Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Authors

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I really wanted to participate in Top Ten Tuesday again this week - I love seeing everyone's favorite authors.  Since I only have a few minutes to pound out this post, apologies for not doing it proper justice with pictures and links and such. 

Top Ten (of the many, many) Favorite Authors:
Jane Austen
Juliet Marillier
Laini Taylor
Shannon Hale
Cinda Williams Chima
Gary D. Schmidt
Richard Peck
Brandon Sanderson
Robin McKinley
J.R.R. Tolkien

And there you have it.  Any you haven't read? Let me convince you :)

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One Librarian's Holiday Bookish Gift Guide

So I started this post earlier and had looked up a bunch of lovely items.  And then my post didn't get saved (BLAH!).  All this boils down to: short and sweet.  Here's last year's Holiday Gift Guide, I've included some of the same items, because they are still awesome.

A beautiful version of a childhood favorite. Bonus points for nostalgia-inducing choices! Like this gorgeous The Secret Garden illustrated by Inga Moore (see more of the lovely illustrations here)

 

Or The Annotated Charlotte's Web for a true E.B. White fan:


Bookends:
I'm partial to the globes, but you can't go wrong with dragons.  Right?

Bookish t-shirts:
I saw a teen wearing a shirt that said "Perfect men only exist in books."  I love it!  Plus, with t-shirts, you can either make it yourself with a favorite quote (it's super easy to iron on) or purchase one.  I like these ones:

from Zazzle.com

from OutofPrintClothing.com

Signed Books:
Lots of indie bookstores have stock on hand of books signed by the author.  Changing Hands, my local, has some. A few others you can peruse online Parnassus Books in Nashville or The Strand in NYC, and even Barnes and Noble. Or you can track down your own local indie bookstore and buy a signed edition in person.  Then you get the added bonus of personalized help!  Find your local independent book store.

Tote Bag:
Everyone wants to haul around their books in style.  I love the Anne of Green Gables tote from Litographs - it's got the full text of the book printed on it!  Also, the Little Women tote from Out of Print Clothing is just darn cute.

Book + Movie:
There are loads of options for this kind of gift and it satisfies movie-lovers as well.  You can try The Fault in Our Stars (movie and book) or Divergent (movie and book) for modern hits or go classic with Pride and Prejudice (there are several movies and book versions) or North and South (movie and book).  You can buy movie tickets for those still in the theater like The Hobbit or The Maze Runner.  Or if they prefer plays, you can buy tickets to a play the accompanying book, like Wicked, Les Miserables, or The Wizard of Oz.  There are lots of combinations to choose from and either way, I'm quite sure your bookish friend or family member will love it! 

What gifts are you dying to receive this year?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

My Bookish Birthday Gift

Just wanted to show this beauty off. Does my husband know me or what? (There might have been some strong hints, but still :)

Love feeding my Tolkien obsession!

Lord of the Rings Read-Along, Part 1

Check out the first discussion post at Kami's Library Thoughts.  Here are my answers to the questions (from Book 1, the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring).  

1. Is this your first time reading or a re-read? What do you think so far?

It's a reread for me, though it's probably been 10 years since my last time through. I'm enjoying remembering all the details I forgot after sort of replacing them with the movie. 

2. Jenni hates the songs, I love them. How do you feel about them?

Some I love and some are annoying. I like having a tune to some of them, which I can thank the movies for taking quite a few and putting them to music. The silly ones are somewhat annoying and can simply be skipped. 

3. The Hobbits live a simple and peaceful life. Tolkien considered himself a hobbit. How about you? Do you relate to the hobbits, or would you be another race?

Oh I love the hobbit habits! I'd love to live in the country and do quiet living. I think it sounds like the best way to exist, especially the part about just being so protected from the evils outside. I think I would enjoy that. It always breaks my heart when Frodo (or Sam?) talks about enduring anything so long as the shire is safe. Course, I also wouldn't mind being a gorgeous and graceful and powerful elf. Like Galadriel maybe :)

4. What are some differences between the movie and book that you like?

I do think the director was smart to cut lots of the details from the books.  Also the pacing would definitely have dragged in the movie. I forgot how long it took just for Frodo to leave, let alone make it to Rivendell!

5. What are some differences you hate?

Mostly the differences I hate are in later books. I think changing characters motivations and actions was the saddest (Faramir). I did miss the barrows too - that was such a creepy scene and would have been really great cinematically. Oh well :)

6. Why do you think the ring didn't work on Tom Bombadil?

I think it's because, as he said, he is Eldest. Meaning he's been around long enough to have predated the ring and Sauron.  Thus, his power is older I guess.  I also think that just like there people that weren't as drawn to taking the ring and seizing its power, if you perhaps don't feel drawn to its power at all, it would have no power over you. Just my thoughts :). 

7. How do you feel about Frodo selling Bag End, especially to the Sackville-Bagginses?

I had forgotten that, but I think he had to for the exit Frodo was trying to make. It does make you a bit sad, but I think it turns out well in the end :)

8. What do you think about Tolkien's writing style? 

It's definitely old-fashioned. He tends to the long winded and rambling descriptions of places and scenery.  I like that most of the time. It helps that I know what's going to happen so that I don't feel rushed for the story. Plus, who writes all those crazy songs in their books now? :)

9. Do you picture the actors from the movie in your head, or do you picture your own characters?

I wasn't much of a character picture-er kind of person, but I very much see the movie actors now. I'm always a little thrown though when I remember Frodo was a fat middle-aged hobbit and not young thin Elijah Wood :) 

10. Jenni wanted me to ask about Tom Bombadil. She hates him, I enjoy him. How do you feel about him?

I love Tom! I remember he was one of my favorites from before and I was mad he didn't make the movie (though it was better without him). He is so strange and unique and just one of those quirky characters that only Tolkien could have created. Plus he is this weird juxtaposition of silly and powerful. Just a very intriguing character to me. 

What are your thoughts?

One Librarian's Holiday Bookish Gift Guide

I've been sitting on the idea of doing a holiday gift guide for book lovers and it's already seven days into December, so I'm just going to throw it out there now.  Hopefully there will be some ideas for you to get for your bookish friends (or to give some subtle hints for you :)

Holiday Bookish Gift Guide
 

These gorgeous posters created from the text of your favorite books will make a beautiful and unique gift.  Spineless Classics is the slightly pricier option, ranging from $50+.  I'm particularly fond of the Alice in Wonderland or The Hobbit, though I also like the Pride and Prejudice poster (of course).  If you are looking for something a little bit more affordable, you might try out Postertext, which has some more affordable prints (though they may not be the full text of the book), around $30.  I like the Wuthering Heights and The Secret Garden prints, though there are a number of other classics available.

For someone who seems to have every book they want, get them a collector's edition of a favorite!  The gorgeous illustrated copies from The Folio Society will make the perfect addition to any bibliophiles collection.  I adore The Dark is Rising, not to mention Anne of Green Gables and if I had unlimited funds, I'd already own The Lord of the Rings set :)

You can pretty much find bookish t-shirts and other clothing items anywhere you want online!  All you have to do is a google search and you will find them (or you can even make them yourself).  These two are just a sample of what's available at Out of Print Clothing, which also has a vast array of jewelry and other accessories, including book totes, mugs, and other goodies.  This Poe-inspired tote from Out of Print Clothing is hilarious!

And to get you drooling even more, check out more bookish related gear available at Café Press (bookish flip flops!) and at Zazzle (obviously love the librarian tee).   

Since jewelry is its own vast bookish mine, here are some ideas for accessorizing with books:

Love this Les Miserables bracelet and also this Jane Eyre brooch from JezebelCharms.

The BookFiend is another good shop with lots and lots of bookish jewelry, including this Lord of the Rings necklace and Harry Potter leather bracelet.  I really love that you can customize some of their jewelry with your favorite quote.  So many ideas!

Also, there's Bookshelves of Doom's etsy shop of postage stamp pendants, including a Harry Potter one and my favorite, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

      Image courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For the book-lover who wishes she had more time to read, offer a subscription to Audible or to Audiobooks.com.  You can download one audiobook a month and enjoy it while doing housework, commuting, or exercising!  This is an awesome affordable gift for the audiobook lovers in your life or as an introduction to the wonderful world of audiobooks!

Anyway, as you can see, there are a number of options (in addition to the always welcome gift of books or a gift certificate to a book store) for the bookish person on your gift list. 

Any great ideas you'd like to add?

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Armchair BEA, Day 5, Fresh and Young

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

 It's day 5 of Armchair BEA and I'm back for more!  To find out more about this fun event, check out the Armchair BEA site.  

Today's topics are Keeping it Real, Fresh, and Fun, as well as children's books.  Since I've struggled with fresh content for a long time, I haven't got much to say.  The best thing I ever did (though I haven't persisted well) is to create original features.  The two I do occasionally are Listless Monday and Name That Book.  It is fun to have something that just you do (well, plenty of others do similar Listless Mondays) and that can help you avoid the meme or same old review rut.  Mind you, I haven't been doing those two things for a few months straight now.  So, in theory these are some good ideas :)

And since I adore and read almost exclusively in children's lit, I have no trouble thinking of favorites.  The trouble is limiting the number.  Also, because there are so many fabulous blogs out there that do YA lit so well, I thought I'd list some of my favorite reads for a slightly younger crowd: the MG/tween group.  There is a lot of fantastic stuff being published for kids and here are just a few of my faves:

For laughs:

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson 

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck 

For reals:

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

For sheer faves:

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Savvy by Ingrid Law

For fabulous fantasy:

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge

Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull

What are your faves or tips for keeping content fresh?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Armchair BEA, Day 4, Ethics & Nonfiction

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

It's day 4 of Armchair BEA and I'm back for more!  To find out more about this fun event, check out the Armchair BEA site. 

I've not been one of the unfortunate ones to run into plagiarism of my blog.  This isn't to say it doesn't happen, but I'm not actively looking for it, nor do I suppose any of my readers either.  I have watched from the sidelines of many plagiarism issues blew up in the blogosphere.  I have never really wanted to add my two cents to the fray. 

I work with college students and I know very intimately the importance of citing your sources, giving credit, and the consequences in the real world of plagiarism.  I've given many a lecture on how to cite your sources and when you should, though often when I graded papers later, I wondered if they had even heard me.

 This is not just a blogging problem, it is much broader than that.  What I think is more insidious about it here online is that it is very easy to get away with.  There is no one to "grade the paper" or "check your work."  Many do not make that connection between what you read somewhere else and what you write on your blog.  And it can be hard!  What happens if you read something and it aligns with what you've been thinking.  Does blogging about the same thing make you a plagiarist?  Very likely, no.  But, it never hurts to link back to that other person, if only to say, "My thoughts are similar to this person's."  I've tried to do this when I read a review that says what I wanted to say, only better.

I guess my only advice is to be aware of what you read and what you blog.  Remember to link to those people who may inspire or get your thoughts flowing.  It's better to share the love than end up on the brunt end of a plagiarism "scandal."

I was going to talk about my nonfiction reading, but it is so slim these days it's not really worth mentioning.  I just wish I read more!  I'm totally open for some suggestions of highly readable non-fiction.  Here are a few titles I've enjoyed over the years:

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
Miles to Go for Freedom by Linda Barnett Osborne
The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone
Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
Longitude by Dava Sobel
Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas

What do you recommend?  And how do you deal with plagiarism?

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Armchair BEA, Day 2, Genre Fiction

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

It's day 2 of Armchair BEA and I'm back for more!  To find out more about this fun event, check out the Armchair BEA site.  Since the two topics available today are blogger development or genre fiction, and I'm feeling particularly underdeveloped, I am going with genre fiction.

What draws me to a specific genre?  Well, there are some plots, some premises that just seem to scream my name from the back covers.  I've always been a huge fan of fantasy.  There is nothing like the mention of magic, dragons, elves, or fictional worlds to get my reading drool flowing.  Classics like Lord of the Rings or newer goodies like The Seven Realms series are just my cup of cocoa.  I like to have my mind taken away from the dreary of this world (even if it is into the dreary of another).  High fantasy is especially delightful.  I think magical worlds existing right there in our own are fun and I can devour a historical fantasy as fast as the next goblin.  But there is something so perfectly enticing about books that take place elsewhere.  I believe fantasy will always be my first love.

But not my only love, of course.  The huge boom in dystopian fiction has really fascinated me as well.  I love speculative fiction and science fiction (or are they synonymous, I'm not really clear on this), though I've not read many of the classics in those genres.  Stories that take place in space or that have a large chunk of space-related stuff tossed in are a big weakness for me.  Having spent four years of my life studying physics and astronomy, that is only natural. 

But there is also something so delightfully terrifying about taking a look at our possible horrible future.  I remember being super enthralled by Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 in high school.  What if that was our future?  With the huge surge (thanks to The Hunger Games), I've been quite satiated with the many great futuristic offerings.  And I'll be the first to admit I'm terrible at delineating what is dystopian, what's simply futuristic, what's apocalyptic, etc.  It's simply convenient for me to toss them all under that umbrella, though obviously many of them are not dystopian in nature. 

I guess I'm not much for making sure my books all fit neatly into one little box, though I tend to label things that way for convenience.  I like those books that can cross genres or take a little bit of something from multiple genres.  I also like my labels.  So, I try to lump everything together under one broad label and then hope that I can make lists to help make better connections between books.  It's flawed, but it works for me.

Some lists:
Fairy tales
Fairy stories
Medical Dystopian
Not Your Average Magical Creatures
Out of This World (space books)
Steampunk and Historical Fantasy

I'd love to hear your genre-love and any recommendations for my obvious genre appetite.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Pretend I Did This Two Weeks Ago...

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So this Top Ten topic, Top Ten Best Bookish Memories, was from two weeks ago and I really wanted to participate because I LOVED everyone's answers, but just didn't get myself motivated enough then.  So now, I'm going to take that plunge and write about some of my favorite bookish memories. 

1 - One of my earliest is not a one time memory, but more of a combination of several.  I remember reading The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner and just adoring the idea of being a runaway kid and living in a boxcar (this was fueled by the creepy and very dirty boxcar parked in the fields of my grandmother's house).  Mixed with that was one of my other early favorite books with a similar runaway kid theme - Enchantress of Crumbledown by Donald R. Marshall, now out of print. There was just something about runaways that sounded so glamorous and exciting, but in real life would definitely NOT have been.  

2 - A number of years later, I recall discovering (and devouring) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  I think this book impacted me so much because it was my first introduction to a story that did not have a happy ending!  I couldn't believe how much more I thought about and wondered about the characters when I didn't know exactly what happened.  This was my first book/movie obsession and it was pretty obsessive (I've spared you the pain of seeing evidence, mostly because I'm not sure where all my GWTW paraphernalia went).

3 - Around the same time, when I was 14, I remember discovering Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte accidentally in the school library.  I was sucked into the story and first felt the power of romantic classics.  I adored Mr. Rochester and Jane with my simplistic understanding of their relationship.  This also happened to encourage my desire to find and watch every Jane Eyre movie made at the time.  And there were a lot even back then!

4 - One of my earliest favorites, and still a favorite, is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (what happened to my classics obsession?!?).  I can't even recall the first time I picked it up, but I remember reading and rereading that big (although, I discovered later it was abridged), battered paperback that was handed down from older siblings.  I couldn't believe Dumas could write such a complex story with so many characters and still make it exciting enough that I wanted to plow through it again and again.  Still one of my favorite stories and I've yet to find a movie that does it justice.

5 - I remember being completely engulfed in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien the first time I read it in high school (pre-movies) and being totally blown away with the complexity and just epic nature of the story.  I have since become rather fanatic in my love for LOTR, though that has cooled somewhat.  It still stands as one of my all-time favorite fantasy series and it is just incomparable in my opinion.

6 - Again, not a one-time memory, but when I first started meeting authors it felt like a dream come true!  I remember hearing some young tweens comment at a Brandon Mull event that people were acting like he was a rock star.  And then saying that he kind of was like a rock star.  That is how I feel pretty much every time I meet an author. I've had favorite events, but each one has been such a treat for me.

7 - Along those same lines, meeting bloggers for the first time has definitely been a highlight in my reading life.  Since that first Utah Blogger social I attended, I have really enjoyed every chance I get to hang out with my fellow book-obsessed friends and it made me so happy to realize just how fun it is to hang out with like-minded folks.  

8 - Finally joining a book group!  I can't believe how long it took me to come out of my shell and find (and then start) a book group.  I adore the chance I get every month to chat about books with people who just love to read.  There's something about your bookish friends that just makes you feel at home.  

9 - I loved the few times I've managed to "make" readers out of those in my family who are not readers.  For a long time, this was mostly my sister, who suddenly began reading books I suggested and found she loved it.  But the ultimate achievement for me was when I finally got my husband (who had never liked reading) to pick up the Harry Potter books and he just ripped through them. While he doesn't have much time for it while he's in school, it's always so fun to introduce him to a new series (Maze Runner or Hunger Games) that he just can't put down.  One of the most rewarding experiences in a readers life, I think.

10 - This last memory is from this summer when I finally got to attend an ALA conference.  Despite not being able to afford going to any events or panels, it was so fantastic to just go and feel the excitement.  Even if I never get a chance to attend another bookish conference like this, I will consider that dream as fulfilled and count myself fortunate.

Any bookish memories you want to share? 

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ALA Youth Media Awards 2013: Printz, Newbery, and the Like

So, it is an exciting day for folks in the youth and YA book field - we get to hear the ALA Youth Media Award winners announced!  I love to follow the announcements and read people's reactions (on twitter).  I managed to follow along while it happened and had a few reactions of my own.  Here's a list of the ones that I noticed.  For a full list, head to the ALA Youth Media Awards page.


Morris Award (for debut authors): Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I've got this one checked out and waiting for me.  I've heard many good things, so I'm pretty excited.

Margaret A. Edwards Award (for significant contribution to YA lit): Tamora Pierce
I may have discovered her late (like, last year) but I've enjoyed all I've read of hers (Song of the Lioness and Trickster) and I know she's had a big impact on a lot of people.


Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Another I haven't read, but this one popped up on a LOT of lists.  And at least I'd heard of it :)


Printz Award: In Darkness Nick Lake
Honors: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna, Dodger by Terry Pratchett, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Way to go again, Printz, for picking something I hadn't heard of.  I had high hopes that my beloved Code Name Verity would take the prize, but an honor is ok too.  And it's the only one I've read of the bunch.  Ugh.


Newbery Award: One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Honors: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steven Sheinkin, Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
I did a little better with this one than Printz, having actually read the winner.  I also just finished Splendors and Glooms, so that's two from the list!  Not much to brag about, but not too bad.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (for substantial contribution to children's lit):  Katherine Paterson
A great choice, I think.  She's got a number of fabulous books, including Bridge to Terabithia, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved, and more recently The Flintheart.


Caldecott Medal: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
I don't normally pay attention to this one as I've not read many picture books.  However, when this one took the prize, I had to say proudly - I've read it.  Thanks to Danielle, I got a glimpse of it before publication and found it just as lovely as the Caldecott committee did.  

My one notably overlooked book was Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  I couldn't believe it didn't even get a Schneider!  With all the talk (and it wasn't all just talk - this was a seriously good book), I was a bit flabbergasted not to see it show up anywhere.

What are your thoughts on the winners?  What book(s) do you wish had gotten some love?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage