March 2019 Book Haul

Time for another book haul post!

This month actually turned out to be quite kleptomaniac-ish for me, since my husband and I were able to hit a couple of thrift stores on the weekends and I managed to save up my Amazon giftcards enough for a book order. I was so excited about that order, and kept track of each package as it shipped. My darling hubby went out in the rain to collect one of the packages from the mail box for me, just to make sure my book didn't get wet. Have I mentioned how much I absolutely love him? Because I do.

Anyway, let's get on to the books!

The Masterharper of Pern // Anne McCaffrey 

My husband has been a long-time fan of Anne McCaffrey, so we're on a quest right now to find all of her Pern books. I've only read the Harper Hall Trilogy at this point, but I'm looking forward to reading more about that world.

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone // Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Not having full series really bugs me, but that's the biggest danger you face when you're addicted to second-hand books. I'm slowly fleshing out my Spiderwick Chronicles, but so far, I've only got the first two books. #oneday They're fun to read, though.

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The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook // Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

Not fiction, but this is a really fun one! I mean, with a title like that, how could you NOT get it?? Some of the scenarios are absolutely hilarious!

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Little House in the Big Woods // Laura Ingalls Wilder

Would you believe my Little House collection has all but the first book? Not anymore. These were some of my favorite books growing up, and I'm looking forward to sharing this with my daughter one day. 

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Bridge to Terabithia // Katherine Paterson

I remember watching the film version of this story years ago. I've never read the book. Figured it was as good a time as any. 

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How to Train Your Dragon: How to Be a Pirate // Cressida Cowell 

I believe that this is a small example of when the movies were actually better than the books, but I've yet to actually read the books to solidify my belief. Besides, it's dragons. And what could be better than dragons? 

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Medallion // Dawn L. Watkins

Another favorite childhood book. I actually had the great honor of having the author as my teacher for two classes while I was in college, and THAT was pretty amazing. I felt like I met a celebrity. IT WAS PRETTY COOL. 

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Marlow and Shakespeare 

More Shakespeare collecting. And this is a book that will look really good just sitting out for display. You know what I mean. You collect those books, too. Don't deny it. 

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Realm Walkers: One Realm Beyond // Donita K. Paul

And thus finishes my collection of all Mrs. Paul's published dragon novels. I'm still really bummed that she was never able to get the third book in this trilogy published. *sniff* But I'm going to enjoy all of this since it's out. 

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The Kingdom Series: Kingdom's Call // Chuck Black

Another favorite! And that completes my Kingdom series! I won books 1-3 in a giveaway, and then found 5 & 6 at a local bookstore. Thus, ordering book 4 on Amazon was necessary to my book OCD. Definitely recommend this series, as well as the second series, The Knight of Arrethtrae.

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The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest // Melanie Dickerson

Although I've read almost all of Melanie Dickerson's fairytale retellings, I actually don't own any in paperback save for The Fairest Beauty (which really wasn't my favorite, but was better than The Orphan's Wish). Huntress is by far my favorite of her books, and I'm looking forward to reading it again. 

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Kinsman Chronicles: King's Blood // Jill Williamson

I read King's Folly like 4 years ago, so finally getting this book last month and READING it was both a chore and amazing. Definitely got some dark tones, so it's for a more mature reader, but it blew me away. I hope it doesn't take me another 4 years to get King's War. Full review here on KiriBeth. 

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The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

My husband found this in the TRASH at work. Like, SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO THROW THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK AWAY! *le gasp* He brought it home for me and I have not stopped being in awe since. I told you he was a great guy. The book was in like new condition, and I feel very fairytale-expert-snobbish right now with this on my shelf. I won't lie. 

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Well, that's it for March, guys! What books did you add to your shelves this month? Let me know below! 

God bless!

My Top 10 Fantasy Books

BIG NEWS! I will be participating in Jack Lewis Baillot's cover reveal for A Test of Loyalty tomorrow, so be sure to mark your calendars for the occasion! 

Well, in honor of the excitement, Jack has asked us to post about our favorite fantasy book. Because I like reading so much, I don't have just one. Just as you'd expect. So, to keep this short, I've decided to compile a list of my top ten favorite fantasy books. And by "fantasy" I mean a made-up land in which there exists a conglomeration of interesting characters. I have to be specific about books otherwise, I'd never get just 10 books onto this list. Also, if you ask me in a week or two, this list will probably change. Probably... no, most likely. And I'm *cough* adapting the list to fit mostly series. What? Don't judge me. I'm sure plenty of you would do the same.

Ready?

10. Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. 

Very epic tales. There are five books in all, but I think the last one, The High King, is my favorite. Lloyd Alexander is considered a genius in the fantasy field, and I find his books quite enjoyable. His Westmark trilogy is also very fun (with the exception of a few unprintable words).

9. Wayne Thomas Batson's The Door Within trilogy

Truth be told, my favorite books from Wayne Thomas Batson are his Pirate Adventures, and I highly recommend them. However, The Door Within trilogy is also very good. I love the allegory Mr. Batson weaves into the story.

8. Jeri Massi's Bracken Trilogy 

Yet another trilogy: The Bridge, Crown and Jewel, and Two Collars. I can't really say how long these have been some of my favorite books. I must have read The Bridge fifteen times since I was nine. 

7. Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga

Who's familiar with these books? I simply can't wait for the fourth book, The Warden and the Wolf King. Seriously, this guy has a way with words. "Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree." *grins*

6. Jack Lewis Baillot's Loyalty Trilogy

Well, well, well... how in the world did *this* trilogy get onto my list? Hmm... *winks* The more I read of Jack's work, the more I love it. Yes, I'm super excited to be able to show you the cover for the second book tomorrow, and you really need to read these. NOW.

5. Rick Barry's Kiriath's Quest

Hey look! I'm capable of having a favorite fantasy book that isn't a series! Too bad, though, because I'd love to see where Rick Barry would take Kiriath after the finish of this novel. You could say that I'm a little biased toward this book because Kiriath and I almost share the same name. Well, the first four letters are the same. But if you want an epic quest chock full of friendship and adventure (and no magic) then this is the book for you.

4. Chuck Black's Knights of Arrethtrae

Technically, this should include the prequel/sequel/whatever series The Kingdom Series. Short, but powerful, you can't help but love all twelve books. Personally, Sir Dalton and Lady Carliss are my favorite of the twelve, but they're all really good.

3. Donita K. Paul's DragonKeeper Chronicles

My sisters and I found this series in a Christian book catalog, and as we were just getting into fantasy stories, we thought we'd give this a go. The result? We LOVED it! Dragons, quests, humor... what's not to like?

2. C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia

What fantasy list could be complete without the awesome tales from C.S. Lewis? I absobloominglutley love this series in every way. I have great chunks of passages memorized, even though technically I've only read through the series twice. Yeah, twice. I know; it's kinda embarrassing. But I've listened to the audio drama by Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre a dozen gazillion times. And seen the movies. And... yada, yada, yada. Narnia fan all the way.

1. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

And what comes in at Numero Uno? Tolkien's epic world of elves, hobbits, dragons, kings, and dwarves. And with The Lord of the Rings comes The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, for no trek through Middle-Earth would be complete without visiting those tales. I'm not an expert on all things Tolkien, but I do consider myself an avid fan nonetheless. 

Be sure to drop by tomorrow to see the cover reveal!

God bless!

Today I Am... {2}

{writing}

The much looked for post on magic in The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Harry Potter. I would have wished to post it today, but I haven't fully finished researching and writing it all out. Life has been very busy this last week/weekend, and I haven't been able to dedicate the time I would have wished to this post. 

{reading}

You probably already know from previous posts that I'm in the middle of Nicholas Nickleby. And then, in addition to that, I'm also currently reading (for the second time) Kingdom's Dawn by Chuck Black. Highly recommend the Kingdom Series and the Knights of Arrethtrae Series to anyone! They are a short read, but definitely worth it!

{listening}

To my siblings talk on the phone with our delightful CBCs. If, by now, you don't know what CBC stands for, I am horribly ashamed of you.... okay, not really, but go here to find out more. :)

{watching}

Pride and Prejudice 1995!! I believe a "SQUEEEEE" would be appropriate here! :D We recently watched the 2005 version, and laughed heartily at it, but then felt the need to redeem it with the REAL version. No offence to K.K. and M.M. fans... 

{sewing}

Not much. I'm supposed to be sewing a bunch of new skirts for my sisters from parts of old pants, skirts, and whatever else that had fabric that suited their fancies, but so far, I've only finished one of them. Perhaps when more are done, my sisters may indulge in a photo shoot so you may see some of the skirts. :)

{looking}

At my brother play chess with himself. If you've ever read the book My American Adventure by Amy Burritt, it's very much like her brother playing Monopoly against himself... how can he ever lose?

{learning}

That I am enjoying my hair up in a bun more and more. Because I have long, thick hair (which has been likened to Rapunzel's hair), it gets really hot and heavy in the summer laying against my back, so recently I've been trying to put it up. My "updos" aren't anything fancy, but they do the job. If you want to see almost authentic Jane Austen dos, my sister Beth Grace is an expert when it comes to hair. I'll have to make her do a photo shoot with fun hairstyles after the photo shoot with the skirts...

{feeling}

The pain in my stubbed toe. I'm not trying to invoke sympathy in my readers here, but it was just something that was on my mind... 

{anticipating}

Another epic win visit with our CBCs in August!!! Can't wait!!

{wishing}

That it was August already... why? See the answer above.

{loving}

THE AIR CONDITIONER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more? I love summer, but I've never been a huge fan of extreme heat (I prefer the cold... please don't throw tomatoes at me). Here where I live under the maple tree it's been over 80 for almost two weeks now, and we've had a few days topping 100. Especially since I'm asthmatic, I really, REALLY appreciate the cool air!