Top Ten Tuesday: Memorable Things Characters Have Said

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

“Thunder gods don’t hide.”
The Russian shrugged. “I am not like Thor. I have Russian depth of character. And I like to help people, not hurt them. Usually I help with vodka. You want some?”
Kevin Hearne, Hammered

 

“I’m not some character from a boys’ manga.” ~Yukio”
Kazue Kato, Blue Exorcist, Vol. 9

 

“Sir,” returned Mrs. Sparsit, ” I cannot say that i have heard him precisely snore, and therefore must not make that statement. But on winter evenings, when he has fallen asleep at his table, I have heard him, what I should prefer to describe as partially choke. I have heard him on such occasions produce sounds of a nature similar to what may be heard in dutch clocks. Not,” said Mrs. Sparsit, with a lofty sense of giving strict evidence, ” That I would convey any imputation on his moral character. Far from it.”
Charles Dickens, Hard Times

 

“I really do admire you a bit. You’re an intelligent person of great moral character who has taken a very courageous stand. I’m an intelligent person with no moral character at all, so I’m in an ideal position to appreciate it.” – Colonel Korn”
Joseph Heller, Catch-22

 

“The pause was to Elizabeth’s feelings dreadful. At length, with a voice of forced calmness, he said: “And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little endeavour at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance.”

“I might as well inquire,” replied she, “why with so evident a desire of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil? But I have other provocations. You know I have. Had not my feelings decided against you— had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

 

“They’re monsters.”
“That’s what Edward thought.”
“Oh, yeah? He a friend of yours?”
“No, Miss Librarian. Just a main character in a wildly popular vampire series.”
Shannon Delany, Secrets and Shadows

 

“You put a spell on the dog,” I said as we left the house.
“Just a small one,” said Nightingale.
“So magic is real,” I said. “Which makes you a…what?”
“A wizard.”
“Like Harry Potter?”
Nightingale sighed. “No,” he said. “Not like Harry Potter.”
“In what way?”
“I’m not a fictional character,” said Nightingale.”
Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London

 

 

“Women of the Gallagher Academy, who comes here?” she asked.

Just then, every girl at every table (even the newbies) stood and said in unison, “We are the sisters of Gillian.”

“Why do you come?” my mother asked.

“To learn her skills. Honor her sword. And keep her secrets.”

“To what end do you work?”

“To the cause of justice and light.”

“How long will you strive?”

“For all the days of our lives,” we finished and I felt a little like a character in one of my grandma’s soap operas.”
Ally Carter, I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

 

“One’s character is set at an early age, son. The choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life.” He was quiet for a minute then dropped the curtain and said, “I hate to see you swim out so far you can’t swim back.”
Wendelin Van Draanen

 

“The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the child.”

What on earth has that to do with it?” I ejaculated.

My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining insight as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents. Don’t you see that the converse is equally valid. I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.”
Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes

Top Ten Tuesday: Paranormal Stories We’ve Recently Reviewed

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

 

Happy Halloween from everyone at Long and Short Reviews!

In honor of this holiday, today I’ll be sharing ten paranormal books that we’ve recently reviewed here.

They’ve been divided into two sections. The first section is for all of the paranormal romance and erotic stories, and the second is for paranormal tales in other genres.

Romance and Erotica

Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer

 

Mile High with a Vampire by Lynsay Sands

 

The Witch and the Stag by Victoria Rogers

 

Night Class by Hannah Crow

 

Cliff’s Descent by Dianne Duvall

 

Other Paranormal Stories

 

Friends to the End by C.L. Cloyer

 

More Than I Bargained For by Kelli A Wilkins

 

Extinction Plague by Greig Beck

 

Operation Loch Ness by William Meikle

 

The Five Things by Beth Merwood

 

What paranormal books have you read recently that you loved? We’re always interested in new suggestions!

Top Ten Tuesday: Online Resources for Book Lovers

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I can’t wait to read everyone else’s lists! Most of the stuff on our list is totally free to use, although some sites do offer a few more features for paid memberships if you’re interested in subscribing.

1. LibraryThing

You can use this site to catalogue your personal library.

2. Urban Dictionary 

I’m guessing that most of you are already familiar with this slang dictionary, but I sure find it helpful when a character uses a term that I’m not familiar with.

3. Bibliomania 

Not only does this site contain about 2000 classic texts, it also includes study guides and summaries f

4. What Should I Read Next? 

This is a great place to go if you’ve just read something romantic, scary, funny, or thought-provoking and want to find a book that’s similar to it.

5. Bookcrossing

Imagine giving a book to a stranger and being able to track where it ends up in the world. I’ve left plenty of books at Little Free Libraries and similar places and wish I could have learned who took them home and if they adored them.

6. The Rare Book Room

These are digital copies of rare books for anyone to read.

7. Black Chick Lit 

This is a podcast about books written by and for black women.

8. Poetry Archive 

Go here to listen to poets read their poems.

9. Scribl 

This site has a long list of podcasts about audiobooks. How cool is that?

10. WikiBooks

Think of this like Wikipedia for textbooks. Anyone can read or edit them!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2021 To-Read List

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

These are some of the books I hope to check out this fall. Some of them are already available, while others haven’t been published yet.

1. A Lot Like Adios  by Alexis Daria

Why: It seems lighthearted and fun.

 

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2. Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story by Lilliam Rivera

Why: My immigration story is quite different from this one, but I enjoy reading about other people’s experiences with moving to other countries.

 

3.

A Dark and Starless Forest  by Sarah Hollowell 

Why: Raise your hand if you’re a little creeped out by but also fascinated by forests! I hope I’m not the only Top Ten Tuesday participant who has that mixture of emotions about the woods and what might be hidden in them.

 

4. Rosie the Truffle Hound by Jessie Hartland

Why: It looks adorable.

 

5. The Matzah Ball  by Jean Meltzer

Release Date: September 28

Why: I’ve read very few books about Jewish protagonists and am trying to expand my horizons. The idea of someone writing Christmas romance novels when they don’t actually celebrate that holiday also interests me!

 

6. Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan

Release Date: October 12

Why: So many of the Top Ten Tuesday bloggers we visit each week have been raving about this book. You have all convinced me to give it a try.

 

 

7. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (Aristotle and Dante, #2)  by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Release Date: October 12

Why: I’m hoping I will remind myself to finally read the first book in this series if I include the second on in this list. That’s how it works, right? 🙂

 

8. Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente 

Release Date: October 26

Why: Those of you who have been following Long and Short Reviews for a long time might remember my affinity for zany titles. I’m often the first reviewer here to request books whose titles are wacky, funny, or unusual, so the title of Comfort Me With Apples grabbed my attention immediately.

 

9.

Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes

Release Date: November 2

Why: I grew up in a community that wasn’t very welcoming for LGBT+ people, but I can’t imagine how much worse it was in the 1980s. It will be fascinating to compare life in the 1980s with my memories as well as with how it is in the current era.

 

10.

Coming Clean: A true story of love, addiction and recovery  by Liz Fraser

Release Date: November 30

Why: I have a relative who drank dangerous amounts of alcohol and nearly died because of it. He has since done an incredible job of getting and staying sober. This experience has given me a soft spot for people who are struggling with addictions as well as relatives of people with this problem. Learning about other people’s struggles with it is a great way to combat the loneliness of this experience.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Numbers In the Title

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I have not read any of these books yet. If you’ve read them, did you like them? If you haven’t read them, are you hoping to change that anytime soon?

1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

3. The Three Musketeers (The D’Artagnan Romances, #1)  by Alexandre Dumas

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

5. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

6. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

8. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

9. One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) by Janet Evanovich

10. The 101 Dalmatians (The Hundred and One Dalmatians, #1) by Dodie Smith

LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Eternal Seas by N. Christine Samuelson

Thanks for joining us on our 14th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

Eternal Seas is a journey of life and love spanning time and place that few have the courage to take and fewer live to remember.

Ella Rowe’s lifelong fear of the sea and tragedies surrounding loved ones cause a soul-deep fear of love and relationships—until the sea brings a man perfect for her—Navy fighter pilot Daniel Ellsworth.

A powerful attraction draws them together in Key West, but undermining it is Ella’s sense of being cursed and haunted by deaths, family secrets, lies, spirits, and vivid memories of living in other times with similar fates – all caused by the sea. She believes loving Daniel will make him the next victim. Daniel questions pursuing her, knowing death could be a consequence.

They begin an odyssey spanning generations of time filled with mystery, otherworldly events, and peril leading back to Ella’s ancestral home in Maine. Will their destiny be fulfilled, or will tragedy be repeated as they endure heartbreak to find love, and face death to find life?

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Orange Cream Dreams and Murderous Schemes by D. M. Grant

Thanks for joining us on our 14th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

Callie Clark’s ice cream shack on Chocolate Lake is finally up and ready for business, but a murder and an ominous warning throws her into a decades-old treasure hunt with the brooding groundskeeper who can’t seem to keep his hands to himself.

Dean Lowry can’t stand Callie’s spoiled superiority complex, but that doesn’t stop him from admiring her outrageous bikinis from afar. When the promise of a killer’s return threatens the woman he loves to hate, the tug of war between heart and mind begins.

Can they put their differences aside, or will status and small-town secrets tear them apart?

 

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Death by Sample Size by Susie Black

Thanks for joining us on our 14th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer. Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily killer hellbent on revenge.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Ghosts of New England by Nancy Fraser, Lisa A. Olech, and Kathryn Hills

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A generational anthology like nothing you’ve ever read before.
4 – Different Centuries…
4 – To-die-for romances…
The same 2 ghosts!

Widow’s Walk (1737) – by RITA nominee and best selling author, Lisa A. Olech.
He’s the infamous pirate, Captain John Jacob Wilder.
She’s the youngest daughter of his fiercest enemy.
Their love is a thing of legend.

Cast to the Wind and Waves (1837) – by award-winning and best selling author, Kathryn Hills.
She’s the destitute descendent determined to restore Fairwinds to all its glory.
He’s the solicitor working as the caretaker to help his mum.
Their love will rebuild the legend.

The Bootlegger’s Daughter (1924) – by award-winning and best selling author, Nancy Fraser.
She’s the daughter of one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals.
He’s her bodyguard, and not at all what he seems.
Their love will restore dignity to the legend.

Jilly’s Dilemma (Present Day) – by award-winning and best selling author, Nancy Fraser.
She’s the new owner of Fairwinds, a flaky artist who talks to ghosts. Repeatedly.
He’s the staid, young professor who’s come to catalog Fairwinds history.
Their love will make you believe in the legend.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: The Darkest Sum by Micki Miller

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The embodiment of the world’s evil has but a single fear, one homeless girl.

Twenty-two year old Liz Linden and her nineteen year old brother, Jacob, have lived in the storm drains that run under Las Vegas for almost one year. There are many others living in the makeshift camps. She does her best to make their concrete camp into a home until she can save enough money to get them out of the tunnels and into an apartment.

Of late, her wish to get out has become desperate, as she’s come to realize something else is down there, too-the offspring of malice and hypocrisy. It lives, it grows, and if not stopped, it will fully exist. It is the total of mankind’s evils-The Darkest Sum.

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