Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Books I’d Recommend As Good Beach Reads.

There are few things better than heading to the peach or pool, with a good book and a cold drink in hand. Since it’s summer I tend to go for lighthearted or romance books, which is not my usual fare but it’s a fun distraction! So, here are my books for best books to read by the pool or at the beach!

1. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. As a kid I could not get enough of Judy Blume’s books and turns out that’s true as an adult as well! Summer Sisters is made for reading at the beach, I mean just look at the title! This is one of my go-to reads when I’m headed for the beach or the pool.

2. The Beach House by Jane Green. I have a soft spot for Jane Green when it comes to chick-lit, usually because her books are set in England! This one, however is set in Nantucket and makes for a perfect beachy read!

3. Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close. This is my “poot pitiful me” read of the summer, as I identify all too well with Isabella, Mary, and Lauren who are navigating their late twenties as single women as all their friends get married and start to procreate. It helps me to know I’m not alone!

4. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (or Just Listen, or What Happened to Goodbye, or any of her novels!). I adore Sarah Dessen books for their simplicity and sweet romances. They bring a smile to my face as I lounge by the pool idly flipping pages and wishing that a handsome, sweet boy would appear as my next door neighbor (preferably one close to 30 than his teens though!)

5. Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons. To be honest this book isn’t really all that great, but it’s got romance and friendship and betrayal, plus it reminds me of a summer vacation to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks over a decade ago. It’s worth reading if you’re looking for a beachy read that’s a bit more thrilling and heartbreaking than normal.

6. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. A great YA read for the beach, it feels like you’re right there alongside Anna and Frankie as they navigate their twenty by summer adventure!

7. Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. Follow Jordan and Courtney on summer road trip that was planned before they couple broke up. From the comfort of your longue chair you can follow the couple as they make their way to college and maybe even back towards each other?

8. Paper Towns by John Green. Not your normal beach read, but the story of the end of high school for sort of friends Margot and Quentin is an engaging read that will have you reading long after the sun has set for the day.

9. Crush: 26 Real-lifeTales of First Love by Andrea N. Richesin. What better time than the lazy days of summer to reflect back upon your first love? Through  the stories of 26 different authors you’re able to experience that magic moment again and again.

10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I love this book so much and it’s light-hearted and warm fuzzy romance provide a fantastic companion for a day sipping drinks by the beach or pool.

 

What are your favorite summer/beach reads? I need to pick up a few new books for my summer reading and am looking for suggestions!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday Rewind – Ten Books That Broke My Heart A Little!

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is a Top Ten Tuesday Rewind! So, since I never got to do it I picked “Top Ten Books That Broke My Heart A Little” (originally done on Feburary 14, 2012).

I may need tissues for this list, as the books that break my heart a little usually tend to turn me into a weepy mess. Here we go!

1. The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman. This book has me in tears at multiple points every single time I read it. You’d think it would get easier upon multipel readings, but nope no such luck. if anything it breaks my heart a little more each time.

2. If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. These books are so beautifully written and capture the emotions of Adam and Mia more perfectly than anything else I’ve seen. There were times in both books where I simply wanted to shake both of them and try to talk some sense into them, even though I know they wouldn’t have listened.

3. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I knew how this book was gonna end, but I kept reading anyway. I think that’s what hurt the most in reading it is that Claire knew too, yet she still opened her heart to this man. Yet, I think that’s what love is, we get involved even when we know we’ll be hurt, it’s worth it to feel that rush for as long as you can.

4. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.This book is incredible and inspiring. I won’t give away the moment where it makes me dissolve into a teary mess, but it hurts. It’s worth it though.

5. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank. This one is pretty self-explanatory I think. I can’t read any book about the Holocaust (and believe me I read quite a few) without weeping uncontrollably. I’ve pretty much learned to expect it and prepare with a box of kleenex at my side at all times when reading.

6. Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I know after reading the first book in the series that my heart was gonna break as I went on and it did. It hurt to watch Katniss make the choices that she did, it hurt to watch Peeta stand silently by as she made them, it hurt to watch characters I’d grown to love fade from the pages in death. And it hurt to know that all of it was necessary to achieve the freedom that they so desperately needed.

7. I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. That song, the one that the mother sings to her son every night, it breaks my heart. I love this book and even though it’s a kids picture book I still get tears in my eyes when reading it as an adult.,

8. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I know, I know. I actually strongly dislike Nicholas Sparks, but this book resonated with me long before I saw the movie. And as I got older it hurts me even more to read it because I mourn the loss of my first love and know that we will never have the reunion and the life-long love that Allie and Noah had. Even though many times when I was younger I wished that would be different.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. This book had me in tears almost from the very beginning. So many people died and I had become so attached to all of that, that each new death was another tiny pinprick in my heart. And Fred. Fred. He’s my favorite (no surprise there, right?) and I could barely stand it.

10,  Two Kisses for Maddy by Matt Logelin. I reviewed this book back when I first read it and I could barely write the review I was so emotional when I finished it. This is the only book on this list that’s a true stray as as a result it hurt more than any fiction book ever could. I’m not a parent yet, but I do think I can understand a bit of Matt’s grief and I can only hope I’ll never have to experience it for myself.

I can’t wait to see what other rewind topics people picked! The rewind topics are always the most fun because everyone’s list is totally and completely different!

Also, don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what books broke your heart, maybe it will give me something to add to my summer reading list!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books Written In The Past 10 Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading In 30 Years

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Books Written In The Past 10 Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading In 30 Years.

Ohhh, this is such a good topic! There are so many books that I hope stick around and continue to live their imprint on people for a good long time. So, here’s my list:

1. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. I mean, did anyone out there really think that this wouldn’t be top on my list? I know that the first book was published 15 years ago, but I really do think that these books have earned their place in our literary canon and likely will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I really cannot get over how much I loved this book. And honestly it’s a good book for anyone who knows a friend who is suffering from cancer or any other such terminal illness. Yes, it’s sad at times. Yes, it’s depressing at times. However, the emotions are all so real and I really think help give you a better insight into what someone may be going through. I sincerely hope this book is still being read and shared in thirty years.

3. How the World Makes Love: . . . And What It Taught a Jilted Groom by Franz Wisner. This is a fantastic book that starts out with Franz being left at the altar and ends up taking his pre-paid honeymoon with his brother. it leads him on a trip around the world to learn more about love and life and what it means to be happy. It’s a fantastic read and has some great life lessons for everyone in it.

4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. To be honest I’m kinda terrified that this future could eventually happen. Maybe not to the same extent but I could see a “capital” running things and the “districts” being forced to obey. I think that this book should still be read as a cautionary tale as much as for it’s literary worth. Maybe if we keep the worst in mind we won’t ever let ourselves reach that point.

5. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. This is another book that needs to stick around to help enlighten future generations of the horros of the Nazis and the Holocaust. I loved everything about this book, even as it was breaking my heart (as all Holocaust books tend to do) and I want to share that experience with everyone and anyone. The further we get from the events of WW2 and the Holocaust the more we need to ensure that our children understand what happened so it’s NEVER, EVER repeated.

6. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. This is my go-to book to re-read whenever I’m feeling down or lost or unsure about how my life is going. Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2006, and in August 2007 was given a terminal diagnosis. This book was his legacy, his life guide to leave behind mostly for his children, but I believe everyone can benefit from this now and in the future. Seriously, READ. THIS. BOOK.

7.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Okayl, I’m cheating here as this book was published in 1999 so technically it’s outside of the ten year range. HOWEVER, I cannot stress how important the message in this book is. It’s something everyone needs to read and understand, boys and girls, men and women. Sexual assault is serious and it sadly seems to be happening more frequently. Maybe this can go a ways in helping to prevent the issue, or to encourage girls to speak up and get help.

 

Okay, so this week’s was hard and I really can’t think of any other books that I really, desperately hope will still be read in 2042 (damn that’s crazy). What books do you hope people will still be reading? I’m sure others managed to get to ten so I can’t wait to see what they have to say!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Blogs/Sites You Read That AREN’T about Books

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the  Top Ten Blogs/Sites You Read That AREN’T about Books. This was a super fun topic for me to do because I basically live on the internet (which when you say it out loud like that it’s kinda sad, but true). And so I have a ton of websites that I visit on a regular basis.

So here we go!

1. The Hairpin – i love everything on this site. Everything.

2. XOJane – this site has one of my favorite recurring feature,s It Happened to Me. True stories about everything and anything told y women and men. It’s awesome.

3. Slate – I’m addicted to advice columns and Dear Prudence is one of my favorites.

4. Dear Wendy – see above 🙂

5. MacRumors – I’m a huge Apple nerd (worked for them for five years) and so I like to stay in top of the rumor mill ainr egards to what’s happening and what new products are releasing.

6. BBC – I prefer to get my news from the Brits. *shrugs*

7. What Should We Call Me – This tumblr is responsible for amusing me on days when I’ve given up on work. It never fails me.

8. Jezebel – Snappy and witty commentary on all sorts of issues. I’m a big fan of the feminists blogs.

9. EW.com – A great resource for all things popculture. I’m addicted.

10. TV Line – I like to spoil myself silly with my favorite tv shows. It’s what I do.

Honorable Mentions:
Animals Talking In All Caps – a Tumblr that is pretty much what the title suggests. It cracks me up all day at work.

Tekkah.net – This is my best friends blog where she rights insightful and entertaining things.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I’d Like To See On A Reality Show

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Authors I’d Like To See On A Reality Show (and which show they’d be on). Ohhh this was a fun topic, although I only managed 5! I hope ya’ll found my choices as entertaining as I did!

1. Maureen Johnson. I’m honestly not sure what show to put Maureen on, but I know it has to be something totally bizarre. Maybe “Big Brother” (is this still even on)? Or “Survivor” She’d absolutely win cause she’d do her best to creep out the other contests and make them give up 🙂 (NOTE I DO NOT THINK MAUREEN IS CREEPY. I think she’s AWESOME).

2. Victoria Schwab. She’d HAVE to be on a baking competition as she’s forgiving given away her homemade cookies to her fan. I’d love to see what else she can whip up in the kitchen, maybe cupcakes?

3. John Green (and his brother Hank, even though he’s not an author). I’d love to see John and Hank Green team up on “The Amazing Race” and we can see  their in person banter as they race to various destinations around the world. It would be hilarious and I’m betting pretty damn informative as well.

4. William Shakespeare. for some reason I just keep picturing him on “America’s Got Talent” (or whatever the british equivalent is) reciting his various monologues. Most specifically the balcony scene from Juliet’s point of view and he’s wearing a hilariously bad wig. You know you want to see that as much as I do.

5. Julia Child. I may be totally cheating on this one but I want to se Julia throw down on “Iron Chef America”. She’d school any Iron Chef they could throw at her and make us all adore her even more in the process.

 

Okay so this was a really tough list for some reason, I mean I only managed to get to 5! But I’d love to see who you’d put on a reality show, so let me know in the comments!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Quotes

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes.

Guys, this one was HARD. I love so many books and so many quotes that it’s hard to remember my favorites. Also, my books are all currently in boxes in my sister’s old bedroom, so I wasn’t able to pull them down and flip through them to find the pages that I’d marked. So, I took a page out of Lauren’s book and I’m looking up some books I’ve loved and that I know I had quotes marked in.

(These are in absolutely no particular order)

1. “Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.” Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire

2. “The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places.But still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

3. “Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt that the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet

4. “The more you love people, the more vulnerable you are.” Madeleine L’Engle, Troubling a Star

5. “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

6. “Time is priceless, but it’s Free. You can’t own it, you can use it. You can spend it. But you can’t keep it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” and “Don’t you think it’s better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?” both by Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

7. “Even when I’m alone I have real good company — dreams and imaginations and pretendings. I like to be alone now and then, just to think over things and taste them. But I love friendships — and nice, jolly little times with people.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne’s House of Dreams

8. “You are the true master of death, because the true master does not seek to run away from Death. He accepts that be must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.” J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

9. “Sometimes crying or laughing are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now.” Veronica Roth, Divergent

10. “Please don’t go. We’ll eat you up. We love you so.”  Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

There are so many other quotes that I love and that make me smile, laugh or cry. But I can’t find all of them and I wouldn’t be able to list them all here if I did. I may make a page where I can list out my favorite quotes as I go, that way I’ll always be able to find them.

What are some of your favorite quotes?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books You’d Like To See Made Into A Movie

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Books You’d Like To See Made Into A Movie. This topic was particularly difficult to come up with all 10, as there are some books I adore and I don’t want them to be made into a movie, it’d ruin the magic for me. It was also difficult as I stuck mostly YA books for the list, with the exception of the final selection and the Honorable Mentions.

Also, there are plenty of books that I left out because I think they’d be far better suited for a minni-series that forced into the time constraint of a standard movie. I’ll list a few of those as Honorable Mentions at the bottom!

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

I hear this one echoed all over the internet by fans of this series. I think this would be a great movie for teens and would give them another strong female to use as a role-model (something I am always in favor of!). It’s also fun to debate over who should play the main characters.

2. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley.

I would actually love to see this tale of one of my favorite heroines done in animation, as it would allow for better interpretation of the magical scenes. But I’d be happy to have it make it to the big screen in any way possible!

3. Rules by Cynthia Lord.

If this was made into a movie I would be at the theater opening night. The book centers around Catherine and her younger brought who suffers from autism. It’s a heart wrenching, yet heart warming, story that would be fantastic for all audiences.

4. Annexed by Sharon Dogar.

This is the story of the annex where Anne Frank and her family lives as told by Peter Von Pelt, the son of the other family that shared the space. There have been many movies and adaptions of Anne Frank’s diary and I would love to see the adaptation from this different angle.

5. Troubling a Star by Madeline L’Engle.

This is purely selfish as I only want to see this book brought to life as I’ve been long imagining it in my head. I don’t think it would be possible to fully capture the magic and adventure of this story in the constraints of a movie. It’s really rather rather sad.

6. The Giver by Lois Lowry.

I have always said I would love to see this book made into a movie, but at the same time I worry that it would be completely butchered. This would be a true challenge to capture the feelings of the book and convey that to the screen without ruining the magic of the story. With the right screenwriter and director I think it could be done.

7. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.

This book would be perfect as a family summer film; it provides enough action, adventure and mystery to captivate audiences of all ages! I could totally see this one being optioned by Disney, just for the record.

8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman.

This would be, without a doubt, the biggest tearjerker of the year if it ever managed to be made into a movie. I’d love to see the story of Mia, her family and Adam fly across the screen so that I can share in their joys and sorrows. Of all the books I’ve read in the past few years this is one of only a few that struck a deep, personal chord with me and I’d love to be able to witness it brought to life.

9.  The Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn.

I would have LOVED to see this made in place of the prequel trilogy. The actors were all about the right age (give or take a few years but who doesn’t do that in Hollywood?) and I’ve always felt that Zahn captured the true essence of the characters in this first foray into the EU. Now, I’d rather they pay Lucas to stay far, far away from this movie as the general consensus is that he’d only butcher it (in the same fashion he’s butchered his original trilogy). Instead I can let it live on in my mind as the perfect movie.

10. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

I know that this has already been done, but let’s be honest, it was pretty awful. I’d love to see them re-do this and stay as true to the book as possible. And keep the real ending in this time.

Honorable Mentions:

Sevenwaters trilogy by Juliet Marillier – This would make an awesome mini-series, even if they only made the first book.
Novels of Deverry by Katherine Kerr.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I can’t wait to see what books other blogger’s chose! Too bad Hollywood doesn’t follow our advice, they’d have the next blockbuster on their hands in a heartbeat!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books and boy is this going to be a difficult list to make. There are so many characters I ADORE and it will be incredibly difficult to narrow it down to just ten.

Well, here goes nothin’!

1. Mara Jade from the Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn. I will always love her. She’s badass, compassionate, stubborn, loyal and a fighter. I usually cosplay as her for my yearly trip to DragonCon and she is the reason I began dying my hair red, so my love for this character runs pretty deep.

2. Laura Ingalls Wilder from the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. When I was tiny I wanted to grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and as an adult I’m still sometimes disappointed life didn’t work out that way. it was somewhere between Laura and Jo March that I decided I wanted to eventually be a writer.

3. Aerin from The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. Every time I read this book I am amazed by Aerin’s sheer determination in the face of ridicule and other’s disappointment. She’s an inspiration and a role model on top of being one of my all time favorite fantasy characters.

4. Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I adore his snarkiness and look forward to his sarcasm. I was sad to part with him at the end of the Vampire Academy, and then become beyond excited to learn he would play a role in the Bloodlines series.

5. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables (and it’s sequels)  by L.M. Mongomery. I love Anne Shirley so very much and I read this books over and over as a kid/teen. I came to an even better understanding and appreciation of the kind of person Anne is as my most recent re-read of some of the books was from the perspective of an adult. I’m just still hoping to find my own Gilbert.

6. Jo March from Little Women by Lousia May Alcott. If I could be any character in YA literature it would be a toss-up between Jo March and Hermione Granger. Jo March was the character who I most identified with as a child; she was a tomboy, loved her sisters fiercely and aspired to see the world and be an author, it was everything I wanted for myself!

7. Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Out of all of the characters in The Hunger Games trilogy I think that I love Peeta the best. He is the only truly kind and good person to exist in the entire series, and while some argue that it’s a flaw in the character (that he’s too one-dimensional) I think he was exactly what the book needed in this work of greed and dishonesty. His change in Mockingjay was one of the things that hit me the hardest in the entire series and I struggled with it until the end of the book.

8. Mia Hall from If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. In reading If I Stay, I related with Mia in a way that I’ve never been able to with another character. It was both Mia’s strong relationship with her family and the fact the she was a teenage girl that played the cello that drew me to her. I adore Mia and I admire her strength, I’m honestly not sure I’d ever been able to make that same choice.

9. Will Parry from the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. As much as I adore Lyra, I think I loved Will a bit more. The devotion and care he gave to his mother was so outstanding in a boy of his age. He was the perfect foil and partner for Lyra. I’m still heartbroken over the end of The Amber Spyglass.

10. Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. I’ll admit the first time I read the books I simply adored Neville as my favorite of the side characters (along with Fred and George). However in subsequent re-reads and in noticing details strewn through the series I started to see Neville for the person that he truly was and I understood an empathized with him in a way that I never did with Harry (In fact Harry barely even cracks my list of top ten characters in his own series!). By the end of the seventh book when he had his moment of glory I was rooting for Neville so hard I almost forgot that the book was about Harry. (Also, if anyone reads fanfic, there is an incredible one about Neville that I heavily recommend).

Honourable Mentions:
Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.
Fred & George Weasley  from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.
Jill from the Novels of Deverry by Katherine Kerr

What are you top ten all-time favorite characters in books and why did they make the cut? Can’t wait to see who everyone else has in their list!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Childhood Faves

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Childhood Faves! I absolutely LOVE this topic and it will be hard to narrow it down to just ten books

1. the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Little House in the Big Woods was the very first chapter book I read on my own. I remember begging my mom to get me the rest of the books in the series as fast as she could so that I continue reading all about Laura, Mary, Carrie and the others!

2. Love You Forever by Robert Munch. I always wanted my mom and dad to read this book to me when I was little. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized just how sweetly sad this book is and how depressing it must have been for them to read out loud all the time.

3. Little Women (and Little Men and Jo’s Boys) by Louisa May Alcott. This is still one of my favorite books of all time and Jo March will forever be my literary heroine (although Hermione Granger is giving her a run for her money!). I loved escaping into the world of the four sisters and I felt both their happiness and sorrow alongside them.

4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. This book had me convinced that it would be utterly fantastic to run away and live by myself on a deserted island. Luckily I grew up and realized that there’s no way I’d survive, but I still enjoyed reading about a girl who did.

5. Winnie the Pooh by A.A Milne. Who didn’t read these books as a kid? My mom and Dad used to read these stories to my sister and I just before bedtime.

6. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This was my very first introduction to World War 2 and the Holocaust. I distinctly remember my teacher telling me that if I liked this book then I should read Anne Frank’s diary next, so I did. I late went on to minor in history with an emphasis in the Holocaust, so clearly the book resonated with me.

7.  Fairy Tales by The Brother’s Grimm. I had a very old copy of the Grimm Brother’s version of the fairy tales and I read them over and over. As I’ve gotten older I’ve collected a few other copies and versions of these fairy tales but I always find myself going back to my original copy to read them again and again.

8. A Wrinkle in Time (and it’s sequels) by Madeline L’Engle. Looking back this my was first foray into science fiction and I can’t think of a better way to start out. I still enjoy this book and each time I read it I find something new to love about it.

9. Anne of Green Gables (and its subsequent sequels) by L. M. Montgomery. To this day I still absolutely adore and wish to be Anne Shirley. I loved her want to be a writer and I was fascinated by the imagination that she had. She became the girl I wished could be my best friend and my escape into her world let me feel like I truly was.

10. The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene. These series had also belonged to my mom and her sister and by the time I hit fifth grade I was obsessed with mysteries. I read one after another (something I can’t do now as they all tend to have the same basic plot) and found myself fascinated with the antics of Nancy, Bess and George.

*I think it’s very telling that most of the books I enjoyed in my childhood centered around a spunky, stubborn, independent, clever and adventurous young girl. I think that was definitely a preview of the books I would come to enjoy as an adult (and perhaps they are partly to blame for my feminist views now!).

Honorable Mentions:
The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Lowenton Clymer
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The Mouse and the Motorcycle and the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

What are some of your favorite books from childhood? I decided to limit mine to books I read up until fifth grade as in middle school I was reading at a higher reading level and I don’t think I can consider those books “childhood” favorites. I’d love to see how many people remember some of the older books I wrote about, as none of my friends were really familiar with them!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter

It’s Tuesday again and over at The Broke and the Bookish that means it’s time for another Tuesday Top Ten! This week’s topic is the Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter. I’ve got a loooonnnnggggg to be read list, as I’m just about to finish up my last semester of grad school thus freeing me up for more reading time. So here’s the list of books I am most excited about reading this winter.

1. Little Women (and Little Men and Jo’s Boys) by Louisa May Alcott. My roommate and I have talked about all the books we read as kids and it’s made me nostalgic for some of my favorites. This one is top on my list to re-read and I’m very excited about that!

2. Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card. This one has sat on my shelf for about six months and I keep picking it up but getting distracted by other books. I vow to finally read it this winter!

3. Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead. This is the last book in the Iron Crown series and I cannot wait for this to be released. I’m dying to find out how things wrap up with Eugenie and her kingdom in the Otherworld!

4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I’ve got this on pre-order and I can’t wait for this to arrive in January. I have this feeling that this will be one of the books that I pick up from the leasing office and don’t put down until I’ve finished it.

5. 11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King. This is the first Stephen King book I can remember being actually excited about purchasing and reading. I’m not a big fan of horror or suspense so I tend to stay away from King’s books (although I do love his writing style and On Writing is my favorite writing book of all time), but I’m excited to see how he handles dive into historical/sci-fi kinda fiction.

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. This is one that I keep seeing on lists everywhere and I keep promising myself that I’ll read it. I intend to stick to this promise this time around!

7. Children in the Holocaust and World War II: their secret diaries edited by Laurel Holliday. I’ve had this book for a few months now and I’ve started it two or three different times, but school kept getting in the way. I plan on settling down on a saturday with some tea and cookies and making my way through the diary entries. I know I’ll end up crying, but that’s to be expected.

8. I just bought a book of Norse myths (can’t remember the exact title or author and it seems to have gone missing…) that I can’t wait to read through. I’m pretty well versed n Greek and Roman mythology so I figured it’s about time to learn something new! Also, I have to admit that seeing Thor may have inspired that a bit (Chris Hemsworth is just so pretty).

9. Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli. This was given to me by my supervising media specialist during my internship this fall and I need to finally sit down and read it! I loved Jerry Spinelli’s books as a kid so I can’t wait to read another one.

10. I have three or four books on freelance writing (specifically copywriting) that I really need to sit down and read. I’m trying to get into the freelance business as a way to supplement my income and help knock out my student loans. Hopefully these books will push me in the right direction. (any tips, tricks or advice from those of you out there doing the same thing would be awesome!)

What books are on our to be read list? Let me know and hopefully I’ll have even more to add to my ever-growing pile of books!