Top Ten Tuesday - July 2, 2013

I wrote a post for this two weeks ago, but then dropped the ball on hopping around, or even returning my comments. Then it felt silly to do it over a week later when I was back on here. So, my apologies for that! Things are somewhat more settled in my life (for this week anyway) so maybe I can do TTT right this time!

Top Ten Books That Intimidate Me

for me, this is definitely the classics. I feel intimated that I will get lost in the language, or that the book is waaaaay too long, so they sit on my to-read list forever and ever. The last classic I tried to read is the only book in my DNF pile, and it is because I read before bed, and I always fall asleep reading. With classics, when I wake back up I always think "what the hell was going on??" and have to re read like 10 pages to get back into it, and I will never finish a book this way!! This doesn't happen with regular books, so... I read those. Anyway, if I had to pick a top ten, it would be:

1) Watership Down - Richard Adams

I'm not sure what I find so intimidating about this book. I haven't even looked inside to see the kind of language it is written in, and it's not even that long, coming in at under 500 pages. But, I never even think to pick it up when it's time to chose a new book.

2) Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackery

This one might have to do with size. When I first got my ereader I remember thinking I would finally really all the huge books I had been avoiding because size/weight wouldn't matter. That was obviously false. This remains unread.

3) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson

I have seen the movie for this already. And that was confusing as hell. I can only imagine what an acid trip this book must be, and I'm pretty sure I won't understand anything.

4) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

I don't know why I feel intimidated by this one, but I do. Again, I fear that I won't understand it.

5) Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote

This, I have put off because I heard that the book Holly and Audrey's Holly are a little different, and I'm not sure I want to spoil the Holly I have loved for so long. Maybe someday...

6) Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace

This book is a behemoth. Ain't nobody got time for that.

7) The Hobbit / The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - J. R. R. Tolkien

Once, many years ago, I actually started the Hobbit. And I was confused as hell. Since then, I have seen all the LOTR movies, and read (and loved) other many character confusing books (like the fire & ice series). I think I am ready for a second go at these books, and I own them all, it's just, when?

8) Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Another book that it just. so. big! It's hard to commit to such a long book. That last 1000+ page book I read was Under The Dome, and it took me forever to read!

9) Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Some people love it, and other hate it, so I just put it off. Oh well, again, maybe someday!

The 9 I have taken directly from my TBR list, and number 10 is one that never made it, because I'm pretty sure I will never actually read it, but:

10) War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

My god, this is a looong book!

Top Ten Tuesday - June 18, 2013

Been awhile since I participated on one of these, but that's okay!

Top Ten Books to Read this Summer. (June - August)

1. Feed
2. On the Jellicoe Road
3. Under the Never Sky
4. Twenties Girl
5. Wanderlove
6. Beautiful Creatures
7. Before I Fall
8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
9. Fight Club
10. A Clockwork Orange
11. The Luxe
12. Last Little Blue Envelope
13. The Adoration of Jenna Fox
14. Requiem
15. A Storm of Swords

I already made my summer reading list, and rather than eliminate a few, I just put them all up. I have been working towards all my challenge lists, and most of them come from those, except two (Requiem and Storm of Swords), but I just really want to read those ones.

Top Ten Tuesday - March 26, 2013

This week I am finally getting back on track with blogging. I should change this blog's title to Imma Busyworm as I have had so little time! Very exciting news happened this weekend though, and that is there was a new baby added to our family! BF's sister had a little boy named Sawyer Kai (Sawyer is a great bookish name, don't you think?!) He is so adorable! This is my 3rd nephew (and I have a niece too) but the first on BF's side of the family (plus, I don't live where my brother does, so I don't get to see his children very often at all). Anyway, he is wonderful, and my bathrooms still didn't get cleaned this weekend!! haha, oh well!!

But, this list only takes a moment to write up, because this week's topic is a good one (plus, I can write this whenever because the Bookish Girls are great and put the topics up very far in advance - thanks!) If you would like to participate in Top Ten Tuesday hosted over at the Broke and the Bookish, you can get all the details here.

Top Ten  Books I Recommend The Most

1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2) Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin

3) The Host by Stephenie Meyer

4) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

6) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

7) Knocked Up by Rebecca Eckler

8) Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

9) How I Paid for College by Marc Acito

10) And last, (obviously if someone hasn't read them, I talk about them excessively until they agree to read them) all the Harry Potter books

Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Volume 4

Hello! Back on schedule now :) This week's topic for the Top Ten Tuesday List is:

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of

I had to put some thought into this list, because I don't actually care much about where a book is set, but I wanted to give this list my best, so:

1) Hogwarts!

I would so love for Rowling to write another book set in Hogwarts. I'm permanently craving more Hogwarts!

2) 1800 and 1900's

I know there are tons in this time period, and I have lots on my TBR list as well, but I haven't read them yet!

3) Books set in England that are kind of about just being in England

Tons of books are in England, but not a lot really discuss it that I have read.

4) Boarding school

Think Anna and the French Kiss kind of boarding school. I thought that was a great setting and wouldn't mind reading another book like that.

5) Exotic locations

Who doesn't love a book that makes it seem like your living in paradise??

Well, that's really all I can think of! Looking forward to everyone else's lists!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new Top Ten list  that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Volume 3

OK, so I know this is 6 days late, but I wanted to get it up anyway, even if not one ends up reading it! So, the topic for January 15th was:

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

I'm always one of the last ones to respond to Debut authors, so my list is actually non-existent (not because I don't like them, but more so because I'm in a perpetual spiral of attempting to catch up on other books and I always am the last to know about new books!) There is only one book that I have my eye on that's by a debut author and that is:

Splintered by A.G Howard. This book looks gorgeous and sounds awesome, so I'm definitely hoping to get this one.

Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Volume 2

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new fun Top Ten list topic so we can all get to know one another. This week's list is:

Top Ten Bookish Goals For 2013

1) Complete my Goodreads challenge of 75 books this year. That is a lot for me considering I work a full time, and a part time job, and I'm in school. That's reading 1.442 books per week, and I guess technically I'm already behind. I'm reading a big book, but it still only counts as one.

2) Stick to the posting schedule I created. I think its really realistic, and leaves a lot of freedom to post whatever I'm feeling like at the time.

3) Really concentrate on my challenges lists, but not to the point where I'm feeling burdened by it.

4) Get rid of my old books that I know I'm never going to read again. This will be a hard one for me, but I think that my books will be better served being donated to the hospital or a womens shelter than collecting dust on my shelf. Obviously I have some important ones I will hold onto, but I think its time to part with all the bargain bin chick lit I have bought, and give them to someone who might actually read them again (cause I know I won't!)

5) Stop buying books for the sake of buying. If I want a book really badly so I can read it right away, sure. But I have over 100 unread books in my possession, and I don't need anymore right now just because they are on the sale table!

6) Find some more books for BF to read. He likes to read a little bit, but he needs to be given the book. He has an ereader, and I have to load it for him and tell him "read this one now" for him to do it. He has read the Harry Potter books, and the Hunger Games series, and the Steve Job bio recently, but I don't know what to put on there next for him. Giving him a series is easiest, but he doesn't like books with too much teen girl lust in it. Any suggestions? I gave him Tucker Max most recently and I think he needs something with an actual story line to go to next.

That's all I can think of really, my goals are a bit long, so I think 6 is enough! Looking forward to seeing what everyone else thinks of!

Top Ten Tuesday 2013 Edition, Vol. 1

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new fun Top Ten list topic so we can all get to know one another. I routinely participate in this, but have not for awhile. I'm hoping to be better at my participation, but I say that a lot... so we'll see! The first edition for 2013 is:

Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013

1) Life of Pi - Yann Martel

I have been saying I was going to read this book for so long. It was on one of my challenge lists for last year, and its there again this year as I still haven't read it... It WILL get read this year. And most likely very soon.

2) City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare

I have been dying to get on with this series, and I haven't bought this book yet! I got some Xmas gift certificates, and I am definitely getting this one!

3) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

I wanted to get this before it even came out, and I pre ordered it, and I still haven't touched it! Getting to this one soon I hope!

4) ...Then He Ate My Boy Entrances - Louise Rennison

I love this series, but I seriously feel like I have been trying to finish reading it forever. I think its just time to get through them and be done with it. They are starting to feel like a burden I feel so bad that its taken me so long to read them all.

5) Glory In Death - J.D. Robb

Since this series is such a behemoth, I really need to keep going, or I might as well not bother!

6) The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

I started this book sometime this year, and I just couldn't get into it. But this year, I will try again!

7) Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

I have been meaning to read this since I wanted to see the movie (which I have also held off reading). I am going to get to it this year!

Other than that, I just really want to do a good job on the challenge lists I made. I plan to try really hard to get to all of them (although I don't even know how many I have actually listed there...) I want to do them justice since I put so much work into making them!

You can see my post about 2013 Challenges here

Top Ten Tuesday - November 6, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie! I'm going to choose a topic that was done while I wasn't participating in this, and that is:

Top Ten Fictional BFF's

1) Jessica Darling from the Jessica Darling Series by Megan McCafferty

Jessica Darling kind of reminds me of a mix between me and some of my other friends from high school. I could totally see us being BFF.

2) Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Who wouldn't want to be BFF with Ron?? Sure Harry and Hermione are more useful, but I consider myself to be plenty useful, and comic relief is sooo much more important.

3) Jessica Wakefield from the Sweet Valley Series' by Francine Pascal

Popular Jessica Wakefield, if I were friends with her than that would mean that I probably fulfilled one of my childhood dreams of being part of The Unicorns. So yeah, BFF for sure.

4) Sookie Stackhouse from the Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris

I don't want to be burdened with being able to read minds, but it sure would be helpful to have a friend that could!

5) Tessa Gray from The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare

I'm not totally sure what drew me so much to Tessa, but I really liked her character and can easily see myself being friends with her.

6) McLean Sweet from Whatever Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Same thing goes for McLean, not sure why, but she was definitely BFF material.

7) Georgia Nicolson from the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson Series by Louise Rennison

More comic relief for my ever so dull life. Georgia definitely knows how to keep things dramatic!

8) Jacob Black from the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

Jacob is a hottie wolf, and well, that's enough for me!

9) Claudia Bloom from Tart by Jody Gehrman

Claudia needs me for a BFF, she needs help from someone! I really identified with her (and she is the only person on my list that is my age!)

10) Liz Lemon from 30 Rock (not a book, but she is seriously the best!)

My BF is always joking that Liz Lemon could be me, we are very similar!

Top Ten Tuesday - October 30, 2012

Hey Everyone!

Before I get into my top ten this week, I just wanted to let you know that I have a giveaway going on right now! You can enter to win a free book of your choice (I'm going to pick 3 different winners, and then let them choose in in order of the draw). You can enter here!

Now onto the fun!

This week`s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, has the topis:

Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

1) Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


2) Wanderer from The Host


3) Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy


4) Elena from Women of the Otherworld


5) Hermione Granger from Harry Potter


6) Tris Prior from Divergent

(I have to say that I don`t know if I like this casting choice...)

That`s all I can really think of, and even most of these choices feel a little forced. I have been reading the same two books for what feels like forever (A Game of Thrones and Under The Dome) and they are both so long. I`m liking them both, but I`m craving a new read. I`m making myself finish at least one of them before starting something new though! I want to read all the books now!! 

Looking forward to everyone else`s lists!

100 Followers Giveaway!!!

First, let me say that I can't actually believe that I have more than 100 followers. I have been writing this blog for the better part of a year and a half, and as much as I has always hoped people would follow it, I do it because I like doing it, and if people follow, that's just a bonus!

However, since I have started getting more followers, and my stats have shown me that people might actually be READING what I'm writing, I can honestly say that it increases my enjoyment of putting this stuff out there even more. Not one of my followers do I know in real life (at least I don't think I do!) and that makes me feel even better about having you choose to read my blog! In an effort to say thank you, I'm going to be putting together a small giveaway.

I don't have a whole lot to offer right now, as we are moving this week, we are stretched pretty tight financially as far as cash flow goes. (Lawyers, and closing costs, and movers, and alllll that other great stuff that goes along with moving costs A LOT of money!!) But, I do have some older books that could definitely use a great new home.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So if you like, enter, and if you know someone else who might like these books, pass the link along! Or enter to see if you can win and then give a book as a Christmas gift! Books are the sexiest gift, new or used!

Thanks for entering and being a fan of my blog. I really, truly, from the bottom of my heart appreciate it.

Also, I wanted to say a special thanks to Parajunkee, Alison Can Read, and the girls at The Broke and The Bookish for hosting their weekly memes, as without those I never would have reached my first blogging milestone.

Top Ten Tuesday - October 23rd 2012

Hello Everyone!

Another Tuesday is here, therefore another Top Ten Tuesday post is too! This week's list is:

Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit

I'm not sure I'll actually be able to get a full 10 on this list using only books I have read, so I might pick some books that I think seem like they would get one in the Halloween spirit! So, here goes:

Books I have Actually Read

1) The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

These books have all kinds of creatures that go bump in the night, so they are perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit!

2) The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

The town of Fell's Church seems like it is in permanent Halloween status!

3) Sweet Valley Halloween Books

These books were everything to me growing up, and since I thought the genie costume on the front of the 'Kids' edition was THE BEST costume ever, it would feel wrong not to include these.

That's about all I can think of for books I have read. I'm not going to include paranormal books just because they are paranormal. I only picked ones that really have that Halloween feel. So, some from my TBR list that seem like they also might are:

4) The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Creepiest sounding title anyway! 

5) Feed by Mira Grant

Nothing else from paranormal feels as Halloween to me as zombies!

6) Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake

Again, just sounds creepy!

7) Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

The cover for me is pretty Halloween

8) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michell Hodkin

This books sounds pretty stange and creepy

9) Hannibal Lecter Series by Thomas Harris

If these books are not the most frightening thing ever (I saw glimpses of the movie) I don't know what is!

10) Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Seems creepy on a relatively endearing level