Showing posts with label top ten tuesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top ten tuesday. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Book Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Well, what do you know? I'm back again this week!

These were SO hard to narrow down! (In no particular order)
  1. “Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to.” ― Stephen King, Dolores Claiborne
  2. “Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
  3. “I saw a new world coming rapidly. More scientific, efficient, yes. More cures for the old sicknesses. Very good. But a harsh, cruel, world. And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain, and she was holding it and pleading, never to let her go.” ― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
  4. “I’m not like the rest of you; I never made any plans about what I’d do when I grew up; I never thought of being married, as you did. I couldn’t seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth, trotting about at home, of no use anywhere but there. I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is leaving you all. I’m not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
  5. “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.”
    ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
  6. “May she wake in torment!" he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. "Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there—not in heaven—not perished—where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—May she wake in torment!" he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. "Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there—not in heaven—not perished—where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
    ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
  7. “... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
    ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
  8. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
    ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
  9. “Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a very dangerous enemy indeed.” ― Anne Rice, The Witching Hour
  10. “None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are.”
    ― Anne Rice, The Vampire Lestat

    ...and a bonus quote because it's from my favorite book.
  11. “It's an awful truth that suffering can deepen us, give a greater lustre to our colours, a richer resonance to our words. That is, if it doesn't destroy us, if it doesn't burn away the optimism and the spirit, the capacity for visions, and the respect for simple yet indispensable things.”
    ― Anne Rice, The Queen of the Damned


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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Top 10 Tuesday-- Books I Could Re-read Forever


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

I don't usually participate in Top Ten Tuesday because frankly, I've been quite lax at blogging for quite some time, but I'm a big proponent of re-reading so this was the perfect topic for me. However, I may not be able to come up with ten. We shall see...

Note: These are books that I have definitely re-read, and would most definitely read again. There are more books/authors though that I would also re-read, but have not done yet.


1. The Queen of the Damned, Anne Rice. This is the book I have re-read the most (except for A Christmas Carol), and my favorite book. I've read it four times


2. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. This has been one of my favorite books since childhood. 


3. The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova. This book. I can't explain it. It compels me to read it.


4. Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling. I bet this is on many lists. I'm currently re-reading on audio. I have Prisoner of Azkaban currently on hold.


5. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens. I read this every Christmas, and watch multiple versions of the movie. The Alison Larkin audio version is a beautiful listen.


6. Dracula, Bram Stoker. Are you sensing a theme here? Three books basically about vampires. lol I've read this three times. Once in print and twice on audio. If you haven't listened to the audio version with Tim Curry and Alan Cumming, you're really missing out.



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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A Reading Life (45) - #TopTenTuesday #RIPXI #Bloggiesta

Scroll down for Bloggiesta wrap-up.


Seems I'm in a blogging rut of a sort. I post reviews and Cat Thursday, but nothing much else. Trying to get back into the swing of things. I have Banned Books Week at the end of the month so want to be in a better frame for (almost) daily posts that week.


I decided to participate in Top Ten Tuesday this week. It has been a while. I actually like making lists so not sure why I don't do this every week. Here are my top ten favorite literary fiction novels (these may also fall into other categories):

In no particular order...


1. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger - I loved, loved, loved this book. Even after seven years, it still stays with me. It was actually one of my first reviews on this blog (HERE).


2. The Keep, Jennifer Egan - This book blew me away. It was utterly what I was not expecting and that made it all the better. If you haven't read this...well, you really should.


3. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold - This was another of my first reviews on this blog (HERE). I liked this because of it being a cautionary tale, but also the story was incredibly poignant.


4. The Color Purple, Alice Walker - Not much explanation needed here. The movie is actually one of my favorites. I read the book years later and loved it even more. Brilliant story. (Review here)


5. The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro - Ishiguro is a brilliant writer. He knows how to get to the meat of what makes people tick, and it's not always pretty, or ideal. He is one of my favorite authors which is why he makes the list twice...


6. Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro - This is a book not to read if you don't want to sob uncontrollably. Also, don't go watch the end of the film after reading the book. More uncontrolled sobbing. The movie was good. The book is better. The book makes you think...really think...which is my favorite kind of book. (Review here)


7. The Invention of Wings, Sue Monk Kidd - A wonderful book, based in fact, about the strength of the human spirit and bonds that can't be broken.


8. The Mountain Story, Lori Lansens - I actually just finished reading this a couple of weeks ago and haven't even had time to review it yet. It is not just about being stranded on a mountain, but about people...what they do to each other and how they love each other in spite of it all.


9. The Gift, Cecelia Ahern - I know Ahern is categorized as a "chick lit" author, but this book is not chick lit. It was a great book to read at Christmas because it has a message, but would be good to read any time of year. Another "will have you sobbing" book.


10. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak - I think everyone has read this so it will be apparent why it's on the list. A book about human bonds, love, tragedy, and how books can bring people together. (Review Here)


R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XI

11th year! So glad to have Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings back hosting again. I'm a bit late with this sign-up, but I have a ton of spooky reading going on this Sept-Oct. Yay!

My levels of participation:


Read four books, of any length, from the very broad categories earlier defined as perilous. They could all be by the same author, a series of books, a random mix of classic and contemporary or whatever you like.

Here's what I have on my plate:

  • The Night Parade, Ronald Malfi (currently reading)
  • The History Major, Michael Phillip Cash (currently reading)
  • Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs (currently reading, hosting read-along at Castle Macabre)
  • Salem's Lot, Stephen King (read-along in Oct. for TuesBookTalk & the Stephen King Challenge)
  • The Kept Woman, Karin Slaughter
  • various other horror novels


Short story read-alongs at Castle Macabre for Season of the Witch:

Edgar Allan Poe:
The Mask of the Red Death 
The Pit and the Pendulum

H.P. Lovecraft
The Dunwich Horror
The Dreams in the Witch-House




I've already seen Ghostbusters and The Disappointments Room and I have to finish watching the last few episodes of Stranger Things. American Horror Story's new season starts tomorrow!

Movies I'm also planning to see:

Morgan
The Blair Witch
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
The Girl on the Train
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Rob Zombie's 31
Rings

and tons of scary movies and paranormal/horror TV shows on television!



BLOGGIESTA!

Goals:

  • finish working on the new community reading site I've been promising since August :(
    completed site url: http://www.gathertogetherread.com/
  • finishing touches on new perpetual reading challenge accompanying the intro of new site
  • sign-up post for FrightFall Read-a-Thon
  • create button for new reading challenge to start January 1, 2017
  • visit other participants
  • work on book catalog and my home library site (A Library, Collected), if I have time
  • ...if I think of anything else
  • mini-challenge at Guiltless Reading - create a book map Done. Here: http://www.truebookaddict.com/p/my-book-map.html
I accomplished a bit...not a ton, but I'm satisfied. :-)

Recent book acquisitions...

from Goodwill:

Treasured Stories of Christmas (from Norman Vincent Peale, Helen Steiner Rice, Pearl S. Buck, and more)
The Curious Cast of Benjamin Button, F. Scott Fitzgerald
The American Senator, Anthony Trollope
Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History, Fawn M. Brodie
Redcoats & Rebels, Christopher Hibbert
The Light in the Ruins, Chris Bohjalian

What's going on in your Reading life?

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Top ten posts I think give you the best glimpse of me


Top Ten Tuesday Hosted by The Broke and Bookish
  1. Why I Like Your Blog--my motto...stay true to yourself above all things
  2. Favorite Fictional Character--The Vampire Lestat--my love for Anne Rice knows no bounds
  3. What is your all time favorite book? Movie?--Anne Rice again and Braveheart. My history blog, A Brave Heart, was inspired by the historical hero of this film, William Wallace.
  4. All About Alice and Cat Thursday: An Extra Special Edition--I grouped these two together because anyone who knows me, knows I love cats, especially my own cats.
  5. Banned Books Week 2009--a favorite author...Stephen King--another favorite author and a topic I'm very passionate about...Banned Books.
  6. Favorite Fictional Character--Scrooge--epitomizes my love of Christmas and my favorite Christmas book, A Christmas Carol.
  7. Addicted to the Past--Queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's Death Sentence--my passion for history and my favorite historical figure. 
  8. Favorite Fictional Character--Ayla--one of my favorite books and a treatise on women's lib...sort of. *L*
  9. Book Tour:  The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot--Review--my passion for historical fiction is well reflected in this review...
  10. and this one...Book Tour: Review of Eromenos by Melanie McDonald (there are more, but this one especially stresses what I feel is the importance of historical fiction as a genre)

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Top 12 Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger


Top Ten Tuesday Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Yeah, I know it says Top "Ten" Tuesday, but I had to add a couple more!

  1. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice--anyone who knows me, knows that Anne Rice is my favorite author and that this book is my favorite of all time. I've read it four times and probably will read it again someday. Anne has such a way of weaving the paranormal/supernatural with the historical. She's a great story teller and a great person to boot.
  2. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett--I was amazed that an author of thrillers wrote such an amazingly epic and historically accurate novel. His true passion for the cathedrals that have existed for hundreds of years really comes through in his story.
  3. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley--believe it or not, I didn't always devote so much time to reading. It took me forever to read this book. That doesn't mean I didn't like it. I loved it! It takes the whole Arthurian legend and tells it from the women characters' points of view. Anyone who is interested in the Arthurian legend should read this book. I think I'm due for a reread!
  4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel--this book was simply amazing. I'm sure a lot of people have read it recently due to the film coming out (the film was also amazing) and have found it equally such. I could not put this down when I was reading it. This one really makes the reader think.
  5. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden--as I was shelving my books after my move, I came across this book and I told my mom that she really needed to read it. It is a very engrossing read. This is one where you cannot help but empathize with the main character.
  6. London by Edward Rutherford--Rutherford takes an historical location and tells its story and the stories of the people who lived there in generations and on an epic scale. Very historically accurate with interesting storylines and characters.
  7. Hell House by Richard Matheson--I still say that this is the scariest book I have ever read. It's not gory or in your face. It's creepy and subtle and it grabs your heart and squeezes. Leave the lights on for this one!
  8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien--do I really need to explain this one? One of the original master fantasy storytellers, Tolkien created a magical world and characters that we really care for.
  9. Let Me In (or Let the Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist--I first saw the Swedish version of the film based on this book. It was amazing. When I saw that it was based on a novel, I immediately checked it out at the library. One of the best vampire novels ever written, in my opinion. 
  10. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice--another Anne Rice...that's right. This is an epic family saga with lots of supernatural thrown in. Many might argue, but this is probably one of her best novels. The sequels, Lasher and Taltos, not so much, but you still should read them to complete the story.
  11. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova--I love books that are beautifully written and long and drawn out and yet a great story is being told. This one is all that. An intriguing twist to the Dracula story.
  12. The Keep by Jennifer Egan--way before A Visit from the Goon Squad (which I haven't read yet), there was this book. I can't even begin to explain what is so intriguing about it, but it is that and more. It really knocks you out of your seat in the end.
I left off some favorites. One, Little Women, because I first read it when I was a child and have read it several times since then. It is one of my favorite books of all time. I also left off Stephen King because, while he is a favorite author, Anne Rice is my most favorite author. Two of King's that could have made the list are Bag of Bones and Duma Key. Honorable mentions are Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman and Morality Play by Barry Unsworth.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Auto-Buy Authors


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

(Note: I generally do not buy books when they first come out, but these are the authors whose books I will buy no matter what; also, I didn't list any classics authors because it's a given that I buy classics)

  1. Anne Rice - Of course! She has been my favorite author since my late teens. Although there is another author on the list that I've been reading longer (see #2), Anne will always be my favorite. Even though I still haven't made it through all of her titles (though I have reread Vampire Chronicles book 1 - 4 and Queen of the Damned, Book 3, four times!), I love her work and I think she is an awesome human being. Just join her page on Facebook and see how she interacts with her fans. You'll see that she is truly wonderful.
  2. Stephen King - Another no-brainer! Anyone who knows me, knows I love him. I mean, I've been reading him since I was in junior high. In fact, I'm reading him now (The Shining and Book 4 of the Dark Tower series, The Waste Lands). I've always enjoyed being scared and Stephen King knows just how to scare us. It's not always obvious and then sometimes it is, but either way, he is the master of scary, in my opinion. (Check out my perpetual Stephen King reading challenge HERE)
  3. Terry Brooks - I fell in love with this fantasy author's writing with the Magic Kingdom of Landover series. Of course, he also wrote the Shannara series, of which I've only read the first book, but I have almost the entire series and I will continue to look for the rest, as well as buying anything new he has to offer.
  4. J.K. Rowling - I will probably buy anything she writes. I haven't purchased The Casual Vacancy yet, but give me time. I'm just loyal to an author who could create the incredible world of Harry Potter. 
  5. Ken Follett - I'm not a fan of the genre Follett typically wrote in previously...basically espionage/war time thrillers. Then my library was recommending The Pillars of the Earth as their book club selection and I checked it out. My life was changed forever. It was incredible. I have since read World Without End, the second Kingsbridge cathedral book, and these remain two of my favorite historical novels. I own Fall of Giants and I will continue to auto-buy Follett, as long as he keeps writing in the historical genre.
  6. George R. R. Martin - Discovered in 2011 with A Game of Thrones (my favorite read that year), I now know that I will read anything he writes.
  7. Peter Straub - Another horror author who scared the crap out of me with Ghost Story. I have all of his books and will continue to buy his new ones.
  8. Christopher Gortner - He wrote a fantastic historical novel about one of my favorite historical figures, Juana of Castile, The Last Queen, and his novel about her mother, Isabella of Castile, The Queen's Vow, was equally good. I will continue to be a loyal fan of his work.
  9. Robert Parry - I have never been floored so much by an independent author's work as I was by Parry's Virgin and the Crab. A meticulous and well-researched fictional account of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and John Dee, I was so impressed by it that I know any work by him will have the same effect. (I'm currently reading The Arrow Chest and will be reading his new book, Wildish, soon)
  10. M. J. Rose - I have read two books in her Reincarnationist series and will be reading her new title, The Seduction, coming up this summer. She writes with a wonderful blend of the past and present and I really enjoy that. 

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Memories


  1. My mom never let me get a toy when we would go to the store, but she would let me choose a book.  This led to my sister and I acquiring quite a collection of Little Golden Books and those smaller square counterparts.  I still have every single one.  My sister's kids and my sons have enjoyed them and now my future grandchildren will too.
  2. My mom reading us The Velveteen Rabbit.  Such a wonderful story, but it always made me cry.
  3. Reading the Little House on the Prairie books and Little Women between the ages of 8 and 10.  Loved them...and Little Women still remains a favorite and a frequent reread.
  4. Reading the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.  My first real exposure to fantasy.  They were the ones that hooked me on that genre. (I'm now reading this aloud to my sons)
  5. My first real horror novel was Comes the Blind Fury by John Saul.  I was a huge fan of his books when I was an adolescent and I still own several of his titles and read him from time to time.
  6. The discovery of one of my favorite books of all time, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel, upon a recommendation from my favorite teacher...my high school English teacher, Mrs. Fitch.
  7. Discovering James A. Michener in high school with my reading of Chesapeake.  The start of my love for epic historical fiction.
  8. Stephen King...need I really say more?  I can't even remember which book of his I read first, but does it really matter?  He's awesome!
  9. Discovering Anne Rice via her third Vampire Chronicles novel, The Queen of the Damned.  When I was reading it, my mom walked to her bookshelf and pulled out a novel that I had seen there many times over the years.  It was Interview with the Vampire and she said, "The author of the book you're reading wrote this one too.  It's the first in the series."  I was hooked from that moment on and Rice remains my favorite author and The Queen of the Damned is my favorite book; I've read it four times.
  10. Discovering the book blogging community and finding my niche here.  I have met so many wonderfully bookish people, a terrific historical fiction community, a ton of read-a-thon, reading challenge, read-a-long addicts--like myself--and even more people who are enthralled with the speculative and scary which led to my starting my horror/speculative fiction blog, Castle Macabre.

What are your favorite bookish memories?

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