Category: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For

Posted November 25, 2013 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 8 Comments

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

I’m writing this post as I lay sick in bed, so I will admit that I’m having a hard time focusing on things I am thankful for. At the same time, though, I know things could be so much worse than they are. I could be suffering with no cold medicine, no comfortable bed, no TV to keep me entertained, no books to read, and no heat in my home. I have so much to be thankful for!

1. I am thankful for my mom and my sister. We are the Three Musketeers, and we have so much fun together. They are my biggest cheerleaders, my confidants, and my best friends. My mom and I travel together, laugh together, cry together, and are pretty much the same person.

2. I am thankful that I get to live in such a beautiful place! I love Utah, and all my friends and family who live here.

3. I am thankful for all the awesome travel experiences I’ve had throughout my life. Through traveling, I have learned so much about myself, what I am capable of, and how lucky I am. I’ve also learned a lot about culture, language, and what an awesome world we live in.

4. I am thankful for the turn my life has taken this year. I have figured out my life, and I know exactly what I’m going to do with it.

5. I am thankful to be a book blogger! I love everyone I have met through blogging, all the awesome books I have been exposed to, and the opportunities it has provided me. :)

6. I am thankful that I get to teach the 14 and 15-year-old girls at church. They are like my little sisters, and I enjoy getting to know them.

7. I’m thankful for my education. It’s crazy to think about, and I can’t tell you how many times during my first semester of grad school (that I just completed!!) that I wondered what on earth I have done to myself, but there are so many out there who do not have the opportunity to go to school.

8. I’m thankful for music, and the ability I have to connect with it on such a deep level.

9. I’m thankful for my talents of creativity and singing.

10. I’m thankful for my Heavenly Father, and His plan for me.

So, what are YOU thankful for?


Top Ten Books I Would Recommend to My Non-Bookish Little Sister

Posted November 18, 2013 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 11 Comments

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic is a fun one! Initially, I had a hard time deciding who to recommend books to, but then all of a sudden it hit me! My little sister does not really read books. She has a few she enjoys like the Narnia series, Twilight, and The Hunger Games. But other than those, she really does not read much. I’ve been able to talk her into a few books, but not nearly enough. It’s hard having a non-bookish sister! She loves movies, though, so I am hoping to come up with a list of books she will like using the movies and the few books she loves. Oh, and travel. She LOVES traveling.

hg

All Our Yesterdays by Kristin Terrill
One of the reasons my sister loved The Hunger Games so much is the action. She loves the constant heart pounding action. This is action, and dystopia, and some time travel! I think she’d really like it.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
I remember after I read The Hunger Games that I was looking everywhere to find a dystopian novel that was as good. Delirium filled that need for me, and I really loved it.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
The Hunger Games is all about survival in a weird world. So is These Broken Stars! The characters have to beat the odds to survive. My sister also loves Titanic, and this book has a Titanic-ish feel. I think she’d enjoy it!

travel

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
My sister has always wanted to go to London. Why not visit through Meant to Be?

Wanderlove by Kristin Hubbard
My family has been to Belize before, which is one of the places Wanderlove is set in. I loved reading about Belize. I know how unbelievably hot it is there, and I know what it looks like. It made Wanderlove a lot of fun. Plus, the romance is sweet and she loves romance!

Decked with Holly by Marni Bates
My sister is a Christmas maniac, just like I am! Plus, she adores cruising. This book has both!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
My sister LOVES flying. And she loves romance! I just know she would love this story.

disney

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
The Little Mermaid is one of my sister’s very favorite Disney movies. I love this mermaid trilogy, and I think it is just as magical as The Little Mermaid.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinderella is another of my sister’s favorite movies. I think she would adore Cinder, and since she loved The Hunger Games I think she will enjoy this dystopian retelling. Really, she would love the entire series!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anna is Disney-like in the perfect romance. And there’s the Paris thing, which my sister would love. She has always wanted to go to Paris. I think she would have a major thing for St. Clair.

 

So, there you have it! What would you recommend my sister read? She loves romance and kissing and princesses and action.

What person did you choose to recommend books for? I’d love to see what you chose for them to read! Maybe I’ll find something new to pine for. :)


Top Ten Book Covers I Wish I Could to Redesign

Posted November 11, 2013 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 22 Comments

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

I’m a firm believer in the power of an awesome book cover. While we all wish we could place ourselves in the category of those who do not judge books by their covers, we all do it. It might not make us decide whether or not to read a book, but it almost always creates a feeling within that you expect the novel to have. Sometimes this just does not happen. And sometimes… it’s just ugly. Here are the top ten book covers I wish I could redesign.

 

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Meade

She just has this really weird look one her face… and the shadow over her other eye is just weird. *shrug*

Don't Turn Around (PERSEF0NE, #1)

Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

It’s just creepy. And the hand looks weird.

You Are Mine (Mine, #1)

You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

It’s not just this one. I want to redesign all book covers that are just a pretty face and nothing else. Where is the creativity?

Inhuman (Fetch, #1)

Inhuman by Kat Falls

It looks like it’s trying to be Divergent.

Phoenix Overture (Newsoul, #2.5)

Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows

I really, really wish the designers had not decided to give Sam a face. I liked dreaming him up in my own mind, and he looks nothing like this guy. It kind of ruined it for me, and I have been lacking the motivation to read it.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Will someone please tell me why this cover is a good one? It’s boring, and I don’t like how Jodi’s quote is meant to be a part of the design along with John’s prestige-ness.

Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven (Delirium, #0.5, #1.5, #2.5)

Delirium Stories by Lauren Oliver

It looks like a bunch of clip art flowers haphazardly stuck together. Not good.

Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling, #1)

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

The focus is on the legs. Why? I hear so many amazing things bout this series, that the cover of the first one should probably be nice.

Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

I really like the typography, but the girl looks creepy and the dress is really ugly.

Twinmaker (Twinmaker, #1)

Twinmaker by Sean Williams

This cover is just not attractive, and I’m not a fan of the font.

So, how do you feel about these covers? Agree? Disagree? Which ones did you pick?


Top Ten Sequels (or Next Books) I’m Really Excited For!

Posted November 4, 2013 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 19 Comments

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

This week, we get to talk all about sequels (or next book in a series for a few of my picks) we’re excited to get our hands on! I LOVE this topic.

 

 

Of Neptune (Syrena Legacy #3) by Anna Banks
Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo
Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
(I have an ARC of this one, and am DYING to get to it!)
Infinite (Newsoul #3) by Jodi Meadows
Untitled Throne of Glass #3 by Sarah J. Maas
Burning Kingdoms (Internment Chronicles #2) by Lauren DeStefano
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Unforgotten (Unremembered #2) by Jessica Brody
(I have an ARC that’s calling my name!)
Camp Payback (Camp Boyfriend #2) by J.K. Rock
Sinner (Wolves of Mercy Falls #4) by Maggie Stiefvater
(A book about Cole!!! SO EXCITED!!)

I get excited just thinking about these books! Which ones are you looking forward to?


Top Ten Unusual/Beloved Character Names

Posted October 21, 2013 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 19 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

What a fun topic for this week! I have always been a huge fan of names. Growing up, I wanted to have the name Kelly because I loved Kelly on Saved by the Bell. My desire for a new name changed every time I read a book or watched a TV show or movie with a character I liked it. I love names, especially unusual or unique ones! These are some of my favorite unusual names from books I’ve read.

cricket

Basilpeetadash

torafroar

darkling

four

chaolzen

 

It was not until I started making my graphics that I realized these are all male names! I wonder if that has something to do with it… Bahaha. Anyway, let me know which names you picked!