First up, Follow Friday, hosted by Allison Can Read and Parajunkee.
Q. Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one?
I know, I know, I need to stop talking about Dystopian Societies sooner or later, but this question is just too perfect to pass up! I love stories like 1984 and Brave New World; the older dystopians. In those, the negative/ evil/ bad society often wins, and quite frankly that's how I think it should be (more often than not.) When it comes to modern, teen dystopians, it seems like in the end the dystopian part of society is always crushed, no matter how little the protagonist/ their band of merry rebels does. Not every rebellion is met with change, and it takes a lot more to fall a corrupt government than a lot of current books would have us believe (but Libya knows all too well.)
EDIT: Okay, a little attachment because I didn't feel that my earlier answer was clear enough. I don't root for villains because I like evil deeds, or smile when people are hurt. I like to see villains succeed, at least sometimes, because I think it makes a story more realistic. Good doesn't always come out on top in real life, so why should it in books? I think books need to have at least a realistic element to be relatable and believable.
EDIT: Okay, a little attachment because I didn't feel that my earlier answer was clear enough. I don't root for villains because I like evil deeds, or smile when people are hurt. I like to see villains succeed, at least sometimes, because I think it makes a story more realistic. Good doesn't always come out on top in real life, so why should it in books? I think books need to have at least a realistic element to be relatable and believable.
And now onto this week's Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Crazy for books.
“Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”
I've wanted to dabble in fantasy for a while, and it's been a while since I had. No, I probably wouldn't give up reading, I'm sure that I'd find something to read. After all, I always have whatever that "others sprinkled in" constitutes, right? :)
See you next Friday!
I love dystopians myself! New follower here. ^_^ Here's my Follow Friday.
ReplyDeleteInteresting answers. I also would continue to read if my favorite genre disappeared. Hope you have a nice weekend after school gets out.
ReplyDeletehttp://gamilareview.blogspot.com
I'm visiting via FF and this weeks question was a toughie. It took me forever to come up with something. I'm your newest follower and would love for you to visit me when you get a chance.
ReplyDeletehttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/2011/09/follow-friday_08.html
I wouldn't give up reading either. As for villains who should win...I couldn't think of any. :/
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday - I'm a new follower!
Amber
The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Great answer! Well thought out!
ReplyDeleteMy Follow Friday!
Hi and Happy Friday! A great answer..
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower.
My FF, http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/follow-friday-9th-september.html
Have a great weekend!
Great answer! Didn't event hink abt that.
ReplyDeleteNEW follower. Happy Friday!
My FF: Book that Thing!
Stop by...a giveaway still open for entries ;-)
Hello!
ReplyDeleteKudos on pointing out the dystopian factor: it's not a genre I enjoy very much, but these days it seems any teen with two braincells can throw a regime down! I like it when books are realistic in that way, and the one who wins is the one who would have won in "truth", be it the hero or villain.
New follower, by the way!
Ron @ Stories of my life
I adore Dystopian societies, and I can't agree more that they *should* be the winners...
ReplyDeleteI do like happy endings. I don't think I would root for a villain, but I understand where you are coming from.
ReplyDeleteWe love when character stick it to the Man though!
ReplyDeleteHere's our FF
I recently got Brave New World so now I'm interested to see how it'll play out. I think dystopians are ones where the villain winning isn't so out of the question, though I'm a sucker for happy endings :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
My FF
Please don’t be shocked but this week I’ve got a straightforward, cut and dried answer to this week’s question... for a change!
ReplyDeleteRoot for villains? No way, no how. Why am I being so narrow minded? Follow me back to my blog and find out why – http://www.howardsherman.net
Thank God it’s Follow Friday!
Howard A. Sherman, Implementor
Get Inside a Story
http://www.inthestory.com
i'm loving dystopian more and more these days!
ReplyDeleteTrish - My Friday Memes
New follower here hopping through!
ReplyDeleteI love dystopians and Brave New World is one of my favorites...I even made Soma shaped cookies to go along with a Brave New World project in one of my lit classes in college. I agree that there needs to be a more realist approach in dystopians, like those of classic dystopian novels.
You have a lovely blog.
Here are my Hop and FF
This is a good answer - one of the best I've seen. You're right, in real life sometimes the people you don't want to triumph, do. If books are to be realistic, then they need to show that once in a while.
ReplyDeleteNew follower! Cool to meet you!
I definitely agree with you on the older dystopians with the exception of McCammon's Swan Song. There was something completely awesome about the hope at the end of that one.
ReplyDeleteI'd never stop reading. No matter what. I live for stories.
ReplyDeleteHere's my post:I've Never Met a Genre I Didn't Like. I'd also invite you to sign up for the contest to win a $25 Amazon giftcard this month at my blog.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHopping by for the blog hop. I can always find new genres, my answer is here. I'm a new follower as well. I look forward to reading more of your blog!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that not all books must have super happy endings, 1984's ending completely devastated me and I loved that book for it.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted Wile E. Coyote to win!
New Follower hopping through.
http://booksforone.blogspot.com/