50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @The Butterfly Reads and I and focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!
Today's Topic: Lightest/Darkest Book (atmosphere)
Lightest:
Goodreads Blurb:
"She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom…
NEWS FLASH: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)
DOWNER: Dad can't have any more kids. (So there's no heir to the throne.)
SHOCK OF THE CENTURY: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.
THE WORST PART: Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmère, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.
Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal–blue in the face about her princessly duty—no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind.
But what's a girl to do when her name is PRINCESS AMELIA MIGNONETTE GRIMALDI THERMOPOLIS RENALDO?"
NEWS FLASH: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)
DOWNER: Dad can't have any more kids. (So there's no heir to the throne.)
SHOCK OF THE CENTURY: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.
THE WORST PART: Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmère, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.
Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal–blue in the face about her princessly duty—no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind.
But what's a girl to do when her name is PRINCESS AMELIA MIGNONETTE GRIMALDI THERMOPOLIS RENALDO?"
This is honestly one of the lightest books (and series) that I've ever read. Contemporaries in general are made of fluff but this series in particular is just so fun! It draws you in and makes you laugh and forget about all your worries. Such a good book if you're feeling very meh or have just finished a heavy book and need to lighten yourself back up.
Darkest:
I actually have two for this as I couldn't decide between them! (Also, I have no idea why I'm still using green and red for the font color. If anything, I should be doing black and white but then the white would be invisible so perhaps that isn't the best plan)
Goodreads Blurb:
"Throughout her career, Margaret Atwood has played with different literary genres in her novels--historical fiction (Alias Grace), pulp fiction (The Blind Assassin), the comedy of manners (The Robber Bride)--but no foray into genre fiction has been as successful as her turn to speculative fiction in The Handmaid's Tale. Published in 1985, it echoes Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World, but a vibrant feminism drives Atwood's portrait of a futuristic dystopia. In the Republic of Gilead, we see a world devastated by toxic chemicals and nuclear fallout and dominated by a repressive Christian fundamentalism. The birthrate has plunged, and most women can no longer bear children. Offred is one of Gilead's Handmaids, who as official breeders are among the chosen few who can still become pregnant.The Handmaid's Tale is an imaginatively audacious novel that is at once a page-turning psychological thriller, a moving love story, and a chilling warning about what might be waiting for us around the corner. What ultimately makes it stand out is Atwood's ability to balance a passionate political statement with finely wrought literary fiction. The Handmaid's Tale is a remarkable work by one of Canada's most inventive writers. --Jeffrey Canton"
This book is so chilling. Generally speaking, dystopia's aren't the cheeriest of books but the way this is written (in the POV of the lowliest person of society who used to be 'normal') really demonstrates the ability for a society to descend into a democracy-free world. It was quite scary to read, but also, it was incredibly interesting and if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Goodreads Blurb:
"I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt."
I feel like this book (and series in general) is kind of a cop out but I couldn't not mention it! It's honestly one of the darkest books I've read. The POV is from Adelina's perspective and she's undergone tremendous stress and it's twisted her mind (and her powers) into something dark and arguably, evil. She tries to work through what suppressing her powers has turned her into and this leads the reader down a dark path into her thoughts. This is such a good book as well, though, and I highly recommend it!
What books do you think have the lightest and darkest atmospheres? Do you agree with my picks? Make a post and link up down below!
Next Week's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Book in the ____ genre (your choice)
This book is so chilling. Generally speaking, dystopia's aren't the cheeriest of books but the way this is written (in the POV of the lowliest person of society who used to be 'normal') really demonstrates the ability for a society to descend into a democracy-free world. It was quite scary to read, but also, it was incredibly interesting and if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.
Goodreads Blurb:
"I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt."
I feel like this book (and series in general) is kind of a cop out but I couldn't not mention it! It's honestly one of the darkest books I've read. The POV is from Adelina's perspective and she's undergone tremendous stress and it's twisted her mind (and her powers) into something dark and arguably, evil. She tries to work through what suppressing her powers has turned her into and this leads the reader down a dark path into her thoughts. This is such a good book as well, though, and I highly recommend it!
What books do you think have the lightest and darkest atmospheres? Do you agree with my picks? Make a post and link up down below!
Next Week's Topic: Favorite/Least Favorite Book in the ____ genre (your choice)
I've only read The Handmaids Tale. I agree that it's a dark read.
ReplyDeleteFor sure. At first, it felt so real and I second guessed myself that it actually happened. It's so creepy to read but great at the same time.
DeleteThe Handmaid's Tale was super dark. The idea that society could just change for the worse like that really chilled me! It was a great book though.
ReplyDeleteFor sure! I had the exact same thoughts. While it was so, so creepy, it was also pretty relevant (in an abstract hypothetical sort of way).
DeleteThe Young Elites is such a dark book! That is spot on! I've not read The Handmaid's Tale but it's on my radar after I heard it's being turned into a TV series.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I remember that's one of the things I love most about it though. The MC isn't likable at all and she's struggling so much with her inner demons. Yeah, I can't wait to see the TV series! The book itself isn't big on setting descriptors so I'm really excited to see their interpretation of the world.
DeleteIf there's one book I regret not reading as a teen it's the Princess Diaries. I haven't read it yet, but I loved the movies so much I'm sure it wouldn't disappoint me. Also, I agree with you on the Handmaid's Tale being one of the darkest books I've ever read- I can't think of another dark one right this minute, so I guess that would be my choice too.
ReplyDeleteAs for lightest, I think I'd choose Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe. I think it involved a murder mystery, but it was more about a group of friends getting into bizarre situations.
~Litha Nelle
Haha I regretted it as well which was why I started reading the series a year ago (and haven't finished yet but that's neither here nor there...)! I also enjoyed the movies which was part of the reason I wanted to read the books.
DeleteIt is :) It's such a great book and contains great social commentary though.
Ooo I haven't heard of that book yet but it sounds right up my ally! I'll have to look it up!