Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books By My Favorite Authors (that I still haven’t read)

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read. Usually, when I love an author, I read everything he or she has written… but there are always some books that fall off the bookpile or get otherwise overlooked. My selection of books by favorite authors that I still need to read :

1. Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell: This is the sequel to Doc, which I truly loved. Mary Doria Russell is a brilliant writer (The Sparrow will always be near and dear to my heart), and I bought Epitaph as soon as it came out. Why haven’t I read it yet? No idea… other than me just being lame.

2. The Sumage Solution by G. L. Carriger: Gail Carriger is an absolute favorite of mine, and I’ve read every bit of her published work… except The Sumage Solution. Maybe it’s because of the contemporary setting, since I love Carriger’s steampunk Parasol-verse so very much… but I haven’t quite brought myself around to starting Sumage. And there’s a sequel on the way, so I’d better get to it.

3. The Old Man’s War series by John Scalzi: I haven’t read a single book by John Scalzi that I haven’t enjoyed… but so far, I’ve only read his stand-alone books. I keep swearing that THIS will finally be the year when I read Old Man’s War… but it just hasn’t happened yet, and we’re getting frighteningly close to the end of 2018.

4. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik: I bought this the day it was released, and I’ve just gotten too overwhelmed by ARCs and library books to ever get around to starting. I loved Uprooted, so I’m really excited to start this one.

5. SO MANY  BOOKS by Stephen King: I always think of myself as a Stephen King fan, but it’s scary to think how many I’ve missed! Just looking at the unread King books on my shelves, I have Duma Key, Lisey’s Story, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, books 4 – 7 of The Dark Tower series, The Green Mile, a few short story collections… ugh, it never ends! I guess on the flip side, I’ll never run out of good options for when I want to be scared silly by a book.

6. Earlier works by Patricia Briggs: I adore the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, and could read those books over and over again (and yes, I’ve gone back for re-reads already). I really should make a point of reading some of her other works too, although I think I’m resistant to leaving those familiar worlds and going more into straight-up fantasy rather than urban fantasy.

7. More Jojo Moyes! I’ve loved so many of her books, and I actually own copies of these… so why haven’t I read them?

8. The Silk and Song trilogy by Dana Stabenow. I adore the Kate Shugak books — the characters, the crime drama, and the amazing Alaska setting. I really admire Stabenow’s writing and I enjoy historical fiction, so this trilogy (about the granddaughter of Marco Polo) should be right up my alley, despite the lack of Alaska! Seriously, the story sounds great — maybe a reading priority for 2019?

9. The Parasitology trilogy by Mira Grant: I loved the Newsflesh books SO much, and love everything she writes under her other (real) name (Seanan McGuire). I did actually read the first book in this trilogy, and thought it was really, really icky but also amazing… so I just need to return to the world of tapeworms and medical experiments gone haywire!

10. Yesternight by Cat Winters: I’ve read everything else by this author, and I think she’s so incredibly talented! I own a copy of Yesternight (I bought it as soon as it came out), and have every intention of reading it… so this is yet another book that I have no good reason for not having read yet, other than the good old “so many books, so little time” excuse.

What books are on your list this week? Please share your TTT link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 books on my TBR list for fall 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books On My Fall 2018 TBR. So much to choose from! It’s hard to narrow my list down to just 10… but here are ten books, mostly new and upcoming releases, that I’m really looking forward to reading during the next few months. (Click on any of the book cover images to see larger versions.)

 

  • Elevation by Stephen King: Never a bad time for new Stephen King!
  • Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness: A new story in the world of the All Souls books.
  • Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling): This series is so good!
  • Someone Like Me by M. R. Carey: Definitely up for a new book by the author of The Girl With All The Gifts.
  • Pride by Ibi Zoboi: Sounds like an amazing, fresh retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
  • Someday by David Levithan: I loved Every Day; can’t wait for more of the story.
  • Dry by Neal Shusterman: Having just discovered Scythe a few months ago, I’m dying to try more by this author.
  • And Their Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness: Sounds like an upside-down version of Moby Dick, told from the whales’ perspective. Maybe? The synopses I’ve read aren’t crystal clear, and I only just realized now that this is an illustrated book. Maybe a graphic novel? I actually have no idea, but I’m intrigued anyway.
  • Pulp by Robin Talley: This author’s books are always powerful, and the premise sounds fascinating.
  • The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner: Folklore/fairy tale — sounds amazing, and I love the cover!

What books are you most excited to read this fall? Please share your TTT link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten totally binge-worthy TV shows

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Bingeworthy TV Shows/Movies. Yes, I’m an avid read, but I do love my TV binges too! Here are ten shows that are well worth an obsessive binge — some old, some in their current runs, all entertaining as hell.

In no particular order:

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • The Walking Dead
  • The Good Place
  • Claws
  • Veronica Mars
  • iZombie
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  • Grace & Frankie
  • Harlots
  • Poldark

What shows do you love to binge? Please share your TTT link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten books (or series) I can count on to lift my spirits

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump. I’m not sure I actually have reading slumps — I mean, I can ALWAYS find something that gives me a reading energy boost! So, twisting the theme just a bit, here are ten books that make me happy (even though their stories are not only rainbows and kitties.)

1) The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon: Sure, terrible things happen to the characters throughout the series, but there’s just something so wonderful about spending time with them all, no matter how dire the circumstances.

2) The Parasol Protectorate books by Gail Carriger: Supernatural shenanigans plus Victorian manners — definitely a winning combination.

3) Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs: I love the Mercy Thompson series as well as the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs. This novella in particular is one that I love reading and re-reading. It’s short and sharp and just so perfect.

4) Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling — need I say more?

5) Pretty much anything by Jane Austen: I love them all, and they always make me smile. The audiobooks are sheer delight!

6) And also, anything by Georgette Heyer! I’ve read 6 or 7 of her books so far, but plan to read lots more! Just happy, fun reading experiences.

7) The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley: It’s been a while since I last read this one, but I know it always makes me happy.

8) Fables by Bill Willingham: Such an amazing graphic novel series. I’m definitely looking forward to starting again from the beginning one of these days.

9) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: Such silly fun.

10) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Not necessarily this book specifically, but sweet YA romances in general are sometimes the perfect solution to a gray and cloudy mood.

 

What books made your list this week? Please share your TTT link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype.

I’ll start my list with the book I’m reading right now:

1) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: This book got ALL the buzz, but I haven’t been reading as much YA lately and decided to pass. Then I saw the movie trailer a few weeks ago, and realized just how much I was missing out on. I picked up the book yesterday, and have read about 350 pages so far. I can’t put it down — it’s that good!

2) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Yes, a ton of people have jumped on the bandwagon ever since the TV show premiered. But it so lives up to all the hype, and remains my favorite books and series.

3) Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (review): Such a sweet, adorable love story! And I thought the movie was terrific too.

4) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (review): I actually hadn’t heard that much about this book before I read it… but once I did and fell in love with the characters, I started to see people gushing over the story everywhere.

5) Cinder by Marissa Meyer (review): Somehow, just based on the cover, I decided this book wasn’t for me, and I resisted reading it for a really long time. I don’t know what finally convinced me to read it, but I was immediately hooked once I did. And I guess it’s a good thing that I held off as long as I did, because I was able to read the first three books straight through once I started!

6) The Martian by Andy Weir (review): Here’s one that I just knew I had to read once I heard about it! A true word-of-mouth success story — and absolutely worth all the buzz.

7) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (review): Everyone said that this one would bring on the tears. Everyone was right.

8) Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant (review): I wasted a lot of breath telling people that I just wasn’t interested in these books. Silly me. I LOVED the entire series, and just wish there were more books set in this world.

9) Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (review): Another one leading to buckets of tears. Just breathtaking. And I cry every time I read it.

10) A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (review): This book was everywhere… and was just delightful, exactly as promised!

 

What are the best hyped, buzzy books that you’ve read recently? Please share your TTT links!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten recent novellas that I really, really loved

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Favorite Novellas/Short Stories.

I’m not a huge short story fan, but I have read some amazing novellas lately. Here are some of the best:

1) The Wayward Children novellas by Seanan McGuire:

Every Heart a Doorway (review)
Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Beneath the Sugar Sky

2) The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (review)

3) Time Was by Ian McDonald (review)

4) The Binti novellas by Nnedi Okorafor

5) American Hippo novellas by Sarah Gailey (review)

6) The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (review)

7) Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar (review)

8) How to Marry A Werewolf by Gail Carriger (review)

9) The Dispatcher by John Scalzi (review)

10) Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant (review)

 

What are the best novellas and short stories that you’ve read recently? Please share your TTT links!

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Top Ten Tuesday: My ten favorite books (so far!) in 2018

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Best Books I’ve Read In 2018 (So Far).

Where to even start? 2018 has been full of amazing books for me — here are some of my favorites:

1) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (review)

2) The Glass Forest by Cynthia Swanson (review)

3) Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (review)

4) The Newsflesh series by Mira Grant (review)

5) The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire (11 books and counting!)

6) The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan (review)

7) Only Human (Themis Files, #3) by Sylvain Neuvel (review)

8) The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (review)

9) The Murderbot Diaries, books #1 & 2 by Martha Wells (review)

It’s kind of hard to limit myself to just ten… but the final spot, I think I need to go with one of the two Georgette Heyer books I’ve read (so far) in 2018. I can always count on GH’s books to brighten my day!

10) A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer (review)

Oh, what the heck… let’s include one more, because it was just so unique and awesome:

11) Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel (review)

And now I’m going to hit the “publish” button before I add any more to this list!

What are your top books read so far in 2018? Please share your TTT links!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Gimme. Gimme now.

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I’d Slay a Lion to Get Early — which, okay, I don’t think I’d actually slay a lion… but would I sell my firstborn to get my hands on these books? Well, no, not that either. But I’d be really, really appreciative if these books fell into my hands — does that count?

So here are the books I’d be most likely to make grabby hands at, with much squeeing and a little bit of jumping up and down:

Without doubt, the #1 book I’d sell my soul for is…

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon – book #9 in the amazing and wonderful Outlander series. According to Herself, 2019 is the soonest we can expect this book. Considering that the previous book in the series was published in 2014, is it any wonder that devoted fans worldwide are working themselves into a frenzy waiting and waiting and waiting? Gimme now, please.

Beyond that, I’d love, love, love to magically get early copies of:

2. The Winds of Winter by George R. R. Martin: Well, wouldn’t we all? Who know when this baby will be ready… maybe not until after the TV series wraps up? And if that’s the case, will we still want to read it? (Well, duh. Of course we will.)

3. Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness: Look, a book with an actual release date! This book continues the story of the All Souls Trilogy, and will be released in the fall. Can’t wait!

4. Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire: The 12th October Daye book, due out in September. After bingeing the entire series over the last two months, I’m dying for more!!

5. Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs: The 11th Mercy Thompson book! Man, do I love this series. Can’t wait for more Mercy… but sadly, wait I must. Storm Cursed will be released in March 2019.

6. Peace Talks by Jim Butcher: The 16th Dresden Files book. Yes, I’m on a roll with my urban fantasy series. Can’t help it — they’re all so good! No release date yet for this book, so we can only wait and hope that it will be soon.

7. The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden: The 3rd book in the Winternight trilogy will be released in August. I loved the first two books so much — dying to see how the story wraps up!

8. Competence by Gail Carriger: The next book in the Custard Protocol series comes out this summer, and I have it on preorder already… but would I be happy to have it in front of me right now? Of course!

And that’s where I’ll stop! Sure, I have plenty of other books I’m looking forward to, but these are the one I’m most passionate about… the one that might get me to reveal ancient family secrets, or pledge eternal servitude, or at the very least, promise to do all the chores, all year long if only I could get my hands on them!

What books are on your list this week? Please share your link!

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Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Ten tidbits from my spring 2018 entertainment plans

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week is a freebie topic, which means that everyone participating comes up with their own top 10 theme.

I had a hectic weekend and a busy Monday, and have had pretty much zero time to put any thought into this… so I thought I’d share 10 things on my entertainment horizon that I’m excited about.

On TV, I’m excited for the new seasons of:

1. The Americans: I’m SO sad this is ending, but it’s been a great run. Season 6 is off to a tense start. I’m so worried about the characters — who will make it out alive?

2. The Expanse: Season 3 has just started. This sci-fi show is political and full of amazing effects and characters. Not surprisingly, it’s adapted from a terrific book series, and is really worth catching up on, if you haven’t watched it yet.

3. The Handmaid’s Tale: I can’t wait to see where season 2 goes, now that the plot will be venturing beyond the story told in the book.

 

In the world of theater, I’ll be seeing:

4. The Color Purple — the national touring company is coming to San Francisco, and I have tickets for May.

5. HARRY POTTER ON BROADWAY! I’ll be seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in June.

 

In books, I’m looking forward to:

6. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, which everyone seems to be talking about! There’s a long waiting list at my library, but that’s okay. I can wait — it’s not like I have nothing else to read!

7. The Murderbot books! I just read the first one, All Systems Red, this past weekend, and I’m thrilled that there are three more to come. Volume 2, Artificial Condition, comes out in May.

8. How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger: New Gail Carriger works are always welcome! This novella focuses on Major Channing, and looks like it’ll be a hoot.

In movies, I can’t wait to see:

9. Avengers: Infinity War: Part of me feels like this is so likely to be a big mess of a movie… but the fangirl-y part of me absolutely plans to go see it anyway.

 

And when it comes to travels and adventure:

10. My daughter and I are taking a surprise trip in early May! The surprise isn’t that we’re going… it’s that we have no idea where we’ll end up! We’re going through a company that takes the travelers’ information, gathers a bit of information about travel preferences and budget, and then lets us know basically the day of departure where we’re heading. Crazy, right? We can end up anywhere in the continental US. Wherever we go, I get to spend a weekend exploring some new destination with my wonderful, amazing daughter, and I’m sure it’ll be a blast. I’ll report back when it’s done!

And that’s my somewhat random top 10 for this week!

Did you write a TTT post? Please share your links!

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Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Around the World in a Book

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books That Take Place In Another Country.

I love learning more about countries around the world through fiction. Here are 10 great books with non-US settings:

  1. Scotland – the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
  2. Japan – The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd
  3. Kenya – A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn (review)
  4. Italy – The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian (review)
  5. Israel – Eagle in the Sky by Wilbur Smith
  6. India – Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
  7. Iceland – Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (review)
  8. Yemen – Henna House by Nomi Eve (review)
  9. Canada (Newfoundland) – The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede (review)
  10. England – Poldark series by Winston Graham

What are your favorite books from around the world? Please share your links!

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Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!

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