Top Ten Bookish People I'd Like to Meet

Top Ten Bookish People I'd Like to Meet

1. Stephanie Meyer.  I'm just fascinated by her characters.  I would love to pick her head about Edward and Jacob, who cares how she wrote her novels, just give me more Edward and Jacob.  I'm just dying to know what she's writing next and when.

 2.  Francine Rivers. I have read everything she's ever written and I think she is both creative and classic.  She went from writing Adult romance to Christian fiction and I would love to ask her how she made the transition.

3. James Patterson.  I haven't really read much of his fiction, but I'm incredibly fascinated by his career.  I would love to find out how he advanced and what keeps him motivated.  The man has sold and written more fiction than almost any other author alive.

4. Nicholas Sparks.  His books are incredibly successful and I just haven't read very much about him.  I think it would be interesting to find out how he writes and where he comes up with his characters.

   

5. Robert Pattinson. I know most people are going to think this was my dumbest choice, but other bloggers added people that were considered "bookish," like Dolly Parton and Tim Gunn, so here is a bookish person I am dying to meet.  Not only do I want to meet him because he is incredibly good looking, but I would love to talk to him about books.  He is known as a bookworm in the Hollywood world and he picks unusual titles, such as The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Ticket to Ride.

6. Jane Austen. I know she's dead, but a cup of tea with the beautiful Austen would be fascinating.  I can't even imagine the topics.  Where did she come up with Mr. Darcy and was he based on someone she knew or completely fictional.  I would have so many good questions.

7. Nina Garcia.  Not only is she "bookish," but she runs Marie Claire Magazine.  I would love to talk books, fashion, and then I would beg her for a job.

8. Suzanne Collins.  Not only has she written The Hunger Games trilogy, one of my top ten favorite books, but she's also written for television.  I've always wanted to try writing a script.  Maybe she would be able to give me some pointers if I actually got to meet her.

9. William Shakespeare.  The man was a genius.  He was a poet and a playwright, but there has always been much controversy over his work.  I would love to ask him if he stole any of his ideas.  Who doesn't do that anymore?  The man never played by the rules and I would love to discuss how he wrote and who he really loved . . . 

10. Beth Moore.  She has always been an inspiration to me.  She writes Bible studies for Living Proof Ministries and her words have been more powerful in my life than anything else I have ever read, besides the Bible.  Not only do I want to meet her, but I wish she could be my best friend.

So, now that I've written my top ten bookish people I would like to meet, leave me some comments on who you are dying to meet that is "bookish."  If you want to look at more lists like this, you can find them on http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/.

Keep Holding On

by Susane Colasanti (Goodreads Author)

 3.75  ·  ating details  ·  1,673 ratings  ·  345 reviews

A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.(less) 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12075886-keep-holding-on

This was my fourth novel by Colasanti and definitely not at the top of my list.  My favorite by far was When It Happens.  The premise of the book was more about bullying than about romance.  I love that Colsanti wrote about believing in yourself and taking a stand against bullying, but I wish the author would have given Noelle a stronger voice.  I felt like Noelle came into herself much to late in the novel.

I also didn't fall in love with Julian.  I think I just needed more romance, but I'm sure Colasanti's main point of the book was bullying and not true love.  I give this book two stars.  The characters will be forgotten and the only thing I'll take away is that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Love, Brook

Second Helpings

Second Helpings (Jessica Darling #2)

by Megan McCafferty (Goodreads Author)

 4.10  ·   rating details  ·  11,555 ratings  ·  550 reviews

“Knowing that I’ve just done something that will take decades off my parents’ lives with worry, you’ll excuse me for not getting into the fa-la-la-la-la Yuletide spirit this year. . . . The only difference between Christmas 2001 and Christmas 2000 is that I don’t have a visit from Hope to look forward to. And Bethany has already packed on some major fetal flab. Oh, and now Gladdie doesn’t need to ask a bizillion questions about my boyfriend, because she’s already gotten the dirt from you know who.”

Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica, but her best friend, Hope, still lives in another state, and she can’t seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew, her annoying so-called friends. To top it off, Jessica’s parents won’t get off her butt about choosing a college, and her sister Bethany’s pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household.

With keen intelligence, sardonic wit, and ingenious comedic timing, Megan McCafferty again re-creates the tumultuous world of today’s fast-moving and sophisticated teens. Fans of Sloppy Firsts will be reunited with their favorite characters and also introduced to the fresh new faces that have entered Jess’s life, including the hot creative writing teacher at her summer college prep program and her feisty, tell-it-like-it-is grandmother Gladdie. But most of all, readers will finally have the answers to all of their burgeoning questions, and then some: Will Jessica crack under the pressure of senioritis? Will her unresolved feelings for Marcus wreak havoc on her love life? Will Hope ever come back to Pineville? Fall in love with saucy, irreverent Jessica all over again in this wonderful sequel to a book that critics and readers alike hailed as the best high school novel in years.(less)

    In my opinion, Second Helpings, the second book in the Jessica Darling series, was much like the first.  Jessica is still fawning over Marcus Flutie, but keeps him at a distance.  The only difference between this book and the first one is that Jessica gets burned by a boy and finally ends up falling in love with Flutie.  As much as I love romances, this one just didn't give me enough detail.  Both books read like a diary and a lot of the juicy details are left out.  Yes, Jessica divulges every emotional longing inside her head with a witty and cynical humor, but sometimes I wish I knew what Marcus was thinking.  

    I also forgot to mention that this series can be a bit raunchy and profane.  Part of me wanted to stop reading and find something less sexual, but I just like Marcus Flutie way to much.  I give this book three stars, mainly because I love Marcus.  Lastly, I don't get why Marcus chose a Buddhist College.  The idea of him pursuing something pragmatic and practical seems out of character.  I guess I'll have to finish the series just so I can see where the author takes Marcus, and I'm just crossing my fingers he'll be in New York City in the fifth or sixth novel.  

First Top Ten

Top Ten Tuesday

    Yes, I know it's not Tuesday and I know this is a random Top Ten, but I wanted to start off by recommending my top ten favorite books of all time.  I have a lot of people asking me this question, so I thought it would be a great place to start.  I stole the Top Ten Tuesday from another blogger, because it's a brilliant idea and because I thought it would be a fun way to introduce topic discussions.  Next time, I promise I will only post on the allotted day.  So here goes . . . . 

Here is a link if you need any suggestions for something good to read......

Top Ten Best Books I've Ever Read

1. Twilight (Stephanie Meyer)

2. The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

3. Divergent (Veronica Roth)

4. Matched (Ally Condie)

5. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)

6. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

7. The Giver (Lois Lowry)

8.  Mark of the Lion Series (Francine Rivers)

9. Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen)

10. The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

  

Sloppy Firsts

“My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.”

When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.(less)

    This is my first review, so I might be a fish out of water.  Be patient with me, because I have a lot to learn about blogging.  I decided to read Sloppy Firsts because I heard about it from another blogger.  It's not my favorite YA novel, but the characters are refreshing and I love the sarcasm and angst that is pouring off of every page.  I think I'm more in love with Marcus Flutie than the main character, Jessica.  I'm already reading the second novel and dying to know what happens with their relationship.  I give this book a three and a half.  I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good YA romance or anyone who loves 80's movies.