~ Florinda at The 3 R’s Blog asks: If you knew you had only one year left to read, what books would you want to make sure you didn’t miss?

~ Magistramater: Why do you read? and Reading Through an Author’s Canon

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ Original Sin by Beth McMullen, chosen by Laura at I’m Booking It as her top read of 2011.

~ The City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, recommended to me by Sherry at Semicolon.

~ In a Perfect World by Laura Kasischke, listed among Mental Mutlivitamin’s Ten Memorable Books from 2011

~ Pure by Julianna Baggot, mentioned by Alyce at At Home With Books

~ The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman, reviewed by Staci at Life in the Thumb

~ The Woman Who Heard Color by Kelly Jones, reviewed by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books

Booklists:

~ Flavorwire: The Best Debut Novels of 2011 – I haven’t read a single one.

Book to movie news:

~ Les Miserables movies: Taylor Swift as Eponine and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette

~ Sarah Polley to adapt Margaret Awood’s Alias Grace for the big screen.

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Cover blurb: Jo March, Scarlett O’Hara, Scout Finch – the literary canon is brimming with intelligent, feisty, never-say-die heroines and celebrated female authors. They placed a premium on personality, spirituality, career, sisterhood, and family, not unlike women of today. When they were up against the wall, authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott fought back – sometimes with words, sometimes with gritty actions.

Witty, informative, and inspiring – full of beloved heroines and the remarkable writers who created them – The Heroine’s Bookshelf explores how the pluck and dignity of literary characters such as Jane Eyre and Lizzy Bennet can encourage modern women, showing them how to tap into their new strengths and live life with intelligence and grace. From Zora Neale Hurston to Colette, Laura Ingalls Wilder to Charlotte Bronte, Harper Lee to Alice Walker, here are authors whose spirited stories and characters are more inspiring today than ever.

When I was a young girl, I had a girls’ Bible that had a topical section in the back. It had a list that read: “If you’re afraid, read these verses. If you’re having trouble with a friend, read these verses. If you’re feeling unlovely, read these verses.” It helped me during those tween years that can be so difficult. As an adult, I know which verses are the most comfort to me, and so don’t need a list like that anymore, but I still remember it.

In many ways, The Heroine’s Bookshelf reminds me of that Bible. Of course, I’m not saying that it’s divinely inspired, but it is definitely a book that can act as a guide through some of the difficult things we face as adult women. Erin Blakemore has drawn inspiration, encouragement, determination, and hope from the stories of these characters and their authors, and fortunately, she has shared that with us.

Are you wondering who you are, or how to be the person you know you are? Maybe you’re struggling to hold on to your faith in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Do you want to learn how to be happy, no matter what life brings? Or are you trying to hold on to family ties in spite of dysfunction? Blakemore gives you a guide to the books that will inspire you and encourage you in each of these situations – and many more.

Each chapter focuses on a different issue – faith, ambition, happiness, dignity, compassion, and so on – and explores how the heroine from a particular book can give us a map to follow as we navigate the obstacles and twists that life throws our way. She also delves into the lives of the authors, and explores the reasons they wrote these particular stories. I found the inside information on authors like Louisa May Alcott, Alice Walker, Betty Smith, and Frances Hodgson Burnett to be fascinating. Understanding the circumstances in the author’s life gives such depth and clarity to a book, especially a book that has a personal connection for the reader.

As I read each chapter, I found myself wanting to reread the associated book – or, in some cases, read it for the first time. Reading the chapter on Gone With the Wind surprised me, because I really hate the movie, and have never wanted to read the book. I am now determined to give it a try. I also experienced a longing to reread other books, books that Blakemore didn’t mention, but whose heroines call to me anyway: Persusasion, Kristin Lavransdatter, I Capture the Castle. It is truly the best kind of book that can do that.

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Now if I can just figure out a way to pause the rest of my life so I can read it now…

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~ Meghan at Medieval Bookworm has a guest post by one of my favorite authors, Laurie R. King.

Discussion starters:

~ Bookalicious: An open letter to Goodreads

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ The Companion by Lorcan Roche, reviewed by Marie at The Boston Bibliophile

~ Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran, reviewed by Raidergirl at An Adventure in Reading

Other bookish links:

~ The Onion: Nation Shudders at Large Block of Uninterrupted Text

~ You can now get shoes that reflect your love of all things literary.

~ The Help Criticism: See It Before You Judge

~ 40 Publishing Buzzwords, Cliches and Euphemisms Decoded – Very funny!

~ Still time to sign up for the September read-along of Brooklyn by Colm Toibin.

~ This picture that Karen posted cracks me up.

Non-bookish links of interest:

~ The Atlantic: The Debt Crisis at American Colleges

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~ Neil Gaiman was interviewed by a young fan for the Guardian.

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty, reviewed by Sandy at You’ve Gotta Read This

Book lists:

~ Omnivoracious: The Customer Selected Ten Essential Books for Young Adults – I’m not a young adult, but I have read seven of the ten.

Read-alongs:

~ The third discussion for our read-along of All Clear by Connie Willis is up.

~ Florinda’s read-along of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood starts tomorrow.

Book to movie news:

~ The new trailer for the film version of We Need to Talk About Kevin freaks me out!

~ Ray Bradbury’s novel Dandelion Wine is being adapted for the screen.

Other bookish links:

~ Salon: Why “The Help’s” critics are all wrong

~ Library Journal: In Pursuit of Andrew Carnegie, One Little Free Library at a Time

~ The New York Times: Ferreting Out Fake Reviews Online

~ AbeBooks had a great response to the “I hate reading” group on Facebook:

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Spoiler warning – some of the info in these links will be spoilers unless you have read the last book in the Harry Potter series.

~ Actor James Phelps on the role of Fred Weasley

~ Rupert Grint on playing Ron Weasley for the last time

~ Who knew Neville Longbottom was this hot?

~ And lastly, the speeches given by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and J.K. Rowling at the UK premiere of the film. If you love Harry as much as I do, grab some Kleenex before you click play.

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman, reviewed by Jaime at Confessions of a Bibliophile

~ Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, a Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss, mentioned by Vasilly in her Sunday Salon post

~ Incognito by Gregory Murphy, reviewed by Amy at My Friend Amy

Book to movie news:

~ The film version of Shannon Hale’s Austenland will star Keri Russell – and be produced by Stephenie Meyer.

Other bookish links:

~ Weird things customers say in bookshops – How did I go so long without reading this wonderful blog, and especially this hilarious feature? Look for the links at the bottom of the post to the other posts in the series.

~ Can you guess the book and author for each of these first lines?

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~ Laurie R. King is releasing an e-novella called Beekeeping for Beginners on July 6th. It tells the story of Holmes and Russell’s meeting – the same story as The Beekeeper’s Apprentice – but from Holmes’ point of view. Can. not. wait.

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ Memoir by John McGahern, reviewed by Marleen at More Than a Reading Journal

~ The Transformation of Things by Jillian Cantor, reviewed by Amy at My Friend Amy

~ Jenny by Sigrid Undset, reviewed by Eva at A Striped Armchair

~ Sister by Rosamund Lupton, reviewed by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books

~ The Silent Land by Graham Joyce, mentioned at Mental Multivitamin

~ The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, reviewed by Sandy at You’ve Gotta Read This

Book to movie news:

~ The film version of John le Carre’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is being released in November. Two words: Colin Firth. Two more: Gary Oldman. Here’s the trailer:

Other bookish links:

~ I can so relate to this comic.

~ There is still time to join the read-along of Blackout by Connie Willis.

~ Vasilly wrote a great post for the Family Reading Challenge.

~ This amazing little boy read 1700 chapter books in one year.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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This has been a great reading year so far, and I had a hard time narrowing it down to my top ten. It took some deliberation, but here they are – the links will take you to my reviews:

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Embrace Me by Lisa Samson

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

And now, the books I’m looking forward to most in 2011. Some of these have actually already been released, but I haven’t had time to read them:

Pirate King by Laurie R. King – the next book in her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini – the fourth – and final – book in the Inheritance Cycle

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld – the third – and final – book in the Leviathan series

Heartless by Gail Carriger – the next book in her Parasol Protectorate series

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare – the next book in her Mortal Instruments series (This one is already out; I’m waiting for my sister’s copy that she’s bringing when she comes to visit in June.)

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater – the third – and final – book in her Wolves of Mercy Falls series

The Death Cure by James Dashner – the third – and final – book in his Maze Runner trilogy

As you can see, I’m a series junkie! There are a ton more, but I’ll leave it at that. Which books are you looking forward to during the remainder of 2011?

Be sure and check out the Armchair BEA site for everyone’s posts.

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Discussion starters:

~ Book Journey: Excuse me, but do I look fat in this book?

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt, reviewed by Susan at Bloggin’ ’bout Books

~ Divergent by Veronica Roth, reviewed by Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews

~ The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich, reviewed by Marci at Serendipitous Readings

~ Atlantic by Simon Winchester, reviewed by Swapna at S. Krishna’s Books

~ The Vaults by Toby Ball, also reviewed by Swapna

~ Exposed by Kimberly Marcus, reviewed by Sandy at You’ve Gotta Read This

~ By These Ten Bones by Clare B. Dunkle, reviewed by Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century

Book to movie news:

~ Strange Culture: A list of 2011 films based on books

Other bookish links:

~ The National Book Foundation has started a poetry blog.

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So, what’s a girl to do? Read a good romance! Or a good book of any genre that has a fantastic couple at its heart. Here are my favorite literary couples:

Father Tim and Cynthia from the Mitford series by Jan Karon – Their love story proves that it’s never too late to find the love of your life. The fact that their friendship is at the heart of their love for each other is amazing.

Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – Of course, friendship is fine, but sometimes you need some heat! Jamie and Claire have that – as well as an enduring love that spans time and space.

Anne and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen – This is my favorite Austen; their story proves that you can have a second chance at love.

Anne and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery – Who doesn’t love childhood sweethearts?

Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – I never wanted Harry and Hermione to be together; I knew Ron and Hermione’s bickering meant nothing less than true love.

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King – Their partnership proves that an age difference doesn’t matter as long as your intellectually compatible.

Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Conall Maccon in the Soulless series by Gail Carriger – Their romance proves that true love transcends all differences – even between species.

Who are your favorite literary couples?

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