Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist

Hi, Readers!

     Have you ever started reading a book and found out that it was nothing like you'd expected it to be?  Well, this actually just happened to me with the last book that I read, Crap Kingdom, by D.C. Pierson.  I was utterly disappointed at how, well, "crappy" it was. After this horrible reading experience,The Broke and The Bookish Blog's Top Ten Tuesday meme was perfect for me: the Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist.  Here is a list of ten things that I would like to see in the future books that I read, complete with a number of pictures and gifs.

Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist:

1. Dystopian setting
The post-apocalyptic and the utopian-gone-wrong settings are my absolute favorites because they make me consider the impossible.  These settings can be found in some of my favorite books, from Rot and Ruin to The Testing to the cliche favorites, The Hunger Games and Divergent.  I especially enjoyed the dystopian setting in Shatter Me, although Juliette is locked up in a cell for most of the book.

The Capitol from The Hunger Games

2. Strong female lead
Give me more characters like Katniss (pre-Mockingjay-breakdown, of course) and Tris Prior.  These awesome girls have empowered millions of teen readers around the country and have proven that females are just as strong as males.  They don't need any help from men to defeat the bad guys.  Keep it up, ladies.

3. Realistic romance
Let's get one thing clear - I am not Team Jacob, nor am I Team Edward.  They are both dumb.  Why are more literary characters (*cough* Bella Swan) spending their time daydreaming about romance when they can actually make a difference in their literary worlds? Ugh.

4. Fantasy and magic
Throwing in some magical spells and dragons into a novel can never hurt.
Well, unless it's realistic fiction.

5. Futuristic technology
I absolutely fell in love with the duel-worlds of real life versus RPG life in Conor Kostick's Epic.  When authors consider how modern day technology will evolve in the future, the novel usually turns out to be good.  However, please note that I cannot stand references to current technology, such as iPhones.  Apple already gets enough advertisement.

Technology in Epic

6. An average athlete
Sure, coming-of-age novels involving athletes usually have the star player learning a life lesson.  However, I wish there were more novels about realistic, middle-of-the-road athletes navigating the confusing worlds of recruiting and high school sports.

7. Humor and wit
Characters with a bit of sass and spunk are instantly more entertaining.  There's nothing wrong with cracking a few jokes along a difficult and life-changing journey.  A.K.A. We need more people like Percy Jackson and Mia Thermopolis.

8. Normal character names
Katniss?  Four?  What ever happened to Bob and Sally and other all-American names?  Well, that may be taking it a little too far.  But when every single character name is incomprehensible, I sometimes wish that they were a smidge more ordinary.

9. Book to movie potential
A lot of people say that the book is always better than the movie, and I completely agree with that statement.  However, I still enjoy watching my favorite novels come to life on screen, even if the producers' interpretations of novels are different than my own.

10. Serious controversy
When I read a book, I want to be able to take a side on the book's issue.  No more petty high school drama for me (Yes, I'm talkin' to you, A Match Made in High School), I want serious business.  Bring on the adventure and the excitement, because I don't think I can stand to read one more silly high school romance novel.

Here's to hoping that you, my reader, are an author who will craft a book especially for me with all ten of these ideas on my wishlist.  However, if you're not an author, please comment with any book suggestions that you may have and make sure to link up your TTT lists as well.

Happy reading!