Stacking the Shelves #1//The Book Jackpot

So guys. I hit the book jackpot this week and I honestly don't know what to do with my life right now. All I want to do is read, which is generally a good thing but man I need to do real adult-y things (like go to work-blah).

I have 10 new books in the past 3 days for about $5 total! 5 were 10 cents each so that totally blew my mind! Three are non-fiction and one is a book that I found in my room that someone gave me and I totally forgot about though. That counts as new right? 

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Oh am I excited about this book. I can't remember ever hearing anything good or bad about it, I just remember hearing about it (selective memory, that's me!). The cover is beautiful and the blurb is SO intriguing! I dearly hope this one doesn't disappoint.

2. Everlost by Neal Shusterman

I found this at goodwill yesterday and despite having never heard of it before, I picked it up and was instantly determined to buy it. It has potential to be fantastic but I can also see it being not so good. So we will see.

3. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale

I love love love Shannon Hale. And the first book in this series is one of my favorite books ever so I hope this one lives up to it's predecessors!

4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

I know a lot of people have read and loved this book so I decided to give it a go! 10 cent books can't steer me wrong right?

5. The Lost Years of Jane Austen by Barbara Ker Wilson

Oh man. If ever a book had potential it's this one. I love Jane Austen books and a book about her written in her style? Oh yes please!

6. Man Walks Into a Room by Nicole Krauss

I wasn't so sure about this one. It was only 10 cents so I figured it was worth trying!

7. If We Survive by Andrew Klavan

This is the one a friend gave me that I never read. I finally read the blurb and I don't know why I didn't read it before! It looks so good! Sometimes I'm really dumb you guys. 

8. Houses that Change the World by Wolfgang Simson

This book looks so powerful! I can't wait to read it!

9. Do You Know Who I Am? by Angela Thomas

I adore books like this. They make me think and oftentimes I forget to think about what matters so this is good!

10. A Way out of No Way by Andrew Young

Not sure what I think about this author but the book looked so good I couldn't pass it up! I love studying this era.

I put a poll in the sidebar of my blog for you to vote on which book I should read first (of the fiction variety)! I couldn't add it to the actual post but do make sure to go vote! 

This post is part of a weekly link-up, head over here to find the original post! 

So what books are new to you all? Have you read any of the ones I picked up this week? What do you think of buying books at second hand stores?

6 Characters Who Are Bound to Make You Smile

I have found a link-up that is destined to be marvelous! I adore link-ups and everything that goes along with them. 

This weekly prompt is hosted by the girls at The Broke and the Bookish. The idea is to have a top ten post every Tuesday. 

This weeks prompt is "Top ten books which feature characters who..."

I adore books. I live off them. I sometimes feel as though my only friends are in my books. And my absolute favorite of these books are the ones whose characters are bound to make me smile and totally forget the complete horror of reality. 

You'll notice there are only six. In a "Top Ten" post. I tried dearly to come up with more, but it felt more like filler than me actually thinking the characters fit the post. So I modified it to be just six.

1.  Razo from the Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

I love Razo. He is seriously one of my heroes. He's quick witted, funny, down to earth, and just all around a good guy. Plus, he's got the older brother protectiveness syndrome that I find quite wonderful.

2. Percy Jackson from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Heroes of Olympus series' by Rick Riordan

Oh Percy. An obsession with blue food, an astounding ability to be simultaneously the smartest character in the books and the dumbest character to ever have been written. There isn't a lot of in between for my dear friend the son of the Sea God.

3. Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Gil is the kind of character that if you aren't in love with by the end of the books, you need your head checked. He's just wonderful.

4. Dustfinger from the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke

Dustfinger is amazing. His character has such depth. He is so pained and in anguish and trying so hard to find a lucky streak in life. It's hauntingly beautiful to read about him. (Though I suspect highly entertaining to write). I love how involved in his story I get when I read these books. 

5.  Sadie Kane from the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Sadie is pretty much one of my favorite characters ever. She's funny, sarcastic, totally real, and entertaining to read. On the days when I need a serious pick-me-up or escape from reality, I turn to Uncle Rick's books, and most often, the Kane Chronicles. (Although Percy Jackson never fails to disappoint either.) 

6. Leo Valdez from aforementioned Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

What can I say about Leo? He's totally crazy, entertaining, uplifting, and optimistic. What do I not love about this guy? Oh yeah. He's fictional. 

What do you think? Did I miss any? Which characters can make you smile no matter what?

Lord of the Rings Meme

I'm participating in a blog party at The Ede of the Precipice to celebrate Tolkien week. This meme is a link up. Check out the original post here:

http://theedgeoftheprecipice.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-tolkien-blog-party-of-special.html?m=1

So sorry this post is so late today. (Midnight! Ack!) My day filled up with so many things I could barely think! But I'm writing it now at least! 

1. Have you read The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit? If so, how many times?

I've read the books a few times. I don't know exactly how many. I've read the hobbit more often than the others though. 

2. Have you seen any movies based on them?

All of them. More times than I can even count. I could probably hold whole conversations with just quotes from them. 

3. Who first introduced you to Middle Earth?

My dad read me the books when I was maybe...10? It was a while ago at least. 

4. Who are your three favorite characters? (Feel free to elaborate on whys.)

Oh man...ummm...hard to pick just three!  I adore Aragorn. He's so brave and noble. Sam is absolutely amazing. The greatest example of a friend in hard times. He did so much for Frodo! And...Gimli I guess. He's just funny. Legolas would be my fourth. If, you know, I was allowed to list four. 

5. What's your favorite Middle Earth location?

Either the Shire or Lothlorien. 

6. If you could belong to one of the races of Free Folk (Men, Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Ents), which would you choose?

Elves because of their grace and beauty or hobbits for their love of simplicity. 

7. Would you rather eat lembas or taters?

Hmmm...lembas. :) 

8. If you lived in Middle Earth, what weapon would you prefer wielding?

A bow and arrows! I've always wanted to be an archerer! 

9. What draws you to Tolkien's stories? (The characters, the quests, the themes, the worlds, etc.)

I love the characters and the fierce struggle between good and evil. It's so deep and thought-provoking

10. List up to five of your favorite lines/quotes from the books or movies.

"I do not believe this darkness will endure."

"Please Mr. Gandalf sir. Don't 'urt me. Don't turn me into anythin'...unnatural." 

"Smeagol will staaaaaaaarve!!" 

"That still only counts as one!" 

"It's the deep breath before the plunge." 

I could go on but it says up to five so I should stop. But there's so many more that deserve the spotlight! 

What are your favorite things about LotR? (Characters, themes, races, weapons, etc.) Let's talk about them in the comments!