Man...there's so many...hnngh...shit. Shitshitshitshit.
Because I spent much of my childhood with Jehovah's Witnesses and with a stepmother who knew I liked girls, I wasn't allowed to do a lot of common things like sleep overs or go to the mall with friends except maybe once or twice a year. I had my own laptop but wasn't allowed to use it except for an hour a day. So, naturally, I turned to books, video games, and TV (in that order).
Most of what I list will be books!
Brian Jacques' Redwall Series
I read these in middle school but man. I loved this series. It has an order that you can read in though if you were to start some where in the middle you could still do pretty well for yourself at grasping context and the like. The actual chronological order of the books can be found here which is how I suggest people read them. It also spans over multiple generations of the Redwall citizens which are a collection of mice, moles, shrews, rabbits, and other woodland creatures. Their enemies? Usually things like rats, weasels, etc.
Quotes:
However, one of the things that always got me about the series was the food they would talk about. Hell, there was even a picture book illustrated about it. As well as a recipe book with favorites such as Mole's Favourite Deeper'n'Ever Turnip'n'Tater'n'Beetroot Pie and Squirrelmum's Blackberry and Apple Cake. You can find the recipe book listed here.
Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices Series
I didn't read this series until I was in college. It's a companion to the Mortal Instruments/City of Bones series that she did that became a movie (blegh) and a show (woo). Definitely check out the show instead of the movie. Show takes some creative liberties but it still stays true to the spirit of the books. Plus the actors look their parts SO WELL. HNNNGH.
Taking place in England a few generations before the Mortal Instruments and introduces some of the ancestors (as well as some characters like Magnus Bane) of the Shadowhunting families you see later on. It was a beautiful prequel to the Mortal Instruments and had a rich storyline over three books. The last one, Clockwork Princess, makes me cry every time I read it all the way through without fail.
While some of my favorite quotes are the sappier ones, there's definitely heavy themes in this series. Also warlocks ftw
J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
"Okay. Right. Horror meets romance meets erotica meets fantasy meets hip hop. Throw in some leather and some Miami Ink shit, stir with a baseball bat and a tire iron, sprinkle on some baby powder, and serve over a hot bed of Holy-Mary-mother-of-God-this-has-to-work-or-I'm-going-to-be-a-lawyer-for-the-rest-of-my-natural-life. No problem." - J.R. Ward from her insider's guide.
Originally, she was a lawyer. Sick of that shit, she made the Brothers and it has been one of my favorite book series ever. I was skeptical at first after seeing the saucy covers and a friend telling me it was about vampires, but after the first book? I was hooked. I wanted to learn more. Not just about the character but about their history. I wanted to learn about the creator of their race, the Scribe Virgin, and I wanted to learn about The Omega who seeks to destroy the vampires out of jealousy because it cannot create life.
There's also Lassiter, a fallen angel who is sort of...around? He is one of the more obscure characters that I feel won't get a story for himself until the very, very end. Dammit. Very sassy metrosexual.
Like most romance series, each book focuses on a couple. But it's more then just the couples that are focused on. It's also an ongoing story and plot where you may meet a character in the second book but not get the full story until book six while J.R. tosses teasing snippets at you that makes you want to beat her skinny little ass six ways to Sunday.
Her description of the series above speaks for itself. My favorite part, however, has always been the character interactions. The wit, humor, sarcasm, and dialogue has always been so raw and real. More so then any other book or series I have ever read.
If you check out her site, you can read all the random shit she posts. Another thing that I love about this series is that she writes up little snippets of their lives even while she works on the other books. Playlists, deleted scenes...you name it.
Because I spent much of my childhood with Jehovah's Witnesses and with a stepmother who knew I liked girls, I wasn't allowed to do a lot of common things like sleep overs or go to the mall with friends except maybe once or twice a year. I had my own laptop but wasn't allowed to use it except for an hour a day. So, naturally, I turned to books, video games, and TV (in that order).
Most of what I list will be books!
Brian Jacques' Redwall Series
I read these in middle school but man. I loved this series. It has an order that you can read in though if you were to start some where in the middle you could still do pretty well for yourself at grasping context and the like. The actual chronological order of the books can be found here which is how I suggest people read them. It also spans over multiple generations of the Redwall citizens which are a collection of mice, moles, shrews, rabbits, and other woodland creatures. Their enemies? Usually things like rats, weasels, etc.
Quotes:
Quote:“No doubt your sword is indeed a beautiful thing. It is a tribute to whoever forged it in bygone ages. There are very few such swords as this one left in the world, but remember, it is only a sword, Matthias! It contains no secret spell, nor holds within its blade any magical power. This sword is made for only one purpose, to kill. It will only be as good or evil as the one who wields it. I know that you intend to use it only for the good of your Abbey, Matthias; do so, but never allow yourself to be tempted into using it in a careless or idle way. It would inevitably cost you your life, or that of your dear ones. Martin the Warrior used the sword only for right and good. This is why it has become a symbol of power to Redwall. Knowledge is gained through wisdom, my friend. Use the sword wisely.â€
Quote:“Knowledge is a thing that one cannot have enough of. It is the fruit of wisdom, to be eaten carefully and digested fully, unlike that lunch you are bolting down, little friend.â€
However, one of the things that always got me about the series was the food they would talk about. Hell, there was even a picture book illustrated about it. As well as a recipe book with favorites such as Mole's Favourite Deeper'n'Ever Turnip'n'Tater'n'Beetroot Pie and Squirrelmum's Blackberry and Apple Cake. You can find the recipe book listed here.
Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices Series
I didn't read this series until I was in college. It's a companion to the Mortal Instruments/City of Bones series that she did that became a movie (blegh) and a show (woo). Definitely check out the show instead of the movie. Show takes some creative liberties but it still stays true to the spirit of the books. Plus the actors look their parts SO WELL. HNNNGH.
Taking place in England a few generations before the Mortal Instruments and introduces some of the ancestors (as well as some characters like Magnus Bane) of the Shadowhunting families you see later on. It was a beautiful prequel to the Mortal Instruments and had a rich storyline over three books. The last one, Clockwork Princess, makes me cry every time I read it all the way through without fail.
Quote:“If Jem dies, I cannot be with Tessa,†said Will. “Because it will be as if I were waiting for him to die, or took some joy in his death, if it let me have her. And I will not be that person. I will not profit from his death. So he must live.†He lowered his arm, his sleeve bloody. “It is the only way any of this can ever mean anything. Otherwise it is only —â€
“Pointless, needless suffering and pain? I don’t suppose it would help if I told you that was the way life is. The good suffer, the evil flourish, and all that is mortal passes away,†Magnus said.
“I want more than that,†said Will. “You made me want more than that. You showed me I was only ever cursed because I had chosen to believe myself so. You told me there was possibility, meaning. And now you would turn your back on what you created.â€
Quote:“They say you cannot love two people equally at once,†she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other. You merged your souls when you were both children. I could not have loved Will so much if I had not loved you as well. And I could not love you as I do if I had not loved Will as I did.â€
While some of my favorite quotes are the sappier ones, there's definitely heavy themes in this series. Also warlocks ftw
J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
"Okay. Right. Horror meets romance meets erotica meets fantasy meets hip hop. Throw in some leather and some Miami Ink shit, stir with a baseball bat and a tire iron, sprinkle on some baby powder, and serve over a hot bed of Holy-Mary-mother-of-God-this-has-to-work-or-I'm-going-to-be-a-lawyer-for-the-rest-of-my-natural-life. No problem." - J.R. Ward from her insider's guide.
Originally, she was a lawyer. Sick of that shit, she made the Brothers and it has been one of my favorite book series ever. I was skeptical at first after seeing the saucy covers and a friend telling me it was about vampires, but after the first book? I was hooked. I wanted to learn more. Not just about the character but about their history. I wanted to learn about the creator of their race, the Scribe Virgin, and I wanted to learn about The Omega who seeks to destroy the vampires out of jealousy because it cannot create life.
There's also Lassiter, a fallen angel who is sort of...around? He is one of the more obscure characters that I feel won't get a story for himself until the very, very end. Dammit. Very sassy metrosexual.
Like most romance series, each book focuses on a couple. But it's more then just the couples that are focused on. It's also an ongoing story and plot where you may meet a character in the second book but not get the full story until book six while J.R. tosses teasing snippets at you that makes you want to beat her skinny little ass six ways to Sunday.
Her description of the series above speaks for itself. My favorite part, however, has always been the character interactions. The wit, humor, sarcasm, and dialogue has always been so raw and real. More so then any other book or series I have ever read.
If you check out her site, you can read all the random shit she posts. Another thing that I love about this series is that she writes up little snippets of their lives even while she works on the other books. Playlists, deleted scenes...you name it.
Quote:Red Sox repositioned his hat. “Well, ah…let me know if you pick up shit from me, k? There are some things that I’d prefer to keep private, feel me?â€
“Roger that. Although I can’t help it sometimes.â€
“Which is why I’m going to take up thinking about baseball when you’re around.â€
“Thank fuck you’re not a Yankees fan.â€
“Don’t use the Y-word. We’re in mixed company."
Quote:They’d just left when Zsadist came in at a dead run. “Shit, shit, shit…â€
What’s doing, my brother?â€
“I’m teaching and I’m late.â€
Zsadist grabbed a sleeve of bagels, a turkey leg out of the refridge and a quart of ice cream from the freezer. “Shit.â€
“That’s your breakfast?â€
“Shut up. It’s almost a turkey sandwich."
Quote:This was why people got mated, Rehv suddenly thought. Fuck the sex and the social position. If they were smart, they did it to make a house that had no walls and an invisible roof and a floor that no could walk on-and yet the structure was a shelter no storm could blow down, no match could torch up, no passage of years could degrade.
That was when it hit him. A mated bond like that helped you through shit nights like this.
Quote:Rhage stepped out in front of him, "Hey, hi! How are you?" Hollywood stuck his hand out. "I'd like to introduce myself. I'm the piece of meat that's going to force you headfirst into your buddy Quinn's Hummer as soon as it gets here. Just figured I'd introduced myself before I rope your ass and throw you over my shoulder like a bag of sand."
Quote:After a moment, Wrath turned to John. "This is Lassiter, the fallen angel. One of the last times he was here on earth, there was a plague in central Europe-"
"Okay, that was so not my fault-"
"-which wiped out two-thirds of the human population."
"I'd like to remind you that you don't like humans."
"They smell bad when they're dead."
"All you mortal types do."
Quote:"I… What are you saying, Zsadist?" she stammered, even though she'd heard every word.
He glanced back down at the pencil in his hand and then turned to the table. Flipping the spiral notebook to a new page, he bent way over and labored on top of the paper for quite a while. Then he ripped the sheet free.
His hand was shaking as he held it out. "It's messy."
Bella took the paper. In a child's uneven block letters there were three words: I LOVE YOU
Her lips flattened tight as her eyes stung. The handwriting got wavy and then disappeared.
"Maybe you can't read it," he said in a small voice. "I can do it over."
She shook her head. "I can read it just fine. It's… beautiful."
"I don't expect anything back. I mean… I know that you don't… feel that for me anymore. But I wanted you to know. It's important that you knew."
Quote:"I'm going to talk to her."
"And how's that going to go? You're just going to walk up to her and say, 'Hey, I know you've never seen me before, but I'm your dad. Oh, and guess what? You've won the evolutionary lottery: You're a vampire. Let's go to Disneyland!"
