Angieville

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish Normally I break out in hives when people ask me what my favorite book/s is/are or who my favorite author/s is/are. My oldest does this to me on a regular basis just to see me twitch. But (very) occasionally, I find myself tempted to see if I can survive having a go at whittling the giant horde down to ten or eighteen (shut up) absolute faves. Like would run back into the burning house favorites. And since this is authors and not single books, I'm not quite as close to hyperventilation as might otherwise be the case. So—despite the fact that not a one of these will surprise you, I mean my husband could probably rattle this list off with his eyes closed—my favorite authors of all time (in alphabetical order by last name). Do we share any? See my Beloved Bookshelf for individual titles/series by each of these. Lloyd Alexander Jane Austen Kristin Cashore Susan Cooper Charles Dickens Madeleine...

When I first moved to Utah from California, it felt in many ways as though I was moving away from the "action," if you will. For better or worse, so many events take place in southern California. I only lived there for a few years, but in that time period there really was never a dull moment. And I worried that I would be cut off from my favorite author tours, concerts, etc. And for awhile that felt true. Happily, in recent years, my local libraries and my local indie bookstore,  The King's English , have been coming through for me big time, reeling in fabulous authors for signings, presentations, and other various and sundry gatherings. In a few days, I get to attend one such shindig sponsored by The King's English, featuring Robin LaFevers , author of the crazy good His Fair Asssassin series. Superbly written historical fantasy is my kryptonite (okay, one of them ), and I loved Grave Mercy something fierce. It's probably worth mentioning that I am in t...

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish I've never taken part in this meme before, but come on! Your top ten auto-buy authors? That's a list worth making. In the interest of keeping it real, I'm going to limit myself to living authors who, you know, have the potential to actually publish a new book. So. In alphabetical order: Sarah Addison Allen - I have read and loved all four of her magical realism novels. Favorite: The Peach Keeper Kristin Cashore -   I feel as though Ms. Cashore holds her writing to the highest of standards. And it shows. Favorite: Fire John Green - It's to do with the awesome. Favorite: The Fault in Our Stars Juliet Marillier - Because everything is always gorgeous when she has anything to do with it. Favorite: Son of the Shadows (if pressed . . . but only if pressed) Robin McKinley - She's kind of where it all began. Girls Who Do Things-wise. Fairy Tale Retelling-wise. Speaks to Angie's SOU...

It's a new year, a clean slate. And I like to think of it as such, quietly absorbing the possibilities as I quietly restrain myself from attempting to make overly ambitious resolutions that I will only renege on or fail at miserably within a month's time. As I cast about for some possibility, some inspiration, I came across an unlikely source: literary break-up letters . This fascinating article in The Atlantic features excerpts and background information from eight different writers penning their parting words to lovers, spouses, more-than-friends. Luminaries include Simone de Beauvoir (whose line I used in my post title), Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton, Oscar Wilde, Mary Wollstonecraft, and more. They are wistful and so very real. Just the kind of real I needed at this time of cold, quiet beginnings. I hope your year is full of possibilities. And if there must be partings, let them be well-written.

Shortly after I moved to Utah, I began hearing about this bookstore called The King's English . I thought it was the most charming name for a bookstore I'd ever heard, and I resolved to make its acquaintance as soon as possible. That opportunity came when I discovered Tamora Pierce would be stopping there on her book tour. The moment I heard that news--I kid you not--everything else in my little world fell away. I could not believe I was going to have the chance to sit in a room and listen to one of my most beloved authors talk about Alanna and Tortall and her writing process. So I drove up to Salt Lake and had one of the most lovely  experiences of my bookish life. I've returned to this marvelous bookstore several times since for local authors, for national authors on tour, to browse the wonderful children's section with my kids, and, most recently, to celebrate my tenth wedding anniversary. What I'm saying is, The King's English is always a good idea. ...

Lately I've run across a few authors I love behaving fiercely. Since that is one of my favorite traits in a book, a character, and an author, too, I wanted to highlight them together. When an author I've enjoyed for some time is interviewed and says something striking or blogs about something important or inspires me in some way to work harder or think harder or just be better in general, a little bell strikes somewhere in the back of my mind and I find myself straightening my shoulders. Here are the three that caused that bell to strike most recently: 1. The National Coalition Against Censorship interviewed Chris Crutcher as part of the Kids' Right to Read Project . Mr. Crutcher spoke about his experience as one of the most challenged authors ever, how he deals with the controversy, and reader responses to his books. My favorite bit comes at the end, when in response to the question, "What would you like youth to know about books that have been challenged or banned...

Ann Aguirre Lauren Baratz-Logsted Alexandra Bracken Sarah Rees Brennan Carolyn Crane Sara Creasy Simone Elkeles Donna Freitas Linda Gillard Rachel Hawthorne Laurie R. King April Lindner Moira J. Moore Diana Peterfreund Maggie Stiefvater