Books I need to read

Holy Cow I have been gone for quite some time.

Today I have decided to post my to be read list. This is a picture of ten of the books I have been meaning to get but have not so far. 

I am committing them to this blog so hopefully you will see some of these mentioned here after I have read them, along with reviews of notable books I have read in the past year.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

As a fan of Gail Carriger’s (adult) Parasol Protectorate series I have been highly looking forward to this young adult Victorian Paranormal Steampunk series.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Historical Fiction set during World War II.  Everyone says I have to read it.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

I am a fan of Maggie Stifvater. I have read everything she has written. This is the second book in the Raven Boys Series. There is supposed to be four books. I may hold of on this one until book three’s release is announced.

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Oh my gosh. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Jennifer E. Smith’s book “Statistical Probabilities of Love at First Sight” ( I will need to post a review of this one because everyone should read it) Because “Statistical Probabilities of Love at First Sight” was such a sweet swoony book. I need to read this!  

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Shakespeare, London and the blogosphere says if you like Jennifer E. Smith and Stephanie Perkins this is a must read.

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

Seriously! I bought this book because of its cover.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

Another book I have judged by its cover.  Drgaon scales and a VW Bug.  I am intrigued.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I have heard so much about this book and the series that I am embarrassed that I have not read this yet.

  

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is about a girl with anorexia. I think it is important to read books that explore the social challenges today no matter how difficult.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Oh. My. Gosh.

Zombies, Steampunk and Civil War!

‘nuf said!

Top Ten Favorite Covers

Top Ten Favorite Covers
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

All of these books I picked up because of the cover art.  All of these books I loved, but a few I may not have read if I were not drawn to the cover. Yes, I am that shallow :)

How to Save A Life by Sara Zarr

We have had a very mild winter with no real snow this year. I think this book’s wintery cover grabbed me. I needed to read it.

Wintertown by Stephen Emond

This was on display at my library and realized that I kept walking past it. When I realized the snow was pieces of punched paper I threw it in my bag to check out. 

Very cute.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

This book is beautiful! You cannot help staring at this cover the key is raised and the title with the made of gears and watch parts is just pure awesome.

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

This cover is one of my absolute favorites. The fog on cover has this opalescent quality.

Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

This cover is so clever. It is truly creepy.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

I think the blue color and the beautiful dress snagged my attention on this one. I had to have it.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I picked this up at a book fair. I love the metallic purple title that is raised over the eerie silvery metallic trees in the background.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

I love the dress! I love the castle in the background! I want to go there even though I cannot dance.

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

What a sweet cover for a sweet story. I love the heart shaped snowflakes.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This cover is gorgeous. After this came out my TBR pile was huge but I kept eying this book.  I finally broke down and bought it mainly because it’s so pretty.

Top Ten Books To Save If My House Were Abducted By Aliens

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

(I know it is Saturday!!! Back off)

Top Ten Books To Save If My House Were Abducted By Aliens

Wow this is a toughie!

I decided that I would give my self ten minutes to think of this list and that would be it. I do not think the aliens would give me much time. So I decided to save my sentimental favorites the ones that I could not easily replace and are all easily accessible.

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I love this copy from 1943 with beautiful engravings by Fritz Eichenberg

2. Dracula by Bram Stoker – with illustrations by Edward Gorey a version I absolutely adore

3. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins signed

4. Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle - This was my Dad’s copy. When he worked on a children’s opera based on the book Madeline L’Engle came and I had her sign it.

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green signed  - Even though I have never met John Green, I still cherish this signed copy.

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green signed

7. Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Reported by James Madison - I was in a non-fiction phase when my husband and I started dating. We would go to the (then new) Borders (now gone) and drink espresso and peruse books. I got this on one of our first dates.

8. A ratty wrecked copy of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 'cause it is totally broken in and has awesome old book scent.

9. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien This set of paperbacks were my dad’s and they are totally broken in.

10. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne this book belonged to my grandfather and has awesome old book scent.

All Hallow's Read

One of my favorite authors started a new tradition last year. On Halloween in addition to all the normal festivities we can celebrate All Hallow's Read. As most of you know I love Halloween, I love scary stories and I love to read. All Hallow's Read is my new favorite holiday! I decided to include a list of some of my favorites that should be shared this holiday season. I cannot tell you how hard it was to limit to ten books. I know I cannot give everyone a book so I am posting a link to one of my favorite short stories the The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. Enjoy and have a terrifying All Hallow's Read.

1. Gashleycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey

This is the quintessential primer for macabre. It follows the demise of little children alphabetically. Pair this with Gorey’s dreary drawings and you have a masterpiece!

2. Last Apprentice - Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

I downloaded this audiobook this summer from the Audiobook Community. I really enjoyed this creepy tale. Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son and is sent to apprentice with the Spook. His job is to contain the witches, ghouls beasties and boggarts. I actually held my breath a couple times. A great introduction to scary stories.

3. Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I absolutely loved this book. It is a story about a young boy named Nobody Owens, they call him Bod for short. Bod’s family is murdered and he alone escapes to the safety of a nearby graveyard where the resident ghosts decide to raise and protect the infant themselves. This book was not as scary as I assumed it would be given the story line. You can listen to the complete audiobook here, read by Neil Gaiman.

4. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

This book truly freaked me out! It scared me much more than it scared my daughter. As a child I loved the Narnia series, I was always searching for a “portal” to some fantastic magical world. Gaiman totally twists this! The world Coraline finds is far more sinister. My imagination was on overload. The Beldam totally made my hair stand on end.

5. Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Seriously, what can be creepier than a traveling carnival! When I first read this I slept with the lights on for a while. The Dust Witch still scares me, and Mr, Dark is just plain eerie. 

6. Dracula by Bram Stoker

You cannot have a Halloween list with out Dracula. I think that everyone should read Dracula. Bram Stoker introduced us to the modern Vampire. Dracula does not sparkle and you most certainly will not find friendly vampires on these pages. I read this first when I was in 7^th grade and have re-read it many times it gets better each time.

  

7. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

This book is downright spooky. People are disappearing in the small town of Cryer's Cross. I was not sure where this was going and was totally surprised when I got there. Freaky!

8. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Hello! Zombies! Unconsecrated moaning at the fence reaching for you! This book had me hooked immediately I literally did not put this down until I finished! Read it!

9. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This is a classic tale of Gothic Horror. A book you must read! This is a cautionary tale of the dangers of science. In today’s world with genetic research and the wonders that can be accomplished in a lab this book scares me more each time I read it and I think that also makes it timeless!. This is the granddaddy of monster stories and definitely a must at Halloween.

10. Short Stories… The Call of Cthulhu, The Monkey's Paw, Masque of the Red Death, Legend of Sleepy Hollow to name a few. If you cannot find time to read a novel for Halloween you can easily read a short story. Many great short stories are available to read online as their copyright has expired. So if you do not feel like going to the bookstore or library, go online and read a terrifying gem for free.

Top Ten Books I Believe Teens Should be Required to Read

Top Ten Books I Believe Teens Should be Required to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

  

Here is my top ten list of books I think every teen should read. This list is obviously going to reflect my favorites. The beauty of this is we all have different essentials. This list was very hard to compile! Obviously, it is now Wednesday afternoon and I am posting my Top Ten Tuesday list.

When I say teens should be required to read these I mean they should read them before they are adults. I had several teachers who clearly did not like the books they were required to teach us in school. I truly believe this taints the reading experience tremendously! I was lucky to have a few teachers passionate about the books we had to read. I hope I can carry that passion for some of my favorites and pass it along to my child and reading friends! Here Goes!

(In No Particular Order)

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)– This is a great dystopian novel often dismissed as a children’s book. I think everyone should read this book.

2. Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins (2009 – 2010) – I wish more emphasis would be put on reading what you love! I loved this series and am happy that many teens were able to read my copies of this series because they wanted to! Yea for reading!

3. Night by Elie Wiesel (1982) - Some one gave me this book in high school and I mistook this thin book as an easy read. This book is about Elie Wiesel’s life in a Nazi Concentration camp. This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read! It personalized the holocaust, one period in history we never want to repeat!

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) – I had to read this in school. I loved this book! The characters are amazing. Atticus Finch is one incredible man, I wish there were more Atticus’s in the real world than just on the pages of a book.

5. Paper Towns by John Green (2008) – I have enjoyed every book I have read by John Green and I have more on my TBR pile. There is language/situations in this book so I would suggest this for older teens. It was easy to root for Q on his quest to find Margo and ultimately himself.

6. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (1845) – Frankly anything by Poe and more poetry. Lots and lots of poetry!

7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) – Because before Edward there was Mr. Darcy

8. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) – Any one who knows me knows I could not make this list without Dame Agatha!

9. Short Stories – I love short stories! They are gems of words! You can read a short story… well very shortly! But often times the story sticks with you for a long time after.

Some of my favorites… The Monkeys Paw by WW Jacobs, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, The Gift of the Magi by O Henry, Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, and anything by Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Saki, Mark Twain, HG Wells, HP Lovecraft.

10. Something funny! Everyone needs to laugh out loud.

Some of my favorites… A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup, Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, Here Lies the Librarian and the Teachers Funeral by Richard Peck. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis and A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban