Top Ten Tuesday: Childhood Favorites

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Julius, Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes : This was just absolutely hilarious to me first-grader self. I think I really identified with it because when my little brother was born, I sort of look down on him with animosity at first because I was jealous.

2. The Magic Tree House #20: Dingos at Dinnertime by Mary Pope Osborne : This book was really the stepping stone between pictures books and chapter books for me. I remember finding it in a stack of books my older cousin gave me, back when I still had never read "a real book without pictures" before. I got hooked and went through the rest of the series at the time.

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling : Must I even explain how important this book has been in my life? This is where it all started, where I realized that I loved reading. I grew up with Harry in a sense, since I discovered his world when I was only six.

4. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner : These had such a pivotal role in whetting my appetite for mystery.

5. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis : I happened on Narnia by chance. I didn't find Narnia through a wardrobe, but I did find it in a stack of my teacher's books when I needed to find a book for independent reading. Along with Harry Potter, the world of Narnia has since then been one of my favorite places to return to.

6. Nancy Drew: Nancy's Mysterious Letter by Carolyn Keene : I LOVED Nancy and I still do. I went through all of them in a matter of months (quite a feat for my young age)

7. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator : ASoUE, while grim for children's books, always fascinated me because of its three protagonists. The Ersatz Elevator is probably my favorite because I felt like it was the most inventive and engaging.

8. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine : I've read this 5x, I swear. My favorite adaptation of Cinderella.

9. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie : Magic and never growing up! I think I've always appreciated fairy tales with a darker edge. I'm a fan of the real Peter Pan over Disney's version of him.

10. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale : I think I went through a phase where I just really loved stories about magic and princesses mixed with a bit of darkness. The Goose Girl can also easily be appreciated by any teenager, I think.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Unread on my Shelf

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte : I don't know how I haven't gotten around to this yet! My interested in Jane Eyre was piqued by the most recent film adaptation starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. I've always been a bit wary of the Brontes because of the darker tones their writings possess, but I think it would be a good challenge for me. And there's the fact that Jane is me or I am Jane...

2. Juliet by Anne Fortier : Modern Romeo and Juliet?! I also don't know how I've just let this one sit on my shelf for so long. I've heard mixed things about this, so maybe that's why I haven't opened it yet.

3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern : A circus, magic, and romance- all enticing things in one acclaimed bestseller- I'm just going to stop saying I don't know how I haven't finished this yet.

4. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro : Luckily, I've chosen to read this one for my English class this month, so I should have a review up when I'm done!

5. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay : I've also heard good things about this one, and I believe the movie adaptation has come out, or is coming soon.

6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson : Do I even have to explain why this is another book that I should have already read? Two movie adaptations, lots of talk, strong female character...

7. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen : I think Dessen's books are always kind of hit-and-miss. I love This Lullaby and Just Listen but was not really a fan of Lock and Key. I think I stopped reading What Happened to Goodbye because the beginning was a bit slow.

8. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: One of my favorite series of all time is the Gemma Doyle trilogy. I think Bray's forays into the modern world (as seen in Beauty Queens and Going Bovine) are just something that I have to get used to, since I was really drawn to her writing in Gemma Doyle.

9. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto : Most of the reviews I've read about this one haven't been particularly favorable, calling it another Twilight with a cliche supernatural romance and vapid female narrator. At the same time, the whole concept of angels really does interest me.

10. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie : A mystery classic! I'm a sucker for mysteries.

I plan on getting to all of these... eventually!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want To See Become Movies

 Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray : I was so disappointed when production on this was dropped.

2. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford : WWII Romeo and Juliet with Asian Americans - heart-wrenchingly good. It would probably be one of those movies you'd need to have a box of tissues with you to get through.

3. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale : This has been one of my favorite books for years and I feel like it's been forever since a fairytale-esque movie without dark/supernatural undertones was made.

4. Gone by Michael Grant : Do I even have to explain why this would be an awesome movie? No adults, kids with powers, action and suspense, survival?

5. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer : Another great series that has been around for a long time, and has the potential to be a great set of fantasy/suspense movies.

6. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin : I could see this as a heartwarming indie flick.

7. White Cat by Holly Black : I'd love to see Black's world of magic mixed with mafia on screen

8. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare : City of Bones is going to be a movie, but I'd be really interested in a Clockwork Angel film. A steam-punk, demon-killing action combination set in Victorian London. It just sounds like a great movie premise. 

9. Maximum Ride by James Patterson : A family of mutant flying children on the run? Sarcastic, witty dialogue and interactions? Yes!

10. Catching Fire/Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins : I know I'm slightly cheating with this one, since The Hunger Games is in production, and the rest of the trilogy will most likely follow. But... :] I'm still a bit wary of the casting choices so far, but I'll have to wait til I see the actual movie (or even the trailer).

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Bookish Pet Peeves

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

 

1. Excessive/the same adjectives: I feel like authors have been doing this a lot lately to describe their characters for the sake of making them seem more attractive or "exotic" (cough Stephenie Meyer cough). "Velvety" "Marble" etc.

2. Stickers on books: I hate this. The residue they leave on covers is annoying, and it takes forever to sit there and slowly peel them off.

3. Cheesy Dialogue: Who wants to read the same, predictable lines over and over again? Especially the "I love you but we can't be together *because I'm a vampire/werewolf/fallen angel*" and its derivatives.

4. Characters who whine: Books are incredibly difficult to get through when the main character won't stop complaining and her streams of incessant whining just ring in your ears; it's hard for me to keep on if I can't stand the main character.

5. Grammar Errors: A couple mistakes are understandable. But I expect published books to be pretty polished since they go through rounds of professional editing.

6. The Trend: I find the increasing amount of paranormal/supernatural/vampire novels after Twilight, and now those of the dystopian genre following The Hunger Games, to be overbearing and unnecessary. If the author really does have their own take on the genre, then great. But if it's another generic vampire/werewolf story just to sell...

7. Sudden love: When the characters fall in love inexplicably at first sight and all you can think is.. Huh? How did that happen? It's so unnatural and jarring, but unfortunately has been occurring a lot in books these days.

8. Loose ends: I dislike endings that just completely seem to cut off the plot and you're left with all these unanswered questions.

9. Love Triangles: I'm starting to get a bit tired of these drawn-out triangles, especially in stories where two characters are obviously meant for each other but the third is just thrown in there for the sake of having a love triangle. And the whole Team A or Team B thing? Agh.

10. Shiny paperbacks: This honestly isn't too terrible, and I own tons of shiny paperbooks and manage to not throw a fit. I just don't especially like how they collect smudges and fingerprints so easily. But I can live with them!

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I Would Want as Family Members

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .
This is my first time participating and I'm excited to keep up with it every week!

1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter): I really have grown up with Hermione in a way and already feel as if we've always been sisters nearly my entire life. I love her compassionate and understanding character, as well as her intelligence and determination. We have a lot in common - like our love for books- and I definitely look up to her as a role model. We'd have great conversations all night long!

2. Peter Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia): I've always wanted a protective older brother, and Peter's done a great job demonstrating that he is exactly that with his three younger siblings! Plus, who wouldn't want to be siblings with the High King of Narnia?

3. Lucy Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia) : I would love Lucy as a little sister. But I've always found her to be an inspiring character in all her innocence and love for others, as well as in her great faith. I think that I'd have more to learn from her in the end.

4. Mrs. Weasley (Harry Potter): If I could just adopt the entire Weasley family, I would. But time and time again Mrs. Weasley has demonstrated how much she truly cares for her children. Let's not forget her duel with Bellatrix  :) Also, I want yearly homemade Christmas sweaters!

5. Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson + The Olympians): A brother with super-cool demigod powers? Yes please. It'd also be good to have his humor and sarcasm around to liven things up.

6. Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice): I adore her relationship with Jane and can see myself constantly turning to her for sisterly advice. I'd also come to her with all my snarky comments about society and love to hear all of her witty replies. She'd be the strong, older sister in the family. Darcy as a brother-in-law would be an added bonus.

7. Jem Carstairs (Clockwork Angel): Jem would be the supportive cousin I'd go to if I needed someone to listen to all my problems. I love how he's quiet but surprisingly funny.

8. Mr. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice): A father who stands up for his daughters! I love how supportive he was of Elizabeth and his genuine concern for her happiness.

9.Sunny Baudelaire (Series of Unfortunate Events): One word: adorable. As long as she stays away from my hair.

10. Peeta Mellark (Hunger Games): Husband much, much later? :)