Faves of TwentyEleven: The Scenes

It’s time for another installment of the Faves of TwentyEleven series. This is hosted by Nomes of Inkcrush and it’s all about our reading favorites for the past year. :) If you missed my other posts, here they are:

I’m really a day late from posting this, but Nomes said to have fun and not worry about being on schedule…so there. On to the next list!

Day Three: The Scenes

Note: I can tell from now: this list is really going to make me wish I made notes about the books I read this year. *facepalm* Oh well. :)

best first chapter
Havah by Tosca Lee. There is something very atmospheric about the way Tosca writes. That, and how can I ignore a beautiful retelling of Eve’s story? Here’s an excerpt (first few lines and then the last few):
Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

 I have seen paradise and ruin. I have known bliss and terror. I have walked with God.

And I know that God made the heart the most fragile and resilient of all organs, that a lifetime of joy and pain might be encased in one mortal chamber.

I still recall my first moment of consciousness — an awareness I’ve never seen in the eyes of any of my own children at birth: the sheer ignorance and genius of consciousness, when we know nothing and accept everything.

My seasons are nearly as many as a thousand. So now listen, sons, and hear me, daughters. I, Havah, fashioned by God of Adam, say this:

In the beginning, there was God…

But for me, there was Adam.

best climax
Since I re-read Feed by Mira Grant this year, the recognition still goes to that book. Best (and probably most heartbreaking) climax ever.

Feed by Mira Grant
best ending
Till We Have Faces
by C.S. Lewis
. The ending was kind of silent, which makes it fit the second half of the book, but it has the best ending quote ever:

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?

best plot twist/revelation (no spoilers!)
This goes to The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (open mouthed moment — I did not see it coming), The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde (I totally did not expect it), and Deadline by Mira Grant (oh, my heart breaks so much).

The Thief by Megan Whalen TurnerThe Last Dragonslayer by Jasper FfordeDeadline by Mira Grant

scariest/most disturbing scene
The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick YanceyIn The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey, when Dr. Warthrop and Will Henry and his team had to go to Muriel Chanler’s home and found everyone dead, disemboweled and then some. Then when the group of monstrumologists came out to search for the wendigo. Will Henry was with two older men and in my heart of hearts, I just knew they’d get in trouble. I was reading this part on the train so I had to bite my lip so I won’t yell at the characters to stop going in there.

Also, the part where they finally encountered the wendigo, who wore the face of one important character while yelling, “This is the face of love!” *shudder*

sweetest scene
Clara and Tucker’s first kiss in Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. :) It didn’t really end well, but the build up was so good that it felt like a wish being fulfilled when they finally kissed. :)

Unearthly by Cynthia Handbest swoon-worthy moment
Hm. There are several, but this one particular scene in The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner stood out for me. I quote:

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen TurnerAfter one moment of gripped immobility, the queen bent to kiss the king lightly on one closed eyelid, then on the other. She said, “I love your eyes.” She kissed him on either cheek, near the small lobe of his ear. “I love your ears, and I love” — she paused as she kissed him gently on the lips –”every single one of your ridiculous lies.”

Sigh. <3

 

biggest nail-biting moment
The underground scene in The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. I could imagine this scene in a movie and I couldn’t sleep in the dark after. Of course, as luck would have it, power went out an hour after I finished reading the book so I could only imagine how close the anthrophopagus was to me that night.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yanceymost hilarious scene
Everyone who’s read The Filipino Heroes League # 1: Sticks and Stones by Paolo Fabregas would agree with me: the pedicab scene. I think this scene won an award in the last Komikon? (Click image to embiggen — image from the author’s website)

Filipino Heroes League # 1 - preview page

Pedicab scene – Filipino Heroes League # 1

To my non-Filipino readers, think of the pedicab here as the third world version of the Batmobile. :P

most heart-breaking/tear-jerker moment
That scene when Conor finally talks to his mom at the end of A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. So. Much. Tears. :(

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

There was also another scene in Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta that just broke my heart: the one when Taylor found out what Jonah was supposed to do at the train station when they met. </3 I’m sure there were several scenes in that book that broke my heart too, but they’re too many to recall. ^^

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
favourite meet cute
Hadley and Oliver in The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. I don’t really believe in love at first sight, but meeting at an airport seems…well, cute. And maybe even…er, magical. Haha. Runner up would be Finley and Beckett in There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First SightThere You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

most ridiculous/cheesy ending
Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. I had to add this category because I remember having a specific reaction to this book when I finished reading it. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean. :P

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later

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Now it’s your turn! What are your favorite scenes in the books you’ve read this year? :)

 

3 Thoughts on “Faves of TwentyEleven: The Scenes

  1. 1) MANCHEEEEEEEEEEEE.
    2) I need to have another go at The Thief! I’m serious this time.

  2. Loved that scene from The King of Attolia too! So many swoon-worthy scenes in that book. <3 I agree with your choices for heartbreaking scenes as well – I would probably pick the same books if I put up a post for this topic (I didn't because I felt like I just keep repeating my favorite titles in my Faves of TwentyEleven posts :P)

    And Capillya, yes to picking up The Thief again!

  3. Love your blog, it’s adorable! I’m really curious about Til We Have Faces, I love the Cupid/Psyche myth so I’m intrigued about a twist on it. Haven’t read a lot of Lewis though so don’t know if I’ll enjoy it. I have On the Jellicoe Road on my wishlist and The Statistical Probablity in my TBR pile, can’t wait to get to them both!
    Here is my list:
    http://bellesbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/12/faves-of-2011-book-awards-scenes.html

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