15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 5

Continuing the meme, here's Day 5...

Day 5: Recommend a tear jerker.

There have been many books in the last few months that left me in tears.  I can't quite tell if it's the quality of the book or just my crazy pregnancy hormones.  At any rate, I'm going to go with Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand.  It's the true story of a WWII survivor.  I knew he survived his ordeals at sea and as a Japanese POW, but at every devastating event, I broke down in tears.  It's a great inspiring true story.  Pick it up, but make sure to have some kleenex handy.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 4

Continuing the meme, here's Day 4...

Day 4: What's the last book you flung across the room?

I didn't actually fling it across the room, but I came close with our last book club book The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.  It's a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway's first marriage to Hadley Richardson.  I can't stand Hemingway, so of course his character irked me.  But I found that Hadley's weak nature made me even angrier.  There were a few times when I felt like throwing the book across the room.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 3

Continuing the meme, here's Day 3...

Day 3: Who are your blogging BFFs?

I'll admit to being a very insular blogger.  I don't reach out to others as much as I would like. My schedule often gets in the way of reading and commenting on other blogs.  Sometimes I can't even get my blog posts written.  So, I guess I really don't have any blogging BFFs.  A little sad, but I started this blog for my personal benefit.  I didn't give any thought to reaching others in the beginning.  It's only becoming more appealing to reach out a few years into this experiment.  Possibly in the future...

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 2

Continuing the meme, here's Day 2...

Day 2: What's your bedtime reading ritual?

Back when I was younger, I would consistently read a few chapters from my books before bed.  But now, my life is not so routine.   If the boys are here, I try to read them a chapter or two of whatever book we're reading at the time (right now it's The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan).  If the boys aren't here, I'm much more sporadic about reading nightly.  I try to go to bed at a decent hour (usually 11pm) and settle in for a chapter or two.  Some nights I really get into the books I'm reading and find myself only stopping hours later, utterly exhausted.  Some nights J and I get into a tv show and end up watching until I am too exhausted to read.  I want to get more consistent about my reading, but with baby Arthur coming in October, that's not likely to happen.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 1

I am so far behind on my blogroll, but I ran across this one and wanted to join up.  Beyond my weekly meme posts, I haven't been very creative with my blog posts.  This is a great chance to change things up.  So here we go...

Day 1: Make 15 book related confessions.

1. I am a cover snob. I'll fully admit to being drawn in by pretty covers.  And if I don't like the cover, I won't read the book.  It takes a lot to get me to read books I don't like the cover.  
2. I love fluffy romances. I read just about everything, but my go to for sheer entertainment is fluffy romances.  They're predictable and unrealistic, but I love them just the same.
3. I give myself 50 pages to love a book. If I'm not immersed in 50 pages, I DNF the book.  I used to finish books no matter what, but I've realized that there are just too many books out there to waste my time reading things I don't like.
4. I often disagree with the populace about what books I like. My book ratings often don't agree with averages on Goodreads and I'm perfectly okay with that.
5. I abhor writing in books. I just can't see how people can destroy books my writing in them.  No way, not for me.
6. I have put myself on a book ban because boxes of unread books in my closet. I went on a bit of a book buying spree over the last three years and now I have at least 7 boxes of unread books taking up tons of space in the closet.  And don't even get me started on the unread ebooks cluttering my iPad.  Therefore, I have put myself on a book buying ban for the entire year.  I can only buy books for book club or if it's one to finish up a series I've been wanting.  So far, I've only bought 4 books this entire year.  I am doing very well...
7. I love and hate young adult books. Overall, I can't get into young adult books.  However I do read them occasionally.  I got back and forth.
8. I was a classics snob from late middle school to my mid-20s. I went through a phase lasting over 10 years where I thought you had to read only classics if you were to be a serious reader.  Thankfully I have grown out of that idea.  I now read almost anything and I'm much happier about it.
9. I hate all of Charles Dickens. Speaking of classics, I learned a long time ago that I cannot stand Dickens' writing.  I've tried and tried and I just can't read him.
10. I love Jane Austen, but hate the Brontes. J doesn't understand how I can like one but not the others.  To me, Austen and the Brontes are worlds apart.  Don't confuse the two.
11. I have to buy all the books in a series before I start reading said series.  This may have contributed to my boxes of unread books cluttering my closet.
12. I love browsing the stacks of the library. I could spend hours in a library just browsing.  I tend to find interesting reads picking a shelf in a random aisle and looking at all the books.  This is why I prefer to go to libraries alone.  I don't like to be rushed.
13. My Goodreads TBR shelf is absolutely out of control. At last count, it had 1884 books.  I'll never get to all those, especially when I constantly add more.  I really need to stop...
14. I'd rather read a book than go to any social gathering. I'm not anti-social, but I'd really rather curl up with a cup of tea and a good book.
15. Even though I own an iPad, I still resist ebooks. Another thing that J just doesn't understand.  I still prefer the feel of a book over the iPad.  I am slowly and reluctantly reading ebooks, but it's more because I hate lugging around pounds of books during travel.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Most Intimidating

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!

Very few books intimidate me. After thinking long and hard I came up with a few.

1. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray -- It's been on my TBR list forever.  Every time I think about reading it, I pick up this huge book and promptly put it down.  I put the novel on my Summer TBR list, so I better get over my hear and read it!

2. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo -- Another hefty classic.  I almost joined a few Les Mis readlongs I before the movie was released, but I just couldn't push myself to actually take the plunge.

3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy --  Ahhhh!!!  The Russians are coming.  They are a little too bleak for me...

4. Siddartha by Herman Hesse -- One of J's favorite books.  I just don't love philosophy enough to actually dive into this one.

5. Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein -- I've been working my way through the major Heinlein novels.  This one still scares me.

6. The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert Heinlein -- See #5

7. The Foundations series by Isaac Asimov -- Hard scifi is just not my favorite.  I find it very intimidating.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Favorites Read in 2013 (so far)

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!

I went back and looked at all the books I've read so far this year.  These are my top 10, in no specific order.  I expect these books will also make an appearance on my end of year favorites list.

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

2. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

3. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

4. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

5. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

6. One Day by David Nicholls

7. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

8. The Passage by Justin Cronin

9. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

10. Emma by Jane Austen

Top Ten Tuesday -- My Summer TBR List

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!

I love these TTT posts.  They force me to reevaluate my reading goals for each season.  I have a ton of books I want to read, but these are the 10 that I am going to focus on.

1. The Host by Stephenie Meyer -- Reread for me.  Also, I wanted to reread the book and then rent the movie to compare.

2. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin -- As part of my chick lit/women's fiction section.

3. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir -- Really need to read more historical fiction.

4. Collapse by Jared Diamond -- A long time shelf resident just wanting to get read.

5. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray -- Been on my TBR list for ages and ages.

6. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan -- The boys and I's number one reading priority this summer.  We desperately want to move forward in the series.

7. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason -- Been wanting to start this series forever.

8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas -- A great action adventure reread for the summer.

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -- It's been a few years.

10. Wicked by Gregory Maguire -- Read this one years ago when it was released.  Really want to revisit.

Spring TBR Recap (5/13) : So failed at completing this list.  This books are still sitting around my house just waiting to be read.

1. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
2. The Postman by David Brinn
3. Chicago Fire trilogy by Susan Wiggs
4. Lost by Gregory Maguire
5. Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
7. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern 
8. Gale Force by Rachel Caine
9. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine
10. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine
11. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
12. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
13. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Top Ten Tuesday -- Featuring Travel

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!

I love to travel.  I wish I could travel more.  Instead, I have read some great books that involve traveling.

Travel writing

1. No Touch Monkey by Ayun Holliday -- Hilarious lessons learned while traveling the far flung reaches of the world.  I feel like I need to reread this soon.

2. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes -- I like the book fine, but I think I like the book even more.  Either way we get some great travel writing

3. Journals of Lewis and Clark -- Loving the historical discoveries made by Lewis and Clark.

4. Stephen Fry in America -- Who doesn't love Stephen Fry?  I certainly love him and his writing.

Nonfiction involving travel

5. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick -- A great account of the travels of the Pilgrims across the Atlantic to their new home.

Fiction involving travel

6. Blades of the Rose series by Zoe Archer -- These action adventure novels take us to all kinds of exotic places.  I especially loved the travel to Greece.  I want to go there now!

7. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne -- A classic action adventure travel book.  I know you can't travel to the center of the earth, but I do love the story.

8. The Odyssey by Homer -- Another classic travel story.

Top Ten Tuesday - Freebie: Favorite NonFiction

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 week's topic is a freebie.  I think 99% of the TTT lists are focused on fiction books.  So, I thought this week would be a great time to highlight my favorite nonfiction books.

1. Anything by Mary Roach -- Roach has this amazing ability to take the weird, the macabre, and the downright technical, and make me clamor for the information.  Her writing is dry and yet incredibly funny.  I can't wait to read her latest book: Gulp.

2. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain -- Somehow I never got around to reading Bourdain's memoir.  Thankfully I rectified this oversight last month.  The book is just like Bourdain is talking straight to me.  Loved it!

3. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson -- A story of a cholera outbreak in Old London... sounds pretty boring.  But Johnson weaves this beautiful story of human despair and survival while highlighting the amazing scientific discoveries.

4. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson -- Unbelievably hilarious!!!!  I laughed out loud throughout the entire book.  Very embarrassing reading this in the coffeehouse.  You must read this one!

5. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick -- I do love my history stories.  Just like Johnson, Philbrick weaves an amazing story of despair and survival.  May be a bit dense for nonhistory fans, but this is definitely a good one.

6. Birth by Tina Cassidy -- A little alarming for my upcoming delivery, but I loved all the scientific knowledge I learned reading this book.

7. Mythology by Edith Hamilton -- The ultimate collection of Greek and Roman stories.  Very enjoyable.  I plan on introducing this to my boys soon.

8. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson -- A historical biography.  Definitely dry for non-historical fans, but I really enjoyed learning more about one of my favorite Founding Fathers (and yes, I am including him in the group).

9. Chicks Dig Time Lords -- A collection of essays about Doctor Who.  If you're a fan of the show, this is a great high level discussion of topics in Doctor Who history.  (Note: this book covers all of Doctor Who, not just the reboot)

10. Ten Discoveries that Rewrote History by Patrick Hunt -- A nice summary of some of the big discoveries in history.  I knew almost all of these, but enjoyed the summary.

Top Ten Tuesday - Something Light & Fun

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!

My definition of Light and Fun may not be yours.  These are the books that I've read since beginning the blog that I thoroughly enjoy and don't feel drained afterward.

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -- Hilarious!  And light and funny!  This is a constant reread.
2. Any Historical Romance -- After reading a deep, through provoking, emotion wracking book, I almost always grab a fluffy romance.  They're predictable.  They have happy endings.  I love taking the romance journey.
3. Graphic Novels like Scott Pilgrim -- Not all graphic novels are alike.  I would not put The Boys or even Fables in this category.  Scott Pilgrim is just a delight.  Go read it!
4. Mammoth Anthologies -- Short stories are always a great way to pick something fun.  I often use these anthologies to jump reading during a slump.
5. Cozy Mysteries -- I don't read these very often (too predictable), but they can be great easy, fun reads.
6. Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger -- I sped through this series laughing and crying, but came away with a light heart afterward.
7. Novels of Jane Austen -- I consider Austen to be light and fun.  Maybe it's because I reread these all the time.  Maybe it's because her novels end happy.  Maybe it's because I love her quips throughout.  Whatever the reason, these are always on my list.
8. Novels of Rick Riordan -- I might like reading his books even more than my 10-year-old boys, and that's saying a lot.  I love diving into a new adventure.
9. YA Fairy Tale Readings -- Usually I can predict the ending of these, but I love the familiarity of the class fairy tales.
10. Living with the Dead series by Jesse Petersen -- Zombies and comedy!  How can you go wrong?

Top Ten Tuesday -- Fave Pre-Blogging Books

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 is a really hard topic.  I can only think of I few books.  I know there are more, but these are my absolute favorites, my rereads, my go to books.

1. Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2. Novels of Jane Austen -- Or the ones I haven't reread and reviewed on my blog so far.  That is Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

3. The Host by Stephenie Meyer -- I will be rereading this one during this month. I hope to finish in time to see the movie in theaters.  I am intrigued...

4. The Awakening by Kate Chopin -- My all time favorite.  I think it's about time for a reread...

Top Ten Tuesday -- Crushing of Fictional Characters

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!

Loving this topic today.  I choosing based on my love of the characters.  I didn't pay much attention to age.  If the character is a teen, I aged them up in my head.  Okay...  now that that's out of the way.  Here's my list:

1. Lord Maccon from Gail Carriger's Soulless series -- As the rugged handsome warrior crush

2. Robb Stark from George Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series -- As the rugged handsome almost warrior crush

3. Shaun Mason from Mira Grant's Newsflesh series -- As the zombie killing warrior crush

4. Dodge from Frank Beddor's Looking Glass Wars series -- As the boy next door warrior crush

5. Arthur Dent from Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide series -- As the ordinary, but hilarious, boy next door crush

6. Constantine from Robin McKinley's Sunshine -- As the way to mysterious and sexy crush

7. Cas Lowood from Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood series -- As the persistent lovelorn warrior crush

8. Lewis from Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens series -- As the powerful mysterious crush

9. Percy Jackson from Rick Riordan's series -- As the hilarious warrior crush

10. Puck from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series -- As the hilarious mysterious crush

I think I have a thing for the warrior type.  Or maybe it's the books I've been reading lately.

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

Hey everybody!  It's time for another giveaway.  I have a box of books just sitting here waiting to leave the house.  I reach in and pull one out to offer to you good folks.

The Prize: Hardcover of Velveteen by Daniel Marks

The Rules:

• Must have a US mailing address (postage is way too expensive, sorry!)
• Fill out the Rafflecopter below (easy peasy!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Ten Tuesday -- I Had to Buy But Neglected

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!

I am so bad at this!  I have to buy all these fancy books and then they languish on my shelves for years.  Thankfully for all those books, I have put myself on a book buying ban for the year.  And I'm doing awesome!  I've only bought two books so far, but both were book club selections that I didn't own.  Here's a list of some of those neglected books that I hope to get to this year:

1. The Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig -- really the entire series

2. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

3. Ireland by Frank Delaney

4. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming -- supposed to read this last December, obviously didn't get to it

5. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer -- Actually on my TBR list for this year

6. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest -- Another set book for this year

7. Vanity Fairy by William Makepeace Thackeray -- Ditto

8. Neferitit by Michelle Moran

9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

10. Alexander Hamilton by Richard Brookhiser

Just for fun, I did this topic two years ago (March 1, 2011 specifically).  Let's revisit and see how many of those I have read:

• Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
• Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Magicians by Lev Grossman
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez

Not very good.  Only 50% read.  I really need to add that other 50% to my TBR pile.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Spring TBR List

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!

I love these weeks.  They help remind of those "must-read" books I somehow put off.  This quarter, I'm going with a ton of books I have lying around they have been put off and put off...

1. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin -- The second book in the Fire and Ice series.  I'm saving this one for my plane ride back to Indiana at the end of the month.  Can't wait!

2. The Postman by David Brinn -- The next science fiction book that J wants me to read.

3. Chicago Fire trilogy by Susan Wiggs -- A fluffy romance trilogy to tide me over this spring.

4. Lost and Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire -- I read these years ago.  I've been wanting to reread them for awhile.

5. The Host by Stephenie Meyer -- Another reread.  I want to finish it before the movie releases.

6. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern -- Been on my list for ages.  I really want to get it read and rewatch the movie for comparison.

7. Gale Force, Cape Storm, and Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine -- The last three books of the Weather Warden series.  I've enjoyed it so far, just need to finish it.

8. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond -- Years ago, I made it about halfway through before losing momentum.  I really want to finish this one.

9. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain -- A classic that's been on my list for years.

10. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa -- I received a copy a few months ago.  This spring I want to finally read it.

Winter TBR Recap (7/10) -- not a bad result at all

1. The Magician King by Lev Grossman
2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 
3. Mythology by Edith Hamilton
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
9. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
10. Rest of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series

Top Ten Tuesday -- Series I Want to Start

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!

1-2. Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices --  I have the first four books the TMI and the first book of ID.  I need to read at least the first TMI before the movie comes out later this year.

3. Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series -- I have about half of these books sitting in a box.  They seem like my kind of books.  Soon...

4. Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series -- I have most of the series sitting on my shelf.  And yet I haven't started reading them yet.

5. JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood -- Another series I have a ton of the books and have yet to start.

6. Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles -- The boys and I loved the Percy Jackson series.  I think we need to start his other series now.

7-10. Lots of romance series from Mary Balogh, Candace Camp, Christina Dodd, Julia London, Paula Quinn, and many others.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Favorite Romances

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!

1. Pick an Austen Pair --I love them all, but my favorite is Anne and Captain Wentworth.

2. Snow and Bigby from Fables -- I love this series and these two are just so cute!

3. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan -- Not a great romance, but there's something about these two that always wants the story to end up differently.

4. Emma and Dexter from One Day - This is a recent love.  I read the book and it destroyed me.  The back and forth between these two characters put me on the edge of my seat.  I just wanted them to get together and be happy.

5. Jamie and Claire from Outlander -- Duh!

6. Mary and Colin from The Secret Garden -- I always rooted for them in the end.  Reading the novel, you can see a great fiery romance brewing...

7. Shaun and Georgia from Newsflesh trilogy -- OMG!  I did not see this coming, but I loved where they took the series.  I was definitely rooting for them and cried with them.

8. Howl and Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle -- To be in love with a wizard...  the ultimate dream.  I love them both.

9. Percy and Annabeth from Percy Jackson series -- Another romance where they hated each other at first.  But how can they not be together.  I still need to read The Mark of Athena to see what happens to them...

10. Sunshine and Constantine from Sunshine -- Not a traditional romance.  Not even really a romance.  But an amazing connection.  I would have loved to read more about these two.

Book of Lists: Perfect Day

I ran across this idea on At Random, I followed her links to Kapachino's original post.  This month's topic is "perfect day."  I decided to write up an ideal itinerary...

• Sleep in, breakfast in bed
• Morning spent lounging at the beach (no swimming, the Pacific is too cold)
• Lunch at a cafe
• Afternoon at a museum
• Swim in the pool
• Dinner with wine at a good restaurant (perhaps The Fish Market)
• Movie at the theater
• Dessert, something chocolate
• Sex (just being honest)
• Curling up in bed with a good book

An entire day spent with J with no technology or chores.

Next month:We’ll be posting on March 4 and the topic is “I’m good at.” We can all stand to have a little more self-confidence, I think, so let’s talk about it.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Frustrating Characters

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!

Instead of specific characters, I'm going to focus on types of characters that frustrate me.

1. The Damsel in Distress -- A woman can be strong and vulnerable, but to be completely helpless is just annoying.  I can't stand these girls.

2. The Misunderstood Bad Boy -- Such a stereotype.  Not every bad boy has a heart of gold underneath all that leather.  I just get a bit annoyed when the heroine constantly tries to reform the bad boy.

3. The Virgin to Sex Addict -- I see this happen in a ton of romance novels.  The heroine goes from the naive virgin to overly adventurous sex addict after one encounter.  This isn't to say that many women have a sexual awakening.  I think it's very healthy.  However, I just don't see this happening in every occasion.

4-6. The "Woe is Me" / "My Life Sucks" / "No One Understands Me" Girl -- Can I just say... get over yourself!

7. The Ugly Duckling to Prom Queen Girl -- It's the silly fairy tale.  It gets old after awhile.

8. The Nonexistent Parents -- Why do I constantly see seemingly nonexistent parents in young adult novels?  Where are they?  Why can't we see healthy parent-teenager relationships?

9. The Unrequited Love Next Door -- Girl to boy or boy to girl, it's just a bit silly.

10. The Athlete with a Sensitive Side -- Why does every jock have to be misunderstood with a hidden "geeky" passion?  Every one we meet.