Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (11) + Tune In Tuesday (7)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Childhood Favorites

1. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingles Wilder

My great grandmother gave me a box set of these books when I was really young but I didn't read them until I was in the fourth grade and my friend Stephanie and I decided to have a competition to see you could read them all first (I won!).  But they quickly became one of my favorite series and I reread them the following summer.

2. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

This was the other series that I had a competition with Stephanie (she won) and thankfully I did or it would have taken me much longer to discover the wonders of Harry. This is my favorite series!! When I need a reading pick-me-up these are the books that I go to! <3

3. The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

The library in my middle school was sucky to say the least and I miraculously found five of these books which I read at least five times before I made my parents buy me the series . Which I have read multiple times and I am due for a reread as soon as I find the time.

4. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

I had to do a project on this book in the third grade and I really enjoyed reading it and I ended up rereading  after I was done with the project.

5. Heartland by Lauren Brooke

I have no idea how I stumbled over this series but I loved it!

6. The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B Cooney

I found this book at a book fair at my middle school and instantly fell in love with it before I was even halfway through with it. I still love it so much that it is still on my bookshelf and not packed up with the rest of my childhood books.

7. Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic by Ellen Emerson White 

This is another book I found at a book fair and I am really glad that I bought it because I really did like it. 

8. The Berenstain Bears by Stan Berenstain

This was one of the series that I absolutely loved when I was in elementary school.

9. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

I really love this book! It is so sad and sweet; it never fails, every time I read this book I always get teary eyed. 

10. Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini

When I was real little I would make my dad read this to me almost every night because he did "a good witch voice"!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"I want to scream, but I can't.
Because none of this is real.
It's just another nightmare."

-pg. 49 "Across the Universe" by Beth Revis

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

This week kicks off a month of long tribute to bands (or singers) you've seen in concert -- or have always wanted to!

I almost had the opportunity to go to the SPACEtour but sadly I couldn't come up with the money in time, so here are my favorite songs from the Starkid plays!

Not Alone - A Very Potter Musical

To Have A Home - A Very Potter Sequel

Kick It Up A Notch - Starship

Get Back To Hogwarts - A Very Potter Musical

Voldemort Is Going Down - A Very Potter Musical

Harry Freakin' Potter - A Very Potter Sequel

Happy Tuesday!

<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (10) + Tune In Tuesday (6)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Authors I Want At My Thanksgiving Dinner

These are basically all of my favorite authors and that is why that I would want them at my Thanksgiving Dinner!
1. J.K. Rowling

2. Ellen Hopkins

3. Cassandra Clare

4. David Levithan

5. Sarah Dessen

6. Scott Westerfeld

7. Cinda Williams Chima

8. Beth Revis

9. John Green

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"Measure the hope of that moment, that feeling. Everything else will be measured against it."
-pg. 3 "The Lover's Dictionary" by David Levithan

"These kinds of fights can never be won -- even if you're the victor, you've hurt the other person, and that has to be some loss associated with that."
-pg. 8 "The Lover's Dictionary" by David Levitathan

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

Cmon Talk by Bernhoft

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

 What You Know by Two Door Cinema

Happy Tuesday!
<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (9) + Tune In Tuesday (5)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Read Because Of The Title Or The Cover

1. The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

This cover is absolutely gorgeous!!! It is probably one of my all time favorite cover to ever be in existence!! It was one of the main reasons why I was drawn to the book and why I wanted to read it.

2. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The title of this book is absolutely fan-freaking-tastic! This book is definitely on my TBR list when it comes out!!

3. Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! This cover is way more amazing than your standard "girl in dress" cover (in my opinion anyways). I also really like the bird cage and the line/circle thing going on as well!

4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

For some reason the title of this book is what made me decide to put this book on my TBR list (the cover isn't bad either!).

5. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I don't think I have heard anyone say that this cover isn't absolutely amazingly gorgeous; and the rest of the photos that the photographer took for this series are amazing as well!

6. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

For me this title also had a little help from the cover of the book to get me to put it on my TBR list. But the title does jump out at me however, it did more so with me when it was coupled with the cover.

7. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I love love love masks! So when I saw this book I immediately grabbed it and read the synopsis. Plus when you see the cover in person the mask is shiny (which is also a plus)!

8. Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

The title of this book gives off the vibe that you are going to be laughing throughout this entire book (someone confirmed this for me as well). So this book is definitely on my TBR list and I can't wait to read it.

9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I love both of these covers but the blue one with the blue print on it appeals to me slightly more than the one with the "kissy couple" on it. However, I do like that one as well!

10. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The title of this book instantly grabbed my attention. Uglies? What kind of title is that? So I picked it up and read the synopsis which intrigued me so I read it and absolutely fell in love with this series!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"Remember when you tried to convince me to feed a poultry pie to the mallards in the park to see if you could breed a race of cannibal ducks?"

"They ate it too," Will reminisced. "Bloodthirsty little beasts. Never trust a duck."
-pg. 199 "Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

For the month of October Tune in Tuesday will be featuring songs from soundtracks.

This week I am posting music from Never Back Down.

False Pretense by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Above and Below by The Bravery

Under The Knife by Rise Against

Happy Tuesday!
<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (8) + Tune In Tuesday (4)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time 

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling

When I first read this book I was in a contest with my friend to see who could complete the series the fastest (there were only four out at the time) and I was in a hurry reading it, so now I would like to go back and take my time reading them.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When I started to read this book I had a lot of other things to do for school so most of the time I was distracted while reading it and was also trying to read Saints At The River for another class as well.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

 I had to read this book for my 10th grade English class and I was only reading it a chapter at a time so I wouldn't get too far ahead of my class; so I want to read it all at once instead of chopped up into chapters.

4. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

 I love this book and I would just like to go back and read it for the first time again!

5. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

 When I first read this book I found myself skimming a couple of parts...which I really need to break the habit of doing.

6. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

When I first started to read this book it didn't immediately grab me so it took me a week and a half to finally get into the book, since I ended up enjoying it so much I would like to read it all at once.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry,” said Tessa.
-pg. 87 “Clockwork Angel” by Cassandra Clare

"It was Henry, to Charlotte’s surprise, who replied without turning, 'Inanimate objects are harmless indeed, Mr. Mortmain. But one cannot always say the same of the men who use them.'"

-pg. 150 “Clockwork Angel” by Cassandra Clare

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

For the month of October Tune in Tuesday will be featuring songs from soundtracks.

This week music is two songs from The O.C. These are some of my all time favorite songs!

Running Up That Hill by Placebo

Hallelujah by Imogen Heap

Forever Young by Youth Group

Happy Tuesday everyone!
<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (7) + Tune In Tuesday (3)

Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open 

*I'm just going to list the titles and not give any descriptions so that it won't ruin any endings

1. City of Fallen Angles by Cassandra Clare

2. The Giver by Lois Lowry

3. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

5. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

7. Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld

8. Identical by Ellen Hopkins

9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

10. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"But she doesn't recognize herself. Maybe her face isn't any different, but the look in her eyes. Worse than dead, their expression is simply blank."

-pg. 25 "Willow" by Julia Hoban

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

For the month of October Tune in Tuesday will be featuring songs from soundtracks.

This week I am picking songs from Across the Universe (a movie where they took a bunch of Beatles songs and made a movie around them), and since it's one my favorite movies and I could probably spend the whole month on it I am going to put my top 5 favorites

Revolution
(my favorite from the soundtrack!)

I've Just Seen A Face

(my 2nd favorite!)

Hey Jude

All You Need Is Love

With A Little Help From My Friends

Happy Tuesday everyone!
<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (6) + Tune In Tuesday (2)

Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

 This is one of the series that I love to read over and over and over again! It will probably always be my favorite!

2. The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld

 This is my favorite series of his and I have read this series a lot as well! I enjoy reading his books and I'm constantly looking for ways to get my hands on his books that I don't currently own.

3. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

 Out of all of her books this one is probably my favorite! I've been dying to reread this one for awhile now but I just haven't found the time yet :(

4. Saints at the River by Ron Rash

 I was assigned to read this book for my Eng 102 class and I did not have high hopes for it because of the cover or the synopsis. It just wasn't in the genre that I was reading at the time. However, when reading this book I fell in love with it. Ron Rash is a local writer and his book takes place in Tamassee, SC (I went to a track meet at their high school). This is a fantastic book and I would definitely recommend it for you to read.

5. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein

Love! Love! Love! I absolutely love this book!!

6. Burned by Ellen Hopkins

 This book is probably my second favorite book of hers. If I remember correctly the male protagonist is totally crush worthy and not many books of her's have that element. I also did not expect the way that she ended the book AT ALL! Total shocker for me!! This is probably one of her saddest books :(

7. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

 This series is probably one of my favorite high fantasy genre books and I enjoy going back and rereading it every so often. Also the fourth and final book is coming out in November so I am definitely due for a reread!!

8. Mad Kestrel by Misty Massey

I read this book about three years ago for my school's SCYABA contest and I enjoyed it a lot! It was one of my favorite books from that year's list! The last two weeks I have had this urge to reread it so that is why it is on the list!

9. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This is on my list of favorite books and it's obviously my favorite book by the author :P! I was really skeptical when I was first told to read but I'm really glad that I did. It definitely has a slow start but when it gets going it really takes off.

10. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

 This is my second favorite book by Sarah Dessen (The Truth About Forever is my favorite) and all of her books are must reads! All of the guys will have you in love with them before the book is even halfway done. They are just simply fantastic!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"If someone were to look carefully, the angry red marks underneath the fine cotton of her blouse would be clearly visible. But nobody ever does look carefully."

-pg. 26 "Willow" by Julia Hoban

A weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music!!

This week I went with songs from The Beatles and John Lennon :) <3

Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles
(my all time favorite Beatles song!)

Blackbird by The Beatles

Imagine by John Lennon

Well that is my Tuesday, now off to bed I go :)!

<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (5)

Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

1. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

I really really really want to read this book! The only reason that I haven't gotten around to reading it is because I haven't had the money to buy it/my library never seems to have it when I'm there to get a book. :(

2. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I really really really want to read this book as well! I have the same reason for not reading this book, that I have for Water for Elephants. I just simply haven't had the chance to get my hands on it.

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Once again, the same reason as Water for Elephants and The Perks of Being A Wallflower! I really really really want to read this book as well. I really need to step my game up on acquiring books to read!

4. The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

I haven't really read too many vampire books since the shelves were flooded with them from everybody feeding off of the Twilight craze. However, I have heard some really good things about this series and I'm hoping to be able to get the first book and start reading it soon.

5. The Iron King Series by Julie Kagawa

For some reason I had never heard of this series before I started this blog, in July. I've read a few reviews for it and it sounds really good and I honestly have no idea how I haven't heard of it since it is in one of my favorite genres!

6. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkein

I have no idea why I haven't read this series yet either! I read The Hobbit about three years ago and absolutely LOVED it!! I still have to get The Fellowship of the Ring and then maybe I will start reading the series.

7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I've started to read this book and I was reading it really slowly because it was taking me awhile to get used to how he wrote the book. So by the time that I was starting to get into it I had to return it to the library and I couldn't renew it. Ever since then I just haven't gotten around to buying it/checking it back out.

8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I want! I want! I want! I so want this book!! I really need to find a job soon so that I can have some money to buy all of these books that are on my wish list!! I've heard a million good things about this book and it just makes me want to read it so much more!!!

9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Once again, I've heard a lot of good things about this book! It is also dystopian which is my second favorite genre!!

10. If I Stay & Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I've heard a lot of bloggers give these books a ton of praise. They also sound really interesting as well.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"But I think when a person gets older she should be able to discuss her problems and thoughts with other people, instead of just with another part of herself as you have been to me."
- pg. 213 "Go Ask Alice" by Anonymous

"I hope so, for you are my dearest friend and I shall thank you always for sharing my tears and heartaches and my struggles and strifes, and my joy and happinesses."
-pg. 213 "Go Ask Alice" by Anonymous

It's about time that I started to post these again! Look for my review for The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher on Thursday. I'm tired and I'm going to bed so goodnight.
<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (4)

Top Ten Book Crushes

This week is a freebie week and we could post about anything and I didn't get to do the top ten book crushes one and so I decided to do it this week :)

1. Wes from The Truth About Forever

Oh my gosh major Sa-woon! Every since time, it never fails! Somebody please find someone like Wes and send him my way please!!

2. Jace from The Mortal Instruments Series

I absolutely love how witty he is and just him in general :)

3. Peeta from The Hunger Games Trilogy

Who says the nice guys never win?? Not that Gale isn't but Peeta is the epitome of a nice guy.

4. Zane from the Uglies Series

I haven't read this series in a while so I can't name why i love him off the top of my head, I just remember that I LOVED Zane!

5. Finnick from The Hunger Games Trilogy

He was such a sweetheart underneath his cocky exterior and it broke my heart when he died in Mockinjay! I literally just sat there and cried for about 5 minutes :(

6. Jack/Seph/Jason from the Heir Series

I can't choose just one!! I love all of her main male protagonist characters from those three books! The each have something amazing about them.

Jack- he's simple, down to earth, and does what's right

Seph- he's exotic, fluent in french, and much more

Jason- the classic bad boy with a heart ;)

7. Fred or George from Harry Potter

I'm a sucker for any guy who can make me laugh!

8. Fang from the Maximum Ride Series

I've always been a Fang fan!

9. Noah from The Notebook

Who can read this book and not fall in love with Noah?

10. Ethan from Burned

It's been a while since I've read this book as well but I remember crushing on Ethan big time!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser: 

"I thought about something Rahim Khan said just before he hung up, almost as an afterthought. There is a way to be good again."

-pg. 2 "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Slow reading pace once again! :( I'm only on page 59 and I start school tomorrow but I can do this!

<3 Shannon

Top Ten and Teaser Tuesday (3)

Top Ten Trends That I Would Like To See More/Less Of

1. More Strong Female Characters

I love it when the female characters kick ass and don't take crap from anybody; and if the male character can keep up with her then that is a book that I would want to read. For example, Katniss from the Hunger Games (and Peeta and Gale can keep up with her as well)

2. More Books That Tackles Real Issues

The world today puts so much pressure on teenagers and when an author can correctly portray these issues so that people can learn more about them and not judge because they can be "taboo" to talk about. For example, Ellen Hopkins her books cover, drugs, prostitution, incest, binging and purging, suicide, and how far people will go to be "perfect".

3. More Dystopian/High Fantasy

I adore these genres! I love it when an author creates another world that I can totally immerse myself in. 

4. More Remakes of Fairytales

I like that authors are revisiting the stories that I grew up with and are putting a modern twist on them but, only if they are well written/done correctly. For example, Beastly by Alex Flinn is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I really enjoyed it. Alex also has two other books that are retelling two other fairytales.

5. More Normal Girls

I would like to see more female characters from contemporary novels be "normal". There's nothing too "special" about them but they are still interesting. For example, Anna from Anna and the French Kiss there is nothing too special about her but you still love her as a character.

6. Less Series

I agree with a lot of other people that there seems to be an overabundance of series coming out lately and most of them seem to be one book/story cut up into multiple parts; a good series is where each book has a different plot for each book. For example, Harry Potter: in book one he has to save the sorcerer's stone, in book two someone is petrifying the students of the school, in book three Sirius Black is on the loose and supposedly trying to kill Harry to avenge Lord Voldemort, etc. So as you can see each book had a different plot but they kept the same characters and themes.

7. Less Whinny Female Characters

I cannot stand a female character who can't do anything for herself/needs a boyfriend to survive! *cough*Bella Swan*cough* I know that everyone rags on Twilight but in this instance Bella fits it perfectly. Her whole world centers around Edward and when he leaves she basically sits there and mopes for however many months until she finds a new guy to attach herself to and make her world revolve around him. I mean for goodness sake just because your "boyfriend" leaves you doesn't mean that you give up on living, life does go on!

8. Less Celebrities Publishing Books

I mean honestly it is so unfair that they can publish books like it is nothing just because they have a "name" to slap onto the cover that is highly recognizable. There are probably a ton of really good authors that had a less easy road to getting published because they weren't already famous and it really irks me to no end!

9. Less Genre Trends

I really don't like the fact that all of a sudden one genre will become immensely popular and then within a year or two it will completely disappear while the next big genre will take it's place.

10. Less Love At First Sight/Love Triangles

First off, love at first sight does not exist! When you first see someone all you see is their appearance and I hate to break it to you but that is just lust! You cannot tell their personality by how they dress, nor can you tell how they will react during their different emotions. For all you know the boy in the preppy clothes could wind up hitting you black and blue while the boy in the skinny jeans and the gauged ears could be the sweetest guy that you could ever meet. Also the amount of love triangles that are in books are becoming tedious especially when you can guess who they are going to end up with rather early on.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser:

"I guess you're coming as my date now." Simon shoved the phone back into his pocket.

"I'm secure enough in my masculinity to accept that," said Jordan.

"We'd better get you something nice to wear though," he called as Simon headed back into his room. "I want you to look pretty."

-pg. 282 "City of Fallen Angels" by Cassandra Clare

"He told me he was going to be right back. That was forty minutes ago. I figured he was going to the bathroom."

"What kind of guardian are you? Shouldn't you have gone to the bathroom with him?" Isabelle demanded.

Jordan looked horrified. "Dudes," he said, "do not follow other dudes to the bathroom."

Isabelle sighed. "Latent homosexual panic will do you in every time," she said. "Come on. Let's look for him."

-pg. 317 "City of Fallen Angles" by Cassandra Clare

I decided that since this is going to be the last time that I'm going to post a teaser from CoFA and I couldn't decide between the two of them I would post them both! And you just couldn't get the whole effect without the whole passage so that is why they are longer than two sentences. Also I am GOING to post my review for It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han TOMORROW and maybe my review for City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare as well!

<3 Shannon