#he is. the only fiction podcast protagonist i truly care about. sorry not sorry

[thermodynamic-comedian]

the crazy thing is that malevolent really seems like it's gonna be one of those "there's nothing actually special about this guy, he just has very bad luck." stories but no. there IS something special about that guy. there's a REASON this is happening to him. this story could NOT have happened to anyone else the way it did to him. somehow, for some reason, arthur lester is special. and even more absurdly, this specific version of arthur lester is special. that's insane.

so much of the horror genre is all about how these things could happen to anyone, but malevolent wants you to explicitly know that arthur lester is important. arthur lester is the reason this story is happening. arthur lester is different, in some strange way that even he doesn't fully understand.

and that's what makes him the main character, not just the protagonist.

[musingsfromthetardis]

Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt

I came across scavenger hunts where you are given a prompt to find certain books on your bookshelf and thought I’d give it a go!

1: Author’s name or title of book that has a Z in it

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book that inspired the ever-so-famous 1939 Wizard of Oz film! A Barnes and Noble special leather bound edition. 

2: A classic

Does it get more classic literature than Lord of the Rings? Well okay, that’s up to debate and ultimately personal opinion. It took me a very long time to finish this but I did, and have the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy just waiting for me to start reading now.

3: A book with a key on the cover

I had to improvise for this one. IT’S A BOOK WITH A KEY ON IT is it not?? I’ve read Alice in Wonderland, but not all the other Lewis Carroll works that are also included in this beautiful Barnes and Noble leather bound volume. It includes Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, and a bunch of other stuff too, and also includes the original illustrations. 

4: Something on your bookshelf that’s not a book

I have many knick knacks on my bookshelf, from rocks to trinkets to snow globes- this is just a small sampling.

5: Find the oldest book on your bookshelf

I decided to take this prompt as the physically oldest book on my shelf, which happens to be Eleni by Nicholas Gage, from the 80′s so it’s around 30 years old. It is about a true story that took place in Greece during WWII, of a mother named Eleni who defies tradition and communist occupiers in order to save her children. It’s about WWII, so as you can imagine, people die. Now, though I’ve looked into the story a little, I have not actually read this book but do hope to get to it sometime.

6: A book with a girl on the cover

This was one of the first “big” (I now laugh at how I thought it was “big” back then) books I ever read, back in 7th grade. I absolutely loved it and went crazy with this fandom. This series became such a special part of my adolescent years in late Middle school and early High School. I quickly devoured the sequel, Pretties, and the finale to the original trilogy, Specials, and was thrilled when a surprise fourth book, Extras, was announced, and acquired it as soon as it was released. I own every special extra book released involving this series, from Mind-Rain (a collection of essays about Uglies), to the graphic novels showing Shay’s perspective of events, to From Bogus to Bubbly: An insider’s guide to the world of Uglies. While the Uglies fandom was biggest during the 2008-2009 time period and has now slowed, and all those podcasts and websites and blogs have ended, I remain a fan of this series and Scott Westerfeld. I’ve read his other books and series as well, including the Leviathan trilogy (You’ll see that later), Midnighters, and Afterworlds.

7: A book with a boy on the cover

While I’ve watched every Harry Potter movie in theaters since the very beginning with Sorcerer’s Stone, my Harry Potter journey properly began with reading Order of the Phoenix in 2006. I quickly read Half-Blood Prince and waited for the release of Deathly Hallows, the only book release I got a chance to be excited over (until Cursed Child- now that’s a whole ‘nuther conversation). By senior year of High School I finally went back and read all of the Harry Potter books. Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favorites.

I was sorted into Hufflepuff and am a proud Badger. ‘Puff Pride, Go Badgers!!

8. A book that has an animal in it

I’ve always been a cat-lover, and was crazy for these in middle school. I quit reading them after a while because THEY WON’T END. I mean I loved it and all but after 3 series of 6 books each I just sort of fell off it, AND IT’S STILL GOING. Plus it’s a middle grade series and, well, I kinda grew up, you know? I may come back and see if I can catch up sometime, because these books were such a beloved set of stories for me and I will never forget the joy and feels they gave me. Firestar reminds me of my old cat Cinnamon. He’s in StarClan now.

9. A book with a male protagonist

Now, there are the Ancient Greek Epics, and then there’s THIS masterpiece. Of all (modern) ‘youth’ books out there, there will never be something quite like this amazing series (note I’m not counting Harry Potter as youth). It is purely this series that got me into Greek mythology, where before I hated it and had zero care for it. I’ve done quite the 180 since. PJ and the Olympians, here’s to you for all the feels, mythology lessons, and overall theme of acceptance. No matter the time that passes, this has not lost it’s charm in any way and is just as enjoyable as an adult. P.S. WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE ‘MOVIE’. EVER. THAT DOESN’T EXIST. MOVING ON. p.p.s. I’ve had the honor of meeting Rick Riordan AKA “Uncle Rick” (briefly) at an event and he signed it. 

10. A book with only words on the cover

Best I could manage for this prompt. This was the first non-YA non-children’s book I ever read and it was super crazy and cool and really good. I read it for AP Dual Credit English class my senior year of HS. I hardly even remember it now though, except the big impression it gave me.

11. A book with illustrations in it

NARNIA! Got this set of illustrated The Chronicles of Narnia for Christmas 2005.

Color illustrations! 

12. A book with gold lettering

Wickedly gold lettering. 

13. Find a diary (real or fiction)

Cicely Mary Barker and her Flower Fairies were a big part of my childhood; especially this journal/diary. It made me truly believe in fairies as a kid, and I wouldn’t change the joy and enchantment this gave me for the world.

ENCORE! SPECIAL BONUS ROUND:

Spoilers, Sweetie.

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I couldn’t resist because I’m a terrible show-off. Actually no, I’m not sorry at all. 

14. A book written by someone with a very common name

Smith is pretty darn common. 

This is a vestige of my teenage vampire phase. Thank goodness it was a phase. In all honesty though this is actually a good classic 80′s horror series that really scared me as a high schooler. It was great, I had to avoid reading it at night and everything!

15. A book with a close-up of something on the cover

Ah, the return of Scott Westerfeld! A close-up of a tear drop, there you go.

16. The book that takes place in the earliest time period

Scott Westerfeld does it again! For this prompt I discounted stories that are complete fantasy with no base in reality. Leviathan is an alternate steampunk version of WWI, so takes place in the 1910′s.

17. A hardcover without a dust jacket

My old beat-up and stained Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. So many memories.

18. A teal/turquoise colored book

‘bout as good as I could do without repeating books used for previous prompts. A very good and super entertaining horror/dystopia/scifi/fantasy series. This is one of the last few books in it.

19. A book with stars on the cover

An intriguing and indeed intense scifi/romance story.

20. A non-YA (Young Adult) book

THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZING. The rock you see is from the Santorini volcano, by the way, and features neat sulfur crystals.

21. The longest book 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the very first Harry Potter book I ever read. Ah, the memories... It also happens to be the largest single book I have on my bookshelf at this time. 

22. The shortest book

Quidditch Through the Ages is the shortest book I have on my bookshelf. Harry Potter takes both the largest and smallest prize! 

23. A book with multiple POV’s

Rick Riordan makes an epic comeback with the second series of books set in the Percy Jackson universe of Greek Gods. There are several different points of views the book is written in.

And yes, it’s signed too. 

24. A shiny book

SO. SHINY. IT’S BLINDING. 

ENCORE:

So beautiful. Another Barnes & Nobles leather-bound edition. 

25. A book with flowers on the cover

The Fairy Necklaces, by Cicely Mary Barker. The creator of Flower Fairies, Cicely Mary Barker wrote many books about fairies, including this one about a girl who is gifted a bunch of necklaces by the fairies. They are a beloved part of my childhood, as I’ve already said. 

Well there you go, my scavenger hunt through my bookshelf is complete!