Let's be honest here…nobody really wants to be on a deserted island, do they? I have no desire to go all Castaway and make best friends with a basketball. If, however, I had to be stranded on a deserted island, I think that the right company might make such a tedious stay a little more bearable. Literary characters might be fictional, but I'm pretty sure any of these would enormously brighten my day on any deserted island. 

Four from Divergent - Because he's hot and principled. I like that combo.

Luna from Harry Potter - Because she's quirky and oddly intelligent, and I think she'd keep us sane.

Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars - Because it's a metaphor. Obviously.

Rose from Vampire Academy - Because she's a take-no-prisoners, tough, awesome girl.

Jace from The Mortal Instruments - Because I'm pretty sure he'd kick some ass.

Anna from Anna and the French Kiss - Because everyone needs a girlfriend to keep them level, right?

Legolas from The Lord of the Rings - Because he's really good with sharp, pointy things.

Finnick Odair from The Hunger Games - Because he's sexy without a shirt, and he always has sugar.

Teresa from The Maze Runner - Because someone needs to have a god soul on this island.

Ender from Ender's Game - Because he's a principled hero.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature from The Broke and the Bookish.

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.

The Top Books I Was Forced to Read

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - When the series first started, I made fun of the first two books. I told my sister she was silly to read them, but she pushed and pushed and pushed until I finally gave in. I ended up loving it...and going to every book midnight premiere.

2. The Shack - A lot of people actually pushed this book in my direction. I didn't think it would be for me, as religious novels tend to leave me feeling a little put-off. This one, however, spoke to my soul, and I swear it's one of the best I've ever read.

3. Anna and the French Kiss - This one is thanks to all of YOU! I swore up and down that I wouldn't read this book. I proclaimed that it was far too "girly" and "petty" to be the type of thing I would like. I ate my words.

4. The Giver - This was actually required reading in school. Generally speaking, I hated required reading because I don't like being boxed into a corner and made to think a certain way. This novel, however, transcended my aversion.

5. Fahrenheit 451 - This, too, was a novel we were required to read in middle school. I think it was my first real taste of a dystopian society, and I was utterly captivated by the fact that something could so irreparably damage our world.

6. Gone with the Wind - I must credit my older sister, Nikki, for pushing this novel on me. I didn't think I'd ever read it, simply because something that's declared to be the greatest love story of all time doesn't really speak to me. This one, however, is gold.

7. Vampire Academy - This one goes to all the bloggers out there, as well! I believe several dozen bloggers told me I was really missing out and, despite my aversion to vampires, I gave it a go. Dang...I'm so glad I did!

8. Speak - I'd read other novels by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I'd seen the movie, but I'd never actually read the book. There is something so magnetic and powerful about this novel, and if it hadn't been for the rave reviews convincing me to try, I would still be missing out.

9. Pushing the Limits - Yet again, I read this book because of the blogosphere. It's not my normal type of read, but when you see the rave reviews abound, you can't help but be intrigued. I loved it, I loved the second book, and I even loved the third...more please?

10. Jane Eyre - For some reason, some of the classics have escaped me. I was encouraged by a good friend to try this one though because she knew of my love for Pride & Prejudice, as well as books such as Little Women. Yeah, she was right. Loved it.

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!

What books have intimidated you in the past & what (if anything) made you read them or deterred you from trying?

This is a multi-part question, and I meant it to be that way because I think all of these things go hand-in-hand with one another. There are so many books out there on the shelves these days, it's an impossibility to even consider trying to read them all. So, instead, we find what works for us and what doesn't, and we develop our own relationship with reading and reviewing books. In most cases, this works beautifully. In some cases, however, I know that my preconceived notions have deterred me from reading incredible books.

Take, for example, Raw Blue. From day one of my blog, I made it pretty darn clear to all my followers that contemporary fiction was not my thing. I was firmly under the impression that all contemps were trite, cliche and riddled with stupid romance that is neither realistic, nor in any way beneficial to me as a reader. So, I adamantly stuck to my guns for over a year, and swore off contemps like the plague. Guys, it's not that I hadn't seen absolutely glowing reviews for this book because, trust me, I did. However, I was so stuck in this rut of bad representations of a really strong genre that I couldn't see past it. 

It actually took an invitation to a blog tour of this Australian gem for me to actually give it a go. I trusted the blogger who invited me, and I knew that she wouldn't have misled me about the quality of the novel. And, for the record, I was probably the most pleasantly surprised that I've ever been. This book is up there with my favourites of all time. It's meaingful, it's powerful and Kirsty Eagar is a true genius. This one should be on ALL of your lists. Please trust me on this one.

I'm ashamed that I still have prejudices towards the genre to this day though. Would you believe I still haven't read Anna & the French Kiss? I read the second installment and found it cute and fun, but I'm too terrified to be the only person that doesn't like the book to actually give it a go. I know I should read it, but I've yet to find a reason to actually force myself. Would you believe I was late to the game with Harry Potter, and I didn't even read the first book until three books were out? I was convinced that it was a children's novel only, and that it was beneath me. My sister convinced me to at least try it, and I humbly ate my words. That series is genius. GENIUS, I say!

But, for the most part, if bloggers and reviewers I trust make a strong enough case for me to try a novel, I'm willing to give it a go. I think that, more often than not, it's my own internal literary prejudices that, sadly, deter me from reading some great books. It's a disease. I'm working on it. Le sigh. 

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. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

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 fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I've Never Read:

1. Anna and the French Kiss - I know, I know, I know. Please don't tar and feather me. It's just that I've seen so many epic reviews of this one that I'm terrified I'll be (quite literally) the only one that hates it.

2. Torment - I read Fallen, and it wasn't bad. It wasn't amazing, but it certainly wasn't bad. I just couldn't bring myself to pick up book two because I don't want to tarnish the little impression that book one left in my mind as it is.

3. Spirit Bound - I cannot bring myself to finish this series! I really can't! I'm pretty sure it will devastate me, and I'm not sure I can take it. I mean, I hate finishing series, and I actually happened to love this one despite my reservations.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - It was a gift to me and, for some reason, it never really struck my fancy. I don't know what it is about it, but I'm just not sure it's for me.

5. Forgive My Fins - Again, I really don't know why I haven't read this one. I love the colours of the cover. I love the premise. Perhaps it's a lack of time to sit down and enjoy a book, or perhaps I'm just in a mermaid funk.

6. Evermore - I read some less-than-raving reviews of this one, and I couldn't bring myself to read it after that. There's something about preserving that ideal in your mind that you don't always want to ruin.

7. The Duff - It's the content, guys. I'm sorry. I read her other book, and it wasn't so bad, but there's something about the content that just screams the sort of contemporary fiction that I don't love to read. She's a great writer, but just not of my type of book.

8. The It Girl - For some reason that continues to defy all reason, I loved the Gossip Girl book series (HATE the show). That said, I read two pages of the Jenny spinoff and went no further. this one sits stagnant on my shelf.

9. Birthmarked - I remember buying this and being so excited to read it. Then, my review queue was flooded, and I've yet to have time to read it since. One of these days I'll dust it off and give it a go!

10. Scars - I love a dark read, especially when it's emotional and pulls at the heartstrings. There's something about the context of this one that I'm a bit leery of, despite the positive reviews. I think I just need to be in the right mindframe...and have some time.

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. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

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 fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me:

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - Well, you know me and contemps. It's hit or miss, and I'm too scared this will be a miss. Now I'm thinking I might be missing out though, eh?

2. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - I was late to Vampire Academy, and I'm one of those people that fears a crossover series won't live up. Yikes. I'm sensing a theme.

3. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - Well, I tried to read it, but I got stuck on page two, and I put it down and picked up something else. I've seen incredible reviews though, so I'm sure it was a case of the wrong time for a great book.

4. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - Again with the trend in contemps, I know. Honestly, I struggled with her other book - not because of the writing but because the material just wasn't for me. Colour me nuts. I dunno...maybe I'll come back to this one...

5. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzman - I'm actually DYING to start this one, and I have it on my TBR, but there are so many books I have to review first. I can't wait to start this one though - it's all the right kinds of twisty!

6. Torment by Lauren Kate - I'm sure this series is loved and fawned over by plenty, but I couldn't get past book one. It felt too familiar to me. I doubt I'll be able to continue the series.

7. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Well, I love some of her other titles, but I've never managed to get around to this one...I take it I should though?

8. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young - Love the cover, I really do, but the premise never really hooked me, unfortunately. Maybe one day it will captivate me. Until then, I'll just enjoy the reviews.

9. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - So, sue me. This one is one of those that I was ordered to read for middle school and couldn't finish it. I know, I know. I'm horrible. This taste of the classics was too sour for me.

10. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - Again, sue me. Aragorn is so much better onscreen as Viggo Mortenson...Oh, wait. Did I just say that out loud? Man candy + epic battles + great visuals = movie > book (for me.)