Monday, August 20, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. A new topic is posted each week, and bloggers post their top ten in the category. I love lists, especially about books, so when I found out about Top Ten Tuesday, I just had to participate. 

Top Ten Books You've Read During the Lifespan of Your Blog

This week's topic was especially difficult. I've read so many amazing books over the lifetime of my blog that it was hard to remember them all, and even harder to decide what order they belonged in. I've finally come up with a list, and the books here aren't just my favorites that I've read during my blog's short lifetime, they're some of my favorites of all time. So, without further ado...

10. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

You could listen to me rave about this book even more, or you could just check out my review of it here. Or you could just read it and see for yourself how amazing it is. It's good-old-fashioned true sword-and-sorcery fantasy, which can be hard to find among the slew of paranormal romance and dystopian novels. At the same time, though, it's incredibly unique and creates such an amazing world. I fell in love with it immediately, and can't wait to read the rest of the series. 

9. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

This is just an incredible story. The plot - one of the most moving and original things I've ever read. The characters - every detail perfect. And I can't get enough of Markus Zusak's writing. This book placed him firmly amongst my favorite authors ever. 

8. Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

I put these two together because they're just so fantastic, neither is better than the other, and they work so well together as a series. These two books are some of the few where the plot was just perfect - I loved every single thing that happened, and nothing was out of place. Combined with Maggie Stiefvater's beautiful, lyrical writing, and these books just blow me away. The third one can't arrive soon enough. 

7. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

"I think the most important thing about this book is that I just loved reading it - so much that I didn't want it to end." That's from my review, which you can read here, and it really sums up my feelings about this book. I just want to read it and relive the story over and over. 

6. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I was actually surprised to realize that I'd read this book during the lifetime of my blog, because it feels like one of those books that's been with me forever. I've read it several times, and each time I love it even more and notice something different. I still stand by my statement that I could spend the rest of my life analyzing this book and I would never get tired of it. Anything for another excuse to reread it. 

5. Eona by Allison Goodman

Oh, the characters! The complicated, wonderful, impossibly real characters, and the tension between them, and the way they acted in response to the plot and each other - it hasn't been that long since I read this book, but I already want to reread it. Every character, down to the most minor role, was fantastic. The plot was great too, of course, but I would read about anything just to see these characters interact.

4. The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten

This story is so magical and amazing; I was just swept up into it, and I never wanted to leave. I raved about the book to anyone who would listen while I was reading it, and I still recommend it to anyone who asks. Easily one of the best books I've ever read.

3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

I fell in love with this book from the very first page. It was amazing and addictive, making its length an easy challenge to overcome. It kept me up way too late reading and I never wanted to put it down. My new goal is to learn French well enough that I can read it in the original language.

2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

A setting so incredibly real I could smell, see, and feel it. Characters that are as real to me as my friends and family. A plot that blew me away in its perfection and originality. And, of course, because it's Maggie Stiefvater, beautiful writing to describe it all. Everyone needs to read this book. Everyone. Now. 

I mentioned in this post that The Book Thief is the last book that actually made me cry; The Scorpio Races came really, really close, not because it was sad but because it was so touching and perfect. Speaking of The Book Thief...  

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book beat contenders like The Lord of the Rings and Sherlock Holmes to become my absolute favorite novel, and has remained solidly in that position ever since. This is the book that made me fall in love with Markus Zusak's writing, and I don't know that anything can beat it. I wrote a review of it way back in the early days of my blog, but it doesn't do the book justice. No words of mine ever could. Just read it, and trust me, you'll never be the same after you do. 

~blackandwhitedreamer

6 comments:

  1. Night Circus is a good one, and of course TKAM. I am excited to read Why We Broke Up. I'm a huge fan of Maira Kalman and her illustrations.

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  2. I heard so many good things about Cinda Williams Chima. Must look her up. Great list. I agree, The Scorpio Races was perfect. :)

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  3. I started reading Chima's HEIR books, but still need to dive into her new series. I feel like I should wait until more of them are out so I don't have to re-read...? I have I AM THE MESSENGER sitting on my shelf to read as well. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a favorite classic of mine. It's one reason I loved THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney so much (Which made MY list). Ack, I still need to read EONA! I want to re-read EON first... THE NIGHT CIRCUS is on my list, too. Sooo good! I also still have THE SCORPIO RACES and THE BOOK THIEF on my shelf to read, too. Good choices!

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  4. I loved The Night Circus enough to listen to the audio after reading it, and it blew me away! The reader, Jim Dale, is mesmerizing!

    Karis @YA Litwit

    My Top Ten

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  5. I'm with you on To Kill a Mockingbird. I reread about once a year. I was lucky enough to hand out The Book Thief for World Book Night. Only one person asked what religion I was pushing :)

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  6. What a great list! I'm a new follower! I love Steifvater as well, and I can't help but feel that everyone everywhere needs to read the Scorpio Races. I enjoyed Ballad/Lament, but they weren't quite as well written and had the dreaded insta-love I can't seem to avoid. The Count of Monte Cristo is AMAZING.

    Here's Mine

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