Top Ten Tuesday - Sequels I'm Dying to Read

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!

So this week's topic is "Sequels I'm Dying to Read,"  but I have a big problem.  I don't have any Sequels I'm Dying to Read.  I know what you're thinking: "How can you not have tons of sequels lying around to read?"  There is an explanation.  I have a dirty little secret.  I don't read book series until all of them are published and in my possession.  Yeah, I'm kinda bad like that.  And it keeps me really far behind in the new releases realm.  (For example, I got The HUnger Games months ago, but haven't read it yet because I don't have Catching Fire and Mockingjay.)  So I've got nothing, nada, zilch for today...

Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My TBR List!

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!

This week's topic, in honor of the coming of fall, is Top Ten Books on Your TBR List.  I'm not planning on buying any books (we'll see how far that goes), so my list is all books currently sitting on my shelves.  I'm really trying to wrap up a ton of reading challenges.  I just spent a few days reorganizing my books to put the reading challenge qualifying books on top and in the bookshelf next to my chair.  Those are the books that I really need to read like now!

1. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler -- I've had this one for awhile and need to get a few more contemporary romances in before Sept. 30th.  This one also intrigued me.  So it's going to the top of the list.

2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -- Counts towards science fiction and Page to Screen challenges.

3. Contact by Carl Sagan -- Another Science Fiction...

4. Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern -- Really need to wrap this contemporary romances and I heard good things about this one.

5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley -- One of favorite old books.  Counts for 2011: Back in the Day and A to Z: Authors (X).

6. The Girl from Jungchow by Kate Furnivall -- I"m intrigued by her books and settings.  Plus it counts for Historical Fiction and A to Z: Authors (F).

7.  The Blades of the Rose series by Zoe Archer (Rebel, Scoundrel, Warrior, Stranger) -- Been on my shelf for a few months and I really want to read them.  Plus they count as four for my Summer Romance - Paranormal Romance Challenged ending Sept. 30th.

8. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer -- Still have 4 to read for my Heyer challenge.  As much as I love Regency romance, this one has been hard to get motivated for.

9. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn -- Some good looking historical romance for my 2011: Show It Who is Boss challenge.

10. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn -- Another historical romance for my A to Z: Authors (Q) challenge.

My Partial TBR List

As part of the Bout of Books Readathon Actin' Up with Books is holding a contest: Pick It Up, and Then Pile It Up.  Mind you these are only the books on my current TBR bookshelf (ignore the yearbooks on the second shelf).  I have at least 4 boxes of books in the garage that I want to read.  And that ottoman us full of library TBR books.  Plus I have an iPad floating around here with my NetGalley books.  I'd say I have enough to keep me busy.  Oh!  But I forgot about Borders closing sale.  I'm sure I'll be adding to the pile this week.

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie -- Desert Island 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 lists

This week was a Freebie -- anything you wanted to do in literature.  I couldn't think of a great topic, so I went browsing in the Top Ten Tuesday back topics.  And I came across Books You'd Want on a Desert Island.  I joined the fun after this topic, so today would be the perfect day to revisit.  By the way, I'm cheating a bit and including series as one choice.  Deal with it!

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (complete trilogy of 5 books) by Douglas Adams -- These books never fail to make me laugh.  I just love them!

2. Complete works of Shakespeare -- Who better than the Bard?  He runs the gamut of emotions.  Something for every mood.

3. Complete works of Jane Austen -- My all-time favorite author has to go on the list.

4. Complete Chronicles of Narnia -- The entire series is just so much fun.  A great fantasy to dream of.

5. Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States -- I am such a sucker for history books.  I picked this one because it is comprehensive and I love Zinn's writing style.

6. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass -- One of my favorite childhood books.

7. Terry Pratchett's Discworld series -- I haven't read them yet, although I have seen the three movies.  J is totally engrossed in the 5th book right now and says that I must read them later.

8. My college world humanties textbook -- I can't remember the exact title (it's in a box around here somewhere) but I do remember that it was a great summary of art, history, politics, literature, etc through the ages.

9. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series -- I absolutely adored Outlander and plan on reading the rest of the series.  At ~600 pages per book, these 7 books will keep me busy.

10. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald -- One of my classic favorites.  I get something new every time I read it.

BTT: National Book Week

It’s National Book Week. The rules: Grab the closest book to you. Go to page 56. Copy the 5th sentence as your status

(We’ve done something similar to this before, but it’s always fun, so … why not?)

"Load of old tosh," said Uncle Vernon.  (hee hee, I just love British English!)

Top Ten Tuesday: Trends You'd Like To See More Of/Less Of

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 This week the topic is "Top Ten Trends I'd Like to See More/Less Of."  But of course, I am going to separate this list into two.

Trends I Want to See More Of

1. Zombies -- Have you guessed that I absolutely freaking adore zombies?  Well, I do.  And I'm always up for a good zombie story.  Of all the supernatural being genres, this is one that I want to see more of.

2. Unicorns -- I recently read the anthology, Zombies vs. Unicorns, and found myself really loving the unicorn stories.

3. Relatable characters -- I love characters that are real.  Not every romantic female lead in a YA novel needs to be from a horrible home life or be an outcast.  Why can't we get more down-to-earth characters?

4. Funny stories -- I love humorous stories.  We don't always need a heavy-hitting drama.  I love light hearted farces also.  More Funny!

5. Food/Travel Writing -- With the exception of Eat, Pray, Love (whiny, whiny lady!) I love travel/food writing.  Joanne Harris is a master of this.  Anyone else loved Chocolat?  I know I did.

Trends I Want to See Less Of

1. Vampire/Human Romance -- Twilight has killed this for me.  I'm done with this whole thing.  No more vampire romances.

2. Christian Historical Fiction -- My disdain for sermon filled CHF is very evident on this blog.  I don't need all the cliched stories and characters.  Make is real.

3. Love/Hate Dating -- Every romance (YA and adult) that I've read lately has the main characters in a love/hate relationship.  Not every great romance starts with the leads hating one another.  People can like each other or even be friends before dating.  Let's get some variety here.

4. Bad Romance -- I love the romance genre.  But what I don't love. bad plots with tons of sex scenes.  I don't mind the sex scenes, as long as I've got a good story going into it.

Read-A-Long Madness

I found these two awesome read-a-long events for August and just had to join.  They're both rereads, but one's from my favorite author and the other is my favorite series.

First up from Bread Crumb Reads:

"Sense & Sensibility" Read-along in August!

How this Works The novel is divided into four parts. For each part there will be an update/discussion post every Thursday. Those who intend blogging, are welcome to. On the other hand, no one has to blog. There are no obligations of any kind. Simply read and have fun with others like you!^_^

Date for Read-along 1 August 2011 - 31 August 2011

Discussion Schedule (every Thursday):

• 11 August - discussion of Volume I
• 18 August - discussion of Volume II
• 25 August - discussion of Volume III

Note: Each volume is less than 150 pages each, in case you're wondering.;)

Second comes from

Pretty Deadly Reviews

It's time to kick off the Harry Potter Read Along! If you haven't all ready, it's time to crack open our dusty old copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

It's time to kick off the Harry Potter Read Along!

To celebrate the first day of what is sure to be total awesomeness, I've decided we all need to be sorted. It's the very first thing Harry experiences, and I thought it should be fitting that we take the ride with him.

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

I figured I would either be a Griffindor or a Ravenclaw.  I'm okay with this sorting.

Wish me luck on both read-a-longs!

BTT: Night Owl

What’s the latest you’ve ever stayed up reading a book? Is staying up late reading a usual thing for you?

I've stayed up all night to finish a book.  Two come to mind: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows and Eclipse.  I was so into the books that I just kept on reading.  Unfortunately, the day after reading Eclipse I still had to be at work and teaching by 8am.  That was killer!

I am finding that my advancing age is cutting on the ability to stay up reading all night.  Eventually my eyes tire out and I can't even see the words on the page.  I try not to stay up too late reading.  But it does happen sometimes.

Book Blurbs: Love Em or Hate Em?

I just finished reading The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and absolutely loved it. I read it based off of the raving enthusiasm from Book Bloggers everywhere. So I picked it up at the library and sat and read, and read, and read, and shooed my kids away to read some more. I finished it. It was awesome. I grabbed The Iron Daughter so I could continue my reading. But before I did, I glanced at the back of the book. And here's what it said:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny--one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six.  She has never quite fit in at school... or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's know is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth--that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war.  Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, it stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face... and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

And my initial reaction was.... Way to give away the spoilers.

Are we putting too many spoilers in book blurbs?  Do they give away just enough to entice readers to read books?  I'm torn on this.  On one hand, I definitely think this blurb gave away the spoiler of Meghan being a fey princess.  However, I also see the need for publishers to try and encourage readership.  If I was browsing at the book store and had never heard of this book, the blurb would have caught my eye.  As it is, I didn't just find this at the store.  Book bloggers that I follow have been raving about this trilogy since it came out last February.  I didn't read their reviews (I don't like to spoil my views on the book while reading), but I did register that everyone gave it rave reviews.  So I decided to read it.  It seems like that's how I've been finding books lately.  I skim through my GoogleReader notating when a reviewer loves a book and put it on my TBR list.  All in all, book blurbs matter less to me now than they did two years ago.  But does that mean we should be giving away "secrets" (truthfully I figured out Meghan parent issues in the first chapter, but nevertheless, I like the dramatic reveal) or being oblique to pull the reader?  I've definitely been pondering this today.  I imagine it'll be stuck in my brain for quite some time now.

Any thoughts on the subject?  I would love to her comments.

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Would DIE to Meet

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

Great topic today... So many choices, but I think I've narrowed it down to 10 good ones.

1. Jane Austen -- Duh!  How could my list be complete without the wonderful Ms. Austen?  I must meet.  I would love talking to her about her feelings about society and relationships and England and politics.  So much history.  So much interesting opinions.  She would be the ultimate author meet and greet.

2. Anne Rice -- My favorite author from my high school days.  I read the entire Vampire Chronicles series.  I reviled in her world.  I want to go to New Orleans and map out the books.  I loved Anne Rice.  I still hold a small place in my heart for her books.

3. Thomas Jefferson -- Strange choice?  Not if you're a U.S. history teacher.  I love teaching about the founding of our country.  I love documenting the struggles between Jefferson and John Adams and Alexander Hamilton and George Washington and Aaron Burr and all the others.  I would love to ask Jefferson all about his writing of the Declaration of Independence and his thoughts on the Constitution.

4. Diana Gabaldon -- The Outlander series is just amazing.  I'm planning on reading the entire series in the coming month.  It would be lovely to meet her and talk about her research into Scotland to make the books.  Yep history nerd emerges!

5. David Moody --  The Autumn series is just so disturbing, in a good zombie way.  I would love to pick his brain as to the inspirations and process.  How does someone go about writing a serious modern zombie novel?

6. Neil Gaiman -- He's just an amazing storyteller, who wouldn't want to meet him?  I sure would like to.

7. Carrie Ryan -- I really got into her zombie series.  I read most of her blog, documenting her writing process, triumphs, and struggles.  I would love to talk to her about all of it.  Reading someone's blog isn't quite the same as having a conversation with them.

8. Edgar Allen Poe --  The father of American horror.  He scared and intrigued me as a child.  He's just demented enough that he would be interesting to talk to.

9. Katie MacAlister --  Her modern paranormal and contemporary romances are so much fun.  I would love to hear about her influences and writing process.

10. Bill Willingham --    Because the Fables series is just so amazing...

I'm a Book Nerd, What Can I Say?

1. What author do you own the most books by? 

Definitely Anne Rice.  I'm pretty sure that I own the entire Vampire Chronicle series.  Diana Gabaldon comes in second with the entire Outlander series.  (Gearing up for my author readathon for July!)

2. What book do you own the most copies of?

I actually don't think I own multiple copies of any book.  I used to have many copies of Persuasion by Jane Austen, but I gave many of those away to friends and family.  So, I'm back down to just one.

3. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Of course that has to be Captain Wentworth from Persuasion.  I would totally wait eight years for him.

4. What book have you read more than any other?

Persuasion, without a doubt.  Notice a nice theme here.

5. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Probably From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.  I absolutely loved the adventure and mystery.  Plus, like every 10 year old, I wanted to run away to somewhere exotic.  A museum is definitely exotic and I loved going to them.

6. What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

Notes from a Spinning Planet: Ireland by Melody Carlson.  Read why I couldn't read it from my review.

7. What is the best book you've read in the past year?

I'm going to have to go with At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols.  Amazing book!  I ran the gauntlet of emotions while reading the book.  There were times that I even had to put it down because everything got too overwhelming.  But that's a good thing.  The book had a large affect on me.

8. If you could tell everyone to read one book, what would it be?

I'll have to go with my favorite book of all time: The Awakening by Kate Chopin.  It's not beloved of all people I meet, but it completely changed my life.  The story is so sad, but there's a flicker of hope in the story.

9. What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

For the sheer density of the story, I would have to say Shakespeare.  Yeah, I know, not a book, but every line of his plays have multiple meanings.  It has taken me years to really truly appreciate him, but now I do.

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

Russians, I guess.  I couldn't get through much French literature, but loved the Russian playwrights.  For the record, I've never gotten through Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, but they are on my TBR list.

11. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer?

Shakespeare all the way, especially the comedies.  Milton is too pompous for my tastes.  Chaucer's fun, but not something I read again and again.

12. Austen or Eliot?

Umm.. Austen.  Have you read my blog?  I think my love of Austen comes across loud and clear.

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

Contemporary fiction.  Those best-selling "high fiction."  I have pretty much covered the classics.  I have been on a romance kick lately.  I've always loved horror.  Been reading a lot of young adult stuff lately.  So, I'm going to have to go with contemporary fiction.

14. What is your favorite novel?

The Awakening by Kate Chopin, beloved since my sophomore year in high school.

15. Play?

Lysistrata or Much Ado About Nothing.  It's really a toss up between those two.

16. Poem?

Anything by Emily Dickinson.  Her morbid, isolationist view of the world fascinates me.

17. Essay?

Common Sense by Thomas Paine.  Turned the tide for the rebel cause.  Heart changing.

18. Short Story?

Anything by Edgar Allan Poe.

19. Non Fiction

You Don't Know Much About U.S. History...  really the entire You Don't Know Much About series.  They are awesome little books to gain more knowledge.  Or if I was going more serious, The Federalist Papers.  I'm a U.S. History dork, it just seems appropriate.

20. Graphic Novel?

Fables: Legends in Exile.  Combined comics and fairy tales.  My two new favorite things.  I loved it!  And now I need to read the rest of the series.

21. Science Fiction?

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -- funniest book ever!

22. Who is your favorite writer?

Jane Austen for classics, Rick Riordan for contemporary fiction

23. Who is the most over-rated writer alive today? 

Couldn't think of one, so going with an over-rated dead guy: John Steinbeck.  I just can never get into him.  I think I've read four of his novels and still can't see the appeal.

24. What are you reading right now? 

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.  I've really been meaning to read this for my Page to Screen and 2011 challenges.  I absolutely love the mini series.  So far, the books is reminding me of Jane Austen (but not as awesome).

25. Best Memoir?

I don't really read memoirs, so can't think of one to put here.

26. Best History?

I'm going to go with the classic Herodutus for history.

27. Best mystery or Noir?

Not really a big fan of mystery or noir.  I'm found only a few that I like, but should read more from the genre.  Nothing really jumps out at me.

28. What is in your pile of books 'to be read'?

Good graciousness... where do I begin?  I have way too many books laying around my room and packed in boxes waiting to be read.  It's just a bit crazy around my room.

29. Do you prefer to own books or to borrow them?

I would prefer to own my books, alas, I am poor.  I am very choosy when it comes to my book purchases.  (Except when it comes to the Borders closing sale and $1 clearance rack at Half Price Books.  I just can't resist.)  I absolutely adore my local library, one of the best in the nation, and frequent it at least once a week.  I think I might have an obsession with my library.  But it says me money and I still get to read my books.

30. Do you write in your books?

Very rarely.  I have nothing against writing in the books, but I just really don't do it very often.

Austen Heroine

This is usually the day that I participate in the Top Ten Tuesday, but I just wasn't a huge fan of the topic (Rebels in Literature).  So instead, I thought I would share the results of this fun little quiz I took.  Most people know that I am I huge Jane Austen fan.  I had to take the "Which Austen Heroine are You?"  quiz.  Going into it, I thought my results would either be Anne Elliot (from Persuasion), Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensability) or Fanny Price (Mansfield Park).  And look at that, I'm Fanny Price! You Are...Fanny Price!

You are Fanny Price of Mansfield Park! You are quiet, faithful, and moral, but those around you may think you priggish. You love deeply...and jealously.

Take the Quiz here!

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Websites/Organizations/Apps, etc.

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 Hmmm... where to go?  What to choose?  I'm going with Bookish websites.  I'm not including book bloggers on this website.

1. LibraryThing -- I just started using this a few weeks ago and I love it.  I now have a way to catalog my books and check out some great reviews.  Plus, I've won two books already from this site!

2. Allen County Public Library -- This is my local library.  (or at least for the next three days until I move out of state)  My library is absolutely amazing.  The collection is extensive and they have some great programs.  Plus, we have the premier genealogy collection east of the Mississippi.  It is the place to go.  I used to go to the main branch every week for the last five years.  If you in the Northeast Indiana area, check it out!

3. Amazon.com -- My favorite website to buy books.  It may be the big box store without the box, but it still has awesome deals and selection.  Plus I just traded in a book to them and got a gift card.  Yippeee!!

4. Book Closeouts -- A weird little book website.  Check it out, they have some great deals.

5. Booking Through Thursday -- I love this meme!  Had to add it.  They have great book questions.

I can only think of five, so there you go!

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I love Being a Book Blogger/Bookish Person

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 This week the topic is "Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger / Bookish Person."  Since there are technically two topics in there, I thought I would split my list in two Top Fives!

Reasons I Love Being a Bookish Person

1.  New Worlds -- How else could I travel to 14th century Scotland?  Or a world of wizards and trolls?  Or Wonderland where everything is always just a bit off?  Books offer me a way to travel without ever leaving home or more importantly spending all that money.

2. Way to Satisfy My Zombie Addiction -- I love zombies, as I'm sure anyone whose read my blog has figured out.  Unless the zombie apocalypse were to happen soon, I don't think I'll be able to encounter any zombies.  Even so, I wouldn't actually want to encounter a zombie.  So instead, I get to read about them in books.

3. Inspiration for Writing -- Every writer needs an inspiration.  I find mine in fiction.  It fills my mind and eventually filters into my dreams.  From there, I create new stories from the ideas.

4. Comfort/friend -- I've at least hinted at some of the problems I've had lately with the concept of friends.  To that end, books have always been there for me.  They have been a source of comfort, humor, every emotion.  It's a great position.

5. Brain stimulation -- I have this fear of developing Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.  It's not as crazy of a fear as you might think.  They both run on at least one side of my family.  Although there is no cure for either disease, the research suggests brain stimulation may help slow down the progression.

Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger

1. New Friends -- Although I have only physically met two of the bloggers that I follow (full disclosure: I knew them from before we all blogged), I enjoyed the correspondence with many new people.  It's a great tool for socializing, but one that doesn't force me to be someone I'm not.  I'm a very shy person in general and hate being thrust into social situations where I have to meet new people. Blogging allows for a level of safety.

2. Accountability -- With the sheer fact of not knowing most of the people who follow my blog, I have no reason to lie.  I am me.  I am who I am on my blog.  I don't hide any part of myself.  I keep some of the details of life private, but the public areas are not lies.

3. New Topics -- I love reading about new ideas.  For example, I follow a primarily comic book blogger.  I have just started reading comics (pushed by J of course) and this particular blogger's ideas are of great interest to me.  I'm not reading things I already knew.  I am learning new.  The same goes for all the technology blogs I now follow.

4. Additions to My TBR List -- I love getting new suggestions for reading books.  I love it so much that I now have over 1000 suggestions.  It's getting a bit out of hand, but I still love reading about new ones.

5.  Place to Write -- I've started on a new endeavor as of late.  I want to write.  I don't know exactly what I want to write, but I know I want to write.  And now I have a place to write.  And I have critics.  I've always been a bit apprehensive about showing my writing to anyone.  Blogging offers me a safe place to show my writing and getting feedback.  Thanks for everyone who has commented on my few pieces.  I hope to be writing more soon.

Non-Review Reads - Week of June 13, 2011

While traveling to and from Disney World, I read or skimmed some books.  Thought I would do another Non-review reads to wrap up my reads of the past week.

Juicy Writing by Brigid Lowry

Full of some great advice for young writers (I'm including myself as I am just starting to write seriously).  I loved all the of the writing exercises highlighted.  Hopefully you'll be seeing some of them on my blog in the future.

The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron

Another how-to/advice guide to writing.  Definitely didn't find this one as engaging or helpful as Lowry's book.

Buffy Omnibus Vol. 5

This volume covers some fun side stories plus Oz's travels.  I'm moving through the Buffy comics!

Top Ten Tuesday: Disney World

This week the topic was supposed to be  "Top Ten AWWWW Moments in Books."  I couldn't think of many (I'm sure I will eventually) so I thought I would do a Top Ten related to what we're doing this week.  So I give you Top 10 Things I am Looking Forward to at Disney World!  I used to go all the time as a child, but haven't been there in at least 15 years.  I think I am looking forward to this trip even more than my boys. 1. The Haunted Mansion -- My absolute all-time favorite ride at Disney World.  I love this one!  It's not the "scary" ride but more of a fun house ride.  You get to ride in Doombuggies, see a room grow, and have an unexpected addition to your party.  I have fond memories of going on this ride as a child.  Can't wait to experience it as an adult.  One year one of the CMs scared the crap out of my mom in the growing room.  She screamed and jumped at least three feet.  It was priceless!

2. Pirates of the Caribbean -- Close second on my all time favorite rides.  Even with the introduction of Jack Sparrow, I am sure I will still love this ride.  It's so cheesy, it's great.

3. Animal Kingdom -- Never been there.  This park was built after I had moved back to Indiana.  I've heard mixed reviews of the park, but I really want to say I got to see it at least once.  We picked this park over EPCOT for the boys' first time.  I adore EPCOT, but think it would be a bit much for the boys.  Maybe next year.

4. Princess autographs -- In preperation for the trip, I made the boys their own autograph books. Premade ones are so expensive and I was planning on ripping out the autographs to scrapbook anyway.  So I made temporary ones out of note cards and book binder rings.  And I even made one for myself.  I want autogpahs of the princesses.  Yeah, that's right, I am a girly-girl underneath all this "looks like I don't care-ness."  I especially want ot meet Sleeping Beauty and Alice -- my favorites!

5. Press coins -- One of the Disney blogs mentioned pressed coins as a cheap souvenir.  I love the idea!  I went the bank and got the boys each a roll of quarters.  I still have to clean some pennies, but we have a ton laying around the house.  I even want to collect some of these.  Pressed coins and postcards -- those will be my souvenirs.

6. Hotel -- We're staying the Dolphin, one of the older Disney resorts.  Okay, techincally it isn't owned by Disney anymore, but is still considered to be one of the Disney resorts.  We get some of the perks of being at a Disney resort, but not others. Still, looking forward to a new hotel.  And I know the boys are looking forward to the pool!

7. Tom Sawyer Island -- In all my years of going to Disney World, we never once went onto Tom Sawyer's Island.  I really want to go!

8. Disney food -- Really looking forward to some park food.  It may not be the healthiest, but boy does it taste good!

9. Disney ice cream bars -- Classic Disney treat.  I always got one of these as a child.  Really can't wait to have one with the boys.  I'm sure N will love them!

10. Carousel of Progress -- Cheesy, but always one of my favorite rides.  Looking forward to seeing it with adult eyes.  I know it won't have the mystery that it held during my youth, but it is such a unique ride.

One more day and we're off!  So excited about this vacation.  What are your favorites things about Disney World?

BTT: Rut

All things being equal (money, space, etc), would you rather own copies of the books you read? Or borrow them?

I would definitely buy them.  I have a book buying addiction.  I love just looking at them all lined up on a shelf.  Surounded by a nice reading chair, a soft glow lamp, a cup of tea, and a comfy pillow, I would reveal in the beauty of the books.  Rarely, I would give away a very special book to a friend, but most would stay pretty on my shelf until I reread them.

Alas, I have neither money or space to buy books.  I borrow, and borrow, and borrow some more.

Top Ten Tuesday: Settings in 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 Settings in Books."  I am a big believer in the power of  a good setting.  I tend to be drawn to fictional settings, mostly those found in fantasy/scifi books.  But I do enjoy the beauty of a real setting artfully described by the author.

1.  Hogwarts from the Harry Potter Series -- My absolute favorite setting!  The place I really wish I could go.  I love Hogwarts.  I love how Rowling describes all the places.  I love how the movies interpreted the settings.  I even love seeing Hogwart's turned into a Lego game.  Just awesome.

2. The Forest of Hands and Teeth -- Carrie Ryan has created another character in the Forest.  It has it's own personality.  It's an obstacle.  It's hope.  It's despair.  I was as scared of the Forest as Cassie.  I can't believe Mary would not be afraid to venture forward.  However, the Forest makes it a much more layered book.  (I was tempted to put the city of Vista from The Dead-Tossed Waves, but I found other choices.)

3. Wonderland -- How could I not put Wonderland on the this list?  The topsy-turvy world of crazy creatures and challenging puzzles is definitely one of my favorites.  As much as I have issues with every movie version of Alice in Wonderland, I like the Tim Burton version for the colors.  My vision of Wonderland is full of bright, psychedelic colors.

4. Jane Austen's England -- All the little villages and estates described in her books are beautiful.  I want to visit England and see her inspiration.  But I especially love her descriptions of Bath in the Regency era.  Bath was the place to be and be seen.  You can tell that Austen didn't like Bath and all the pretensions, but I still love the description.  I imagine the Pump Rooms and the gardens and would love to visit.

5. Camp Half-Blood from Percy Jackson series --  This is the camp to be at.  The strawberry fields, the cabins, the big house, the practice area, the ever-changing woods.  I would love to wander around, with a demigod bodyguard of course.

6. Scotland from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series -- A great historical novel.  I want to go to Scotland and see the old ruins, the glens, the glades, the mystery.  I would love to follow in Claire's footsteps.

7. NYC from Fables series -- There's something magical about the real NYC.  Throw in some fairy tale characters and it becomes even more interesting.  I adore this series.  It's not completely out of the realm of possibility to run into Prince Charming or Snow White in an all night diner in Manhattan.

8. The House from Neil Gaiman's Coraline -- A huge house split into four apartments with a garden out back complete with old well.  I love how Gaiman makes the house another character in the story.  I saw the movie before reading the book, so my image of the house is based more on the movie.  But I also liked the descriptions in the book and the pictures from the graphic novel.  They all give me different but somehow the same views of the house.  I love creepy old houses and Coraline's comes complete with an Other Mother!

9. Templeton, NY from The Monsters of Templeton -- One of my favorite books from this year, Templeton is a real town in New York.  Somehow Groff took a real setting and inserted magic into the story.  I would love to visit and see if the real life Templeton has those whispers that complete the book.  And maybe, just maybe, I could see the monster of Lake Glimmerglass!

10. Wonderland from Frank Beddor's The Looking Glass Trilogy -- Just as I love the original Wonderland, I also love Beddor's version of Wonderland.  Specifically his description of the plains where the Jabberwocky live.  A real barren wasteland complete with lava flows and geysers.  Priceless!

BTT: Reviews

Do you read book reviews? Whose do you trust? Do they affect your reading habits? Your buying habits?

I have a strict rule on reading book reviews... I don't.  I don't want to color my view of a book by seeing it through another's eyes.  However, I do have a ton of book bloggers on my Google Reader.  I have found some people who have similar tastes as myself.  So, I often use their reading lists as a guide for new books.  If they give a book high marks (I try to only look at the rating), I'll add it to my list.

After reading a book, I often go back to certain book bloggers to read the details of their reviews.  It's interesting to read what they thought versus my thoughts.  Sometimes I comment on their reviews and sometimes I don't.

Quote Wednesday -- Kostova

"When you handle books all day long, every new one is a friend and a temptation."Elizabeth Kostova- The Historian

Last week, I had a question about the definition of a friend.  Patrick gave me some really great things to think about, but overall I am still struggling with this idea.

This week, I turned back to my books for comfort.  Things are progressing, but I have so much on my plate right now.  I am overwhelmed.  I need a good friend to turn to.  Unfortunately, many of the people I know are also crazy busy.  SO I turn back to books.  I've always found a friend in books.  They come into my world, give me comfort, share their struggles, sometimes have happy endings, and generally fill my life.  I was an only child, often found somewhere curled up with a book.  I filled my days, especially during winter, with reading.  I read and read and read some more.  Every week my dad would take me to the bookstore and we'd pick out something new.  We went the library constantly.  I loved skimming the covers and grabbing something that caught my eye.  Sure, I had human friends.  But there's just something so wonderful in a book.  They talk back, but don't put you down.  They cry with you instead of at you.  They laugh along with your funnies.  They are the perfect friends in many ways.

Resolution of the week: Until my life calms down a bit.  Until I can figure out who my real friends are.  Until I meet new people.  Until I can feel comfortable in my own skin.  I am going to rely on books.  Sounds like a great plan.  And I've got some new ones just waiting to make my acquaintance.