My Top Ten Bookworm Delights

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about our top bookworm delights, which I'm taking to mean the little bookish pleasures that I receive or take notice in. Honestly, being a reader is a pleasure in and of itself, but I am a huge nerd when it comes to reading, and nerds love taking pleasure in all the "little things" related to their fandoms, so I had no trouble at all coming out with this list. Without further ado, here are my top ten bookworm delights:

1) When There Are Designs On The Page Ends.

Such as the red birds that are printed on the side of Ketchup Clouds, by Annabel Pitcher:

If anyone knows what this style is called, can you please tell me? Also, if you know of any other examples of books that also have designs on the sides (other than the spine), I would love to know! I have no idea if there is a proper term for it, but it was a nice surprise to see it - I LOVE the extra touch!

2) When An Author Uses Your City As Their Setting In A Book.

I'm from El Paso, so trust me when I say that almost nothing ever takes place here, be it movie, book, TV show, your cousin's bat mitzvah, etc. NOTHING. So when something does happen here, I take notice. And yes, I get delight from it. So thank you, whoever decided to make Jaime Reyes (a.k.a. the Blue Beetle) from El Paso. THANK YOU!!!

3) When You Read A Book That Puts You In Research Mode.

Like when Me Before You had me researching what Dignitas was (it's real, people!!!) and things that a paraplegic individual could do for fun, or when The Martian made me look into what would and what wouldn't be possible to do when trying to survive on Mars.

4) Finding A New All Time FAVORITE Book To Love.

There is nothing like that feeling you get when you are reading a new book and you just know that it's going to be a new absolute favorite! As they say, "Nothing beats a first kiss!" And, on that note....

5) When You Read A Book So Good That Afterwords You CAN'T EVEN.

Do you know that feeling of "book shock" you get when you finish reading something so amazing that you just can't do anything else afterwards but sit in silence with your feelings and stare at the ceiling? I absolutely love that feeling. In fact, I crave it. It's actually what keeps me from devouring one book after another, because sometimes I need to finish processing my feelings before I can even think about starting a new book.

6) When The Book You Had Put On Hold Ages Ago Is FINALLY Available To Pick Up At The Library.

I love it when I get a call from the library to let me know that a book is ready for me - especially when it's one that I had forgotten about, or one that I'd been waiting on!

7) When You Find Someone Who Not Only Loves To Read As Much As You Do, But Who Enjoys Nerding Out About It, Too!

I recently became a part of a *small* online community on FB that nerds out about books as much as I do (we know each other from a larger group that we're all in), and it has been one of the best discoveries, ever! It's just so much fun to nerd out about books with other people who love to read! I love the internet.

8) When A Book You Love Is Released In A Gorgeous New Special Edition.

  

Such as the illustrated versions of Harry Potter that are in the process of being released; or this gorgeous illustrated edition of The Princess Bride; or the special edition of Fangirl that was released with amazing fanart included on the inside covers. I love, love, LOVE special editions.

9) Cracking Open A Book And Immersing Yourself In The Smell Of Its Pages.

Yes, that's right - the smell. It doesn't matter if the book is old or new, I'll take a whiff of it either way. I love the smell of a good book! 

10) Basking In The Magnificence Of Your Bookshelf.

I don't know what it is about my bookshelf, but I just can't help but bask in its glow every time I see it. I love re-arranging my books until they're just right; I love adding new books; I love running my fingers along the spines, and stealing secret glances at it whenever I enter my room. Am I crazy? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just in love.

Do you and I share any bookish delights? Is there something missing from this list that should definitely be on here? If so, feel free to let know about it in the comments!

Top 10 Book-To-Movie Adaptations That I'm Looking Forward To Watching

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

Normally, I'm very picky when it comes to Book-To-Movie adaptations - I tend to get let down easily, despite the fact that the film trailers may have seemed promising. Nonetheless, I've decided to participate in this week's Top Ten Tuesday, as there have been some really good trailers released lately, and honestly, you just never know. Some of these may tank, but some may be real gems! Here are ten adaptations that I'm hoping will be worth watching:

*Click on the film title to view the book on Goodreads*

The Martian (2015)

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm not gonna lie - since I heard beforehand that Matt Damon would be playing Mark Watney, I ended up picturing him as the character while reading it. I thought he was a perfect fit, so I hope I still feel the same way when I finally see the film! I've heard good things about this one so far.

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

I know this looks like it will be NOTHING like the book (especially since there's no Igor in the original novel), but I still want to see it. I love James McAvoy, and I'll give anything he's in a try, but perhaps more-so to this since it is (very loosely) based on one of my favorite novels. Besides, it's not as if Frankenstein hasn't been butchered enough already, lol.

The Danish Girl (2015)

Wow. This trailer looks amazing! I haven't read the novel yet, but it's based on a true story, and I've added it to my ever-growing TBR. I can't wait to see this one!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Okay, so I admit that I haven't read the book, and am unsure if I will ever get around to reading it, but this trailer looks totally awesome. As an avid fan of zombie flicks, I will definitely be checking this one out.

Deadpool (2016)

I am so excited for this movie! Ryan Reynolds has been great in every sneak peek and promo vid that I've seen so far, and he really gets into character (I even love how they poke fun at him for The Green Lantern movie!). I'm stoked to see this one! And don't worry, this is the only comic book adaptation that I will be listing in this post, otherwise all the upcoming Marvel & DC films would take over this list!

The Jungle Book (2016)

I don't even remember much about the animated Disney film (other than 'The Bare Necessities'), but this trailer looks pretty good - the animation seems top-notch, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (2016)

No trailer for this one yet, but I don't even need to see one to know that I HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE IN THEATERS! I am so excited!!! J.K. Rowling is writing the script, and it's a Potterverse movie, so I know I won't be let down!!!

Looking For Alaska (2016)

I'm a little iffy on this one, as it is one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME, so I know I'll be super critical of any film version released, but I really enjoyed The Fault In Our Stars adaptation, so I know I'll have to give it a chance. I haven't seen Paper Towns yet, but I love the cast, and I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy that one, so I'll try to stay positive! I have trust in the team that is putting it together.

The Circle (2016)

If you haven't read this book already, you really should! It's about a girl who goes to work for "The Circle" (a company that really sounds a lot like Google...) and all of the cult-like craziness that she gets swept up in while with the company. It looks like they've signed on Emma Watson to play the lead, as well as other big names like Tom Hanks, Karen Gillan, Patton  Oswalt, & Bill Paxton! The cast has really gotten me excited, so I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this one.

His Dark Materials (? - BBC Mini-Series)

I know this isn't a technically a movie, but how can I not list this?! Almost any series that's brought to life by the BBC is gold (e.g. Sherlock, Merlin, etc.), so I have total faith that this series will surpass all levels that the Hollywood film failed to reach.

So, what book-to-movie adaptations are you looking forward to seeing? Let me know in the comments if I'm missing anything so that I can add it to my mental "To Watch" list!

Top 10 New Series I Want To Start

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

I am a series addict. Lately, it seems like I read more series' novels than I do stand-alone ones. Nothing's wrong with that, of course - it's just that if I find a world that I love, I want to stay in it for as long as possible (I definitely view reading as an escape, lol). Anywho, if it weren't for the fact that this week's category, the Top 10 New Series I Want To Start, is limited to series that started in the past year or two, I probably wouldn't know where to start (as there are so many of them!) And to make things even easier, I'm only including series that already have at least one book out, not those that will be released soon. Here are some of the newer ones that are a part of my TBR list:

 

The Dark Elements by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I loved the Lux series so much that now I'm eager to read everything else Armentrout's written, especially this one!

  

Finishing School by Gail Carriger

I've actually never read anything by this author yet, but she's been on my radar for a long time now, and this seems as good a place as any to start.

 

The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

The synopsis for book one sounds sooo good!

 

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

I love post-apocalyptic fiction, and this series has so many good reviews that there's no way I could ignore it for much longer - I know I'll enjoy reading it.

The Kricket Series by Amy A. Bartol

It was actually the beautiful cover that drew me in, but the synopsis sounds so cute! Plus, its high ratings are in its favor.

 

Blythewood by Carol Goodman

I think I have a thing for supernatural/magical boarding schools....first there was Harry Potter, then a minor Winx obsession, and then a major Vampire Academy one. They just make such great settings!

Ghost Stories by Seanan McGuire
I like the idea of a ghost for a protagonist - ghost stories were always my favorite as a kid.

 

Night Owls by Lauren M. Roy
This series takes place in a book store which serves a supernatural clientele. 'Nuff said.

 

The Network Series by Katie Cross
See, what did I tell ya? Another magical boarding school series has made the list.

 

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
I can't believe I haven't read these yet - what's wrong with me?!

So, as I love to torture myself by constantly adding new series to my endless TBR list, please do let me know what new series' you're looking forward to reading next in the comments below! I will definitely check them out, and probably add a few of them to my Goodreads list.

Top 10 Authors I've Only Read One Book From, But NEED To Read More Of!

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top 10 list focuses on authors you'd like to re-read. Granted, normally when I read something that I love, I will end up hunting down more books from that author to immediately devour, but my TBR list is so long that sometimes I don't get to them as soon as I'd like. The following list reflects the authors whom I have yet to continue reading, but promise to get to as soon as I am able:

I know, I know - I've only read one Stephen King novel, and it was Cujo. Sad but true. I think the next one I'll try will be It, because that movie is a Halloween tradition in my house, and it's sad that I can quote the movie, but have never read the book. Still, I have a feeling that the first author to get bumped off of this list will be Kelly Thompson, because I already have a copy of Storykiller on my shelf that is just begging for me to start it - I just can't start something new until I finish the Bloodlines series. I'm only on book 2! I just couldn't wait too long after Vampire Academy - I needed more Adrian!

Do you have any authors you've tried, and are dying to read more of? Let me know in the comments below - or leave a link to your own Top 10 list and I'll stop by!

Top 10 Favorite TV Shows

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

Everyone was given the opportunity to list some of their favorite movies AND television shows, but I had a hard time just narrowing things down to ten for each category that I don't think I could have beared narrowing them each down to five. Instead, I chose to just stick with one category, and TV was the winner! After agonizingly picking and choosing the shows that would make the final cut, I finally decided on the following:

I absolutely LOVE this show!!! It may be my favorite show of all time, though I admit that lately I've been having a bit of a love/hate relationship with it. I think I'm still going through withdrawal from Russell T. Davies's departure. And David Tennant's. Still, I have really high hopes for Peter Capaldi (who will be playing the next incarnation of the Doctor.) Gosh, this show makes me wanna travel through time and space so bad!

One of the best shows about kickin' monster ass, eating pie, and listening to classic rock that I have ever seen. Plus, there's Cas. Lot's of Cas. And did I mention the pie? Mmmm...

I love anything as long as it has Peter Dinklage, and 'Game of Thrones' is no exception. There's action, adventure, blood, dragons, incest, intrigue, revenge...what more do you need? Oh, that's right - Kit Harington. Don't worry, he's there, too. Though sadly, I still have yet to read the books. I'll get to them, I promise!

I can't imagine going through life without watching this show. Every single episode still has the power to make me laugh uncontrollably, even to this day. It is utter perfection, and one of the best sitcoms that I have ever seen in my life. Period.

For the longest time, I just could not admit that 'The Vampire Diaries' had become one of my favorite shows. I suppose that may be due to the fact that Elena Gilbert is the most annoying protagonist that I have ever encountered in prime-time television. Still, every episode manages to keep me glued to the screen. Not to mention, the songs featured in the show are AWESOME, and there are plenty of hot vampires to keep me satisfied.

Until I started watching 'Smallville,' I never really cared much about superman. I guess all the previous portrayals of the character just made him seem rather boring. This show completely changed my mind about Clark Kent, though. Plus, Erica Durance plays the most kick-ass Lois I have ever seen. Too bad this series had to end, but at least it lasted a good 10 seasons first.

My list would not be complete without some 'Boy Meets World!' I think I love this show as much as I love 'Friends.' Maybe more. But while Cory and Topanga make a really cute couple, it was the bromance between Cory and Shawn that really made the show. In fact, their bromance is the best that I've ever seen in a television series.

I only hope that the new sequel, 'Girl Meets World,' keeps at least *some* of the charm that made its predecessor so successful. I'll try and keep an open mind, but one can only hope.

Most addicting cartoon series, ever. Even 'The Legend of Korra' is really good, though not as great as this original series. I just can't get enough of the beautiful animation! And, there are so many running gags and background jokes sprinkled throughout the show that almost every time I re-watch it, I find something I didn't catch the previous time around. My favorite character? Zuko, of course.

Perhaps the longest-running anime series that I have ever watched. Even though I am a bit behind, I am so emotionally invested in this show that I honestly don't know what I will do once it ends. With 220 episodes in the main Naruto series, and almost 400 episodes in the Naruto: Shippuden series (in addition to the manga, movies and video games), one would think there'd be enough Naruto to tie one over for many lifetimes to come. But one would be wrong.

Where would I be without my regular dose of Sheldon? I love that this show continuously cracks me up, and I can't get enough of the nerdy references! 

Honorable Mentions

(Because some shows I just could NOT leave out!)

Psych

Gilmore Girls

Hana Yori Dango

Merlin

Sherlock

Trust me when I say that I am always on the lookout for the next greatest show. Please leave me some recommendations in the comments! :)

My Top 10 Book Blogging Confessions

A Meme By The Broke and the Bookish

Lately I haven't had any time for blogging. At all. In fact, other than my blog tour review, this is my first post in over a month. Sorry guys, but work really takes a lot out of me, and in my free time I've been trying my best to create some sort of a social life. Unfortunately, this means that I also haven't been reading as much, and I really don't know how I feel about that. To be honest, I've never had much of a social life, other than those forged at school or work. But I'm only 25, so I can't say that I regret going to a music festival instead of picking up a book I've been wanting to read for ages, or hanging out with some strangers at a meetup instead of creating a new blog post. For now, I'm just gonna have to take things one step at a time, and hopefully I'll find a balance, without having to give anything up.

I love the Twilight series. So sue me. I don't like the movies, I know the writing isn't the greatest, and I know that Bella's obsession with Edward is really not that healthy for her, but still I continue to read and re-read those books. Why? Who knows. Maybe because I've never been in love, and I'm just a sap for the romance. Don't hate.

I often judge books by their covers. In fact, if I own a book I really enjoyed reading, but I hate the cover, I will scour the internet until I find an edition I like. I just like staring at my books, okay?!

I buy most of my books on Amazon. I know, I'm sorry, but there are no indie bookstores where I live, and I have too many student loans to pay to even afford buying them elsewhere. Plus, I'm addicted to their two-day shipping for Prime members.

I read a lot of blog posts that I never comment on. This makes me sad to think about, since I always get super happy whenever I get a new comment, but I do it anyway. Sometimes I just never have anything to say, or I just don't even think about it. I'll try to work on this, promise.

I have a book in my closet that was loaned to me by a college friend about three years ago. I even messaged her for her address a couple years ago so that I could mail it back to her, but I still have not done so. I am terrible.

I rely too much on Goodreads when deciding what to read next. It used to be that I'd pick up a book, and if the synopsis was good enough, I would read it, but now I have to check out its Goodreads rating before giving it a shot. Sadly, I've put down quite a few cool-sounding books due to less-than-satisfactory ratings - a problem that must be stopped. Someday.

I have a hard time reading the next book in a series without completely re-reading all the books that came before it. It won't do to re-fresh my mind by reading their synopsis, or other reviews - I have to start the series from scratch each time a new book finally comes out for it. This is why I am having a hard time making myself continue my beloved Morganville Vampires series - I just can't bring myself to read that many books over again just because there are so many. But I miss it...

The first time I picked up Harry Potter, in the sixth grade, I thought it was so dull that I couldn't get past the first chapter. In fact, I even let another kid who loved the book take the AR test on it for me *gasp!* Of course, when I picked it up again the next year, I loved it! Plus, I really needed it in seventh grade, as I was in the process of breaking up with my so-called "friends" at the time. I guess the series was waiting for the right time to enter my life. Weird, huh?

Sometimes I daydream myself into the books I've read and loved. Yup, I've been a student at Hogwarts, I've flirted with Edward Cullen, and I've even battled alongside Aragorn at Helm's Deep. Sad? Yes. Will I stop? Not anytime soon.