Top Ten Tuesday by Alex: Throne of Glass Edition (62)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Gaby has given me the opportunity to do this week’s top ten, and since I’m guest blogging on behalf of the Throne of Glass series, guess what this week is going to be about! Yes, my fangirling and how/why you should fangirl with me! YAAAAAAYYY

Actually, Gaby gave me a couple of suggestions on what to do and I’m stealing them. Instead of a traditional 10, today I am going to split it up and do TWO Top 5s!

First of all, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sarah for the Throne of Glass series landing at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller List!

Which is a perfect segue into...

Top Ten Underrated Contemporary Books (61)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is "Top Ten Underrated Contemporary Books." Or, at least for me it is. The actual topic is "Top Ten Underrated Authors or Books in X Genre." I chose the easy way out on this one: Went through my bookshelves and picked up the books I don't see enough on the interwebs and loved a lot and also happen to all fit in the same genre.

So, if you haven't read a contemporary novel in this stack, you probably should, because I liked them a lot.

What Should I Buy? (3)

I have a coupon. You all like voting. Therefore it is WHAT SHOULD I BUY time!

I started this feature back in August to help me figure out what to do with all of the Barnes & Noble coupons I get. I figured setting up a vote would A) allow you guys have a say in what I read and B) alleviate some of the pressure of picking a book to spend my coupon on. I know I don't NEED a new book, but, hey, I really can't pass up a good discount. Also, I'm addicted to buying books.

So. Come. Help me feed my addiction.

Oh, and PLEASE, remember, I'm looking for a vote that has a little more than just the title of the book and a "THIS WAS REALLY GOOD." Pitch it to me, a little. WHY should I read this book? WHY do you think I would like it? All help is useful. ALL HELP.

And I could use ALL OF THE HELP by OCTOBER 14TH (AKA when my coupon expires)

Ready? Set? GO.

1. Feed by Mira Grant

Why I want to read this book: Creepiness + bloggers + conspiracies = Gaby's interested.

2. Finnikin and the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Why I want to read this book: I loved Jellicoe Road sosososo much and I'm kind of interested to see if Melina Marchetta can be just as brilliant in a different genre. I mean, my Goodreads friends say she is, but I'd like to see for myself.

3. The Program by Suzanne Young

Why I want to read this book: This one sounds sufficiently scary. And I really like the color yellow. AND the second book in the series is coming out in April so... (that last one's not really relevant since April's still kind of far away but I thought I'd throw it in.)

4. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Why I want to read this book: I think this book is on the list because someone once told me I really need to read it. I can't remember who told me this and I don't remember why, but I did just remember it was recommended to me so I thought I'd put it on this list. Also: Historical. So.

5. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Why I want to read this book: Pretty cover. Everything's in ruins. I don't know. I am interested. (Sometimes it really is the superficial things.)

These are your options. Choose wisely, beloved followers. My reading fate rests in your hands. 

Stacking the Shelves (17)

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews

I made a video for all of you. For the first 6 or so minutes I talk about the books I recently bought. Then I take the rest of the time to talk about my next 5 reads and my current read. Because I like to pack it all in there. ENJOY.

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

Ruby Red by Kerstin Kier

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Eon by Alison Goodman

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Dangerous Girl by Abigail Haas (AKA Abby McDonald)

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor

Slated by Teri Terry

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

False Memory by Dan Krokos

False Sight by Dan Krokos (COMES OUT AUGUST 13TH)

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (COMES OUT AUGUST 27TH)

AWESOME PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

Jennifer from ARCycling & Novel Thoughts

Mitali

Rachel from Rachel Reads

Betty from Book Rock Betty

Alexa from Alexa Loves Books

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

I told you all why I had to DNF Ghost Time by Courtney Eldridge.

Then I told you ALL about how I CANNOT WAIT for Starry Nights by Daisy Whitney.

After that, I reviewed Also Known As by Robin Benway.

And finally, I confessed my weirdness, once again, by tell you all how much I love when I find other people's papers in the books that end up in my life.

So tell me about your week. Any good books? Write or read any good posts? Let me know about them in the comments below! 

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013 (28)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013. I've read 46 books this year, according to Goodreads, and while there are A LOT of books (*cough* all 6 Tamora Pierce books I've re-read to mention a few *cough*), here are the 10 that I think you all should make sure you get to in a very timely fashion. And when I say 10, I mean 12, because I've put two second-book-in-trilogy books on this list and OBVIOUSLY you need to read the first one first. Obviously.

1. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina was my first book read in 2013 and it did NOT disappoint. I loved the dragons, the twists, I loved the writing... just about everything. I hadn’t read a dragon or high fantasy book in a very long time (mostly from fear that nothing would ever match up to Tamora Pierce - whom I love) and this book totally destroyed any and all fears I had about recent high fantasy publications ruining one of my favorite genres. And, just in case you’re having some trouble starting this one, skip the prologue and come back to it at the end. It’ll make more sense once you’re done. Oh, and be PATIENT. It’s worth it. (My Review)

2. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Even though I read this book when my windows were still frosted over this past winter, I could still feel the heat. The romance, the twists, the family relationships - even the cover is enough to make a person want to read this book. Seriously. Try to say no to that cover - especially now that we’ve made it to the summer months. I’d say it’s almost impossible to deny this potential beach read. And y’know, even if you curl up inside with the AC blasting while you make your way through this one, you’ll probably feel the summer humidity just like I did. And that’s not just the kisstastic relationship in the book doing the talking. (My Review)

3. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

I picked Unravel Me for this list instead of Shatter Me in hopes that my nomination of this book will lead you to go read Shatter Me first so you can read this one (if you haven’t already devoured this series). That way I secretly/sneakily put two books in one item on this list. Why? Because this is one of those series that really makes the dystopian genre and trilogies in general look good. Not to mention I love the strike-throughs. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I sometimes like knowing there’s something different out there for me to dig into. It’s oddly comforting - even this book is so very much NOT comforting in any way. Also? SUPERHEROES. (My Review)

4. Ferryman by Claire McFall

Is it possible for a book to not really have a genre? If it is, this book really don’t have one. I would say it’s supernatural, if I had to pick one - maybe paranormal? But not really. If anything, it’s a contemporary book put in a supernatural/paranormal/Greek Mythology context. And, whatever genre you’d place it in, it’s wonderful. Probably one of my most favorite reads AND reviews of the year. Claire McFall might be a small time Scottish writer, but I definitely hope she A) gets the recognition she deserves and B) keeps writing! (My Review)

5. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

This book is just so different from your usual dystopian - probably because the book doesn’t dwell on the dystopian. Instead it fleshes out the dystopian just enough and then focuses on the danger, the philosophical issues and the relationships between the characters. But, for once, the philosophical part is my favorite (that’s NOT usually the case for me) because the book asks you to consider what it is to be human and that’s something we should all consider on occasion. (My Review)

6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My favorite fantasy read of the year, Graceling is the book I should have read 5 years ago but didn’t. And with the number of times I picked it up, put it down and picked it up again? I’m honestly ashamed of past Gaby. This book is so fantastically fantastic. All of the everything is just so perfect and well paced. Seriously. If I could time travel, I would go back in disguise (y’know, as to not create a paradox or anything crazy like that - thanks for the time travel education, Doctor Who) and hand myself this book. Because 5-years-ago Gaby REALLY should have read this book. And so should all of you. (My Review)

7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Everything in this book is absolutely made of awesome and I believe everyone should read it - intolerance for slow/confusing beginnings be damned. It’s just so beautifully layered and complicated that no one should miss it, no matter what the excuse. FURTHERMORE, Melina Marchetta is a GENIUS because EVERYTHING in this book is in it for a reason. There are no extra words or unnecessary plot devices. This author is NOT wasting your time, nor does she think you anything less than clever. (My Review)

8. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Yet another series where I mention the second in order to coerce you to read the first. Through the Ever Night is just so touching, wonderful and heroic. I finish the book and I feel like all of the characters are real people I should be able to spend my days with. Even more so, the relationships between these oh-so-real characters are so sigh-worthy that I could read about them all day and be perfectly content. Oh. Also. The action, danger and dystopia-ness in this serious is pretty crazy and awesome too. (My Review)

9. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Sometimes I read retelling and my reaction is: “That was great. I could go for another.” But at the end of this book I couldn’t even think of what I would read next because my mind was still on this book. And it wasn’t that I wanted to have more time with these characters. I actually felt fairly completely at the end of it all. I just needed to take a deep breath and process the fact that I’d finished such a brilliant book. I just needed to savor the ending and not rush past it to the next book in my stack.

10. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Sometimes, when I get to the end of a book, I tear through the last however many pages. It’s like a freefall into an ending that you know isn’t going to give you exactly what you wanted - but what you needed instead. But instead of getting upset at the book for not give you what you wanted (as opposed to the all knowing “needed”), you just close the book and sigh. Because it was THAT GOOD.

*ADDENDUM BECAUSE I'M FOOLISH AND I FORGOT*

11. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 

Another second-book-in-series I have to put up here. I liked Cinder and LOVED Scarlet. I think it's because there were more characters to work with - the shifting POV was done PERFECTLY - but for whatever reason this fairytale retelling was in no way obvious. And even if the storyline WAS obvious, I DID NOT want it to happen that way. So. Go pick up this series RIGHT NOW because it's totally a new favorite of mine. (My Review)

Have you read any of these? This year? Last year? Any year? If you have, did you love? If you haven't, DO YOU WANT TO? Talk to me in the comments below!

Top Ten Travel/Quest Books (25)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week The Broke and the Bookish have commanded me to make a list of my Top Ten Travel Books. Since I love contemporary and fantasy equally, I decided I would throw the word QUEST into the mix. Y'know those epic journeys on horseback where the fantasy hero/heroine does great things and kicks butt? Yeah. I'm throwing that kind of travel into the mix. SO ENJOY THAT. Or, um, this...

1. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
Everything from the cover of this book to its contents is just SO FREAKING CUTE. I'm pretty sure I would have loved it even if there was no travel aspect, but I loved it all the more for the trip to London!

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
How many lists do you think this book ended up on this week? Truth? I'm not even sorry. I read this book on my first trip to Paris this past March. I didn't finish it while I was there, but I think that's fitting because Allyson doesn't really finish her journey in Paris, does she? For her, it's just kind of the beginning. (My Review)

3. Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
I would say the majority of this book took place on an airplane. When I read the summary and realized that would be the case, I was a little hesitant but I totally loved it in the end! Such a sad, angst book that's somehow cute and meaningful and amazing all at once. (My Review)

4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Okay, this book doesn't revolve around travel as much as the others I've already listed, but Taylor and Jonah DO go on trains and road trips together and as such I would like to add this one to my list. Because I love this book so much and I want to continue finding clever ways to push it on all of you. (My Review)

5. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
This one's also a little bit of a stretch since it's not so much travel as it is running? Or maybe it is travel. Either way this book is made of amazing. I promise the only reason it's not a 5 star book for me is because of the open ending. JUST GIVE ME A SEQUEL, SANGU MANDANNA. JUST A LITTLE SEQUEL. (My Review)

6. Ferryman by Claire McFall
I loved, loved, loved this book when I read it a few months back. And it's got this epic journey during which GREAT THINGS HAPPEN and Dylan and Tristan and kissing and uuuuuuggggh. Yeah. It's a kissing journey book - AKA one of my favorite things ever. Oh. ALSO, Dylan starts the book on a train. So: LESS CHEATING! (My Review)

7. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
There's a lot of traveling/running away in this one! Totally! Yeah! I'm not even pushing the limits here by throwing this one on my list! QUESTION ME NOT, FRIENDS. (My Review)

8. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa and Po do all kinds of EPIC QUESTING in this book, so I think this fits in my modified Top Ten Tuesday Topic. I just love it. So much. I love it, I love Katsa, I love Po, I love Katsa and Po... I just can't help myself. (My Review)

9. Old Magic by Marianne Curley
This book's summary doesn't make the travel/questing quite so obvious but it's THERE and it's ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Every time I think of this book for a TTT list (which I do every now and again), I remember how much I REALLY MUST RE-READ. Soon, pretty book. Soon.
PS: The cover art on this one's the same image as the Australian edition of Where She Went by Gayle Forman just with their faces closer together on Where She Went. Sorry. That's been on my mind for a while and this felt like a good time to mention it. Probably because I LOVE BOTH BOOKS.

10. Under the Never Sky/Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Talk about journeys! Perry, Aria and Roar all do a whole lot of traveling throughout the course of these books and I love every single second of it, even if a lot of said seconds are truly heartbreaking. (My Review of Under the Never Sky)

So that's my slightly cheating list. But, well, I DO modify these lists every now and again, don't I? Do you guys have any airplane/bus/car/train travel books that do it for you? How about quest books? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Top Ten Favorite Siblings (24)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I thought about this A LOT and realized there are tons of siblings in a lot of the books I read. Some are related to the protagonist, others are a pair/group of siblings in a story. Either way, these relationships play seriously awesome roles in my books so here's a list of my favorites.

1. Thom & Alanna of Trebond from Tamora Pierce's The Song of the Lioness Series

This entire series would not have taken place if not for Thom. Like, Alanna would have NEVER gone to the palace to become a knight if he hadn't agreed to swap places with her. So, thanks Thom, because without you I would have no lady knight role model.

2. The Weasley Brood from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter

Okay, we ALL know I have a lot of problems with the way this series ended, but I will say the bonds between this set of children is wonderful. Even when they fight they still love each other and I can't get enough of that. Obviously my favorite of the lot are Fred and George, so you can all understand why I'm crying right now.

3. The Garrett Kids from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Even Sam know how great this family is. I love how they all take care of each other. It's just so sweet. I would definitely want to be apart of that myself.

4. Narnie and Webb from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

We don't see a lot of these two together in the books but you could just TELL how much they loved each other from the way Narnie takes care of her brother's daughter. Not to mention Hannah totally makes it clear how much she loved her brother, so yeah. Definitely a pair of siblings worthy of this list.

5. Katniss and Prim from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Series

I feel the need to cry big time when I think of this sibling relationship. 

Katniss.

Me.

6. Mia and Teddy Hall from If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman

OKAY I KNOW we really don't see much of Teddy at all, but the way Mia reacts to what happens to him is so gut wrenching. She loved him SO MUCH and I just can't. 

7. Rhine and Rowan from Lauren DeStefano's The Chemical Garden Trilogy

One of the major plots for this series is Rhine's drive to get back to her brother, Rowan. She misses him so much she'd basically move heaven and earth to get back to him. And yo, their reunion (because, please, that was gonna happen) is amazingly emotional.

8. Adam and James from Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me Series

How much did you all freak out when you found out about James? I know I did. I love their brotherly bond. And I love James in general. Every time I talk about this series I tell everyone that if anything bad happens to James I will never forgive Tahereh Mafi. So. Y'know. What yo' self Tahereh Mafi.

9. Noah, Jacob and Tyler from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

THE THINGS NOAH WILL DO FOR HIS BROTHERS. Ugh. That whole situation totally broke my heart. I love the three of those boys so much and I want ONLY GOOD THINGS for them. 

10. The McGowan Boys from Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

It appears as though I really like broods of boys (see: Weasley Boys at the top of this list). This book's an oldie that I enjoy re-reading whenever I need a bit of fun and these boys, despite all their absurdities and arguments, never fail to bring the fun. Oh, and they really care about each other, which is NICE.

**BONUS**

11. Perry and Talon from Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky Series

Okay, technically Talon is Perry's nephew but I'm sorry. They relationship is amazing - way better than Perry's relationship with his brother, Vale - and I couldn't help but throw it in here. 

Can you guys think of any other sibling relationships you adore? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Title: Jellicoe Road
Author: Melina Marchetta 
Release Date: August 28th, 2006
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 422
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★★

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham 17, finally confronts her past. Hannah, the closest adult she has to family, disappears. Jonah Griggs, moody stares and all, is back in town. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Taylor's got no one. Her's mom's gone, and the one adult in school she's come to trust is recently missing. She doesn't know anything about her family - including what happened to them. All she knows is she's in this school, alone, suddenly in this position of power that no one really wanted to give her because she ran off with a cadet (aka the enemy) a few years back. Now, in this position of power, Taylor must go to war. But actually. With the Townies and Cadets. They play war and negotiate territory. But all the while, as this is going on, Taylor gets closer to the enemy, and to the truth of what the hell happened to her family.

Let's break this down:

I really just want this review to be: THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZINGLY AMAZING STOP READING MY BLOG AND PICK IT UP RIGHT NOW.

Alas, you guys probably need more than that, so here we go.

Most people I talk to say the beginning of this book is a little confusing. I think that's because Melina Marchetta pretty much plops the reader down in the middle of everything and expects us to understand why it seems like the characters are going to war and what all these flashback scenes are about. But I don't think I would have stopped reading, even without all of the "you might be confused at the beginning" warnings, mostly because it was an intriguing confusing. What are all of these things? What's happening? They all sound mysterious and exciting. Kids playing war? Tell me more!

But anyway, once you get through the beginning of this book, the whole things fairly un-put-down-able. This is one of those books that doesn't try hard to explain itself, it just does - y'know, the whole show don't tell writing device. In fact, a lot of the times the storyline will reveal something and you'll want to DENY the truth, not accept and move forward because the truth is just so O.O (yeah, I used an emoticon in a review because if I didn't it'd just be a whole lot of keyboard slamming).

And if a stunning, mysterious, truth-telling story isn't enough to pull you in, the characters here should do the trick. I was totally struck by the past group - Narnie, Jude, Fitz, Tate and Webb - and they're not even the main focus of the story. Or rather, they kind of ARE, because they pretty much shape everything in the book, but the book's not set in their time - in their reality. But like I said, I was so struck by this group of friends that I WISH the book was about them. Or I wish they had their own book. I feel like I should be able to better describe why I love this group of friends so much. The love between them? How sad and compelling their story is? To really explain it I think I'd need to add spoilers, but even then I'm not so sure. I just wish... I wish so many things for them.

I also wish so many things for Taylor, Jonah, Raffy, Santangelo, Ben and all of the rest. The friendships here are so different from the Narnie-Jude-Fitz-Tate-Webb friendship. They're like RELUCTANT friends, but that's just because they're drawn together and they fight it but there's no point because they are the perfect team. I don't mean like they come together and magically become perfect people and have the ability to call upon Captain Planet. They're totally dysfunctional even when together, but they totally just WORK. And I love them all.

Also, if you're looking for a believable romance that makes you all tingly inside, this book has multiple. Taylor and Jonah are so IMMENSELY complex and yet they fall together in a "this was inevitable, written in the stars" kind of way. But it's not cheesy. It's absolutely beautiful. The other love stories in this book (which I won't get into because I don't want to spoil anything) are similarly beautiful. They're complex and tragic and REAL. There's no easy anything for any of these characters but they prove that you can make something for yourself out of tragedy - you don't have to wallow and suffer.

It's also worth noting that Melina Marchetta has this way of putting words together that totally grabs hold of the reader and makes them pay attention. I think that was important for me at the beginning when I wasn't TOTALLY sure what was happening. But it's okay, because the writing caught me and the characters and the mystery kept me.

Then, as much as the prose, characters and mystery made me fall for this book, I think it's all of the emotion that solidified my need to re-read this one, and soon. This is just one of those books that I finished and couldn't stop thinking about. I flipped back and forth between pages, putting things together, dealing with plot twists, re-reading passages and just loving every word I'd just devoured. Because you KNOW I read this one in a day.

The long and short of it?

Plot: Amazing intricate - totally wonderful. This is one of those books where EVERYTHING mentioned had a reason - no situation, fact or moment was wasted.
World Building: I know nothing about Australia but that DID NOT MATTER.
Character Development: The discovery and development in this book is so absolutely real. I actually think these people live somewhere in this world. And I'd like to meet them.
Prose: I would quote the whole book for you right here and now if I could. There's not just one line that encompasses how wonderfully written this book is.
Would I Recommend This Book?: More than one person recommended this book to me. Now I'm the person recommending it to everyone I know. I especially like to recommend it to people who are skeptical of YA, since it totally joins the ranks of books that prove YA can be just as smart as Adult.

Have people been pushing this book on you? If so, you better start listening to them (and me) because it's an absolutely brilliant read worthy of any and all devouring. And if you've ALREADY read this book, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!

Top Ten Books Everyone's Read But Me That I'm Dying to Read (19)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It's Top Ten REWIND week! So I went on The Broke and the Bookish blog, looked at the list of previous topics and decided to COMBINE two topics. So I'm taking Top Ten Books Everyone's Read But Me and Top Ten Books That I'm Dying to Read and rolling it all into one. Because why would I be dying to read all these books that my blogger friends have read and raved about?

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I've actually already purchased this book. It's sitting on my bed back in NYC, waiting for me to reenter the country and pounce on top of it. Which I will, partially because everyone loves it and because my friend Leah once told me that whenever she shows the author pictures to our friends back at school they ask if I've aged, taken on a pseudonym and written a book. Because apparently I'll look like Rainbow Rowell in a couple of years? I don't know. 

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I actually have plans to read this one with Rachel and Gillian as soon as I can download the ebook from my library website. Which could take a while. But a lot of people I know have been raving about this book recently (notably Judith), so I should get on that. 

3. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

I LOVE fantasy and everyone tells me this one's REALLY GOOD. And Margot's always raving about it on Tea Time. So basically I have a million incentives to read this one, so I just need to DO IT, y'know?

4. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This is another book I'm just about to start. Again, I love fantasy so I'm excited for this one - partially because everyone loves it, but also because all three books are already out so I won't have to wait. 

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I only hear good, squeal-y things about this book. And I love squeal-y books. But I'm waiting until the cover redesign to buy all of the books in the series. 

6. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

I think everyone read this series back when I was devouring Tamora Pierce books/only had eyes for fantasy books. So I guess I need to backtrack and work my way through this series.

7. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Confession time? I'd never even heard of Melina Marchetta until a couple of months ago when my friend Leah (yes, the same Leah from #1 on this list) told me she was her favorite (this is when I confessed my love of Tamora Pierce to her). I bought Jellicoe Road soon after but haven't gotten around to it yet. Soon, Leah. Soon.

8. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

My friend Lexi has been pushing me to read this one since LONG before I was a blogger. And then I became a blogger and you guys were all READREADREAD. I'm getting there, guys, I promise. Especially since book 2 is coming out super soon. And Sarah J. Maas is going to BEA. All exciting.

9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This is another complete trilogy. And it's about outer space? I like outer space. I didn't always - I wasn't that little kid who wanted to be an astronaut or anything. But the recent development of my obsession with Doctor Who has changed a couple of things in my life, to be sure.

10. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Yet another finished series. Everyone FREAKED OUT when Boundless came out, so angels or not, I REALLY want to read it. 

Considering one of the qualifiers of this list is "books everyone's read," tell me, WHICH SHOULD I READ FIRST? Let me know in the comments below! 

Top Ten Books I WILL Be Reading This Spring (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This one was kind of easy for me since I actually have A LIST of about 50 books in my immediate TBR pile that I'll probably be sticking to. Mostly because I'm abroad and I only have a certain number of books/e-books available to me. So here are the top 10 books I anticipate making my way through from the start of Spring (March 21st) through the end of April. And y'know what? To make this thing interesting, at the end of April, I'll post a list of books I've read in the time frame previously mentioned and see how good I am at STICKING TO THE PLAN. I can't promise I'll be 10/10. I get distracted by shiny, new things often. But I think this'll be an interesting experiment, if nothing else.

1. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

I love me some Steampunk. And Gail Carriger. I can only imagine what THIS author's foray into YA is going to look like and I'm very excited to FINALLY take this one off my shelf and READ IT.

2. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Everyone has been talking about this one and I've just been lazy about getting to it. Time to fix that, don't you think?

3. Geek Girl by Holly Smale

I got this book at the launch party the other week. Not only do I find bully books to be PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT, but I also think Holly Smale is adorable.

4. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I love Peter Pan. Sososososo much. I finally got this book from my library (in e-book form - I have the hard copy at home, but well, that's at home, not here) and I won't let my loan expire without reading it!

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Another library loan I WILL NOT LET EXPIRE (again) without reading. I love fantasy and everyone I know who loves fantasy loves this one, so it's happening. Before the end of April.

6. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Let's talk about AUTHORS I LOVE. Maggie Stiefvater? Definitely one of them. I hate that I haven't read this one yet, so Imma fix that.

7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Period pieces, how I love thee, let me count the ways. Okay, I won't because we'll be here all day. I hear this one's hard to get into, but I think I can handle the challenge. 

8. Mind Games by Kiersten White

I won this one through ARCycling and I try to get through my ARCycling books in a timely fashion because the whole system is so entirely wonderful and I want to keep all of the wheels turning properly.

9. Grim by Anna Waggener

But I'm a hypocrite because this is an ARCycling book I've hard for a while and just haven't gotten to. Another thing I must fix before the end of April.

10. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This is another book people say is hard to get into. But it comes HIGHLY recommended, so I'm going to give it all of my attention and every best effort I have.

I kinda made a challenge for myself out of this Top Ten Tuesday, didn't I? Make sure to stop by at the end of April to see how I did. And be sure to let me know what your list looks like in the comments below!

Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013 (4)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

There are so very many books I want to read this year. There are new books, old books, I don't even know what books and they are all very much on my list. But these are the books everyone gushes about/that I want to read SO BADLY and STILL haven't read yet, so I figured I should put them on an official list like this one and make myself promise to read them THIS YEAR. No more excuses.

1. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

2. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 

3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore 

4. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart 

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 

7. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 

8. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty 

9. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 

10. Room by Emma Donahue 

I've got two by the same author, a whole bunch of series starters and even one "adult" book. What's on yours? Link back to your TTT in the comments and let me know!