Top Ten Books/Movies To Read/Watch To Get In The Halloween Spirit

This week's Top Ten Tuesday (a meme by The Broke and The Bookish) is pulling double duty by including my picks for scary books/movies/TV for Horror October.  

Books/Movies/TV To Get In The Halloween Spirit 

Books

I don't read much straight up horror, but I do tend to read post apocalyptic / disaster books at times and have a few I'd recommend for anyone looking for something scary this week: 

1. Justin Cronin's The Passage: This book had me so engrossed/terrified on my first read that at one unfortunate point my poor cat Sophie jumped up next to me in bed, and I scared us both by jumping out of bed and screaming (because that'd keep the creepy vampires away, right?). The next in the series (The Twelve) is just as good, but I am still trying to get over the fact that they moved the publication date for the final book in the trilogy to 2015. 

2. M. R. Carey's Girl with All the Gifts: My full review can be found here. I think this different take on a post-apocalyptic world could be perfect for Halloween. 

3. Max Brook's World War Z: If you haven't seen the abomination that is the movie by the same name, don't. But read this book. WWZ contains interview-type stories from survivors of the world's zombie war, and is really fantastically poignant at times (so, not all scares). 

4. Stephen King & Peter Straub's The Talisman: I read this novel earlier in the year as it has tie-ins to the Dark Tower, but it is definitely something that can be read alone. It follows a cross country (and cross dimension) journey of a boy, Jack, for a mysterious item to help heal his mom. Jack's journey was depressing and distressing and horrifying at times, but I found the ending really superb, and this time of year would be perfect for reading it. The sequel (Black House) is on my to-read list. 

5. Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects: I think that Flynn's great talent is crafting thrillers with disturbing but well crafted female characters who are not the victims. I actually liked Sharp Objects one more so than Gone Girl, but either is a good choice for creep factor.

Movies

Maybe it is because I am just so easy to scare, but I am not much on the horror / gore movie thing. Unless it is funny/wittty, and then sure! Here are my picks for scary movies:



6. The Cabin in the Woods: You think you know what is going to happen in this movie, but you don't. I'm planning on watching this one again this week while getting ready for Halloween. 

7. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil: Hillbillies and chainsaws and college kids... in not your usual combination for horror. Lots of gore, but hilarity. 

8. Shaun of the Dead: This was my introduction to Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and probably the one zombie movie I can actually watch more than once. 

TV Episodes

I watch old shows. By that I mean I'm very rarely caught up with the latest season of anything, but I do usually catch up at the end (if I haven't been spoiled by everyone else). I've watched some of the Walking Dead and American Horror Story (and you guessed it -- both gave me nightmares), but here are some scary selections from a few of my favorite shows that you might not immediately attribute with horror. 

9. Doctor Who: S1 Ep 9 The Empty Child. S3  Ep 10 Blink. S4 Ep 8/9 Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead. S4 Ep 10 Midnight
I love Doctor Who for all it's goof, but these are a few of my favorite scary episodes. If you have time for only one, watch Blink. And then try and not notice all the angel statues everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

10. Supernatural: S1 Ep 5 Bloody Mary. S3 Ep 2 The Kids Are Alright. S4 Ep 11 Family Remains
I am such a wimp that I spent much of the first season watching this show with a pillow in my lap to hide behind at moments. These three episodes scared me more than most. 



Have any favorite books, movies, or tv shows that you recommend for Halloween scares? Leave them in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Want To Start Reading

Welcome to another post for the weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list, and then bloggers respond with their answers. Without further ado, this week's list (in no particular order)! 

Series I Want to Start Reading

Science Fiction and Fantasy are genres full of awesome series. Awesome long, epic series. I have a special love for series; they give you the time to really get to know a set of characters and world better. There are so many great series coming out this year and next, but since I have an epic to-read list, this week I am listing out already-out series I want to delve into sometime in the next year.

My fantasy picks:

1. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: I am hoping to tackle this series at the beginning of next year. As in, I already have books 1-6 on my Kindle, waiting. (What? Nobody else watches the Amazon daily deal every single day for books on sale?)
2. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander: Multiple people have recommended the TV show to me, but I am planning on reading the books (or at least first book) first. But time-traveling and men in kilts? Who is not going to love a story like that?
3. Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive: My husband has read both of the first two books in this series, and keeps telling me that I must. I do like Sanderson's impressive world-building, so I am looking forward to getting into this saga at some point.
4. Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland series: I haven't read anything by Valente, but I am hoping to change that soon. An Alice in Wonderland-like story seems like a great deal of fun to me!
5. N.K. Jemisin's Dreamblood series: I loved Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy series (non-traditional fantasy for the win!), so I am looking forward to delving into the series sometime soon.

My science-fiction picks (three of which I am hoping to start next month for Sci-Fi November, ambitious me!)

6. Lois McMaster Bujold's The Vorkosigan Saga - I loved Bujold's fantasy / romance series, and I am looking forward to this award winning / beloved sci-fi space opera.
7 + 8. Ian Bank's Culture Series + Dan Simmon's Hyperion Cantos:  For a sci-fi fan, my reading history with space opera is pretty sparse. I am hoping to get into these two sci-fi epics soon. Very soon. (Next month, soon.)
9. Daniel H. Wilson's Robopocalypse: I saw Wilson speak at a panel at Comic Con and put his series on my to-read list afterwards. I have a thing for post-apolocalyptic worlds, and I'm looking forward to a fresh robot-fueled take.
10. Mira Grant's Newsflesh: Did I mention that I have a thing for post-apocalyptic worlds? :) I don't know why I haven't read this series yet, multiple people have recommended it, but I plan to start it soon. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit

Welcome to another post for the weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list, and then bloggers respond with their answers. Without further ado, this week's list (in no particular order)! 

Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit

This week's list was tough for me to compile (and thus, only 5 books long -- apologies!), which is probably the result of reading too many dystopias / apolocalpytic books. Just because I love a book and a world doesn't mean I want to live in it! But worlds I do love include:

1. Pern. As a child, Anne McCaffery's books and world captivated me. The whole premise of being imprinted on an awesome dragon to save the world? Sign me up!

2. Steampunk Victorian London ala Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate. I loved the way Carriger's books melded my favorite parts of steampunk (all the cool inventions!) and urban fantasy and the Victorian age.

3. Hogwarts. Who doesn't want to be a witch or wizard educated at the secret school of wizarding?

4. Eretz. I have only read the first book in Lanini Taylor's trilogy (I know -- bad reader, bad reader!), but I loved the world she created in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone with chimera and seraphim.

5. Ringworld's Earth. Larry Niven created a book with snippets of an interesting future Earth and vast spread of humanity's knowledge of space and neighboring species. I would love to live in a time like this. I wouldn't even mind living on the mysterious Ringworld with uncertain creators or purpose.

Anyone have a favorite world from a book they'd love to visit? Comment below!

I am taking a break on posting this week as I prepare for a family vacation (Maui -- be jealous!), catch up on some bookclub reading, plus prepare some content for Sci-Fi November. As a result, there will not be a post this Thursday like usual, but check back this weekend for another Soundtrack Saturday and Sunday Short! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels

Welcome to another post for the weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list, and then bloggers respond with their answers. Without further ado, this week's list (in no particular order)! 

Ten Books for Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels

I think the best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event, which is to say character-driven. - Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

Ah, the character driven novel. Sometimes you just want to delve deep into the psyche of someone else, am I right? I am a big fan of character driven works and will usually choose them over the more plot driven action novel types. Ten novels I'd recommend from speculative fiction are: 

My fantasy picks: 

1. Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb (my review here): Or pretty much anything else written by Hobb. She has a way with character development -- creating people with real flaws and hang ups and usually making tragic things happen to them. But it is so good that you will forgive her the heartache.
2. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: Rothfuss's first published fantasy was popular for a reason -- he creates unique characters that truly drive the story.
3. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin: As long as you don't mind your favorite characters dying (seriously, no one is safe), the Song of Ice and Fire series is full of wonderfully interesting characters (and very detailed descriptions of the feasts too -- don't read while on a diet, trust me). 
4. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (my review here): King introduces two iconic figures in this book with the opening lines: The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. The rest of the novel gives you the complicated character that is Roland.
5. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson: This book follows Ursula Todd, who sadly dies before she can draw her first breath. And then again, on that same night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to die in early childhood. And then again... you get the picture. Atkinson crafts a wonderful story (which should probably not be read by new parents, take my word for it) that illustrates much of what happens in Europe in the early 20th century while also creating a deep interesting character in Ursula.

And my science fiction picks:

6. The City & The City by China Meiville: If you want to learn whole new vocabularies, Meiville is your author. In this novel, you follow Inspector tyador Borlu as he investigates a murder. His investigation takes him into the neighboring city which is literally right next to him (but not). It is twisty sci-fi and a police procedural all wrapped into one. 
7. The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin: This novel introduced me to the depth of social and political discussion that sci-fi can have. It starts at Anarres, a utopia where there are no laws, no own possessions, and follows Shevek, a brilliant physicist who believes his theories could unite societies all over the universe.
8. Dawn by Octavia Butler: I finished Butler's Xenogenesis series this summer; I am hoping to get a review out on it sometime next month. Dawn, the first in the series, follows Lilith who wakes up in the custody of the Oankali, a race of aliens that has saved humanity from utter destruction, healed our planet, and are now wanting to repopulate the planet -- for a trade. Lilith is a very interesting character with some very weird choices to make.
9. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan: This novel follows Takeshi Kovacs as he investigates a murder in a society where consciousness can be now downloaded into a new body. Part ruthless killer, part man of principle, Kovacs is definitely an interesting character, but this book does have some coarse language and adult content -- so beware for that.
10. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie: Will I ever stop recommending this book? Probably not. Breq has to be one of the most interesting characters developed in a sci-fi novel that I have read in a long long time. If you haven't read this one, please do yourself a favor and read it! Read it!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Fall To-Read List

Welcome to another post for the weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list, and then bloggers respond with their answers. Without further ado, this week's list (in no particular order)! 

Top Ten Books On My Fall To-Be-Read List:

Ah, fall! A time of pumpkin and spice and everything nice! Other than already purchasing more than my fair share of everything pumpkin this week at the grocery store (pumpkin english muffins, where have you been all my life?), I have quite a list of books I'd like to tackle in the next few months.

First the new or newer releases:

1.  Ancillary Sword by Anne Leckie: the first in this series (Ancillary Justice) won all the awards this year, and I am one of those people who thinks it deserved it. I am really looking forward to another story with the alien perspective of Breq!

2.  Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin: this novel is a multiple award winning novel in China. It is being translated and released in English for the first time in November.

3.  The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell: as mentioned last week, I really enjoyed Mitchell's unconventional storytelling in his Cloud Atlas (and even thought the movie was decent), so I am looking forward to his new release.

4.  Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb: I haven't read enough Hobb, and I know that I need to remedy that. I've had this book on my to-read list for awhile.

5.  Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King: True story -- I am a member of a local all-girl's book club that is pretty awesome. In November, we are supposed to read another chick-lit book, but a few of us have revolted and decided to read this Stephen King instead (yes, I have found my tribe). 

And then the older releases that I'm hoping to finally tackle this fall:

  6.  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: As noted in my SDCC wrap up, Gabaldon really impressed me at her panel I attended. I am hoping to start this series in the fall. 

7.  Red Country by John Abercrombie: Another author I met at SDCC, I have a pile of his books to read. I really enjoyed his latest release (Half a King review here), and his short story in the Dangerous Women anthology. 

8.  The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes: I've heard a lot of buzz about Beukes latest book (Broken Monsters), and it has put this other novel by her up higher on my to-read list again (seeing as it has been sitting on my kindle for over a year). 

9.  Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood: Atwood is another author I have vowed to read more of, and her sci-fi series in pretty high on my to-read list.

10. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold: I went on a Bujold binge this time last year (highly recommended), reading pretty much all of her fantasy (Chalion series and The Sharing Knife series). Her Vorkosigan series is definitely high on my to-read list.

I'm not certain I will get to all these books but I am certainly going to have fun trying! Ah, the life of a literary addict. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I NEED to Read More

In an effort to provide a little more regular programming, I am going to start experimenting with some weekly features. This week I am trying out the weekly meme Top Ten Tuesday. Have an idea of something you'd like to see? Leave it in the comments below! 

It is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list, and then bloggers can response with their answers. Without further ado, this week's list (in no particular order)! 

Top Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More: 

1. Ann Leckie: This one isn't my fault, as she only has one novel out: Ancillary Justice. But the next in the series, Ancillary Sword, is high on my to-read list.
2. Guy Gavriel Kay: I read Kay's Tigana with the Sword and Laser bookclub in 2013 and thought the author did a great job of twisting some familiar fantasy tropes. I hope to get a chance to read The Lions of Al-Rassan.
3. Kate Atkinson: I read her Life after Life last winter and loved it (although wouldn't recommend it for any other new parent that is worried about all the things that go wrong for their children). I will probably start with her popular Jackson Brodie series, which I heard hyped at SDCC this year.
4. Joe Abercrombie: I read his most recent novel Half a King and plan to continue that series when the next comes out. I plan on reading his novel Red Country soon. 
5. Jo Walton: I read her Hugo winning novel Among Others with the Sword and Laser bookclub in 2013 and have read some of her short fiction since then. Her novel My Real Children has been on my to-read list for awhile.
6. Jim Butcher: I set a goal of reading one long series every year, and I'm pretty certain next year's series will be Butcher's Dresden files. I've only read the first in his Codex Alera (high fantasy) series Furies of Calderon (because who doesn't want to read a book in which the author tried to mix Roman legions and Pokemon, right?). 
7. C.J. Cherryh: Sometimes a girl needs straight up politics and space opera, am I right? I read Cherryhy's Hugo-award winning Downbelow Station with the Sword and Laser bookclub in 2013, and I appreciated the story's complexity of the politics / science fiction. I will probably start with Foreigner.
8. David Mitchell: Read his Cloud Atlas with (wait for it...) the Sword and Laser bookclub and loved the unconventional storyline (gave my reading muscles a workout!)...I am definitely interested in his newly published The Bone Clocks.
9. Margaret Atwood: Probably one of my biggest sources of reader shame is having only read Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, which was definitely not the most comfortable read but so very very interesting. I've had her Oryx and Crake novel on my to-read list for awhile.
10. Scott Lynch: Reading 1.5 novels still counts as 1 novel, right? I read Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora (with the Sword and Laser bookclub, surprise!) and started the sequel on audiobook only to get caught up in other reads. I need to start Red Seas under Red Skies again. Because I need to know what happens to my favorite gentlemen bastards. I probably just wont listen to the audiobook, as I've found I don't really enjoy my stories as much that way.

As you can imagine, my to-read list is way. too. long! Making this list definitely made me appreciate the Sword and Laser book club, which I discovered back in 2012 and have been reading the picks for ever since. This online book club has done a great job of introducing me to new (to me) authors!