I haven’t posted a Top 5 Tuesday since FEBRUARY of 2019!
I’m seriously shocked!
Man, I was seriously out of it last year. I needed to be restarted or something, because I really slacked off. I’m afraid to utter the phrase of doom (‘I’m back’), but 2020 already feels so good. I feel so good I’m ready to jump right back with all of you.
I’m looking forward to my first five star read in the new decade, and in order to find said book these are the top 5 things I’ll be on the lookout for:
Top 5 Tuesday was started by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm!
It’s all about the Characters!
I’ve always advertised myself as a character driven reader. I maintain that a plotless book can be made spectacular as long as I fall in love with the characters. It’s definitely true, because some of my favorite books are beloved simply for character building.
Following that, it’s also about the Relationships?
You can have all the well written characters you want, but if there aren’t any good relationships to bounce those characters off of everything falls flat. There has to be some type of emotion in the story, and the best emotion comes from the main characters connections with the people closest to them.
Serious FEELS!
Annnnd, those characters and relationships need to make me feel. I want to laugh with them, cry with them… I want to rage with them. I want to feel every single thing they feel as though I’m sharing their life. Emotion will get me every. single. time.
Give me an author with a BIG imagination!
Changing topics, I love when a book tells me a story unlike anything I’ve ever read before. If an author can make me say, “Holy Crap, how did he/she think of that?!”, they’re likely to get more points/stars. Ultimately we all want to go on a journey, right? And a trip to the Grand Canyon is fun, and I wouldn’t shake a stick at it, but I’d much rather go on a trip to an alternate dimension anytime.
Perfect Plot Pacing!
And finally, no matter how good the characters are, or their relationships; essentially nothing will matter if the book is too slow or too rushed. Everything needs to unfold in a way that’s organic. Nothing pulls me out of a story that throws things at me too fast, or even worse, if it’s so slow I struggle staying awake.
Birdie’s books with ALL five 5 Star traits!
Birdie Bookworm 
Welcome back! I know how you feel about last year. It wasn’t a good year for me. I feel like I was on auto pilot. I’m SOOOO glad things are going well for you so far this year 🙂
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I completely understand about auto pilot. 2019 was a hard year, I think for lots of people. Things are going well so far, but it’s only January, haha. Let’s hope it stays that way!
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Lol I’m always optimistic in January. It’s a fresh new year. The test is in time. By March things might change. Let’s hope for both of us it’s our best year yet!
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Great reasons for how you rate!
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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I agree with the characters and the feels! Now of course an amazing imagination is a huge bonus!
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Characters and Feels do pretty much go hand in hand, right!
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[…] Punk Theory ——— The Secret Library ——— Realms Of My Mind Birdie Bookworm ——— Rae’s Reads and Reviews ——— Comfort Reads A […]
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I’m back from a long break too!! *High fives* And I love this list! Completely agree with everything you said, especially about characters and relationships. So true!
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I think Characters and Relationships are the two sure fire ways to get 5 stars from me! 😀
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I love when authors have big imaginations and leave me saying, “I wish I’d thought of that!” in terms of concept or characters.
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Heck yes! That’s why Neal Shusterman is one of my favs. He’s the best at it, I think.
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What a powerful list! I completely agree with ALL of these! Characters and relationships being my top 2 as well. Six of Crows and The Raven Cycle meet that for me. Also, Becky Chambers A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet. Have you read that? It’s Sci-Fi, but misfits instead of Power Team. Perhaps you’d like that book?
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I’ve never heard of that book, but it sounds really good! I’m going to go check that out, thanks!
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