point of the book being a classic. To me it is and always will be. I love Stephen King and this is a fine example of him doing what he does best.

Which books would you take?

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