Showing posts with label The Broke and the Bookish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Broke and the Bookish. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To (and totallyyyy plan to get to in 2018!!)

I really missed participating in this meme in 2017. I'm working to participate more often this year.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish (moving to That Artsy Reader Girl on January 16) . Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To (and totallyyyy plan to get to in 2018!!)



Came from Amazon Vine. Don't know why they even let me grab these. It always takes me forever to read them.


I used to jump at books about Laura Ingalls Wilder, but haven't even cracked this one open.


That also applies to this one. The new year better see me making time for my Little House/LIW fix. 


At least I started this one before needing to break off to catch up on book reviews. It's hiding in my office somewhere waiting for me to find it and finish it off.


Was supposed to review this for Tyndale months ago. Whoops!





I reviewed the fifth book in the Caitlin Strong series and the publisher has been kind enough to send these others along. Really need to read them. Feel like a jerk because I haven't. 


Bought this from the author at a writers conference at least two years ago--I really think three--and promised to review it. Need to get it done. 

What is a book that you wanted meant to read last year, but it didn't happen? My list is endless, so I'll only share these ten. 

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Another Blog Bites the Dust


Will now cry a few tears because The Broke and the Bookish, who sponsored one of my favorite memes--Top Ten Tuesday, is closing its doors on January 16. Luckily, one of its writers will take over Top Ten Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl.

First, let me say that I applaud all my fellow bloggers out there who work hard to provide fresh and interesting content for their readers. Blogging is a lot of fun, but it's also a ton of work--especially if you are reviewing any type of product or service. It takes commitment. It takes stamina. Sometimes you don't get much sleep.

In July of 2018 I'll be celebrating eleven years of blogging here at The Book Connection and nine years at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. That seems so unreal to me. What was born out of my need to draw attention to my writing and the desire to express my creativity has put me in touch with so many wonderful people within the publishing industry. It even led to the seven plus years I worked at Pump Up Your Book. I am truly blessed.

Here's wishing the best to all the bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish. Maybe we will see you back before too long. Good luck to Jana as she takes over Top Ten Tuesday. Looking forward to all her ideas. To all you bloggers out there---you rock!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Popular TV Shows I Have Never Watched or Seen a Full Episode Of

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Popular TV Shows I Have Never Watched or Seen a Full Episode Of

Though this is usually a book-related meme, in honor of Fall TV the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish asked us to come up with a Top Ten TV theme. Since I rarely watch TV (the most recent shows I watched regularly being Cedar Cove, Downton Abbey and Mercy Street), this would go way beyond a top ten if I let it. I'll stick with popular shows my kids or family and friends have suggested I watch.

One Tree Hill - My girls are obsessed with watching this show on Netflix. I swear they must be on their second or third round of viewing the entire series. I've watched bits and pieces, but I'll take Dawson's Creek any day; still great teen drama and way fewer sexual shenanigans.

Lost - Not sure why I never gave this one a try. All my kids enjoyed it, but I never had the urge to dip in. 

Two and a Half Men - Charlie Sheen being part of this show was probably the biggest reason I never watched; never realized why he was considered so great and felt much of that was due to the family he was born into. Charlie Harper's way of life also didn't appeal to me, so there really was no reason to watch.

Grey's Anatomy - I've seen bits and pieces of episodes, but ultimately get turned off by all the flirtation and sexual situations in what seems to be a great medical drama. I'm probably showing my age here, but listening to Alex, Callie, and Mark all talk in different scenes about how great Arizona's boobs are (Can't Fight Biology) really doesn't do much for me. I would honestly like to think that if doctors are performing surgery on any of my body parts their minds are focused on something other than another person's breasts. 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - I've seen part of an episode of this spin-off series and actually loved the original Law & Order. The nature of the crimes they investigate in this series is a big issue for me, so I tend to steer clear of it. 

Felicity - In the same year that Dawson's Creek debuted, so did Felicity. I didn't know much about it then and the previews never excited me so I never watched it. Having read the premise of the show--a girl who has had a crush on a guy for four years abandons her plans for medical school to follow said guy who she barely knows to NY--I doubt I would have enjoyed it.

The Bachelor/The Bachelorette - Reality TV--which seldom depicts true reality--irritates me. That there is so much "reality" TV on the air these days is another reason I rarely turn the TV set on. In the case of these dating shows, I feel it cheapens the remarkable thing that happens when two people truly fall in love. And don't even get me started on how Jerry Springer has made dating realty TV worse with his show, Baggage. 

The Big Bang Theory - Not sure why I've avoided this one except that it began airing when I wasn't especially interested in watching TV: I was the mother of two toddlers. 

Mad Men - Shows set in offices haven't done much for me since the end of Designing Women. (Yes, I know I am dating myself again.)

Modern Family - I stomached most of one episode, but ultimately couldn't watch to the end. I find most of the characters annoying. This seems more like reality TV than most reality television.


What are some popular shows you've never seen or at least haven't seen a full episode of? 

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging That You STILL Haven't Read Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging
 That You STILL Haven't Read Yet

Wow! I had to go down into my other bookcase for this one. 


One of the first books I bought when I started writing. Needless to say, my writing didn't get me that far.


Bought the first six books in this series and haven't touched them.


Love reading anything about the Civil War; simply haven't gotten to it yet.


Enjoyed the Shaaras' books about the Civil War and figured I would give Jeff's series on the American Revolution a try. 


Davis is a superb author. I honestly had this one so long I forgot it was there. Will need to read this one. 


Sounded interesting when it came out, so I bought it. And there it sits on my bookshelf collecting dust.


Christmas and Thomas Kinkade...how can you go wrong? Would love to read this one day.


Long before I became friends with Kathi Macias, I had purchased this novel. I discovered it a couple of years ago while cleaning out my bookshelves. Still need to read it.


Another book on writing I probably should have read.


My husband read this series and liked it so much he recommended it to me. For the record, that rarely happens. We simply don't enjoy the same books. I haven't gotten to this one yet. 

What books have been on your bookshelf unread for a long time? 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday Rewind: Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

This is a rewind week where we can go back and cover a topic we missed before. As a children's author, it should be no surprise that many of my quotes are from books for young people.

Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes


















Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me A Fully Loaded Gift Card


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Ten Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me A Fully Loaded Gift Card


Sounds superb and set in a time period I like.


Christmas and a harbor town. What could be better?


A Christmas time mystery might just be better than that.


I've always been fascinated with the story of the Titanic. 


Sister stories and family secrets make for great reads.


Need to catch up with one of my favorite authors.


Another favorite author I haven't read in a long time.



Love biographies and historical accounts.



Need my Downton fix.


This came highly recommended.




Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things Books Have Made Me Want To Do or Learn About After Reading Them


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Things Books Have Made Me Want To Do or Learn About After Reading Them

Interesting topic for this week. I'm glad I decided to participate. Hope you'll share some of the things books have inspired you to do or learn about. 


Take a tour of Gettsyburg


Study abroad


Visit the Emily Dickinson Museum


Play Quidditch (too bad I can't fly)


Make a sarcastic robot


Go away with my husband (just the two of us)


Learn more about Apartheid


Move to a small coastal town


Rehab my childhood home



Try my hand at comics