Discussion: Do You Re-read?

I used to re-read my favorite books all the time. Just like I watch my favorite movies over and over again (Pride & Prejudice anyone?), I used to be able to pick up a beloved story and loose myself in it.  Even if I didn’t have the time to read the whole book, word for word, I could make time to re-read my favorite parts. 

Sadly, this changed with blogging.  Not only do I feel the pressure of reading the latest books, sign up for the latest and more popular blog tours (and thus review those books), but my time has become more precious.  BUT, recently I did re-read two old favorites and I really enjoyed the experience.  I was between books and had some down time and I picked up these two books:

Saving Grace by Julie Garwood – This is, hands down, one of my favorite historical romances.  I love the setting and the characters and the sweet love story. I probably fell in love with the name Gabriel due to this book and it's now C's middle name :)

Persuasion by Jane Austen – Next to P&P, Persuasion is one of my favorite Austen books.  I’m just adore the idea of love that endures so much, distance, indifference, prejudice, persuasion; and still endures.

I really do miss having more time to read more of my favorites and I think I will carve out some time to do so in the future.

Do you re-read?  Why or why not?  What are your favorite re-reads? If you could, what books would you re-read?

Top Ten Beginings / Endings in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This was a really hard one!  For once, I read a lot of books from the library thus, I don't have all the books I read; also, I listen to books in audio books which is a lot harder to remember!  Some classics and some not so much, this is what I came up with: 

Beginnings

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. “ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. “ Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”  J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

“The goat was in the tree again.” Rosemary Clement-Moore, Texas Gothic 

“On the sixth of April, in the year 1812 – precisely two days before her sixteenth birthday – Penelope Featherington fell in love.” Julia Quinn, Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Endings

"After all, tomorrow is another day." Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

“The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years.  All was well.” J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“And then we continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of our forever.” Stephenie Meyer, Breaking Dawn

“Then with a flick of its tail, it boinded into the undergrowth, a streak of gray furn in the sun, and the light swallowed it completely.” Julie Kagawa, The Iron Knight

“I take the plant out of its pot, shake the dirt off the roots, get a good grip, reach my arm back, take one deep breath before I pitch my arm forward, and let go.” Jandy Nelson, The Sky is Everywhere

What are your top ten book beginnings and/or endings?

Top Ten Best / Worst Movie Adaptation

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Hi!  I have to point out that I had a discussion post about this topic a while ago (you can find it here).  I'll try to expand on my previous choices, also this list includes only the movies for which I've read the book AND seen the movie.

BEST

The Hunger Games - It had a few differences (they always do!), but it was very similar to the books and SO good.

New Moon - I actually liked all the movies in the Twilight Saga with the exception of book #1.

Pride and Prejudice - the PBS version with Colin Firth is by favorite :)

Eat Pray Love - Pretty close to the real thing and besides I love Julia Roberts.

Harry Potter series - Again, there are some differences (some major), BUT I was amazed on how it capture the essence of the characters and the setting.  These characters and places came to life on the scree, just as I imagined them to be when I read the books.

WORST

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief - I don't even know where to start on this one, they butchered this movie so bad... I promise that books are really good.

The Spiderwick Chronicles - Not sure they read the same book that I did...

A Walk to Remember - This was my first Nicholas Sparks' read and I cried by eyes out, so good and yet the movie was, hmm, not good.

Beastly - This movie was not horrible, but it really was almost nothing like the book though. 

Twilight - NOT like the book!  It got me reading the series, so I guess it accomplished its purpose. 

I watch a lot of movies, but I haven't read all the books they're based on, such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gone with the Wind, Warm Bodies, Silver Lining Playbook, and so on...

What's in your Top Ten this week? 

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Top Ten Books I Read When I Need Something Light & Fun

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Well, to me this means books that I re-read, even though there are not necessarily "light and fun".  In fact, I don't think I read a lot of those.  I do tend to re-read my favorite parts of some books and I do the same with movies (I can't count how many times I've seen Pretty Women, Notting Hill, You Got Mail or The Proposal!)

1.  Breathe my Abbi Glines - The first book by Glines that I read and is still my favorite. 

2.  Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - One of the funniest books I've ever read!  Honestly, this one is a jewel.

3.  Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa - I know, I know!  I don't think I can have a top 10 without including this series, but I really love it!  I re-read my favorite parts when I need an Ash fix :)

4.  Beastly by Alex Flinn - There is just something about fairy tales that calls to me and this Beauty and the Beast re-telling from the POV of the beast is one of my favorites. 

5.  New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - Although I'm a fan of the series, I re-read New Moon more often.  I just love the part when Bella and Edward re-unite...

6.  Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - I'm a big fan of Quinn's writing and this one is my all-time favorite.  

7.  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - I read this book only late last year, but it has quickly become a favorite.  

8.  Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen - My two favorites by Austen!  I can read these over and over (and watch the movies too!)

9.  Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - I don't know what it is about Lucius that I love so!

10. Just Listen, Along for the Ride and The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - I love Dessen's writing!  These are most definitely NOT light and fun, but they are amazing and I can't get enough of them. 

Hmm... I guess that's more than 10!  Oh, well, I tried.  What's in your Top Ten this week?

Top Ten Books I Read Before I was Blogger

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Hi gorgeous people!  I don't have time to expand a lot about my list today, because "B" has a big project and he needs a lot of help with it.  Needless to say I loved all of these books, some I reviewed in Goodreads and others just live in my memory.

1.  Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2.  The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

3.  Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

Top Ten Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This one is a really TTT because once I started I couldn't stop! My goodness  I can probably make a list that's 50 books long :)  So here we go:

1.  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - I love this historical romance, it's to die for and very 'Austen' like. 

2.  The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa - You know that I have to find a way to have this series in all by TTT posts, right?  I just adore this couple and Ash is just an amazing character.  

3.  Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen -  This book is likely to be in many lists, nonetheless  is still one of my favorite romances of all time.  I also love  Persuasion (had to sneak another book in :)  

4.  Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - Julia Quinn is one of my favorite historical romance authors, this series (seven books long) is amazing, but favorite still remains the story of Colin and Penelope. 

5.  The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Another favorite author is Sarah Dessen, I do not get tired of reading her books.  This one is my favorite, followed by Along for the Ride and Just Listen (the sneakiness continues...)

6.  Breathe by Abbi Glines - Love it!  Jax is probably one of my all-time-to-die-for male characters. Ever.

7.  Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer - This is sweet historical romance, full of heartbreak and deliverance.  I've probably read all of Ms. Spencer's books (she doesn't write anymore) and I adore them all. 

8. Just One Day by Gayle Forman - This is a tricky one, because I consider it a romance, but not much romance happened in the first book of the series.  I know that this will be one of my favorite reads for the rest of my life.

9.  Easy by Tammara Webber - If you haven't read this book, I would have to ask: where have you been?  Really, this is such an amazing book, I can't tell you enough good things about it.  Brilliant!

10.  The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - An incredible tale of loss and first love.  It remains as one of my favorites. 

You know I can't stop at ten, so here are a few more: Anna and the French Kiss, The Fault in Our Stars, Perfect Chemistry, the Return to Paradise, Going Too Far, Jane Eyre, Die for Me, Twilight, ...

What are your favorite romances?

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Top Ten Books I'd Want on a Deserted Island

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

To me, this means a group of books that I re-read many times.  Here's mine: 

1.   The Iron Knight by Julie Kawaga - I love the Iron Fey series and I could read this one over an over and over. 

2.   The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This is my favorite Dessen's  book, love it.

3.   The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - One of my favorite series ever!  It's so good and I'll be content to read this book again and again.

4.   Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - This is my favorite of the Bridgerton series, Penelope and Colin are some of my favorite characters. 

5.   Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - Because everyone needs to laugh!

6.   Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by J.K. Rowling - The amazing ending to an amazing series :)

7.   Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen - This story always puts a smile on my face :)

8.   City of Glass by Cassandra Clare - I read this book at the ending of an incredible series and I was quite happy with it. 

9.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - One of the most beautiful stories ever written, sometimes crying is a good thing.

10. The Bible - No explanation needed, right?

Other contenders might be: The Sky is Everywhere, Pushing the Limits, Perfect Chemistry, Throne of Glass, Sweet Evil, Daughter of Smoke and Bones, Willow, Divergent, Anna and the French Kiss,  and many more (of course!).

What books would you take with you? 

Top Ten Characters I’d Like to Switch Places with for 24 Hours

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This should prove to be a very interesting Top Ten! 

1. Meghan Chase from The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa – Hmm, do I need to explain this one?  Team Ash!

2.  Any character from Gryffindor from the Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling – I would love to be in Hogwarts and at least know Harry and company.

3.  Bella Swan from the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer – I love the Cullens!

4.  Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Who wouldn’t which to be Lizie?

5.  One of the Bridgertons from the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn – Another lovely family, I really wouldn’t mind getting to know the men in this family or to be in one of the Smythe-Smith  recitals :)

6.  Sadie White from Breathe by Abbi Glines – Well, I wouldn’t mid Jax serenading me with my very own song.

7.  Six from the Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore – Six is awesome!  I would love to be able to control the weather, move things with my mind, and fight like a ninja. Getting to know Four is another plus.

8.  Lily from Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan – It would be so exiting to look forward to the next clue and to come up with the next dare.  Also, Lily’s family is so close and supportive.

9.  Anna from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – Not only does Anna get Sr. Clair at the end, but she gets to spend a year in Paris. That, my friends is a win-win.

10. One of the Demi-Gods at Camp Half-Blood from the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan - Wouldn't you love to have special powers and a Greek god for a parent?

What is in your Top Ten this week?

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Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten is hard (or too easy!) as I cannot manage to narrow it down to just ten, so please forgive my cheating : -)

1.  Ash from The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa - Dear reader, if you have visited this blog before you know that I LOVE Ash.  He is handsome, loyal, loving, brave and just pure awesome. 

2.  Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I love Mr. Darcy and how he tried to change and to fix things for Elizabeth, just because he loved her.

3.  Rose from The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - Rose is one awesome protagonist.  She is also loyal and brave. 

4.  Dash and Lilly from Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (told you I was cheating!) - Funniest couple ever!

5.  Harry Potter and Hermaine Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling - Need I say more?

6.  Jax Stone from Breathe by Abbi Glines - So very romantic (*sigh*).  I know is corny, but I just love a take-care-of-me, fall-head-over-heals kind of guy.

7.  Edward Cullen from the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - I just love Edward, I wish Stephenie would have finished Midnight Sun.

8.  Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - What an incredible woman this is!  The inspiration and the catalyst for change, so brave, resourceful and caring.

9.  Hartley Featherstone from Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday - Another funny lady, a bit of an airhead, but with her heart in the right place.

10. Four and Tris from Divergent by Veronica Roth - Another pair of remarkable people that are not afraid to do what's right.

And because I couldn't stop at ten, here are some more:

Vincent from Die for Me by Amy Plum, Tamani from the Wings series by Aprlynne Pike, Sookie Stackhouse from the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris, Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Evie from Supernaturally by Kristen White, and the list could go on and on and on...

What is in your Top Ten this week?

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Top Ten Books I'd Quickly Save If My House Was Going To Be Abducted By Aliens

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish 

 

This is one hard question, because you know that I would love to take ALL my books with me!  Have you seen the movie The Day After Tomorrow?  You know that part where they burn the books to survive the increasing freezing temperatures?, well that part makes me cringe and I told my kids that if something like that happens for real, to please start burning the furniture and leave my books alone!  

Please note that I read a lot of books from the library, so I don’t own a lot of the books that I’ve read.  Also, I excluded series because I can’t choose between the books in a series (like how to choose which Harry Potter or VA or Twilight or Hunger Games or Rot & Ruin or Percy Jackson books I’ll pick!)

1. My Kindle – This is technically not a book, but I have close to a 100 books in it now and I would hate to lose them.

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – I recently finished this book and LOVED it.  It is such a beautiful and heart breaking story. 

3. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This remains my favorite of her books and I would be happy re-reading it again and again.

4. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson – Such a beautifully written book!

5. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen – I would probably try to sneak in the movies as well!

6. Willow by Julia Hoban – I had my doubts when I started reading this book due to the very serious topic, but it ended up being one of my favorites.

7. Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder – The first book I read in verse and it’s a masterpiece!

8. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn – Technically this is a series, but this book remains by far my favorite.  I love Julia Quinn’s books, but if I had to choose I’ll take Penelope and Colin with me.

9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith – I finished this one about a month ago and I still go and re-read my favorite parts!

10. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey – Where is the sequel???  This book definitely deserves one, it is THAT good.

Wow!  I didn’t know that finding stand-alone books would be this hard!  I guess there are too many good series around :)

What is in your Top Ten this week?