Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Swoonfest: Favorite Disney Men

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The Top most swoon worthy Disney men

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In response to a recent post by BuzzFeed on the top 10 hottest Disney princes I decided to compile my own list since I disagreed with nearly every choice presented. I brought this to the bf and he argued that these princes didn’t really rank in manliness, and he had a point. So I went to Twitter and asked the masses, and more importantly, our expert blogger on manliness: Aaron from Real Men Read YA, head over to his blog and read his thorough and hard to argue with post. I’m going to go beyond the first glance and look for a well rounded male. Let’s see what we have…

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Prince Phillip – Let’s start from the beginning, he isn’t wearing any creepy poofy sleeves like some Disney princes and he doesn’t just sit in his palace hoping that his dad will put together a ball so that he can find a wife – he gets shit done. Like when he views a hot blonde singing and dancing with his cape (that’s right ladies, he wears a cape) he jumps right in like “HAI I’m Phillip, do you like the feather in my cap?!” Later, when a witch imprisons his beloved and is like “Yeah..imma let you in right after you slay this dragon.” HE DOES IT, then becomes so overwhelmed with LOVE for Aurora that he goes against ya know, MORALS and kisses her! SAVING THE KINGDOM! Also? Points for kissing someone he’s already betrothed too, no heartbreakers here!

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Prince Eric – Okay I have to admit, at first I wasn’t sure that he would even make the cut but then I started really thinking and Eric is totally swoon worthy. First, he plays an instrument – this shows us he has a sensitive side and those musical fingers – enough said, am I right?! Then there is the fact that he knows his way around a ship, I mean, he’s basically a pirate and who doesn’t wanna walk the plank for Captain Hook? *That’s circa 2013 – OUaT Captain Hook and not Neverland Captain Hook because when it comes down to cross dressing pirates, guy liner wins over wigs any day in my book. I digress…back to Eric – the guy isn’t pretentious, he isn’t one to promote a statue of himself and we all saw those muscles as he rowed Ariel to the middle of the lake. Finally, he is super protective of those he loves, he jumped in to save Ariel from a sea witch! Lets not kid ourselves, Urusula may be the queen of the BAMFs of Disney movies and Eric is like “That’s cool I’ll just use my pirate skills to steer my boat and pop a big ‘ol hole in your stomach!! Finally, I can’t lie to you guys, the moment when Eric goes back to the EXPLODING ship to save Max? I can’t. IT GETS ME EVERY TIME and even my tiny black heart skips a beat or two.

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The Beast – Is he a wolf? Is he a lion? Do we care? Didn’t think so. This is the kind of man we like to call “brooding” or “misunderstood.” He’s a serious grump most of the time but it’s just because no one “gets” him and this girl loves a challenge. His voice is so deep it melts the clothes right off and let’s not forget that he can fight a whole pack of wolves with just his hands! Oh my! In the end he is both protective of Belle and does that signature brooding guy move where he pushes her away because he knows that “she deserves better.” My favorite! Now if that wasn’t enough, he gives Belle a library. A whole library! With ladders! And marble! After giving her the most epic present in the history of presents, he plays with her in the snow, feeds the birds, and sits with her while she reads him Romeo and Juliet! (I’m not making this up, it’s in the deleted scenes on the new DVD – nerd alert!) *Note: This entry is for The Beast only. I’m not sure what Disney was thinking in transforming The Beast into a rather effeminate blonde. Guy was tall, and kept his blue eyes, but I’m still partial to The Beast, I don’t care how often I’d be vacuuming his hair off of the couch.

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Flynn Rider – The only man to come along and make me doubt my love for our number one Disney male. I’ve heard some people complain that Flynn was a thief, but look – the guy had a hard childhood and anyone with the first name Eugene is someone who can be trusted. Lets get into the pleasantries: That hair! Those eyes! The GRIN! That SMOLDER! Props to Rapunzel because I’m not sure many of us could say that we could easily resist that compilation! Lets not forget his excellent singing voice, I personally stop what I’m doing to watch him dance his little jig and sing about enormous piles of money. The best part about Flynn is that we are able to watch him grow as the movie progresses. He starts off as a thief but who didn’t swoon a bit when he rows Rapunzel to the middle of the ocean and brings her a lantern to partake in the festivities?! That was above the line of duty, my friends. We could end with the fact that Flynn gives up his life for Rapunzel and therefore is the epitome of all Disney boyfriends but let’s be serious, it’s the fact that he has a “thing” for brunettes that really pushes Flynn to the front of the line. Pick me, Eugene!

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Aladdin – Ahh my first love. I know he could use a new wardrobe but have you seen those patches in his knees? That means the dude knows his way around a needle, ladies, and we all know we love a man who can take care of himself! Ain’t nobody got time to be sewing our husband’s favorite pair of pants while he’s out playing with his monkey – and I mean that literally. Moving on..he’s flexible, knows how to carry a tune and he not only stops stuffy princes from picking on small children, he gives them his last scrap of bread! Sure he stole it and he will most likely just pilfer some more but those kids were hungry, and I gotta be honest, I’d share a few nibbles but there’s no way those kids need a whole loaf when I’ve yet to have my breakfast. Now the fun stuff – he has a magic carpet! One who saves him on more than one occasion, because Aladdin is so awesome, even fabric stays loyal to him. Fancy a trip to England? Lets take a magic carpet ride, baby. We’ll be there in no time. Finally, his best friend (besides the monkey) is a genie! Now you might be thinking that Genie left to travel the world but let me assure you that he comes back, I saw the tv show so I know these things. Overall Aladdin is scrappy, clever, and undeniably good looking. I’ll show him a whole new world any day.

Honorable mentions (because I CAN):

Kronk from The Emperors New Groove – He’s muscly, knows his way around the kitchen, speaks the language of tiny forest animals, and succeeds in creating his own theme music.

Hercules – Any guy who can win over Megara (who is totes my home girl, btw) is a winner in my book. Not to mention those muscles and his bff is a flying horse – a guy who can drive, yes please!

Robin Hood – He’s an outlaw because he steals from the rich to give to the poor! Also? He jumps out of a flaming tower into a very shallow moat to escape hundreds of arrows being shot at him and survives.

Prince Naveen – The accent, ’nuff said.

Woody from Toy Story – Because every gal likes a cowboy.

Things to note:
  • As mentioned in the buzzfeed article Snow White’s Prince, though the first to be seen by the general public, has few redeeming qualities. Unless you need someone to confess his love for you while harmonizing perfectly and showing you up in physical attributes then immediately forgetting your address and refusing to ask for directions, move along m’dears, you can do better!
  • Simba could very well have made this list for the sole reason that his dad is Darth Vader and his uncle is Jeremy Irons. Unfortunately, having BAMFs as family members doesn’t help you if you’re Matthew Broderick.
  • Sure Tarzan looks nice but I can’t be bothered by a man who consistently uses improper grammar. “Me Tarzan.” “Yeah and me not have the patience.”

*I’m not saying that you should Google “disney men by david kawena” but it could be a good idea. Possibly.

Banned Books Week 2012

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Celebrate Your FREADOM!

Many of you know that September 30 – October 6 is Banned Books Week this year and it is a pretty special year because it marks the 30th anniversary of The Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week reminds us all of the value of free and open access to information. Most importantly, it supports the freedom to express ideas of all kinds – especially those some may deem unconventional. 

As advocates, yes, I am looking at YOU, we draw attention to the harms of censorship and declare how important it is to protect your freedom to read and express your unique ideas!

Can you believe that every year, hundreds of books are either removed or challenged in schools and libraries? In fact, according to the American Library Association, there were at least 326 in 2011 and they estimate that up to 80% of challenges are never even reported? 

Do you want to learn more? Partake in the Virtual Read-Out or put a display up in your library or classroom! Stand up for your rights and the rights of the underrepresented.

The Ten Most Farfetched Reasons to Ban a Book: (via ALA.org)

  • “Encourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.” ( A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstien)
  • “It caused a wave of rapes.” ( Arabian Nights, or Thousand and One Nights, anonymous)
  • “If there is a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it?” ( Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown)
  • “Tarzan was ‘living in sin’ with Jane.” ( Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
  • “It is a real ‘downer.’” ( Diary of Anne Frank, by Anne Frank)
  • “The basket carried by Little Red Riding Hood contained a bottle of wine, which condones the use of alcohol.” ( Little Red Riding Hood, by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm K. Grimm)
  • “One bunny is white and the other is black and this ‘brainwashes’ readers into accepting miscegenation.” ( The Rabbit’s Wedding, by Garth Williams)
  • “It is a religious book and public funds should not be used to purchase religious books.” ( Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, by Walter A. Elwell, ed.)
  • “A female dog is called a bitch.” ( My Friend Flicka, by Mary O’Hara)
  • “An unofficial version of the story of Noah’s Ark will confuse children.” ( Many Waters, by Madeleine C. L’Engle)
“Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” – Mark Twain

 

Book Hoarders Anonymous (2)

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On Saturday, the beau and I decided to take the trip to Niantic to visit The Book Barn and have a nice lunch by the shore. I decided to go prepared this time and I made a list of books to look for. I still took my time browsing the shelves but it was nice to have some authors in mind. I am pleased to say that I was able to find almost every book I had on my list at The Book Barn for only $1.00 each!! You just can’t beat that.

This is what we look like on the way to The Book Barn. (New Year’s Day 2010)

If you live in New England, I highly recommend you take a drive to Niantic and visit The Book Barn. It’s lovely in all seasons, though I prefer to go in the Fall. The “About Us” page on their website provides some insight regarding their mission: “The primary mission of The Book Barn is, of course, to serve as a provider of books, uniting people and books together in biblioholic bliss.” That sums it up but really, The Book Barn is so much more. It’s one of my favorite places to be, even if you aren’t a bibliophile, it’s worth taking the drive.

Besides the amazing books that you will find, The Book Barn also hosts some other fun perks, such as:

  • They have a plethora of kitties on the grounds! Their website even offers a handy “Guide to Finding Our Cats” This is one of my favorite things about The Book Barn and I have to give a little shout out to my dear friend Frank who passed away last year. He was my buddy, and we had quite a few snuggle sessions over the past few years.

Frank!

  • There are comfy chairs all over the place so you can lounge and browse and/or read!
  • They provide treats like donuts, tea and COFFEE
  • They have a goat!
  • There is a secret basement that houses SO MANY BOOKS and some very quiet corners if you need to curl up and read for a bit.
  • The grounds are gorgeous, flowers everywhere and they have picnic tables so you can bring your own lunch!
  • There are now three separate locations! My favorite categories are as follows: The Book Barn: Fiction and Young-Adult, The Midtown Store: Children’s and The Downtown Store: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Cookbooks and SHAKESPEARE. There are, of course, many other genres and maps with all of this nifty info can be found at the main barn!
  • The staff is amazing and unique, and they are always happy to chat! In fact, Jim from the Downtown store and I were partaking in some “book people” chat just this weekend, mostly to confuse the boyfriend but also just because we can!
  • Speaking of the staff, they’re hilarious. I sometimes feel as if I belong to this awesome “book people cult” when I laugh out loud at their left-handed humor. An example can be found in this blog post regarding their shelf labeling.

Yes, that is a book about Snooki on the “Odd Beasts and Beings” shelf.

I bet you’re actually wondering what I picked up on this trip? Here is a picture of the haul I picked up this time – keep in mind I held back as books are currently taking over the apartment:

All priced less than $10 each!!

Being a collector of all things Wizard of Oz I obviously had to buy that one.

The Gates by John Connolly

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Deerskin by Robin McKinley

The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier

Into the Green by Charles de Lint

Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint

Also, not present in the picture, I picked up some books for friends and family.

So there it is, my weekend day trip that I look forward to a few times a year. It is a wonderful place to visit for both book lovers and lovers of book lovers – you need someone to help you carry your books, don’t you?

Find The Book Barn on Facebook or Twitter

Here we go again…

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Hello dear readers!

Things have been somewhat quiet over here at Books Take You Places what with Book Expo America, graduation and the end of the school year craziness but the real reason for my hesitation to post lately has been because I have been debating whether or not to continue blogging. I went through a bit of a blah stage and wasn’t reading or blogging for a while but after much thought I decided that it really is something that I LOVE doing and something that I have become quite proud of.

When I first started blogging it was really just a trial run to see if it was something that I enjoyed doing. As an English major, reading, writing and analyzing literature have always been some of my favorite things to do. I have come to realize that blogging is really a wonderful outlet for all things creative and emotional. It was after some consideration that I decided to take the plunge and switch my blog over to WordPress. There are many reasons for this change, but after serious consideration of the pros and cons (I’m a list maker, you see) I decided that WordPress was where I wanted to be as I move forward in the blogging world.

I do hope you’ll stick by me through this change and I plan on being a lot more “vocal” on here after my hiatus. A sincere thank you to all of the readers and my lovely blog friends, I do look forward to engaging with you all every single day!

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

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Happy 448 birthday, William Shakespeare!
 
 
William Shakespeare
April 23, 1564 – April 23, 1616
Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To digg the dvst encloased heare.
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,

And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.
Four centuries after he wrote them, the works of William Shakespeare continue to entertain and intrigue audiences around the world. Shakespeare’s genius permanently shaped the English language, while his knowledge of the human mind and heart speaks to us across the years. Love him or hate him, it is no question that he remains one of the most influential writers in the English language.
Those who know me know I am a little in love with Mr. William Shakespeare. I was lucky enough to be in DC last year and spent a luxurious amount of time in the Folger Shakespeare Library. I had hoped to go back this year for William’s birthday celebration but alas! I am burdened with responsibilities!
 
 
Thankfully, you’re not here to be burdened by anything, so let’s focus on the fun…
First, some fun facts about Shakespeare:

1. Nobody knows Shakespeare’s actual birthday. Scholars think he was born on April 23, 1564, three days before his baptism was recorded at a church in Stratford, England. Strangely enough, his death in 1616 also occurred on April 23.

2. As far as we know, he never went beyond grammar school, probably finishing in his early to mid-teens. In those days, grammar school was way more advanced than now: Students learned Latin, math and religion; they read classical literature and studied using a hornbook (paper glued to a piece of wood and covered with clear animal horn)

3. Shakespeare applied to the College of Heralds for a coat of arms for his father. A coat of arms was a symbol of higher rank in British society. The Shakespeare family’s coat of arms has a spear in the middle and a falcon on top. Shakespeare inherited the coat of arms when his father died and was then permitted to call himself a gentleman.

4. Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, had three children: Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet. The twins were named after neighbors who named their son William. Although Hamnet died at age 11, his name lives on: It was sometimes written as Hamlet, the title of one of his father’s greatest characters and plays. Shakespeare’s last descendant, a granddaughter, died in 1670.

5. “Shakespeare” was spelled 80 different ways, including “Shaxpere” and “Shaxberd.”

6. Shakespeare is the most translated author ever. His work is read in at least 80 languages, including Chinese, Italian, Armenian, Bengali, Tagalog, Uzbek and Krio (spoken by freed slaves in Sierra Leone).

7. Shakespeare is thought to have written 39 plays. About half were printed in small booklets before his death. But some of his most famous works, including Macbeth and Julius Caesar, were not printed in his lifetime. They would not have been handed down to us had not two men in Shakespeare’s acting company—John Heminge and Henry Condell— printed 36 of his plays in a book called the First Folio. When the book was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, it sold for 1 British pound (several hundred dollars in today’s money). One sold in 2006 for nearly $5 million.

8. While most people regularly use about 2,000 words, Shakespeare used more than 25,000 in his writing.


9. If you do a Google search on “Shakespeare,” you get more than 44 million results.

10. Did Shakespeare really write Shakespeare? Some people think that other authors wrote the works credited to him. This is a debate that likely will continue.


Originally appeared in “10 Ways To Be Or Not To Be A Shakespeare Expert” in the Washington Post by Ellen Edwards.

“You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe!”

Who doesn’t love Shakespearean insults? Click here to generate your own!
 
Let’s not forget about those book to movie adaptations! Personally, Shakespeare in Love was my favorite though I know many who would argue that Romeo and Juliet starring a young Leo is the best. What we have all agreed on thus far however is that the newest movie to bring the bard to the big screen was a big ‘ol flop and had me throwing popcorn at the screen! Anonymous, you remain a thorn in my side and frankly I want those two hours of my life back. Now it is nearly impossible to talk about Shakespearean films without talking about Kenneth Branagh (yes, I do mean Gilderoy Lockhart for those Harry Potter fans.) He is a master and his adaptations are probably my favorite Shakespearean films ever!
  
Want to learn more about William Shakespeare?
 
Check out this amazing Wiki filled to the brim with all things Shakespeare!
Or, check out these resources:
Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? by James Shapiro
Shakespeare: A Life by Honan Park
Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
 
 
How are you celebrating the Bard’s birthday?
 

A Few of My Favorite Things (of 2011)

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Though much of my free time is spent reading fabulous novels, I do turn my brain off every once in a while and enjoy some other means of entertainment. Though I numbered this list from 10-1 I have to remind you that it is nearly impossible for me to put any of my favorite things in any particular order so these numbers are not binding!! Even as I write this post I have been changing my mind on their order! Without further ado, here is my list of my favorite time passers from 2011:

10. Water for Elephants
 

I will be honest; I had little desire to see this movie as I am not a drooling fan of Robert Pattinson. However, I read the book a few years ago and absolutely loved it and I do enjoy the circus venue so I gave it a try and I am so happy that I did! I was very impressed by Reese Witherspoon and I actually found myself enjoying Pattinson’s portrayal of Jacob as well. Overall I believed it to be a great on screen portrayal of a very enjoyable book.

9. True Blood 
 

Being a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series I was very excited to hear when HBO picked up the rights for the show. The series didn’t disappoint me until this season, I didn’t like the way in which Bill was made king and I found Eric’s character to be much more loveable in the books. Despite my misgivings the show totally redeemed itself in the season finale. **spoiler alert** First of all I shed serious tears over the loss of Jesus and I found myself “OH MY GODing” when Steve Newlin appeared AS A FREAKIN’ VAMPIRE and Alcide finds a hole in the cement insinuating that RUSSELL IS BACK BAYBEE!! I am so extremely excited for next season, though I hope Sookie and Bill are a little less annoying.

8. The Muppets 
 

Who doesn’t love the Muppets and their crazy ways? This movie was hilarious, though I think it spoke more to me than the 5 year olds in the audience. Jason Segal and Amy Adams were amazing next to the classic Muppet characters and there were quite a few awesome cameos throughout the film. Though Muppet Treasure Island is still my favorite Muppet movie (Tim Curry as Long John Silver, looove!) this movie is a close second. Mahna Mahna!

7. New Girl 
 

Love, love, love to Zooey Deschanel and her quirky self! This show literally makes me LOL and I find myself relating to Deschanel’s character in some way in almost every episode. I adore her roommates and can’t help but long for her to fall in love with Nick though I know it would ruin many aspects of the already amazing show!

6. Jane Eyre 
 

I was wary to see how Mia Wasikowska portrayed Jane Eyre on the big screen since I didn’t really love her in Alice in Wonderland but she pulled off the haunting character beautifully. I was also very impressed by Michael Fassbender, though I may be a bit biased because he is delish and I tend to fall for those dark, brooding characters more often than not. Overall this was a wonderful portrayal of the novel and I was extremely impressed.

5. Once Upon a Time 
 

The characters in Once Upon a Time are stuck in the “real world” due to a curse put on them by the evil queen, portrayed flawlessly by Lana Parrilla. The show may have started off on a somewhat lame foot but the producers knew what they were doing and they ended the fall season on an “OH EM GEE” note that really plucked the heartstrings. I am very excited for the second part of the season to start (this Sunday!!) and I definitely recommend it to anyone loving a good fairy tale with a twist.

4. Zelda: Skyward Sword 
 

I am a long time Zelda fan and have been since I was just a little tyke pressing random buttons on my dad’s Super Nintendo controller so it is no question that I was eagerly anticipating this new release in the Zelda franchise. I was wary when I saw the preview, afraid that the graphics were too animated and cartoon-like but thankfully I was wrong and Nintendo delivered another nearly flawless chapter in the Zelda series. Though I am only in the second temple and have not put in a lot of hours yet, the game is pretty awesome. The game is designed so your enemies can learn your swordplay and use them against you so the fights are more complicated than simply running into an enemy and swinging your Wii remote frantically, this makes for a more intense and more enjoyable game play.

3. Game of Thrones 
 

I first saw the trailer for this show as I was watching True Blood on HBO. A rider on a white horse flies through the woods at top speed and the words “Winter is coming” come over the screen with ominous music playing in the background. I was immediately enthralled, “Winter is coming? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?” I started searching for the phrase via Google and found links to all kinds of juicy tidbits, along with the information that I had MONTHS to wait for the release of the new show. Well, after months of waiting HBO delivered and like so many times before they did not fail me! Every episode left you hanging and needing more and the finale was full of jaw droppers. I can’t wait for next season!

 
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 

 

 

How can this movie NOT make my favorite list? As I did for each film in the franchise, I nit picked my way through each scene and obsessed over the parts that were even slightly changed but I have to admit that even with the slight adjustments, the movie was ahhhhmazinggg and I was very impressed. Like so many fans, I cried when it was over. Not just because the movie was sad but because these books and movies were such a HUGE part of my life as I grew up, and now they were over! I definitely bought the blu-ray the day it was released and had a Harry Potter marathon as I finished up my last finals of graduate school ever. Ahh memories!

1. American Horror Story 
 

This is probably my favorite show of all time; it’s so unbelievably awesome that I can barely describe its awesomeness. From the first few minutes of the first episode it had me going through a rollercoaster of emotion. It was beyond freaky and confusing yet at the same time was 100% intriguing and every episode had me trying to decipher what the eff was going on in that house! As the show progressed it brought new characters, like The Black Dahlia (!!) and answered questions as it created even more confusion. I looooved the characters, Jessica Lange deserves a plethora of awards for her portrayal of Constance. I seriously had a crush on Tate though he is quite messed up. I like to think of him as layered, though he has mostly been described as evil. Eh, po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe…The producers said that each season will be completely different, possibly even taking place in a different setting, so I am very excited to see what comes up next. If you like scary movies and especially if you are often disappointed at how they are lacking, then this is a show for you!

My Favorite Books of 2011!

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I had hoped to get these lists out before the New Year started but alas, the holiday festivities took precedence and (shame on me) my blog was put on the back burner! Keep in mind I am extremely fickle when making “favorite” lists, I can’t choose a favorite author, movie or book and when asked this question I constantly cheat by claiming that “there are too many to choose from” as to avoid my own personal Sophie’s Choice. With that in mind, I decided to only choose five of my top books from this year and only chose books that I have reviewed on the site thus far, that limited me quite a bit and frankly made my choices a bit easier to make! Without further ado, my favorite (reviewed) books of 2011:

5. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children 
By Ransom Riggs
 

This book was fascinating in so many ways, the pictures not only complimented the text but they stood on their own as their own individual stories. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a many layered story that starts off with an almost horror aspect that keeps you turning the page and looking for more as the story ends.

4. A Tale Dark and Grimm 
By Adam Gidwitz
 

I loved this book. The narration style was hilarious with some aside statements made to both parents and children as well as to the characters in the story. The narrator tells the reader how it is, even if it is not always happy and positive. In fact, the narrator often explains how bloody and terrible the situations coming are going to be and “prepares” them for what is to come. It is no secret that I love a good fairy tale re-write, and although my first impression was that this story would be too juvenile for young adult (or adult) readers, after reading it I found it to be a refreshing change and relatable to readers of all ages.
3. The Child Thief
By Brom
 

Brom completely re-imagines the tale of Peter Pan, turning it into a thoroughly detailed and layered story. The question of who (or what) is evil is presented and as a reader I found myself wavering between the two, into an almost gray area. Brom tells the tale of horror, betrayal and dedication through a child narrator named Nick, a narrator I quickly fell in love with. The illustrations are amazing and give the story even more of an otherworldly effect.

2. Fables
By Bill Willingham
 

Bill Willingham has completely re-created the characters from popular fairy tales. Snow White is Deputy Mayor of Fabletown and her prince of old is not so charming. The story arcs are diverse, ranging from murder mysteries to a political war with a surplus amount of back-story on your favorite fairy tale characters. I can’t get enough of these and I am quickly reading through his other novels as I wait patiently for the next installment in his Fables series.

1. The Night Circus 
By Erin Morgenstern
 

I absolutely loved this book. The imagery in this book was beautiful and the love story was absolutely heart wrenching. Celia and Marco’s first kiss was magical and it set the standard for their love affair in a beautiful way. Erin Morgenstern writes with such detail that it really feels as if you are transported to the center of the ice garden where Celia sits, longing for Marco. I first listened to it on audio book, read by Jim Dale (!!) and then went out and bought the hardcover so that I can read it over and over again!
 
That’s it for me, what were your favorite books from 2011?

Children’s Books That Didn’t Make it..

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I figured we could all use a little fun after a relatively long week (or month!)One of my co-workers showed me this list today and it is too hilarious not to share.

Children’s Books That Didn’t Make It

1.       You Are Different and That’s Bad

2.       The Boy Who Died From Eating All of His Vegetables

3.       Dad’s New Wife, Robert

4.       Fun four-letter Words to Know and Share

5.       Hammers, Screwdrivers and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book

6.       The Kid’s Guide to Hitchhiking

7.       Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her

8.       Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence

9.       The Little Sissy Who Snitched

10.   Some Kittens Can Fly

11.   That’s it, I’m Putting You up For Adoption

12.   Grandpa Gets a Casket

13.   The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator

14.   Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia

15.   The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy

16.   Strangers Have the Best Candy

17.   Whining, Kicking and Crying to Get Your Way

18.   You Were an Accident

19.   Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will

20.   “Pop Goes the Hamster!”…and Other Great Microwave Games

21.   The Man in the Moon is Actually Satan

22.   Your Nightmares are Real

23.   Where Would You Like to be Buried?

24.   Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School

25.   Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things

26.   Daddy Drinks Because You Cry

While we are on the subject of slightly inappropriate subject matter, check out this amazing website I accidentally found while perusing this morning :]