Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish Every week focuses on a different topic and you make a top ten list from it. This week: My Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

This list was harder than I thought it would be...it's not something I really think about. Probably because it's not the words that provoke me to pick up a book, but a feeling.

1. Ancient Rome
I used to want to be a historian for Roman history, but went in another direction. Doesn't mean I'm not still obsessed with ancient Rome.

2. Swords
I love them (Yes, that's me).

The best way to clean up after a party.
"Die, streamers!"

3. Zombies!
Editors and agents may be tiring of zombies, but I don't think I will. So they should still publish them.

4. London
I'll take any place in the UK, really. I'm a huge anglophile.


5. Secrets
I love people with secrets, but I love towns with secrets even more.

6. Magic

7. Quarantine

8. Elite/Rich
I'm always interested in that kind of world and where it can lead someone. I especially enjoy when a person who is poor gets mixed up with a wealthy group. Cliche idea? Yes, it sure is.

What's your top ten?

Review: Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Publication date: February 6, 2012
Publisher: Egmont

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again. He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Immediately after finishing CODE NAME VERITY it was added to my list of favorite books (and that list is not long). This novel is stunning. The writing is stunning, the characters are stunning, and the story is touching and raw (I didn't say stunning! Tricked you!). CODE NAME VERITY grabbed me from the beginning and had me until the end. I'm usually not one for historical fiction unless it's a period of history that interests me. Even then, I may not read it sometimes, but I'm glad I didn't let this one pass by.

Elizabeth Wein writes this story with so much detail and gorgeous prose. It's clear that a lot of research was done for the novel, so kudos for making everything feel as real as possible. I'm usually not one for World War Two history, but Wein made me want to pick up non-fiction books about how females were used during the war. I knew to some extent and the basics, but had no idea that girls were used as spys. Ignorant much, Angie? Maybe...Okay, yes...

Seriously, there are so many twists and turns (so good) to keep the reader invested, but in the end, this book is about an amazing friendship and the solid connection two girls from two different backgrounds make as they try to survive through the war.

Where I've Been...

I've returned from the dark depths called life. I know I don't need to, but I want to explain where I've been:

I had a big move, so that was tough to start with. Especially since I had to start completely over in a big new city. Stressful much? I may have lived here before, but after five years of being away a lot can change. I got an internship at a literary agency in the children's department which I fell in love with. This is a great thing, but the majority of what I did all day was read submissions (think eight hours a day of reading), so when I got home I didn't really want to read anymore. I will admit it was hard to find a balance between reading for work and pleasure, but I eventually did it. Anyway, with the internship added to my work schedule, I was working seven days a week which also makes it difficult to find reading time. Well, now the internship is done and I've found more time to begin blogging again! Yay! I've been missing my readers all day every day. I know it will take me a while to build up the readership I had previously, so please be patient with me as I return to form. But I am back.

On a side note, I mention the lit internship to explain my situation. Please don't email me with submissions of anything because I will delete them and not pass them on. I also will not tell you which agency. It's the internet where all information is available, but I'd still like to keep as much privacy as possible. ;)

EDITED TO ADD: I think I will begin reviewing middle grade books on this blog along with YA. I read a lot of it and my reviews may be helpful to some people! I'll just need to change my graphic at the top...