Tag Archives: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Love That Were Written Over Ten Years Ago

In: Blog Hops


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

A circular assortment of books on shelves. Sometimes I’ve had to expand Top Ten Tuesday topics a little in order to come up with decent answers for them. Today I’m going to contract my options down to books written between the years of 2000 and 2012.

You see, this is one of those topics that I could start an entirely new blog about and instantly have years worth of material to choose from. I regularly read books that were written last week as well as ones that were written a few hundred years ago.

Memorable stories come in all shapes and sizes and can be found in any period of time in my experience.

So let’s look at some books that were written in this century that I enjoyed!

he Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold book cover. Image on cover shows a charm bracelet with only one charm on it. The charm is in the shape of a house.

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

 

w Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See book cover. Image on cover shows a young woman holding a closed fan in front of her lips as if to make a shushing motion.

2. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

 

omics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt book cover. Image on cover shows an apple that has one slice missing. The slice shows that the inside of the apple is actually an orange.

3. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt

 

and Crake (MaddAddam, #1) by Margaret Atwood book cover. Image on cover shows flowers and leaves superimposed over the head of a young woman who looks a little frightened.

4. Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam, #1) by Margaret Atwood

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon book cover. Image on cover shows a black upside down dog against a red backdrop.

5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

 

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan book cover. Image on cover shows grapes, an egg, and a few old pieces of pottery sitting together.

6. The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

 

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver book cover. Image on cover shows a photo of a woman from the top of her head. Her eyes and nose are in view but her mouth is not. She looks pensive.

7. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

 

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein book cover. Image on cover shows a golden retriever looking off into the distance calmly.

8. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

 

oraline by Neil Gaiman book cover. The title is in a flowery silver script against a black background. There are no images on the cover, only a blurb about how scary it is.

9. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

 

ver Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro book cover. Image on cover shows a close-up of the face of a woman who is looking up with a concerned expression on her face.

10. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Top Ten Tuesday: Hilarious Book Titles

In: Blog Hops


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Two women laughing while reading books. One has a book on top of her head. This is one of those topics I could talk about forever! Isn’t it wonderful to chuckle when you read the title of a book?

I like to collect hilarious book titles as I search for new books to read.

There are some quite clever ones out there. The more you find, the easier it is to discover even more of them in my experience.

Here are just a few of the ones I’ve discovered. Yes, I’m sure a couple of them are probably repeats from previous TTT topics, but why not giggle at them again?

The only one I’ve read so far is How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming. It was an informative, interesting, and sometimes funny read.

1. How I Stole Johnny Depp’s Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain

2. Everything I Needed to Know about Women I Learned by Reading Twilight: A Vampire’s Guide to Eternal Love by Jim Lee

3. You Don’t Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But it Helps (J. W. Wells & Co., #4) by Tom Holt

4. This book cover and title have nothing to do with this book. by Jarod Kintz

5. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown

6. Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela S. Choi

7. Nibbled to Death by Ducks by Robert Wright Campbell

8. My Ass Is Haunted By The Gay Unicorn Colonel by Chuck Tingle

9. How to Defeat Your Own Clone and Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution by Kyle Kurpinski

10. Surviving Your Stupid Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School by Adam Ruben

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in a Place I’d Love to Visit

In: Blog Hops


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

A brown suitcase covered in stamps and stickers from various tourist destinations like Hawaii and Los Angeles. Prince Edward Island and Hawaii are two places I’d love to visit. I discussed the former last month, so this post will be dedicated to the latter.

Why did I pick Hawaii? Well, it’s climate is much warmer and sunnier than the places I’ve lived in my life (at least during the winter).

When Ontario is in the depths of January and the clouds haven’t parted in weeks, I dream of going somewhere that has a bright blue sky and is not covered in ice and snow.

I’d also love to learn more about the cultures of the people who originally inhabited the Hawaiian islands. I know so little about them at the moment. Do speak up if you know if any other good books on this topic.

Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1) by Alan Brennert book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of a Hawaiian woman’s face covered partially by flowers.

1. Moloka’i (Moloka’i, #1) by Alan Brennert

 

Blu's Hanging by Lois-Ann Yamanaka book cover. Image on cover shows a painting of a black cat sitting underneath laundry drying on a laundry cord outside at dusk.

2. Blu’s Hanging by Lois-Ann Yamanaka

 

ild Meat and the Bully Burgers by Lois-Ann Yamanaka Book oover. Image on cover shows a drawing of a stylized spotted leopard-like creature surrounded by celestial bodies like the sun.

3. Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers by Lois-Ann Yamanaka

 

The Aloha Spirit by Linda Ulleseit book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of a ship releasing black smoke by an Hawaiian island covered in palm trees and ferns.

4. The Aloha Spirit by Linda Ulleseit

 

nfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell book cover. Image on cover shows painting of Hawaiians sitting underneath tree as white man stands looking down upon them.

5. Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

 

This Is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila Book cover. Image on cover shows silhoutte of plastic dancing Hawaiian girl on a car’s dashboard as it drives on a glowing red city street at night.

6. This Is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila

 

he Legends and Myths of Hawai'i by David Kalākaua Book cover. Image on cover shows a painting of a Hawaiian man in English military gear. He looks high ranking?!

7. The Legends and Myths of Hawai’i by David Kalākaua

 

 

No Footprints in the Sand: A Memoir of Kalaupapa by Henry Nalaielua book cover. Image on cover shows photo of young boy in white hospital uniform crossing his arms at a leprosy hospital. Upper photo shows him as a healthy senior citizen.

8. No Footprints in the Sand: A Memoir of Kalaupapa by Henry Nalaielua

 

Story by Hawaii's Queen by Liliuokalani book cover. Image on cover shows photo of Hawaiian queen and the English building where she lived.

9. Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen by Liliuokalani

 

Hawaii by James A. Michener book cover. Image on cover shows six Hawaiians paddling together in the same boat in the ocean at sunset.

10. Hawaii by James A. Michener

Top Ten Tuesday: Books From My Past Seasonal TBR Posts I Still Haven’t Read

In: Blog Hops


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Drawing of a shadow of a large hand pointing accusingly at a man wearing a suit who is cowering in embarrassment. This stock photo made me giggle. Don’t take it too seriously.

Posts that ask us to look back at our seasonal TBR posts and talk about which books from them we haven’t read always make me feel like I’m back in school and being graded by the teacher or have just been called into the boss’ office for a stern talking-to.

I am so glad that Jana does not actually care how many or how few books from past seasonal TBR posts we’ve read.

Here are some books I’ve talked about in those previous posts that I still need to read.

 

Life Ceremony: Stories  by Sayaka Murata book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of Japanese food in a black bowl.

Life Ceremony: Stories  by Sayaka Murata

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: It’s still something I want to read. I simply need to find the time to do so.

 

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean book cover. Image on cover shows cutouts of a mother and child from the pages of a book. These silhouettes are walking up to a building made from the page of a print book and looking at a lit window in it as the mom points at it.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: The cover looks a little scarier to me every time I look at it again. I’m intrigued by the idea of people eating books (and finding different flavours associated with different genres), but I’m not ready for anything too frightening at the moment.

 

Girlhood by Melissa Febos book cover. The only decoration on this cover is the title and author repeated over and over again with each repetition missing a little more of the words.

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: I’m not in the right headspace to read it right now.

 

 

Cursed Bunny  by Bora Chung book cover. Image on cover is a drawing of an alert purple hare.

Cursed Bunny  by Bora Chung

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: Honestly, I think I was more interested in the cover than the story itself. Isn’t this a compelling cover?

 

 

Cat Problems  by Jory John book cover. Image on cover is of a stressed-out cat sitting in a cardboard box.

Cat Problems  by Jory John

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: The Toronto Public Library hasn’t ordered copies of it yet.

 

Living Beyond Borders: Stories About Growing Up Mexican in America by Margarita Longoria book cover. Image on cover is a drawing of a man with a butterfly on his shoulder walking into a Mexican village.

Living Beyond Borders: Stories About Growing Up Mexican in America by Margarita Longoria

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: I’m not in the right headspace to read it yet.

 

Patience & Esther by SW Searle book cover. Image on cover is of two Edwardian women kissing romantically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance  by SW Searle

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: The Toronto Public Library hasn’t ordered a copy yet. I did send them an official request to do so, though! We’ll see if they listen to me.

Top Ten Tuesday: An Outdoor Adventures Reading List

In: Blog Hops


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

A sun-dappled Ontario forest filled with healthy green trees and bushes. Spending time in nature is one of my non-bookish hobbies. My idea of a good time is taking a walk in the woods, by the beach, or in some other natural setting where I can let the sounds of birds tweeting and leaves rustling wash over me.

This is how serene and beautiful our forests are during the summer. (Yes, I took this photo). We have been seeing more ticks, including some that carry Lyme disease, in Ontario, so I always stick to the trails when I walk through our forests and check for ticks afterwards.

Taking a few precautions like this one is well worth the time I get to spend out in nature. There is nothing like noticing a rabbit, squirrel, or some other small creature hiding beneath a nearby bush and realizing it’s waiting to see how you behave before it decides when to run away.

I like to pretend like I haven’t seen them and keep walking on by. Sometimes they decide to stay hidden , while in other cases they suddenly scamper away in a flurry of motion.

The books on today’s list are a nice mixture of practical medical advice for outdoor adventures and ones that explore the many advantages of getting some exercise outdoors while the weather is warm and nice. I have read all of them and would recommend all of them. (Well, I actually read a similar first aid book that I couldn’t find online anymore. But close enough).

CPR, AED & First Aid Provider Handbook by Karl Disque Book cover. Image on cover shows close-up photos of people proving chest compressions during first aid.

CPR, AED & First Aid Provider Handbook by Karl Disque

 

ild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed Book cover. Image on cover shows a used hiking shoe.

1. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

 

 

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of a Dr. Seuss character standing on a rainbow top.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

 

The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate : discoveries from a secret world by Peter Wohlleben Book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of one large and two smaller trees whose roots are intertwined underground.

The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate : discoveries from a secret world by Peter Wohlleben

 

Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery Book cover. Image on cover shows a photo of Grandma Gatewood hiking as she carries her jacket.

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery

 

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese Book cover. Image on cover shows a photo of a path through a pine forest. No one is on the path.

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese

 

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks book cover. Image on cover shows a drawing of a gun and a sword crossing each other.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks

Yes, that final title does talk about zombies, but the advice in it is wholly practical and can be used for all sorts of survival situations. I’ve even found it useful for more ordinary troubles like dealing with days when I’m feeling out of sorts and need to comfort myself.

I hope this list has encouraged you to spend time outdoors this summer if you can and if you’re interested. It’s a wonderful way to spend the summer in my opinion.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers That Feel Like Summer

In: Blog Hops

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl This was such a fun and easy prompt to do! Summer makes me think of ice cream, cookouts, picnics, sand, sunscreen, swimming, beaches, sandals, swimsuits, and more. I tried to incorporate as many different types of these images and similar images into my response as possible. No, I have… Read More

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Wishes

In: Blog Hops

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl Just like I did last year, I’m tweaking the bookish wishes prompt again because my TBR pile is still as large as ever. (Are they secretly magical? Why do they never seem to shrink much at all no matter how much you read?) Instead of asking any of you… Read More