Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Authors I Love (the numbers prove it)

There are quite a few authors that I really enjoy all of their works. These are authors that I trust to supply me with a great read! I'm also going to try and keep the most obvious authors (like J.K. Rowling and Cassandra Clare) off the list so I can showcase some other authors that I have read and loved multiple works from. I also plan to read more works from all of these authors because I haven't read all of their works yet.

Hosted by: The Broke and Bookish

1. Rick Riordan-9

I've read: Percy Jackson and the Olympians 1-5 and The Heroes of Olympus 1-4 

Next Up: The Blood of Olympus 

My Favorite Read: The Percy Jackson series   

2. Gyles Brandeth- 6

I've read: The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries 1-6

Next Up: Number seven when it gets released, which I'm crossing my fingers is soon!

My Favorite: Oscar Wilde and the Death of No Importance 

3. Sarah J. Maas- 5

I've read: Throne of Glass 1-3, The Assassin's Blade, and A Court of Thorns and Roses

Next up; Queen of Shadows! I just preordered my signed copy last week! 

My Favorite: The Throne of Glass series is so, so good! 

4. Marcus Sedgwick- 4

I've read: Midwinterblood, Revolver, White Crow, The Ghosts of Heaven

Next up: The Book of Dead Days 

My favorite: Midwinterblood and The Ghosts of Heaven are tied for my favorite so far! 

5. F. Scott Fitzgerald- 4

I've read: The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers 

Next up: The Beautiful and the Damned 

My favorite: Gatsby (duh!) and Tender is the Night

6. Jane Austen- 3

I've read: Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Emma 

Next up: Sense and Sensibility 

My favorite: Emma (although I really love them all!) 

7. David Levithan- 3

I've read: How They Met and Other Stories, Boy Meets Boy, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green

Next up: Two Boys Kissing and The Realm of Possibilities 

My favorite: Boy Meets Boy

8. William Shakespeare- 8 plays and various sonnets

I've read: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Measure for Measure, Othello, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice 

Next up: A reread of Hamlet and The Tempest 

My favorite: Romeo and Juliet and the sonnets 

9. Kate Chopin- One novella and various short stories

I've read: The Awakening, The Storm, The Kiss, At the Canadian Ball, The Story of an Hour, Desiree's Baby 

Next up: Silk Stockings 

My favorite: The Awakening, and The Kiss

10. Oscar Wilde- 1 novel, various short stories, fairy tales, letters, and poems and 1 play 

I've read; The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Ballad of Reading Goal, Fairy Tales, The Canterville Ghost, The Sphinx without a Secret, The Model Millionaire, and The Importance of Being Earnest 

Up next: De Profundis 

My favorite: His short stories and The Importance of Being Earnest 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books with Characters Who Are Crazy

It took me a really long time to decide on my topic for this week (having my books packed up and not all at the same place doesn't help either) but I was inspired by one of the books on this list to talk about crazy characters. 

Now, when I say crazy I mean an array of things on this list, as you will see. Some are serial killer crazy and some are dealing with mental issues (which of course doesn't make them crazy but for the purposes of this list I have included them) and some of them are evil crazy. So if you want to get into the mind of someone a little unstable and unreliable, here are some of my recommendations.  

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

 

1. Tracks by Louise Erdrich: Pauline

This is the novel and character that inspired today's topic. Holy (haha, that was an excellent joke if you have read the novel!) smokes is Pauline crazy but so fascinating to read as a narrator. I will be reviewing this book next week so there will be more on Pauline then.

2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Hamlet

Shakespeare has a large number of crazy characters to pick from, but Hamlet is one of the best and the craziest. I'm reading this one right now, and Hamlet is brilliant, but crazy.

3. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Walley: Could be spolierish so I won't tell you

I'm afraid telling you who is crazy could be spolierish but trust me, someone in this novel is straight up crazy. I love this book and really want to reread it soon! 

 

4. The Catcher in the Rye: Holden Caulfield 

It's because I love Holden that I can call him crazy!

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is obsessive, evil, and extremely beautiful; is there a better combination for a crazy literary character? Wilde's writing is pure genius of course, which makes his character all the better. Read my review here.

6. Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas: Celaena Sardothien

Now, I love Celaena Sardothien very much, but you can't deny that girlfriend is crazy sometimes in every possible meaning of the word. This is what makes her such a real, and beautiful character.

 

7. The Sherlock Holmes Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Professor Moriarty

Moriarty is one of my all-time favorite villains. He's the perfect villain for Holmes, and he makes my skin crawl in every movie or tv show adaptation!

8. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: Mrs. Havisham 

Okay, so I have only read the graphic novel version of this story, but I got enough of the story to know that Mrs. Havisham is crazy. Anyone who spends fifty plus years living in a wedding dress she was wearing when she was left at the alter wins a spot on my crazy list.

9. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk: Everyone in the entire novel

Everyone in this novel is crazy and unstable, but some of them are lovable in odd ways. This is the only Palahniuk I have read, and I think it is quite tame for him, so if you don't think you would be a fan of some of his wilder stuff (that's me) then this could be a good Palahniuk experience for you. Read my review here.

10. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Narrator

Girlfriend is crazy, but she has dang good reason to be! This is a short story and a piece with feminist themes I recommend you check out. 

Taylor Swift Book Tag!

Guys, I like Taylor Swift. I love that she's not taking herself too seriously and how she is working to brush off those who are saying negative things about her. I've been listening to 1989 a lot lately, and I just discovered the other day that I have bought every cd she has eve come out with, so I guess there is no denying I'm a fan. This tag looks like a lot of fun so let's get started!

Thanks to Jess for tagging me!

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - A book/series

 you loved and now hate

I don't hate this series, but I don't think I will be finishing The Luxe series by Jenifer L. Armentrout. I read all but the last one, and thought they were fun addictive reads, but I don't really have any desire to read the last one any time soon. Maybe I will someday but not right now. I just have tons of other books that are a higher priority. 

Red - A book with a red cover 

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairy Land in a Ship of her Own Making- world's longest title! I still need to read this one! Soon, it will happen soon! 

The Best Day - A book that makes you feel nostalgic

The Series of Unfortunate Events was huge when I was in elementary and middle school, and everyone read and loved them. I never finished the series, but I have thought about picking it up again many times. 

Love Story - A book with forbidden love

I haven't read The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simmons yet, but I would love to get to it soon. It's the first in an epic love story trilogy about a forbidden love between a solider and a Russian girl during WWII.  

I Knew You Were Trouble - A book with a bad character you 

can't help but love

I had a really hard time coming up with an answer for this one. The Darkling is a great villain, but I don't know if I love him. Leave me some recommendations of lovable villains down below! 

Innocent - A book that someone ruined the ending to

Tumblr spoiled The Fault in Our Stars for me back in the day, but regardless of my knowledge of the end I still enjoyed this book immensely, and have read it multiple times. I read it in one sitting the first read.  

Everything Has Changed - A book with a character who goes 

through extensive character development

Ester from The Bell Jar is one of the most interesting characters I have ever read. She goes through some very crazy and honest character development. 

You Belong With Me - A book you are anticipating most

Source

Throne of Glass #4 (which got its title released just yesterday!!) Queen of Shadows- I need more Choal and Celena kicking ass! And I can't wait to see the cover!!  

Forever and Always - Your book otp

Ron and Hermonie forever! They are perfect; I don't care what any one says (that includes you, J.K. Rowling!) 

Come Back, Be Here - A book you'd least like to lend out (for 

fear of missing it too much)

Uh, all of them! I get very nervous about lending out books, but I would be even more nervous to lend out books that I've made notes in, or my copy of The Great Gatsby, sometimes I just need to read a page or two of it- it's not a want but a need. 

Teardrops On My Guitar - A book that made you cry a lot

The Time Travelers Wife is by far the saddest book I have ever read, but it's also so, so good! 

Thanks again to Jess for tagging me!
Leave me your favorite T-Swift song down below! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read in 2014

I read a lot of great books this year, and there's still a couple weeks left in the year to squeeze in some last minute books I wanted to get to. But here's ten of my favorite books I read this year, in no particular order.
Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

1. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare

I really enjoyed The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Clare, much more than I enjoyed the Mortal Instruments actually, but the third book in the trilogy is my favorite. I think it is the best conclusion to a series I have read in a long time. Reading the end of this book was the hardest I have cried while reading a book in a long time, but not because it was sad- there was just so much love and feelings going on- I just couldn't keep it in.

2. Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas (Books 1-3 and prequel)

I loved all of Maas's books that I read this year, and I'm eager to read more from her. I love the protagonist and the fast moving action.
Throne of Glass Review

3. A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf
I loved all the feminist sass that was going on in this essay. Woolf was very elegant but clear about communicating her thoughts on the woman artist.She is one author I hope to read more of very soon.
A Room of One's Own Review

4. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
This was by far the scariest book I read this year and the one that has stuck with me the most. Everyone should read this novel- and if you've already read it- read it again!
The Handmaid's Tale Review

5. Midwinterblood, Marcus Sedgwick 
This was perhaps my favorite YA book of the year, and I know I talk about it all the time, but I was really impressed and intrigued abut what this novel said and how it said it. I love how Sedgwick controls time in his novels, this on in particular, and the atmosphere of this novel was a little bit eerie but also irresistible.
Midwinterblood Review

6. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
I just finished this one earlier this month, but I really loved it. I wrote a rather long post about my thoughts on this novel, and I would love if you would check it out and share your thoughts on the novel with me.
Jane Eyre Review

7. Boy Meets Boy, David Levithan

I read my first three Levithan books this year, and enjoyed them all. (He made my TTT list of new to me authors) But this was my favorite book of his I read this year. I loved the characters and themes of this book, and it was laugh out loud funny.
Boy Meets Boy Review

8. Persuasion, Jane Austen

This was my second Austen novel, and I loved it. I really can't wait to read more from her. I also wrote a rather lengthy post that started out as a review for this book but turned into more of a 'Why I Love Jane Austen' post.
Persuasion Review
  

9. Winger, Andrew Smith

I read a couple of Smith's works this year and really love the powerful themes he takes on, and how amazing he is at writing young male narrators. He is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.
Winger Review

10. Elanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell 
I read this one way back in January, but I remember it was impossible to put down. I loved Rowell's writing and the story. I haven't read anything else by Rowell yet, but I own two of her books so hopefully I will read more from her soon.

What books made your list? What did you think about these books? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New to Me Authors

I read quite a few new-to-me authors this year, which is really great. Some of these authors I read multiple works from this year, and some of them I have only read one work this year but I am very eager to read more, well I'm eager to read more from all of these authors, but you know what I mean. I've got quite a long list today so let's get started. 

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

1. Marcus Sedgwick

I really love the themes that Sedgwick works with and the way he plays with and bends time in his novels! I'm really looking forward to reading more of his novels next year. 

I've read: Midwinterblood and Revolver

2. Gris Grimley

I'm so eager to get my hands of Grimley's other works. Particularly his illustrated Poe stories. I love his style and how he brings classic stories to life.

I've read:Frankenstein

3. Andrew Smith

I read two novels by Andrew Smith this year, and really loved both. I love his writing style and the strength of his narrator's voices. His book are perfect for male readers but can also be enjoyed be girls. I'm really eager to read his older books, and his newest book.

I've Read: Winger and Grasshopper Jungle

4. Jenny Han

I read four of Jenny Han's books this year, and I really enjoyed them all. They have such great heart and humor, and are really entertaining and impossible to put down contemporaries.

I've Read: To All the Boys I've Loved Before and The Summer Trilogy

5. Sarah J. Maas

I'm so glad I discovered Sarah J. Maas this year! I love the Throne of Glass Trilogy and I'm very excited for her new adult fantasy series in 2015. I highly recommend her books, if you haven't picked them up yet. 

I've Read: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin's Blade and Heir of Fire

6. David Levithan 

I can't believe it took my this long to read David Levithan! I really enjoy his humor and how endearing and powerfully positive his books are. 

I've Read: Boy Meets Boy, Will Grayson, Will Grayson and How They Met and Other Stories

7. Margaret Atwood

I need to read more Atwood now! I loved The Handmaid's Tale and I have heard so many great things about her other works. For some reason I was a little intimidated by her and her reputation, but I'm really eager to read more from her next year.

I've Read: The Handmaid's Tale

8. Neil Gaiman

Gaiman is such a hyped up author. I only hear great things about his work, and I got introduced to him this year through The Graveyard Book. I've also read a few of his short stories, and they particularly interest me. I will be reading more Gaiman for sure.

I've Read: The Graveyard Book

9. A.S. King

A.S. King is the Queen of magical realism, which is an element I'm really starting to love. I really loved the novel of hers I read this year, and I need to read more. Plus, her novels are all standalones!

I've Read: Everybody Sees the Ants

10. Virginia Woolf 

I've owned works by Woolf for a while but hadn't read any until this year. I loved A Room of One's Own and the sassy wit that came along with it. I have a lot of works from Woolf on my TBR list, and I'm excited to dive into her fiction. 

I've read: A Room of One's Own Part One, Part Two

11. Jack Kerouac 

Kerouac's writing is beautiful and the people he writes about eccentric. I'm definitely going to make my way through his other novels in the very near future.  

I've Read: On The Road

Leave me your link below so I can check out your list! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Sequels I need Right NOW!

I'm usually way behind on series, so I'm usually not chomping at the bit for the newest book because I haven't read the first ones yet. But I'm waiting on a surprising number of sequels actually, so go me for being on top of at least a few series!

Hosted by:The Broke and the Bookish

1. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski 

I really enjoyed The Winner's Curse and I'm eager to know where the story goes. The ending of the first book set up book two perfectly. I love the political intrigue of this series, and the covers are beautiful!

Release Date: March 3, 2015

2. Throne of Glass Number Four by Sarah J. Maas

We have such a long wait for this one! I loved Heir of Fire and I want to see who Celaena ends up with! And of course I love Maas' writing and how action packed these books are. I'm very eager to get a cover for this one too. 

Release Date: Unspecified 

3. P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

I really enjoyed To All the Boys I've Loved Before. It was such a cute and fun read. I'm thinking the sequel will be equally heartwarming and entertaining.

Release Date: April 21, 2015

4. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

I've been waiting for this one for a long time. It's been pushed back a couple of times. Now I'm feeling like I could use a reread of The Diviners but it's so big! The first book was good, but I think it's main job was to set up the rest of the series, so I'm thinking the next books will be even better. If they ever come out!

Release Date: April 14, 2015

5. Stand Off by Andrew Smith

I really liked Winger. I love the themes in Smith's books as well as the way he presents them. I'm interested to see where this story goes because I was perfectly content with the ending of Winger. 

Release Date: January 14, 2015

6. The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Another book that has been pushed back many times. The second book had a cliffhanger ending, so I really want to see where this story goes! This series is so funny and entertaining, plus a little bit spooky. 

Release Date: February 10, 2015

7. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These books are beautiful too! I was really surprised by These Broken Stars and I've been hearing positive early reviews on this companion novel.
Release Date: December 23, 2014

What sequels are you waiting for! Now excuse while I go get caught up on all of the other series that I haven't even started yet!

 

 

Recently Read: Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Year Published: 2014
Page Count: 562
Rating: 5/5

Also by Sarah J. Maas:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
The Assassin's Blade

*This review is spoiler free for the entire Throne of Glass Series*

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas has taken me a while to finish because of how busy I have been with school, but holy moly did I love this book when I finally got the chance to finish it.

And can I just say, this book is gorgeous! I love the covers for this series!

Since this is the third book in the series, I won't give a synopsis and will just jump right into my thoughts about it. 

If you have not started this series yet, you need to. The series is so action packed and has so many great characters and plot twists and turns. The ending of this book specifically was so crammed packed with action I couldn't read fast enough. I'm really excited about where the next book is going to take us based on the ending and I think this series is only getting better and better. Yes, this is a rather large book, but it follows multiple characters some new, some old, and the action never lulls. 

My favorite thing about this series is Celaena as a character. She is so flawed which means you get mad at her for the way she reacts to events or other characters, but that also means she's so real. She is loyal, fierce, brave, completely full of herself, and stubborn. But more than anything, she is afraid of herself, and she feels so real. 

This novel has some very beautiful scenes that illustrate loyalty and love. They are beautiful because they are gritty and reckless, not because they are perfectly staged. There are also powerful scenes in this novel where Celaena must face herself and her past which are done very beautifully. You can almost feel the love that Maas has for Celaena, which is amazing. I can NOT wait for the next book in this series, and I am NOT looking forward to the long wait we will be facing between books! But I will be just as excited when the tittle and cover are released, because I can't wait to see the next cover for this series.

If I could say one thing to Celaena it would be, You Go Girl!  

Also, Maas is releasing an adult fiction novel, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, titled, A Court of Thrones and Roses. It is the first book in a series and is set to release May, 2015. Yay!      

Top Ten Tuesday: Who's Sitting at my Lunch Table- Author Edition

This week's TTT topic is the ten literary characters I would want sitting at my lunch table, but I'm going to change this to the top ten authors I would want to sit at my lunch table.  Happy back to school season! 

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

 1. Oscar Wilde

Duh! I would marry Oscar Wilde if I could. I have said this countless times but I love Oscar Wilde, both his works and his outrageous personality. He would be endless entertaining at a lunch table. 

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson

He is so wise, everything that comes out of his mouth sounds like a Chinese Proverb or a new philosophy to live your life by. I would love to have a conversation with him!  

3. William Shakespeare 

I want to discover the real Shakespeare. Was he really a women? Was he gay? Did he write his own plays or did someone else write some or all of them? How is he so good at iambic pentameter? Was he an alien? Clearly I have a lot of questions for the guy.

4. Sylvia Plath

I would love to get to know Plath. I want to hear how she forms her conversations and if they are as beautiful as her poetry and prose. I want to get to know the real Sylvia, and know her for more than just her pain. 

5. Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay is one cool chick. The feminist tones in her poetry are so clear and done so well. I would love to hear the stories that inspired her poems and hear her talk about the writing process, and just meet the women behind the powerful, sassy poetry.  

6. Maureen Johnson 

The books by Johnson that I have read crack me up, so I would love to have lunch with her. I bet she's so fun and would be full of funny and entertaining stories. Plus I want to know why the third book in her Shades of London series is taking so stinking long to be released!

7. John Green

I enjoy Green's personality and would love to discuss classic lit with him, as he is so well read. And hopefully he would bring Hank, who I have a little crush on :)  

8. Laurie Halse Anderson

I am always impressed by her work and would love to meet her and discuss her work with her. Wintergirls totally took me by surprise and I need to read more of her works. 

9. David Levithan 

I always enjoy and laugh at Levithan's works. I would love to talk to him about how much of a positive impact his books are capable of having on young readers, and I would love to discuss using his books in my future classroom.  

10. Sarah J. Maas

I love the Throne of Glass series, and want to talk to Maas about what's going to happen next! She has a great imagination and the series has a great origin story that I would love to hear more about. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Deserted Island Companions

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is the top ten book characters I would want on a deserted island with me. Now let me just say, I would not survive on an island no matter who I had with me!
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish 

 Practical Choices:

 

1. Hermonie Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling 
She's so smart and prepared I'm sure she could find a way to keep us alive and then get us rescued. Plus, Magic!

2. Celaena Sardothien form the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
She's so kick-butt and great at surviving on her own!

3. Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians
He could use his water powers to summon a boat and get us off that island.

 

4. Dameon Black from The Lux series by Jenifer L. Armentrout
He's hot, he's a super fast, super strong alien, he's a good choice.

5. Katniss Everdeen form the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzzane Collins
Katniss is the toughest chick ever! so of course she's on this list.

Impractical Choices:

 

1. Jem Carstairs from the Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare 
I wouldn't mind being trapped anywhere with Jem.

2. Oscar Wilde from the Oscar Wilde Murder Mystery series by Gyles Brandeth 
I love, love, love Oscar and would love, love, to get to meet him and his outrageous personalities and hear his stories.

3.  Ron Weasly from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling 
Ron is so funny, sweet, and a red head! Bonus points for cute red heads!

4. Rory from the Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson
Rory's narration of this series makes me laugh out loud all the time, so she would be a great person to take with me to keep my spirits up! (ha! see what I did there? Spirits!)