Hosted as always, by The Broke and Bookish
This is more of a top ten books I've read since April (as you know if you've read my 2013 read list I honestly can't remember almost anything I read before April for some reason). The top five are absolute MUST reads for teen fiction. The rest of the list were books I loved, with a wider age range (I read grown up books too!)
1. Linked - Imogen Howson: This is the best sci-fi I've read in years. Read it! Do it! Now!
2. Graceling Series (Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue) - Kristin Cashore: Oh my god I loved this series. I know this is cheating as technically they're three books, but I just can't pick one. I can not express how much I loved this whole series. I'm hoping to reread them and review them all so I CAN let everyone know just how amazing the books are!
3. Soulbound - Heather Brewer: In a lot of ways this book reminded me of the Cashore books. I love strong independent women in fantasies!
4. The Diviners - Libba Bray: I honestly don't think there's another YA author who is as versatile as Libba Bray. All her books are so different! The Diviners has everything a girl could want - 1920's New York, rebellious teen, ensemble cast, dark and mysterious happenings, swoon-worthy boys - the list goes on.
5. Tiger Lily - Jodi Lynn Anderson: As Nafiza stated - this book took my heart and smooshed it together. A retelling of Peter Pan from Tinkerbell/Tiger Lily's point of view (I promise that makes sense when you read the book), it is some of the most insightful and reflective writing I've ever seen. And so, so, so beautifully written.
6. Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name - Vendela Vida: A novel exploring family secrets is always iffy for me. It'll either be fantastic or it really drags you down. This book is obviously the former, as it is on this list. Another book with just fantastic writing. Sometimes prose is all it takes to really sucker me in.
7. Mao's Last Dancer - Li Cunxin: I think it is so amazing that while the book is written in English, Li Cunxin manages to make everything sound so wonderfully alien to how we say things. A memoir about dance before we got bombarded with them in the wake of Black Swan, it also explores the struggles of a young man trapped between Communist China and the United States
8. The Particular Sadness Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender: I know, I know I've said this about the last couple books, but it's just so beautifully written! It's a very odd story, I can't say I've read too many surreal novels. It was unsettling, but that just made me want to reread it all over again.
9. Stay - Deb Caletti: I honestly don't have much to say here. It's Deb Caletti. She has the most beautiful prose I've ever seen in a YA/teen author, and anyone who has read my other TTT posts knows how much I always love her novels.
10. Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) - Jim Butcher: Is it beautifully written, or have rich, developed characters, or a great romantic storyline? No. But those are all the reasons I loved reading it. It's like Magnum P.I. except with wizards in Chicago. It is simply put, a very entertaining read and I look forward to delving into the rest of the series!
That's it for this week's TTT. What made it to your list?
Tiger Lily made my list as well! It was such an incredible book and oh my goodness THE FEELS. It didn't affect me right away, but once I finished it and started my review - I was crying like crazy.
ReplyDeleteStay was also one of my favorites this year!
My TTT
Yeah at first I thought it was a reall good book, but I wasn't crazy in love yet...and then the more I thought about it and the further I read, the more I was like...my poor, poor heart!
DeleteI always love Deb Caletti, although if I HAD to pick a favourite book of hers, this probably wouldn't be it. But still, any Deb Caletti at all is just...ahhhh words can't describe!
These books look interesting. I've only read The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake which I found very unique!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have to say it is definitely one of the weirder novels I've ever read (in a good way!)
DeleteGraceling is on my list too! And I want to read The Diviners so bad but I'm intimidated by the page number.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT List
Don't be intimidated by the length! If you've read her Rebel Angels series, then you'll be able to handle The Diviners. And if you haven't, read it anyway! The whole world you're put in - magical and 1920's New York combined with mysterious dark powers...that has to wear down your hesistence!
DeleteLinked is on my list! :) What a great list :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-books-ive-read-so-far-in-2013/
I was really pleasantly surprised by Linked, I wasn't sure I was going to love it when I read the summary. Glad you liked it too!
DeleteGraceling series is SO GOOD!
ReplyDeleteI really seemed to have missed my Graceling niche! I was reading reviews on Goodreads and was starting to feel heartbroken because everyone was hating on the series so much! I'm glad listing this book on my top 10 has brought people out of the woodwork!
DeleteOh wow, I can't believe I don't know any of these books! Oh well, more books to add to my already high pile of to-read books! :))
ReplyDeleteTop 10 Tuesday
Review: Obsidian
That's how I feel about most TTTs! I couldn't believe how many books I've come across every week I've never heard of before.
DeleteThe Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is AMAZING. It's one of those books that I think a lot of people won't enjoy, but seriously. I love it a lot. The Diviners was really great as well—Libba Bray's prose is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree - I loved PSLC, but it's definitely not for everyone. It's just such a cool read! The way she writes and the way she addresses the surrealism so matter of factly...it just...ahhhh! And I'm a huge Libba Bray fan...I'm suddenly feeling the urge to reread her first series...
DeleteI started reading Graceling a few years ago, and was really loving it. But for some reason I just stopped halfway through, and never picked it back up. I don't know why, because, like I was saying, I was loving. I need to pick that back up and finish it, and read the other two books.
ReplyDeleteYou won't regret it if you do! (Or if you do, feel free to come back and yell at me. But really, you won't)
DeleteExcellent list. Graceling was amazing and so was The Diviners. I'll have to check out some of these other titles you've listed as well as the rest of the Graceling books.
ReplyDeleteThe Graceling series really took my breath away. I haven't fallen that hard for a series since I was a kid and just wanted to reread Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley all the time (let's be real...I still do that haha). And I think that even if I didn't already love Libba Bray I would be really into The Diviners just because of it's awesome setting/historical time!
DeleteFantastic list!So good to see someone else who loved Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, I read it last year and adored it and have just finished her other books!
ReplyDeleteMy Top 10 Tuesday!
I've been surprised going down these comments and seeing how many people loved Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. For some reason I thought that I'd be in more of a minority of people who really loved the book, so it's great seeing so many people are with me on this one!
DeleteMan, I really need to read The Diviners, don't I? And wow, Jim Butcher! Impressed by your array of tastes, I've heard great things and if you liked it I feel more confident that I will too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fabulous list!!!
Sam @ Mad But Magic
You really, really do!
DeleteYeah, I have a bit of an eclectic taste in books...I pretty much devour anything in front of me (except for nonfiction...that doesn't count haha)
Libba Bray made my list also. The Diviners was so fabulous. I read Graceling and the read earlier or it would have been on my list too. Loved that series. Have you read The Girl of Fire and Thorns series? I had that on m list. Crystal Reading Through Life
ReplyDeleteI've really been wanting to read The Girl of Fire and Thorn series! I've heard such good things about it, but unfortunately I primarily get my books through bookmooch.com and books like that are rarely listed or snatched up in a matter of seconds. The new Diviners book is coming out this fall I think...so excited!!
DeleteOoh, I'm just starting Linked, excited to see it among your favourites! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yay for the Graceling series!!
I really need to read The Diviners and Tiger Lily!
You really do..Tiger Lily will hit you right in the feels and The Diviners mixes the best of Bray's dark gothicness and hilarity
DeleteI have The Particular Sadness Lemon Cake but have yet to read it. I keep seeing mixed reviews. Cool to see it make top ten. Linked it one I really want to read.
ReplyDeleteHere are my top ten.
Yeah I think you'll either love it or hate it. It really polarizes people since it's a really strange book haha.
DeleteYou have officially convinced me to look into Linked and Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name. Lists like these are always trouble for my tbr list! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to have convinced! It was my intent :). I know what you mean though, I feel like my TBR list is already at a point where I could never possibly get through it and these lists make it even worse!
Delete