Top Ten Tuesday: Rewind!

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

This week's list is a rewind post. We're able to pick a previous TTT topic and create our list or add more to it if we've done it before. I missed the boat on the bookish confessions week awhile back so I've decided to come up with ten confessions for you all!

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating in this week's rewind!

1. I didn't have time to finish the copy of A Discovery of Witches that I got from my local library and since it was so popular there were a bazillion holds on it and I couldn't renew it. So, I did what any book lover would do and I bought a kobo and the ebook copy of the novel. (I was planning on buying a kobo anyway. I swear.)

2. I sometimes have problems lending people books. Especially if I haven't read them yet myself. How am I supposed to trust someone else to be completely anal about my book and not hurt it? I once had a friend who folded the covers back on my paperback books *shudder*

3. I judge others by what they read. This is especially awkward when I'm judging based on Twilight or Fifty Shades as I have read them. But if people honestly think those are the greatest novels ever written then I'm going to go ahead and judge them. Hey, I'm all for an entertaining story but I can't agree with those folks when I know there are MUCH better books out there in the world.

4. I have to refrain from being overeager and totally nerdy when talking about books with people (you know, those real life friends you have that just don't quite get this whole blogging about books thing). I could honestly talk about books all day but I realize that makes me seem a bit crazy in the real world so I tone it down. A bit. 

5. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at work the Monday after it was released. Six of the eight hours I was there were spent reading. My sister did the midnight line up thing and read the book over the weekend. I saved it for Monday when I knew I'd be alone in the store I was working at and could read all day. Summer's best employee, right here. 

6. I have yet to finish the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's something that I would like, I know, but I just haven't done it. And honestly? I probably won't ever get around to it.

7. I have four library cards. And they used to all be in my wallet, too. Only two of them are still active - the one from my home town and the one for the city I currently live in. 

8. I also haven't read a ton of those classics that everyone's supposed to read. You know, Jane Eyre, 1984, Catch 22, Animal Farm, and so on. I HAVE read Catcher in the Rye though. Actually, this is kind of a two part confessions: I borrowed the copy my best friend was reading for her grade twelve (eleven?) English class because I wanted to read it and my class didn't get to. 

9. I have probably close to 100 books on my shelves (real and electronic) that I need to read. Another two parter: some of those books were purchased when I still worked at Coles. I know that one in particular was bought three years ago. Yeah. I've got a problem.

10. Finally, I also judge people who don't like to read. Or say they "can't find the time" to read. I. Just. Don't. Get. It. 

So, now that you all know that I'm a judgemental, crazy, obsessed reader...what are some of your bookish confessions?

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Haven't Finished

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

This week's list is all about the series that we haven't finished. I'm the kind of person who usually always finishes a series so I didn't know how easy it would be to come up with ten that I hadn't finished. As it turns out, there are a few (yes, ten) that I haven't finished! 

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

In no particular order...

Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Yep. Haven't finished this one. I read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring way back when I was in high school and I haven't really had any desire to finish the other two. Not too sure why as I remember enjoying the books and I usually like fantasy. 

Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan

I'm cheating a bit here as I haven't even technically started this series. This is the same world as in the Percy Jackson series but different characters and, I think, it takes place a few years after the last Percy book. I've been waiting for all of them to be released before diving in because I don't want to wait!

Katie Chandler - Shanna Swendson

I adored Enchanted Inc. and the four books that followed. The last book in the series came out in 2008 and I was so sad as I felt like there was more to come. Cue major excitement when I learned that Much Ado About Magic, the next book in the series, has been released! Can't wait to dive in.

Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

Yet another fantasy series that I enjoyed but just never got around to finishing. I read the first few when I was in elementary school and then stopped reading them. I'm just now realizing that it may have been due to Harry Potter becoming popular...

Stephanie Plum - Janet Evanovich

Technically I'm just behind one book on this series. And it's not because I dislike it (though they're really not literary masterpieces by any means). It has more to do with the fact that I don't want to buy these books and I haven't gotten around to requesting it from my library nor have I snagged my best friend's mom's copy (a little more difficult now that she's over two hours away from me). I'll get around to it one of these days.

The Mediator - Meg Cabot

This was a series that I really enjoyed when I was in high school. I think I stopped reading them just because I grew out of it. A really enjoyable series though and, if I remember correctly, they've now been rereleased with new (and better) covers so teens now can get into them. Tell your resident teenager to read these ones!

Gossip Girl - Cecily von Ziegesar

This is another series that I grew out of. My sister borrowed the first few from a friend when I was in high school (judging from the release date I would have been in grade 10) and we devoured them during the summer. Then...I just stopped reading them. And no, I haven't watched the TV show.

Georgia Nicholson - Louise Rennison

Oh, Georgia. I freaking loved her when I was in high school. One of my best friend's, her sister, and I read every single one of these books and would often shout out the most ridiculous things because of the series. In fact, I was just at a bachelorette party the other weekend and busted out the phrase "cosmic horn." Obviously we haven't matured in 10 years :) Another series I'd highly recommend to teen girls. Now, to find the last couple of books I never read...

The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

Yet another series I got a bit too old for (I know you're never too old to read YA but when the final books in a series come out when you're in university and busy reading textbooks and books geared to your age group these ones kind of fall by the wayside). I love love love the movie and, quite honestly, never loved the books as much. Probably another reason I never finished it, even though I believe my sister owns every book.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls - Maggie Stiefvater

Finally, a series that I didn't finish because I just plain disliked it. Actually, I never even finished the first book, Shiver, that's how much I didn't like it. And I only just found out that the series is called The Wolves of Mercy Falls. How's that for not caring?

Are there any series that you haven't finished? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish People I Want To Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

This week we're to come up with ten bookish people we want to meet. They could be authors, bloggers, and the like. I decided to split my list into the two (since I couldn't think of any other bookish people I'd like to meet! haha).

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

Authors (in no particular order)

1. Jane Austen

I think this is a no-brainer for me. I figure if I have the power to meet anyone, I also have the power to bring people back from the dead! I love Austen's work and I'd love to be able to talk to her about what it was like to live and write when she did. 

2. J.K. Rowling

Another no-brainer. Rowling is the author of one of the best series ever and it would be so awesome to just be able to talk to her about her life and how it changed after publishing Harry Potter.

3. Emily Giffin 

I actually just recently "met" Emily when she was in Toronto but she seems like so much fun and I'd love to hang out with her for the day.

4. Sarah Dessen

Again, I did get the chance to meet Sarah when she was in Toronto last September. That was when I realized how much we had in common. I love reading her blog and think it'd be great to hang out at the beach with her - her favourite place. 

5. Cat Lavoie author of Breaking the Rules

I recently read Cat's debut novel and also had the chance to interview her. Not only did she write a kick ass book but it turns out we have a lot in common. We live in the same country so it shouldn't be too difficult to pop over to Montreal to share a good chat over cupcakes!

Bloggers (in no particular order)

1. Samantha from Chick Lit Plus 

I'm cheating a bit since Samantha is also an author :) Samantha's been a great help to me since I started my blog. If I have a question she never hesitates in answering it for me. We've had several entertaining email exchanges and I'd love to meet this fabulous lady in person!

2. Liz and Lisa from Chick Lit is Not Dead 

Another author/blogger pair! I think it would be so cool to meet them and have a drink or two and chat about the chick lit genre.

3. Laura from Change the Word

Laura and I have similar tastes in books. Most important is our love of the Little House series. Laura has actually been to Laurapalooza - which sounds amazing. I'd love to buy her a drink to thank her for the bookmark and pen she picked up for me while she was there and then chat books - and sports!

4. Lindsay from Turning the Pages

Lindsay and I read a lot of the same books and we've recently been messaging back and forth about various things and books. And - this is the awesome part - I will actually be meeting her tonight! We're off to the same bookish event in Toronto and will finally meet in person! Yay!

5. Amy from Chick Lit Central

Really, any of the ladies from CLC would be great to meet but Amy's always first to retweet one of my reviews or mention any giveaways I do. She's incredibly supportive to everyone in the book blogging world. She deserves a chocolate cupcake for all she does (two of her favourite things) and I'd love to be able to give her one in person!

Wow. I didn't realize how easy that would be. There are soooo many other bookish people I'd like to meet! How about you? What author would you LOVE to be able to meet in person?

Top Ten Tuesday - A Reflection of Me!

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

This week's list is "Top Ten Posts On Your Blog That Would Give The BEST Picture of YOU". It's a mouthful, but basically I've picked ten of my previous posts that really give you, the reader, a glimpse into my life. They won't necessarily be focusing on my reading tastes but there might be a little story or revelation in the post or review that really shows what I'm like. All titles link to the original post and the order is chronological, not which ones I liked most. Hopefully you all like what you read :)

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

1. Finding Something New

This post was about my new tv show obsession: Being Erica. This is notable because it's a Canadian show and I take great pride in being Canadian. I love (or at least can appreciate) anything that's from my country. We're so inundated with American media that it's great when something stands out that's came from us. I think this is a very underrated show and I hope many more people discover it and become hooked on it like I did!

2. Goodbye Retail, Hello Real Life

I chose this one because it was written at a time when I was making a change in my life - no more part time retail job! In this post I reflected on what I actually enjoyed about that job. I talked about the best parts about working in a bookstore and what I was going to miss. 

3. Vacation Reads Challenge: Scotland by Starlight

This one was less about the review and more about the fact that the book took place in Scotland. I have fairly recent ancestors that came from Scotland and I have a very iconic Scottish last name so it was awesome to read a series that took place in that country. And no, I haven't been able to travel there yet. Someday!

4. Just Finished: Sisterhood Everlasting

I picked this review because it signaled the end of an amazing series. I love the Traveling Pants girls. Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget grew up together and I'm not close to any of my "best friends" from when I was really young so I was always envious of their friendship. 

5. Vacation Reads Challenge: The Perfect Man
This one got chosen because this review helped my grandma decide to send my sister and I on a cruise. Yep. My grandma is pretty wicked awesome. The main characters in this book were sisters and went on a cruise together. I mentioned in the review that my sister had thought about working on a cruise ship but had never actually been on one. Cue my overly generous grandmother gifting us with a vacation and we were off on a four day cruise to the Bahamas and three days in Universal a few months later. (Bonus post: a wrap up of my trip with some of the highlights and some pics!)

6. Sarah Dessen Rocks my World
I have mentioned multiple times on this blog that Sarah Dessen is my favourite author. This posts details the experience I had when I got to see her last September. I actually won a contest and my best friend and I got to meet her. It was awesome. (Fun fact: I found out about the above vacation and winning this contest in the same evening. I was sure I was going to pass out from the excitement.)

7. My New Obsession: The Hunger Games
You know when you read a book or series and are just so incredibly into it that you don't want to leave that world? Yeah, that was the Hunger Games series for me. I had what some people call a "book hangover" where I could not think about wanting to start a new book. I loved them that much.

8. Just Finished: Forgotten
It was difficult for me to pick which Catherine McKenzie post to share but I think my review of Forgotten was my favourite. I love all her books and was particularly proud of this review.

9. All Hail the Queens of Chick Lit
May is International Chick Lit month so I decided to write a post all about my favourite chick lit authors. Emily Giffin and Sophie Kinsella feature heavily.

10. Just Finished: The Tall Book
I am tall. 6' to be exact. So when I found out there was a book all about my people, I had to read it. I loved it and it was so much fun to learn tidbits about tall folk.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Boyfriends

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

This week's list is a freebie so I decided to come up with my ten book boyfriends. Unfamiliar with the term "book boyfriend"? It's exactly what you think it is - fictional characters that I have a crush on. I'm not crazy, promise. There's actually been a "fictional crush" top ten a couple of years ago and you can still see that post here. I find it a little bit surprising that a lot of the guys on this list are from YA novels. I'm definitely not in YA territory any more (at least when it comes to the genre as, at 25, I'm technically a young adult...at least...I think I still am...am I supposed to be a real adult now? Yikes.) Also, there seem to be a lot of characters who have been portrayed on the big screen...which is kind of odd, don't you think? I definitely didn't do that on purpose! Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating and to read Jana's Top Ten OCD Bookish Habits - hilarious!

Here we go...

1. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I feel like this speaks for itself. It also doesn't hurt that Darcy has been portrayed on the big screen by some very yummy actors. Dark, broody, dripping wet...sorry...got distracted... :) Oh, and that proposal scene in the 2005 version? "If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you." Sa-woon.

Elliot Cowan (2008) and Matthew Macfadyen (2005)

2. Marcus from the Jessica Darling series. I think Marcus was my first bad boy literary crush. Jessica was such a...well...if you didn't know her you'd call her a goody goody so it's hard to picture her with Marcus. Over the course of the series we get to see both Marcus and Jessica evolve, change, and grow which is one of the reasons I loved this series.

3. Dex from This Lullaby. I have to admit that it's been ages since I read this book and I can't remember specifics about Dex but I remember loving him so that's just going to have to be enough :)

4. Ron from the Harry Potter series. Who doesn't love Harry's ginger haired friend? I always thought he'd be so much fun to hang out with. Hermione is one lucky gal.

5. Jacob from the Twilight series. Don't judge. Those of you who have read this series are either Team Jacob or Team Edward, don't try to lie :) I always thought that Edward was too controlling and that was frustrating to me. Jacob was more laid back. Plus, the getting really tall and built when he becomes a werewolf doesn't hurt either. Sparkling vampires don't do anything for me!

6. Ethan from Something Borrowedand Something Blue. Again, it's been ages since I've read these books but he always seemed like the best guy to hook up with in this series. Add in the fact that he was played by John Krasinski in the recent movie and I'm completely sold. 

7. Peeta from the Hunger Games series. Yes, I was totally Team Peeta when I was reading Suzanne Collins' series. Gale was alright and all but he was too hot headed and angry for me. Peeta was a little...well, sweeter (as sweet as you can be when you're literally fighting to the death) and I liked that.

8. Forrest from  Go Small or Go Home. Forrest is an extremely attractive hockey player. I don't think any further explanation is needed - particularly to my Canadian readers.

9. Noah from The Notebook. Ok, I admit, this one probably has a lot to do with Ryan Gosling playing Noah in the 2004 movie. Noah was one of Sparks' heroes who was sweet but rough around the edges. He wrote Allie a letter every day for a year. Um. Sold. (PS I have no idea if that's actually in the book...I read the novel almost 10 years ago)

10. Jack from Bed of Roses. It was tough to pick one guy from the Bride Quartet series but Jack stood out for me because he was one of the guys who worked with his hands. I don't know why that made such a difference to me but it did. He was more take charge than, say, Carter (from Vision In White) but wasn't as controlling and protective as Delaney (Savor the Moment) or as hotheaded as Malcolm (Happy Ever After). Jack isn't the only Nora Roberts hero who works on houses - I love all the brothers in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy too!

And there you have it - ten male characters who I would love to date in real life. But, they're fictional so the boyfriend doesn't have anything to worry about! :)

Who would you choose as your literary crush? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday: On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. This week we're to list the top ten books on our summer to be read list. This will kind of be an extension of a recent list, Neglected Books. And by the way, I admit that I kind of did that week wrong. I had it written down as a freebie week but it was really a week to redo a previous week. Ah well. :) Some of these books are ones that I've been waiting for, others have been waiting for me, and still others I don't even own yet (and I shouldn't buy those as my shelves are overflowing). Let's hope I get through all of these this summer! :) Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

1. Shadow of Night - Deb Harkness
Without a doubt this is the book I am must excited about this summer. It's the next instalment in the All Souls Trilogy that started with A Discovery of Witches which I LOVED and you can read my review here if you missed it :) And extra awesomeness - I *just* got a NetGalley copy of this book and I am SO EXCITED!

2. Where We Belong - Emily Giffin
Coming in at a close second is Emily Giffin's latest novel. I love love love her books and I can't wait to see what the next one will be like.

3. The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service - Beth Kendrick
I've mentioned numerous times that I adore Beth Kendrick so I'm looking forward to being able to read her new one...once I buy it...

4. The Last Boyfriend - Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts is my romance guilty pleasure author. Her books are light and sweet and I'm really looking forward to the second book in the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy!

5.  A Life That Fits - Heather Wardell
I've been working my way through Heather's works and I'm almost caught up. I'm hoping to get this one finished so I can get my way to her latest which I'm really excited for!

6. The Singles - Meredith Goldstein
Is there a better time than summer to read a book that features weddings? I didn't think so. Plus I've heard amazing things about this one so I'm really excited about it.

7. Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
One of the two Austen books I have yet to read. It's definitely not "light" reading but I really need to finish reading Austen's novels!

8. The Wedding Beat - Devan Sipher
See #6.

9. I Couldn't Love You More - Jillian Medoff
I've got this to review for the 21st and I'm really excited about it because it's supposed to be amazing. (Jennifer Weiner has been tweeting and talking about it for weeks). And bonus - for some reason the publisher sent me two copies so you will see Books Etc.'s first giveaway in the future...

10. The Meryl Streep Movie Club - Mia March
This one's been getting a lot of good buzz and since I'm a Meryl Streep fan I think this book will be pretty interesting! I loved Friday Night Knitting Club and the movie of The Jane Austen Book Club and since this book is compared to those I think it'll be a winner! (PS those are two very awkward sentences but my brain is tired so please excuse me :) hehe)

Hm. It appears I have a long list...better get reading! What books are on your summer to be read list?

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Good Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. This week's list contains ten books I think would be great beach reads. I chose some of them because they take place at the beach, some because the story occurs during the summer, and others because they feature traveling. It's an interesting compilation and I hope some others' favourites are on here as well - and that you might find a new favourite! Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

1. Anything by Sarah Dessen
Almost all of her books take place in Colby - a sweet little beach town that I'd love to visit. Or maybe all of them do...can't quite remember. I've been reading her books for so long it's hard to keep track! My favourites are This Lullaby and Along for the Ride.

2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
Friends, summer, traveling pants. Need I say more?

3. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Along the same lines as the Sisterhood, this series follows three unlikely friends as they deal with boys, parents, summer jobs, and life in general while spending the summer on a peach farm in Georgia.

4. The Queen of Babble series by Meg Cabot
Lizzie is so hilarious and this is a light hearted and excellent series that's great for the beach.

5. What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte
I read this one while on a cruise and I thought it was a perfect time to be reading it. Therefore, I think it would work well for a beach read!

6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
I loved this book (and the sequel) and Ginny's traveling story lends itself well to the beach!

7. Spin by Catherine McKenzie
The main character, a journalist, goes undercover at a rehab facility to get the scoop on a celebrity. A fabulous book!

8. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
I love this movie and I really enjoyed getting the chance to read this book. It's so much more insightful and the love Mayes and her husband have of Italy really comes through the pages.

9. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
This is probably the best way to bring TV to the beach.

10. The Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts
Roberts' books are always light and this series features four friends who have a wedding planning company so it takes place predominantly in the summer. I loved them and think they'd be perfect for poolside!


What books do you think make great beach reads?

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Neglected Books

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. This week's list is a freebie and we get to make a list of whatever we want! Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

I had been pondering what to do for this week's Top Ten Tuesday. I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do. On Friday night I was admiring all the birthday cards I got this year and since I have them arranged on my bookshelf I got to looking at the titles on the shelf. This then got me thinking about the fact that I haven't read any of the books on this shelf (excluding Harry Potter) and how that was just plain sad. So, I decided to list the ten that I'm most looking forward to from these shelves.

Pic was taken prior to the birthday cards.
The cards on the shelf are house warming cards!

1. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
I won a signed copy of this one on Twitter awhile back, during the heyday of this book. I'm still looking forward to reading it but since buzz has died down I keep putting it off.

2. These Girls - Sarah Pekkanen
I only just got this one for my birthday but I'm really anxious to read it because I've heard so many great things about it! (and if you look realllllly closely at the photo you'll realize that this book isn't in the picture. That's because I took the pic the day before I got the book!)

3. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
If you can believe it, I've never actually read this one! Love the movie but just haven't gotten around to reading the book. This is another recent addition to my library, thanks to my mom snagging it at a book swap at work.

4. Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
One of the two Austen novels that I haven't yet read. No surprise that Northanger Abbey is the other. I consider myself an Austen fan so it is inexcusable that I have not read all of her books yet.

5. The Bake-Off - Beth Kendrick
I love love love Kendrick's books. However...I've had this one since it was released last May. Shame on me.

6. Life After Yes - Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Heard a lot about this one when I was first getting into the blogosphere and just haven't had the time to get to it.

7. Becoming Jane Austen - Jon Spence
See number 4 when I say I'm an Austen fan. :) I watched the film adaptation and would love to dive into it more!

8. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference - Malcolm Gladwell
I tend to put off reading these kinds of books since I'm a slow non-fiction reader. I'm still very interested in what Gladwell has to say though!

9. Hollywood Ending - Lucie Simone
Another book I won and have yet to get around to reading, even though I've heard many good things!

10. The Distant Hours - Kate Morton
I LOVED The Forgotten Garden (Morton's second and most popular novel) so when I was able to get the hardcover edition of The Distant Hours at 60% off in December 2010 I jumped at the chance. Obviously I was crazy anxious to read it... But! I will get to it soon and see if it is as good as The Forgotten Garden.

Time to get reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten All Time Favourite Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. This week's list is Top Ten All Time Favourite Characters. Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

1. Ron Weasley - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I could probably fill up this list with all Harry Potter characters but Ron is definitely my favourite. It's great to see him come into his own over the course of the series.

2. Anne Shirley - Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery
There's just something to love about this free spirited red head from PEI and I loved reading the series back to back to see how she grew and what happened in her life.

3. Elizabeth Bennet - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Ah, Pride and Prejudice. Great book with a fantastic protagonist. I know I'm not alone when I say she's my favourite Austen heroine. She's got spirit and doesn't try to hide it - this is huge in an era when women were not supposed to have much of a personality.

4. Jessica Darling - Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty
This series was so amazing because it featured a smart, witty, and different kind of teen girl. Perfection.

5. Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
In a time where female YA protagonists are not always very strong (ahem, Bella), Katniss provides an amazing character to young girls. She has to deal with issues that many teens can relate to (other than the whole having to kill other teenagers thing) and she handles them in a strong way.

6. Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
It's kind of strange to pick a real person as a favourite character but in all fairness, she did write her life as fictional books. I love Laura because she shows how resilient you had to be in the late 1800s. We may think life was oh so hard back then and yes, her novels show that, but they also show how much fun could be had and I really like that.

7. Remy - This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Remy is the main character in my favourite Dessen novel. She's got a bit more spunk and energy than some of her other characters and I think I was drawn to that. She's tough and vulnerable all at once and just plain awesome.

8. Bridget Vreeland - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
This was another one where I could have picked any of the main characters but I think Bridget tops my list of the girls of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I think it's because she seemed to be much more complex than the other girls, in that she had issues that required a lot more work to sort out. When I was reading Sisterhood Everlasting she was the character that I really wanted to see settled and figured out.

9. Georgia Nicolson - Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison
These books were freaking hilarious - great for a teen girl. I think they were so funny because Georgia herself is funny. Besides, you can't help rooting for a girl who has an evil, massive cat named Angus and a pain in the butt little sister. She's just trying to live a normal teenage life which, of course, includes some quality snogging :)

10. Jane Madison - Jane Madison series by Mindy Klasky
Jane is a librarian and a witch. How neat would that be? I think that says it all!

After I completed this list I noticed a trend. A lot of these characters are from a series and I think I can figure out why I gravitated towards those characters - it's because I've had more time (ie books) to learn to love them. Does that make sense to everyone else?

Who would YOU choose as your top fictional characters? Let me know!

Happy reading :)

Top Ten Reads of 2011

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. This week's list is Top Ten Reads of 2011. Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

This year I really got into the reviewing swing of things. So much so that I have many books that I've bought for myself that are just sitting on my shelves, waiting patiently for me to get to them. I'm not sure when that will be but I hope to get to some of them soon! :) I read quite a few books this year (around 70ish) so it was difficult to just pick ten of my favourites. By the way, these are not in any particular order. The title links all lead to my reviews. This is just in case you missed them the first time around and/or you want to know more about what I thought of the book :)

1. Rock Star's Girl by J.F. Kristin
Loved the characters, loved the story, loved the conclusion. Just an all around lovefest for this book.


2. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
I have been in love with Sarah Dessen for almost ten years so it's not a surprise that her latest book made it on this list. While I didn't love this one as much as some of her others it still had to be featured. I don't care if she only writes YA, I will continue reading her books until she stops writing :)


3. Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick
This story had me sucked in right from the start. The circumstances that lead to where the friends end up is quite sad (vague, I know. Just read the book) but the friends are able to truly find out who they are and it's such a great read. Friendship, love, finding yourself. Recipe for a great book.


4. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a series that I absolutely adore and I am so happy that Brashares wrote this final novel. Even though there's a major event that is so sad and depressing (and yes, it made me cry) it is wrapped up in the most perfect way. I never really realized that I was lacking a good conclusion to this series until I read Sisterhood Everlasting.


5. Arranged and Spin by Catherine McKenzie
Yes, I'm sort of cheating a little bit but I couldn't choose just one of McKenzie's great novels. If I'm being honest, perhaps I did like Arranged a little bit better than Spin but each book kept me entertained and enthralled for its entirety. I can't wait for Forgotten, McKenzie's third novel, which is apparently due out in May!



6. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
I've seen mixed reviews about this novel but I loved it. It's a massive book but I loved every bit of it. It's got magical creatures (vampires, witches, and the like) as well as a lot of really great historical detail. I'm very excited to read the rest of the books in the All Souls Trilogy.


7. Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo, Go Small or Go Home, Stir Until Thoroughly Confused by Heather Wardell
I'm cheating again. Heather Wardell is definitely one of my top favourite authors as her books never fail to disappoint. I just had to include the three I read this year. I've got another to get to for January and I'm really looking forward to reading it!


8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I had been told to read this book for years but it wasn't until this year that I finally got around to it. All those people who had suggested it were right. It's a captivating story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.


9. Destined to Fail by Samantha March
For those of you who don't know, Samantha is the voice behind the popular Chick Lit Plus website. This was a book that grabbed hold of me and did not want to let go. The story is heavy but March does a fantastic job of telling it.


10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This was another book that many people told me to read. I wanted to get to it before the movie came out and I succeed. I ended up loving this novel, much to my surprise. It's got three interconnected stories that are told wonderfully.



And there we have it. My top ten favourite books of 2011. I hope you've found some more great reads to add to your 2012 to read pile.

Happy reading! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Childhood Faves

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to start participating in this fun feature. This week's list is Top Ten Childhood Faves. Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

I decided to start with this week and Top Ten Childhood Faves because I've always been a huge reader. My mom used to read to my sister and I all the time and we just kept on going once we were able to read on our own. This list is a mix of both from when I was just a toddler up until the end of grade eight (that's when I decided childhood stops). Because I was such a book addict (ha..."was"...yeah, I still am) I had to create an Honourable Mentions part to this post because I couldn't settle on just ten! I hope you enjoy this list :)

1. Little House Books - Laura Ingalls Wilder
This favourite comes with a really amusing story. The nursery school I went to was accidentally sent a complete box set with a big book order. I was only four years old at the time but they obviously knew I was going to be an avid reader so the teacher told my mom she could have it. I'm so glad I got that set because it was one of my favourites growing up. I even read all the other books that were about her mom, daughter, and so on. They were definitely more fictionalized but I loved them just the same.

2. Anne of Green Gables Set - Lucy Maud Montgomery
If you looked for a Canadian girl who's never heard of Anne of Green Gables I'm sure you'd only come up with a handful. This is a classic that's been read many times over by many girls. I devoured all of the books in one summer and I've also watched the movies and even a few episodes of the animated series!

3. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear - Audrey and Don Wood
I absolutely adored this picture book. It has the best story and some amazing artwork. This little mouse is trying to hide a gigantic strawberry from the bear with some hilarious results. If you're looking for a book for a young kid I definitely recommend you order this one!

4. Cinderella
Oh, Cinderella. What little girl doesn't fall in love with one of the Disney princesses? In my case, I adored Cinderella. When I was little my mom used to read me this story All. The. Time. From what I've been told, she would read it to me before bed and I would always fall asleep. It didn't matter if it was the first story or the third, without fail, I would fall into a Disney filled slumber after hearing the story of Cinderella and her glass slipper. While this story may appear as though I didn't like the book (I mean, who falls asleep during something they enjoy?) I like to think of it as a soothing story that was so comfortable and familiar that I was able to sleep soundly. :)

5. The Baby-Sitter's Club Series - Ann M. Martin
I loved loved loved this series when I was younger. There were so many to choose from at the library and I was always upset when one was missing. If I remember correctly, I had to make sure I read them in order. They were numbered for a reason! I think many girls grew up wanting to have a profitable babysitting  business just like Krisy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey. They seemed to have it all together! And the super specials? Fantastic. They were so much bigger with a much more involved storyline! When I used to work in a bookstore I always wanted to recommend this series but they're so outdated and hard to find that I never felt I could. Not to worry! You can now purchase updated and released versions of the books. Now, go find a twelve year old girl to give them to. And throw in the movie too...classic :)

6. Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
I have to confess that I haven't actually read the entire series. I know, I know. It's on my list of favourites and I haven't read all the books. I fail. However! I have read up to Prince Caspian (did a book report on that one in grade seven. Complete with a map and a stuffed sword fighting mouse!) and always enjoyed the fantasy and magical feeling the books gave me. An enchanted wardrobe that led you to a whole other universe? Count me in.

7. Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne
The Bear with Little Brain. He is probably the best bear ever (though I'm sure some would argue with me. Any takers?) and most loved by many generations. I'm in my twenties and still love him. In fact, I have asked for the newest movie for Christmas! Now if that doesn't make me the coolest person ever, I don't know what will. I loved Pooh Bear so much that I actually did a speech on him in grade seven (that appears to have been a good year school project-wise for me). I may have even moved on to the second level - speaking in the gym - that year! (I was painfully shy so to read a speech to many people was a big deal for me.) The story about a boy and his bear is so classic that it's no wonder he's stuck around for so many years.

8. Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
Whenever I read Harry Potter I am always thankful that my younger sister was at just the right age when they became popular. We weren't one of the early adopters but I think we were one of the first to jump on the bandwagon after the first three books were released. And, boy, am I ever glad we did. My sister and I are definitely a little obsessed (she's done the midnight line up to buy the books. I never went that far figuring that she'll stand in line, read the book, and then pass it onto me) and we're totally ok with that. These books are best sellers for a reason. The story is great and your imagination goes wild when reading them. Thank you J.K. Rowling for creating such an amazing world and allowing us to be a part of it.

9. Little Women  - Louisa May Alcott
No, I was not a crazy advanced reader. My grandmother bought me an abridged copy of the classic and I used to read it all the time. And I admit, I still have not read the full novel. It's currently open on my Kobo and is waiting patiently for me to get started. There's just something about a story of four sisters who were so different yet so similar that I really liked.

10. The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs - Pheobe Gilman
Jillian Jiggs was great. There were a couple of books written about her crazy life but the one I remember most is the one where she makes all sorts of pigs out of old nylons. She had old pigs and young pigs, fat pigs and skinny pigs and she didn't want to sell any of them! The drawings and story were just downright adorable.

Honourable Mentions

- Berenstain Bears - Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
- Amelia Bedelia - Peggy Parish
- His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
- Circle of Magic  - Tamora Pierce

I hope you have enjoyed this massively long post and amusing (I hope) insight into my childhood. I sure had fun writing this and I came across two really amusing sites that any child of the nineties will appreciate. Check them out here and here and have a good laugh. I would love to hear what some of your favourites are too so please leave a comment!

Happy reading :)