Category Archives: Top 10

The Top 10 Books That Surprised Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Books That Surprised Me.

Any time I read a book, I want to love it. But sometimes, for whatever reason, I expect to like but maybe not love a book, but read it for one reason or another. Here are some books I hoped to like, but ended up really loving/liking more than expected!

This week’s list is in no particular order.

1. All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

2. A Dash of Dragon by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski

3. Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

4. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

5. Nora & Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

6. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

7. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

8. The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

9. Let’s All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs

10. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

What books have you read that exceeded your expectations?

The Top Ten Books I Could Re-read Forever

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I Could Re-read Forever. I haven’t done a TTT topic since last JUNE! Time to get back into the game! This week’s list is in no particular order.

1. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

2. Let’s All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs

3. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys

4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

6. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

6. Finding Alice by Melody Carlson

7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

8. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

9. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

10. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What books could you re-read forever? 

My Top 10 Episodes of Star Trek: Voyager

Last year, my husband and I were talking about startrek.com’s poll results of fans’ favorite top 10 episodes of all of Star Trek. I disagreed with some of the episodes and definitely the order, so my husband suggested I create a top 10 list favorite of each series, and then at the end of our current rewatch do my own top 10 of all the series. So now it’s time for Voyager! It’s crazy to think that sometime this year I will be ready to do the Top 10 list of all Star Trek! But for now, Voyager…

10. Caretaker (Season One)

For #10 I’m going with the pilot that sets the entire series up. It’s the best pilot among the different Trek series in my opinion (and I say that with assurance after rewatching the Enterprise pilot and having watched the Discover pilot).

9. Before and After (Season Three)

This is an alternate timeline story that has always just stuck with me.

8. Deadlock (Season Two)

I believe this is the first time Harry Kim dies in the series… poor, Harry Kim… But in all seriousness, this is like the prototype for Year of Hell and is an engaging episode.

7. Eye of the Needle (Season One)

There’s something about the Romulan they meet up with. I don’t know, but I really like this episode where Voyager has their first hope of getting back home.

6. Human Error (Season Seven)

I really like this one because we finally get to see the side of Seven I’ve been wanting more of since Unimatrix Zero (which wasn’t that long before this, honestly).

5. Year of Hell (Season Four)

I used to say this was the best of Voyager, but on my rewatch I was more underwhelmed by the villain. It’s still a standout two-parter for sure, however.

4. Counterpoint (Season Five)

I love the trickery and deceit in this one!

3. Unimatrix Zero (Seasons Six and Seven)

This two-parter concluded season six and ushered in seven with – what else? – BORG.

2. The Killing Game (Season Four)

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for all things WWII, but I love this two-parter where the crew of Voyager believes they’re living in war time when they’re actually stuck on their own holodeck.

1. Bride of Chaotica! (Season Five)

I mean, this episode. A great homage to science fiction and so much fun.

What are your top episodes of Voyager?

 

My Top 10 Books of 2017

I have to admit that 2017 was not my favorite reading year with only two true five-star reads that still don’t quite live up to last year’s five-star reads. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed all 10 of these books very much (all but one are at least 4.5 stars for me), and I enjoyed other books that didn’t make the list, but it was just not a WOW year for books. Of course, last year was the Anne of Green Gables year so of course it rocked. But here are my top 10 books of the year…

10. A Wrinkle in Time

This was my first time to read this classic and I can see why it’s endured. While I didn’t get around to read the second book in 2017, I would like to in 2018. I found the resolution a little predictable, but it was probably not as much of a trope back then as it is now.

9. Rose Under Fire

This book was a tough read but so, so good. It took me a while to get into Code Name Verity but I ultimately appreciated what it did, but I felt like I connected with Rose Under Fire pretty quickly. Would recommend for anyone looking for a compelling WWII story.

8. Take A Bow

Take a Bow follows four students at a performing arts school, and the storyline of two of the four I really adored. Another one I liked and the other was awful, though that was the point, but it did hinder the book from being 5 stars.

7. Love & Gelato

This book was just a lot of fun! Italy! Gelato! Cute romance! Yes, please!

6. All In

While I did really enjoy the conclusion to the Naturals series, it didn’t quite make my Top 10 and it didn’t pack quite as much punch for me as the third book, All In. Just holy cow, JLB.

5. Anne’s House of Dreams

This book was incredibly sweet as we see Anne settle into married life (though I would have liked more Gilbert!). There was also a really sad storyline that took me by surprise, but it was beautifully handled by Montgomery as Anne continues to learn and grow through grief.

4. Shades of Milk and Honey

I devoured this book filled with Jane Austen-esque society, magic, intrigue, and romance.

3. A Dash of DragonOnce upon a time, the authors of this middle grade gem were book bloggers, who occasionally talked about their writing of this book. I was thrilled when I heard it sold and was happy to buy it once released, even if I’m not usually one to read middle grade. This book is just so much fun (though it does have some moments that get a little scary for the main character too)! I’m so excited for the sequel coming out next year!

2. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

I’ve been a fan of Jon Acuff’s books for a while, and his latest is no exception. He explains the secret rules and lies we feel bound by that prevent us from finishing our goals. This would be a great read for anyone wanting to knock out some things in the new year!

1. Better Off Friends

I became an Elizabeth Eulberg fan this year through Better Off Friends. It’s hard for me to find contemporaries that I really connect with, but I have a lot of love for this one. I still don’t love it quite as much as The Start of Me and You, but I think it will remain a favorite YA contemporary for me for a while.

Faves by genre: 5 YA (1 historical, 3 contemporary, 1 thriller), 2 classic/classic children’s, 1 adult, 1 middle-grade, and 1 non-fiction.

What were your favorite reads of 2017?

 

MY TOP 10 EPISODES OF STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE

Several months ago, my husband and I were talking about startrek.com’s poll results of fans’ favorite top 10 episodes of all of Star Trek. I disagreed with some of the episodes and definitely the order, so my husband suggested I create a top 10 list favorite of each series, and then at the end of our current rewatch do my own top 10 of all the series. Since we finished DS9 semi-recently (I dragged my feet a little on this post), it’s time for my Top 10 of all DS9!

My honorable mention placement on this list won’t make sense if you look at my season 2 list, but I just had to go with my gut and what has stuck with me since finishing the series again. Also, my apologies to season 4, which really was fine.

In descending order…

Honorable Mention (yes I’m cheating).The Wire (Season 2)

Garak, Garak, Garak.

10. Duet (Season 1)

A great, twisty season one offering that holds up in the overall canon of DS9 too.

9. Dr. Bashir, I Presume? (Season 5)

The one where we learn Dr. Bashir’s big secret and it changes how we view him as a character.

8. Past Tense (Season 3)

It amazes me how these episodes are still so relevant 22 years after they came out.

7. Extreme Measures (Season 7)

I really enjoy seeing what “extreme measures” Julian is willing to go to in this episode to cure Odo.

6. Badda Bing Badda Bang (Season 7)

All you could really ask for in a heist episode.

5. What You Leave Behind (Season 7)

A fitting and poignant ending for the series.

4. Far Beyond the Stars (Season 6)

So incredibly powerful. Literally everyone should watch this episode.

3. It’s Only a Paper Moon (Season 7)

All the feels, guys. All the feels. I love Nog’s arc so freaking much.

2. Trials and Tribble-ations (Season 5)

The perfect homage to my favorite episode of TOS.

1. In The Pale Moonlight (Season 6)

It was hard to choose between this and the former, but my gut said Pale Moonlight. It is just 100% Deep Space Nine and brilliance and I love it and its complexity.

If you are a fan of DS9, what are your favorite episodes of the series?