Fantasy and New Movies February

I have two month-long challenges to highlight today. First up the book related one...

So I first had this idea last year in the summer, way past the only F month of the year, but it still had been rolling around in my head. And this year I really want to make it happen. So basically picture a month solid of fantasy: author interviews, book reviews, book features, giveaways, and anything else I can think of that is solely fantasy. Fantasy February here I come :)
SO IT IS HAPPENING. February is going to be all fantasy all the time here on The Book Cellar and I am inviting you to join me!
So if you are a reader, come with your thoughts and what fantasy books you love.
If you are a blogger, post your own reviews and link back up so we can all explore the awesome fantasyness all month long.

Love, love, love this idea! I am totally on board with this idea. I have a ton of fantasy books just waiting to be read. Would you like to join? Hope on over to The Book Cellar to join in the fun. Now, excuse me while I go and rearrange my TBR pile...

And now to the movie related one...

Back in September of 2011, I decided to watch one movie for each letter of the alphabet. It was meant to be a month-long challenge, but it ended up bleeding into October. This year, I don't want to do an A to Z movie challenge. I decided to do just a New Movie a Day challenge. I won't be going to the theater everyday. We have a library, multiple Redboxes, the server, and Netflix all within reach to use. I am going to watch a new-to-me movie everyday for the month of February. Each movie will be highlighted with a short review. Stay tuned...

Top Ten Tuesday -- Settings to See More Of

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This was a difficult list to create... I just can't think of a ton of different settings. So, I've got just a few, but ones I really want to see.

1. Fantastical Realms -- I love well-constructed fantasy worlds. The more complex, the better. I just read The Magician King and I was blown away by the richness we am immersed in. I want more!

2. Dystopian Worlds -- Dystopias call to me. There's something about the bleak, but hopeful atmospheres in dystopias.

3. Realistic Cityscapes -- I am a city girl at heart. I love it when stories are set in real cities. I love the inclusion of neighborhoods and shops and attractions. Can I read more set in San Francisco? Please, please...

4. Space -- Space, the final frontier... Slightly cheesy, but still super intriguing.

5. Small Towns -- Even though I'm a city girl, I like reading about small town stories.

Book of Lists: Looking Forward

I ran across this idea on At Random, I followed her links to Kapachino's original post. This month's topic is "Looking forward." I decided to take that as what I am excited about this coming year. Not what I want, but what I know is coming soon...

The picture is a bit hard to read so here are the items.

Looking Forward

to getting back to sunny California
to the beach
to swimming in the pool
to exploring more of the Bay Area
to finishing Stargate Universe
to losing a few pounds
to awesome food
to next Christmas
to the drive-in
to a lighter work load for J
to Spring Break
to possible family/friends visit to California
to the Farmer's Market
to going to concerts
to daily energizing walks
to finally watching The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones
to March birthday extravaganza
to hanging our framed art
to getting our scrapbooks up to date
to planning summer vacation
to reading some great books
to decluttering the office
to card class
to movie marathons
to new movies (Star Trek! Oz!)
to next month's list
to getting a job
to knocking off tasks on my Day Zero Project
to wearing my new dragonfly necklace
to buying and using hiking boots
to new clothes

Just a few (or a lot) things I'm really looking forward to in the next year. I've already stated on some of them (reading good books, planning summer vacation).

I again did just a page in the composition notebook with colored inks. I'm completing this month's list back in my hometown (2000 miles away from current home), so I really don't have any supplies to decorate or embellish. But I still like how it turned out.

Next month: We’ll be posting on February 4 and the topic is “perfect day.”

2013 Blog Resolutions

I have very specific goals for 2013.

1. Read over 60,000 pages -- This past year I read over 60,000 pages. I would like to continue that trend. Of course, this is a related, but not a direct effect of how many books I read. I have the ultimate goal of 1,000,000 pages read. I'm on my way.

2. Get rid of at least one box of books -- There are ten boxes of books in the closet right now. I really want to get rid of these, but I feel ridiculous about getting rid of books that I haven't read yet. So I am focusing on reading my own books.

3. Finish any series started -- For this goal, I've actually signed up for a series finishing reading challenge this year.

4. Finish 75% or more of the reading challenges I join -- A reasonable goal I think.

5. Read more on the iPad -- I want to transition from physical books to digital ones. But first I need to complete goal #2.

6. Be stricter about DNFs -- I have gotten better about be discriminating when it comes to books. If I don't find myself fully into the book by page 50, I reevaluate whether or not I want to finish.

7. Read the book before seeing the movie -- I have multiple books I want to read before watching the movie. This is a big goal.

8. Do at least six readathons -- I did 11 last year, I think I can commit to at least 6 for the coming year. In fact, I have my first one this next week with Bout of Books 6.0.

9. Focus on my perpetual lists -- I am attempting to integrate these into my TBR list for 2013. We'll see how this goes.

10. Limit by book buying -- I signed up for the Double Dog Dare Challenge for January through April. I hope to continue my book buying ban, excluding book club choices, through June. I just have too many books in my possession to buy more.

Revisiting the 2012 resolutions:

Be better at planning for my reading -- I did this fairly well, but there's always room for improvement.
Participate in at least one readathon per quarter -- Done, done, and done!
Be better at chronicling my crafting -- I would like to do more, but I did get better.
Put more family updates -- So-so
Reinstitute Quote Wednesdays -- Done
Branch out into some new music for Music Mondays -- Done
Not commit myself to every meme I find interesting -- I got much better at selecting these
Share more interesting links, blogs posts, articles, etc. -- So-so
Clean out my Goggle Reader -- I got better at this...
Post at least once a week on another blogger's site -- Failed miserably
Get moving on my Day Zero Project -- Movement, but I would have liked more
Possibly include movie reviews? -- Not really

2012 Wrap-Up

Favorite Books of the Year

Honorable Mentions: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Persuasion and Northanger Abbeyby Jane Austen and The Importance of Being Earnestby Oscar Wilde. Since these are rereads, I decided not to put them in my Top 10 (seems like cheating a bit). But that doesn't mean that I didn't just love these. Check them out if you've never read.

Total Books Read -- 184 books

Total Pages Read -- 58,309 pages

I averaged 4859 pages per month. My lowest month was August with 2751 pages (health issues). My highest month was January with 7005 pages. I hope to read 60,000 pages next year.

Book Rating Stats -- I may have to get a bit stricter about my ratings. They seem a bit top heavy. Or maybe I really have bene reading some great books.

5 stars -- 100 books
4 stars -- 57 books
3 stars -- 18 books
2 stars -- 9 books
1 star -- 0 books

Special Projects/Features

Readathons -- 11 total completed! I wanted to complete at least one a quarter, and I definitely accomplished that. For the start of 2013, I have already committed to Bout of Books 6.0 and am possibly hosting a challenge.

January -- Bout of Books and Winter's Respite
April -- Spring into Horror
May -- Bout of Books
July -- High Summer and Once Upon a Readathon
August -- Labor Day and Bout of Books
October -- FrightFall
December -- Book Drunkard Readathon and Book Club Bash Readathon

Bloggiesta in September -- I finally joined the fun. I've gotten to the point where i need to take a break from time to time to work behind the scenes of the blog. This was such a great opportunity to accomplish just that. I'm sure I'll be joining in on the fun in the spring.

Day Zero Project -- I don't think I'll finish it all, but I do love having goals.

Quote Wednesday -- I got back into the swing of Quote Wednesday this year and want to keep my momentum.

Music Monday -- This year was a ton of My Years music posts. Next year I will be highlighting my favorite songs. I still really really love this feature.

Top Ten Tuesday -- I got back in the swing of things, and also become more picky. I didn't do every Tuesday list, but picked the ones I really wanted to do. This helped me keep excited about participating.

Reading Challenges

Goodreads -- 175/175 100%
Semi-Charmed -- 9/14 60%
Zombies -- 24/24 100%
Young Adult -- 12/12 100%
Vampires -- 10/10 100%
Fantasy -- 10/10 100%
Romance -- 10/10 100%
Telling Tales -- 10/10 100%
Historical Fiction -- 10/10 100%
Graphic Novel -- 20/20 100%
Shakespeare -- 12/12 100%
SciFi -- 5/5 100%
Outlander -- 0/5 0%
Mixing It Up -- 16/16 100%
Back to the Classics -- 9/9 100%
Harry Potter -- 7/7 100%
Fables -- 5/5 100%
Read Your Name -- 23/23 100%
A to Z -- 24/26 92.3%
What's In a Name -- 6/6 100%
Support Your Local Library -- 37/37 100%
Mount TBR -- 95/150 63.3%
Dewey Decimal -- 27/38 71.1 %
Books2Movies -- 20/20 100%
My Years -- 22/30 73.3%
Color Coded -- 6/9 66.7%

Total: 19/26 challenges 73% done

Total: 654/743 slots 88% done

Overall Thoughts/Reflections/Musings/Ideas

2012 was a great reading year. I got more organized and read some great books. I participated a good number of readathons and challenges. And I even got back into some of my regular features. Overall, I am super excited about my accomplishments. For 2013, I am trying to change up my reading challenges and branch out a bit. Here's to the new year!

Top Ten Tuesday -- I Resolve to Read...

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

These are books that have been sitting on my shelves for awhile. They are my top picks for January. I want to knock some of these out and get a great start on the New Year.

1. Emma and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen -- Rereads, but I haven't gotten to them in a few years.

2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman -- I am determined to read more Gaiman this year. I'm even devoting a whole reading challenge to him.

3. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

4. Matched, Crossed, and Reached by Ally Condie -- I won the first book last year, but never read it. Then at a book swap in October, I grabbed Crossed. I should really read these now.

5. Lightworld/Darkworld trilogy by Jennifer Armintrout -- Sitting on my shelf for at least two years, I will finish this trilogy.

6. The Passage by Justin Cronin -- Another long time shelf occupant. I heard such good things, but never started. Bad me!

7. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon -- Adored The Shadow of the Wind, really want to read the rest of his books.

8. Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen -- Been meaning to get around to these.

9. Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro -- Acquired at that October book swap. Really want to dive into this one.

10. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming -- Long time shelf resident, needs to be read.

Persuasion Readalong -- Sign Up Post

From Unputdownables:

Some Facts About the Read-a-Long:
You do not have to be a book blogger to join.
We will be reading the book in January (four weeks), with the first discussion happening on Friday, January 4th/ the book is roughly 235 pages (depending on which edition you read) so that’s roughly 59 pages a week; about 8 pages a day.
Don’t be intimidated. We will be going at a slow pace and discussing the book throughout our reading. The discussions are quite fun, and make the reading process very enjoyable!
What is Persuasion about?
Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love? (via Godreads.com)
***
The following is the reading and posting schedule for this read-a-long. Please note, we will be reading roughly 59 pages per week (about 8 pages a day). Because it is always easier for us to stop at chapters (rather than on page numbers, because of different editions), I’ve had to round to the nearest chapter each week. Please look at the week’s page amount to best plan your reading in order to keep up.
Schedule:
Beginning Friday, December 29th and ending Friday, January 25th.
READING SCHEDULE:
Week #/ Where to Stop (For example, in week one STOP and place your bookmark at Volume One Chapter IX.)
Week One/ Volume One, Chapter IX Week Two/ Volume Two, Chapter II Week Three/ Volume Two, Chapter IX Week Four/ The End
POSTING SCHEDULE:
Post #/ date discussion post will be up on blog:
Start up Post/ Today! Week One/ January 4th Week Two/ January 11th Week Three/ January 18th Week Four/ January 25th (Final Review)
** Please don’t forget to come to this blog each week to share your thoughts in the comments section of the weekly Read-a-Long discussion (see below for more information).**
How it Works:
Each week, on Friday, I will post my thoughts about the week’s reading. You will have from Friday through the following Thursday to post yours. If you are stuck on what to comment about, you can respond to my post or others’ comments. Regardless, you MUST check in each week (two weeks without a response and you will be taken off of the list — see below for details on why). You may have only one “off week” (which may not be the last week of reading for obvious reasons) and still be kept on the list, but you must let me know in the comment section by saying something like, “This is my off week — I am catching up!” Please note that, in order to be counted, your offering to the discussion must be about the current weeks’ reading, not about past weeks.***For all week’s discussions please refrain from posting ahead, even if you have read ahead, as to not spoil the book for others***
As these Read-a-Longs grow, so do the amount of people who participate – yay, all the more fun!!! Also, all the more keeping track of who is still reading. As you know – if you have been absent from discussion for two weeks, you will be removed from the list. However, now, in order to get back on the list, you need to a.) Have missed no more than two weeks of discussion, b.) Let me know you would like to be on the list again, and c.) Consistently be part of the discussion for the next two weeks after requesting to be put back on the list. Am I trying to be mean? Absolutely not! I LOVE having you all read a long. It is, however, a lot of work to keep track of who’s still reading. To keep taking names off and putting them back on the list becomes tedious. Most importantly though, consistency is good for the group; we tend to get to know each other through discussions and rely on the conversation to keep us reading.SinceI don’t do these read-a-longs to gain followers (I do them because the benefit of reading certain books with a group of dedicated people is often superior to reading them alone), I prefer to have a committed group – even if it is smaller. Reading with undedicated people is worst of all, which is why I care less about numbers and more about dedication to the book and the discussions. (Bonus! At the end of each read-a-long, those who have completed the entire read-a-long are eligible to be entered into the giveaway that correlates to the book… another reason why it is important for me to keep up with who is reading.)
If you are a blogger, feel free to post a link to your blog if you are posting about each of the each week’s reading. If I, or other readers, have extra time we will gladly try to visit your blog; however, you must make sure to share your thoughts here on this blog, and be part of the main conversation or your comment will not be counted. This is to make sure that our conversation is easily accessible to everyone who is reading, and also to keep it from becoming disjointed.
Comments from the previous week’s reading will be closing Thursday afternoon(before the next discussion takes place on Friday). If you would like to be part of the discussion, please remember to comment before then.

I must join this one, even though I just read Persuasion this last year. It's my favorite book of all time, I love rereading it and finding a new perspective or a new favorite line. Plus, rereading a favorite is a great way to start my 2013 reading. Would you like to join me? Jump on over to Unputdownables to sign up!

Ornament Exchange Thank You

I signed up for The Reading Fever's Ornament Exchange this year. I love all these gift exchanges this time of the year. I received Diana @ Book Adventures for my partner. And she sent me a most awesome ornament.

Does anyone recognize this awesome image? It's from one of my favorite books: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams! This ornament has earned a respected place on my Christmas tree. Thanks Diana!

Thanks again Diana!

P.S. She wrote me a nice thank you post on her blog. Check it out here.

Secret Santa Thank Yous

I signed up for two different book exchanges this fall. I've received my books, so it's time to send back some thank you love to the senders!

I received two books from Allyson... Stealing Fire by Jo Graham and Storm Glass by Maria Snyder. So excited to read them after January. Thank you!

I received two amazing books from Alicia.. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen and Brithmarked by Caragh O'Brien. Looking forward to diving into these.

Top Ten Tuesday -- 2012 New-to-Me Authors

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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

I read a ton of New-to-Me authors this year. Here's my 10 highlights:

1. Mira Grant -- I thoroughly enjoyed Grant's Newsflesh trilogy. I can't wait to see what else I could read from this author.

2. Rhiannon Frater -- Another great zombie trilogy. I've been seeing a huge bunch of rave reviews for Frater's other books. I must check them out.

3. Madeleine Roux -- I'm sensing a trend of great zombie authors... Anyway, loved these two companion novels.

4. Libba Bray -- The Gemma Doyle trilogy was great. Looking forward to other books.

5. Philip Pullman -- Very layered books

6. Mike Mullin -- Scared the crap out of me.

7. Kendare Blake -- Another scary book. I really want to read the sequel.

8. Carlos Ruiz Zafon -- The Shadow of the Wind was a great love letter to books and literature.

9. Robin McKinley -- Sunshine was so beautiful, I'm kind of afraid to read her other books for fear that they won't live up to it.

10. Lev Grossman -- The Magicians was very complex and interesting.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Santa Please Bring

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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

Here's my Christmas wish list this year:

1. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

2. Reached by Ally Condie

3. City of Lost Souls, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

4. The Twelve by Justin Cronin

5. The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

6. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

7. Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

8. Empress of Rome by Kate Quinn

9. A Lady Most Willing by Julia Quinn

10. Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Top Ten Tuesday -- Winter 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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

I'm cheating this week. The real topic is "2013 New Releases I'm Looking Forward To," but here's the thing: I don't usually keep up with new releases. Sure, I grabbed them from time to time, but it's usually because someone else recommends. I don't sit and wait for the new releases. Instead of the real topic, I'm sharing my Winter TBR list. The topic seems to have been left off the list for this season. These books are all those that I need to read by the end of the year to knock out some reading challenges.

2012 Still Need to Reads

1. The Magician King by Lev Grossman

2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (about halfway through)

3. Mythology by Edith Hamilton (currently reading)

4. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins

5. The Firemaster's Mistress by Dickason

6. Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes

7. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

8. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

2013 First Up Reads

9. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming

10. Rest of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series

Fall TBR Recap -- How I did based off of previous TTT post. Pretty close to reading them all! (20/27)

As the World Dies trilogy by Rhiannon Frater
Feed by Mira Grant
Deadline by Mira Grant
The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
The Maiden's Hand by Susan Wiggs
At the Queen's Summons by Susan Wiggs
P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern
A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees
As You Like It
King Lear
Pericles
Cymbeline
Othello
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? by Philip K. Dick
Snow Crash By Neal Stephenson
Outlander series
HP 7
A Wrinkle in Time by L'Engle
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes

In library paradise

I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library. -- Jorge Luis Borges

You know the library in Disney's Beauty and the Beast? Yeah, that's heaven to me. I've always dreamed of living in a house just big enough for a proper library room. A room filled floor to ceiling with bookcases, a comfy leather chair with ottoman, a small side table with reading lamp (just big enough for a cup of tea), and possibly a fireplace. That is heaven to me. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I have an iPad. I am trying to read more digital books (save space and for travel purposes), and yet I keep going back to the old physical library. I still want that room. I fear that the old libraries of the past will slowly disappear in our newly digital world. I don't want to lose that comfort, that little piece of paradise in our chaotic lives.

I'm a book discriminator...

"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." -- PJ O'Rourke

I have a confession to make... I discriminate based on books. I always check out what others are reading. And I make conclusions about who they are based off of those books. I'm not proud of this fact, and yet I continue to do it.

You want an example? The easiest one is Fifty Shades of Grey... My first thoughts when seeing a woman reading this (because I've never seen a man reading it): she doesn't actually read. It's a harsh statement. I don't think those people actually read the same way I don't think members of Oprah's book club read. For them it's a social activity It's a way for them to be part of the "cool" club. They don't read for the love the story or the author. My second thought: she doesn't have a healthy sexual relationship. The sex depicted in the book is gross (and this coming from someone who likes sex and reading erotica). The sex is bondage, but the worst form. It's one step away from rape and I just cannot find that sexy at all. My third thought: how can she read beyond the typos? Ugh! Typos annoy the crap out of me. I just paid X amount of dollars for a published author. I expect it to be edited at least for typos. I would really like if it was edited for content as well. But no...

My example got kind of ranty, but that's the train of thought that rolls through my brain when I see someone reading Fifty Shades of Grey. I have many other examples of my book snobbery. Readers of science fiction: lonely. Readers of literary fiction: snobs. Readers of young adult (but are adults): wannabe teenagers.

Why do I have all these thoughts? I read all these different genres (except Fifty Shades). I enjoy these different genres. I love reading a variety of types of books by a variety of authors. And yet, I judge others by their reading choices. I want to change. I want to a equal opportunity acceptor of reading habits. I want to not see the book, but see the person. End personal plea. Now let me go and read my fluffy romances with the rest of the housewives...

Upcoming Blog Hop Giveaway

I signed up for an upcoming blog hop giveaway... Look interesting? Join me. If not, keep it on the calendar and lookout for some great books up for grabs.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Bookish Wants

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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This week's topic was a freebie. With the holidays coming up, I thought I would take the opportunity to highlight some of my bookish wants. Now this won't be a list of books I want, but rather bookish gifts I want. Enjoy the pretties...

And to any relatives or friends looking for gifts for me for Christmas, these are great ones. Plus I have a wishlist posted on Amazon including specific books I want.

1. Jane Austen Penguin Classics -- I know I said no books, but these are more like art than books. I really really really want the entire set for my house. Check out those gorgeous spines... I especially love the feathers on Persuasion. Link is to only Persuasion, but will lead to the others.

2. Out of Print's Pride and Prejudice Shirt or the Matching Tote

3. Storiarts Persuasion Scarf on Etsy

4. Library storage bins from RoadsidePhotographs on Etsy

5. Hand Painted Necklaces from Heather Kent on Etsy -- variety of designs

6. Vintage Dictionary Prints from TheRekindledPage on Etsy -- Love the Alice ones!

7. Pride and Prejudice necklace from JezebelCharms on Etsy

8. Doctor Who and Alice mashup print from Parodies Lost on Etsy -- two of my favorite characters in one print!

9. Red Riding Hood tee from binarywinter on Etsy

10. Beautiful handmade journals and sketchbooks from Bookgirls Studio on Etsy

Top Ten Tuesday -- Kick Ass Heroines

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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

Just in time for Halloween I present some Kick Ass Heroines. Dress up as one of these awesome ladies!

1. Katnis Everdeen from The Hunger Games -- She's just awesome. I think we can all agree that she did the best she could with the lot given. I love her battle moments and the quiet moments.

2. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter -- I think if these books had come out when I was young, I would have dressed as Hermione for every Halloween. Even at the beginning of the series, you know she will eventually kick some serious ass.

3. Alexia Tarabotti from Parasol Protectorate -- You wouldn't immediately think proper Victorian lady for this list, but Alexia can kick ass when she needs to. I love her "proper" fighting!

4. Madame Lefoux from Parasol Protectorate series -- Her inventions are killer (sometimes literally) and she has style. Even when she betrayed Alexia, she did it for love and family. I love her character throughout the series.

5. The Female from The Boys series -- Her story is tragic. She never speaks. And yet, she's the deadliest weapon The Boys possess.

6. Death from Sandman series -- Come on, she's Death! How bad ass is that? Plus, she's a great counterpoint to her brother Dream. And she still has a kick ass wardrobe.

7. Annabeth from Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series -- The ultimate daughter of Athena (always my favorite of the Greek goddesses). She is smart, gorgeous, and dangerous. The perfect woman.

8. Thalia from Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series -- She sacrifices everything first to guard Camp Half-Blood and then becomes a Hunter of Artemis. She is a bad ass!

9. Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -- Not an obvious choice. But she does navigate Wonderland and defeat the Queen of Hearts in a way. I love her...

10. Cinderella from Fables series -- The ultimate spy posing as a fairy tale princess. I loved the glimpses of her in the main series. And she even gets her own spinoff. From Fabletown with Love.

And for your viewing pleasure, check out the BAMF Girls. Hilarious!

Quote Wednesday - Bachelard

To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something beautiful. -- Gaston Bachelard

What beautiful things have you read lately? After reading this quote, I immediately thought of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind. That book was a gorgeous confession of love for stories and books. Now I really want to grab the other two books in the series hoping that they will be just as beautiful. Go check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday -- Spooky 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!Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

It's the haunted holiday season... I thought I would share my favorite spooky books. But anyone who knows me, knows that I love love love zombie books. So my Top Ten is going to be the Top Ten Spooky Zombie Books. Enjoy!

1. Autumn by David Moody -- Very dark, very adult zombie series. Full of gore, just how I like it. And I must say that this entire series really does scare the crap out of me...

2. Allison Hewitt is Trapped and Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux -- I loved the idea of Allison Hewitt blogging the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. The second book a lovely treat of zombie books.

3. Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant -- A different type of zombie book, but oh so good!

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies -- One of my favorite classic books mixed with zombies while still keeping the Austen style and passages... loved it! I liked Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters a bit less than P&P&Zombies.

5. As the World Dies trilogy by Rhiannon Frater

6. The Walked Dead comic series -- I started reading the comic series after I started watching the TV series, but the comics still hold their own. I love the stark black and white cells. A masterpiece of spontaneity.

7. Living with the Dead trilogy by Jesse Petersen -- A more funny zombie novel about a couple reconnecting throughout the ordeal. I loved this series so much...

8. World War Z by Max Brooks -- Documentary style highlighting the after effects of the zombie apocalypse. I was really looking forward to the movie version, but I hear it's on the rocks right now. Boo...

9. The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy by Carrie Ryan -- My favorite YA zombie series. I love the look of the world years afterward. The first one was my favorite hands down, but the other two were really good also.

10. Zombie Blondes by Brian James -- Stepford Wives meets zombies in this YA novel. It was plenty creepy to keep me entertained.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Favorite Places to Read (Rewind)

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. If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This week's topic is rewind; choose a previous TTT topic. I have moved since doing this topic, so I thought I would revise my favorite places to read.

1. Living room chair -- J often finds me draped over the arms of the chair reading a book. I still love my chair, but if we had a bigger place, I would love a couch to read on.

2. My bed -- Every once in a while I read a few chapters before bed, but I get too sleepy for marathon reading.

3. The balcony -- We get a nice breeze on our balcony, plus I get natural light! It's only annoying when there's a ton of loud people in the pool.

4. Beside the pool -- Usually only during the weekday when no one's there. I like the sun but really love the peace and quiet.

5. At the local coffeehouse: Bean Scene Cafe on Murphy St, Sunnyvale -- Love the atmosphere and the coffee... Plus it's only a few blocks from the apartment.

6. The Sunnyvale Library -- Not that often. I prefer to grab books and go, but I have been known to sit and read. It's got nothing on ACPL...

7. Starbucks -- If it actually gets a bit cooler, I love grabbing a pumpkin spice latte.