Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Bookish Memories

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

I had fun creating this week's list because it reminded me of a whole lot of good times and great memories that I'll cherish always!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #1:  My First Author Signing

My friend Lyric and I traveled all the way up to PA to visit a Borders store there where Maria V. Snyder was signing her books.  I had a copy of each that she'd written knowing she probably wouldn't be able to sign more than one.  But we were able to get there early and so was she and my wish came true.  I'm such a huge fan and getting to meet her was thrilling enough, but walking away with those souvenirs and being able to chat with her a while was the icing on the cake!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #2:  Meeting Elizabeth Eulberg

I traveled to a book festival near Washington, D.C. and was lucky enough to meet a few fantastic authors and pick up some wonderful new reads while I was at it.  But hearing Elizabeth speak and then meeting her afterwards definitely tops my list of all time great moments!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #3:  Lunching with Jennifer and Cyn

Jennifer Murgia is one of the sweetest and most down to Earth authors I've met.  She's downright awesome!  We had corresponded a bit after meeting at a book festival and she was going to be signing at an event I was going to and we decided to get some other bloggers and her friend and fellow author Cyn Balog (!) together for lunch before it started.  Getting to meet Cyn and all of those fabulous bloggers and hanging out was just so cool.  I know it's corny but everyone was just wonderful and it made for such a great day.

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #4:  A Surprise

Earlier this year I got an email from a publicist letting me know to keep my eye out for something in the mail.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but what I got had me jumping up and down with joy.  Author Kristen Miller sent me an ARC of How To Lead A Life of Crime along with some other goodies and I was touched.  Surprises are always nice and her thoughtfulness made my week!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #5:  Challenge Me

A few months ago I was asked to be a part of The Silk & Paper Campaign leading up to Ally Condie's release of Reached (Matched, #3).  It was a ton of fun and super exciting to be a part of.  With read alongs, twitter talks, blogger meet and greets online, write ups, reviews, the whole deal!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #6:  Suzanne Collins' Stamp

I am of course one of many who are huge fans of The Hunger Games series.  Collins from what I've heard does not do many signings, but there was going to be one for Mockingjay's release and it was within driving distance for me.  Unfortunately for me I was going to be out of town for work but thanks to my wonderful friend Shelbi I was able to have her take my copy to be stamped (she wasn't physically signing books that day) and it's sitting on display on my shelf as we speak.

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #7:  Converts

It may sound silly but not many of my good friends are big readers like myself.  I'm OK with it, mainly because I've met so many wonderful bloggers since becoming one myself.  But last year for whatever reason my friend Lyric and my sister Brooke both asked me for book recommendations and I must have picked well because they're still coming back for more and I get excited each and every time!

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #8:  Decorating with Books

Last March I moved into a new apartment and was back to square one in the decorating department.  I was excited to start over and knew I could go a bunch of different ways, but that books would play a huge part of my new digs.  I wanted them everywhere, and I have plenty to help make that work.  I set up my bookcases in my living room for all to see, put up invisible book shelves (thanks to my sister) in my bedroom, and you will basically find every available space plastered with coffee table books everywhere else in the apartment.  I love it!  Coming home each and every day puts a smile on my face because I'm surrounded by titles I love, old friends I'm reminded of in the books that quickly became my favorites, and just looking at the shelves lined with good reads puts me in a good mood. (Now this picture might not be of my apartment but you get an good idea)

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #9:  Last Christmas

Despite always being a big reader for just about as long as I can remember I never really got books for Christmas.  Hard to believe I know.  But it was always hard because my parents and family never knew which books to get, what I would like, what I'd already read, etc...  But last year they stepped out of the box and gave it a shot and they did a fantastic job!   Definitely some real winners to add to my library.

Top Ten Best Bookish Memory #10:  The Bookshelf Sophisticate Is Born

By far one of the best decisions I ever made!  My best friend and roommate at the time Megan, told me one day out of the blue that I should give it a shot.  I joke that she probably made the suggestion because she wanted me to have an outlet to share my thoughts and discuss the books I'd been reading so that she wouldn't have to hear about them so much anymore.  She was actually the one who picked out the blog name for me and encouraged me one hundred percent and I love her dearly for that!  I've met so many amazing people in the process, found fabulous blogs I now follow religiously, gone to wonderful book related events and had a blast throughout the whole process.  It's a lot of work and take a lot of dedication but is so rewarding and worthwhile that I don't think I'll ever want to stop.  Best decision and bookish memory ever!

A Fantastic Young Adult Novel

Film adaptations sometimes manage to ruin a book. The mediums differ vastly and most movies can never replicate what was contained within the book. Producers, writers and directors try to take the main plot, themes and characters and condense them into 90 minutes or two hours of film to portray the story. Some movies do the originating book justice while some just flop at attempting to render the best parts of the storyline.

Since its release in 2008, Suzanne Collins has had fans were raving about her popular work of fiction, “The Hunger Games,” but her story has been somewhat tarnished by the film adaptation. Those who haven’t watched the film or still have not read this young-adult novel will find it clever, sad and full of action. While the book may be geared more for an online high school course, it still manages to serve as a great work of fiction for any avid reader.

Plot

Set in Panem, a post-apocalyptic country formed out of North America, pits 24 individuals – 12 boys and 12 girls – to battle to the death. The city, divided into 12 districts and a capital, use the Hunger Games as a source of quelling rebellions by staging yearly tributes. These games help keep the peace as well as serve as a source of entertainment.

Each contestant of the 12 districts becomes the source of media attention. Participants will use the media to help sway audiences to send gifts, including medicine, food and equipment to survive. With Katniss narrating the story, readers will see the action unfold as the young, 16-year old fights for survival using her hunting skills to win her freedom and life.

Themes

Action, murder and suspense aside, “The Hunger Games” manages to include a bevy of themes that resonate today. From social class to love, Collins aims to show individuals how social unrest is easily quelled by a few hands working to keep the peace. A more prominent theme appears to be the idea of sacrifice. The theme of sacrifice is present in most chapters, showing how one individual, Katniss, has scarified her own life by taking her sister’s place as tribute for the games. More importantly, each contestant is sacrificing his or her life to keep the civil peace.

From a riveting plot to a bevy of themes, “The Hunger Games” is a must read for anyone. Although it would be useful, you don't need to have a librarian degree from an accredited school to understand that this novel is full of great themes and an amazing story.

Sources

Shmoop (2012)

Scholastic (2012)

Review: The Hungers Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I know I'm not alone when I say this was and is by far my favorite series ever. Suzanne Collins will forever be among my favorite authors because of this. I've read other books that I couldn't get enough of, but none of those compare to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. It was a genious idea and executed to perfection. Despite how high I hold these three I've never reviewed them for fear I wouldn't do the titles justice. I still don't think I can but I still decided to give it a shot and share my favorite moments in each. Now if you haven't read this series, (yes I think you're crazy) but I'm also seriously impressed with your will power! But I also think you might want to stop reading at this point because I don't want to be a spoiler. It's your decision, but you've been warned.

So favorite moment #1 - The Hunger Games: Peeta and Katniss in the cave. I know, I know it's so predictable but I don't care! When Katniss is nursing Peeta back to as close to healthy as possible I melted. But when he talks to her about her singing and how he's loved her for years I just didn't think you could get more romantic than that. He's not corny but shows Katniss how much he loves everything about her! Not who she lets others perceive her to be but the real her. Her flaws and all. He doesn't care and it's unconditional. Katniss pulls through for me her or very soon after when she kisses him and for the first time really means it. It's not for show, she's risked her life and understands Peeta means something to her too, she's just not quite sure what exactly yet. I was swooning big time!

Favorite moment #2 - Catching Fire: After Katniss and Peeta realize and accept that they're going back into the arena they are truly there for each other. So it's not really a moment but a span of time from when they're whisked away on the train bound for the capital to entering the actual arena. Peeta once again cares for Katniss and shows this when he stays with her night after night to protect her during her nightmares and comfort her when she wakes up. Katniss really got my vote when she finally decided that it was Peeta that needed to survive and win the games. It was selfless on her part and very brave. Her stock definitely went up in my opinion in book two.

Favorite moment #3 - Mockingjay: Now Mockingjay made me wait and drove me crazy until finally the end. The last chapter of Mockingjay satisfied me, thrilled me and left me completely content and okay with how things worked out. All the characters were forced to deal with so many tragedies and grief throughout all three books that I wasn't sure there was a way to make this happen but of course Collins proved me wrong. Lives were definitely lost that I wish didn't take place but at the same time I understood and believe they made the story stronger and more powerful.

The Hunger Games trilogy will be around and massively popular for years to come. While I'm not sure Collins can top this trilogy (or anyone else) but I am looking forward to the movie adaptation and I hope her future books are equally addicting and brilliant!

I gave The Hunger Games trilogy 5 shamrocks!!!!!