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Top Ten Tuesday (#45) (01/28/14)

1/28/2014


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 

Top Ten Worlds I'd Never Want To Live In

This is actually a bit challenging to me.  There are a couple of ways to look at this.  So many books take place in current time, but the characters are dealing with the paranormal, such as the Alice in Zombieland books.  I would never want to live knowing zombies are real, but the world is the same as the one I'm living in.  So I chose to go with more dystopian/apocalyptic worlds, with one glaring exception. 
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent?from_search=true
Divergent (Divergent #1) by


I would never want to be forced into being any one thing.  I would like to think that I was divergent, but who knows.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6969.Emma?from_search=true
Emma by

Yes I know this world actually existed, and Jane Austen was great about showing a slice of life as it really was.  And you know what?  I am SO glad times have changed.  If I was transported to this time, I would be miserable, and at my age, probably dead. I picked Emma, but really you can sub in any Jane Austen book you want.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8525590-wither?from_search=true
Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by

Yikes, I don't know why anyone would want to live in a world where people die so young.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games?from_search=true
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by

I can't think of a single thing that would make me want to live in this world.  Risk being put up for slaughter for years? Starving?  No thanks.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me?from_search=true
Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by

The world that this covers doesn't seem that bad.  We actually don't know much about the world.  Even so, it still seems pretty awful.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10507293-the-selection
The Selection (The Selection #1) by

The world that is set up in The Selection would pretty much be horrible.  That being said, I'm not sure which caste I would have been born into.  I guess that makes all the difference.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7686667-delirium
Delirium (Delirium #1) by

A world without love would be pretty bad indeed.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3432478-the-forest-of-hands-and-teeth
The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1) by

I will say it 1000 times.  I would not, nor do I want to, survive a zombie apocalypse.   Living like the characters do in this series, would make me insane. I pick death, or zombiedom. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7735333-matched
Matched (Matched #1) by

This is another pretty horrible world.  Everything is so regimented and so controlled.  What a nightmare.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10637748-the-pledge
The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by

Yep, this world is pretty bad too.  Risk execution for speaking another language.  Plus a caste system. Nothing good is going on in this world.







Top Ten Tuesday (#44) (01/21/14)

1/21/2014


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 

Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist

(If I could make authors write about these things you would.)


Wow this is really hard.  In general I am pretty happy with the topics that are covered by today's authors.  And honestly, if there was a story that I felt needed to be told, I would be an author myself.  I'm just not that creative.  That being said, I would love more books to be written on certain topics.  All of these in the YA genre of course.


1. Popular girl falls for nerdy boy.  Also reverse it and I'll also be happy.

2. The struggle to find the right college/getting into college.

3. Parents not being supportive about the main characters goals.

4. Switched identities.

5. Falling in love for the first time.

6. Books set during the civil war.

7. The summer between high school and college.

8. Teens in foster care.

9. The Fates/Moirai.

10. Chance encounters and how they change lives.


Top Ten Tuesday (#43) (01/14/14)

1/14/2014



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 

Top Ten Eleven 2014 Debuts I'm Excited For

There are so many I'm excited for that it was impossible for me to limit myself to just 10 of them.  I started with 40, and I just could not narrow it down any further.  I have featured some of my top debuts already on several Waiting on Wednesday posts, so I wanted to feature some of the others that look awesome.  While narrowing this down I only picked books that had covers and descriptions, there are so many more that I can't wait to see the cover of, or learn more about, that did not make the list.  2014 should be a great year for debut authors.

You can check the more top debuts I am looking forward to here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068910-the-art-of-lainey
The Art of Lainey by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18053060-dorothy-must-die
Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17559487-falls-the-shadow
Falls the Shadow by




Landry Park (Landry Park #1) by




The Merciless by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465608-my-last-kiss
My Last Kiss by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13409664-nearly-gone
Nearly Gone by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16081202-open-road-summer
Open Road Summer by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341550-trust-me-i-m-lying
Trust Me, I'm Lying by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465507-the-truth-about-alice
The Truth About Alice by




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18042393-wish-you-were-italian
Wish You Were Italian by

There are few things I like more than a fun contemporary YA romance.  This looks like it will fit the bill perfectly.

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Bloomsbury 








It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/13/14

1/13/2014


This weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of Book Journeys and the kidlit version is hosted by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers. Each week we recap what we’ve read and look at what’s coming up this week.

Finished Reading:

Nothing. I'm so behind in my reading. I think 50 books for the year was too lofty of a goal.

Currently Reading:

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by

And Happiest Baby on the Block.  I know it's not YA, but I need to find something that will stop this baby from screaming during all his waking hours.

 

What I'm Reading Next:

Ashes on the Waves by

I was supposed to start this a couple of weeks ago.  Instead I started Fiery Heart and haven't done much reading.  See above comment about screaming child.



Top Ten Tuesday (#41) (01/07/14)

1/07/2014


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
 
Top Ten Goals/Resolutions For 2014

My life is so different now that I have a newborn.  People tell you that your life will change, and that it's hard, but really there is NOTHING that can prepare you for this.  Particularly because I was lucky enough to end up with a child with major colic.  Good times.  So here are my goals for 2014.  I have no idea how realistic they are, but I am going to give it a try.

Reading/blogging goals:

1. Find time to blog
2. Read at least 50 books
3. Complete at least 4 challenges
4.  Write more book reviews
5. Finish 5 series

Personal Goals

1. When I go back to work, actually work
2. Make and effort to pick up more
3. Spend quality time with my dogs
4. Pre-plan and organize meals
5. Find time for me




2014 Challenges

1/02/2014

I am trying to set realistic goals for this year, I have no idea what I can expect with my reading time, so I am trying not to over extend myself.  That being said, I do enjoy participating in challenges.  Here are the challenges I plan to participate in this year.

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge



I desperately need this challenge.  Every year I commit to reading books that have been sitting on my shelf forever, and almost every year I spectacularly fail.  This year I am going to commit to the Firm Handshake Level and read at least 8 books that are currently sitting on my shelf.  That seems so pathetic, but I really don't want to over-commit.  I may make it extra challenging and pick a book that was published in each of the last 5 years.  More if I can find them!

1.  Forget You by
2.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by
3.  Just Like Fate by
4.  Angel Fever (Angel #3) by
5.  The Book Thief by
6.  Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1)
7.  Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks) by
8.

2014 Debut Author Challenge

http://www.thestorysiren.com/2013/12/2014-debut-author-challenge-sign-ups.html


I was so disappointing in my rate last year.  From September on, my reading paced absolutely tanked.  Because of that, I was not able to get to all the debut authors I had planned.  I really plan to read the minimum 12 this year.

1. The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1) by
2. Open Road Summer by
3. My Last Kiss by
4. When I Was the Greatest by
5. Dear Killer by
6. Something Real by
7. Landry Park (Landry Park #1) by
8. Trust Me, I'm Lying (Trust Me #1) by
9.
10.
11.
12.

 

2014 Goodreads Reading Challenge


2014 Reading Challenge

2014 Reading Challenge
Lisa has read 0 books toward her goal of 50 books.
hide


This will be the biggest challenge to myself.  Last year I set the goal of 100 books, and I made it.  This year, I am trying to be more realistic, and I set my goal at 50.  It may be too many.


2014 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 



Yet another challenge that I really need to accept.  I have so many review book that I requested from both Netgalley and Edelweiss that I MUST read.  I mean I asked for them, and I was approved, I really need to read them and write reviews. For this challenge I am going with the Bronze level of 10 books.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

2014 Audio Book Challenge

http://teresasreadingcorner.com/2014-audio-book-challenge/

I "read" my first audio book last year, I actually really liked it.  I found that audiobooks are great to listen to while taking road trips, cleaning, or really doing anything else.  The lowest level on this one is 6 books.  I am going for the lowest, and I really hope I make it.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

2014 Standalone Reading Challenge


2014 Standalone Reading Challenge
I am really excited for this one.  I get so sick of series and trilogies, and sometimes it feels like I get completely bogged down in them.  The worst is when you read a book and don't realize at first that it's part of a series.  So for this one I have to commit to reading 15 books.  I hope I don't have any problems with it!

1. How to Meet Boys by
2. Now and Forever by
3. Open Road Summer by
4. My Last Kiss by
5. When I Was the Greatest by
6. The Edge of Falling by
7. This Side of Salvation by
8. What I Thought Was True by
9. The Geography of You and Me by
10. Something Real by
11. The Sound of Letting Go by
12. The Lonesome Young by
13.
14.
15.

2014 Series Challenge


I mentioned during the standalone challenge that I get sick of series, and it's true.  I'm also completely guilty of starting series and never finishing them.  For this challenge I am going to try to finish at least 3 series.  Alliegant I have my eye on you!  Update:  turns out this is the category I slayed.  I finished a TON of series in 2014.

1.  Everneath Series by
2.  Shatter Me Series by
3.  Mythos Academy Series by

BONUS!!  I completed this challenge really early, so I'm going to add other series as I finish them

4. Angel Series by
The Selection Series by
Anna and the French Kiss Series by
The Pledge Series by
Between series by
White Rabbit Chronicles Series by
Mara Dyer Series by
His Fair Assassin Series by




2014 TBR Pile Challenge!

http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/

This is pretty much the same as the other TBR challenge I am participating in, however, this one has the bonus challenge of only counting books published before 2013.  Yikes!  The minimum level on this is 12 books.  Wish me luck!

1.  Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
2.  The Book Thief by (read 8/24)
3.  Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by (read 12/13)
4.  Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by
5.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by (read 7/19)
6.  The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by
7.  The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3) by
8.  When It Happens by
9.  The Nature of Jade by
10. The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds #1) by
11. Forget You by (read 7/25)
12. Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1) by

Alternates:
1. Between Shades of Gray by
2. An Abundance of Katherines by

2014 YA Contemporary Challenge!



I love contemporaries, so I almost feel this won't be much of a challenge.  I could be wrong.  So for safety sake, I'm going with Level 2, which is 10+ contemporaries.

1.  Pretty Sly (Pretty Crooked #2) by
2.  Biggest Flirts (Superlatives #1) by
3.  How to Meet Boys by
4.  Open Road Summer by
5.  When I Was the Greatest by
6.  Dear Killer by
7.  The Edge of Falling by
8.  This Side of Salvation by
9.  What I Thought Was True by
10. Now and Forever by


11. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1) by
12. The Lonesome Young by
The Geography of You and Me by