Top Ten Tuesday {1}

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

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time:


(These are just some of the books I wish I could read again for the first time. The list would be mighty long if I put all of them down)

1) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: This is one of those books that I love re-reading. It did many things for me. Gave me back my love for reading, it helped open the doors to the wonderful YA genre, and satiated my hunger for a historical romance. The fact that I got some paranormal in there too, was quite amazing to me. I really wish I could go back to the snowy afternoon I first read this so that I could fall in love with it all over again.

2) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling: When I first got my hands on this book I wasn't even allowed to read it. I snuck it into my house and stayed up all night reading it. Now that I am older and have since swayed my mom's opinion on the world of Harry Potter I wish that I could have the chance to read it again with the rest of the series. So that I could enjoy them all for the first time together.

3) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Now, I know Twilight is not great literature, but I read it at a very bad time in mine and my family's life so it was kind of like comfort food for me. It was my escape. And it got me back into reading. I used to read all the time when I was a kid, but then I was loaded down with school and work and just didn't think I had time to read. And I wasn't sure what I even liked to read anymore. Then came Twilight. I read it before there were teams, before there was all this controversy, before Edward was considered a stalker pedophile. And I enjoyed it. I would love to go back to before the hype and read it again just for the sheer pleasure of it.

4)Uglies by Scott Westerfeld: One of the girls that I used to work with suggested this one to me. I had a bit of a Twilight hangover and just did not think that it would be able to cure that. I've always loved dystopians but had not found one in a long time that even came close to measuring up to some of the ones that I had already read, but Uglies certainly did. And it cured my hangover. It made me realize that there were so many other books out there with romance, love triangles, adventure, and even better main girl characters. But since I was so apprehensive when starting I don't think I got as much out of the first half of the book as I could have.

5)The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: For a while I avoided this one like the plague. It was too hyped for me and I did not want to read yet another book that was placed high on a pedestal just to be disappointed when it didn't live up to all the praise. Then I went to the bookstore because I was running low on books to read (this was before my stockpile of books) and for some reason I just decided to give it a go, even though I was still nervous it would suck. Well, it didn't suck. It was far from sucking. I was totally entranced with this world and the people in it that I even ended up having dreams about it.

6) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: There is a lot that I would give to be introduced to Dimitri for the first time, again. I believe he will always top my literary crush list.

And it really helped that it was such a great story and world to read about.

7) Delirium by Lauren Oliver: This was the first book I was accepted to read through NetGalley. And boy, will I forever be thankful for that. The power of the words and message in this book was incredible. And the ending still makes me cry like a big baby. 

8) Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien: These books introduced me to fantasy and world building in the best of ways. J.R.R. Tolkien is one of my heroes and inspirations for my own writing. It would be absolutely incredible to experience these books again for the first time.

9) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I believe that Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennett is enough of a reason for this one. 

10) Christy by Katherine Marshall: Every time I read this book it rips my heart out, puts it back in, then rips it out again. The people, the life they had to live, the children...what Christy gave up to go live with them. It's wonderful and incredible. And to have the suspense back of whether Christy was going to be with David Grantland or Neil MacNeill. That would be lovely.

Austin Teen Book Festival.

Very early Saturday morning my best friend Donna and I drove up to Austin from San Antonio for the Teen Book Festival. It was our first bookish event so we were beyond excited. In fact, I was so excited, I forgot to take some pictures of her and I together while we were there.

We got there about 30 minutes before book sales opened so we decided to walk around outside for a little bit since it was such a beautiful morning.

Then we went and got in line to buy some books.

I bought: Lola and the Boy Next Door, Wolfsbane, and It's Not Summer Without You. I really wanted to buy  We'll Always Have Summer also, but it was in hardback and I now have the first two in paperback.

Then, while I was checking out, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" started playing. It seemed really random at first, then we went into the main hall and found this:

A group of middle school students did a zombie flash mob and were dancing to "Thriller". And I have to say, they were really good.

Scott Westerfeld was the main speaker and he spoke about illustrations in books, which was pretty interesting.

Then it was time to go to the individual panels. First we went to Alternaworlds because we both wanted to hear more from Scott Westerfeld and Maureen Johnson was on that panel and you would have to be crazy to not want to listen to her.

Rosemary Clement-Moore was the moderator.

Brian Yansky and Jonathan Maberry were also on the panel.

At first, it was a bit hard to hear them talk because, behind that curtain, another panel was going on. And then to the left there was another curtain, behind which another panel was going on. So for the first half we could hear all three panels at once. It finally got a little better towards the end.

After the first round of panels were over it was lunch time, so we walked down to Whataburger, then stopped and had snowcones on the way back.

The next panel we went to was Pen Fatale: 

It was moderated by Margo Rabb who asked Alyson Noel, Mary Pearson, Jessica Brody, and Gabrielle Zevin questions about their books and writing processes.

The last panel we were going to go to was the I Heart Love Stories panel, which I was pretty much dying to get to because Stephanie Perkins was on that one...and I love her, a lot. But they canceled it because of the sound problems...so I didn't get to hear her :/ That was pretty much heartbreaking.

So we decided to go outside and enjoy the afternoon since we had an hour to kill before book signings began. We went and sat in the park which ended up being a lot of fun because we made up stories about random people that we saw.

Since I didn't get to hear Stephanie Perkins in her panel I decided she was going to be the first signing line I was getting in to so I wouldn't miss my chance to talk to her there. It was a good thing we got in that line first, too. It took us 50 minutes to get up to her table and the signings were only open for an hour. But I got her to sign my copy of Anna and the French Kiss and the copy of Lola that I bought that day. I reallllllly wanted to get a picture with her, but by the time we got up there they were trying to hurry people along so that as many people as they could could get their book signed. But she was so super sweet and kept talking to us while signing my books and I could barely speak cause I was pretty much starstruck haha.

AND! I loved her blue hair so much I think I am going to do a couple streaks in mine for Halloween...totally doesn't go with my costume...but I'll make it work :D

There was only about 5 minutes left of signing when we left Stephanie's table so I had to hurry and get in Jenny Han's so that she could sign my two Summer books. And then I practically sprinted over to Andrea Cremer's table and got to her just in the nick of time. Right after she signed my books they announced signing was over. *Phew*...it got pretty intense there at the end.

And by the way, Andrea Cremer is super sweet and has such a pretty smile. I was a bit nervous to meet these authors but they were all just so nice and really make you wanna hang out and talk with them.

Overall, it was a great day. Tons of fun. And I really hope I am in town to go next year. You should plan on going to. It was definitely worth it!

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

"A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school."-GoodReads.

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: October 11th 2011 by EgmontUSA

Thank you Egmont & NetGalley!

One word and one word only comes to mind when I think about my reading experience with this book. Disappointed. 

 

The first thing that pulled me in and made me want to read this is that beyond amazing cover. I mean, look at it, it is so beautiful. It has probably become one of my favorite book covers. And then I read what it was about. Cue the jaw dropping. There is actually a whole lot more to the synopsis now then when I first read it.

Now I have not yet read the original tale of Tristan and Isolde so the only thing I actually had to go off of was the movie that had James Franco and Sophia Myles in it. I do love that movie though. And the tag line for it was "Before Romeo & Juliet, there was Tristan & Isolde." Romeo and Juliet just happens to be one of my favorite Shakespearean plays, so I knew this story would have to be good.

The movie was good. As I said, I love the movie. I thought that is what the book would be like.

I don't think I have ever been more wrong in my life. After waiting since the beginning of this year for this book and getting sooo excited that I received it early I had high hopes for it, and my hopes were crushed. 

From what I know of the story, the only thing that is the same in this book to the original, are the names of the characters. Except for Tristan...that ends up not even being his actual name in the book.

Which for me, didn't even really end up mattering since I did not like Tristan in the least. He was such a flat character. And Izzie was such a brat that I couldn't even pretend to like her.

There were also numerous inconsistencies and most of the time the story just felt forced. It almost felt like reading a really rough draft of what had the potential to be a great story. But as much as I wanted to like this story and sticking around for all of it, I just could not like it at all. Though I still may have to get a hard copy just so I can have that gorgeous cover on my bookshelf. 

I received this book free of charge from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, altered my opinion of the story or my review.

Austin Teen Book Fesitival!

I can hardly wait for this Saturday (October 1st) because I am going to my very first book event!

One of my best friends and I will be heading up to Austin earlllllly Saturday morning to go to the 

Austin Teen Book Festival!

There are going to be so many authors to talk to and even more books to buy (I am putting my book buying ban on hold for this day).

So is anyone else planning on going to the book festival?

Insurgent has a cover. And a synopsis!

Oh be still my heart, look at how awesome that cover is.

I loved Divergent's cover. To me, it stood out in a sea of book covers that all looked the same.

I have even more cover love for the Insurgent.

And now, the moment I have been waiting for. Good Reads has a synopsis!

"One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. 

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature."-GoodReads.

Gah! That last sentence is freaking me out--"Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so".

What might she lose?!

May 2012 can't take that long to get here, can it?

I sure hope not, because I am already dying for this book (yes, literally dying).

How stoked are you for this one?

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. 
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life."-GoodReads.

Hardcover, 391 pages

Published October 13th 2009 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Angels, ancient battles, romance, hot guys, awesome cover. What's not to love about Hush, Hush?

I LOVE the main character's name. Nora is so lovely and Grey spelled with an E always makes me happy. That right there made me feel like I needed to read this story, but I had seen sooo many mixed reviews I wasn't sure I wanted to waste my time with another stinker (and I have had TONS of those lately). 

I finally bought the book and put it in my TBR pile but it kept getting moved farther and farther down the list. Why, I am not sure, I guess I just wasn't in the mood for that type of story. Then one day it seemed to just call to me from my bookshelf. I picked it up and basically did not put it down until I turned the last page. It was just what I needed. Not great, or perfect, or one of my all time favorites, but it fit the book mood I was in.

Thinking back on the story now, there are some things that I have a problem with and that I don't like.

Like, as much as I loved Nora's name I can not say that I loved her personality. She was a little more than a bit annoying sometimes. Very whiny, acted like the good girl but seemed to seek trouble out willingly. Nora sometimes felt like a walking contradiction and not in a good way.

Patch made up for that. Now, I've seen so many people bash Patch, saying that he is too cocky or arrogant...etc. I liked that. A lot. It was hot. And it was different. Too many times now have I read a book where the main guy is just over the top sensitive. Sensitivity is fine, but when I am in the midst of a supernatural battle a knight in shining armor comes in handy just a bit more than some guy that would rather talk things out than fight...okay, well, Patch's armor wasn't that shiny...it's a tad tarnished. But he was a fighter. Loved him. Don't believe me yet? Check out my post where I actually got to "take a picture with Patch". Yeah, I love me some angel boys.


The story had me intrigued in the way that I was constantly guessing if someone was going to end up being a bad guy or a good guy. 

Hush, Hush tended to be a bit cliche-paranormal-romancey, but like I said, that is what I had been wanting to read. It was predictable at parts, but very surprising at others. Becca Fitzpatrick definitely had me hanging on every word to find out what would happen and I cannot wait to read Crescendo.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

"On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites--like fire and ice--Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move--only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past. 

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine."-GoodReads.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: September 27th 2011 by HarperTeen

                                                                  Source: HarperTeen via NetGalley

I am a sucker for paranormal with romance. What makes them even better for me is a love triangle (even though I think I am one of the few that like them). So when I was trying to pick out my next read I knew that this one was it. It was pretty much calling to me when it so boldly stated in the synopsis that Skye is torn between two guys. And let me tell you, it is pretty understandable why she is. Asher is dangerous and wild while Devin is sweet and thoughtful. Skye doesn't automatically think they are the greatest thing ever and she questions things about them that any normal person would question, which helps up the realness of the story.

The backdrop was perfect. Losing myself in the frigid winter of Colorado was a very nice break from the melting heat that we are having right now in Texas.
Even though I could basically feel the cold air of Boulder because the descriptions are so great, there wasn't a lot of story. Basically it's just about Skye trying to figure Asher and Devin out. Which was fine for me because that was what I was in the mood for. 


Now, I know the synopsis doesn't give much away in what kind of paranormal story this is and I have seen a lot of people assume that it is vampires and say they aren't going to read it because they are tired of vampires. Well I am here to tell you that it is not about vampires. It is about angels. Now hold on. Before you roll your eyes and say "Oh they have been done too many times also" let me tell you that A Beautiful Dark provides a whole new twist on them. It was pretty great.


And here's a little teaser for you (that includes a huge hint as to what they are):
"All of a sudden he’d taken two giant steps towards me, and before I knew it, had taken my face into his hands and taken me into the darkness of his wings, and he was kissing me and I was kissing him and we were kissing each other in my little bedroom, in my little house, in my little town, while the mountains soared into the sky." 


Yeah, that's one of my favorite scenes in this book. It was perfect.


My only problem was that Skye's best friend Ian is just so obviously in love with her but she acts like she doesn't know even though it is the most obvious thing in the world.  And she flirts with him allll the time, but when Asher and Devin walk into her life she starts ignoring Ian and her other friends. He does not deserve that at all. He is so super sweet, really perfect boyfriend material so Skye lost some of my respect when she started acting like a jerk to him.


The end is probably one of the biggest cliff hangers ever. I mean it was cruel how it ended. There better be at least a sequel. And I am thinking with how this one ended the next one will expand on the story much more.


So if you are in the mood for a good paranormal packed with romance put this on to be read list and grab it when it comes out! Definitely worth the read!