Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie Week - 10 Books We Want to See on Screen

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature and a regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!

Top 10 Books We Want to See on Screen

This week is a freebie week, meaning we get to choose what kinds of lists we want. We wanted to list books we'd love to see on a screen! What books would you love to see come to your screen?

1. The Summer Series by Jenny Han

2. Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready

3. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

4. The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater

5. Soul Screamers Series by Rachel Vincent

1. Daughter of the Moon Series by Lynne Ewing

2. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

3. Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

4. Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot

5. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

Top Ten Tuesday: All Time Favorite Authors

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature and a regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!

Top 10 Favourite Authors

It is tough to narrow down to even 10 authors, let alone 5 since I’m sharing my Top 10 with my sister, but I’ll do it...

1. Lucy Maud Montgomery
2. Lisa See
3. Philippa Gregory
4. JK Rowling
5. Paulo Coelho

I’m all distressed. Liza started before me and took one of my all time favorites - this is what happens when you’re not the early bird!

Here are favorites (not necessarily in order):

1. Louisa May Alcott
2. Meg Cabot
3. Brian Jacques
4. Sarah Addison Allen
5. Sue Monk Kidd

Top Ten Tuesday: Inspiring Quotes from Books

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature and a regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!


            

               TOP TEN INSPIRING QUOTES FROM BOOKS

1. “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.” Jane Eyre (Bronte). | Why: You’ll find this quote often on my tumblr, twitter, facebook, and so on. It’s one of my hands down favorite quotes of all time. Jane Eyre has been a favorite since I had to read it in High School. The strength of Jane’s moral character, her strength to be free and to be strong in doing so is expressed so clearly in this line. It definitely always resonated with me. I need to be the captain of my own ship, I got my eye on the horizon, and while the rocky waters might slow me down - I’ll get there on my own damn terms, thank you very much! This quote is just one of many things that fuels my journey onward.
2. “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett). | Why: A poetically put twist on ‘Half glass full’ within the context of a classic, children’s book. One of my personal favorites. Miss Mary (not at all contrary!) was always a favorite of mine.
3. “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” A Fault In Our Stars (John Green) | Why: I am a book lover. And there have been SOOO many times that I’ve experienced that weird evangelical zeal. Hell, I experienced it with The Fault In Our Stars. You can’t sleep. You can’t think of anything else. It becomes the adult version of a blankie that you have to carry with you at all times. This book that has overtaken your heart, soul, and BRAINNNN is the best thing that has ever happened to you and you have to tell it on the mountain! Yea, this quote expresses that emotion.
4. “She was made up of more, too. She was the books she read in the library. She was the flower in the brown bowl. Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with her brother whom she loved dearly. She was Katie's secret, despairing weeping. She was the shame of her father stumbling home drunk. She was all of these things and of something more...It was what God or whatever is His equivalent puts into each soul that is given life - the one different thing such as that which makes no two fingerprints on the face of the earth alike.” A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Betty Smith) | Why: We are all made up of different things. Our parts piece together from the ground and the sky and the stuff in between to make up who we are. Betty Smith eloquently and simply puts that when describing her main character. We are all the good and bad, the heritage in our blood, the future out of our sight. We are unique. And no one is a-like. And if you think different or you’re feeling down - come back, read that quote, and remember you’re you and being you is a good place to be.
5. “
Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. An intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you'll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.” White Oleander (Janet Fitch) | Why: This quote is a bit dark but truthful. What always bring me strength and hope from this quote is the end. “The best you’ll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.”. The fact is, unless it’s the case of a soulmate, you aren’t going to find someone who understands you. The desire to find someone who understands you stems from the need to find someone to complete you. To be your other-half. And that’s a rare thing indeed (hence mostly-only true in the case of soulmates). So what do you do? Understand yourself, figure out what you want, and go for it. Just do yourself and the world around you a favor - be as positive as you can, lol, and don’t go killing your ex-douchebag-lovers!

1. "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut (God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater) This definitely is self-explanatory, I think! :)
2. “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn't quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” - Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar) This is a long one, but even though I'll be 30 in a few days, this resonates with me just as much as it did as a teen.
3. “Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” Paulo Coelho (By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept) Right in the feels, right? Paulo Coelho is amazing at that. This is my favourite book of his.
4. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) Such a true and meaningful quote. I love this series and J.K. Rowling.
5. “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” - J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) Another HP quote. I probably could go on and on with these, because the book series was full of wisdom and memorable quotes.

Waiting on Wednesday: A School for Unusual Girls & Daughter of Deep Silence

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It puts a spotlight on upcoming releases we're anticipating! 

A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS (STRANJE HOUSE #1) BY KATHLEEN BALDWIN
Release Date: May 19th 2015

It’s 1814. Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, has become one of Regency England’s dark little secrets. The daughters of the beau monde who don't fit high society’s constrictive mold are banished to Stranje House to be reformed into marriageable young ladies. Or so their parents think. In truth, Headmistress Emma Stranje, the original unusual girl, has plans for the young ladies—plans that entangle the girls in the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war.
After accidentally setting her father’s stables on fire while performing a scientific experiment, Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is sent to Stranje House. But Georgie has no intention of being turned into a simpering, pudding-headed, marriageable miss. She plans to escape as soon as possible—until she meets Lord Sebastian Wyatt. Thrust together in a desperate mission to invent a new invisible ink for the English war effort, Georgie and Sebastian must find a way to work together without losing their heads—or their hearts...

The description reminded me a little of an episode of one of my favourite shows on television right now, The Musketeers (BBC). The idea of women going behind the scenes and doing great things -- one of the episodes actually played with that idea. Anyway, it sounds like an exciting and interesting book and I can't wait to read it!

DAUGHTER OF DEEP SILENCE BY CARRIE RYAN
Release Date: June 2nd 2015

In the wake of the devastating destruction of the luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace knows the terrifying truth, and she’ll stop at nothing to avenge the murders of everyone she held dear. Even if it means taking down the boy she loves and possibly losing herself in the process. Sharp and incisive, Daughter of Deep Silence by bestselling author Carrie Ryan is a deliciously smart revenge thriller that examines perceptions of identity, love, and the lengths to which one girl is willing to go when she thinks she has nothing to lose. 

Liza put me in the direction of this book. I'm not going to lie - I don't think I've ever heard of this author. She's definitely caught my eye. 'Daughter of Deep Silence' intrigues me from the title alone. Then there's the whole lover of her enemy and friend to a dead girl thing. Very enticing!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Thing About Jellyfish & Neverland

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It puts a spotlight on upcoming releases we're anticipating! 

THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH BY ALI BENJAMIN
Release Date: September 22nd 2015

After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy was a rare jellyfish sting. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.

The Thing About Jellyfish sounds like it is bound to be a touching story. It's definitely one that I'm looking forward to reading with my daughter later this year!

NEVERLAND BY SHARI ARNOLD 
Release Date: April 7th 2015

It’s been four months since seventeen-year-old Livy Cloud lost her younger sister, but she isn’t quite ready to move on with her life — not even close. She’d rather spend her time at the Seattle Children’s hospital, reading to the patients and holding onto memories of the sister who was everything to her and more.
But when she meets the mysterious and illusive Meyer she is drawn into a world of adventure, a world where questions abound.
Is she ready to live life without her sister? Or more importantly, is she brave enough to love again?
In this modern reimagining of Peter Pan, will Livy lose herself to Neverland or will she find what she’s been searching for? 

I was instinctively drawn to the synopsis of the book. I have a special, tender place in my heart for fairy tales - especially Peter Pan. The MC - Livy Cloud (love that name!) - lost her sister four months ago. She’s having trouble moving on...and then she meets a mysterious boy called Meyer. I’m guessing Meyer is ‘Peter Pan’. I’m attracted to the potential of a modern fairy tale paralleling a real life emotional journey (in this case - grief and the loss of a loved one). It’s being released April 7th and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on it with you!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Was “Forced” to Read

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature/regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!

Top Ten Books I Was Forced to Read

Well, I was lucky in a sense because I was homeschooled for a large part of my education. It expanded my freedom of reading material, but sometimes I "had" to read something anyways, just because it's one of those stepping stones you need to do to learn. 

1. Candide by Voltaire: This is the most recent book that I was forced to read. I had a History class last semester and this was required reading for a paper. I found it to be not only interesting and thoughtful, but very funny! I regret not having read it sooner. 

2. The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead: Yes, I was basically forced to read this. I checked the first book out numerous times and kept thinking I grabbed the wrong book and would put it down. I was assured that it was the right book and that I would catch on. I did and I'm very glad I took the time to get past the first few chapters. 

3. The Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready: Yet another series I was encouraged strongly to read. Hands down the best decision ever, because it became an instant favourite. 

4. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: This is one my Mother bought me when I was young and made me read. I didn't live with her at the time and I was about 7 and had just spent the summer with her, but was getting ready to road trip back to Iowa from Colorado. I hated leaving my Mom. So, naturally I cried the entire drive back, but it was double the tears because this was a very sad story! 

5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Required to read it in school and I am very happy it was required reading material, because I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters! 


6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Forced reading and I absolutely despised it. I have heard that the outlook on the story can change with age, so maybe in the next few years I'll re-visit it and see if my perception changes... For now, the "wtf these characters are all horrible and nasty" is still clear enough in my mind. 

7. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: The first time I read this was in 2005 when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had went to Russia for the summer and ended up staying for the rest of the year and my mother in-law bought it for me and told me I had to read it. I wasn't actually very keen on reading it at the time, even though it's basically a classic and I like to read a classic at least once. I eventually read it out of pure boredom because it was the only English book I had lying around and I ended up liking it alright. 

8. The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint: My best friend begged me to read this book for a while and I finally did. It was quite a few years ago, but I really remember loving it. I remember the general story, but a lot of the details are rusty. I'd like to pick it up again sometime and read it. 

9. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden: This was definitely a "it's so popular, everyone is reading it, I need to read it before the movie comes out" type of deal. I absolutely freaking loved it. In fact, I ran across a copy of it yesterday at my local library's used book section and snagged a hardcover of it for $1 and I read the ending this evening. Sayuri + Chairman = heart melting. 

10.  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: A required read which became a favourite story of mine. I know I am at 10, but Jane Eyre needs an honourable mention, because it was another required school read and I ended up loving it as well. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As a Movie/TV Show

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature/regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!

 Top Ten Books I Would Love to See As a Movie/Tv Show

Well, I have been lucky, both Vampire Academy and Divergent are coming out next year! I've heard Hush, Hush might be seriously becoming a film as well, and there are a handful of others soon: The Book Thief and The Fault in Our Stars are two that I'm eager to see as well. As you will be able to tell by this post I am quite the fan of television. And I am. When I'm not re-watching episodes of Buffy, Roswell or any of the other shows from my teen years I'm watching Pretty Little Liars (Me+Wren=Love), Once Upon a Time (Me+Hook+PrincePhillip=I'minheavenomg), Revenge, Parenthood, Scandal and pretty much any show that looks good.

1. The Summer Series by Jenny Han: This would be the perfect teen summer flick. This needs to happen. It could even make a good television series! It'd be better than Dawson's Creek! 

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: I love this book. This would be like Passport to Paris, but way better. (I just watched Passport to Paris not too long ago with my daughter and it was a ride down memory lane!)

3. The Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready: My favourite series pretty much ever and needs no further comment.

4. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick: I really love this book and I definitely feel it could translate to the big screen well. 

5. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins: A stand-alone that was meant to be a series (but isn't happening *insert my saaaalty crocodile tears* at least not anytime soon) could be the start of a good show for ABC Family. Hint, ABC Family. Make it happen.

6. The Mythos Academy Series by Jennifer Estep: This would make a really good paranormal television show! I really love this series!

7. The Covenant Series by Jennifer L Armentrout: This could make a great television series as well. I just really need a mythological show to watch. Her Lux series could also be a hot show. I would watch it with loving obsession.

8. The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series by Maggie Stiefvater: Anything by Maggie Steifvater in a film version would be amazing!

9. The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E Smith: I really loved this book and I think this could definitely make a beautiful transition to the big screen! 

10. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot: I seriously love this series. So hard! I really wished I owned the whole set of them. Actually, I do, but they're at my mother in-laws in another country. Very sad! I think this series could make a really good television show as well! 

Waiting on Wednesday: This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It puts a spotlight on upcoming releases we're anticipating! 

THIS SIDE OF SALVATION BY JERI SMITH-READY
Release Date: April 1st 2014

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined... - Good Reads

I need this now because this is what comes out of Jeri Smith-Ready's fingers / mind: 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It puts a spotlight on upcoming releases we're anticipating! 

THE GEOGRAPHY OF YOU AND ME BY JENNIFER E. SMITH
Release Date: April 15th 2014

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.
Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.
A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too. - Good Reads

I absolutely loved This Is What Happy Looks Like and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I need to read this NOW! I don't want to wait until April 15th! 

Waiting on Wednesday: Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Waiting on Wednesdays is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It puts a spotlight on upcoming releases we're anticipating! 

LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD BY AVA DELLAIRA
Release Date: April 1st 2014

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because she thought he’d understand since he died young just like her sister, May, did. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people—Janis Joplin, Amy Winhouse, Ameilia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more—although she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about what it’s like going to a new school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time, how her family splinters apart after May dies. She even writes about the abuse she suffered—while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May, and to see her as the person she was: lovely and amazing and deeply flawed. - Good Reads

I love pretty covers and of course that was my original draw to this book, plus the title! And reading the description, it sounds like it's very much up my alley! I can't wait to read it. 

Meme: Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is an original feature/regular meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish!

 Top Ten Things That Make Your Life As A Reader/Book Blogger Easier

I can't wait to see everyone's posts this week! Hopefully I'll learn something new!

1. The Library: Libraries are amazing. I especially love that there are online catalogs. I can log on, download e-books, audio books or I can open up my GoodReads to-read list and search for books I'd like to read and request them! I love going in and having all my books waiting for me. I love libraries, but I don't like imposing on anyone trying to find some peace and quiet in the library with my spawns of uncontrollable noise (my children).

2. BlogLovin'. I recently came back to blogging after a long break and discovered BlogLovin'. I really love the layout of it and I've been subscribing like a madwoman! It's so much better than my Blogger feed! Leave me a link to your blog on BlogLovin' and I'll follow! 

3. RaffleCopter: Makes giveaways incredibly easy peasy. Heck yeah!

4. Kindle: I have moved. A lot. And when I say a lot, I really mean it. In the past year I've lived in Russia for a while, Colorado, Kansas and then we finally drove our car to Virginia and settled here last month and it's not out of the cards that we might leave the country again in the next year. My Kindle really keeps me happy because my books stay with me and not left behind because they are too bulky or heavy to drag along. I did have a dark moment last year with my Kindle though. It died completely on me in Moscow at my cousins right before a flight to New York. It was very, very sad. I wouldn't be lying if I said I might have shed a tear or two.

5. GoodReads: As I mentioned in #1, Goodreads. I'm 100% sure anyone reading this post is aware of GR since it's such a valuable website for those of us who love to read. It's great for keeping track of what you have read and what you would like to read. Before I read a book I always go to GoodReads and check the rating. Most of the time I scroll down and see what some of the people on my friends list had to say before/during or after I've read. I love exchanging opinions with others on what I've read and that is why I began book blogging. 

6. Twitter: If you do not have a twitter account, wait no longer. Go sign up! It's so, so important if you want to keep up with other bloggers, authors, publishing companies, etc. People tweet book news, news relevant to the books, giveaways, reviews, etc. Tons of great material to be had there, as well as a chance to spread the word of your blog! I have had some really fun conversations on twitter!

7. Amazon.com and The Book Depository: Amazon.com is where I go for all my e-books, of course. I also sometimes buy used books there as well. For instance, my IRL bestie needs to read Vampire Academy or else we decided last night on the phone, so I hopped over to Amazon while we were talking and ordered it for her for $4. Total. With shipping! The Book Depository ships to many, many countries for free. And sometimes the deals there are really good. I love using them for giveaways, because it opens up the giveaways to international readers because the shipping is free and therefor affordable!

8. Calendar: I'm no longer planning on really bogging myself down with ARCS, because that is a part of what burnt me out and caused me to take a break. Now I only request on NetGalley if I really want to read something and not because I feel I have to to keep up or be successful or what have you. But for those requests, a calendar can be a very useful tool in reminding you when you post a review. Especially helpful if you use Blogger, because my schedule post "helper" has been acting like a dick lately and I have to double check it posts because it's so unreliable. 

9. Nap Time: I'm running out of helpful suggestions, so I'll definitely say that for those of us who have children, nap time is a very beneficial time to get in some blogging and reading!

10. Coffee: The energy it gives is undeniable! And one of my favourite things to do upon waking is to get a cup and sit at my laptop to see what's new with all the blogs I love to read! 

Link me your Top Ten Tuesdays! I want to see!