Top ten things that will instantly make me want to read a book

Okay, so I know that this is suppose to be more of a list about what things will always catch your attention if mentioned about a book, but my mind first went to things that will make me want to pick up a book, any old book.;)

1. The smell of new books
It's a dangerous thing, since a good old bookstore can convince me that I need to buy books just because they smell so good!;)

2. A good quote

I'm a sucker for a good quote! It makes me want to pick up a book by that author.

3. New covers

So far, I have managed to convince myself that I do not *need* these lovely books, since I already have lovely copies of most of these books.;) I still really love that Little Women though! (maybe my daughter will need it. You know, once she knows how to read for herself..;))

4. A good cup of tea
I know, so cliche, but a good cup of tea does make me long to curl up with a good book as well.

5. Road trips!
Okay, so this doesn't necessarily make me want to pick up a good book so much as over pack good books (which, I could remedy now with my Kindle! Gone are the days of packing at least a backpack of books to only touch one or two;)). I especially had this habit when I was a kid and would take a couple of books with me every where, including family get togethers.;)

Okay, so what catches my eye in a review or on Goodreads?

6. Pretty covers
I am a huge sucker for this one! A pretty cover will, sadly, bump a book up on my TBR list. (I know, so shallow!)

7. Boy next door story
I love these! Or, the friendship turned romance.

8. (clean) Regency
Yes, no one can outdo Jane Austen on this corner of the market, but I still like to pretend modern writers have a chance of making me happy.;) In all honesty, there is probably a 50% chance of me liking Regency novels, since it's a fine line of mimicking Austen's style and just plain copying her. I still like original story lines.

9. Cute chick lit
It seems like this is one of the harder categories for me to be happy with, though I still try. I like cute, sweet stories with no added junk in them, which can be hard to find with chick lit.

10. A good fairy tale re-telling
For some reason, it seems like I am usually pretty happy with the fairy tale re-tellings I come across.

Take Ten: Most romantic quotes in literature

With Valentine's day just around the corner, I thought I would chose 5 of my favorite romantic quotes in literature and 5 my favorite couples in fiction.

1. “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you." Jane Austen's Persuasion
(Persuasion is one of my very favorite books, perhaps largely due to the amazing ending!)

2. "Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same.” Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights
(not my most favorite classic, but I love this line!)

3. “To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life.” Victor Hugo's Les Miserables
(One of my most favorite stories about the power of forgiveness)

4. "I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough." Nicholas Sparks The Notebook

5. “Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear.” Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

1. Jack and Evie from The Hearts We Mend

I recently read this one and just fell in love with the couple! Jack is an especially amazing character, since he makes you want to be a better person just reading about him.;)

2. Peeta and Katniss

I cheered for Peeta the whole series, since his love was selfless, wanting what was best for Katniss, not what would benefit him.

3. Jackson and Allison


4. Allen and Gwendolyn

I love that they are both strong characters!

5. Henry and Kate

I wish she would hurry up and write another book!;) This one was SO good.

Take Ten

1. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2."Not all those who wander are lost" The Fellowship of the Ring

3. “It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are -are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

4. "We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days." Persuasion

5.

6. "You can't get around what's right, though. When we stop loving them, that's when they win." Black Like Me

7. “Men of sense, whatever you may choose to say, do not want silly wives.” Emma

8.“I cannot make speeches, Emma...If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.” Emma

9. "We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot

10. "How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it." George Eliot

This one has to be one of the easiest lists for me, since I collect the quotes I like.;) I have for years, starting with a little notebook that I would jot them down in, then moving on to just writing them on the inside flaps of my journals, so I could enjoy them time and again. It was hard to keep it at ten!