Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers

Top Ten by The Broke and the Bookish

Top 10 Favorite Book Covers:

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I know the list is supposed to contain 2012 covers, but I’m going to include my favorite covers from all years.  These are in no particular order, but here they are.  Enjoy!  :)

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No Touch Monkey by Ayun Halliday – Come on, how could you not love this cover?!  I mean just look at it!  The main reason why I bought this book was because of the cover, and I’m so glad I did because the book exceeded my expectations.  Check out my review of this book here.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - I am extremely biased with this book because it’s one of my favorites.  But I do love the simple cover and if you read it, then you will understand how powerful this cover truly is.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel - I could literally stare at this cover for hours.  It provokes such wonderment and imagination, and trust me this is just not another “pretty cover” because the book is absolutely AMAZING.

Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer S. Holland - Awww…just Awww! Do I need to say more?!  Check out my review of this book here.

Modoc by Ralph Helfer - This cover brings tears to my eyes.  I remember staring at this cover after I finished the book and the words I had just finished reading came flooding back in my mind.  The cover isn’t even half as good as the book, but it’s definitely one of my favorite book art.

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs - Such a great book, and such a great cover.  I just love it.  It really captures the words that are on the pages.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - Anyone who has read this book knows how amazing this cover is in person.  It’s such a great design that it instantly attracts you into reading the book.

Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman - I remember stroking this cover when I first picked this book up, waiting desperately to read it.  This cover is so cool.  Screw Eat, Pray, Love, this book deserved its own movie.

The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey - I asked my mom to get me this book for Christmas based on the cover alone.  It’s scary as hell, but also extremely intriguing.  The book was great, but I think the cover is just a tad bit better.  Check out my review of this here.

Moby-Duck by Donovan Hohn - I haven’t read this book yet, but it’s definitely on my TBR list.  And it’s on there for the most part because of the cover.  It’s so cool, isn’t it?!  Can’t wait to see if the book lives up to the cover.

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The cover art are sometimes my favorite part of the book, and it really is something that draws you into the book.

So this is my list, and hope all of you have a Happy Tuesday!

What are your Top 10 favorite book covers?

The Devil’s Teeth [Book Review]

I really wanted this book for Christmas, and my mom, being the sweet Santa she is, got it for me!  I started it 2 weeks ago and have finally finished it.  Here is my review.  Enjoy!

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Title:  The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White Sharks

Author: Susan Casey

Synopsis: ”Susan Casey was in her living room when she first saw the great white sharks of the Farallon Islands, their dark fins swirling around a small motorboat in a documentary. These sharks were the alphas among alphas, some longer than twenty feet, and there were too many to count; even more incredible, this congregation was taking place just twenty-seven miles off the coast of San Francisco.

In a matter of months, Casey was being hoisted out of the early-winter swells on a crane, up a cliff face to the barren surface of Southeast Farallon Island-dubbed by sailors in the 1850s the “devil’s teeth.” There she joined Scot Anderson and Peter Pyle, the two biologists who bunk down during shark season each fall in the island’s one habitable building, a haunted, 135-year-old house spackled with lichen and gull guano. Two days later, she got her first glimpse of the famous, terrifying jaws up close and she was instantly hooked; her fascination soon yielded to obsession-and an invitation to return for a full season. But as Casey readied herself for the eight-week stint, she had no way of preparing for what she would find among the dangerous, forgotten islands that have banished every campaign for civilization in the past two hundred years.”

ISBN: 0805080112

 

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 My Review:

Terror, bloodshed, and the author’s close and personal Great White shark contact: that was what I was expecting based on the synopsis from the back of the book.  However, what I read instead had really little to do with sharks.  Yes, the history and unknown lives of the Great White was interestingly detailed, and yes, tales of shark attacks were recalled, and finally yes, the author had some up-close-and-personal sightings of the mysterious Jaws, though I don’t think she even saw a Sister (read the book to know what a Sister is).  Instead, it seemed that her obsession was more with the mysterious Farollon Island, and its dedicated scientist-inhabitants, than with the sharks themselves.  And honestly, that was fine with me.

The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey was a book filled with history, characters only a non-fiction book could create, and an unlikely adventure.  The book, which was originally supposed to be just a magazine article, captured the accomplishments and trials of the people who dedicated their lives to the study of sharks and marine life on the Farollon Islands – a captivating place that seems could only be known from experiencing its wonder.

Susan Casey relates her time on the island, and with the people and creatures she meets, in an entertaining, often humorous, and fascinating way.  The beginning grabs your attention, the middle forces you to keep reading, and the ending leaves you wanting more of the sharks, the island, and the real-life characters.

If you enjoy adventure, history, and a glimpse into a world you will probably never experience for yourself, then The Devil’s Teeth is the book for you.  While I was hoping for more shark action than the book actually provided, I was still left with a sense of longing to be in the author’s position, and for the book to never end.  The Devil’s Teeth, by Susan Casey, is a must-read for those who want to escape into a completely realistic, yet far-off land. 

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Purchase it at Amazon.com here: The Devil’s Teeth

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*Note: The synopsis was taken from Goodreads.com.  The review above is written by me.  © Kalie Lyn 2011*

“10 Most Wanted Species”

 

Currently, I am reading The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey, a fascinating book about Great White Sharks.

She states in the book that in 1993, Great White’s became a protected species due to the fact that before, they were among the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) “10 Most Wanted Species”, which is a list of the 10 most endangered species in the world.

I was curious to see who is currently the “10 Most Wanted Species”, so I did a little Google search, and found a list.  Now, this list is from 2010, (I can’t find a more current one, and if you do please let me know!) but I am assuming these species are still endangered, if not even more now that they’ve been on the list for 2 years.

So, here are the 10 most endangered species (from 2010):

10: Giant Panda

There are only about 1,600 more Pandas left in the wild.  And we don’t want that adorable face to go extinct!

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9: Javan Rhinoceros

Considered one of the “most endangered large mammals in the world”, there are less than 60 of these animals and only 2 populations left in the wild.  Knowing that only 60 of them exist, is incredibly troubling.

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8: Monarch Butterfly

It does not say how many are left, but if it’s on the endangered list, there can’t be many.  It’s weird to think that an insect could become extinct (I know we all wish certain ones would!) however, imagine how sad it would be not to see these beautiful butterflies in the backyard.

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7: Mountain Gorilla

Probably the most beautiful of the great apes (in my opinion), only about 720 still survive in the wild, with more than 200 living in National Parks.  After I read the biography of Dian Fossey, Woman in the Mists, (I plan to read Gorillas in the Mist soon) tears come to my eyes just thinking about these creatures becoming extinct.

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6: Bluefin Tuna

Yes, it’s also weird to think of a fish on the endangered list, however this particular fish is “the source of highest grade sushi”, and could soon become extinct.  It does not say how many are left though.

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5: Leatherback Turtle

Turtles are pretty much everyone’s favorite animal, and I just love how serene and beautiful they are.  They are also one of the largest living reptiles, and there are only about 2,300 female Leatherback Turtles left in the wild.

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4: Magellanic Penguin

Everyone loved “March of the Penguins” and “Happy Feet”, and how could anyone imagine these cute creatures becoming extinct?!  However, ”12 out of the 17 penguin species are currently experiencing rapid population decline”.

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3: Pacific Walrus

Ever seen “50 First Dates”?  Well, the Walrus is one of the “largest victims of climate change”.  200 dead Walrus (what’s plural for “walrus”?!) washed up on Alaska’s northwest coast in September 2010.

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2: Polar Bear

Unfortunately, this one is no surprise.  WWF reports that “many polar bear populations will be vulnerable to extinction within the next century if warming trends in the Arctic continue at the current pace”.  I could never imagine a world without these majestic bears.

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1: Tiger

And at #1, one of the most beautiful of the feline world, is the Tiger.  There may be as few as 3,200 left in the wild because they are poached for their body parts.  It is devastating to know that these tigers could be extinct because of the selfishness of humans.

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Whether it’s because of climate change, deforestation, or us humans, it is heartbreaking to know that our children and grand-children may not be able to experience the wonder each of these animals has to offer.  Something has to be done to protect and save these endangered species.

To read the full list, and to hear why and how to save these animals, click here.

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*Note: Click on the link above to view my sources and to read the full list of the “10 Most Wanted Species”.  The pictures were taken from Google Images.*

W… W… W… Wednesday: What, What and What

WWW Wednesdays by: Should Be Reading

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Q:

What are you currently reading?

A:

Currently, I’m reading The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey.  I’m only on the first chapter, but so far it’s really good.  I’m excited to get into it more!

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Q: 

What did you recently finish reading?

A:

I just finished In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall.  You can see my review of it here.

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Q: 

What do you think you’ll read next?

A:

I have no idea what I’ll be reading next.  I have a massive amount of books on my TBR list so I’ll see what I’ll read next after I finish my current one.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Winter TBR List

Top Ten by The Broke and the Bookish

Top 10 Books on My Winter TBR List:

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My TBR list has been overflowing since I started NaNo.  Now that I have finally reached the 50K, it’s time to get back into the reading game.  I bought some very good books before Borders (RIP) closed and before I left the States, so I am excited to dive into some of those, along with new ones I just HAVE to read.

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Born Free by Joy Adamson – I know of Joy Adamson because of the book: A Lion Called Christian, in which Joy and her husband, George, were the ones to rehabilitate Christian.  When I found Born Free during the closing sale of Borders, I just had to get it, and now I look forward to reading another one of Joy Adamson’s exciting adventures with lions.

In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall - Yes, Jane Goodall is a hero of mine, so when I found this book that talks about her early days when Louis Leaky discovered her and she began her adventures with chimps, I just had to get it!  Now, I just have to read it!

Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall - Yep, another Jane Goodall book, however, this one is about all animals.  Jane Goodall talks about the endangered species, the environment and how it’s affecting us all, and positive approaches to protecting animals and our world.  This is one I can not wait to read!

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson – Yes, I have heard that the author fabricated the story, much like another one of my favorite books: A Million Little Pieces, however, I have wanted to read this book for awhile.  And if it really isn’t true, then I’ll just read it like it’s an amazing fiction story!

Heat and Light by Mike Wallace - I bought this book because I plan on going into journalism, and Heat and Light is all about “advice for the next generation of journalists”.  It actually looks pretty good and informative so I’m excited to read it!

First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria by Eve Brown Waite - What’s better than a funny travelogue?!  I actually just recently found this book and it looks so good and hilarious that I may just bump it up on my TBR list!

Babylon’s Ark by Lawrence Anthony - I know this book is going to bring me to tears, but honestly, I don’t care.  This book looks so amazing that I just have to read it!  Plus, there are some other books by Lawrence Anthony that I have found which I want to read, so I think I’ll read this one first, and then read his others.

 

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs - This book looks laugh out funny, but also very informative as the author tries to follow the Bible as literal as possible.  Maybe I’ll read this book after I read Babylon’s Ark so I can get some humor in!

The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey - This book looks downright scary yet intriguing as I read about the author’s obsession with Great White Sharks.  I myself, have a fear of sharks but I have always been intrigued by them and how people would want to be even in close proximity with them.  This book could either turn my fear into a positive, or make me even more afraid of those monster-looking-big-ass fish!

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - OK, OK, I’ll indulge in a little fiction.  I have been wanting to read this books for a while now, but have not gotten around to it.  I’m hoping to end my winter TBR list with Ms. Christie,  one of my favorite, and only, mystery authors!

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Don’t worry, it’s not surprising to see only one fiction book on my reading list.  I’m a huge non-fiction fan and read fiction only when the book captivates me from the beginning.

So, this is my winter to-be-read list.  It’s actually much longer than this, and will probably last until next winter!

What books are on your TBR list?