Bibliophiles Are Sharing Their Favorite Book Tropes And I'm 100% On The Same Page As Them
Not too long ago, I was perusing the r/books subreddit where people were discussing some of their least favorite book tropes. However, I came across an opposite thread where book lovers shared some of their favorite book tropes! Here are some of the best responses:
1.When there is a story within a story:
Sony Pictures
Example: In Hamlet, when Prince Hamlet commissions a play about a king who is murdered by his brother to gauge his uncle's reaction.
Suggested by bLahblahBLAH057
2.When the bad guy — who thinks they're 100% right — gets their comeuppance:
Example: In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Voldemort thinks he's the master of the Elder Wand, but it's actually Harry who's the master of the Elder Wand, and thus kills himself with his own spell.
Suggested by ninjalord25
3.When stories have "huge timelines...that start with one character in one era and then shifts hundreds to thousands of years in the future...and you see the consequences of those actions in the future":
Starz
Example: In Outlander, when Claire travels between 20th century England and 18th century Scotland — specifically when Jamie wants to kill Jack Randall, but Claire doesn't allow him to because he's the ancestor of Claire's 20th century lover, Frank.
Suggested by cousgoose
4."When the protagonist learns something new and they and the reader have to reevaluate everything that happened in the book to that point":
Focus Features
Example: In Pride & Prejudice, when Elizabeth learns the true nature of Mr. Darcy's motivations and actions and looks back on all his past decisions in a different light.
Suggested by GrumpyMackem
5.When the plot involves a well-planned heist. "They gather the team, go over the plan — [especially] the moment when everything seems to go off the rails, but it's all really part of the mastermind's plan":
Example: In Heist Society, when Kat assembles a group of her classmates to help steal some priceless art to help clear her father's name.
Suggested by Potaatolongster
6.When the main characters are forced to take a road trip and work out their differences along the way:
Example: In Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, when Amy takes a cross-country trip with Roger, which helps her get over the death of her dad.
Suggested by Basic-Effort-552
7.When the different, unrelated characters — usually depicted through changing POVs — end up traveling to the same destination/in pursuit of the same goal:
HBO
Example: In Game of Thrones, when the competing houses are all fighting for the Iron Throne.
Suggested by aprillatron
8.When there's "a Machiavellian/schemer character. The kind of guy who puts plans into motion in such a way that he would profit from them even if they were to fail":
HBO
Example: In Game of Thrones, when Littlefinger plays everyone in order to ensure that he always comes out ahead.
Suggested by Broderick512
9.When there's a "magnificent bastard character. The villain you can't help but like a little, and even admire [a bit]. They're manipulative, creative, and diligent — never sadistic, never impolite, and they handle adversity with stoicism":
Example: In The Hunger Games, when Plutarch Heavensbee takes over as head gamemaker, and then leader of the rebellion, but doesn't take into account the many lives lost in order to achieve his goals.
Suggested by Borigh
10.When there's an enemies-to-lovers plot that ends in a HEA:
Example: In Red, White, and Royal Blue, when Alex and Henry fall in love after the disastrous start to their friendship.
Suggested by MiniBeastMode
11.When there's an unreliable narrator:
StudioCanal
Example: In Atonement, when Briony wrote about her apology to Cecilia and Robbie and how they're now living happily ever after in her autobiography, but in actuality, Cecilia and Robbie never reunited and died separately because of Briony's lie.
Suggested by Lazearound10am
12.When the main character had a crap family and chooses their own family:
Example: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when Harry learns Sirius's family history and how he made a family with James, Lily, and the rest of the Order.
Suggested by Smoldero
13.When the hero sacrifices themselves for the greater good:
Examples: In Divergent, when Tris sacrifices herself for Caleb.
Suggested by nelshai
14."When a group of people wake up in a place with no memory of who they are or how they got there":
Example: Alive by Scott Sigler.
Suggested by MagnusCthulhu
15."When the protagonist has a moment to show off and prove their abilities that leaves everyone amazed, especially when everyone assumed they were weak":
Lionsgate
Example: In Hunger Games, when Katniss shows off her bow-and-arrow skills during individual evaluations.
Suggested by Paanta
16.When the least assuming character has an epic/badass moment at the climax:
Examples: In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Molly Weasley obliterates Bellatrix Lestrange. (Book: "You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!"; Movie: "Not my daughter, you bitch!")
Suggested by Its_Sisu_Bitch
17.When there's a slow-burn/friends-to-lovers plot that ends in a HEA:
Example: In Anna and the French Kiss, when Anna and Etienne fall in love over the course of the school year.
Suggested by MagnusCthulhu
18.Finally, when, usually in a fantasy series, "a knowledgeable character/narrator makes a lore dump to another character/reader":
Example: In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, when Douglas Adams makes all of his cheeky info-dumps to the reader.
Suggested by avalon1805
You can read the full thread here.
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.