Top 10 Books That Make You Think

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Books That Make You Think

This is a really interesting topic…but also a really cool one!  There are quite a few books over the years that have made me think, and all for different reasons.  That’s the cool thing about reading- it really does open up a whole new world, and you get to read about things you don’t necessarily see or know much about.  Here are 10 books that made me think.

  1. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  I had some issues with the book…but you start to think about how what you say and what you do can have a lot more meaning than you’d think.  Words and actions can have a bigger impact than you think.
  2. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.  This series makes you think about beauty and how the definition of beauty changes over time.  But I liked seeing Tally struggle with her looks and wanting to fit in and be with her friends.
  3. Unwind by Neal Shusterman.  I really liked Unwind (and UnWholly is just as good).  One reason why I liked Unwind is that Shusterman doesn’t take a side as far as abortion and reproductive rights go.  Is compromise possible?  And he does a great job of showing how extreme both sides can get.  And organ donation is pretty important.
  4. The Adoration Of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson.  The interesting thing about this book is that you start to ask yourself, where do you draw the line?  In a book about a girl who is considered illegal because of the life-saving medical treatment she received…how could you not think about the ethics of medicine and how much is too much.
  5. Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  I loved this book because you see Alice, who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.  You don’t think of someone in their 40’s or 50’s as being someone with Alzheimer’s, but that’s why I like this book so much.
  6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  What will the government do to keep it’s citizens in line?  And what will people do to make sure nothing happens to them or their families?  I just love The Hunger Games and how there’s a definite divide in terms of class and wealth.
  7. A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier.  She’s one of the Little Rock 9, and this is her story of what it was like to attend Little Rock Central High School.  Brown v Board of Education wasn’t all that long ago, and that things can change.  A Mighty Long Way is such a good reminder of the not-too-distant past and it really puts things in perspective.
  8. The Coming Of The Third Reich by Richard Evans.  I know that when I hear Holocaust and World War 2, I automatically think of Hitler and concentration camps.  But this book does a pretty good job of showing how the Nazi’s (and Hitler) came to power and all of the factors that played a role in how they came to be.
  9. Hate List by Jennifer Brown.  After reading this, you definitely see how horrific school shootings can be.  But it’s about more than just school shootings.  You see how people are still struggling to deal with the aftermath of a school shooting and how it can damage or strengthen relationships.
  10. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus.  Exposed is really interesting in that it’s a book about a girl who’s dealing with the rape of her best friend…and her brother as the one who raped her best friend.  It’s nice to see how rape can affect more than just the people directly involved…because it does.  And things are not always black-and-white.

What books made you think about life or see the world differently?

Top 10 Books On My Fall TBR List

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all previous top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Books On My Fall TBR List

I am so excited about this list!  There are so many books I want to read this fall, but these are the 10 I’m most looking foward to.  Now that I think about it, there are quite a few pre-orders I’m looking foward to…plus a few I keep skipping over.

  1. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.  It’s the first post-HP books she’s written.  Need I say more?  This one is most certainly at the top of my list.  The Casual Vacancy comes out on September 27!
  2. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa.  Iron Fey spin-off!  I’m super-excited, because I love that series so much.  And it focuses on Meghan’s brother Ethan, who was pretty important in the Iron Fey…but no so much in the rest of the series.  The Lost Prince comes out on October 23.
  3. Beta by Rachel Cohn.  This one looks really intriguing.  The main character is created in a lab- and is an experimental model of a teenage clone.  Sounds cool, right?  Only a few more weeks until it’s published!  Beta comes out on September 25.
  4. Crewel by Gennifer Albin.  This one also looks intriguing.  It’s about this girl who’s a Spinster, and works for Arras’s Manipulation Services to decide people’s lives.  Crewel will be published October 16.
  5. Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi.  Destroy Me is a novella that bridges the gap between Shatter Me and Unravel Me.  It’ll have to hold me over until Unravel Me comes out in February.  Destroy Me comes out on October 2.
  6. Meant To Be.  I love the cover!  But it’s about a girl who doesn’t break the rules and has picked out her childhood crush as her meant to be.  After a party during Spring Break, she gets romantic texts from an unknown number.  It sounds fun and cute, and I need to read more fun and cute.  Meant To Be comes out on November 13.
  7. Renegade by J.A. Souders.  Another really pretty cover with an intriguing plot.  Being selected as the Daughter Of The People in an underwater utopia, Evelyn realizes everything she knows is a lie.  Renegade comes out November 13.
  8. Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen.  This one has been on my Nook for a while, and I keep skipping over it to read other books.
  9. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder.  I really liked Inside Out, so I definitely want to read Storm Glass.  Plus, I like the idea of glassmaker and a magician tapping into a new kind of magic.
  10. Glitch by Heather Anastasiu.  A girl whose implanted computer chip start to malfunction and has uncontrollable telekinetic powers as a result?  I’m so there!

Is anyone else excited about J.K. Rowlings first post-Harry Potter book?  What other books are you looking foward to?

Top 8 Bookish Confessions

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 8 Bookish Confessions

I had a really hard time with this one- it seemed so easy but maybe I wasn’t in a book confession kind of mood.  Or something.  I honestly have no idea.  Anyway, here are my bookish confessions.

  1. I don’t mind if my series don’t quite match up.  The covers don’t need to match, and I don’t mind if some of them are paperback and some are hard-cover.  The only thing I’m really picky about is format- if one copy is on my nook, then the rest of them need to be on my nook…or a physical copy, if that’s what I have…speaking of the whole e-reader debate…
  2. Pet Peeve: When people refer to “real books.”  You know, as opposed to the imaginary ones.  I get what they’re trying to get at, but it annoys me because of the implication that certain types of books/formats are better than others.  A book is book, no matter what genre or format it’s in.
  3. I sometimes buy books based on the cover…or the title.
  4. Serious confession: Sometimes, I’m still scared to say what I really think about books because I don’t want to be judged for what I like or dislike…especially if I seem to be in the minority.
  5. I try not judge people for what they read, because everyone has their own interests…but I will judge them for how they talk about other books and its fans.  I don’t care how much you like or dislike something…just don’t be rude or mean or anything.  Calling people stupid for liking or not liking something?  Not cool.
  6. I miss reading romance novels.  Why did I ever stop that?  I must get on this…eventually.
  7. I dog ear books…but only if they’re my copy.  Because it’s totally rude to do that to a poor, innocent library book.
  8. I love my e-reader because I’m less likely to throw it at a wall if I’m annoyed with a book.  Same thing with library books…no way I’m throwing that at a wall!

What are some of your bookish confessions?

Favorite Books, Continued

Because I can’t leave this topic alone, I decided to share some of my other favorite books since I started blogging.

  • The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.  I laughed and I cried, and I just loved Lennie and Joe.
  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  This is a captivating book that slowly draws you in.  It’s magical and dreamlike and I just love it.  The way I love a lot of things.
  • In Honor by Jessi Kirby.  I love how Honor goes on a road trip to fulfill her brother’s last wish.  I don’t know what it is with me and books that deal with loss and grief, but I just love them.  And this one is one of my favorites.
  • The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.  Okay, so what if I’ve only read the first 2 books in the series?  It’s still one of my favorites, and I just love the characters and the town.  I can picture everything so perfectly.
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer.  I love Cinder!  It has cyborgs and Cinderella and the Lunar people.  And it takes place in New Bejing!  What’s not to love.
  • North Of Beautiful by Justina Chen.  I love Terra and found her to be a character I really understand.  It’s heart-wrenching at times, and there’s just something so beautiful about it.
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth.  I can’t believe I forgot about Divergent.  I don’t think it would make my top 10, but definitely top 20.  It really is a great book, with lots of action and a really interesting society.
  • Unearthly by Cynthia Hand is another one I forgot about.  I love the angels in Unearthly and…I just love this series.
  • Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.  No list is complete with mentioning Harry Potter.  It’s my favorite of the books I’ve re-read, and it’s one I keep going back to.

This was really fun, and there are a lot of books that I really love.  I’m sure I’ll find a few more between now and the end of the year, given how many books I’ll probably read over the next few months.  Happy Thursday!

Top 10 Favorite Books I’ve Read Since I Started Blogging

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can see all past top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Favorite Books I’ve Read Since I Started Blogging

I was so happy to see this topic!  I’ve read a lot of books in almost 2 years of blogging, and there are some that really stand out.  The ones that I work into any list I can…the ones I repeatedly recommend…the ones I can’t stop thinking about.  Anyway, here are my 10 favorite books since I’ve started blogging!

  1. Hate List by Jennifer Brown.  I’ve read this book a couple times and I can’t help but cry for about 5 or 10 minutes after.  It’s just so emotional.  I don’t know why I’ve connected with it so much, but I have.
  2. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Another one that I’ve really connected with.  I just love Laurie Halse Anderson, period.  But this is one of my favorites by her.
  3. Reason To Breathe by Rebecca Donovan.  This book is haunting and I feel anxious every time I think about it.  Anxious, like oh my god, I can’t believe that happened to her kind of anxious.
  4. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.  This is my favorite John Green book, and both times I’ve read it, I’ve cried.  Actually, I think I cried harder the second time.  But I just love it.
  5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  This is my favorite book (and series) I read last year.  It’s so good, and there are a lot of really interesting things to think about.
  6. The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa.  This is one of those series I can’t stop talking about.  I just love the creativity and the details in this series.  And I’m super-excited about The Lost Prince, which is the spin-off to this series.  I’m hoping it lives up to the really high expectations The Iron Fey set.
  7. Wings by Aprilynne Pike.  Another series I can’t stop talking about.  Like The Iron Fey, I just love the creativity in this series.  Fairies being really similar to plants is totally believable.
  8. Need by Carrie Jones.  Yet another series on the list.  But this is one of my favorites.  You can’t go wrong with pixies…just like how you can’t go wrong with fairies.  It’s fun and I love the mythology in the series.
  9. Paranormalcy by Kiersten.  Clearly, I am a fan of series, because they’ve taken over my list.  But the one thing that sticks out is how Evie is pretty kick-ass and STILL LOVES SHOPPING, PINK AND SPARKLES.  And she has a taser named Tasey.  That’s pretty rare, at least in the books I’ve read.  Plus, it’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
  10. The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.  I love the Uglies, and it’s one of my favorite dystopic series.  Actually, I haven’t read a lot of dystopic novels, but this one stands out because I thought the idea of a pretty committee and how the society was structured according to looks was really interesting.

And here are some honorable mentions: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, In Honor by Jessi Kirby and The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.

Top 10 Book Romances That Would Work In Real Life

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over the at The Broke And The Bookish.  Bloggers from all over share their own top 10 lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find the top 10 Tuesday schedule here.

Top 10 Romances That Would Work In Real Life 

Or, a few couples I actually thought about and a whole bunch I just want to be together, regardless of whether they’d work out in real life.  As I was thinking about this list, I realized I had an explanation for only a few of them, with a gut feeling for the rest of them.  That totally works, right?  Let’s just pretend it does.

  1. Augustus and Hazel from The Fault In Our Stars.  I have no explanation for this one.  It’s really more of a feeling on this one.  Besides, they need to be happy.
  2. Hermione and Ron, Harry Potter.  They fight a lot, and are two very different people, but I think they would make a lovely couple in the real world.  Seriously, it’s not the first time best friends or high school sweethearts have gotten married.
  3. Harry and Ginny, Harry Potter.  See Ron and Hermione, above.  Minus the fighting, of course.  And a crush that’s only resolved by Ginny talking to and dating other guys.
  4. Evie and Lend, Paranormalcy.  This one is just wishful thinking but I’d love for them to work out in real life.  They’re just so adorable together.
  5. Evan and Emma, The Breathing Series.  I so want Emma to be happy, and while their relationship has a lot of issues (especially in the beginning), Evan has been there for Emma, and is such a good guy.  She deserves that.
  6. Mia and Michael, The Princess Diaries.  I’ll admit that it’s been a long time since I’ve read The Princess Diaries…and that I can’t remember if I’ve read the entire series, or just the first few.  But I think they have a lot of potential to work out, because they’ve known each for, like, ever.  So Mia totally knows that he’s not with her just because she’s a princess.
  7. London and Jamie, A Walk To Remember.  Another book I haven’t read in forever, but had she not died, they totally would have been married for years.
  8. Tohru and Kyo, Fruits Basket.  This totally reminds me that I need to finish the rest of series…and that I know they get married.  I can’t explain why I think they would work.  I just know they would.  They’re adorable together.
  9. Clara and Tucker, Unearthly.  I just love them together.  No explanation for this one either…they’d work out, I just know it.  That is all.
  10. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Pride And Prejudice.  You can’t go wrong with this couple.  Seriously, it’s Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.  They would so work out in real life.  Especially because Jane Austen was very much inspired by real life.

August Sneak Peak

Today…let’s talk about what’s in store for August and what happened in July.

I’ll be talking about the Olympics (because who isn’t paying attention to the Olympics?) and reviewing a bunch of books.  Hopefully, I’ll finish Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, Breathless, A Beautiful Dark, The Diary Of Anne Frank, and Unknown.  I just started Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I should be reviewing that one too.  Other than that, I have no clue what I’ll be reading.  Possibly another audiobook but I really should read some of the books I have on my nook that I haven’t read yet.  Maybe I should go with a series, so that I can get some of them out of the way…

I reviewed a ton of books (no surprise there).  Such books included Cinder, Identical, An Abundance Of Katherines and 13 Reasons Why.  I also talked about Pottermore and the Opening Ceremonies.  And I did Top 10 Tuesday all month.  The topics for next month are really interesting, so expect that.

That wraps up July plus what’s coming this month.  Happy Wednesday!

10 Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Brokish.  Every week people share their lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find past Top 10 Tuesday topics here.

Top 10 Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

There are so many characters I love and yet it was hard to think of 10 characters I’d want to switch places with.  It did get easier once I didn’t take it so seriously.  It is amazing how many characters who I wouldn’t want to switch places with…which is a really good idea for a future blog post.  So who would I want to switch places with?  Find out below!

  1. Grimalkin from The Iron Fey.  I think it would be easier to assume that I’ll keep mentioning the Iron Fey a lot.  But I love how Grim explains everything with one simple explanation: “I am a cat.”  And I love how he randomly disappears and then randomly appears.
  2. Hermione from Harry Potter.  In a lot of ways, I’m like Hermione.  And if I could be Hermione for a day, I’d love to wander around Hogwarts and see what sort of books wizards read.
  3. Luna from Harry Potter.  I feel like I have some Luna-like qualities, but to be her would be completely amazing.  She’s just…her, and I’d love to see what a typical day for Luna is.
  4. Mary Anne from The Baby-Sitters Club.  I’m going way back to my childhood with this one, but I loved the BSC when I was in elementary school and wished there were more kids in my neighborhood so I could start my own club.
  5. Mary Boleyn from The Other Boleyn Girl (and various non-fiction books).  So, TOBG was my first introduction to Anne’s sister.  There were times I wouldn’t want to be her, of course, but considering she was really the only one in her family who ended up unscathed after Anne’s fall…can you imagine what that would have been like?  Still, I find her an interesting character (and real-life person, of course) and I’d like to see her life.
  6. Jessica Wakefield from the Sweet Valley books.  Another childhood favorite of mine.  I decided to go with Jessica (instead of Elizabeth, who is my favorite from the 50 million SV books out there) because she usually got involved in some crazy adventure.
  7. Any of the girls from Pretty Little Liars.  I did get tired of the series by the 10th one, but I’d still want to switch places with any of them for a day.  Mostly because I’d love to know what it’s like to be rich and get whatever I want but also because of all the shit they get away with.  It would be nice.
  8. Scarlett from Suite Scarlett.  It would be cool to live in a hotel, and while it’s probably not that glamorous or cool, I’d like to think it is.
  9. Cassia from Matched.  It would be nice to have a day where others made my own choices for me.  Seriously, just one day where I’m told what to read, eat and listen to.
  10. Tally from The Uglies.  I’d love to switch places with her for a day.  I’m not sure why, but it seems like she’s having fun.  I do love that world so it would be cool to hang out there for a day.

10 Most Vivid Worlds And Settings In Books

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, people from all over post their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find past Top 10 Tuesday’s here.

Top 10 Most Vivid Worlds And Settings In Books

One thing I love about reading is the setting.  I love being transported to a completely different world that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  I want to immerse myself in a place that is real and full of interesting characters and places.

  1. Hogwarts from Harry Potter.  Hogwarts is one of the first places that came to mind, because who wouldn’t want to go to Hogwarts?  I feel like I knew the castle so well, partly because of Harry’s wanderings and the Marauder’s map, but also because of the details.  The suits of armor, the ghosts, the talking portraits…what’s not to love?
  2. The Seven Kingdoms from Graceling.  This is actually the first book I thought of when I saw the topic.  I just love the 7 Kingdoms and how different they are.  And I love that each book in the series focuses on a different kingdom, instead of the same one.  I think Monsea is the one that stands out, and I love the historical feel of the setting.
  3. Avalon From Wings.  I know I’ve mentioned Wings several times reccently, but I can’t help but love Pike’s version of Avalon.  It’s a shame we didn’t see it very much in the series, but I still loved Avalon.  It felt pretty and full of life and energy.
  4. The nevernever from The Iron Fey.  I promise, I’ll stop talking about the Iron Fey at some point.  But we spent so much time in the Iron Kingdom and in the Seelie and Unseelie Courts that I so want to go there.  I love how our memories and stories play a huge part in keeping the nevernever around.
  5. Narnia.  When I was little, I hoped that my closet would lead to Narnia, or some other equally magical world.  I loved how getting to Narnia was so magical and so random.  You ended up there when you least expected it, and that is why it stands out.
  6. Middle Earth from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Middle Earth is so vivid because of all the work Tolkien put into creating it.  With actual languages, different lands, and a super-detailed history of Middle Earth, it’s no wonder it feels real.
  7. The Realms from the Gemma Doyle series.  This one is on my mind because I just finished Rebel Angels.  But I love that the Realms are more complex than I ever imagined.  It seems like a beautiful, carefree place, and yet there is a darkness there.
  8. A Wrinkle Time series.  Honestly, it’s the house and the town that Meg lives in that is so memorable.  Her home is so warm and inviting, and I’d love to be friends with her just to be able to go to her house.
  9. The Island Of The Blue Dolphins.  I felt like I knew every inch of this island, because we spent so much time following Karana’s life as the only person living there.  I’d love to know a place that well.
  10. The Night Circus.  I wanted to go the circus after finishing The Night Circus.  And not just any circus, but one as magical as the one in the book.

That’s my list for this week!  What other settings/worlds stand out?

Top 10 Books For People Who Like The Iron Fey

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted every week by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, people from all over post and share their own list based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesday topics here.

Top 10 Books For People Who Like The Iron Fey

This week, we’re recommending books based on a certain book.  I decided to go with The Iron Fey series, because it’s one of my favorite series.  I love the characters, the settings and the fairie mythology.  And who doesn’t want recommendations that are full of the paranormal, mythology and fairy tales?

  1. Wings by Aprilynne Pike.  I love this series and different the fairies are.  I can totally see fairies as being similar to plants, and I love the hierarchy of fairies.
  2. Need by Carrie Jones.  I love the pixies and her twist on mythology.  It’s also a lot funnier than I had ever expected.
  3. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter.  I really liked this adaptation of the Persephone myth and how Carter incorporated Greek mythology.  It stands out, because I haven’t read anything else like it.
  4. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  The one thing that I love about this series is how funny it is.  I think that if you like the humor in The Iron Fey, then you’ll like the humor in Paranormalcy.  Plus, there are some really interesting relationships and alliances in both books that fans will appreciate.
  5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand.  Unearthly is on the list because I love how Hand created her own angel mythology that’s believable and and interesting.  The characters are all so interesting and different.
  6. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier is an interesting re-telling of the 12 Dancing Princesses and The Frog Prince.  I love the combination of the two fairy tales and the setting is very detailed and memorable.
  7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore.  I loved the settings in both Graceling and The Iron Fey.  And if you like Meghan, you’ll love Katsa.
  8. Entwined by Heather Dixon.  I’ve gone back and forth on whether I wanted to recommend this book.  It is another 12 Dancing Princesses re-telling, but I decided to include it because I’m becoming a fan of fairy tale re-tellings.  And there is something magical about escaping into a different world to dance.
  9. Tiger’s Curse.  I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this book.  But I’m still recommending it because I loved the Indian mythology in it.  It’s definitely different, and the focus on Indian mythology is worth it!
  10. Anew by Chelsea Fine.  A girl with a curse that kills her and then brings her back to life?  You can’t go wrong with an idea like that.  Plus, there’s a very interesting take on the Fountain of Youth, which I liked a lot.

Are there any other books that fans of the Iron Fey will like?