Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
We’d love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and leave a link — or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the comments.
This Week’s Topic:
What was the best book you read in September?
I have three choices:
1. I used to always want a book from Peter Wiggins’ (ENDER’S GAME) point of view. And then Orson Scott Card granted my wish! I haven’t read them yet, but they’re on my TBR pile (now to go edit my post from yesterday…). Peter is such a fascinating, complex character. I can’t wait to dive into his brain. EDIT: Those books are actually all from Bean’s POV. I read the first (ENDER’S SHADOW) and I knew there were more, but I got the weird idea somewhere that there were books from Peter’s POV. Turns out, no dice. So YEAH, I want to see those books exist now!
2. Neville Longbottom (HARRY POTTER, but you knew that) When we learned that the Prophecy could’ve applied to either Harry or Neville, I knew Rowling was going to find a way to give Neville an awesome role. And he killed that freaking Nagini! He is one bad dude! I love Neville. Having him kill the snake also developed his character more, which just shows what a genius Rowling is. Every character had a development arc! Anyhow, I’d love to read NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM AND THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET or something like that. ^_^
3. Finnick Odair (HUNGER GAMES trilogy) Another awesome dude! At first you think he’s shallow, and then you learn about his soft side with Annie, and then (SPOILER ALERT!!!) when he dies, I cried my eyes out. It was a beautiful moment. I would buy a book about him in a heartbeat. His life sounds so fascinating, with the trident, winning his Hunger Games, becoming the belle of the Capitol …. So, Suzanne, I know you’re reading this. Please? Pretty please???
What side characters do you think deserve their own spotlight?
Kristina Atkins 
I’m definitely on Team Neville! Would love to hear more from him!!!
– http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
I’m glad I’m not alone! Thanks for dropping by!
Oooo…Finnick! Yes!
He’s quite awesome, isn’t he?
Smee in Peter Pan. Always thought that man had a really interesting story to tell.
Interesting choice! It would be cool to know where he came from.
I’m with you on Finnick…and of course my mad fangirl crush on Neville is documented on my blog (not in a scary cougar-y way. Really). Good choices!
Your comment is officially the funniest today. I literally laughed out loud. ^_^
“NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM AND THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET ” <– Brilliant.
It must be done. :D
FINNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK.
*weeps in a corner*
It’s almost been a year since I read Mockingjay, and I still want to strangle Katniss, Gale, and everyone else who climbed out of that sewer first.
Chessie’s #1 rule of the Hunger Games universe: ALWAYS GO BACK FOR FINNICK ODAIR.
So yes, I’d love to read a book about him. About all of your choices, actually. I never thought about it, but Peter Wiggin would be an AWESOME character to read a book about.
That is the best rule of ever. Why couldn’t have someone else died? (Is that sentence grammatically correct?) Like one of the camera guys. One of them ultimately lived, right? Boo on that dude.
Gosh – there are SO many characters from HP and Hunger Games that I’d love to see in their own stories! Guess that’s why those books are super awesome!
Great choices!
I think that’s the mark of a great book: not just the leading chars are great, but ALL of them are! That’s what I’ve gathered from this week’s Highway.
Neville needs his own story! I’d actually really like to read something from Lupin’s POV when his generation was all at Hogwarts, too.
And gah, I need to read more Ender books. I’ve heard they can be kind of hit-or-miss after the first two, but I’m not sure if that’s due to the books themselves or if I’ve just encountered reviewers who couldn’t separate their opinions of the books from their opinions of the author. (Of course, since I haven’t read them yet, I don’t know how obviously his opinions are presented in the books…) What was your take on them?
I’ve only read ENDER’S GAME and ENDER’S SHADOW. I’ve heard polarizing reviews of the rest of Ender’s Saga too (but only good things about the Bean Quartet). All from people of different political and moral views, with no real patterns. I’ve decided that next year I’ll finally read SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD. If I’m happy with it, then I’ll move on to the next, and so forth.
I loved ENDER’S SHADOW, and of course, ENDER’S GAME is my most favorite book of all time.
Lupin is a great choice too! Their question a few weeks ago was what literary adult would you like to have their own ya book? I decided on Sirius. That whole group of guys are awesome.
I love all three of your choices, and thanks for calling my attention to a fellow Ender fan. :-D It’s amazing how Peter evolved from just the jealous, sadistic brother to someone who was layered and, if not exactly sympathetic, at least understandable and compelling…and that’s just in the first book! I hope you enjoy the rest of the Enderverse as much as I did.
When I was in middle school, the first time I read ENDER’S GAME, I didn’t love the Locke and Demosthenes part. Now, they’re some of my favorite chapters for their characterization of Peter (and dear Valentine too) alone. Genius.
You’re right about Finnick. I think he works because he’s so complex. You start off not liking him and he grows on you. I’d like to see Phoebe from Catcher in The Rye have her own book. Also Fudge from Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing.
Oooo, those are very interesting, unconventional (for the YA Highway group, at least!) choices. Phoebe would make an awesome protagonist.