Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Top Ten Tuesday Topics

Today marks a very special Top Ten Tuesday. This meme has officially been held by The Broke and the Bookish for five years! Obviously I think Top Ten Tuesday is pretty special since it's the only meme I participate in (and we all know how many other memes there are in this wonderful, crazy place we call the Internet). It allows us book bloggers to think about our reading habits and see how we compare to others, and it leads us to exciting blogs we've never encountered before. As a blog that still doesn't get a lot of traffic, I'm always super grateful for the extra traffic Top Ten Tuesday brings because these readers occasionally lurk and I end up getting to look at there blogs as well. Granted I've only participated in twenty five before this post, but without further ado,

 

Top Ten Favorite Top Ten Tuesday Topics

 

Books I'd Give a Theme Song To

Series I'd Like to Start But Haven't Yet

Favorite Heroines

Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read

Inspiring Quotes from Books

Books on My Summer TBR List (2013)

Favorite Classic Novels

Books I'm Not Sure I Want to Read

Nonfiction Books on My TBR List

Popular Authors I've Never Read

 

As always, feel free to leave me your links so I can see how we all compare!

Favorite Music Videos: Part 1

Today I'm going to dive into a subject I rarely ever mention on this blog despite having such a prominent place in my life: Music videos. The spectrum of them is enormous, and I feel as though I'm probably picky about music videos. I tend to not like those that try to convey a whole plot since I just don’t think it works in such small time slots. (This is why I'm not a fan of short stories unless they're from authors like Katherine Mansfield, who tell a story of psychology rather than of extrinsic plot.) Instead, I prefer the abstract. I prefer metaphors – they can say so much without a big plot. I prefer great cinematography over chaos. I have a collection of favorites that will only keep growing, so I've decided to make this a little series of posts for me to work on off and on. For now, here's the first part, containing only five of my favorite music videos.

"Oceania" - Bjork
To be honest, when I think of my favorite music videos, Bjork's "Oceania" is often the first to come to mind (along with another that I'll discuss in another post). This also happens to be my favorite Bjork song, and fortunately, the video matches the song's oceanic beauty. Bjork is covered in sparkles as she sings from the perspective of Mother Oceania as though addressing humanity, her children. So, the video consists of underwater shots of plant life, jellyfish, and fish. It's colorful without having too many colors. Really, it's a shame that we don't really have an HD version of this stunning visual aid, but this will just have to do for now.

"The Islander" - Nightwish
"The Islander" is one of the most Finnish-sounding Nightwish songs, and in my opinion, it is their prettiest and most subtle music video. "A lone man by a seashore at the end of day" is not sailing his ship, but carrying it across dry lands, and he is haunted by ghosts as he keeps trekking. I also really love the shots of the band (which even foreshadow pipe player Troy Donockley's membership): They're sitting in a circle of fire under the moon as they revel in their  pretty acoustic music. (We can't get more old school Nightwish than that, can we?)



"Call Me When You're Sober" - Evanescence
I love a lot of Evanescence videos, so don't be shocked when half of them make an appearance in these posts as I continue this little series. However, I must note that "Call Me When You're Sober" has the only video that increases my love for the song. The band plays with the Red Riding Hood theme (with actual wolves and a figurative one), so there's a lot of red imagery, and Amy Lee is at her most badass. The video ends with her stomping across a table as the plates, food, and chairs, fly away from her feet. If that doesn't say "I'm pissed and I've had enough," I don't know what does.



"Perfect Life" - Steven Wilson
I recently discovered this beautiful song and video through The Metal Pigeon, a fantastic metal review blog (despite Wilson's music not being metal). The imagery in this perfectly-shot video is quite beautiful as it was made amid open fields. All this video consists of are shots of nature and two actresses (which, based on the narration, play the role of foster sisters who have long been separated). It's a very simple visual aid that takes its time, which suits the song very well. Everytime I watch it I can practically smell the summer air.



"There Goes Our Love Again" - White Lies
I figured I'd end this post on a more fun and peppy note with the British alternative band White Lies' infectious song and video, "There Goes Our Love Again." It's more of a performance video as White Lies remain on stage the whole time, but the most exciting performance is that of the energetic dancers, led by a tiny lady in gold. It's so much fun to watch; I dare you to view it and not feel happy.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour | by: Morgan Matson

I've decided that I don't read enough contemporary, and one lovely day when I was at a bookstore decided that I'd randomly give Amy and Roger's Epic Detour a try, especially since I'd read a number of positive reviews of it over the years and it was seriously time for a summer read. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour ended up being exactly what I was looking for and exactly what I expected with a great combination of lighthearted moments and darker emotions. It's definitely not a new favorite but it served its purpose and I really enjoyed it.

Amy Curry needs to move all the way across the United States, from California to Connecticut. She and her family need to 'start over' after her father's death, which she blames herself for. Ever since the accident Amy has refused to get behind the wheel of a car, so an old friend from early childhood that she doesn't really remember, Roger, has agreed to drive her on his way to his father's home. In search for personal answers concerning Roger's last relationship and Amy's unspoken grief, they decide to take a detour, and they go from being near strangers to something much more.

Amy and Roger's time on the road leads to a lot of growth and development for both of them. This, and their budding relationship, marks the novel's best asset: The transitions are so smooth. And really, when you think about it, the book's premise sounds like insta-love just waiting to happen since Amy and Roger are essentially all alone and sometimes have to share beds, but Morgan Matson keeps it real. Plus, both characters have their flaws, but none that make them particularly unlikeable, and they meet some really nice people on their trip. That's not to say that everyone is lovely though. Amy's mother tended to bother me even though I did feel sad for her, and let's face it, no one likes Roger's ex, Hadley. The only thing that was a little strange was how willing Amy was to telling strangers about her problems before people she knew... But then again, that's also understandable.

Not everything is resolved in the end. I realize that may bother some people but it doesn't bother me; sometimes we just have to hope that everything will fictionally work out the way we want it to. However, the ending also enforces that we really never know what's going to happen. Ever. That theme prevails throughout this book, and on one side it's bleak, but it's also exciting and full of promise. You know, deep life stuff we all love. Even though there's a lot of serious drama (is that even the right word?) going on and I got a couple tears in my eyes here and there, the road trip itself is exciting and the romance is kind of fluffy.

The way Matson lays out the novel, with Amy and Roger's travel playlists and the actual photos she took when she went to all these places, made the experience really unique. I've never encountered anything quite like it, and I don't really have any major complaints with this book. I think my least favorite aspect was the writing style, but it's not that it was bad, it just didn't stand out to me. But like I said, I really enjoyed this book, and I understand the hype. It's a great summer read, and that's just what I needed.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Love to See as Movies

Time for another Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish; it's fabulous. This week we have one of those topics that cause us book bloggers to dream about a perfect bookish world that gives us what we want. 

Top Ten Books I'd Love to See as Movies

 

Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

(A live action sequence of five films for each of the story arcs: The Dark Kingdom, Black Moon, Infinity, Dreams, Stars)
Just imagine the special effects. The galactic landscapes...

 

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

(Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Winter)

Such badassary must be translated to film immediately. Meyer confirmed that the rights have been sold, but as we book lovers know, that means nothing. Pre-production is the place where adaptations die.
 

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

This book is an emotional rollercoaster despite being middle grade. Even though this story is full of death, it's full of youth, and it think such a story would translate really well to the big screen.
 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

(Across the Universe, A Million Suns, Shades of Earth)

If these books were movies, they'd be visually stunning, action-packed... Just all-around amazing.
 

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

 While I imagine this one would be difficult since a lot of the story is about Lucy's psychology (kind of like with Holden in The Catcher in the Rye), I feel like this would make a great indie film.
 

Crossing the Threshold by Amanda Dirlam and Melanie Overmyer

This would be a great teen movie. There's a perfect combinatino of happy and sad, contemporary and fantasy. But first more people need to read this book before it can ever be adapted.

The House of Night by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

(A six-film franchise which combines books.)

P.C. Cast confirmed ages ago that we could be getting a franchise... Unfortunately it seems as though this project has been neglected. Probably because a lot of people hate this series. BUT I LOVE IT AND I WANT MOVIES.
 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

(The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead-Tossed Waves, The Dark and Hollow Places)


Let's all think about this for a moment; These would be some freaking frightening movies. And there's certainly a market for them since a lot of people are into the whole zombie scene. Personally I'm not fond of zombies but I love these books, so there's certainly cross-over appeal. So... why the hell not?


Let me know which books you want to be adapted! If you leave the link to your Top Ten Tuesday, I'll take a peek!

The Human Contradiction | Delain

In the symphonic metal realm of the Internet, Delain has been gaining recognition, especially with the release of their latest album, The Human Contradiction. It was a bit easier for Delain to make their name known in the world of symphonic metal as it was started by Martijn Westerholt, brother of Robert of Westerholt and initial keyboardist of Within Temptation, but they've only been growing in popularity as they've been releasing albums. Lead vocalist Charlotte Wessels has a unique voice since she's had both classical and jazz training, and while it took her style a while to grow on me, the fact of the matter is that Delain is making music that's catchy enough and heavy enough to demand attention almost instantly nonetheless. The Human Contradiction is a lovely symphonic metal album because of these elements.

 

"Here Come the Vultures" kicks the album off with a horror feel reminiscent of songs like "The Howling" by Within Temptation and "Cloud Nine" by Evanescence. It begins softly with chimes and piano as Wessels sings along to a creepy melody, but then heavy and infectious guitar riffs come in at the end of her powerful opening verse: "I just want to see you stare / As I lay my soul bare for you / To crush upon with heavy feet / I'm in it for the beat." This is the longest song on the album, clocking in at about six minutes, and even though the overall structure is a bit repetitive, more elements are added to make the song more interesting. The choir and strings become more and more prominent as the track continues, and there are moments where I definitely see the resemblance between this band and Within Temptation. The final section of the bridge is a thrashing jam session that is a perfect blend of guitars and strings, and I don't think I could be happier with this opener.

 

"Army of Dolls" also stands out as one of my favorites. I fell in love with it right away when I heard it during Delain's setlist as they opened for Nightwish last month, and it's actually what motivated me to look up more of Delain's music. It's an epic track about body image and the struggle to accept oneself amid society's impossible standards... It actually surprises me that there aren't more songs about this; I'm very happy Wessels decided to tackle the subject. The chorus is a fantastic blend of guitars and keyboards and it's easy to get it caught in your head as Wessels repeats "Do you want me...?" The middle eight seems to slow things down before all hell breaks loose (sort of like in "Here Come the Vultures," yet still distinctive). I love this song.

 

The first single, "Stardust," primarily stands out because of its catchy chorus and pretty lyrics: "Bring me to life / Bring me to starlight / Bring me the sun and moon / Release the stars tonight." However, the second verse helps the song chug along since guitars are added and it doesn't rely quite so heavily on vocals alone. The piano part of the pre-chorus almost seems to imitate a heartbeat and continues as one of the chorus' layers, another of the song's great elements. Even though it's one of the poppier songs from the album the middle eight certainly still rocks and adds a soothing choral layer. I wasn't initially crazy about "Stardust," but it definitely grew on me once I was able to truly appreciate the standout chorus.

 

"Lullaby" is also a pretty solid track with a mystifying use of keyboards. It's one of the more repetitive songs, but it's quite fun and energized. The way Wessels vocalizes in the middle eight reminds me a bit of Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation, and I also hear this resemblance in the beautiful chorus of "The Tragedy of the Commons." Death metal vocalist Alissa White-Gluz of The Agonist and Arch Enemy is featured in the bridge, a dark and interesting contrast to Wessel's lighter voice. "The Tragedy of the Commons" has a perfect combination of heaviness and lightness, thus making it one of my favorites and a relatively memorable album-closer.

This album features a couple of other high-profile guest vocalists. Marco Hietala of Nightwish sings on "Your Body is a Battleground" and "Sing to Me." "Your Body is a Battleground" is definitely the heaviest of the two with its intense, war-like feel, and "Sing to Me" is more melodic. Neither are favorites of mine but I prefer "Sing to Me" as it's more relatable and the string line during the middle eight is quite pretty.

I was more excited for "Tell Me, Mechanist," as it features the ex-Orphanage vocalist George Oosthoek... We all know how much I love George. And while he sounds great on this track, it's a really good song nonetheless. It begins with just Wessels and the piano: "Tell me, Mechanist, is it true? / Does none of it bother you?" But heavy riffs reminiscent of Amaranthe's music comes in and it sounds fantastic. It's definitely a highlight.

In short, I was pleased with The Human Contradiction. I actually enjoyed it more than I anticipated. Even though there are a couple of mediocre tracks and I just couldn't get into "My Masquerade," I really like what Delain is doing here. Plus, on the two-disc edition we get the piano ballad "Scarlet," which is undoubtedly one of their best pieces - it's so subtle but so epic! Their blend of strings and guitars is really well-balanced and they display some wonderful moments in terms of songwriting. While I can't quite rank Delain among symphonic metal legends Within Temptation, Nightwish, and Epica, I must say that they are leagues ahead of quite a few of the bands within this subgenre. I'm impressed.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Classics I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet

Top Ten Tuesday is a fantastic bookish meme from The Broke and the Bookish. Every week book bloggers are asked to make lists based on the chosen topic, but this week is a free-for-all. Today I'm going to be talking about classics and the good 'ole TBR:

Top Ten Classics I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet

 

1

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

 

 

2

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

 

 

3

Animal Farm by George Orwell

 

 

4

Anthem Ayn Rand

 

 

5

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

 

 

6

The Hidden Force by Louis Couperus

*For those of you wondering "What even is this?": It's more prominent in Dutch literature. My favorite album by Within Temptation, The Silent Force, was written about this book, and that's why I want to read it.

7

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

 

 

8

Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

 

 

9

Emily Bronte’s Poetry

 

 

10

Paradise Lost by John Milton



Feel free to leave your Top Ten Tuesday link. Have a great day!