Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Bookish and Blogging Resolutions For 2015

toptentuesday

I will be focusing this post about my bookish and blogging resolutions for 2015, there most probably will be another post about my 2015 goals (personal and writing related) at the beginning of January šŸ™‚

In no particular order:

  • Read at least 60 books this year.
  • Read at least one non-fiction book a month.
  • Write more reviews about the books I love and cross link them to Amazon & BN. Leaving reviews really do help authors and spreading the love about books I enjoyed is something I love doing! (yes, that’s a lot of “love” in two sentences)
  • Write a short email to the authors of books I loved to tell them how much I enjoyed their book. (IĀ really appreciateĀ receiving emails as a writer so time to give back!)
  • Participate in the WordPress weekly Photography challenge.
  • Try to find a book club close by.
  • If feasible, volunteer at my local library
  • Reply to comments left on my blog as often as possible
  • Participate in this January Instagram challenge. Looks life fun šŸ™‚

10843804_365549706940258_1839326657_n

DAC2015Big

Ā But above all, pause and enjoy all those moments I am spending with books and connecting with people…because they’re oh so important!

What’s the ONE book I really should read this year you think?

Advertisement
Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday

Top New (and not so new) Series I Want To Start

It’s been forever since my last Top Ten Tuesday. FOREVER. The topic today was Top New Series I want to start (new, letĀ“s say during the past 2 years…) but since some of the ones I really want to read are older than 2 years, I adapted the topic just a tad.

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog.

Top New (and not so new) Series I Want To StartĀ 

All titles link to Goodreads šŸ™‚

So tell me whichĀ series should I start first? šŸ™‚

Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books People Have Been Telling me That I MUST Read

It’s been forever since my last Top Ten Tuesday. FOREVER. Glad to be back šŸ™‚Ā Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created Ā at The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books People Have Been Telling MeĀ That IĀ MUST Read

in no particular order, all covers link to Goodreads.com

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Since you’ve been gone by Morgan Matson
Under The Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi

The Mortal Instruments serie by Cassandra Claire
Pointe by Brandy Colbert
Something like normal by Trish Doller

And a few books by author friends, that I didn’t have time to read yet, despite the glowing recommendations by many people on the Twitterverse

Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler
The Eighth Guardian by Meredith McCardle
Fierce by L.G. Kelso

Which one should I read first out of this list? Any other recommendations?

Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten 2014 Debuts I’m excited for…

It’s been forever since my last Top Ten Tuesday. FOREVER. But I’ve been browsing the topics and since planning blog posts seems to be one way for me to make sure this blog doesn’t soon resemble an abandoned house. The type someone asks you to enter on a dare or that has fueled campfires stories for decades. The moon reflects on the broken window and even spiders think twice before entering.Ā Anyways…You get what I mean.

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog.

Top Ten 2014 Debuts I’m excited for

I am very excited about a lot of 2014 Debuts but some of them are especially close to my hearts because those are by people I know. And I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD THEIR BOOKS IN MY HANDS…

The list below is organized in publication order. Because you know organizing lists is an important task šŸ˜›

Out on February 4th 2014

  • WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE by Rebecca Behrens:Ā First Daughter Audrey Rhodes is convinced that living in the White House is like being permanently grounded. Except with better security. What good is having your own bowling alley if you don’t have anyone to play with?Ā After the Secret Service cancels the party she’d spent forever planning, Audrey is ready to give up and spend the next four years totally friendless–until she discovers Alice Roosevelt’s hidden diary. Alice was a White House wild child, and her diary tells all about her outrageous turn-of-the-century exploits, like shocking State visitors with her pet snake and racking up speeding tickets in her runabout. Audrey starts asking herself: What Would Alice Do? The former First Daughter’s outrageous antics give Audrey a ton of ideas for having fun . . . and get her into more trouble than she can handle!

Out on March 18th, 2014

Out on April 8th 2014

Out on April 29th, 2014

Out on May 6th, 2014

  • The Eighth Guardian by Meredith McCardle:Ā Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris.Ā It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured thirty-six hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA—together.Ā But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen—the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: to join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything—her name, her family, and even Abe—forever.Ā Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?
Out on June 3rd
  • PUSH GIRLS by Jessica Love and Chelsie Hill:Ā An inspiring, real, and fresh young adult novel about how life can change in an instant by Chelsie Hill, one of the stars Sundance Channel’s unscriptedĀ series Push Girls, based on her own life.

Out on June 24th, 2014

  • BEHIND THE SCENES by Dahlia Adler:Ā High school senior Ally Duncan’s best friend may beĀ theĀ Vanessa Park – star of TV’s hottest new teen drama – but Ally’s not interested in following in her BFF’s Hollywood footsteps. In fact, the only thing Ally’s ever really wanted is to go to Columbia and study abroad in Paris. But when her father’s mounting medical bills threaten to stop her dream in its tracks, Ally nabs a position as Van’s on-set assistant to get the cash she needs.Ā Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors’ publicist arranges for Van and Liam to ā€œdateā€ for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she’s capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can’t play by Hollywood’s rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love.

Out on August 5th, 2014

  • THE GIRL FROM THE WELL by Rin Chupeco:Ā You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

Out on August 26th, 2014

  • AT YOUR SERVICE by Jen Malone:Ā Thirteen-year-old Chloe Turner wants nothing more than to follow in Dad’s footsteps as a respected concierge in a posh NYC hotel. After all, living at a hotel is heaven, and perks like free concert tickets and all-access passes to boutiques, restaurants, and attractions aren’t too shabby either.Ā When the spoiled brat child of an important guest is only placated by some quick thinking on Chloe’s part, Chloe is awarded the role of Junior Concierge. But she might be in over her head when tasked with tending to the every whim of three royal guests: a twelve-year-old princess who can’t stand Chloe, a cute fourteen year-old prince(!), and their ten-year-old sister, who has a nasty knack for getting herself lost. After the youngest princess slips Chloe’s care, Chloe and the remaining royals must embark on an event-filled hunt for her through NYC’s best tourist spots.

Out in October 2014

  • DAMSEL DISTRESSED by Kelsey Macke:Ā Kelsey Macke’s DAMSEL DISTRESSED, about 17-year-old Imogen Keegan and her struggle with obesity, self-harm, and the infuriatingly perfect stepsister who makes her want to drown herself in a vat of Nutella, with accompanying soundtrack of original songs written and performed by the author’s band, Wedding Day Rain, in an innovative mash-up of prose, technology, drawings, and music, to Danielle Ellison at Spencer Hill Contemporary, for October 2014, by Jessica Sinsheimer at The Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

No exact release date yet but coming to bookstores near you in 2014 too

Let’s face it I’m also excited for many more than just 10 Debut Books. My current Goodreads Debut list has Ā If you want to see more amazing MG/YA debuting this year, don’t hesitate to check OneFour KidLitĀ 

So tell me which books do you want to get your hands this year?

Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday, writing

Top Ten Bookish People I’d Love To Meet

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog. It“s a lot of fun and they post the topics way in advance!

Top Ten Bookish People I’d love to Meet

1. Writer friends:

  • My CP extraordinaire Jaime: someone I’m so happy and grateful to call a friend,Ā way beyond our writing and reading Ā experience
  • my wonderful and lovely beta readers: Jessica, Sara, KipĀ and Heather– I am so THANKFUL for them and their kindness!
  • Katy: our hubbies could totally hit it off too I think – and we could talk about YA contemporary, Disney movies, The Walking Dead…while playing scrabble or having a drink šŸ˜›
  • Christa: we need to have a drink –or several – and discuss tears, Center Stage, life and just goof off
  • Jessica L.: we’d talk about our high school experience that sound really similar, Jennifer Echols, Paris, plus I’d get to meet her dog šŸ˜€
  • And so many others like…Alison,Ā Rebecca(we’ve already met but it was way too short!), Tracey,Ā Colin, Robin, Juliana, Meredith, Ghenet, Peggy…

The list is way too long…and incomplete. Sorry! šŸ˜€

But as I was typing this – again incomplete – list, I couldn’t help but grin widely. I’m so happy for all the connections I’ve made!

Some French authors I’d love to chat with!

2. Voltaire: I want to discuss with him philosophy, the way he lived, his aspirations…What he would think about our time.

3. Albert Camus: There are several books of his I wish I could discuss, including the Letters to a German Friend.

4. Victor Hugo: Les MisĆ©rables, The Last Day of a Condemned Man, Notre Dame de Paris…I read some of his works before I could totally understand them. No, really, as a child, Notre Dame de Paris is a bit complicated…But as a teenager some of his work has made me think. So. Much.

5. MoliĆØre: His life, his relationships with other writers, his work…Can you imagine everything I could learn from him?

Because their stories are always told and retold

6. Charles Perrault and the Brother Grimms: I want to know all about how they gathered their stories, about some of the background…about their life…

One author I studied. A. Lot.Ā 

7. Christa Wolf: She passed away recently. But I want to ask her ALL the questions. About her work. Her life. Her take on new historicism and the feminism theories. And then I’d send her my Master Thesis and ask her what she thought about it. (I wrote it on her interpretation of Medea)

And some of my favourite YA authors (This list would be WAY longer than 10 in its own right, but I kept it to 3…)

8. Stephanie Perkins: I’d love to discuss how to write the best kisses, and romantic tension. Plus she sounds very nice on Twitter!

9. Judy Blume: I’d love to have dinner with her.Ā And thank her. Ā A wonderful author, and she sounds like a lovely and strong woman.

10. Melina Marchetta: To tell her how much her book JELLICOE ROAD is still on my mind. Months after reading it. And that she created in Jonah one of the best Love Interest. Ever.

Again, this list was TOUGH!!! šŸ˜€

After we’re done chatting about books and life, we could go for a walk šŸ˜€

So, tell me,Ā  which Bookish people would you like to meet?

Book Review, Top Ten Tuesday

Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog. It“s a lot of fun and they post the topics way in advance!

Before I get started, don“t forget you can enter my giveaway for a SIGNED copy of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick (see interview with Huntley and details here)

Today“s topic: Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books

So it would appear I am very much a character gal. I had a hard time remembering books where the settings really grabbed me so the ones below are very special because the world they created was so vivid, it stayed with me long long after. Also they all had wonderful characters šŸ˜€Ā  To know more about each of those books, just click on the titles and pouf! you’ll be on the summary page from Goodreads.

Ā 

Ā 

Ā 

Ā 

1. Across the UniverseĀ by Beth Revis: Feeling claustrophobic while reading a book probably means the author has done it right…

2. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab: The writing is so poetic and I had the feeling to be transported in a fairytale land (the scary and eery kind from the Brothers Grimm).

3. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: I could feel the wind on my face and taste the salt on my lips while reading this book. So much magic in the words!

Ā 

Ā 

Ā 

Ā 

4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta: I loved everything about this book but I also totally had the feeling I was with them on that road. Everything seemed so real and was depicted so vivibly that I have images in my head of places I’ve only read about.

5. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbart: If you cannot travel to South America this summer, just read this book and you’ll have the impression you also dipped your toes in the water!

Tell me, which is the last book you read where you thought the setting was essential to the story?

Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog. It“s a lot of fun and they post the topics way in advance!

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

All summaries kindly provided by Goodreads…

The following books were written by authors I was lucky enough to hear at the Teen Author Carnival and I suddenly have an urge to read some of their works. This is just a sample, after this event my TBR might have to go a tad crazy and might officially explode with new books šŸ˜€

1. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab:Ā The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.If the wind calls at night, you must not listen.The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.Ā And there are no strangers in the town of Near.Ā These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.Ā But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. (…)

2. A Midsummer NightmareĀ“s by Kody KeplingerĀ (I did love her first two books :D):Ā Whitley Johnson’s dream summer with her divorcĆ© dad has turned into a nightmare. She’s just met his new fiancĆ©e and her kids. The fiancĆ©e’s son? Whitley’s one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin’ great.Ā Worse, she totally doesn’t fit in with her dad’s perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn’t even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she’s ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn’t “do” friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn’t her stepbrother…at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

3. Belles by Jen Canolita:Ā Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she’s ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn’t go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn’t thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates’ Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls’ lives forever.

The following books have been recommended by friends from the Blogosphere…and theyĀ“re always spot on šŸ˜€

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

4. Audrey, wait! by Robin Benway: when two bloggers with whom you share similar taste rave about a book, you know you have to pick it sooner than later. This book was loved by both Tracey andĀ Jaime. They both highlight the wonderful voice…

5. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, Katy gushed about this book some time ago and she mentioned the following: A scant pinch of historical + a few shakes of steam punk + a generousĀ dollopĀ ofĀ horror (spirits and zombies — oh my!) = Something Strange andĀ Splendid. (her entire review can be found here). It comes out end of July šŸ˜€

6. The one that I want by Jennifer Echols, Jessica shared the love about this book in May and since then I have had it on my radar. ItĀ“s time to pick it up šŸ˜€

The following two books are new releases and I cannot wait to get my hands on them!

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 

Ā 7. If I lie by Corrine Jackson:Ā Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.Ā Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise

8. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick:Ā A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.Ā ā€œOne thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.ā€

The last two books on my list are older releases (published before 2009)

9. Cracked up to be by Courtney Summers:Ā When “Perfect” Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter’s High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher’s pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?Ā Parker doesn’t want to talk about it. She’d just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her conselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there’s a nice guy falling in love with her and he’s making her feel things again when she’d really rather not be feeling anything at all.Ā Nobody would have guessed she’d turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.Ā Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

10. Looking for Alaska by John Green:Ā Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

So tell me which books do you want to get your hands on this summer?

Book Review, Books, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Three Favorite Secondary Characters In YA Books…

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted byĀ The Broke and the BookishĀ and I first came across it on JaimeĀ“s blog. ItĀ“s a lot of fun and theyĀ  post the topics way in advance! This week’s topic looks at the Top Ten Favorite Characters of all times…and I am twisting it a little:

TopĀ Three Favorite Secondary Characters In YA Books…

….from the books I read so far in 2012…

1. Raffy from JELLICOE ROAD: Honestly, all secondary characters from that book felt so primary to me. They were fully fledged and my heart beats for every single one of them. Raffy is the girlfriend who is there for you, who may call you on your bullshit but who knows you and loves you for who you are. Like Taylor, I think that those people are the kind you want around you for life.

“Why do you always have to be so pessimistic?” she asks. “We can double up in our rooms and have a barbecue every night like the Cadets.” Silently I vow to keep Raffy around for the rest of my life.ā€

2.Ā Ā Harley from ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: He is sweet and he took me by the heart with his fish. (I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll leave it at that). Beth Revis said about Harley: But the little details sometimes have the best stories. For example: Harley. Harley was supposed to be a minor character who was only in one scene that I was writing on that took place in the Hospital. One of my students had painted a koi fish, and so I made the extra character an artist. My student’s name is Charly, so I named the character Harley. From that one scene came Harley, Elder’s best friend, complete with a backstory, a dead girlfriend, and a tragic twist. And I am certainly glad that he became more than just very minor.

3. Haymitch from THE HUNGER GAMES: For me Haymitch is such a wonderfully layered character. He lowers the creeping tension when needed, he has MANY issues and he develops so well throughout the books that I have a soft spot for him. (and I think Woody Harrelson did a WONDERFUL job in portraying the Haymitch I had in my mind :D)

Here’s some advice. Stay Alive.

So at least half the victors have instructed their mentors to request you as an ally. I know it can’t be your sunny personality.

I’m with the Mockingjay

Do you have any favorite secondary characters?

Observations, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tips For New Bloggers

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog. It“s a lot of fun and they  post the topics way in advance!

This weekĀ“s topic:Ā Top Ten Tips For New Book Bloggers…which I am twisting to Top Ten Tips For New Bloggers šŸ˜€

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Source: vetsforpets.net via Vera on Pinterest

 

So, I have been blogging for less than a year. When is the status of “new blogger” over? šŸ˜€

From a newbie to another one, or from a somewhat less new blogger to another one…here are my Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers:

1. Choose what you want to blog about: This may come naturally. Right now you may be thinking: I already know what I want to blog about (e.g. books) but it may take awhile to actually get your groove. When I look back at my first posts, it seems that I thought I“d write much more about my commuting than what I do. Plus there are many ways to write about books: Do you want to only write reviews about books you really enjoyed? (this is what I do :D) or do you want to have a point system? or talk about covers, about characters, about the swoon-factor? about the plot? do you want to organize them per topics? do you want to talk about everything?

2. Choose the format: Do you want a recurring theme? Do you sometimes want to do a vlog? Do you want to link your posts to any of your other “online” persona aka Twitter, Facebook, Google +?

3. Check the platform you want to use: There are many choices out there. Personally, I like WordPress but it was more of a “lucky” moment than anything else. If youĀ“re more peculiar about the features/style you want to have, I think it could be useful to check out which one you really prefer before spending too much time of your blog.

4. Stick to a schedule (especially at the beginning): It helps you to know what works and what doesn“t work for you and it helps for people to know that you“re a regular blogger.

5. Make sure people can “follow” you: See on my right? You can follow me by email, via google reader, via RSS feed, via WordPress…When I travel the blogosphere, it happens that I cannot find a way to easily get updated. Sure I could always copy the link and add it to my Google Reader but I donĀ“tĀ necessarilyĀ have the reflex or I am not on my computer but on my phone…

6. Use visuals: I always find it enticing when there is at least one picture/gif in the post.

7. Be yourself: There are blogs where you really have the feeling you get to know the person because their voice and spirit jump out of the page.

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā Ā Source: Uploaded by user via Bernadette on Pinterest

8. Discuss, connect, make friends: Ā Leave comments Ā on other peopleĀ“s blogs, try to reply to the ones you get (I for example now send an email to the person on top of the comment if theyĀ“re not on WordPress.) What I found also helped greatly along the way was connecting with bloggers/writers on Twitter. DonĀ“t be shy! People do love to get comments on their blogs, especially ones where you also share your views, your experience…

9. Participate in blog fests, in challenges, in online book clubs:Ā It is another way to connect and to have a blast along the way. If youĀ“re active in forums, let people know that you created a blog…

and……another very important point:

10. Have fun with it!: You“ll get to discuss topics you love with wonderful people from all around the world, you“ll learn a lot from them and from writing your own blog and maybe make long lasting connections along the way!

Books, reading, Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books to read in one day…(with a twist)

This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime“s blog. It“s a lot of fun and they post the topics way in advance! And here comes my second Top Ten Tuesday:

Top Ten Books to read in one day

I decided to go about this post a little differently and present you with *tadadadaaddaada* (–> music full of suspense) with the “Top Ten French Books to read in one day”.Ā  IĀ was trying to only include those translated in English but unfortunately I am realizing that a lot of works I loved reading as teenager and today are not yet translated…so here is a mix.

  • 1. The Children of Freedom by Marc LĆ©vy: A remarkable story of struggle and survival in World War II by France’s No. 1 bestselling novelist Early in 1942, two young brothers join a Resistance group. All the members of the group are young, most of their families came from elsewhere in Europe or North Africa and all of them are passionately committed to the freedom of France and Europe (from Goodreads).
  • 2. Lettres Ć  un ami allemand by Albert Camus: These letters areĀ History. These letters are here to make us think,Ā reflect and pause for a minute. These letters show us the past but they teach usĀ about the present. Ā “I love my country too much to be nationalist” . Apparently those letters are available in English in some anthology of Camus.
  • 3. Green Wheat by Colette: Phil and Vinca meet every year during the summer holidays. They know each other and have always been interested in the other, but Phil meets a woman who introduces him to carnal love. Vinca feels the betrayal of her friend. The most recent English translation of the novel (2004) is Green Wheat, translated by Zack Rogow, nominated for the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Award. According to the ratings on Goodreads.com, people did not like this book. I loved it! This book written in 1923 describes feelings in such a magestic way. Yes, the protagonists do not know what they want but they’re growing up. Their worries may be different than the ones of today but so many are still the same because those emotions just transcend time and places.
  • 4/5/6 Viou by Henri Troyat (and the other two sequels): Those three books follow the life of Sylvie (also known as Viou). Viou highlights her life right after the war. Her father died and she is under the care of her grandparents. Her mother is gone in Paris where she tries to rebuild her life. The separation is very hard on the little girl. The first book shows her worries, her hopes and the sufferings of a child who discovers the world of adults. In the second book, Viou is 15, she lives in Paris with her mother and her stepfather. She resents the relationship and throws herself in ballet as well as discovering new types of emotions with the son of her stepfather. The last book shows Viou at the age of 21. Her mother is divorcing her step-father and Viou revolts against the idea, not wanting what had become her idea of a stable relationship to collapse.
  • 7 Manuella by Philippe Labro: The story of a 17-year old discovering love and herself during the holidays after receiving her high school diploma. I really enjoyed that book! and I remember it made quite a fuss when it was published in France because it was a 40-year old something writing the life of a teenager…(in the first person if I recall correctly).
  • 8. Le dernier jour d’un condamnĆ© by Victor Hugo: Deeply shocking in its time, The Last Day of a Condemned Man is a profound and moving tale and a vital work of social commentary. A man vilified by society and condemned to death for his crime wakes every morning knowing that this day might be his last. With the hope for release his only comfort, he spends his hours recounting his life and the time before his imprisonment. But as the hours pass, he knows that he is powerless to change his fate. He must follow the path so many have trod before him—the path that leads to the guillotine. (Summary from Goodreads.com)
  • 9. Antigone by Jean Anouilh: Antigone was originally produced in Paris in 1942, when France was occupied and part of Hitler’s Europe. The play depicts an authoritarian regime which mirrors the predicament of the French people of the time. Based on Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone which was first performed in Athens in the 5th century BC, its theme was nevertheless topical. For in Antigone’s faithfulness to her dead brother and his proper burial and her reiterated “No!” to the dictator Creon, the French audience saw its own resistance to the German occupation. The Germans allowed the play to be performed presumably because they found Creon’s arguments for dictatorship so convincing. The play is regularly performed and studied around the world.”Anouilh is a poet, but not a poet of words: he is a poet of words-acted, of scenes-set, of players-performing” Peter Brook (Summary from Goodreads.com). I loved, loved, loved that play!
  • 10. Angelique by Anne Godon: The story begins in 1648 during a time of insurrection, terror and revolt in a divided France. AngĆ©lique de Sance de Monteloup, a vibrant twelve-year-old tomboy, is the daughter of a simple nobleman impoverished by taxes and other burdens. (Summary from Goodreads.com). I still watch the movies based on those books šŸ˜€

So…here is my list (as always much much shorter than the one I have in my head :D)

Tell me which is the one book you read in one day and still sticks to your mind?