Top Ten Tuesday (41)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Books I’ve Read in the Lifespan of My Blog

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and make our own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday‘s on their site!

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So, just an FYI, this list is going to be filled with lots of recent books because my blog, if it were a real-life baby, would not even be a toddler. It would still be in diapers, maybe still breast feeding, definitely not really talking beyond a few mispronounced words. My blog doesn’t turn 1 for another two months. BUT! That doesn’t mean I haven’t read some KILLER books in those 9 months. Because let me tell you: I’ve read some of my favorite books EVER since October 26, 2011. No lie.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. OMG guys. I can’t even with this book. I honestly do not have any idea how I’m going to write my review of TIGER LILY, because…I don’t think I have the right words. It’s so beautiful and sad, and the whole time you’re reading it you know that the end is going to break you. And then it does, and if you’re anything like me, you go back and read those most heartbreaking parts again because the feelings were so real and lovely. Also, sad. But gorgeous. I’m still thinking about it, and I finished it several days ago and have read two books since.

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss. So this book. I know that basically the whole world loved this book, and I can’t even count how many people recommended it to me. Kvothe is just…perfect. Mostly because he screws up like all young people, and because he has a tendency to be a touch cocky. But he has a gooey center, and he’s easy to love, and even easier to empathize with. Plus the world-building in this series is beyond stellar. I am in love with these books.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Why am I feeling like this list is having an unintentional theme of books about death and dying? What does this mean, friends? Perhaps it just means that I like a good tear-jerker, which is true. Or perhaps, in the case of A MONSTER CALLS, it just means that I have humungous, ever-expanding soft spots for sad little kids. Conor would definitely be one of those. His mother is dying, and he is understandably not handling it well. Thank goodness for the monster, bff/tree/wiseman/storyteller/BAMF, who helps him learn to look fear in the face and cope with his emotions.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. And yet again we find ourselves noting that one of my favorite books from the past nine months features as a main plot device a dying character, this time it’s Taylor’s father, Rob. Guys, THIS BOOK. What an intense, special read. It’s sad all the time, but it has these little bright spots of less-sadness, too. Plus, Morgan Matson can officially do no wrong in my eyes. She’s only written two books but they are both simply wonderful.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marisa Meyer. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO HARD. I’m not hugely into sci-fi as a rule. I can appreciate it for sure, and I do occasionally love it (Battlestar Galactica is AMAZING). CINDER, the first book in a series of science-fiction fairy tale retellings, knocked my socks right off my feet. Cinder is an incredible character, as is Prince Kai. And the world is so ingenious! I’m DYING for the next book in this series. Dying.

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder. See what I did there, with the science fiction fake-out? Because looky here. More dying. I don’t know what it is, guys. I guess there’s something about characters facing death that tells a story about making the most of things and learning not to take things for granted that really strikes a chord with me. THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES really does tell exactly that kind of story, about making things count and finding small pleasures in everyday things. I loved Cam Cooper’s spirit. 

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. I can’t think of another book that captures the magic of the nighttime better than GRAFFITI MOON. The atmosphere in this book is like a living thing. And the way Ed and Lucy slllloooooowwwllllyyy come together is, honestly, pretty freaking amazing, especially when you consider that they have ONE NIGHT. Talk about making things count. Plus, the WORDS! So pretty!

Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu. There’s just something about this series that sticks in my brain. The dystopian society in Marie Lu‘s world is probably not so unique, but man, it just FEELS different to me. Maybe it’s the Roman Empire-vibe I get from the Republic. Or maybe I love this book simply because Day and June are complex and complicated, and the things that they have to deal with sometimes made my chest tight.

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers. Assassin nuns, HOLLA! Seriously, GRAVE MERCY is one of the best historical fiction/fantasies I’ve ever read, and it’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read, probably ever. It was just such well-told story, with political scheming, romance, paranormal-ish things, strong young women, and great historical details. I can’t wait for more. And I still freaking LOVE that cover.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. VIKINGS. I feel like I shouldn’t have to say anything else. But I WILL because ICEFALL is another one of those historical fiction/fantasy books that just blew me away. You know why? I mean, Solveig, the main character, is fantastic. But there’s so much tension in this book! Everyone is in danger from no one knows where for sure. And the winter is getting deeper and soon everyone will be stuck up in this mountain with a TRAITOR. It’s so stinking good.