Top Ten Tuesday - Beach Bag Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week the topic is "Top Ten Books that Should be in a Beach Bag."   A fitting topic for the official start of the summer.  I'm actually in the process of packing for Disney World and obviously I'll be packing some books.  And while I thought of some great books that could go in my beach bag, I've read most of the ones that I thought of.  So, the books on my list won't be going with me, but they're still great beach reading!

1.  Harry Potter series -- Who doesn't love the adventures of the boy wizard?  Definitely not me!  I absolutely love the series.  And it's a fairly easy read in terms of reading level.

2. John Grisham -- Classic beach read!  Action/adventure/mystery/suspense all right there with uncomplicated prose.  Perfect for the those lazy days in the sun.

3. Stephen King -- Same reasons as John Grisham but with supernatural fun!

4. Christopher Moore -- Want some supernatural story with a lot of comedy, definitely pick up some Moore.  I especially loved A Dirty Job!

5. Love Finds You series (various authors) -- As many issues as I have with Christian romance, this series is pretty good with light romance.  Plus no graphic sex scenes for your beach time.

6. MaryJanice Davidson -- Especially her Sleeping with the Fishes trilogy.  Mermaids and marine biologists... perfect for the beach.

7. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies trilogy -- The real Jane Austen might be a bit heavy for beach reading.  So go for this wonderful romp through Regency England with zombies!  (You know I had to include a zombie book!)

8. Katie MacAlister -- If you want paranormal romance with sex, I say pick up her Dark Ones series.    A pretty fun, predictable  story with hot men and steamy sex scenes.

9. Various magazines -- Basically the trashier the better.  I loved catching up on my celebrity news (People, US, Hello, etc) on the beach.  For those times when the sun really gets to you and you can't really focus on real sentences anymore.  Grab a fun, throw-away magazine.

Okay, so only 9.  But there's a lot of options in there.  So enjoy on the beach for me.  I'll be reading my books on a plane and the great world of Disney!

Non-Review Reads - Week of May 23, 2011

This past week I've read a few books that, all well and good.  I just couldn't think of a lot to say about them for a proper review.  Also, these volumes did not count for any reading challenge (other than Support Your Local Library, but I already have so many for that challenge). So I give you my short reviews from this week:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Pale Reflections Dark Horse Comics Aligns with BTVS season 3. Good short comic. (On a BTVS comic kick as of late, so these will show up a lot.)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: False Memories Dark Horse Comics #35-38 Aligns with BTVS season 5. Features the issue of Dawn and her "memories" of the past. We also get to see a slayer turned vampire from the past. Good storyline.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Haunted Dark Horse Comics Aligns with BTVS season 5. Actually picks up right after the big fight with Faith. We get to see what happened to the Mayor and even glipmse Riley and the commandos moving in to Sunnydale.

I am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert Great fun book! Imagine The Colbert Report... Now expand his commentary into a 230 page book. Yep that's it! But it's oh so good. (I've got The Daily Show with John Stewart presents Earth sitting here. Think I'll tackle that for next week.)

Today in History: Disney by Eve Zibart We're going to Disney World in less than a month, so I'm in intense planning mode. This was a nice trivial diversion from the guide books. Loving it!

The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book by Kevin Neary and Dave Smith Another Disney book for some fun trivia. Unfortunately this only goes to 1992, so no newer movie trivia. Boo!

Watchmen: The Film Companion Great little book celebrating the movie.  The pictures were awesome and the interviews with the actors were insightful.

Watchmen: The Art of the Film Another beautiful book of production notes/stills/posters from the movie.  I couldn't resist either of these Watchmen books after reading the graphic novel and rewatching the movie...

Zombie High Yearbook by Jeff Busch I love zombies! Have you figured that out yet? And this was perfect fun!

BTT: Rut

Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?

Most definitely.  I get on reading kicks and can't stop.  A couple of months ago, I started reading Christian historical romance and just kept reading.  Even after I stopped enjoying the genre.  I also go through different life phases.  In high school I read basically the classics of literature.  In college, I turned back to horror (Anne Rice mostly).  I tend to pick up a book and if I love it, I get more by that author and/or more just like it.  Sometimes this can be turn tiresome.  I find myself not really paying attention to what I'm reading.  Maybe because it's the same style or even the same story.  I have to break myself out of the rut.

That's why my blog and reading challenges are amazing; they are helping me branch out.  Sure I'm still reading a lot of what I already love, but I'm learning to try new genres and new authors.  Without the reading challenges, I would not have picked up The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff.  But I did, and I loved it!  It's also turned me on some great books within the genres I love such as The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (zombies).

Now I just need to fix my time rut.  I never feel like I have enough hours in a day to read.  And when I schedule time to read, sometimes I feel like it's a chore instead of a joy.  Need to work on that rut!

Happy Towel Day!

Last Thursday I posted a Quote from one of my favorite books: "This must be Thursday," said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. "I never could get the hang of Thursdays."  For those of you who knew and didn't comment: Shame on You!  Anyway, it's from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.  And today is Towel Day!  Happy Towel Day!  I really wish I would have remembered that this morning.  Then maybe I would have been able to cover myself while running to my car in the torrential shit storm that was this morning.  A huge storm system stretching through three states entering my area today!  And we have a Tornado watch until 7pm.  It's 11am right now.  That's an 8 hour watch!  Craziness.  Anyway, here's a bit of the Hitchhiker's Guide to brighten your and my day! Douglas Adams explaining the importance of a towel!

For your enjoyment, the trailer for the movie!

Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Places to Read

Author Note: I had some great pics of these places all ready to upload into my computer, but silly me, I have misplaced my camera cord.  So, you'll just have to use your imagination today. This week's topic is: Books I Lied About.  I tried, I really tried to think of something, but I guess I just don't really lie about books.  I could only think of one: The Odyssey.  Yes, I have never read it, but I lied about reading it at least 3 times while in high school and college.  I even wrote an A paper about the relationship between Odysseus and Telemachus without ever reading the book.  The story of The Odyssey is so well known that at this point, I don't feel like I have to read it.  So there it is, my dirty little reading secret.

Since I couldn't think of 10 lies, I thought I would do another one of my personal Top Ten lists.  This week's topic: Favorite Places to Read!

1. My car: it may not be my favorite, but I certainly do a lot of reading in here.  Usually I have about 20 minutes between finished volunteering at my children's school and them getting out of school.  So I read in the car line.  I also read it I am early to picking them up from their dad's.  Or I read waiting for friends to show up somewhere.  I spend a lot of time in the car.

2. Firefly Coffeehouse: My favorite coffeehouse.  My second home.  Preferrably the back corner.

3. My bedroom: I read a lot before bed, so obvious choice.

4. The 4 Seasons room in my house:  This recliner is my go to place for reading during the day.

5. The deck: In the backyard.  Comfy chairs under the umbrella on a nice day.  Perfect!

6. Lyon's Park: The boys love this park, so I end up reading a lot sitting on the bench while the boys play.

7. The dining room table: I know, kind of weird.  But when the boys are doing homework, I usually sit here and read.  That way I am available for questions, but am not forced to just stare into space for that 30-45 minutes.

8. Dream place #1: Florida beach! Just gorgeous... love it.

9. Dream place #2: Villa on the coast of Greece.  One of my dream vacation spots.

10. My future favorite place to read: my reading chair!  Isn't it purty?  Unfortunately, it's in Omaha and I'm still in Fort Wayne.  Soon chair soon!

BTT: Age-Inappropriate

In contrast to last week’s question–What do you think of censoring books BECAUSE of their intended age? Say, books too “old” for your kids to read?

I say no to blanket censorship.  Again, reading is about levels and interest, not genres or age-appropriate groupings.  A couple of months ago, I actually wrote two very long posts about censorship and appropriateness at my other blog The New Athenian Academy.  You can read them here: Part 1 and Part 2.

Name that book!!! (hint hint: it's one of my favorites)

"This must be Thursday," said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. "I never could get the hang of Thursdays."

BTT: Age-Appropriate

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

I hate the age categories.  Instead of looking at these incredibly arbitrary distinctions, we should be looking at reading levels and interests. When I was in elementary school, those books that were deemed "age-appropriate" for me were way too easy and stupid.  I started reading "teen" and "adult classic" books.  And I turned out just fine.  My teachers even encouraged me to read books above my age level.  I like the reading level classifications for children's books.  They give people a much better idea as to the strength of the vocabulary.  But once a person gains enough vocabulary to read most things, why are we going to pigeon hole him or her into an arbitrary category?  Don't

I pick up just about anything that looks interesting.  I read picture books.  I read independent readers (one of my favorite all time books is From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler).  I read Young Adult.  I read adult classics.  I read pulp fiction.  I read romance.  I read science fiction.  I read Christian fiction.  I read horror.  I read mystery.  I read cook books.  I read media related books.  I read history books.  I read textbooks (mostly to spot the inaccuracies).  I read science books.  Should I go on?  My point is that age categories are crap.  It's more about the quality of the book.  Is it well-written?  Does it sound interesting to you?  Then read it.

Quote Wednesday -- Brancusi

"Don't look for obscure formulas or mystery in my work.  It is pure joy that I offer you." -- Constantin Brancusi

I am absolutely loving that I can look back at all the books that I've read since November.  I can see how my reading ebbs and flows.  I can see my wild genre swings.  It's like a personal reading diary, but public.  I love seeing all the comments from people (those I've met in person and those I haven't met, they're all great!).

Taking a look at my reading, I've noticed something: I read some crap!  I haven't picked up anything that could be classified as "High literature."  And that's okay.  Because the books I've read, whatever the genre, bring me joy.  I love reading whether it's children's literature (Hello Percy Jackson! Love you!) or Christian fiction (At the Scent of Water, anyone?) or zombie schlock (A Zombie's History of the United States) or contemporary romance (Under Cover).  I love it all.  There's no deeper meaning to these books.  I don't have to ponder over the intent of the author.  I don't have to read a critical review of the book to understand.  I just read them and love the stories.  I love the characters.  I love the settings.  I love the books for the joy that they bring me.  So up next Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida, just for a light romance.  That's it.  Just for joy!

Top Ten Tuesday: Jerks in Literature

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week the topic is "Top Ten Jerks in Literature."  Looking through literature, there are definitely a lot of jerks.  But I thought I would highlight jerks from my favorite author. Here are my picks for Jerks in Jane Austen's Literature:

1.  George Wickham from Pride and Prejudice - Can't hate him enough!  He interest Elizabeth, but his duplicitous nature just gets me.  He manages to deceive everyone and make Mr. Darcy look bad for holding onto his principles.  And then, he runs away with Lydia, but doesn't actually want her.  Makes me so angry!

2. Mr. William Elliot from Persuasion - He seems so nice when Anne meets him.  The heir to Kellynch, but such a gentleman.  A breath of fresh air from the ongoing does he or doesn't he of Wentworth.  I really liked Mr. Elliot.  I thought he would be a good match for Anne.  And then we find out that he has a mistress on the side and definitely has eyes for the estate.  That two-timing bastard!

3. Henry Crawford from Mansfield Park - The icky icky lothario with eyes on Maria, and then Julia, and finally Fanny.  I can't believe Fanny fell for this guy!  Definitely not a surprise when we hear that he runs away with Maria, a married woman!

4. Mr. Elton from Emma - A man of the cloth!  For shame sir!  To treat Emma so kindly, then spurn her for that dreadful Augusta when Emma denies you!  You are a icky icky guy!

5. Frank Churchill from Emma - Another two-faced man.  Flirting with Emma, making her feel liked she's the only one, and then finally, revealing your engagement to Jane Fairfax.  And we're supposed to forgive you in the end?  I think not.  I also think Jane should dump you after how you behaved towards her.  For shame!

6. John Willoughby from Sense and Sensability - Another love 'em and leave 'em ladies man.  Romancing Marianne while having multiple ladies on the side.  I see how you are.  Thankfully he showed his true color and Colonel Brandon never left her side.  Marianne deserves a man who can take a strong lead.  Willoughby is too much a coward to do so.

7. Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice - A boring, slightly gross, high reacher.  He wants a Bennett woman just because they are pretty. Jane's taken, so he moves onto Elizabeth.  And then he plans to marry off the rest of the girls to his good-for-nothing brothers.  And all the time, he's under the influence of Lady Catherine!  Every time I read about Elizabeth denying him, I do a mental happy dance at her strength.  And every time I read about Charlotte Lucas marrying him, I cry a little at her fate.  It seems so unfair!

8. John Thorpe from Northanger Abbey - A good-looking guy.  The brother of a (supposed) new friend.  How isn't he a catch?  Oh yeah, he has no standards or morals.  Thanks goodness Catherine saw the deficiencies in Thorpe and choose Mr. Tilney (my second favorite Austen hero! Captain Wentworth is #1).

9. Tom Bertram from Mansfield Park - A guy who's only interested in drinking, gambling, and women.  Sounds like a few I know!

10. Mr. Rushworth from Mansfield Park - A spineless wonder!  I almost feel sorry for Maria, but then again, she was only marrying him for his money and status.  And then she runs off with Crawford.  I kind of feel sorry for Rushworth, but then again, he was too stupid and silly to notice the ambitions of his wife.  No excuse sir!

Bonus 11. Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility - Yeah, yeah, he's supposed to be one of the heroes, but I can't stand him.  He's so spineless, I just can't see how Elinor could love him.  He flirts and makes an attachment with her when he knows there's an understood engagement with another women.  Such a cad!  Definitely my least favorite of the romantic leads.  Colonel Brandon shows Edward up at every turn.  I would much rather take him than Edward!

Top Ten Tuesday: Happy Recommendations

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week the topic is "Top Ten Books that Were Recommended to Me."  Now this is supposed to be recommendations from book bloggers, but I've only been writing and following for a few months now.  So I thought I would do my top ten based on people recommendations, specifically my friends.

1.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin - My high school English teacher recommended this book for my hour-long presentation in American literature.  I wanted to do Huckleberry Finn, but she convinced me that I would love this book.  I reluctantly agreed, read it, and absolutely loved it!  It's become my favorite book of all time.  Edna's struggle really hit home and pushed me into reading more about women's struggles.  I eventually majored in Women's Studies with emphasis on women in U.S. history and women and religion.  And it was all because of a recommendation in high school.

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - C knew I would love this book and forced me to read it.  Okay, okay, I read it completely under my own power, but C can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be.  I absolutely loved the mix of romance, adventure, and history.  I read this during a few reenacting events (I am a part of Seven Years War living history).  It felt perfectly natural to be reading about 18th century Scotland dressed in 18th century clothing!  I started the second book, but somehow strayed away.  I am resolved to read the entire series this July as part of my reading challenges.  And did you hear?  Supposedly a movie version is being made!  Very excited!

3. At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols - Another C recommendation.  Our local coffeehouse has a borrowing library shelf.  C read it and then gave it to me read.  And it was amazing.  I cried so hard reading this book.  Happy and sad tears.

4. Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons - J has been encouraging me to read graphic novels/comics.  This was one that he told me I would like.  I guess he really knows me, because I loved it.  Just finished it and rewatched the movie to complete the week.

5. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer - I didn't really have any interest in reading the series when everyone else was.  I thought it was just a silly teenage melodrama.  After being forced into starting a book club at my school (requiring clubs without interest from students is a disaster waiting to happen), a few of my students and I started talking about books that we loved. Overall, they were reading a lot of young adult paranormal fiction.  I was squarely in the American classics camp.  After finding out that I hadn't read the series, they brought me the books and basically demanded that I read them.  I ended up reading the entire series in about a week!  I loved it!  They were beautiful and stupid all at the same time.  It was such a departure from my usual reading.

6. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - I'm pretty sure this was a recommendation from my friend B.  She was a history major in college and really got into historical fiction.  Its been a few years, but I remember seeing the book out and about, but for whatever reason not reading it.  Then B told me that I had to read it.  And I loved it.  Haven't' gotten around to Gregory's other books, but they are definitely on my list.

7. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser - Another high school English teacher recommendation.  She thought I would like this after my love of The Awakening.  It's become on of my favorite classics.  I definitely like early 1900 American authors.  Is it any wonder that my favorite time periods in U.S. History are urbanization and the progressive era?

Well, it seems I can't think of any more.  Looking back, I'm often the one recommending books.  Of all my friends, I probably read the most, so I usually get to books first.  Since starting to follow various bloggers, I now have a list of recommended books.  But, I haven't gotten to them yet.  Hopefully soon!

BTT: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie–one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel, the story–what book would you choose?

Definitely the Outlander series.  I adored the first book, Outlander, and am told by C that the rest are just as amazing.  I'm planning on reading the entire series in July for my author month.  I would love to see these as movie, but am really concerned that the film makers would cut/destroy/add things that would ruin the movie in my head.

BTT: Covers

CAN you judge a book by its cover?

Most definitely.  I love browsing through the stacks at the library.  I love browsing through bookstores.  Good, fun covers catch my eye.  Cheesy looking covers--anything with half naked men (yes, I know lots of women like them, but reminds me of Fabio), childlike drawings, or horrible fonts--make it almost impossible for me to read the book.  I am a snob.

Funky Times

It's official, I'm in a funk. A reading funk that is. After averaging 15 books a month, I've hit a dry patch. I've read 10 books so far in April. Seems like a lot, right? Taking a closer look, many of those books were under 200 pages. I read a few graphic novels (or are they trade paperbacks? see J, I did listen). I haven't delved into many longer novels this month. I feel a bit off kilter. I've been reading the same book for over 5 days. 5 days! My usual for a ~400 page book is 3-2 days. It's not that the current book isn't interesting. I love it. A book of short stories centered on zombies and romance. Perfect fit for me. Yet, I can't finish it. I don't want to give up, but something needs to change. I have declared this weekend A READING WEEKEND! I want to focus on my reading. Knock some books off my TBR piles (yes I said piles). I've organized the ~60 library books into piles according to due date. I want to start with those that I've had for weeks and will probably need to return soon. I've always weeded out the contemporary romance from the piles. I'm really sick of this genre right now. I want to focus on historical fiction, science fiction, and paranormal books.

And lucky me, I've found a group that doing a read-a-thon this weekend... Kristen over at Bookworming in the 21st Century is hosting The Catching Up Readathon

Do you go on Goodreads? Are you doing the Reading Challenge? Does it say you're behind? Astronomically behind? Well, it does for me. 28 books behind! I need a kick in the butt. With the long weekend coming up (thanks to a certain Christian holiday), I figured now is as good as any to try and get caught up.

And why not share the readathon love?

And to make it fun... you can win a prize from my book stack of giveaways (which I will post later). One random participant will win a prize. Woot! :)

So details, details.

When: Thursday, April 21st through the end of Monday, April 25th. Any time zone, start when you want, read when you want. Where: Here, on your blog, on your couch, on Goodreads.. wherever! What: Read books - duh! If you'd like to make a goal, go ahead.

My goal... is to cut that number in half, not have more than 14 books behind after the readathon. So that could mean 14 books or even more.

My goals this weekend:

• Finish Hungry for Your Love (that stubborn book!)
• Read at least 4 other books
• Include some science fiction in my reading
• Write reviews for all books read (I'm going to prepare the templates tonight to cut down on that time)
• Blog about my progress once a day

Tentative reading list:

• Hungry for Your Love
• No Rest for the Witches by MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Handeland, Cheyenne McCray, and Christine Warren
• Notes from a Spinning Planet: Ireland by Melody Carlson
• Death's Excellent Vacation edited by Charlaine Harris
• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
• Love Finds You in Tresure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne
• Notes from a Spinning Planet: Papua New Guinea by Melody Carlson
• Notes from a Spinning Planet: Mexico by Melody Carlson
• Watchmen by Alan Moore
• Watchmen and Philosophy by Alan Moore
• The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
• Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon by Melody Carlson

Top Ten Tuesday: Revisit

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week the hosting site it letting us choose.  We could pick any past Top Ten Tuesday that we either missed or wanted to revisit.  I decided to go with Childhood Favorites.  I have always been a voracious reader.  I sped through books as a child, but I definitely had a few favorites.  A few books or series that I read and reread and (in a few cases) have reread as an adult.  So here we go:

1. The Secret Garden by Mary Hodgson Burnett -- My absolute favoritist (yes I know it's not a word, but I still use it) book of childhood.  I dreamed of finding of a secret garden somewhere.  I didn't ever want to live in a creepy house in the English moors, but the appeal of the garden was so great.  This is one of those books that I reread every few years.  I still love it.  And I love the Hallmark movie version.  It's the only acceptable version of the book.  I love watched the movie on those dark and stormy nights.  It makes the beauty of the garden that much more.  This is one of those books that I swore I would read to my children.  Alas, I have boys and they just aren't interested in reading a "girly" book.  Thankfully, a friend has two girls and guess what one of them got for Christmas two years ago?  The Secret Garden, of course.

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott -- Much the same as The Secret Garden, this is one of those books that I read and reread through childhood.  I loved the March sisters, especially Jo.  I cried when Beth died and Jo denied Laurie.  I rejoiced when Christmas came and Papa March came home.  I laughed when the girls played tricks on Meg's suitor.  I loved every page of this book.  The sequels just don't live up to the original.  But that's okay.  I could always imagine the sisters' futures without the need of another book.  My friend that I mentioned in #1... her other daughter got a copy of this book for Christmas.  My boys are more suited the Percy Jackson and The Jungle Book than a story about four sisters.

3. The Monster at the End of This Book -- This is probably the first book that I remember reading.  Grover has always been my favorite character on Sesame Street.  I love his silly sense of humor, a bit crazy, a bit lovable, and kind of sarcastic.  I was always scared to get to the end of this book, but I loved it anyway.  Have you guessed who the Monster at the end of the book is?  It's Grover of course.  After I had my boys, I sought out a copy of this book to read to them.  They were infants, they wouldn't even know what I was reading, but I still had to buy it for them.  The copy had to be an original style Golden Book with the gold binding.  (The new ones have the shiny covers.  Blah!)  I had to search high and low, but I found one.  And even after my boys had grown out of the book, I saved it.  Just in case it's needed in the future.

4. Dick and Jane series -- Okay I know, a really weird choice for a childhood favorite.  My Grandpa Joan was always pushing education.  She wanted me to read and practice reading and practice some more.  I remember going over to my Grandpa Tom's house and getting out these volumes to read to her.  These were antiquated in the 1980s when I was learning to read.  Nobody used these in schools.  But my grandmother thought these were the best to learn how to read.  Repetition and simple words.  I grew to detest Dick and Jane and Spot as I grew in elementary school.  But I will always remember reading these to my grandma and then to my stuffed animals.

5. The Babysitters Club series by Ann Martin -- The first series that I read independently.  I remember starting these and wanting to be in The Babysitters Club.  Or at least my own version of a Babysitters Club.  All of their crazy adventures and lasting friendship.  I wanted all of that.  I even saw the appeal of boyfriends (at a future date of course, I was like 8 when reading these.  Boys my age had cooties).  My favorites were definitely Stacey and Claudia.  I wanted to name a future daughter Anastasia (Stacey).  Although I always saw myself in Mary Anne.  I even recall having Barbie like dolls of a few of the characters.  I'm pretty sure one of them was Dawn.   Supposedly the series was published from 1986 to 2000.  I stopped reading them around 1990, but they were fun when they held my interest.

6. Fear Street series by R.L. Stine -- My first "grown-up" series.  I graduated from The Babysitters Club to someone in the teen reading level.  I wanted more excitement and I had always been drawn to those scary stories.  So I started reading the series.  And it was definitely scary.  The series began in 1989 and I'm pretty sure I started reading them around 1990.  I had to get the new books when they were published.  I eventually had an entire shelf in a bookcase dedicated to the series.  The Fear Street Sagas were my favorites.  Set in the past, these multipart stories, told the origins of the evil on Fear Street.  I loved them!  Looking back, these are really cheesy.  But they definitely satisfied a hunger.  One that eventually grew into Anne Rice and Edgar Allan Poe.

7. The Velveteen Rabbit -- Another of my early childhood favorites.  The story of a lovable stuffed bunny who is loved by a boy and then he grows up.  So sad!  But don't fear for the bunny, he gets his reward in the end.  I feel like the creators of Toy Story used this story as a basis for their story.  At any rate, I loved this story as a child.  It was a rereadable favorite.  I can't remember what illustrated version I had (it wasn't the one on the right), but which ever one it was, the pictures were beautiful.

8. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White -- Who doesn't love this story?  Not me.  I absolutely love this story.  I'm sure when I first read it, I was devastated that Charlotte died.  But as I've grown, there is poetry and a sense of closure when she dies.  It's as if everything is right with the world.  We lost a good friend, but everything continues.  To be extra cheesy: it's the circle of life.  I'm okay with the loss.  I see Charlotte's Web as a story of growing up. Wilbur learns about the world through Charlotte and the various farm animals.  He rejoices and cries.  And at the end of the book, he's come to realize his place in the world.  (The movie version with Dakota Fanning is entertaining if for nothing else than for Templeton, the rat)

9. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg --  A definite favorite.  A museum, run-away siblings, a mysterious old lady, and tons of adventures.  I always wanted to run away and live in a museum.  Although sometimes scary, all those artifacts intrigued me.  I definitely would have hid in the Egyptian section of the Field Museum in Chicago.  We went there a few times when I was a child and I imagined myself hiding in the bathroom and then coming out when everyone had gone.  Sure, the mummies would be extra creepy at night, but that was part of the adventure.  I reread this book about a year ago and loved it just as much as I did as a child.

10. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry -- Probably the first book I read that dealt with a real life event, I loved this book from beginning to end.  This probably instilled a love of history that I didn't even realize until I got into college.  It made me think about gravity of real life events.  I was affected by this book in so many ways.  In high school I took a class on the Holocaust that I probably would not have if not for this book.  While The Diary of Anne Frank is nonfiction, Number the Stars had a much bigger impact on me.  Lowry's beautiful descriptions and inner monologue make the events "real."  A must read for all elementary students.  I need to add this to my reread list.

BTT: Personality

In a related question to last week’s–

I was reading the other day a quote from JFK Jr who said on the death of his mother, that she died surrounded by family, friends, and her books. Apparently, Jackie’s books were very much a part of HER, her personality, her sense of self.

Up until recently, people could browse your bookshelves and learn a lot about you–what your interests are, your range of topics, favorite authors, how much you read (or at least buy books).

More and more, though, this is changing. People aren’t buying books so much as borrowing them from the library. Or reading them on their e-readers or computers. There’s nothing PHYSICAL on the shelves to tell strangers in your home, for better or worse, who you ARE.

Do you think this is a good thing? Bad? Discuss!

I am one of those people that is holding onto physical books.  I love browsing through bookstores.  I love browsing through other people's collections.  I really love discovering personality through libraries.  I am concerned that going digital destroys the discovery factor.  Of course, J has completely embraced the digital age.  He's trying to convert me to digital.  I'm resisting.  It would be easier to put my books on a digital device and not carry around all these heavy books.  But then I don't have the physical comfort of a book.

I want a physical library in my house.  I want to see the books that I've read or really want to read.  I want to see the fruits of my labor.  I am sad for the death of the physical, but I'm sure I'll get over it.

Small victory: J bought me a reading chair for the living room.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Like to See Made into Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

For this week's post, I took a look at the books sitting around my room.  There has to be some books in here that I absolutely love, but haven't been adapted yet.  Right?  Not as easy as I first thought, but I did find some.

1. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series: I absolutely love the story of Jamie and Claire.  This could be the next big series, like Twilight, but so much better.

2. The Walking Dead: I know it's already been made into a tv series on AMC and I love it.  I just wish that they will continue the series for a couple more seasons.

3.  Steamed by Katie MacAlister: This was a fun steampunk novel, albeit with a few issues.  I could see the turned into a movie in the Indiana Jones style.  I think it would be a fun action/adventure/fantasy.

4. Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars Trilogy: A re-imaging of Alice in Wonderland but with fun twists.  I loved this trilogy and would love to see it come to life on the screen.

5. At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols: And now for something completely different... A serious drama, but one that could be done beautifully on screen.

6. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore: The movie version sucked.  We need a better adaptation of Moore's great graphic novel.  And this time, it has to be rated R.  None of this family friendly crap!  Did any of the screenwriters even read Moore's work?  It definitely wasn't family friendly.

7. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies trilogy: Just finished the trilogy and am in zombie (oops sorry) dreadful heaven. We have some beautiful adaptations of the original Austen work.  Now we need to through some unmentionables in there and spice things up a bit.

8. Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter: I can see this working the Nicholas Sparks movie style.  A feel good romantic drama.

9. Austenland by Shannon Hale: A fun Austenesque romantic comedy.  The characters from this book are so memorable.  With good casting, this could be an awesome film.

10. Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl Series: Harry Potter is ending.  We need another good young adult adventure series brought to the screen.  I vote Artemis Fowl!  I know my boys would absolutely love it.

BTT: Visual

 So … the books that you own (however many there may be) … do you display them proudly right there in plain sight for all the world to see? (At least the world that comes into your living room.)

Or do you keep them tucked away in your office or bedroom or library or closet or someplace less “public?”

Right now all of my books are stuck in boxes due to the limbo state I am stuck in.  So there's a little stack of books (and when I say little I huge) next to my bed.  Unfortunately, they aren't displayed in any way.

In the future, I would love to have my books displayed.  We've decided that almost every room will have bookcases.  The theater will house media related books.  The kitchen with cookbooks and food related books.  The office with fairly boring textbooks (well boring to everyone besides geeky nerds like us).  The boys' room with their books obviously.  And the living room with everything else.  I want to see all my books.  I want to peruse them.  I want the living room to look like cozy library nook.  (And J bought me a reading chair today!!!  I am so excited!  Now I need the bookshelves and my books out of storage)

Some Book Questions

Instead of this week's Top Ten Tuesday (Authors that Deserve More Recognition; couldn't think of any) I decided to do a book survey thingie....  Enjoy!

1. What was the last book you bought? - A special birthday surprise for J.  I was so excited to find it and be able to use my 50% off coupon.  The guy at the register was really excited, but disappointed that I bought it.  He loves the subject, but really wanted to buy the book himself.  There was only one copy.  I'm really excited to give it to him.
2. Name a book you have read MORE than once. - The Great Gatsby.  It's become a once every other year read.
3. Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it? - The Awakening by Kate Chopin.  Read it sophomore year of high school.  Really opened my eyes to other ideas, issues, and pushed me to take Women's Studies classes in college.  And then I majored in it at IPFW.
4. How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews - Variety of sources.  Lately I've been getting ideas from the various book bloggers that I follow.  I have a huge spreadsheet of recommendations.  I've actually crossed many off; getting them from the library.
5. Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction? Lately it's been lots of fiction, but I'll always have a special reading time for nonfiction, specifically history books.
6. What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot? Definitely gripping plot.  No plot, me close book and put away.  Bad writing does bug me, but doesn't necessarily hinder me from finishing a book.
7. Most loved/memorable character (character/book). Let's go with Jay Gatsby.  Such an interesting character.  We observe him from the outside seeing only a bit of him, but we all want to know more.  Such an intriguing character.
8. Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment? Let's see. I'm reading Date with a Devil (Anne Stuart, Cherry Adair, and Muriel Jensen).  I have Steamed (Katie MacAlister) and Dreadfully Ever After (Steven Hockensmith) ready to read next.
9. What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it? Yesterday I finished Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson.  Read it in one day (usual reading behavior for less than 300 pages fun books).
10. Have you ever given up on a book half way in? Of course.  If I can't get into a book within the first 50 pages, I put it down and move on.  I have no problem ending my relationship with a book if we just don't get along.

BTT: Serial

Series? Or Stand-alone books?

It really depends.  I read both.  However, I do have a condition for reading series.  I hate to read series until they are all published.  I don't want to get into a story, like really into it, and then have to wait 1-2 years for the next chapter.  Makes me angry.  Of course, this past couple of months I started Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series.  And of course not all of the books have been published. Argh!!  Why did I start this series?  I'm really kicking myself now, but I'm invested in the story.  Thankfully I just got Misguided Angel from the library (had to get it from holds) and the side book, Bloody Valentine.  Unfortunately the next book won't be published until later this year.  I don't know if I can wait!!!  But if I actually follow my rules, I do like to read series.