Today over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is ‘a freebie’.  Now, surprisingly, I find this more difficult than if somebody just gave me a topic but I’m just going to ‘woman up’ and come up with 10 bookish ‘things that are annoying for me’:

1. My kindle running out of battery – particularly when I’ve left the house already and forgot to take a back up book, or, even more annoying running out of charge during the last few chapters of a book.  Can’t there be some magical, special battery reserve back up thingy for such emergencies?  Come on people – make it happen.
2. People talking to me when I’m trying to read on the way to work!  Why?  Especially, and very irritatingly – ‘Are you enjoying that book’?/’Is it a good book’? or my all time favourite ‘Do you like reading’?!! (‘No, this is my own personal form of torture, thanks for asking’)
3. My library emailing to say the book I’ve been waiting for is ‘in’ – and it isn’t (a fact I only find out by making the journey and it not being on the shelf!  Because, I didn’t have much to do today after all.)
4. Changes in book cover styles part way through a series – yes, I am that ocd – If I’m collecting a series it better all have the same style.
5. Not really book related – but, exclamation marks.  I keep putting them everywhere and they’re getting on my nerves!!  I’m getting on my own nerves!!!! Arrrrggghhh !!!!!!
6. Hype.  I don’t think I need to elaborate. Can’t live with it, etc, etc,.
7. That thing where people sometimes treat you like an alien – because you like reading.  Like you’re really weird or something.
8. Missing deadlines – I hate missing deadlines.  It’s my own fault if it happens – or it’s just life in general getting in the way – but I just don’t like it and it makes me grumpy.
9. The constant obsessive need to have ALL the books.  I actually think I’m getting a little bit better in this respect – but, it’s not easy! (and the exclamation marks are back just to prove it.)
10. Simply not having enough hours in the day to complete everything and still do the one thing I really want to do – which is read.

That must be the must grumpy, curmudgeonly, sour-puss-faced piece yet.  Apologies.  Apparently not feeling well and being too busy to slow down a little doesn’t sit well with me.  For the rest of the day I will practice smiling – except to the people in No.2.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish where each week we’re challenged to come up with 10 books or book related ‘things’ in line with the topic for that particular week. This week’s theme is:

Ten Authors I REALLY Want To Meet

So, firstly, I don’t want to meet any authors to be honest – they make me nervous which is a new feeling for me and not one that I enjoy.  I simply become tongue tied and red faced.  But, for the sake of this week’s theme I’m going to make out like that wouldn’t be the case and come up with ten authors who I can talk the socks off:

1. In a twist of irony I’d like to travel back in a time machine and meet HGWells to discuss The Time Machine.
2. Neil Gaiman, I’ve actually been to see an event at which Mr Gaiman spoke and he’s incredibly lovely – I’d like to meet him but only if he can take me on a tour of the streets from London Below.
3. Jane Austen, I’m prepared to donn a long frock and bonnet for the opportunity for a chat with Ms Austen – preferrably over a tea dance or on a visit at Longbourn.
4. JKRowling – a trip to Hogwarts and a ride on a Hippogriff and Ms Rowling can explain why the series had to end!!
5. In which I travel to the Waystone Inn to be served a flagon of something tasty whilst listening to Bast play a fiddle and when, by hook or by crook I discover the release date for the next instalment from Patrick Rothfuss.  That’s right Mr Rothfuss I’m inviting you for an ale or three!  There will be words – tongues will be loosened (by alcohol that is!)
6. Orson Welles – I don’t think any explanation is needed for this.  Perhaps I could meet him in a dark gothic mansion – I’m thinking of the setting for a film he starred in – Jane Eyre, where he played Mr Rochester.
7. Shakespeare – I’m going to need the time machine again!  Wouldn’t you just love to travel back in time and be a fly on the wall in Shakespearean London?  I’ve only read A Midsummer Night’s Dream but even though I’m greatly underread I would love to meet him.
8. I couldn’t possibly have this list and omit Mr Tolkien – we can go on an adventure together!  Rivendell, Fanghorn Forest even – maybe skip the mines of Moria – too many orcs and they have a cave troll.
9. Gillian Philip – for this, I will be travelling beyond the veil to meet in the lands of the Sithe.  Let’s just face it, yes, I would love to meet this lovely author and thank her for her rebel angels – in particular the rather easy on the eye Seth.  Thank you again and again!
10. Margaret Mitchell – who in fact I need to see just to ask ‘why?’ Why would you end it like that?  Come on!

Tis all for me this week.  Let me know who you would love to meet.