Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I'm Dying to Read!

Keep in mind that naturally I have a very loooooong TBR(to be read) list and it's a challenge to choose only 10 from so many choices. Plus, as a bonified bibliophile I'm always on the lookout for more! So, I'll put my Top 10 choices down of ones that have been on my mind recently.
Remember, if you'd like to read more Top Ten choices or participate in making a list of your own, check out The Broke and the Bookish for yourself.

1. Evermore by Alyson Noel - At times, all it takes is a little background information from the author herself to get you excited about reading a book! The only secret I keep/is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

2. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare - I absolutely love the cover of this book! Plus, it is set in Victorian London and I love that era. Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - I'm sure I'm cheating a bit here because I've read about the first 5 pages already but I haven't had time to immerse myself in this book yet. I'm dying to see how things will end and I have to admit I'm a bit afraid of how it will turn out too. Whereas Katniss kills with finesse, Collins writes with raw power. -Time Magazine

4. Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alyson McGhee - I enjoy reading her books and so do my children. This fun new book is a collaborative effort and should come out later this month but it may take some time to get my hands on one. Funny, ebullient ... two friends, three adventures.

5. Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd - I've been hearing all sorts of great things about this book! As you know, I love Jane Austenish stuff so this is right up my alley. This is a superb retelling of the Jane Austen novel in which the house at Mansfield Park becomes the scene of one murder after another.

6. The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason F. Wright - After I heard Jason F. Wright speak once at Time Out for Women, I've been a fan of his books. I look forward to this one! To the teachers who believed.

7. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - I know very little about this book but I like the premise and the fact they collaborated to write it. So cool! In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

8. Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey - I'm always so excited to start a new year of reading in a local Classics Book Group I attend. This is the first book choice of 2011. I happen to like Westerns once in a while and this seems like pure classic. Perhaps more than any other novel, contributed to the concept of the American West.

9. Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamed - This book will most likely take me a long time to read but I hope that it will be very interesting. With penetrating insights for today, this history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s presents unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the twentieth century.

10. Sophie Scholl and the White Rose by Annette Dumbach, Jud Newborn - Ever since I read The Silenced by James DeVita I have been interested about Sophie Scholl. I haven't found the time to read this version of her story yet and I'd like to. "We will not be silent! We are your bad conscience!" they exhorted the German people to stand up and fight for freedom.

Let me know what books have been on your mind and what you've been dying to read in your comment! Too bad, making and finding time to read all I want can be a complex project of itself but I'm content to keep trying! Eventually, I'll make progress, read and learn something in the process which makes all the difference. Reading is so worthwhile.

Also, if you're interested in book blogs like I am be sure to check out Book Blogger Appreciation Week going on this week! You'll find lots to read from these amazing book bloggers and enjoy reading their blogs in the process. Be warned: reading book blogs can become addictive! ;)

What do I WANT NOW? This Wednesday...

I saw this on Bookworm Barista's blog and I thought it was so cute. I decided that I would play along and I hope that it is alright to do so (margo, won't you please let me know if I'm not supposed to). Basically, I tell about a book that I WANT NOW and since that is not hard for me to do I think it will be fun!

Here's what I WANT NOW:

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins

I'm sure some may already have it and have read it too. Although, it's not due to come out until Sept. 1st. I'm trying not to look too hard about this book so that I won't read anything to spoil it when I'm able to read it but I can't wait! Even after it comes out, who knows when I'll be able to get it but I'll try. I did read her first book and it was so well done that I'm looking forward to this one! I'd really like to know what happens next and to continue reading about some of my favorite characters from Book #1 "The Hunger Games" so if you haven't read her first book yet you may want to pick it up soon!

Time for Teaser Tuesdays

Owwh, I almost forget it's time for Teaser Tuesdays!


Introduced to me by Bookworm Barista and Happy 100th post to you!
Hosted by Should be reading - Thanks!

Here's how Teaser Tuesdays work:
Grab what you're currently reading. Open to a random page. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from anywhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (be sure that what you share doesn't give to much away, you don't want to ruin the book for others.) Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR (to be read list).

Here's my teaser:

In the picture, Clare is about eight years old, her hands are lifted to chin-level and open in a way that meant they'd just been cupped, and she's staring upward as though amazed, and her mother is next to her, looking not upward, but at Clare's face and, striking as Viviana is, her expression is the really beautiful thing in the picture. It's that loving.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos, pg. 163

Teaser Tuesdays

Last week, I noticed this on Bookworm Barista's blog and it looked fun. So, when I noticed it today I thought I'd like to play along since anyone can. It is hosted by Should Be Reading.


Here's how Teaser Tuesdays work:
1.Grab what you're currently reading.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from anywhere on that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(be sure that what you share doesn't give to much away, you don't want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR (to be read list).

Here's mine:

I open my eyes. My head feels heavy on the pillow.

(pg 129)

From: Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

Library - Under my Bed?!

Recently, I was talking with my mother about books, which we often do, and I was mentioning that I really missed having bookshelves in my house. I hadn't been able to get any and I want ones that are skinnier so that they blend into the wall so as not to take up much room. I guess I'd really like them built in. I know I'm probably being too picky, I'm sure, but I like an open, clean look around my house - although you'd never guess that if you saw my house right now but anyway... She gave me a great idea!
My mom has dubbed herself the "Paperback Queen" and she has a lot of paperbacks! Anyway, she has used ordinary boxes and cut them to size to fit under her bed. She has filled them with books and she reads all of them eventually! She told me once that she has read as many as 25 books in a month!
This is really incredible for her as she became overlooked in school and she didn't really learn to read until she was in the 5th grade! She said school was so challenging for her until she learned to read! Reading was something magical and incredible to her and she conveyed that to us as children, I believe. I remember when I was young, she always stressed reading and she made sure that I knew how to read. She took us to the library often. Reading and gaining education, even a self-education, was so important to her even though she doesn't have a college degree. I think she helped me realize this and I am so thankful to her for that.
She buys all of her books on sale or at thrift stores like I do as well. It's become sort of a hobby - collecting books and we share what we read often. When I go visit her, I take some of my books for her to borrow and she gives me some too. It's been fun to do this!
So, now I've been cutting up boxes and organizing all my books. I've enjoyed this little task and so now I have a library under my bed. Perhaps, I'll sleep better now. Anything you'd like to check out? You're welcome to it!

Just for fun, here's a funny little blog post out of UK that is sort of about Heathcliff, one of the classic characters from Wuthering Heights that I'll never forget:
Look!

Clean Reads

If you're looking for good, clean reading check these sites out:

http://cleanreads.blogspot.com/

http://goodcleanreads.blogspot.com/

I know you might find these sites interesting at least. Have fun!

Don't forget that I post all of my book reviews on 5-squared!

Reading Challenges

I was inspired by all the reading challenges that my friend, Amanda, is doing. I haven't been involved in this before either. So, I searched the web to find some that would fit best with me. I found them, amazingly enough, and I posted them in my side bar as links.

I've decided to join "My Friend Amy's Buy one book and read it!" challenge for 2009! I do love to buy books once in a while because I can't help browsing through the book racks anywhere I go. While I was shopping for some Christmas books to give, I bought Mozart by Peter Gay for myself as a Christmas gift. I've always wanted to learn a bit about Mozart's life so I thought this looked good. I'd like to do that one for the challenge.
I was also interested in the LOST book reading challenge also hosted on Amy's site but it is well-underway, so I'll have to try that another time. Besides, the new LOST season will be starting soon, right?

Another challenge that I joined is called "Read your Name Challenge: 2009" hosted by Victoria (a.k.a. Phantom Inkheart)The basis of this challenge is to read your name in book title first letters an at the end you'll spell out your name. I'm planing on using my first name 'Julie.' Here's the ideas I have for books I'd like to read so far:

J: Jungle, The by Upton Sinclair

U:Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

L: Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

I: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

E:e by Matt Beaumont

If all goes well with my reading than I should reach my goal this year for 25 books with possibly reaching as many as 3o. I'm going to aim for 25 first! Be sure to read all my reviews on 5-squared. Most of all, I'm going to have fun reading!