Top 10 | Amy C. Shaw

The Top 10 Series I’ve Been Meaning to Start or Continue But Haven’t

June 20, 2017 • 10 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start But Haven’t. Starting a series can definitely be a struggle, but sometimes it’s continuing the series that is the problem! So I created a list of series that I need to start or finish.

Series I’ve Been Meaning to Start

The Lord of the Rings

YES, I KNOW.

Insignia

I bought the ebook of this a good while ago and really need to read it.

Percy Jackson

YES, I KNOW. And I’ve had this ebook for a while as well.

Space Trilogy

I want to read all of C.S. Lewis’s works, though admittedly I have not made a great effort towards this. I hardly ever see this trilogy anywhere, but I definitely want to read it.

These Vicious Masks

I’m sensing a pattern with these ebook acquisitions…

Series I’ve Been Meaning to Continue

For this, I made the criteria be that the next book in the series that I haven’t read yet needs to have been our for more than a year.

Jackaby

I enjoyed the first book, even though I wasn’t expecting the paranormal aspect, and really have wanted to read on.

Gallagher Girls

I’ve read the first two Gallagher Girls books but haven’t made it to #3 yet.

The Selection

I am less and less certain if I really want to continue & finish this series, but part of me kind of does.

Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

When I read the first book, I thought it would feel like a standalone, but it does leave off in a sort of strange spot, clearly setting up for the second book. Since I think of the movie version more though, I haven’t been real motivated to pick up The Restaurant at the End of the Universe though I want to.

The Young Elites

I enjoyed the first book a lot, and then I pretty promptly moved on with my life. So will I read on? We’ll see.

Bonus: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes

I read the first book of this series, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, in college, and didn’t realize it was the beginning of a series. But then my then-boyfriend now husband continued to collect and read the books, and I have yet to continue despite enjoying the first book and knowing how he’s enjoyed the others.

Which series have you been meaning to start or finish?

The Top 10 Books on my Summer TBR + Most Anticipated Releases of 2017

May 30, 2017 • 6 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Last week’s topic that I missed was Summer Reads Freebie, and this week’s topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Books For The Second Half of 2017. So I thought I would sort of combine these two to share my summer TBR and releases I’m anticipating from the latter half of this year.

On my summer TBR…

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (reread)

As I continue my HP reread, I’m very excited to get started on my second favorite book of the series!

Duels and Deceptions by Cindy Anstey

I enjoyed Love, Lies & Spies last year, so I’m looking forward to Anstey’s follow-up!

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

This wasn’t on my spring TBR I don’t know what you’re talking about…

Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal

The way something was handled in the previous Glamourist Histories book makes me not as eager to pick up this one, but I have it so I want to give it a fair shot. Hopefully what happened last time will be redeemed.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

This is one of my many library holds and I’m hoping it’ll come through this summer. My husband and I just started the BBC Sherlock so it’s put me in the mood!

By Your Side by Kasie West

Another library hold I hope will come through soon. I know that this one has been generally less liked than West’s other works, but I still want to read it.

What I’m Anticipating From The Latter Half of This Year

Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill, Coming June 6

I thought All Our Yesterdays was fantastic, so I’m ready to read something new by Cristin!

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo, Coming August 29

It’ll be interesting to read something by Leigh outside of the Grishaverse!

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo, Coming September 26

More Grisha!

Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Coming November 7

Confession: I felt burned by Heartless. I adored The Lunar Chronicles and Heartless was just way too much of a downer for me. I’m cautiously optimistic that Renegades could be better, but I’ll probably try to borrow from the library instead of buying it right away like I did Heartless. But the concept definitely sounds interesting!

What are you planning to read this summer? What releases coming later this year are you anticipating?

My Top 10 Book Covers that Scream Summer

May 2, 2017 • 9 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Cover Theme Freebie. I always anticipate summer, though sadly my vacation this year has been delayed until fall (curse you winter sickness!), but nonetheless, there are many summer-esque covers with which to celebrate the upcoming season. Here’s my list of my favorite covers that scream summer, in no particular order.

1. Lucky in Love by Kasie West

I don’t know why the fair makes me think of summer, especially since around here it’s usually more of a fall affair, but I’m gonna roll with it anyway.

2. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord (hardcover or paperback)

I super love this book and the hardback cover (which I own), but the paperback definitely has a fun summer vibe to it (which isn’t as fitting for the story but I still like it).

3. Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Summer traveling, yes please.

4. Love & Gelato by Jenni Evans Welch

I’ve loved this cover since I first saw it online, but just saw it in person recently and loved it even more. Seriously, just look at the cuteness of the gelato!

5. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

String lights + movies + pool = sounds like a great summer to me!

6. It Started With Goodbye by Christina June

More string light love!

7. The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

I think the only thing that really makes this feel summery other than the name is the bright, saturated colors, but I’ve always been drawn to this cover.

8. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson also has a fun summer cover featuring ice cream (I’m sensing a theme), but I do like this one more.

9. The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee

All these flowers just make me think of spring and summer!

10. Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Dancing on the beach feels pretty quintessential summer to me.

Which of these summer covers are your favorite?

My Top 10 Episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series

April 28, 2017 • 5 Comments

For those of you who have been paying attention, you may wonder, Amy, why are you talking about the original series while watching Deep Space Nine and Voyager? Didn’t you already share your favorite episodes?

As Ezri Dax would say, these are all very good questions.

My husband and I were talking startrek.com’s recent poll results of fans’ favorite top 10 episodes of all of Star Trek. Of course 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 rewatch do my own top 10 of all the series. Let me tell you, I anticipate that will be quite the task.

But I’m taking this one series at a time at the moment, going back to TOS. I’ll share TNG soon, and then will go through the others after I finish the entire series again and have already done my Top 5 episodes of the last season. In descending order…

10. Space Seed

My feelings for this episode are complicated, but it’s an important one in Star Trek lore.

9. The Menagerie

Even though I prefer the original TOS pilot The Cage which features the same story line, this is what we get as part of the official series and the concept is so interesting.

8. The Cloud Miners

The commentary about division of classes in this one makes it a worthwhile watch.

7. The Enterprise Incident

Sneaky spy stuff + a different side to Spock makes this a really solid TOS episode.

6. Mirror, Mirror

The only mirror episode in all of Star Trek that I really like because it was just fun and didn’t get rehashed into weirdness (looking at you DS9 mirror universe).

5. The Naked Time

A fun early episode in which even Spock loses his cool.

4. All Our Yesterdays

A poignant time travel episode.

3. A Piece of the Action

The Star Trek crew get to be gangsters for a day. Just fun.

2. The City on the Edge of Forever

An even MORE poignant time travel story that confronts the idea of letting history run its course no matter the cost.

1. The Trouble with Tribbles

I mean, you know how much I love tribbles. 🙂

What are your top episodes of all three seasons of Star Trek’s original series?

Top 10 Books on My Spring TBR

March 16, 2017 • 2 Comments

(Sorry this is a day late for Top 10 Tuesday, but there’s no rule that I still can’t post this on Wednesday, right? ;))

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR. I always like having these seasonal TBR lists as a guide, even if I don’t always stick with them! Here’s what I plan to read over the next couple of months, in no particular order.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

I started this one today. Don’t you love this cover?!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (reread)

I’ll be enjoying the illustrated edition thanks to my husband! 🙂

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (reread)

Glamour and Glass (The Glamourist Histories #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal

I’m excited to continue The Glamourist Histories after loving Shades of Milk and Honey!

The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron

One of my recent e-book acquisitions I need to read before it becomes forgotten.

Befriend by Scott Sauls

After hearing Scott Sauls on Annie F. Down’s That Sounds Fun podcast I decided to get his latest book.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (reread)

I got this one the same time as I got Befriend and I really want to reread it. It helped me while I was revising my WIP as I explored a subject I don’t have much experience with.

Anne’s House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables #5) by L.M. Montgomery

I have to admit that I didn’t love Anne of Windy Poplars, and I think that has cause me to push off House of Dreams longer than I’ve intended. Anne of the Island was just SO perfect. But Anne and Gilbert FINALLY get married in this, so it has to better than Windy Poplars.

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

Another recent e-book acquisition that I have been curious about for a while!

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

I’ve heard good things about this one, and an adult historical romance feels like a good genre to break through my usual YA fare (though my list is TBR list is actually more varied this time around!).

What are you reading this spring? Have you read any of these?

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