Allison: Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

Fantasy
I love fantasy books. Things that would seem out of the ordinary in present-day society but are completely normal within the world of the book. I love all the world building that is usually involved, and the different characters, and usually everything involved in a fantasy novel.

Friendship
I’m one of those people who really likes reading about friendships. There are so many different friendships out there, and I love reading about the evolutions of them. Be it a group of friends or just two people, I usually enjoy reading about the tides and tribulations of friendship.

Mental Illness
With my background in psychology, I love finding a new book that has a character with some form of mental illness. Of course, I also have to admit to being a bit critical of them if I feel that they are not done properly. I don’t like to see something as serious as mental illness being mis-represented.

Time Travel
It doesn’t matter the decade, the time, the location, if there is time travel involved, I will usually be very willing to read it. I love being transported back in time to different eras, and imagining what it would be like to live there. This is especially true if it is very obvious that the book has been researched, and reviewed very carefully.

Love/Hate Relationship
Even as cliché as it can be, I adore a good love/hate relationship in books. I love watching it evolve, and change, and of course, I’m always a fan of the kissing that is usually involved in certain love/hate relationship books.

Foreign Locations
I’ve said it before, I’ve always wanted to travel but since I don’t have the means to do that I love imagining it through books. You can have so much fun when you travel in a book!

Find Ones-Self
I really look books of self discovery, where a character learns something about themselves, and becomes a changed person because of it. I especially enjoy books like this when it strengthens the character instead of weakening them.

Strong Female Characters
Girls and women who can kick ass and take care of themselves? L-O-V-E THEM!

Titanic
If a book references the Titanic in anyway, I will usually pick it up and check it out (like many of you didn’t see this one coming). There have been some not so good ones along the way but usually I enjoy anything involving the Titanic.

Jennifer Donnelly
If Jennifer Donnelly is the author, you know I will be reading it. She has yet to disappoint me, and I’m always looking forward to whatever she will coming out with next. If you haven’t read her before, check her out. So worth your time!

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So, what are some of the words/topics that make you want to buy or pick up a book?

Let me know in the comments and be sure to drop me a link to your top ten list!

As always Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

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Allison is 27 years old. She is always looking for new books, good music, quality/epic adventures, and a normal sleep schedule. She currently works with the elderly.

Comments

  1. Friendship and mental illness are on my list too! I love reading about best friends and the dynamics within a friendship because they really vary from person to person. Mental illness is a favorite because I’m a psych major and I love when greater awareness is brought to the topic.

  2. so on board with mental illness and all things titanic!

  3. I love anything fantasy as well. The world-building is always my favourite, and I love it when they add in a political element as well (ahem, Game of Thrones).

  4. LOVE a well developed and complex fantasy world, I also love a mental health book as well (my husband works in an acute psych ward and all sorts of crazy things happen). Foreign locations and Strong Females are also favorites. Actually, I love all of your picks. Great TTT.

  5. Strong female characters! I totally agree with that one, and time travel 🙂

    Fabulous top ten!

  6. Big fan of fantasy novels too, Allison, for all the things you mentioned and more – oh and don’t forget the wonderful maps! So much fun, those maps. 😀

    Big yes to strong female characters, and mental illness – have you read Above by Leah Bobet? It’s YA Fantasy (or urban fantasy, as it’s set in our world – Toronto to be exact) and mental illness plays an important role in it.

    Should I admit I’ve never read anything by Jennifer Donnelly? Which book of hers would you recommend a newbie read first?

  7. I love books about friendships, too. Also strong female characters and time travel. Great list!
    Here’s my TTT

  8. Definitely with you on foreign locations! Love those!

  9. It’s amazing how many of us love time travel books – we need to start a time travel book club or something! I like the “magical realism” end of the spectrum of fantasy for the very reason you state – where out-of-the-ordinary things seems perfectly normal; I love that in a book!

  10. I agree; books on fantasy are the best! They are so unique and unlike our world at times, and it’s a great escape from everyday life!

  11. I absolutely, completely agree with your picks of fantasy and friendship! I’m always a sucker for fantasy books; just even HINT that it is a fantasy novel, and I will totally feel compelled to check it out. And friendships are awesome (and usually come part and parcel in most fantasy novels – ha!). They’re a fun relationship to read about.

    I also love the foreign locations and find one’s self choices, because I’m starting to develop a strong, strong love for books that feature these two things, particularly in contemporary. Best example at the moment? Just One Day.

  12. Great list, Allison! I agree with SO MANY of these, especially the fantasy and the friendships and TITANIC! Such a great must-read!