Friday Memes: Banned Book Love & Movies I Want

I'm hopping again!!  WhootWhoot!! I miss the hop sometimes and this weekend seemed like a good time to hop around the book blogger community and see what's going on.  Here goes.

Book Blogger Hop (Hosted by Crazy-for-Books):

“In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite “banned or frequently challenged book”?”


So I answered this question in my Why I Love Wednesday Post this week and my answer was The Hunger Games because it is fab-tastic and Ms. Collins is so talented.  It is amazing that she can take such a dark and disturbing situation and make readers like me giddy with excitement.

But I've talked about that.  Here are a few more titles that I love from the must read "banned/challenged" list.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (banned for sexual content).  I heart Rosie the Elephant and who doesn't love grumpy old men?  Yes there was sexual content and explicit vocabulary BUT it wasn't the focus and it was imperative to the history.


Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (banned for sexual material and homosexual themes).  *sigh* Like really?  I don't even remember homosexual themes or sexual material but how you can possibly have THAT as a take-away after reading such an emotional and historically accurate book.  Shame on you!  I love Anne, her honesty, and her gutspah!  Her reality was so sad.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (banned because it is "soft-pornography" and glorifies drinking, cursing and premarital sex).  So this book was included in my curriculum when I was teaching.  If anything, I think it demonstrates the dangers of drinking.  But.  This is a difficult topic but an important one.  Sometimes I wonder if people read these books before opposing them.

So what's up... Do they only ban books that have an important message?

Follow Friday (Hosted by Parajunkee and Allison @ Allison Can Read): 

What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?
I'm going to pick a book but go easy on me if it turns out to already have a movie.  I'm just not a movie person and I'm always surprised to find that a book I like is a movie and I've never heard about it.  I'm always out of the loop when it comes to movie.

My pick...

Friday Memes: Tshirt Mantras

Follow Friday Question of the Week:

Let's step away from book for a second and get personal.  What T-shirt slogan best describes you?

Well let's be honest.  I can only get so personal on here.  My grandmother reads my blog.

Thanks for stopping by!  Take a look around and if you like what you see, give me a follow.  If you have time, check out my YA giveaway, my ode to Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, and my take on The Rose Notes.

Friday Memes: No-Go Genres & Author Sit Downs

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:
What's the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can't?

Hmmm...that is a hard one.  I guess chick-lit.  I try to read it but I just can't get into it.  I usually get all riled up about some stereotype concerning women or love or something else that doesn't matter.  It usually makes me feel like I'm reading fluff (like I don't read romance novels or something).  I just can't really give a logical reason for it, but it is just how it is.

You can find Blogger Hop HERE.


Follow Friday Question of the Week:
Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice?

1.  Suzanne Collins: author of the Hunger Games trilogy
2. Ann M. Martin: author of The Babysitter's Club series
3.  Janet Evanovich: author of the Stephanie Plum series
I'm sure these aren't incredibly creative, but I just want to be their friend :)

Waves!!  Hi all!  Thanks for stopping by.  Settle down.  Have a seat.  Have a drink on me (as long as you are legal).  I'm an eclectic reader and blogger enjoying my little spot on the web.

If you get a chance, check out my Why I Love meme ( I would love if you would consider participating in the future).  I have a GIVEAWAY coming up this weekend, so stop by again if you get a chance.

Friday Memes: Getting Books and Non-Reading Activities?

Blogger Hop Question of the Week
How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you paperbackswap?

This answer has changed so much over the past six months since I started this here blog. BTB (Before the Blog), I got my books from the Sony Ebook Store or Amazon.com. ATB(After the blog), I get my books from:

1. The publisher/author/Netgalley: these are all book review requests.  I love it, but I think I'm going to stop during school. I get so behind and feel so bad about it.
2. Amazon.com: I'M ADDICTED!! This is where I get all my impulse buys.
3. Houston Public Library online (this is the most awesome thing ever!): I can borrow books from the library onto my Ereader.  It is super awesome because I can get the newest titles which I don't usually purchase on my own because they are more expensive.

I don't use book swapping sites.  I give my books to friends or hoard them on my bookshelf.

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:
What do I do when I am not reading?

Well.  I Blog.  That is all.

Seriously... I work from 8 to whenever at the District Attorney's office.  I come home and visit blogs, complete my blog checklist, and then I read.

I am super boring it isn't even funny.  I don't even cook on the weekdays.  How lame am I?



Waves!!  Hi welcome to my little spot on the web.  Feel free to take a sit down and relax.  I am an eclectic reader and blogger.  If you have a time, check out my latest Why I Love post and consider joining in next week. I recently read a nice cozy mystery which was extra wonderful because I had some reads that I just didn't click with before it.

Friday Memes: Worsties...

Follow Friday Question of the Week:
Let's step away from the besties...What is the worst book you've ever read and actually finished.

I think I'm going to raise some eyebrows but I have to tell the truth.

I hated.
With a passion.

Lord of the Flies

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:

No question this week.  Instead we'll advertise awesome giveaways of our fellow bloggers.

Christy @ The Reader Bee has an awesome 500 follower giveaway that you should check out!  Ends July 10

Jade @ Sort of Beautiful is giving away a $10 GC to Starbucks because she doesn't drink coffee.  Ends today July 8th so hurry!!

Friday Memes: Lazy Answers

Follow Friday Question of the Week:

ACK!  Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room!  Who is it and what would be your first reaction?  You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

I have no earthly idea and I don't want to think very hard (this happens).  So I'm picking A book/movie character, NOT my FAVORITE book/movie character.


I choose Six from I Am Number Four.  I never read the book but in the movie she was so super bad*ss that I wanted to be her.  I mean REALLY wanted to be her.  For those of you who read the book...Is Six as cool in the book as the movie?

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:
"What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?"
Before I answer I want to give a shout-out to Jen.  Her Vlog was super fun and brave (I'm still afraid to give it a try).  I loved that she shook things up for the hop a bit.  As for me, I will continue the old fashioned way until I build some courage.

I keep reading a book because of fantastic characters and a story that sounds different in a way that I am intrigued and curious to find out what happens.  I stop reading a book if it starts out too confusing.  This happens when an author tries to introduce too many characters at one time.  I also stop reading a book if the writing style is to cliche and I feel like I've read it all before a million times.  I usually continue to read once I start because that's what I do.  But I have a massive attitude if I'm doing it just because instead of reading on because I am enjoying myself.

For those of you are new...thanks for stopping in.  My name is Alexis and I am a fairly eclectic blogger.  Welcome!  Waves!!  Come on in and take a seat.  If you get a chance, take a browse around.  I'd love it if you tell me who your favorite book sidekick is or check out my review on the newest Stephanie Plum novel.  If you are feeling some drama, I reviewed a book by Shawna Hill (boyfriend/girlfriend drama) and Kamala Nair (family drama).

I'm also participating in the Freedom Giveaway Hop so don't forget to enter :)

Friday Memes: Fairy Tales & Epiphanies

 Follow Friday Question of the Week:
In light of the Summer Solstice.  Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies.  What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

I'm not sure that I've read many.  The only book that I can think of that involves the fae is the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I know that can't be right, but it is the first and only series/book that comes to mind.  I'm actually very unhappy with my simple and unoriginal answer.  There you have it folks.  I'm having an unoriginal day
As for favorite fairy tale... I think it has to be Cinderella... I have good memories of the Disney movie as a child.  It is also the first story I read to my little brother : ) 

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:
"When did you realize that reading was your passion and an important part of your life?"

I'm not quite sure when this realization hit me.  I think it might have happened in the second grade when I wrote an essay called "How the Library Changed My Life" as part of a school assignment.  My school submitted it to ALA and I won a contest.  In writing that short essay, it was the first time I articulated how I felt about books and why they were so important to me.  I think it was also the first time I actually thought about it and realized it myself.   After that tons of things happened: I spoke at the ALA convention, went to the Whitehouse and read the speech to President Clinton, and was given tons of free books by a children's tv show.  It was then that I realized that everyone didn't read like I did (they thought I was special or something).  I also realized that I shouldn't ever stop reading.

Okay I think that sounded more sappy than I meant.  Oops.

Don't forget to check out my Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Here!!

Friday Memes: Genre Wars & TBR List

Follow Friday Question of the Week:
Genre Wars!  What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

Ummm... I think my favorite genre is historical fiction but that is likely to change in 2-3 hours or 2 days or whatever.  It's often whatever great book I am reading at the time.  I've been reading for a long long time and I'm not sure if I can pinpoint the book that started my love for historical fiction.  Maybe it was Little Women or maybe it was everything Charles Dickens.

    
Speaking of which...what do you call books that weren't historical fiction when written but may be  considered so now, i.e. Jane Eyre?  Is that Historical Fiction too?  I'm just curious.

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:

"How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) pile?"

Compared to many, mine isn't that bad.  I probably have about 50-60.  My TBR pile is kind of like my comfort books.  So when I want a new read, I usually buy one and don't go to my TBR.  Since I'm so moody I need to have something waiting for me IF I need it.  I also do have room for much more than that.

 Waves!!  Welcome!  I'm Alexis and I'm quite an eclectic reader and reviewer.  Come on in and get a look around.  If you have time, please take a look at my mini-review of Tuesdays with Morrie or my review of  The Stormchasers.


I also LOVE when people stop in and comment/participate in my weekly feature Why I Love Wednesdays.  


Thanks for stopping in :)

Friday Memes: Switching Places

Follow Friday Question of the Week:

The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

Well I would switch places with Sookie Stackhouse.  Not that I'm lusting for vampires or anything, but who wouldn't want to know what everyone was thinking?  Of course you could learn too much but I think the benefits outweigh the risks.  I would love to know when people are lying to me.  Plus...she's part fae. which is way cooler than being a vampire (take that Bella).  Oh and the Eric part..well since he comes along with it, I GUESS I'll take him.  But I would certainly miss my husband.  Most certainly.

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:

"Who is the one author that you are dying to meet?"

This one is easy!!  I am dying to meet Janet Evonovich.  There are tons of books that I love but the Stephanie Plum series is different.  I like that series because it is different.  Stephanie does quirky things and Mrs. Evanovich has admitted that some of that has come from her experiences.  Soooo... I am dying to meet her in real life.  It would be cool.  I'm sure I would be really lame and get nervous and everything.  Maybe one day.

Waves!!  I'm a pretty eclectic reader and blogger.  If you get a second or two, please take a look around.  You can visit this week's Why I Love Post (about book formats) or check in on my thoughts about Minding Frankie, The March of Violets, or the two audiobooks I finished.

Friday Memes: Book Numbers & Movie Adaptations

Follow Friday Question of the Week:

How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

In school I probably read 1-2 fun books a week.  One listening and one on the ereader or paper.  Now that school is out I'm hoping to go back to normal, which is 1 book listening and 2-3 books in either paperback or ereader.  I'm a fast reader but I'm super busy.  Between law school and a part-time job, I try really hard to have a work-life balance.

Blogger Hop Question of the Week:

"What book-to-movie adaption have you most liked?  Which have you disliked?"

I really enjoyed the Harry Potter adaptations even though they were forced to leave a lot of things out.  Those books are huge so I completely understand having to choose which story-lines to focus.  I also think the Twilight adaptations have been great but I might not be a great judge because I read the entire Twilight series after watching the first movie.  My all-time favorite movie adaptation has been Gone with the Wind.  If you haven't seen the movie, you just have too.  Vivian Leigh did a wonderful job.

The Book-to-Movie adaptation that I didn't like would unfortunately be Water for Elephants.  Don't get me wrong, it was a good movie, but it was an amazing book.  The movie did a good job of telling the story, but it didn't capture the magic to me.  I don't want to include any spoilers or anything but I want to give a small example.  In the book, everyone lines up to get paid and I could imagine the faces and dismay on their faces.  In the movies, August just whispers something to someone.  I just felt like the book was more vivid.  Also, the nursing home element was taken out of the movie, which I thought was important to the story.  Anyway, I don't like the movie as an adaptation but still thought it was a good movie as long as I didn't compare it to the book.