top ten childhood reads

I got the idea for this post from a great blog I've just discovered http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/
There's a weekly Top Ten Tuesday feature and I loved this topic.

Top Ten Childhood Reads:

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl. I've lost track how many times I read this when I was young. Then I read it to my step daughters. Twice.

2. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I've read every book in this series. Also the Pellucidar series. But this one is the classic. This is the cover I had too.

3. Red Sonja the Ring of Ikribu by David Smith and Richard Tierney. I found my original cover! Loved this!

4. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. Who doesn't have this on their list?

5. Man from Atlantis by Richard Woodley. This I read in grade nine and it instantly grabbed my imagination. I didn't see the TV series though. I'm feeling a little old with some of these covers! Sheesh!

6. Hawkmistress by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Best. Book. Ever.

7. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. This isn't the origninal cover I have, but I couldn't find that image on line.

8. The Gandalara Cycle by Randall Garrett - a 6 book series. Anyone else read these? SOOOO good!

9. Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal - okay. Just when you were thinking I'm one strange cat right? Yes, I did indeed read these as a tween.

10. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. This was later highschool, but it began many years of a pre-history reading frenzy. Too bad it took so long for the rest of this amazing series.



So. Lay it on me. What are some of your top childhood reads?

Great recent reads

As you can see by the photos I've been posting, I've had a busy summer. But now that I'm home, I'm back to reading every spare moment. Here's a quick review of some great books:

DEAD RULES by Randy Russell

LOVE this book!Complex characters where no one is as they first seem. And loved the crazy humour - real left-field things that had me laughing out loud. Kept me surprised, entertained and frustrated throughout. 

Possession by Elana Johnson

Very creative! A whole new world for the reader to enjoy. Action junkies take note. And features a hard-core female mc.







Divergent by Veronica Roth
 
 

 
A wild, wild ride! Brilliant. Every page had tension. AMAZING READ!








BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton
 

Loved the romance bits of this story. Such great characters! Mystery, romance, magic and suspense all wrapped together. Creepy and addictive. I read this a while ago, but it has stuck in my head. A good sign!







Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sherif

Great characters here. Especially Grandpa! I love to read books where I learn something new, and I must confess to not really knowing what Ramadan was. Funny and touching and brought me back to highschool and all the drama and problems of those tender years. Medeia is a contemporary Judy Blume!








Merle's Door: lessons from a free-thinking dog by Ted Kerasote (non-fiction)

Okay, as far as dog books go - this is a MUST READ! I feel changed.

Black Star Bright Dawn. by Scott O'Dell

Scott O'Dell. Need I say more? Great stuff here, of course. I bow down.

Watch for my next ELEVENSIES giveaway this fall where some of these books and more will be up for grabs.
What great books have you read recently?

Georgian Bay Adventure

The second part of our vacation included an epic 315 km paddle around Georgian Bay that took 8 days.



yes, that's my thumb. Hubby at Flowerpot Island.



When we crossed Lake Huron to South Bay Mouth, I was extremely nervous. For two hours until I calmed down, I gripped my paddle so hard that I injured myself. My fingers would hardly work for a day and half afterwards! But it felt great to have done it!

Excerpt of famous moment on trip. Bruce Penninsula. 8pm.

Hubby - Does that sound like a boat coming our way?

Me - Nope. We're all clear.

*strips down to bathe in the lake after 12 hours of paddling in the hot sun. Stands naked balancing on rocks and boulders in ankle-deep water.

Me - AAUUGH!! It's a boat. RIGHT THERE!!!

*sneaky boat moving very slowly appears around the corner 30 meters away.

Hubby - It's a TOUR boat! Full of tourists!!

Me - My shirt! For the love of all that is holy, throw me my shirt!!

*crouches awkwardly as the boat loaded with at least 50 people on the fly bridge, chugs along the shoreline for unobstructed, glorious view of the rock cliffs which we are camped on. And naked.

Hubby - They have cameras

Me - yes. I see that.

Hubby - they're waving.

*hubby waves back. The boat finally passes. We giggle for the rest of the evening. "Does that sound like a boat", becomes the phrase of the week.

Anyhoo,  here are a few more photos - but don't worry, all fully clothed. As usual, click on any photo to view larger.

5:45 am

flat calm day! My kayak just flying

look at the roots in the water!

checking out the charts during a snack break

Cove Island Lighthouse

surprised a family of otters. mom and two young.

Does anyone else have a vacation story to share?

Newfoundland Adventure

Back from vacation!



Hubby on Gros Morne Mountain



Highlights: 

• saw 28 moose
• hiked over 60 km
• heard a calf moose being eaten by a bear
• one day of sun in Newfoundland! Fog - wind - freezing cold nights in tent!
• trees on northern penninsula don't even have leaves yet!
• STUNNING, amazing place. Can't wait to go back
• paddled 315 km around Georgian Bay
• LOTS of sun
• got caught naked by a boat full of tourists



I hope to get back to blogging soon. In the mean time, here's a few photos of Newfoundland. Kayak photos to come next post.





Me and hubby having FUN

Book research - adventure awaits

I've been absent the last few weeks. Thanks for your patience. (here's a sampling of last year's never-before-seen reasons for said absences.)

We're about to head out on another epic adventure (aka book research) of hiking and kayaking. I'll be back next month with photos and tales of wonder. 

In the meanwhile, you want to head over to DAWN METCALF's giveaway celebrating the release of her debut LUMINOUS.

Giveaway Winners

It's time to announce the winners of the epic ELEVENSIES DEBUT BOOK GIVEAWAY!! This has been my most popular contest with over 100 entries!!!

And WOW! Hello to all my new followers! Thank you for helping me break 300!  How awesome of you to join us. Hope you don't mind blackflies because we are in the thick of them here at the moment. But relief is found out in the kayaks, so expect more expedition photos soon.

On to the winners.

Winner of OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy is

Amanda of Read a book a day

Winner of Clarity by Kim Harrington is


Krystal of Stellar Book Blog

Winner of Moonglass by Jessi Kirby is


Brittany Gale

Winner of Memento Nora by Angie Smibert is


Christie H.

Winner of The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder is


Joli of Actin Up With Books

Winner of The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless by Allan Woodrow is


Tiffany Fallick








Congrats to all the winners. If you didn't win, stick around because we'll do this again with another batch of ELEVENSIE DEBUT's next season.