This is a new feature I joined called Goodreads’ Top 5 Wednesdays, a weekly book group about our top five favorite things in the middle of the week.
December 27th: 2018 Wishlist
–Looking forward into the new year, this is a list of the types of books you’d like to see more of in 2018! Try to avoid actual titles, and discuss themes, genres, or tropes you’d like to see more of in the new year!
5. Close Friendships between female characters – I’d like to see more closer friendships between female characters. I know we have more sisterly bonds in YA now, but they’re either hidden in the background or talked about off-the-page. I’d like to see more Girl Love in books so this ongoing girl-on-girl hate can stop!
4. Normal Day-to-Day Routines in Contemporaries – We usually see time-jumps between the beginning, middle and the end of a story. But we never catch those off-days with characters, like what characters do on a daily basis. Where do they go hang out? What do they do around the house? Do they play video games? Do they read? Watch YouTube videos? What is their daily routine like, and how can we use those to relate to readers and the general public? I’d like to see more of that.
3. Self-Awareness between characters – I don’t know if this is still a thing, but a few years ago, there was this sea of characters not recognizing their self-worth, or not realizing how self-aware they are. Especially if they were with someone who they thought could be another love interest, while they had a significant other. If they had just been more self-aware of their feelings and actions, then less unnecessary drama could happen, and we could get to the main plot. More self-actualized characters are necessary, 2018!!
2. Less quick-fix endings – Another trope I’d like to not see is some of these quick-fix endings, where the battle happens and it just ends quickly, like in the last 20-30% of the book. Authors should take at least that last chunk of their book and continue the ending as if there is another book coming.
1. Realistic Character Deaths – Another battle-related trope I’d like to see based on character deaths. I’m kinda sick of seeing beloved characters die, then miraculously come back to life, regardless of the culture or environment. It makes the story more real and authentic, more of a story besides killing them off and reviving them in the next chapter. People die! Especially in wars, battles, fights, anything. Having them come back to life in 2017 is a cop-out.
This prompt was actually pretty difficult to think about. I had to really sit and think about all that I’d read this year, and the themes I’d like to see more of. I hope my answers made sense!
Which bookish themes are on your 2018 Wishlist? Leave comments below!
