Top 10 | Amy C. Shaw

The Top 10 Books on My Winter TBR List

November 25, 2014 • 29 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR. I am a little less sure of what I plan to read this winter than I have been the past couple of seasons, but here are some I know I want to get to… in no particular order…

Catching Up

1. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

This is my next book club read and I’ve heard positive things, so I’m hoping to enjoy it!

2. In Between by Jenny B. Jones

I downloaded this YA Christian fiction title for either free or cheap a little while ago and would like to read it soon.

3. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

A YA science fiction story I remembered Kelley mentioning, I got a deal for the Nook book on this one as well, but of course I found out five seconds later I could have borrowed the e-book from my library. Fail. But if I enjoy it, then I’ll borrow the sequels! I’m also much more likely to read it now that I own it.

4. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

I’m reading The Prisoner of Azkaban right now, so obviously I want to read the next installment pretty soon.

5. The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith

This is a “risky read” since none of my blogger friends have read it and I think it might be self-published, but it has positive reviews on Goodreads and it sounds SO ME that I had to download it on Nook when I saw it for a good price. Plus the author is local! I hope I end up enjoying it!

6. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

I put this on my Christmas list because, FINE, I GET IT, YOU PEOPLE LOVE IT.

7. Short Stories & Novellas, Possibly Including My True Love Gave to Me, Poison Dance, & This Night So Dark

I am terrible at getting around to reading short stories and novellas, despite my intentions, especially if they are online. But the last two have been on my Nook for a while (and I got them both for free!), and the former I put a hold on with my library. I haven’t read anything by ANY of the authors in My True Love Gave to Me (yes, despite the fact that so many of them are so well-known), so at first I wasn’t very interested, but then I thought, hey, they’re short stories! And if I don’t like how one’s starting, I’ll skip and go to the next one. It might be fun to read some cute, contemporary holiday stories this season.

New Releases Coming Before March 20 (AKA the start of spring)

(Let’s face it, I won’t read all these by then since I don’t get ARC’s, but still…)

8. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Do I need to explain this? I think not.

9. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Did you read Seraphina? If you did, you understand.

10. The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

I really enjoyed the mind games in The Winner’s Curse, so I’m excited for more.

What’s on your winter TBR list?

The Top 10 Star Trek Characters I’d Want With Me on a Deserted Planet

November 23, 2014 • 21 Comments

It’s happened on many an episode of Star Trek… you crash land on a planet and… now what? There are usually dangers involved… generally weird alien life forms… some friendly and some not… and of course you want a top-notch group of folks to help you get through it. I got this idea months ago after doing a Top Ten Tuesday topic on the book characters I would want with me on a deserted island. But when Star Trek characters are involved, it’s got to be a deserted planet! Will we be able to make it home? I think with this crew we can…

This list is in no particular order…

1. Spock

He’s obviously the logical choice. Spock’s intelligence would come very much in handy while on a deserted planet.

2. Ezri

Out of all the characters in all the series of Star Trek, Ezri is the one I feel I could be BFF’s with, so I need her to keep me company on the planet. (Note to Charlene: Do not Google Ezri – it will only end in major spoilers!)

3. Chakotay

The man will build you a bathtub, simply because you miss bathtubs. Or maybe he’ll only do that for Janeway. I don’t know, but his deserted planet building skills would come in handy!

4. Trip

I love Trip’s personality, and he would try to keep the mood upbeat. Also, he should be able to fix our abandoned ship in no time.

5. Scotty

Scotty and Tripp would make a dynamic duo for fixing things, plus I love Scotty’s no-nonsense attitude!

6. Picard

Someone’s gotta be in charge, and I think Picard might be able to handle this situation the best.

7. Troi

It’s easy to become frazzled while on a deserted planet, so Troi’s counseling could come in handy.

8. Dr. Bashir

We need a doctor, and I’m picking Dr. Bashir because he’s my favorite.

9. Data (+Spot)

As an android, Data can do things the rest of us humanoids can’t do. Plus, he’s knowledgeable and entertaining and he has an awesome cat.

10. Phlox

Phlox is… eccentric… but he is also a doctor, plus knows a lot about animals and plants (mostly in terms of medicinal use) that might come in handy. I think he would also help generate a positive attitude on the planet.

Which Star Trek characters would you want to be with you if stranded on a deserted planet?

Top 10 Books I Want to Reread

November 4, 2014 • 29 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is Top Ten Books I Want To Reread. Rereading seems like such a luxury. Like when will I ever have the time to put aside my ever-growing TBR pile and revisit an old book love? But, I want to get better at it in the next year. I doubt I will actually reread all these soon, but maybe in my lifetime. Here’s my list, in no particular order.

1. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I think I am going to try to reread the trilogy before the second Mockingjay movie comes out next year. I hope it really pulls me into the story again as it did the first time.

2. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

I read this back in high school, and I’m really curious if I would like it as much now as I did then.

3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

One of my all-time favorite stories that I really want to revisit via the book.

4. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I like some of these books more than others, but I think I would like to reread all of them again sometime.

5. Rebecca by Daphene de Maurier

I really enjoyed this one in high school and really want to read it again.

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Another read from high school.

7. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

I wanted to reread this book right after I finished it. That’s pretty rare, especially for a book I gave 4.5 (not 5) stars to.

8. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I read this back in middle school! I wanted to reread it before the first of the movies came out, but didn’t. But maybe one day…

9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

And one last read from high school I feel I really ought to revisit.

10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Because I can never get enough of Rudy.

What books do you want to reread?

10 YA Halloween Costumes You Might Want to Try

October 28, 2014 • 19 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is Top Ten Books/Movies To Read Or Watch To Get In The Halloween Spirit OR Top Ten Characters Who I Would Totally Want To Be For Halloween. I don’t usually dress up for Halloween, and when I do, I generally keep it super simple. But I thought it might be fun to compile a list of characters that others might want to try out for Halloween.

Prom/Formal Dress Reuse

America from The Selection

Dress source

If you have a blue, ruffled dress hanging in your closest, you can pretend you’re America participating in The Selection.

Kestrel from The Winner’s Curse

Dress source

Have a dress that resembles Kestrel’s? Then brush up on your Bite and Sting game and strategize for a fantastic Halloween.

Lilac from These Broken Stars

With an emerald or jade gown you pretend to be Lilac on board the Icarus, or if you’re not afraid to, you can rip and tatter the dress for her look once she’s stranded on the planet surface with Tarver.

DIY

Katniss from The Hunger Games, The Girl on Fire dress

Pattern/tutorial source

If you enjoy making your costume, you might enjoy this DIY tutorial for Katniss’ girl on fire dress!

From Your Closet (or Thrift Store)

Katniss in the Arena

Source

There’s a chance you’ve got several of these basics in your closet: boots, khaki or olive green cargo pants, a black top, and a black jacket. Cap it off with a braid and bow, and don’t forget the Mockingjay pin!

Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Costume Theatre Style

Source

Even though The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet isn’t really YA and I’m really pulling from the Youtube series for inspiration, who cares? You can dress in one of Lizzie’s more iconic looks or, for even more fun, sport one of the costume theater outfits!

Deryn (Dylan) Sharp, from Leviathan

Source 1 and 2

For something unique, you might want to try this alternative history/steampunk look of Deryn disguised as a boy airman.

Tris from Divergent

Source

With the simple outfit of pants, tank top, and boots, added with the flair of bird tattoos (though I would advise against permanent ink) you can achieve Tris’ Dauntless look.

Hermione from Harry Potter

If skirts and sweaters are a part of your wardrobe, find some Griffyndor colors and perhaps a robe to add, and suddenly you’re Hermione!

Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles

Source 1 and 2

There are several ways to approach a Cinder outfit, mechanic wear or ball wear or prisoner wear or fugitive wear, showing her cyborg parts through clothing like these leggings or through makeup, etc. And if you dress for the ball, don’t forget the iconic red heel from the cover!

Are you dressing as a YA character for Halloween? If not, which of these would you dress as?

The Top 10 Books On My Fall TBR List

September 23, 2014 • 18 Comments

I read 7 out of 10 books on my summer TBR list! Not too shabby! I also finally read some long-awaited reads like The Screwtape Letters and the first two Harry Potter books, so go me! So now on to the fall list, which its completion will depend partly on whether or not I receive all the books I requested for my birthday. 😉 In no particular order…

1 & 2. Behemoth and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

I know I’m getting Behemoth for my birthday (since I picked it out and then gave it to my husband to give back to me, lol), and will hopefully be getting Goliath as well. I am looking forward to continuing the series after impulsively buying and thus reading Leviathan!

3. Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang

Interested in seeing how this trilogy ends and hoping I remember enough from the first two books!

4. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

I really enjoyed The 5th Wave when I read it back in May, so I’m hoping for a great follow-up!

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

I’ve heard this is the book where the series really picks up, so I’m excited.

6. In The Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo

When I saw the raving review and beautiful illustrations for this book at Oh the Books, I was intrigued, so I put it on my birthday wish list.

7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

This is one I’ve been meaning to read a while, and am hoping to finally do so sometime before the end of the year.

8. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

As many of you know, contemporary is not my go-to. But Courtney Stevens is a local author (in fact, I’ve seen her twice at writing conferences but never spoken to her) and blogger Kayla mentioned a “contemporary Peeta” character, so I’ve been wanting to check this one out.

9. Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

I’ve been interested in reading Free to Fall since finishing Parallel, and since I might see Lauren Miller next month at a book festival, that makes me ready to read this sooner rather than later!

10. It’s Kind of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

I still haven’t completely decided if I want to read this, but it’s about people in a mental hospital, which I think could help me with writing about teens in rehab (where a majority of my WIP takes place). If you’ve read this one I would love to know your thoughts on it to help me decide for sure.

What’s on your fall TBR list?

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