Top Ten Tuesday-America

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. 

Messing about picking red, white and blue covers takes too long so instead I'm looking at Ten Non Fiction Books I Want To Read Connected To America.

1) Michael Wolff-Fire And Fury
I've been wanting to read this, and quite a few others about Donald Trump since it came out. I've always been interested in US Politics and watch a lot of CNN when time allows, as well as online news and alternative media. This should make interesting reading.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36595101-fire-and-fury 

2) Jonathan Allen-Shattered 
I thought it would be interesting to read a book going behind the scenes in Hillary Clinton's failed campaign to see what was going on. I don't know what kind of detail it will be but I'd like to read it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33874545-shattered

3) Dick Couch-USAF Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Survival Manual
This is an in depth guide to preparing for any attacks of this nature. I've been interested in reading about all things nuclear war since I was a kid and my inner prepper really needs to get on with this one!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/877321.U_S_Armed_Forces_Nuclear_Biological_And_Chemical_Survival_Manual 

4) Jim Dwyer-102 Minutes
I've read quite a few books about 9/11 but have not got round to reading this one yet and it comes highly recommended. I hope to get reading it soon as it seems to be in depth about what it was like in the Tower that day.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177187.102_Minutes 

5) Michael Newton-When Bigfoot Attacks
I've always been obsessed with stories of Sasquatches, Yeti and Bigfoot and I have a few non fiction books on the subject including this one which I need to read. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14558721-when-bigfoot-attacks 

6) Lyle Blackburn-The Beast of Boggy Creek
It was the film The Legend Of Boggy Creek which scared me as a kid and awoke my interest in Sasquatches and similar things. I'm planning to read this book as it is about the Fouke monster in Arkansas from the film.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13518162-the-beast-of-boggy-creek-the-true-story-of-the-fouke-monster 

7) Diana B Henriques-The Wizard Of Lies
I watched all the scandal unfold on tv and developed an interest in reading more about it. I also have plans to watch the Robert De Niro film.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28821001-the-wizard-of-lies 

8) Ann Rule-The Stranger Beside Me
Ever since I saw things about serial killers on tv, I wanted to read more. The Mark Harmon TV mini series got me interested in Ted Bundy's case and since then I've read a few Ted books about him but I haven't had the chance to read this one yet.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15654.The_Stranger_Beside_Me 

9) Jeffrey Toobin-The People vs OJ Simpson
I watched hours every night as the trial took place on tv. I took notes as I watched and became fascinated by how it unfolded. After hearing about the tv drama series I decided to get this book and I hope to get both looked at soon.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29069261-the-people-v-o-j-simpson

10) Theresa Saldana-Beyond Survival  
I watched this film years ago and became interested in reading the story behind it. It took me many years to finally track down a copy. This book tells you why stalking has to be taken seriously by lawmakers and more needs to be done.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7264248-beyond-survival 

Around The Blogs With Chuckles

We all enjoy snooping and lurking on other people's blogs right? Why not share those entertaining things you found with other readers and bloggers too! Welcome to Around the Blogs with Chuckles, where I take time out to show you some of my favourite blog posts from the previous seven days and link you up so you can check them out. 

This week! A day late as I just forgot to post yesterday!

1) Herbal Solutions For Sunburn 

Wellness Mama shares her secrets.

https://thesurvivalmom.com/herbal-solutions-sunburn/ 

***link isn't working great but this can be copied and pasted and should work***

2) Book Review-The Extinction Trials Exile by SM Wilson

Greg looks at the sequel.

http://gregsbookhaven.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-extinction-trials-exile.html 

3) Hottest Horror Books Of Summer

Bark looks at some great sounding books to stuff on your ereader!

http://barksbooknonsense.blogspot.com/2018/06/hottest-horror-books-of-summer.html 

4) Book Review-Devil Sharks by Chris Jameson 

Mogsy looks at death by shark...

https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/06/25/book-review-devil-sharks-by-chris-jameson/ 

5) Book Review-The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
Review by Carole.
https://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.com/2018/06/review-killing-woods-by-lucy-christopher.html 

Must Read Books For July

I need to keep up the reading I've managed in the second half of June and I've decided to construct a short list of what I'd like to get done before the end of the month. The reason for selecting these books is for constructing new lists for TTT topics of my own where the weekly choice doesn't suit me, or just for reading fun or other task. I hope to get to as many as I can this month!

BOOKS FOR TTT TOPICS
I'm working on another monsters in seas and rivers topic so a few of these will do nicely for that! Also doing a topic soon on Games and Tests. These books are top priority.

1) PK Hawkins-Shark : Infested Waters
2) Norman Hendricks-Hungry Things
3) Tim Waggoner-Teeth of the Sea
4) Tim Meyer-Sharkwater Beach
5) Chris Jameson-Devil Sharks
6) Hunter Shea-Megalodon in Paradise 
7) Alexandra Oliva-The Last One
8) Matthew Reilly-Contest
9) Ryan Graudin-Wolf by Wolf
10) Saul Tanpepper-Gameland

BOOKS IN A SERIES
I've read 8 books in Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series so I want to get the next two read this month if I can. This is optional, if time allows.

1) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty's Big Trouble #9
2) Carrie Vaughn-Kitty Steals The Show #10

BOOKS I NEED TO CLEAR FROM EREADER
I have lots of series waiting to be started and in some cases I have entire series on my ereaders Maurice and Myrnin. I need to look at them and delete the chaff to give me space. I also have books that are poorly rated so these need to be looked at too.

1) RL Blalock-Devour
2) John Randall-The Yellowstone Conundrum
3) Alex Hughes-Clean
4) Catt Dahman-Z is for Zombie
5) Adam J Wright-Lost Soul
6) Bobby Akart-The Loyal Nine
7) Bobby Adair-Ebola K

BOOKS FOR FUN 
Just coz I want to!
 
1) Hunter Shea-Jurassic Florida

Chuckles Chat #71 Mythology

Welcome to Chuckles Chat where great blogging minds unite to discuss the topics of the day mainly in the book and blogging world. I'll be sharing my thoughts on a topic and then inviting you all to share your thoughts. It's ok to disagree but PLEASE be respectful of each other's views! All of the comments on my blog are moderated and offensive posts ie racist, bigoted will not be published! 

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.   

Over the coming weeks I'm looking at our book buying life. By this what I mean is, what are the scenarios in a book blurb that make us really want to pick up that book and start reading? What do we love about the genre and what puts us off?

This week I'm looking at a more specialised topic of mythology. I have read some non fiction about Greek, Roman, Indian, Celtic, Norse and Egyptian mythology over my reading years and have enjoyed some of it. They can be very heavy going depending on the authors so I do prefer to see these things mainly in my fiction reading now. I've had a mixed time with these books though but it doesn't stop me looking for more.

Let me start with the successes I've found. Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series has a good mix of Celtic and Norse mythology with bits of Native American, Indian, Greek and Roman thrown in for good measure. I loved this modern world with the interaction of the gods and goddesses mixed with action and humour. I liked reading and learning more about these mythologies without the mind numbing info dumps in non fiction versions.  I liked the Percy Jackson world itself though I gave up the series due to the stroppy brats fighting all the time. The idea of the safe camp to go to where you can meet others like you and take part in war games and quests was certainly interesting. It's a bit more interesting than being shoved into a regular summer camp, right?

I also love books where these mythological beasts are creating death and destruction in modern cities and maybe a team of good MCs are working together with various skills to stop them. I like some of these adventures deep into the underworld where we see all the places from mythology and get different twists on the legends. I do admit that Greek is a particular favourite of mine thanks to my dad so I love the Hades underworld themes and the monsters that feature there. Having them escape into our world can be fun too! Obviously it depends on the actual plot and characters whether I'll like the story or not but I do quite often download something with this kind of theme. 

I also like a bit of urban myths in the plots in my fiction, whether it is scary scarecrows, psycho killers at campsites, cannibals, a deadly road where cars or people go missing, kids being lured away by a long dead killer, scary ass clowns, Sasquatches and haunted theme parks etc. I'd like to read more about wendigos and chupacabras! I'd love a plot like you see in the Final Destination films where Fate is cheated and comes after them. (There are Final Destination books on Amazon UK but the prices are crazy!) I like a tense gory tale of this kind and it does add to the fun when it is based on an actual urban legend or myth. I could actually enjoy a non fiction book full of urban legends from around the world or in different countries-maybe a North American or UK one. That might be fun reading!

I was actually disappointed by The Immortals because I found it too slow and I disliked the cold MC so I do find some of these books not to my taste. Whether the book is about people or gods I do still need to like the characters before I can engage with them. If it goes into too much complicated description or info dump territory, I can find mythology a bit heavy to read even if it is fiction. I don't like a slow story either. I'm not keen on reading mythology fiction that is actually set in the time of Clash of the Titans...I much prefer the modern setting. 

On the urban myth side of things, I'm less interested in the haunted house side of things unless a lot of our characters die strange deaths inside the building. I'm less keen on actual hauntings and ghosts though I do like those reality tv settings where a group of people are trapped in a house or hotel or resort being filmed and they start getting killed off. I do like a book like that! As long as there is plenty action and death and tense near misses, I'm all over that kind of plot so recs are welcome!

What kind of mythology do you enjoy? Do you read non fiction mythology? What scenarios from mythology do you enjoy in fiction?

Chuckles Cover Love #81 KC Tansley

If there is one thing that makes a great book even better, it is when it has a cover that we love! The cover design is what catches the eye as we browse through a bookstore shelf or check out the Amazon or Goodreads recommendations. The right cover makes me look closer at a book, to read the blurb and maybe make a purchase. A poor cover might mean I never look at the blurb at all.

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.   

This Week! 

I really like the use of colour and design on these books. I'm kind of intrigued by the plot but haven't decided whether or not to read them.