The Book Sphere

Hi! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s list was fun to do but was a little hard to come up with and it is:

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

1. Mythology- I am a huge fan of mythology so any book that has a mythology reference or re-telling is one that I will be interested in and potentially buy.

2. Dragons- I find that there aren’t a lot of books about dragons and I find dragons fascinating and each story I read about dragons is unique.

3. Book or Bookstore related- Being that I love books, I cannot resist checking out a book that is about books or revolves around books.

4. Survival stories- This is kind of broad but I enjoy all types of survival stories. From trying to survive in a dystopian society to trying to survive a ship wreck, survival stories often catch my eye in the book department.

5. Vampires- I don’t really know why I like reading about vampires but I find all the different variations of a vampire told in a book to be intriguing.

6. Werewolves/Shapeshifters- This is kind of the same reason as vampires. They are just fun to read about.

7. Ghosts- I have always loved reading and watching scary stories. Not all ghost stories are scary but I like reading about them since they are most debated about having a real-life existence or not.

8. Paranormal- I wanted to include this for all those paranormal topics that are not covered by above. There are so many things paranormal that make some great books and they always catch my eye in the bookstore.

9. Love Stories- This topic is very broad as well but a potential love story gets me to pick up a book and read the synopsis. If the love story sounds unique enough than I’m in.

10. A location I know of or enjoy reading about- I live in Minnesota and when I read that a book takes place in Minnesota it automatically gets added to my shelves. Also I love Seattle and the state of Washington so if any books are set there than I am likely to pick them up as well.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This is a Top Ten Rewind meaning that we could pick one that we wanted to revisit or one that we haven’t done. This week I choose to do Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me. This one is fairly easy as I am behind on reading quite a few books that I am so excited to read but haven’t gotten around to them yet. The good news is that I WILL be reading these books soon!

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

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I have this book top a lot of lists when it comes to people favorite books. I have heard amazing things about this book from anyone and everyone. Therefore I really need to read this book!

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver. For some reason I only just heard about this book a couple months ago and I instantly wanted to read it. This book sounds so good, I must read it soon!

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth. I had heard about this book right after I finished reading the Hunger Games and at the time they were being compared to each other. I wanted to read them without comparing them but I have waited too long to read this one, I need to get to reading!

4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. This book has been talked about like crazy since the sequel just came out recently. I’m so intrigued by the unique retelling of Cinderella. I need to get my nose in these pages!

5. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. This book has gotten a lot of attention recently because the movie has come out. I have heard mixed reviews about this book and I really need to read this so I can throw in my two cents.

6. The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I loved the Twilight series and I was scared that this book would not be as good. However I know that they are separate books and I need to read this one after the good things I have heard about it. I also need to read it before I see the movie.

7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I just picked this book up recently and haven’t been able to pick it up. It seems like a perfect summer read and now that summer is on its way (hopefully – afterall it’s still snowing here) I hope to read it as one of my summer reads if not sooner.

8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky. I have heard amazing things about this book. I am so excited to get to read this book!

9. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. This book has been talked often as one of the best contemporaries that people have read. I have it on my shelves and need to pick it up. Since the companion/sequel is coming out next month, I am planning on reading this one before it comes out.

10. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. The premise of this book is so unique that I cannot wait to read it. A game with a bunch of 80’s pop culture references?! I need to get my hands on this book!

I’m sure some of you think that I am crazy that I haven’t read some of these books – I know I think I am! But rest assured that I am planning on reading these books very soon!

What books do you feel everyone has read but you?

Hi! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week, my top ten wasn’t too hard to come up since I have been an avid reader since I could learn to read. However, I can’t believe it took me this long to become a blogger. Here’s my top ten list for this week:

1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. I love these books! I enjoyed every single one of these books growing up.

2 . The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. These books introduced paranormal romance and YA to me. I didn’t know that there were so many good books waiting to get discovered in these genres. I fell in love with these books the moment I read the back cover in Walmart back in 2005 when Twilight first came out.

3. The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy (Shiver, Linger and Forever) by Maggie Stiefvater. I loved that these books where set in Minnesota as that’s where I live. I love the unique story in these books as well. I was so excited to find them in the library one day that I checked it out, read it and was back for the next one within a few days.

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I had a friend that ranted and raved about this book so I finally gave in and read it. I wasn’t disappointed, I loved this book.

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This is one that I wanted to read after I read about in Twilight. It took me awhile to finally pick up but I’m glad I did. This book was fantastic.

6. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I read this book last summer and though it was really long, it didn’t feel so long while reading it. It is such a good book that keeps your jaw-dropping with twists and turns. I am hoping to pick up the second book this summer.

7. The Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer. I kept seeing this book in the library and the size intimidated me. On the third time seeing it I just picked it up and so happy that I did. I loved these books, in fact I went out and bought them all to have in my library.

8.  Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. I didn’t know the chick lit genre existed until I started reading Sophie Kinsella and I loved every book of hers that I have read. It’s like reading about a chick flick and what girl can resist a good chick flick? This was a book that my fiance had picked out for me and he did a fantastic job with this one.

9. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief/The Sea of Monsters. While I have only read these two I want to continue the series as these books were fantastic. I’m a huge fan of mythology and was so excited to see it in these books!

10. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ievy. I read this book earlier this year and it sort-of inspired me to create  my blog. I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with others and what better place to do that than a blog?!

This week for Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish we are compiling a list of the top ten characters you would crush on if you were also a fictional character. Here is my list in no particular order

1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Such a gentleman and full of heart.

2. Will from the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. Will is one of the deepest characters I have ever read about. He is passionate, loving, witty and he loves books <3

3. Ron from Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. He’s just so cute and funny, how you can you not develop a little crush on him?

4. Ren from Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck. Ren is caring, thoughtful and a gentleman, plus he turns into a white tiger!

5. Jace from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I have only read the first book but I couldn’t help but think that Jace was something else (in a good way). I think the actor that plays him looks as I pictured him, I’m interested to see how he portrays Jace in the movie.

6. Daniel from the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. He’s an angel and a passionate one at that. He is so caring and loving towards Luce.

7. John Snow from A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin. I have only read the first book in this series and I really enjoyed reading about John Snow. He’s so loyal even though he’s been put through a rough situation. I want to continue to read the series just to read more about John Snow.

8. Noah from the Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin. He has a british accent and is misunderstood by everyone around him…two things that can’t help but make you crush on him.

9. Edward Cullen from the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. There has been a lot of talk about how bad of a person Edward is but I have to say that I saw the caring side of Edward more than the “controlling” side that people like to talk about. I was so disappointed with the casting of Edward as Robert Pattinson was completely different from the Edward I pictured in my head. After seeing all the movies, he hasn’t done a bad job, he’s just different than the Edward I had in my head when I had read the books.

10. Jacob Black from the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. On the other hand, Taylor Lautner was exactly what I pictured Jacob Black to look like and more. While I was “team Edward” when reading the books and watching the movies, Jacob Black couldn’t help but pull at my heartstrings.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week is the Top Ten Books I Recommend Most. This was pretty hard to put together since it really depends on the person and what they enjoy, so I tried to include a little variety in here. Here goes it : )

Top Ten Books I Recommend Most

For Everyone:  The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. I would recommend for anybody and everybody. If you haven’t read this, you really should – it is such a fantastic series!

For a Quick, Witty Read: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. This book is such a cute, quick read that is so fun! This book is so full of adventure and creativity that it will keep you engrossed the whole way through. It is a short book that is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon reading.

For a Fireplace Read:  The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Yes spring has officially arrived, however if you live in Minnesota like me, that spring arrival is just a date on the calender – there is still lots of snow on the ground. This book is such beautifully written that I cannot stop thinking about it. I recommended this to my Mother in Law and she enjoyed it as well. It is a beautiful story based on a Russian fairy tale and is set in Alaska. It is perfect for a snowy, cold day sitting in front of the fireplace.

For a Summer Read:  Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. Summer is coming soon and what better than to already start thinking about what you can read on the beach? This is a perfect book to take with you for a day on the beach. The main character, Emma, is completely relate-able and will have you laughing out loud.  It is a light read that will leave you satisfyingly feeling good at the end.

For an Action-Packed Ride:  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If you have read this book and the ones that follow you can attest that these books are full of edge-of-your-seat action. These books will get you thinking and keep you with you nose in the book until it’s over with. These books are perfect for you if you love the thrill of action sprinkled with some romance.

For an Adventure Read:  The Lightning Thief by Percy Jackson. I love Greek Mythology which is what really turned me to these books but I have to say that they are more than that. These books are full of intrigue and adventure that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can to see what happens next. I would recommend these books to those that want an adventure that will take you away.

For Action and Romance: The rest of these books are all full of action and adventure.

 Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Holy smokes is this series (The Infernal Devices) so amazing. These books are action-packed with romance sprouting up everywhere. This series will give you a love triangle that will have you genuinely torn. It will give you action to keep you reading well into the night. I cannot say enough about how good these books are.

 Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. This book is fantastic. This book is full of action and feeling that will have you thinking about it even after you finished it in one day. This book has some romance in it that makes it even better. I loved Mafi’s writing and felt that the story was told so beautifully through her fingertips.

 Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck. This book is full of adventure with a lovely romance thrown in. As I read this book, I had a movie playing through my head that never got boring. This book had me wishing I could jump into it and join in the adventure. May I also add that Ren is definitely swoon-worthy.

 Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. This book has a beautiful cover and an even better story in those pages. This book is the start of a ride full of action and romance. I devoured this book quickly and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second one. This book will please you if you enjoy paranormal romance. The author used to be a fellow Minnesotan which is a plus : )

What books do you guys recommend?

I have been wanting to hop in to Top Ten Tuesday for awhile and I think this week is the perfect time since I just finished going through my books. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week, on Tuesday, there is a new list that is book related. This week is:

Top Ten Books I HAD to Buy…But Are Still Sitting On My Shelf Unread

1.  Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but I hope I will read it sooner than later!
2.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I’ve heard so many good things about this book and I was very excited to find it in my local used bookstore. I need to read this soon to see what all the hype is about.
3.  Splintered by A.G. Howard. This book definitely pulled me in because of it’s cover. However, I have also heard great things about this book. I am anxiously awaiting the moment when I pick this book up and read it.
4.   Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. I have been a James Bond fan for a majority of my life and just recently found out that they were based on books. After figuring that out I had to run out and by the first one immediately. I need to read this book so I can watch the movie again.
5.  Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I heard about this book a long time ago and then I came across it in the store and had to buy it. I have been waiting for more books with characters that are my age (college age) and I’m so excited about this New Adult genre coming about. I can’t wait to start reading the books starting with this one!
6.  A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. I bought this one when  I finished A Game of Thrones because I had to know what happened next! However, I’ve been a little intimidated by it’s length, so I haven’t read it yet, but I’m hoping to get to it this summer.
7.  Every Day by David Levithan. I have loved all the books I have read by David Levithan and when I read the book blurb with this new one I had to get it. I am very excited to have it and I cannot wait to read it!
8.  Crewel by Gennifer Albin. I heard about this book and it sounded so unique. I equally fell in love with the cover and therefore I had to go out and buy it. Unfortunately I just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet but I am really looking forward to reading this book!
9.  Rift by Andrea Cremer. I absolutely loved the Nightshade series and when I found out about this prequel series I had to get it. However I have been wanting to re-read the Nightshade series before I pick this one up. I might have to just pick it up and read it before then though.
10.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I know, I know, I am completely ridiculous because I haven’t read this book yet. I had a stack of library books that I was reading through when I picked this book up (I bought it because I just HAD to have it). Then some library books I requested came in so I got another stack of library books to read. But once I am done reading the library books this will be one of the first books I pick up – SO excited to read this one!

Making this list has gotten me excited about these books again and given me motivation to just read them already! Well back to reading so I can get to these books… : )