Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. 

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Words/Topics that Instantly Make Me Read (or Buy) a Book:

1. Dystopian - I think there must be something wrong with me because if a book is labeled as a dystopian novel, and there's something broken about a world within the pages, I simply MUST read it. Like, yesterday. 

2. Science Fiction - Hah. While much of the young adult genre was swept up in the notion of paranormal romance, the ideas of cyborgs and technology-advanced societies have been running rampant through my brain. I think I'm destined to write a sci-fi novel someday.

3. Realistic - This is a huge bone of contention with me because, while I've found a soft spot for contemporary fiction these days, I feel like it often deviates too far from reality. Tell me it's actually realistic, and you've got me, hook, line and sinker. (Just don't let me down.)

4. Michelle Hodkin - I'm a fangirl. Sue me. Add her name to a cover, or mention her in a tweet, and I'm there. Colour me nuts.

5. Animals - Seriously, animals and the environment are some of my biggest passions in the world. I love the idea of making a difference on a small or minute level, but that it can carry over into something bigger. Give me a book with an animal best friend, or a journey to save the animal or environment, and it's solid gold.

6. Harry Potter - Let's be honest. Do I really have to explain this one? I think not. You're welcome. 

7. Humour - I like sass. And snark. I like sassy snark...and I really like characters with an attitude. Give me a character that breaks the norm and defies the odds while maintaining a high level of these traits, and I'll likely want to be their best friend. Forever.
 
8. Time Travel - I think this one has to do with my penchant for one of my all-time favourite books, Time Windows. There's something so innately cool about the idea of traveling to long lost worlds or those that have yet to come to pass.

9. Horror - Like I said before. There's something wrong with me. I'm ok with it.

10. Overseas - I don't think I've read enough books set overseas. This is a big one for me lately. I really want new and exciting destinations within the pages of my books.

Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Question: Cliffhangers - love them or hate them?

I'm often on the fence about this one, kiddos. On some blogs, you'll probably find me saying I simply loathe them. That's true. Then, on other blogs, you might find me saying I just love them. I'm ashamed to say that's also true. I have my reasons though, and I certainly think they're justified because, hey, when a cliffhanger is done right, it leaves me loving a book even more and, heck! It probably has me completely invested in the series, too!

I think there's a divide between good and bad cliffhangers though, and I reserve the right to judge them on a case by case basis. A good cliffhanger has me thinking about the book long after I close the last page. I'll probably scour that ending for some hidden direction multiple times, too, just hinting at what's next. That, in a nutshell, is what a good cliffhanger should make me do. Bad cliffhangers, on the other hand, leave me wondering if I actually liked the story in the first place. They can leave a sour taste in my mouth and, frankly, often have me thinking it's a cop-out. So, naturally, I'm going to break it down for you guys. Here are my top three favourite and least favourite cliffhangers:

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - The Cliffhanger of Doom. Need I really say more? ADORE.

2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - This eerie cliffhanger still has me eerily fascinated. In a good way.

3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Beautiful. Poetic. Tragic. I'm still breathless after book two!

An honourable mention MUST go to Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. I prayed for a sequel for years because of that one. Unfortunately, I now wished it had simply stayed with the cliffhanger - hence why it's not top-three.

1. Night Runner by Max Turner - I'm not even really sure how it boiled down to that...or why.

2. Witch & Wizard by James Patterson - Arguably a foul book with an even worse cliffhanger...can it get better?

3. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong - It just felt like a pitch to the next book to me. Boring.

So, the bottom line is that when cliffhangers are used correctly, I'm invested in the series. You've officially got me hooked. When done wrong, however, I will most likely not even get near book two.