A Top Ten Freebie- My Favorite Couples

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Posted on January 20, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely ladies over there give us book bloggers wonderful and fun topics to create our lists! Check out what others have posted by going over there!

http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com

Today was a Freebie topic, so I looked over past topics that I missed and chose Top Ten Couples!

1. Elizabeth Bennet & Mrs. Darcy– Pride & Prejudice

This is my absolute favorite literary couple. I love the way their love story evolved.

“But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. — Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection.”

2. Kitty & Levin -Anna Karenina

This couple is the perfect balance against Anna and Vronsky

“He could not be mistaken. There were no other eyes like those in the world. There was only one creature in the world who could concentrate for him all the brightness and meaning of life. It was she. It was Kitty.” -Levin

3. Rhett Butler & Scarlett O’Hara– Gone With the Wind

The absolute passion and fireworks that come from theses two is breathtaking. I have to believe that when tomorrow did come, they were together.

Rhett: Don’t start flirting with me. I’m not one of your plantation beauxs. I want more than flirting from you.
Scarlett: What do you want?
Rhett: I’ll tell you, Scarlett O’Hara, if you’ll take that Southern-belle simper off your face. Someday, I want you to say to me the words I heard you say to Ashley Wilkes: ‘I love you!’
Scarlett: That’s something you’ll never hear from me Captain Butler as long as you live.

4. Stu Redman and Frannie Goldsmith – The Stand

“He held her and made her know it was all right without saying anything. He didn’t tell her not to worry or that he would take care of everything, but he made love to her again and she thought that she had never been so happy.”

5. Arwen & Aragorn– The Lord of the Rings

“For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him when he departs to the Havens: for mine is the choice of Luthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter.”

6. Peeta & Katniss– The Hunger Games

“Peeta, how come I never know when you’re having a nightmare?” I say.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I cry out or thrash around or anything. I just come to, paralyzed with terror,” he says.

“You should wake me,” I say, thinking about how I can interrupt his sleep two or three times on a bad night. About how long it can take to calm me down.

“It’s not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you,” he says. “I’m okay once I realize you’re here.”

7-10. Rounding it out with my favorite couples from the Harry Potter series-

Harry & Ginny

“And he knew that at that moment, they understood each other perfectly, and when he told her what he was going to do now, she would not say ‘be careful’ or ‘don’t do it’, but she would accept his decision because she would not have expected anything less of him.”

Ron & Hermione

Hermione came over and sat down in Parvati’s empty chair. She was a bit pink in the face from dancing.
‘Hi,’ said Harry. Ron didn’t say anything.
‘It’s hot, isn’t it?’ said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. ‘Viktor’s just gone to get some drinks.’
Ron gave her a withering look. ‘Viktor?’ he said. ‘Hasn’t he asked you to call him Vicky yet?’
Hermione looked at him in surprise. ‘What’s up with you?’ she said.
‘If you don’t know,’ said Ron scathingly, ‘I’m not going to tell you.’ “

Lily Evans & Severus Snape

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.”

Remus Lupin & Nymphadora Tonks

As Ginny and Hermione moved closer to the rest of the family, Harry had a clear view of the bodies lying next to Fred: Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling.”

I Wish I Could Go There- a Top Ten List

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Posted on October 14, 2014

http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com

This week’s topic is –

Top Ten Places I would love to visit from Books (real or fictional)

1. New Orleans- from almost every Anne Rice book.

2. Rivendell- to hang out at the last homely house with Elrond

3. Hogwarts from the HP series

4. Paris, 1920s- Fitzgerald

5. Pemberley- from Pride & Prejudice

6. Hobbiton from The Lord of the Rings

7. Tara Plantation from Gone With the Wind

8. Italy- really Naples, from Eat, Pray, Love

9. The South of France from Tender is the Night

Where do you wish you could visit?

Bookish (& Not So Bookish) Thoughts

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Posted on April 10, 2014

Bookish & Not So Bookish Thoughts

is a weekly meme hosted by Christine over at Bookishly Boisterous, where we post things that are on our minds. Head over there and check it out!

1. Spring is here! I began running outside again (not pretty to see) and I made up a new playlist, which is pretty awesome. It includes the oldie “Bat out of Hell” by Meatloaf. As I was listening to it this morning, all I could think of was Stu Redman, from The Stand. That would be the perfect song to play, as he is leaving Boulder and Frannie on his way out west. And yes- I have too much time on my hands.

2. She Reads announced that its April Book Club selection is The Storied Life of A.J Fikry, which excited me very much. I requested it a while ago at my library, but had no luck so far, so I downloaded it from Amazon onto my iPad. Within 5 hours, I got an email from the library that it was in. Life’s a bitch.

3. BookRiot ran a great article On The Perils of Feeling Dumb While Reading. This has definitely happened to me- more than once.

4. I grabbed the first Harry Potter while I waited for above mentioned book from library. It was- so nice. I missed the whole HP world so much, it was very difficult to not immediately pick up the next (then the next) book.

5. I am SO excited to go see Cabaret at Studio 54- with Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams this SUnday afternoon. He is one of my FAV actors and I am sure he will be an amazing MC!

Here is a link to him singing Wilkommen.

I tried to put the little you tube screen, like I have seen so many savvy bloggers do- then I realized I don’t know how to do that.

6. I have been watching Glee since it started (even though this year was pretty meh). My daughter (14) was home sick, and asked if we could watch a few episodes from the beginning. Wow- this show was pretty amazing in the beginning. If you have a chance, watch some of the early episodes-though it is so sad to see Finn.

7. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is not good for my health. I am over 40-I can’t stay up so late. But he is SO DAMN FUNNY.

8. I finished The Green Mile last week and I loved it. I am hoping to get the review posted within the week, but until then, know this- you should read it.

9. This sucks.

10. What’s going on with you?? Please leave a comment- I love hearing from you!

Cry Me a River- a Top Ten List

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Posted on February 25, 2014

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Rewind- and I picked Books That Made Me Cry (originally done 11/10)

I tried this topic because it made me think. Usually when someone tells me a book is a really tear jerker, I will shy away from it. Why read something you know is going to make you sad? But here are a few that snuck up on me-

Major Spoiler Alert in each comment

1. & 2 Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince AND The Deathly Hallows.

I was all good until the end of book 6. I recall literally throwing the books across the room. How could Dumbleldore DIE???? I was totally done with the whole thing, then beta reading it from the beginning.

And #7- don’t get me started. Dobby, Fred, Lupin, and Tonks!! By the end, I was numb.

3. The Fault in Our Stars

Ok, kids with cancer is very bad, so it is no surprise that this is a sad book, right? But to see them fall in love, then die a long painful death- too much.

4. The Book Thief

When Death is the narrator, you know people will die, no? But when he describes taking each of them, it got to me.

5. The Giving Tree

Laugh at me if you will, but just try reading it to your child without crying. When she says she has nothing left to give, I lose it. I once choked up while reading it to a class of 2nd graders.

6. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

This was a surprise- I mean, it IS written by James Patterson of Alex Cross fame.

7. My Sister’s Keeper

What an ending!!! I love surprise endings!

8. We Need to Talk About Kevin

I knew all along there was a school “incident”, but I was unrepared for what actually happened at the school, or what happened at their home. A nightmare.

9. Gone With the Wind

Scarlet might not be the nicest woman, but man does she lose all the women closest to her- mother, daughter, best friend. Each of these death’s changes her.

10. Marley & Me

I have a yellow lab named Katie (after Katie Scarlet O’Hara) who is about to turn 11. I love her and her goofy step brother Jack the choc. lab. Like my children. I have had dogs my whole life and I know we are only blessed with them a short time, but that really doesn’t prepare you for the pain that comes when you have to say goodbye to them. Especially if you are there with them, as an owner should be. I am crying just writing this.

The scene where he goes to the vet to put Marley down is one of the saddest things I have ever read. This is one book I cannot reread, because it is too sad for me.

I know- cancer, massacres, etc. I can do, but when the dog dies, I just can’t.

What books made you cry?

Top Ten Resolutions for 2014

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Posted on January 14, 2014

I missed last week’s TTT, so I decided to do it this week. Here are my

Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2014

1. Get Organized.

When I went away last month, I actually sat down for a few hours and wrote out about 8 posts in advance and scheduled them. It was awesome. I have to put time aside each week to do that. Usually I post like I am now, the day I want it out, whenever I grab a few minutes in front of the computer. Too piecemeal.

2. Join up with the Book Blogger Hop that is hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer.

You answer one cool question a week. I can commit to that.

3. Use Better Graphics.

I hear lots of people use Pic Monkey. I went over there and I am still unsure how to use it. I should write this blog in a notebook- that’s how tech savvy I am.

4. Reread Harry Potter.

I have been meaning to do this for a long while. Everytime I say I will, I find about ten new books that I also want to read.

5. Join The Classics Club.

Been meaning to do this too. I need to commit- enough already!

6. Attend BEA?

I am considering attending this year, especially since I can do it in a day trip- I live about 40 miles outside of NYC. I want to, but I am not sure if I should. Are many of you going? I might go if I at least knew a few people that were there.

7. Relax

Not every book I read HAS to get reviewed, right? Sometimes I read just for fun (just got the 20th Stephanie Plum-guilty pleasure). Also, the posting has to be fun-not a chore. If I don’t want to write, I won’t.

8. Increase Followers

I really haven’t actively done much in this area up until now. Any suggestions??

I really have no idea.

That is pretty much it for bookish/blog resolutions.

Top Ten Awesome Names

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Posted on October 22, 2013

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Names I Love or That are Unusual

1. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird-

This name has come to mean ethical, which is perfectly Atticu Finch!

2. (Katie) Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind

Most people do not know that Scarlet is the lass’s middle name- the Irish lovely was named Katie by her Da. The book originally had her named Pansy-um, NO!

3. a tie-

Katniss Everdeen and Haymitch Abernathy from The Hunger Games

I love these names- both old-fashioned, yet strange and strong.

4. Sirius Black from Harry Potter

When we first meet Sirius, he is the ultimate villain, but he is really an AWESOME guy!

5. Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

I loved these books- she was a kick ass heroine. But when I watched the movies in Swedish, I loved how they pronounced her name- with the accent on the second part of the last name.

6. Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s

What a great name- Capote gave her the name Connie Gustafson in early drafts- not cool.

7. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore from Harry Potter

Brian?

8. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter.

When I first read this, I pronounced it totally wrong in my head- up until she tells Viktor Krum how to pronounce it in the 4th book, I still had it wrong. I love this name- Rowling originally had her as Puckle- is that even a name? of was she from The Hunger Games?

9. Gandalf the Grey from The Lord of the Rings

Great name for a great character- in my mind, only the great Ian McCellan could have portrayed him!

10. Huckleberry Finn form The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

A huckleberry is perfect- exactly what you need.

What names do you love?

Please leave a comment- I love hearing from you!!

Top Ten Best/Worst Series Enders

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Posted on October 8, 2013

This week’s topic is-

TOP TEN BEST/WORST SERIES ENDERS

Best Endings

1. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

I love that we know Harry and ginny make out alright in the end.

2. Mockingjay

I liked this because it was a shiny happy ending.

3. The Return of the King

When Frodo takes the boat with Gandalf in the Grey Havens-shivers!

4. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest

Lisbeth lets Blomkvist into her apartment-the end.

Worst Endings

1. 50 Shades of Grey

Hot, Kinky married sex? With a toddler around? Right.

(the following are continuing series that I had to give up)

2. Song of Fire & Ice

I read the first 3 no problem, the 4th dragged terribly, the 5th-got 3 chapters in and had to give up.

3. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

I really liked these books, until I realized after the 5th or 6th, that it was essentially the same story told over and over and over. Enough Precious!

4. James Patterson’s Alex Cross series

Patterson kills me with those 2 page chapters to begin with. This Alex Cross must be super human to overcome all he has. And who would actually take up with this guy? All his ladies wind up tortured/dead!

What series enders do you love/hate?

Top Ten Sequels-sort of…

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Posted on September 24, 2013

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Sequels

Ok- I have to admit to a bit of a struggle- I came up with series-not exactly sequels. While I enjoyed the book, I didn’t think The Chambers of Secrets was the best sequel in the series. Anyway-here is my list-

1. The Harry Potter Series

My favs after the first are probably the third, sixth and seventh.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia

This is an amazing series. I read them in the order in which they were written-it was awesome!

3. The Hunger Games Trilogy

I think Catching Fire might be in my top three of amazing sequels.

4. The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was great- 2nd and 3rd almost seemed like one long book. Lisbeth Sanders is one of my favorite characters in modern literature.

5. The Vampire Lestat

Totally giving away how OLD I am , but I loved this series of books, along with Rice’s Mayfair Witches series.

6. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series

When I first read The Shadow of the Wind, I was in love with that book. The sequel- The Angel’s Game really confused me, but then the third came out-The Prisoner of Heaven-and tied it all together. I really want to go back and read them all together!

7. The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Fellowship of the Rings is wonderful, The Two Towers- a bit slow for me-especially the parts with Frodo and Sam off on their own. But then you get to the third- The Return of The King-and WOW!!!!

Please make this book into a movie! Really?

21 Comments

Posted on September 10, 2013

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Books I Would Like to See Made Into a Movie or TV Show

Hmmm, a strange topic for me, since I usually cringe a little no matter how well the adaptation was.

(yes, even the Harry Potter series-they definitely left stuff out!)

Anyway, in a perfect world, where I had all the power, these are the books I wish would be made into a movie (that haven’t been already)

1. The Shadow of the Wind – I would love to see a really great trilogy here-I can already see the Cemetery of Forgotten Books in my mind!

2. The Paris Wife– Paris in the 1920’s, a young, handsome Hemingway, jazz-oh, yeah.

3. The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat (TV Show)-Please make this a TV show- I never watch TV anymore.

4. The Sandcastle Girls-with someone really hot to play Armen-I see Javier Bardem?

5. The Silmarillion (TV Show)- anyone who has read this knows how epic and sweeping it is-each chapter could be a whole season.

6. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (TV Show)-I loved these characters so much-maybe HBO could do it justice?

7. Bel Canto– I know the real gem here was the lyrical prose, but I think it is also a bit of a love story at heart, and who doesn’t love a love story that ends tragically?

8. The Last Letter From your Lover-again-forbidden love, amnesia, plus I would love to see the Jennifer’s life of privilege- I think this has been optioned to be made into a film!

9. The Bones of Paris– murder, mystery, Paris in the 1920’s again

10. The Double Bind- one of the best endings ever!

(seems like I have a thing for the Roaring 20’s-no?)

What books would you like to see made into a movie or TV show?

Second Fiddle? I think not!!! Top Ten Tuesday!

12 Comments

Posted on August 27, 2013

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters

(this is obviously going to be a bit Potter heavy- sorry)

1. The Weasly Family from the Harry Potter Series

I want to hang with this family SO bad-ok maybe not Percy, but a big yes to each and every one of them!!

2. Haymitch AND Cinna from The Hunger Games series

I LOVE Cinna-the only person in the entire capital that is real.

And Haymitch- oooh, the suffering of watching all those kids die for over 20 years.

3. Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series

When he gets the winning points for the House Cup because he stood up to his friends, I knew he was going to be a great guy!

4. Ceila Foote from The Help

Actually liked her depiction in the movie even more than I liked her character in the book- best part? When she writes the check out to Hilly Two Slice.

5. Rudy Steiner from The Book Thief

He was awesome- that’s all.

6. Mr. Bennet from Pride & Prejudice

Patience of a saint to deal with that wife! Would love to lock myself in a beautiful library also.

7. Melanie Wilkes from Gone With The Wind

I love how Scarlet is just dying to truly hate this woman, but she just can’t- and Melanie can not for the life of her think anything bad about Scarlet.

8. Helen Burns from Jane Eyre

This poor girl- stick up for yourself, dammit!!!

(never knew Elizabeth Taylor played her)

9. Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series

The character I loved to hate the MOST- up until the very end of book 7, that is. What an amazing love he had!

10. Death from The Book Thief

One of my favorite quotes from this book can explain why I loved this character (also a little sad to realize through the trailers that he is NOT in the movie- hmph!)

I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race–that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.