TOP TEN TUESDAY | FAVOURITE TROPES

I feel like, particularly among adult readers of YA books, the word “trope” tends to conjur negative associations. The word is usually applied to played-out plot devices and relationships that we are all so, so tired of reading. So to come up with a list of ten (seriously, ten??!!) that I like feels like a long shot. But here goes, let’s see how far we get, shall we?

David vs. Goliath

I do love it when a regular person or someone who is at a disadvantage for whatever reason (underprivileged, differently abled, socially awkward) comes out on top. There’s nothing like an underdog to get me on-side.

Tough guy who loves animals

I adored The Drop because of this trope – the tough loner who risks everything all for the love of an abandoned puppy he found in a trash can. I will always root for people who stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves – be they animals, children, the elderly or any other variation on the theme. We should all stand up for those who need help, and I applaud anyone who does.

The boring thing happens

I don’t always want fancy plots. Sometimes a couple who are going through a rough patch really should work it out. Sometimes the alcoholic or addict should find help and actually manage to get their life back on track. Sometimes the straight A student should skip that party to study for final exams. It’s not always sexy, it’s rarely dramatic, but dammit sometimes boring is what makes sense for a character and it doesn’t work to twist things up.

Or the exciting and surprising thing happens

I love it when a book actually manages to surprise me. I feel like too often I see twists coming a mile off, and it gets frustrating to feel like you’re reading variations on the same story over and over again. This was why I loved Gone Girl so much when I read it. At that time the unreliable narrator hadn’t been done to death yet, and it felt fresh and exciting and different. I love finding books that do something different – whether it’s with the characters, the plot or the writing. But it has to be a genuine innovation, not just the author thinking they’re really really clever and clearly patting themselves on the back as they’re writing. That just annoys me.

Dry humour

I grew up in a British household. I love deadpan, black and dry humour. Irreverent, sarcastic and inappropriate also enter into my scope of enjoyment, as does the profane. I love humour that really gets under my skin, and if a book actually makes me laugh out loud, we’ve got a winner.

Small lives made interesting

I love reading about, you know, normal folk doing normal things. There’s something of the voyeur in me, and I am always curious about what other people’s day-to-day lives are like, how they differ from mine, if they really are better or if all lives are as full of small and large stresses. Books that deal with ordinary life give me glimpses into lives other than my own, and I can’t help but look.

Defying stereotypes

I particularly like it when people are misjudged based on common prejudice (race, sex, ability, etc.) and go on to prove their detractors wrong. I know there is harm in some of these portrayals, so it has to be handled with respect and awareness. But I do enjoy seeing people’s assumptions challenged, particularly when those assumptions are damaging and just plain wrong.

Coming of age stories

I remember what it was like stepping out into the world and trying to find my place in it. I’m nearly 40 now and I still feel like I haven’t yet found where I belong. So reading about young people leaving small towns or setting off for foreign destinations or embarking on challenging careers or schooling always have my attention and make me want to find out how it turns out for them.

Wanderlust

I never really got to travel – when I had the freedom I didn’t have the money, and now I have too much responsibility to be able to pick up and take off. But I’ve always wanted to travel to more of the world than I’ve yet seen, and I’ve spent decades reading about various journeys to a whole range of destinations to get my vicarious fix. Some of my favourite books.

Anything about books and reading, because of course

I will try pretty much any book that is a love letter from a reader to the books they’ve read and loved. Hell, I’ll even read with rapt attention when they’re talking about books they didn’t so much like. I love it even more when I share some reading history in common and can compare notes.

I’m not really sure if all of these qualify as tropes, but I had a hard time figuring out what to include! Let me know if you share any of my favourites, and if not, which are your top tropes?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.