Showing posts with label Top Ten Tuesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Ten Tuesday. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Top Ten Characters Who I Would Totally Want To Be For Halloween

TTTHi, Readers!

       Three days and counting until the spookiest day of the year!  Sometimes when I'm reading, I discover certain characters that I wish I could be.  And what better holiday than Halloween to become somebody else for a night?  This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish blog, challenged bloggers to create a list of the Top Ten Characters Who I Would Totally Want To Be For Halloween.  Here it goes!  By the way, if I've reviewed a book below, its title is linked to the post.

Bast
1. Bast from The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan

Talk about a new take on the classic cat costume!  Bast is the Egyptian Cat Goddess, and she first appears in the novel as an actual cat.  However, I would focus on Bast's human look in my costume by wearing animal prints and applying some killer cat-eye winged eyeliner.



Ophelia
2. Mad Ophelia from Hamlet, by Shakespeare

In my AP English class this year, we read Hamlet and watched three film adaptations.  Each film, specifically the Olivier, Gibson, and Branaugh, interpreted Ophelia's madness in a different manner.  I would create my own take of her insanity by emphasizing the make-up and wearing a mid-century gown.

Isaac
3. Isaac from The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green

The sassy blind side-character from TFIOS would make a quirky and understated Halloween costume.  I would dress like the movie version of Isaac, wearing tinted Ray Bans and a classy grey blazer.  Plus, for dramatic effect, I'd wear a name tag saying, "Hi, my name is... Isaac" so that people wouldn't be bugging me all night about my costume.

Effie Trinket
4. Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

I think I'm somewhat influenced by the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games for this costume, but all of the Capitol fashions inspire me.  Wearing one of Effie's trademark colorful wigs or insane dresses would be the perfect ensemble for a Halloween dance.



Aslan
5. Aslan from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Another kick-butt cat that I'd love to dress up as for Halloween is Aslan.  This king of the jungle is literally the king, and his ferocity is unmatchable, both in the Narnia novels and the movies.  I think that in order to dress up as Aslan, I'd probably just end up dressing up like a lion and then adding sparkles onto my face to seem regal.



Dale
6. Luke from Dream Factory, by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

I guess this would be a good excuse to dress up as an adorable chipmunk for Halloween, and it has the bonus of an interesting back story behind it.  The only downside of this costume is that Luke is not a very well-known character, but maybe this would be a good opportunity to spread the word about my favorite book!



Fairy
7. A fairy from Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull

I'm sure there are tons of people who dress up as fairies for Halloween.  However, Brandon Mull's fairies are special.  They each have a different theme, per say.  For example, there are ice fairies, fire fairies, etc.  Each one looks unique and fantastic.  If I was to dress up as one of these fairies, I would choose an ice fairy because the make-up and costume would be gorgeous.


Patty
8. Patty Farrell from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

This nerdy chic pre-teen is one of my favorite characters in both the books and the movie adaptations of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  From her wrestling to her part in the school play to her tennis playing, Patty comes along with a variety of costumes that are all equally as hilarious.  I would definitely use her movie's trademark braids and bangs in my costume.

Max
9. Max Ride from Maximum Ride, by James Patterson

Max is the perfect combination of hard and soft - an angel who dresses in punk rock clothing.  She certainly demonstrates girl power and toughness.  In order to dress up as Max, I would wear a leather biker jacket and acid wash skinny jeans, but I would complete the look with angel wings.

Olaf
10. Olaf the Snowman from Frozen

Ok, I know Frozen isn't a book, but I have a reason for putting Olaf on the list.  Aside from being my favorite cartoon character, Olaf is adorable.  I saw a little girl dressed up as Olaf at church a couple of days ago, and the cuteness factor was overwhelming.  So therefore, Olaf is the best costume.  Case closed.

I hope that you have enjoyed my Top Ten Characters Who I Would Totally Want To Be For Halloween!  Make sure you comment below with a link to your own TTT list, or leave a comment/suggestion about mine.

Happy Halloween!
Katie

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten TuesdayHi, Readers!

       Now that the temperature is rising and school is drawing to an end, one of the things that I am looking forward to most this summer is kicking back and enjoying some good books.  It seems like my schedule has been so hectic lately that I haven't gotten to read as much as usual, so for this Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the Broke and the Bookish blog, I chose to make a list of the Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR (to be read) List.  Please note that I haven't read any of these books yet, so look for reviews of them coming soon!

1. Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

Still haven't read it, but I reaaaaaally want to.  It will happen eventually.  I'm considering buying the book myself (sorry, library!) because it has received excellent reviews from almost every blog that I follow.

2. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

I've seen this title come up on so many different book review blogs that I should definitely give it a shot.  This book will be perfect for a day at the pool because it's a well-known novel that would make a great conversation starter.

3. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

This book was recommended to me by a trusted blogger, so it must be awesome.  It sounds a little dark, judging by the short description on Goodreads, so I'll save it for a day when I'm bored at home.

4. Vitro, by Jessica Khoury

Although dystopian novels are starting to get a little old, this one has an intriguing plot line that made me instantly add it to my TBR list.  Plus, there's an island on the cover, and that makes me think of tropical vacations.

5. Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders, by Geoff Herbach

After reading Herbach's Stupid Fast and Nothing Special, I know that I have to read all of his books.  Herbach's novels are filled with so much personality and spunk that they literally make me laugh out loud.  What's better for a boring summer day than a hilarious YA novel?

6. The Dollhouse Asylum, by Mary Gray

The cover of this book is positively frightening, but it reminds me a bit of Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld, so of course I have to add it to my summer TBR list.  It looks spooky to me, so it would be perfect for a camping trip.

7. Gorgeous, by Paul Rudnick

Dresses that make an ordinary girl transform into the most beautiful woman alive?  At first, it sounds like a pretty sexist novel, but what else am I supposed to waste my time reading this summer?

8. Red, by Alison Cherry

This book seems like proof that authors are running out of things to write about.  I mean, who would write an entire novel about people who have red hair?  But, its description made me laugh, so therefore I must read it.

9. Geek Girl, by Holly Smale

I guess I'm a sucker for transformation stories, and geek to supermodel piqued my interest.  Plus, this book's cover is absolutely adorable.

10. To All the Boys I've Loved, by Jenny Han

I actually saw an advertisement for this book in a magazine, which means that it could possibly, maybe, sort of become popular.  It seems like the perfect realistic fiction book for the summer.






While I'm at the beach or relaxing this summer, these are the books that I will be reaching for.  What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?  I'd love to hear any suggestions - feel free to leave a comment below.

Happy reading!
Katie

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List

Hi, Readers!

Top Ten Tuesday       I, for one, am a HUGE fan of bucket lists, even though I've never actually completed one.  Lists are great, and having a list of fun things to do in a certain amount of time is even better.  This week's Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is the Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List.  Enjoy!

1. Read an E-book
I'm not sure if I will ever be able to bring myself to do this, but I want to.  I really love feeling a book in my hands when I'm reading and I'm afraid that actual books will disappear in the near future, but maybe I'm missing out on some technological benefit of reading an E-book.

2. Get through the entire Lord of the Rings series
I read the first twenty pages and then fell asleep.  But, the good news is, I own the entire series, so I can take as long as I want to read it.

3. Read a really terrible book
This is a really weird thing to put on a bucket list, but I enjoy practically every book I read, and it would actually be refreshing to find a book that I could love to hate.


4. Have fifty blog followers
Twenty four to go!

5. Read an ARC
A lot of the bloggers that I follow always talk about how they receive books early from publishers and give honest reviews in order to publicize the new releases.  One of my goals is to be able to work my way up to this point.

6. Get my hands on Brandon Mull's newest release, 
Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders
SOOOO excited for this new publication!  I've already got it reserved at the library.  I can't wait!  Brandon Mull's writing is so easy to escape into, from his mythological creatures to his fantastical settings.

7. Reread the Harry Potter books to follow along with Pottermore
Sure, it may take a while, but it will be worth it.  Now that the series and the movies are complete, it would be super cool to reread the books, follow along with Pottermore, and watch the movies all at one time to get the full HP experience.  Plus, it would give me a great reason to rewatch A Very Potter Musical!

8. Finish every book on my bookshelf... (almost there!)
I've got one row of books left to go, along with a few random books I've picked up over time.  It's just so tempting to pick up new releases from the library instead of reading what I already have.

9. Read Ender's Game
I saw the movie before reading the book.  This does not happen in my world.
Must. Read. The. Book. NOW.

10. Join a book club
Due to the fact that I read so much, a book club would be like icing on the cake!

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List.  Please leave a comment and link up with your own TTT list from this week.

Happy reading!
Katie

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Blogger/Reader

Hi, Readers!

       Many of my friends at school are surprised to find out how much I love reading because a lot of teenagers have somehow contracted a "hatred of reading"... However, I absolutely LOVE to be around books, making this week's Top Ten Tuesday perfect for me - the Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Blogger/Reader.  Top Ten Tuesday is a fantastic weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish blog.  I decided to do top five lists about both being a blogger and a reader.

Best Parts About Being a Blogger:
1. Connecting with people around the world
I've read blogs from other continents, such as Europe and South America, and I've received comments from readers in other countries.  Plus, being able to connect with authors is very exciting.


2. Weekly memes
My favorite weekly memes are Top Ten Tuesdays and It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? (Children's and YA edition).  These memes allow bloggers to link up and share thoughts with one another.


3. Reviews with personality
I am a HUGE fan of Cover Snark by A Reader of Fictions blog and other hilarious blog posts.  It is so fun to read honest reviews that are spiced up with jokes and gifs.


4. Reading reviews on books that I've already read
These reviews are entertaining because I can compare my point of view to that of other bloggers.  I especially enjoy reading POVs that I disagree with so I can be outraged about how they hate my favorite parts of books.


5. Discovering new books
My entire to-read list is determined by other bloggers' reviews.  Each time I see a cover that appeals to me, I take a quick skim through the description of the book and the blogger's review and then add it to my list of books to read.


Best Parts About Being a Reader:
1. Becoming somebody else
When I read, I transform into a wizard, a cancer patient, a secret agent, a child genius, a princess, or anybody else that I can dream of (and I'm never thrown into life-threatening situations, which is an added bonus).


2. Improving reading skills
Sure, it sounds lame, but I enjoy becoming a more proficient reader.  Thanks to my skill of speed reading, I can finish my English homework faster than all of my friends!


3. Book to movie experience
Seeing my favorite characters come to life on the big screen is definitely one of the high points about reading.  Plus, I can complain about all of the scenes from the book that the movie left out.


4. Laughing and crying
Books that can make the reader feel something are always the best.  It is amazing how pieces of paper can generate human emotions.


5. Visiting fantasy and dystopian settings
Let's be honest - everybody wants to go to Hogwarts and Narnia, but nobody would ever go to District 12 or the Dauntless Compound.  Because they will never exist, I will have to settle for reading about them 24-7.


       Clearly, I absolutely love to read and blog, and hopefully you do, too.  Feel free to comment below with a link to your TTT list for this week, and if you've enjoyed this post, please follow me on Google Friend Connect. 

Happy reading!
Katie

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist

Top Ten TuesdayHi, Readers!

     Have you ever started reading a book and found out that it was nothing like you'd expected it to be?  Well, this actually just happened to me with the last book that I read, Crap Kingdom, by D.C. Pierson.  I was utterly disappointed at how, well, "crappy" it was. After this horrible reading experience,The Broke and The Bookish Blog's Top Ten Tuesday meme was perfect for me: the Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist.  Here is a list of ten things that I would like to see in the future books that I read, complete with a number of pictures and gifs.

Top Ten Things On My Reading Wishlist:

1. Dystopian setting
The post-apocalyptic and the utopian-gone-wrong settings are my absolute favorites because they make me consider the impossible.  These settings can be found in some of my favorite books, from Rot and Ruin to The Testing to the cliche favorites, The Hunger Games and Divergent.  I especially enjoyed the dystopian setting in Shatter Me, although Juliette is locked up in a cell for most of the book.

The Capitol
The Capitol from The Hunger Games
2. Strong female lead
Give me more characters like Katniss (pre-Mockingjay-breakdown, of course) and Tris Prior.  These awesome girls have empowered millions of teen readers around the country and have proven that females are just as strong as males.  They don't need any help from men to defeat the bad guys.  Keep it up, ladies.


3. Realistic romance
Let's get one thing clear - I am not Team Jacob, nor am I Team Edward.  They are both dumb.  Why are more literary characters (*cough* Bella Swan) spending their time daydreaming about romance when they can actually make a difference in their literary worlds? Ugh.

Disappointment gif

4. Fantasy and magic
Throwing in some magical spells and dragons into a novel can never hurt.
Well, unless it's realistic fiction.

Harry Potter

5. Futuristic technology
I absolutely fell in love with the duel-worlds of real life versus RPG life in Conor Kostick's Epic.  When authors consider how modern day technology will evolve in the future, the novel usually turns out to be good.  However, please note that I cannot stand references to current technology, such as iPhones.  Apple already gets enough advertisement.

Epic
Technology in Epic
6. An average athlete
Sure, coming-of-age novels involving athletes usually have the star player learning a life lesson.  However, I wish there were more novels about realistic, middle-of-the-road athletes navigating the confusing worlds of recruiting and high school sports.

Sheldon playing basketball

7. Humor and wit
Characters with a bit of sass and spunk are instantly more entertaining.  There's nothing wrong with cracking a few jokes along a difficult and life-changing journey.  A.K.A. We need more people like Percy Jackson and Mia Thermopolis.

Percy Jackson

8. Normal character names
Katniss?  Four?  What ever happened to Bob and Sally and other all-American names?  Well, that may be taking it a little too far.  But when every single character name is incomprehensible, I sometimes wish that they were a smidge more ordinary.

That's not my name gif

9. Book to movie potential
A lot of people say that the book is always better than the movie, and I completely agree with that statement.  However, I still enjoy watching my favorite novels come to life on screen, even if the producers' interpretations of novels are different than my own.

Princess Diaries gif

10. Serious controversy
When I read a book, I want to be able to take a side on the book's issue.  No more petty high school drama for me (Yes, I'm talkin' to you, A Match Made in High School), I want serious business.  Bring on the adventure and the excitement, because I don't think I can stand to read one more silly high school romance novel.

Surprised gif


Here's to hoping that you, my reader, are an author who will craft a book especially for me with all ten of these ideas on my wishlist.  However, if you're not an author, please comment with any book suggestions that you may have and make sure to link up your TTT lists as well.

Happy reading!
Katie