Top Ten: Books I’d Like to See on the Big Screen

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

Today I am sharing with you the top ten books that I would like to see adapted for tv or film. When done well, adaptations can be AWESOME and catapult a book into the forefront of the public’s minds.  

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan: I could have picked any of his novels that I’ve read. I chose BMB as the secondary characters were as good as the main ones, and I would make this into a tv series if I had the choice. 

The CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore: Again, an awesome idea for a TV series. Each episode or set of episodes a different mission. Done properly, this would make my LIFE. 

      

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson: Such an emotional summer read, this would make an excellent movie. 

                The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud: The start of a new adventure packed series, I can already picture it on the big screen! 

                 

Geek Girl by Holly Smale: Funny yet brutally honest, I need more geeky films in my life! Especially when they involve Harriet and Toby. (And Harriet’s dad, of course). 

Dust Lands series by Moira Young: An amazing dystopian / postapocalyptic series. I love the unique style of this one, and am dying to read the third book! 

          

          

  Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer: This book is GORGEOUS and the illustrations really make it come to life (the irony, I know!). A film would be epic. 

The Timeriders series by Alex Scarrow: Similar to Muchamore’s CHERUB series, I can only imagine the endless adventures the Timeriders team could embark on. 

           

 

 

 

 

 

The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter: While I haven’t read all the books in this series, I have really enjoyed it so far and the boarding school feel would make for perfect movie material.      

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel: MONKEYS. No other explanation is needed.  

Series are definitely my favourite choice! Can you think of anything I’m missing? Leave me some recommendations! Do you agree/disagree with my choices? Link me to your TTT below!   

Book Review: Lockwood & Co; The Screaming Staircase

Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase

by Jonathan Stroud

Published: 29th August by Random House

Version: paperback ARC loan from Faye

Rating: 4.5 sofas

Hauntings are our business . . .

Ghosts crowd the streets and houses of London. Anthony Lockwood, with his slightly grumpy deputy George, and his junior field operative Lucy, make up LOCKWOOD & CO, the small, shabby yet talented ghost-hunting agency.

After a series of calamitous investigations into the supernatural go awry, the team are desperate to prove themselves. Their opportunity comes in the form of a terrifying ghost, the Red Duke. But little do they know what perils lie in store for them at the haunted Bliss Hall . . .

I’m going to be honest and say that if it wasn’t for Faye and Daphne I probably would not have picked up this book. Overall I’m not a huge lover of fantasy, but I think thats more because I haven’t read much of it, and I’m daunted by the level of detail and world building involved. However, when Faye offered me her copy of The Screaming Staircase to borrow, I said yes, because I’d heard such good things from them. 

Even so, I still put off reading it. The ARC does not have the pretty cover, and as such, looked quite scary to me. So if you are thinking that this is not a book for you, then THINK AGAIN. This is exactly the frame of mind I had, and I was wrong. 

The Screaming Staircase follows Lucy as she joins a new ghost-hunting team, and describes the adventures and the spectres they encounter. It backtracks into the past and shows how Lucy got into the world of ghost hunting and how she ended up working with Lockwood & Co. 

Lucy was such a likeable character. She is confident, smart, and most of all COOL. A teenage ghost-hunter is such a good role model, and I found myself wishing I was her quite often throughout the book. That is when I could stop picturing Lucy from Queen of Contemporary in my head! 

It also wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be. It very much reminded me of Doctor Who. In particular that episode where people are seeing ‘ghosts’, old relatives, who actually turn out to be Cybermen. And David Tennant tries to triangulate the signal with some gizmos. And this is exactly how I picture Lockwood; a bit scatty, a guy who obviously knows his stuff but likes to plow straight into it. 

I think this was a great beginning to what I hope will be a fantastic series. Lucy has such great potential, and I am intrigued to find out more about Lockwood and his past, as well as that of his assistant George. I get the feeling that the house may hold secrets of its own too! 

Overall The Screaming Staircase surprised me. It was fun and adventurous, with amazing characters. Even if you doubt this book is for you, I would urge you to give it a try. Definitely a series to look out for! 4.5 sofas! 

Readathon: Bout of Books 8.0 Wrap-Up

Bout of Books 8.0 was my first Bout of Books, and I’m so glad I took part. 

Book List

• Every Day by David Levithan– Check out my 4 sofa review here. 
• Diary of a Mall Girl by Luisa Plaja
• Vivan Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle
• Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Goals

I plan to read three books

While I didn’t manage to read all the books on my goal pile, I did finish two of them. I have started Diary of a Mall Girl and have also read Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone. 

I want to participate in at least one Twitter chat

I took part in the Twitter chat on Saturday.

Complete two challengers

I completed the Bookish Bucket list and the TBR list (both in my Update post)

Write two reviews

My review of Every Day is already up and a review of The Screaming Staircase is going up on Thursday!

Comment on as many Bout of Books posts as possible and make some new friends! 

While I did speak to some new people during the Twitter chat I’m not sure I made any friends as such. I have been trying to comment on blogs overall but haven’t really seen that many Bout of Books posts in my blogroll. 

Overall I count my Bout of Books progress as a success! I’d only read about 3 books in a month prior to the readathon, so to get through that many in a week makes me really happy. It has definitely put me in the mood to read again, which is a priceless reward.

Did you manage to meet all your goals? 

A Bookish Survey: A to Z

Lots of people have been taking part in the A-Z survey created by Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner, and I thought I’d give it a go! Sounded like fun 🙂

Author you’ve read the most books from:

By far my most read author is Robert Muchamore! According to Goodreads, I have read 22 of his books. Blimey! 

Best Sequel Ever:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I think I actually liked it more than the first…

Currently Reading:

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud.

Drink of Choice While Reading:

I mostly drink fruit juice. Though in the winter there is nothing nicer than curling up with a book and some white hot chocolate!

E-reader or Physical Book?

My kindle is useful when commuting, but I am definitely a physical book gal. There is nothing better!

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

I’d love to say Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, but truth be told I was way too shy to have a boyfriend back then!

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Hidden Gem Book:

Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. The illustrations! ❤

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

When I began working at the library. Before then, I used to reread a lot of the same books again. It taught me to be more adventurous with reading!

Just Finished:

Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I do try and read all genres of YA, but when it comes to adult books I’m much more picky. I don’t read many literary fiction, historical or heavy fantasy/scifi.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (870 pages). This is one of my favourite books of the series as well 😀 

Major book hangover because of:

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Number of Bookcases You Own:

One official bookcase. I also have some shelves and keep some under my dressing table!

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Any non-fiction book by Torey Hayden. Her books were my inspiration to originally be a speech and language therapist.

Preferred Place To Read:

On the train; its the only place with minimal distractions! Or else in bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“I love you. Remember. They cannot take it.” from Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Reading Regret:

Not starting a blog earlier! Or reading more variety as a kid.

Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):

All of them? Off the top of my head, Michael Grant’s Gone series, Ally Condie’s Matched series and Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Only three?! The Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella,  Race to the Pole by James Cracknell & Ben Fogle and the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Rainbow Rowell. Ever since I discovered Attachments I knew her writing was special, and it has just grown and grown and every book is that little bit better!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan! It sounds AHMAZING and I only have two more weeks to wait! 

Worst Bookish Habit:

From a blogging point of view, it would definitely be not writing reviews! Abandoning half-finished books perhaps?

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Before I go to Sleep by SJ Watson.

Your latest book purchase:

Skinny by Donna Cooner.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Faking It by Cora Carmack. I just HAD to finish it. I adore her books so much ❤

Well that was my survey! Please link me up to yours if you’ve taken part too 🙂

Letterbox Love #21

Letterbox Love is a meme hosted by Lynsey of Narratively Speaking whereby book lovers can exhibit the books they received this week.

Welcome to my fortnightly book haul post! I thought I was doing quite well last week with only 3 new books, but I have been a devil this week.   Firstly, I have to say thank you to the lovely Jaime and Louise at Harper Collins. I’m really looking forward to Icons by Margaret Stohl and it is the first in what looks to be a great series. Although both One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern and Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger were unsolicited, they are perfect for me. In fact, I have already read Revenge Wears Prada and loved it (review to come next week). So a big thank you to these guys for thinking of me. 

Next, I have to squeal about bloggers. Although I haven’t been blogging long, other bloggers have welcomed me into the fray. There is nothing better than being able to share amazing books, and I have been lucky enough to be on the receiving end this week. Thanks to Daphne at Winged Reviews who kindly got me a (signed!!) copy of The Oathbreaker’s Shadow by Amy McCulloch at her launch. I was gutted to miss it, and the book is just so pretty. To Laura of Bookish Treasures, for sending me her copy of Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas. It was very sweet of you to send me this! And to Faye from A Daydreamer’s Thoughts, for lending me her copy of Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. I have heard wonderful things and now I don’t have to wait. Promise I’ll look after it. Thank you girlies, and know that my bookshelves are always open to you 🙂 

Okay, so I *may* have gone a bit crazy on the buying…. 

Partly, I blame The Works. Y’all know how much I rave about this shop, and this fortnight I bring you yet more goodies. Firstly, a tipoff from Ellie from Curiosity Killed The Bookworm who bought Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger last week. This was a steal, so I had to check it out. While there, I noticed Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire. The second has not long been released, so I added this pair to my collection. 

I picked up a couple of books in the charity shop this week. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas was nominated for lots of awards after its release in 2008, and its a topic I love to read about. Likewise, The Strawberry Picker by Monika Feth sounded really intriguing. I’m very pro thriller YA, so this sounds perfect. I also grabbed Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, because I thought I had to see what the fuss was all about. 

I caved and bought Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff because it has orange pages. Need I say more? In fact, I think more books should have coloured edges. It just looks sooo pretty! My only library book is Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, a book which it feels like I’ve waited forever for! 

Finally, but certainly not leastly, Faking It and Losing It by Cora Carmack! The latter I already owned, but I managed to get it signed on Thursday at her blogger party. I am so thrilled to have met her, and to be able to add these pretties to my collection! I can guarantee they will be well read 🙂

Phew! Now for those Ebooks:

Anyone who knows me will know that I love books about internet love. A Virtual Love by Andrew Blackman sounds a bit more sinister than what I am used to, but intriguing nonetheless! Thanks to Legend Press and Netgalley. 

Pirouette by Robyn Bavati has a really cool cover. I love books about dancing and this sound very much like The Parent Trap, so I’m in! Thanks to Flux and Netgalley for this. 

What did you receive this week? Have you read any of my books and do you think it should be at the top or the bottom of my to read pile? Do you know of any places to find great secondhand books?  I’d love to hear from you!