The Innocent Smiley: Top Ten Tuesday #27

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday #27

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Five Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels

This might be a little hard on me, since I haven't read that many books, and truthfully, I can only think of one, maybe two, distinguishable novels that focus on character development. So, I'm just going to be super picky, and just give you the best of the best.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - I can now spell Maggie's last name without looking it up, simply because her characters are always so developed in every way possible. And The Raven Boys is no exception. I am in love with every single character in the series, and I'm happy to say, that I have recently purchased The Dream Thieves. So go me!

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - There is no way this 1000 page monstrosity doesn't have character development (look at me, double negatives haha). But yeah, Sanderson is not only amazing at world-building, but with characters as well! (You might as well dump every other one of his novels here too, though I haven't read all of them.....yet)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - Like Sanderson's, all of Rowell's novels also focus on character development as well. And a great example is, of course, Fangirl.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - I thought about this for two seconds, and I'm already on the verge of crying. But yeah, beautifully written story with beautiful characters that break my heart.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz - Yes. This coming of age story is definitely an amazing character driven novel. It's also beautifully written, and everything in this book can be quoted. I am not joking. I loved Ari and Dante, and their families, and Legs the dog.

That's all I have for this week! I know it seems short, but out of all the books I've read so far, these five are definitely the best. The rest I have read also focus on fantasy and plot and action, etc. etc.

So yeah, there you have it!

Any character driven novels you can recommend? Link up those TTTs please!

Comments (23)

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divabooknerd 73p · 547 weeks ago

Great list Val. Aristotle and Dante! Brilliant choice. I completely fell in love with that one. Once thing I noticed, is that the majority of character driven books seem to be mostly contemporaries, fantastic job on adding ones that aren't. I think with fantasy and dystopians, they tend to focus more so on world building and plot first and the characters are usually an afterthought. I actually just did my TTT at Sporadic Reads where I'm coblogging now.

Top Ten Tuesday

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

THANKS KELLLLY! I really loved Ari and Dante (no matter how long that title is). Yeah, the reason why I don't have many contemporaries is because I just haven't read that many, sadly. BUT THAT'S OK because that's going to change! And honestly, I want my fantasies to have both world-building and character development. Without one or the other, it just feels....lacking.

I SAW YOUR TTT IT WAS AWESOME!

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caitdrews 124p · 547 weeks ago

OH WE HAVE SOME OF THE SAME ONES! I totally forgot to put anything by Elizabeth Wein on my list though. *extreme headdesk* I'm nearly finished Rose Under Fire and...yep. I'm done. So very done and sad and ... *breaks down into a mess of tears* It BETTER give me closure is all I can say.

I specifically learnt to spell Maggie Stiefvater's name because....MAGGIE STIEFVATER. I think my lists always have at least one of her books on them each week. XD

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

Obviously we have some in common DUH. Hahah I love Elizabeth Wein I think I would read any of her books (YA and Adult at least) Don't worry Cait I did not put any up on this list because I'm an idiot and forgot tons of them. HAHAHHAHA I SAW YOUR reaction of Rose Under Fire on GR, and YES TO CLOSURE. but our poor hearts

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jazmen · 547 weeks ago

You have some great books on here. I've been wanting to read The Raven Boys for a while now!

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

You should! The third book in the series is coming out soon!

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La Coccinelle · 547 weeks ago

I've read The Raven Boys, and I can see that the author is trying to develop the characters well. The first book did a bit of a better job of that than the second, I think (although, it's hard to say... certain characters ended up being developed a lot more in the second book, while others seemed to be a bit neglected). In any case, I would agree that the first book is character-driven.

I learn to spell authors' names whether I want to or not; after typing them onto my four review indexes, they kind of get lodged in my brain!

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

I still have yet to read the second, but I know what you mean! I think my favorite character was Noah, but I can see how he's going to be left behind soon since the first book was about him.

I had a lot of trouble with Stiefvater's name in the beginning, but now I've learned. So yeah they do get stuck in your head after a while.

I saw all your comments on my previous posts!!! I'll try to reply to them all (you left so many~~!!! Thanks so much!)

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Nobody@TheStoryGoes · 547 weeks ago

Aristotle and Dante is a perfect pick, I love that book so much. Same with Rainbow Rowell. And yay! You finally got Dream Thieves!

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

I KNOW I finally got the Dream Thieves! I can't wait to read it!!!

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kaylasanchez2 69p · 547 weeks ago

Sigh... Everyone and their mother is telling me to read Aristotle and Dante. I even have it on my shelf - so pathetic! I need to work on that one for sure :P

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

I second you reading Aristotle and Dante because YOU HAVE TO and it's so good.

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aboutthestory 45p · 547 weeks ago

So right about all of Sanderson's book! I don't know any other author who I could actually list the major characters and plenty of secondary ones from all of his books that I've read (which is a lot and I normally suck at character names!). They just stick out that meaningfully in my memory *swoons*

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

Yeah I know! Even with his debut book Elantris he developed his characters so well. And I guess it helps that he spent 10 years planning the whole Stormlight Archive!! AND ALSO his novellas have developed characters too, like HE IS AMAZING.

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melanieymr 70p · 547 weeks ago

Ah yes Fangirl, it's jsut so beautiful and the characters are most absolutely the highlight of the book. I've seen Ari and Dante on a lot of people's lists, and I really wanna read that! I actually bought it a while ago, but I just need the time to get to it.

Awesome list, Val! <3 3

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

THANKS MELANIE! You need to make the time to read Ari and Dante because it is so gorgeous. It's actually a really fast read, and the dialogue is just asdgj;lkdjg. So yes. go go go

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mia27stars 6p · 547 weeks ago

LOVE FANGIRL! I would say Stephanie Perkins's novels are character driven stories. I love how the characters first have to understand themselves before they find a love interest.

<3

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

YES I do have Anna and the French Kiss on my shelf! It just arrived two days ago!!

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Sunny Smith · 547 weeks ago

For sure, Fangirl and The Raven Boys! I feel in love with all of those characters.

I REALLY NEED TO READ CODE NAME VERITY!!!!!! I keep seeing it on all the book blogs! It's next on my to-read list, especially since it's character driven :)

1 reply · active 547 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 547 weeks ago

WHY HAVE YOU NOT READ CODE NAME VERITY, SUNNY? WHY WHY WHY. You really need to read it. It is character driven and so amazingly done, but fair warning there's a lot of info about planes

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pabkins 66p · 546 weeks ago

Heck yes to The Raven Boys and The Way of Kings - I was just blown away by WoK and how amazing his characters are (course I'm such a huge fan of all of his books but he still never ceases to amaze me.

1 reply · active 546 weeks ago

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vlangloisx3 116p · 546 weeks ago

I know! I would definitely read anything by him, because he is just so good at developing his stories and world building and gah

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