Category Archives: Blog

Throwback Thursday (December 13) – The Shawshank Redemption

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Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books.

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don’t have a blog at all, just use the comments to tell us about a book you remember fondly.

And NOW! We’re expanding! Throwback Thursday is no longer limited to just books! Throwback Thursday is dedicated to shining the spotlight on any book-related old favorites that need to be remembered.What’s your favorite classic television show or movie adaptation? What about your favorite song? Was your favorite toy a character from a book?

Here’s how it works:

  • Pick any media (or non-media item) released more than 5 years ago. Remember to keep it book-related!
  • Write up a short summary (include the title, author, and cover art, if applicable) and an explanation of why you love it. Make sure to link back to The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books in your post.
  • Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
  • Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list – or some other classic!

Feel free to grab the Throwback Thursday button code from the sidebar to use in your posts.

Thanks for participating, and we look forward to seeing which books you choose to remember!

My Throwback this week is…

The Shawshank Redemption

Based on the short story Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

This is the story of Andy Dufresne, a mild-mannered banker wrongfully accused of killing his wife and her lover, and his subsequent imprisonment in Shawshank Prison. It covers the nearly two decades Andy spends in Shawshank, the friendship he forms with Red, another convicted murderer, and the trials and horrors he suffers and overcomes while in prison. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time, and has one of the best movie endings I’ve ever seen. The novella it’s based on is quintessential King — beautifully written, harsh, poignant. But my heart lies with the movie. It’s difficult to watch at times, but so very worth it. I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve seen it, yet I never get tired of it. If you’ve never seen it, and if you have the stomach for it (it is rated R for language and prison violence), I’d say it’s a must-see.

This is a blog hop! Link up your Throwback Thursday post below!



Top Ten Tuesday (December 11) – 2012 New-to-Me Authors

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Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s topic is easy, because nearly every single book I read in 2012 was a new-to-me author. I branched out a lot. It was splendid.

Here are the ones who stood out (and yes, some of them I only read one of their books, or they only have one book…but that one book was really good).

Also, some are on here because I did read their book in 2012, and they are new to me, but mostly because I met them and I think they’re just fabulously awesome people. If you get a chance to meet them, you should.

Disclaimer: There are a lot of Nashville/Southern authors on here. If you live near me, so do many of these ladies! Read their books! Go to their events! You’ll be glad you did!

Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012 (in no particular order, because that is way too hard)

Ruta Sepetys

First book I read in 2012: Between Shades of Gray

Why she’s awesome: Everyone told me to read Between Shades of Gray for MONTHS before I did, and they were totally right. Her writing is beautiful and moving, the story she told was incredible. Seriously. Everyone should read it. But aside from that, Ruta is one of the sweetest, most genuine people I’ve had the privilege to meet this year. She’s even lovelier than her writing. If such a thing is possible. Rest assured, her personal awesomeness combined with how much I loved her debut means I won’t be putting off reading any of her books in the future.

Myra McEntire

First book I read in 2012: Hourglass

Why she’s awesome: Myra was at the very first author event I went to, and I’ve been to several more of hers since then, because she is delightful. Not only are Hourglass and Timepiece amazing books, which I tend to shove into people’s hands to force them to read, and then they yell at me because I didn’t bother to tell them that the series isn’t finished and the next book isn’t out yet (P.S. Everyone loves them anyway), but Myra is hilarious and fun and is responsible for my decision to start watching Doctor Who, for which I am eternally grateful. She’ll be one of my favorites forever.

Lauren Oliver

First book I read in 2012: Delirium

Why she’s awesome: I haven’t actually met Lauren (YET), but Delirium was one of the first books I read after finishing The Hunger Games, and it made me realize there’s a whole genre of fiction out there that I want to discover. Also, her writing is gorgeous, which was also evidenced in Before I Fall, a novel that was just enough of a contemporary for me to realize maybe I wanted to read contemporary too. Requiem is one of my most anticipated reads for next year, and I hope to one day be able to tell Lauren how much I enjoy her books.

Veronica Roth

First book I read in 2012: Divergent

Why she’s awesome: Another author I haven’t met yet, which will hopefully be remedied someday. Not only are Divergent and Insurgent great fun (can’t wait for the third one!), but Veronica’s blog is one of my favorites. She chronicled her journey to publication and her life as a writer in terms I really understand. I think our brains work similarly. Which I mean as a good thing.

C.J. Redwine

First book I read in 2012: Defiance

Why she’s awesome: First off, Defiance is amazing. It’s a great mishmash of genres, full of action and adventure and romance and intrigue. I am ready for #2 ASAP. Also, I’ve had the opportunity to meet C.J. several times, and she is hilarious and my kind of people. Also, she’s the one who yelled at me to read Anna and the French Kiss, for which I am eternally grateful. I’m eternally grateful to many people for many things.

Rae Carson

First book I read in 2012: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Why she’s awesome: I love that I discovered several new fantasy series this year, and Rae’s series is one of the best. She writes amazing characters (Hector is one of my favorites) and intricate worlds. I am on the edge of my seat for The Bitter Kingdom. Again, haven’t met her yet, but hoping to remedy this someday.

Sarah Maas

First book I read in 2012: Throne of Glass 

Why she’s awesome: I actually met Sarah before I read her book, and realized pretty quick that her epic love of all things geeky also makes her my kind of people. One thing I never realized before I started book blogging was how many authors like the same sorts of nerdy things I do. It’s fabulous. After getting to spend some time with Sarah, I read Throne of Glass, and it was incredible. I know she has big plans for the series, and I can’t wait to read all of them.

Stephanie Perkins

First book I read in 2012: Anna and the French Kiss

Why she’s awesome: I dragged my feet on reading Anna because I just don’t think of myself as a contemporary romance kinda gal. But once I finally got around to reading it, I loved it. I met Stephanie once at a multi-author event, and she is delightful. I’ve definitely got it on my agenda to read more of her books next year.

Kat Zhang

First book I read in 2012: What’s Left of Me

Why she’s awesome: What’s Left of Me is unique and thoughtful and intriguing, and I loved the fascinating world Kat created. I’ve also gotten to spend time with her on several occasions, and she is a genuinely sweet person. I always am happy when I see her at an event, and I’m really curious about how she resolves Eva and Addie’s dilemma in her books.

Sharon Cameron

First book I read in 2012: The Dark Unwinding

Why she’s awesome: Sharon is another author who I met before reading her book, and at the risk of sounding creepy, I just love her. She’s down-to-earth and funny and easy to talk to, and — yet again — my kind of people. As happened with several authors on this list, I liked her so much, I bumped her book up my list of to-be-read titles, and I loved it. Her writing is gorgeous, her story is fascinating, and I adored the way everything unfolded. I can’t wait for the next one.

Well, now that I’ve gushed (possibly too much) about my favorite author discoveries from 2012, I hope you acquaint yourself with some of these lovely ladies (or at least their writing). Who are some of your favorites?

Throwback Thursday (December 6) – Les Miserables

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Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books.

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don’t have a blog at all, just use the comments to tell us about a book you remember fondly.

THIS PART HAS CHANGED! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR GREATNESS!

And NOW! We’re expanding! Throwback Thursday is no longer limited to just books! Throwback Thursday is dedicated to shining the spotlight on any book-related old favorites that need to be remembered.What’s your favorite classic television show or movie adaptation? What about your favorite song? Was your favorite toy a character from a book?

Here’s how it works:

  • Pick any media (or non-media item) released more than 5 years ago. Remember to keep it book-related!
  • Write up a short summary (include the title, author, and cover art, if applicable) and an explanation of why you love it. Make sure to link back to The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books in your post.
  • Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
  • Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list – or some other classic!

Feel free to grab the Throwback Thursday button code from the sidebar to use in your posts.

Thanks for participating, and we look forward to seeing which books you choose to remember!

My Throwback this week is…

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

I love this story. It’s beautiful and epic and inspiring and so, so sad. It is the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict recently released after serving 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Upon realizing he will never be able to build a new life for himself when he’s forced to show all potential employers his yellow ticket marking him as a felon, he breaks his parole. Flash forward a few years, he’s built a new life for himself. Unfortunately, others aren’t so lucky, and after Fantine is dismissed from one of his factories, she becomes desperate to provide for her child, Cosette, turning eventually to prostitution. When she is on her deathbed, Valjean promises to care for Cosette, as he feels responsible for what happened to her. He raises Cosette as his own, and when she grows up, she falls in love with passionate young student Marius on the eve of the Paris Uprising. As Marius attempts to choose between love and duty, Valjean realizes that Javert — the Inspector who has been hunting him since he broke his parole — has found him, and he is faced with a decision: Should he take Cosette and run, or should he stand his ground and finally face the ghosts of his past?

I KNOW. THIS STORY IS AMAZING. And yes, it is 150-year-old French literature, so it’s a bit hefty and doesn’t exactly fly by. But it’s worth muddling through.

AND NOW! Since we are changing Throwback Thursday to include other media inspired by books, I’ll also call attention to the musical, because it is fabulous and my favorite stage show of all time. I’ve seen it live five times and yes, I am BESIDE MYSELF with anticipation for the movie. (There was another movie, but I can’t recommend that one because although it follows the book pretty well, it ends WAY too early). But I haven’t seen the 2012 movie yet, so I can’t yet give it my shining stamp of approval, but I HAVE seen the stage show (five times, remember?) and can tell you that it is worth seeing. You will cry and be astounded.

(P.S. You don’t have to highlight the book and the movie/show/musical/play/whatever in the same post. I’m just doing it because I feel like it.)

Here, have a song.

Oh, also, Colm Wilkinson who plays Valjean in that video — and originated the role in London and New York — plays the bishop in the 2012 movie. How awesome is that?

This is a blog hop! Link up your Throwback Thursday post below!


Top Ten Tuesday (December 4): Christmas Wish List

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Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!

So today I had the following conversation with my husband via Gchat:

Hubs:  Jon’s [Christmas] party is Friday
me:  Yes
Hubs:  THIS Friday.
me:  yes
Hubs: since when is Christmas sooooo close?
me: I KNOW

And that pretty much sums up my feelings on Christmas this year. I realize it’s not ever a surprise that Christmas comes at the end of December every year, and yet, somehow, it kind of is. You know?

(Also, see how that conversation drew subtle attention to the fact that, occasionally, I have something resembling a social life and do not, in fact, spend all my time on my computer/shouting at fictional characters/being introverted and awkward? People invite us to things! There’s hope for us to join the world of normal humans! Except that I just pointed it out, so maybe not after all.)

Fortunately, now that we live in the world of Amazon Wish Lists (or at least…that’s where my family lives), it’s okay to procrastinate on Christmas shopping until the week before. So let me just skedaddle over to mine so I can tell you the…

Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me
(in no particular order)

1. The Demon King (The Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima.
You’re going to notice a theme with some of this list, and that theme is FANTASY. There’s several fantasy series/authors I’ve heard awesome things about, and I think it’s high time I became acquainted with them.

2. Finnikin of the Rock (The Lumatere Chronicles #1) by Melina Marchetta
I haven’t read…any…Melina Marchetta. [ducks flying rotten vegetables]

3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I do not own nearly enough books about dragons.

4. On Writing by Stephen King
I’ve been told numerous times by numerous people that this is a must-read, and I’ve put it off long enough!

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
I loved Anna and the French Kiss so much.

6. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings on Graceling, but I really liked Fire, and I want to see how it ends. Plus, Kristin Cashore’s writing is SO PRETTY.

7. Girl of Fire and Thorns and Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
I’ve read and loved both of these, but I checked out the first one from the library and received the second as an ARC. I really need to just own them.

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Yet another fantasy! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this one.

9. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I keep reading Maggie Stiefvater books and loving her writing, but not the actual story, and I think the problem is that I keep reading books that other people tell me are good, and not the kinds of books that would actually draw me in in the bookstore based solely on the jacket summary. This book, on the other hand, is one I would pick up without other people having to tell me to.

10. The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa
Yet another book where I know I like the author, but haven’t read the series that actually seems more “me” yet.

So there you go. Santa? Do you have Internet up in the North Pole?

Throwback Thursday (November 29) – Water for Elephants

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Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don’t have a blog at all, just use the comments to tell us about a book you remember fondly.

Here’s how it works:
1. Pick any book released more than 5 years ago. Adult, YA, Children’s; doesn’t matter. Any great book will do.
2. Write up a short summary of the book (include the title, author, and cover art) and an explanation of why you love it. Make sure to link back to The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books in your post.
3. Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list!

Feel free to grab the Throwback Thursday button code from the sidebar to use in your posts.

Thanks for participating, and we look forward to seeing which books you choose to remember!

Sorry that I fell off the radar there for a couple weeks. You may have noticed that my co-host, Mandi, has been on a blogging hiatus and I’ve been hosting solo for a few months now. Thankfully, she will be returning to the blogosphere next week, but in the meantime, life got away from me. There were holidays and vacations and basically, I just didn’t plan things very well. Sorry about that. But now we are back, so yay!

My Throwback this week is…

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

From Goodreads: As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

For all of you currently sprinting to the finish of NaNoWriMo, this is a NaNo novel! There is hope! (Full disclosure: I’m not doing NaNo, but I know plenty of people who are, and decided to be relevant to the times for once in my life).

I honestly can’t remember what prompted me to read this book. I have a feeling it was something along the lines of a friend shoving it into my hands unsolicited and saying “Read this.” It’s not at all along the lines of what I usually read. But I loved it, and it left me itching for more circus books. It’s sad — at times heartbreaking — but also sweet and funny and utterly fascinating. The writing is lovely and I really got swept up in the world of the Benzini Brothers circus, with all its wonder and magic and grime and danger. The characters traversed the spectrum and evoked all sorts of emotions. If you think you’d like to try a circus book, this is where I’d recommend you start.

This is a blog hop! Link up your Throwback Thursday post below!