Ten (Or Eleven) Authors Whose Books I Buy Compulsively (58)

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

I have a serious book buying problem. Like, when I get birthday money, my dad asks: "How many books do you think you can buy with that?" I brush him off, but the truth is? I'm crunching the numbers even before he asks. So it's no shock that I have many books and, more specifically, many books by my favorite authors.

PLEASE NOTE: I have not read all books pictured below. There are a few instances of good reading behavior from me, but definitely not for each and every picture. Which basically means I'm a hoarder. And please try not to judge me for my Rainbow Rowell collection. (I KNOW, OKAY? I KNOW.)

So let's do this thing.

How To: Read Sarah Dessen

Okay. So in case you missed it, I love Sarah Dessen. (See this week's Top Ten Tuesday post for reference - it's actually the last thing I posted before this so it shouldn't be hard to find.) She is wonderful, her books are wonderful and... well... I just want everyone to read them all.

I know that's not a particularly realistic desire because not every plot is for every person and I would never expect everyone to love all of them the way I do. But these books are my YA life. Actually. My friend Danna handed me This Lullaby one day back in 10th grade or so and 16 year old Gaby knew that she'd found the greatest realistic fiction thing she would ever find.

Which isn't to say I don't still read lots of other realistic fiction I love very much, but Sarah Dessen was first. Or, not the first realistic fiction I've ever read, but the first non-school-pushed realistic fiction that really grabbed me, shook me up, and then somehow hugged me back together, all before the last page.

So as a thank you to Sarah (because in my wildest dreams she actually see this) and a gentle push (JK a giant shove) in the right direction, I've made up and infographic of how I would like everyone to read Sarah Dessen books. In chronological order. Obviously this is information you Wikipedia clever cats can look up, but I like infographics (and I hope you do too), so this happened...

Top Ten Favorite Sarah Dessen Books (47)

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

Okay, so, I'm cheating this week for a bunch of reasons:

Top Ten Books That Made Me Swoon (45)

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

I liked what I did last week with the covers that linked to Goodreads and no text. My reasons for why books made me swoon (like with the crying) are very personal and individual to me and and, well, trying to verbalize and share them will probably turn me into an incoherent mess and no one wants to see that. Also, I'd had to put any spoilers out there in the world, and crying and swoons are two categories where spoilers could accidentally fall out of my mouth and into the world and I do not want that. It is bad for blogging business. So here are ten books I absolutely loved that made me swoon. And I hope that you haven't read all of them so you can pick one of them up this Valentines Day, read it, swoon, and totally get where I'm coming from!

Top Ten Books I Really Want to Read But Am Afraid of Not Liking (29)

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

Top Ten Books I Really Want to Read But Am Afraid of Hating. A mouthful, I know, but when I saw what this week's topic was (Top Ten Most Intimidating Books), I knew this is how I'd have to take it. Because size doesn't freak me out, nor do other people's expectations. No. What freaks me out is when I get ALL EXCITED over a book for whatever reason (NOT just other people loving it) and it's just not what I wanted it to be.

So here are ten books (and 2 bonus authors) I really anticipate loving, have a hard time seeing why I WOULDN'T love them and yet still fear reading because of one reason or another.

1. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
I'm that girl who LOOOOVES fantasy. But my problem with fantasy is that I'm SUPER NITPICKY about it. And I've heard there are religious themes in this one. Which I'm ALSO really nitpicky about. So there's a lot of room for failure in my life with this book but I want to love it so much. So much. LET ME LOVE YOU BOOK. LET ME.

2. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
I have this problem. It's called meeting authors and loving them. Susan Dennard falls into this category. She is the most wonderful and I have this enormous fear of not loving her book. Which is apparently Steampunk. Another thing I love. Just so many things I love. So. Book. I is scared.

3. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
A light, summery, fun book? Yeah, CHECK. A book about friend break ups. More things I like reading. NANTUCKET? I love vacationing spots like Nantucket. An adorable author I've met and loved? OH RIGHT AUTHOR MEETING ISSUES. Leila Howland is SO SWEET so, like, not liking her book is not an option.

4. Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I love everything Maggie Stiefvater does. Everything. My favorite part of her books is probably the prose, which makes me feel like I could read anything she does and be super happy about it. But the plot of Scorpio Races doesn't speak to me so much. I'm like, water horses? But it's MAGGIE STIEFVATER. And I own the book. So I'll get to it. But I'm still all kinds of nervous about it all.

5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
ANGELS? ANGELS YOU SAY? I am definitely NOT an angel fan. But, guys. PRETTY COVER. That's another thing that'll keep me circling a book even though I probably shouldn't. So I'm currently circling and we'll see if I ever land on top of it, or if I continue to keep it in my peripheral vision.

6. Taken by Erin Bowman
This isn't one of those books everyone LOVED and now I want to read. In fact, this is one of those books everyone was kind of "eh" on but I still want to love it. Is it the cover? The plot? The cover? I don't know. But I absolutely cannot take my eye off this one. Let the circling continue.

7. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
This is totally one of those books where outside influence comes into play. ALL OF MY BLOGGING FRIENDS LOVE IT but it's vampires and I'm all vampired-out. (Although I'm not sure I was ever vampired-in, so much.) But I borrowed a copy of it and I really intend to make good on my promise to read it. I'm just scared of the friend responses to my potential dislike of this book. But only a little/lot a bit.

8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I have serious issues with books that people tell me are going to make me cry. Not because I don't love a good ugly cry. I totally love a good ugly cry. But when it's FORETOLD that I'm GOING to have a good ugly cry, I get nervous. Like, what if I don't? Am I dead inside? Maybe if I put this book off for longer, something will magically be changed and I will be guaranteed a good ugly cry. And I'm pretty sure I just revealed to all of you just how crazy I can be. YOU'RE WELCOME.

9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I actually just bought this one so I no longer have any excuses. If I hate this one, none of you can be mad at me. Even though I can't see how I would since: HI PARIS. But WHAT IF I FREAKING DO? I'm so rational, I swear.

10. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
I'm the kind of person who likes making friends and solidifying relationships. (Normal and healthy right?) And then, SOMETIMES, things get tough and the other person wants me to "expect less" from them* and back away from the closeness we've achieved, my brain just kind of shuts down because that makes no logical sense to me. Like, you get closer, not get close and then drift apart for no reason, right? Well, for me, the same is true with books. I didn't LOVE the first couple Dessen books, but starting from Keeping the Moon, I cozied up to her books. We got closer. Shared some stories. Giggled late into the night. But now this new book is out and I'm AFRAID (based on some of the iffy things some people have been saying) that this Dessen installation is gonna be all "EXPECT LESS, GABY." And, y'know what you guys? A girl can only really stand to hear such a terrible phrase once in her life, if at all. So. I. IS. SCARED.

*True story. My life is a YA novel. Copyright right there, kids. Copyright.

**BONUS FEARS**

11. ANYTHING NEW BY TAMORA PIERCE
I'm not gonna lie to you guys, as much as I love Tamora Pierce (and I think you all know I do), I've only read the first 3 Tortall quartets and the first of the Trickster books. I'm terrified of reading the rest. I mean, I didn't LOVE the Emelan books and WHAT IF I don't like the end of Trickster or Bekah Cooper? WHAT IF? MISERY. FEAR. FALLS INTO SELF.

12. ALL OF THE AMY REED BOOKS
I like contemporary. But I'm always very wary of issue books. But everyone likes these. AND these are more covers that just scream: "READ ME, READ ME." I like the minimalist look sometimes, y'know?

Top Ten Beach Reads (26)

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

This week the logging world is all about the beach reads, which is perfect because summer's coming and it's time to get the stack of beach reads ready for... well... THE BEACH. I hope you already have plans to get out and see the stretch of sand nearest you. But of course, if you're landlocked, these reads are also pool/park/god I feel lazy and don't want to think too much reads. So pay attention and start compiling those stacks of summer books!

1. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

A cute, short, vaguely angsty book you can DEFNITELY read in one afternoon on the beach. I really can't think of a single reason not to bring this one with you on an afternoon out. (My Review)

2. This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

So my logic here is that the beach is kind of what happy looks like in the summer and that's the title of this books so DING DING DING we havea winner! Not to mention this book takes place in the summer and highlights the importance of ice cream in the summer. (My Review)

3. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Pretty cover plus romps to England plus cute boy plus silly OCD protagonist = beach giggles. (Even though England doesn't actually scream beach in any by shape or form.) But yeah, London weather or not, take this one with you to the beach, okay?

4. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

This book is wonderful. It is a delicious nerdy romp of amazingness that may or may not make you cry a little. But tears aside, this incredibly meaningful book has this aspect of levity that is so totally read-in-one-sitting-able that it might be JUST what your (my?) day out at the beach needs. 

5. Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle

I recognize that this book is actually a Christmas book with lots and lots of snow by it's a fun, adorable romp that might cool you down just a bit at the beach. Not to mention, you get 3 fantastic authors for the price of one (as well as 3 kisstastic couples for that same low price!).

HEY NOW SURPRISE CHANGE OF PACE! 

(Because when do I ever just write a list?)

So while writing this post, I spontaneously decided to make the last 5 books of this list the 5 books I've stacked up to be MY summer/beach reads this summer. Because, like, obviously you all wanna know what that looks like (it's fine, I'm only a little narcissistic). 

6. The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Doctor Who references? Where? What? Can I haz it? Oh I WILL haz it. By the pool, because that's where I would take the Doctor (Just Kidding, I'd take the Doctor with me wherever, whenever - because we're meant to be together. Thanks to Shakira for embodying my relationship with 10).

7. All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All of Susane Colasanti's books are wonderful contemporary reads that make for excellent beach books. It's one in particularly is quite short - a book you could definitely finish in an afternoon while taking in some sun at the beach. Besides guys, have you seen this cover? The models are ON the beach! 

8. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Another cover where the model is on a beach. But that aside, have you EVER met a Sarah Dessen book that you couldn't bring to the beach with you? And this is NOT just because a lot of her books take place on the beach - I mean, she even made up her own beach town!

9. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I honestly believe roadtrip books are amazing summer beach reads. Ad not just because books about roadtrips obviously must happen during the summer when involving teens if they want to be contemporary and realistic because: HI school. I mean, I guess a spring/winter break road trip could work, but summer's definitely the best. 

10. Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham 

Roadtrip, roadtrip, roadtrip!! And not only is this a roadtrip book (see my beach-reading excitement or roadtrip books in the entry above), its ALSO a concert/ex-friends getting back together book. These are all things I love. Especially things I love to read about over the course of beach day. 

11. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Another shortie, this one about Nantucket, which is one of those places like Cape Cod and Marhta's Vineyard and the Hamptons that walks around oozing a beachbeachbeachbeach vibe. So, obviously, a book written in said location would be worthy of beach read status.

Yeah. That's 6, not 5, but I have to keep you guys guessing, right? (Also: I COULDN'T DECIDE WHICH BOOK TO CUT). Anyway, it's okay because I already have all 6 of these books and they really are all stacked and ready to go!

TELL ME: Which of these have you read? Which are in your stack to read at the beach this summer? In the event that all 11 of these books fit into NEITHER of the categories I just listed, you should probably consider FIXING THAT. Y'know. If you trust me and all that jazz. Oh, and be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know just how silly/absurd I'm being this week!

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Started Blogging (18)

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

This week's topic: Favorite Books I Read Before I Started Blogging. Given that I only started blogging 4 months ago, I feel like narrowing this list down to ten is going to be somewhat difficult for me, so I think I'll do 5 favorite individual books and 5 favorite series. Cheating? Yes. Acceptable? I make the rules here, so yes.

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUAL BOOKS I LOVE

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I don't love cancer books, so I wasn't going to read this one, but I heard a million amazing things about it and I couldn't help myself, so I picked it up. To everyone who told me to read this: YOU WERE RIGHT. This book has made it onto so many of my Top Ten lists I can't even. It's just so wonderfully sad and funny and amazing all at the same time.

2. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

I love all of the Sarah Dessen books and I'm not even sure if this one's my favorite, but this one was my first. My friend pushed it on me in high school. I wasn't sure because back then I was very fantasy oriented and I felt like contemporary love stories were just fluff. But Sarah Dessen (and my friend) proved me wrong with this book. For that alone this book is a favorite.

3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
I cried like a small child when I read this book. The protagonist, Sam, is a little annoying at the beginning, but the way Lauren Oliver makes her likable by the end of the book is masterful. I mean, you know the how it has to end and you make peace with that, but by the end you're WISHING for some kind of bookish miracle.

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
There's something so different and so amazing about this book. It took me a while to get through, but I think that's just because the writing style is so unique. Not to mention the subject matter is so utterly fascinating (to me, at least), which puts it squarely on my favorites list.

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
So I know this book is part of a series, but I don't love all of the books in the series and I LOVE this one, so I figured it deserved special mention. There's just something about the familial themes and the noir that made me re-read this one a hundred times. Okay. Maybe not a hundred, but at least a dozen or so.

TOP FIVE SERIES I LOVE

6. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins 

I jumped on The Hunger Games train later than everyone else. In fact, the trailer for the movie was already out by the time I picked it up, which is why, when everyone was all "THAT'S NOT WHAT PEETA LOOKS LIKE," I was all, "uh, yeah it is," because Josh Hutcherson was in my head as Peeta from the start. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that The Hunger Games pulled me back into YA. Sure, I read in college, I even read YA, but THG restored the stay up too late reading, book grabby hands element to my life. 

7. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

This is another series pushed on me by the same girl who pushed Sarah Dessen. I knew of Meg Cabot at the time (I mean, who didn't? The Princess Diaries owned teenage-land for a good couple of years) but I didn't like ghosts. But, well, I think Jesse is the exception to every rule. And Suze is the best. So double awesome.

8. The Year I Turned 16 by Diane Schwemm

My sister read this series when we were much younger. Since I had to do everything my big sister did (how else do you think I learned how to put on makeup?), I snagged these books as soon as she finished and I loved. I haven't read them recently, but all the good feelings definitely remain.

9.  Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

My blog has seriously become an ode to Tamora Pierce. But I'm going to keep listing her books as a favorite until everyone I know has fallen to peer pressure and read this book. Seriously. I'm not even kidding. Everyone, go read. 

10. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

This is another series that holds a very special place in my heart. I read The Golden Compass IN SCHOOL and loved. Who knew you could love school books? Well I didn't, at least not until The Golden Compass. It helps that my teacher that year was awesome. And that we listened to the audiobook in class. I'm pretty sure that was my only ever audiobook but as far as I can recall, it was made of awesome.

Sometimes I feel like my Top Ten Tuesday lists are a little repetitive, but I just can't help myself. What about you guys? More of the same? If so, let me know what you can't stop listing in the comments below. If I've already read it, we should talk. If not, maybe I should get to it! 

Top Ten Book Boyfriends (17)

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

I've already done a discussion post on Book Boyfriends back just after Valentine's Day. But, y'know, I love my book boyfriends, so I'll give it another go with some help from my old list and Chris Evans.

Me too, attractive man who plays all the superheroes. Me too.

1. Remus Lupin from Harry Potter  by J.K. Rowling
Remus is actually my Book Husband, as previously mentioned. He's clever, loyal, composed AND mischievous - among other things. And he's all of the adorable. I just want to huggles him forever. Please excuse me while my brain makes that a reality. *sigh*

2. Mal from Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
He's the wonderful best friend. Who doesn't want the wonderful best friend (who's actually good looking) to actually return his best friends feelings? I mean, there are so many YA books with that premise and it's not because it's a BAD premise (although it might not actually happen so much in real life).

3. Jesse from The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot
*swoons* Jesse. Oh Jesse. Sweep me off my feet as a ghost or a human, I don't even care. *swoons again* He's just so wonderful. And caring. And sweet. And idiotic the best of boyish ways.

4. Owen from Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
He's the strong stoic time I just want to curl up next to. And he's got some great tunes, which I like.

5. Peeta from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
GUYS. HE BAKES. I WANT A MAN WHO CAN BAKE. Please. And who loves me as much as Peeta loves Katniss. Sometimes I just want to punch that girl in the face for not understanding how awesome Peeta is until it's TOO LATE.

6. Duncan from Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
*sigh* Duncan. I just want to scoop him up and snuggle him forever. He's just so sweet and who doesn't love a Mr. Fix-It (even if he is a little broken himself).

7. Graham Larkin from This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
HE HAS A PIG NAMED WILBUR. I don't understand why I would need any other reason to love him. I mean, he's also really thoughtful and  knows how to make a girl happy, but mostly it's the pig. Named WILBUR. Please. Let's all just re-read Charlotte's Web and call this adorable.

8. Kenji from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Adam, Warner - WHO CARES. I mean, no, I like them, but I would never date either of them. But I would snuggle up to Kenji. I would also be cool with just being friends. What's I'm SAYING is: I LOVE KENJI. I just want him in my life, y'know? I think I'd be a better person for t.

9. Jase from My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
DEAR GOD IS THAT BOY SOMETHING. Please I would like to have one of him for myself. He's just so sweet and caring and loving. And you can see that in the way he behaves with Samantha but also in the way he behaves with his family, which I REALLY LIKE.

10. Len from When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
He's that kid who was always kind of strange and then grew up to be kind of strange and maybe a little bit mean but really there's a lot more there, y'know? You just have to get out of your head for three seconds and see it. Because it's there. And he is QUITE lovely.

I don't know if you guys can tell, but MOSTLY I'm into the slightly more quiet type who's just wonderful once you really get to know them. It's one of those yin-yang things. I'm loud and boisterous and excitable and I could use someone a little more level-headed to keep me from shenanigans. Not that I get myself into trouble, per-say, but, well, I can. Sometimes.

Oh. And before you go:

*Sigh* Channing. Some people think your face is weird. I do not.

ANYWAY. I love a good book boyfriend, so be sure to tell me who YOU'RE making googly eyes at this week. And if you like some of the same ones as me... well... tough luck they're MIIIIINE. At least in my head they are. So shhhh.

Top Ten Books I Recommend The MOST (16)

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

There are a lot of ways I can take this week's Top Ten list. Is it Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most to Readers? To Non-Readers? To Contemporary Lovers? To Fantasy Nerds? To Paranormal Junkies? I always find that when I recommend a book, I have to be careful who I'm recommending what to because it could be MY FAVORITE but my reading taste isn't everyone's reading taste. Which just means I ask a lot of annoying questions and think VERY CAREFULLY before recommending books.

But instead of inserting a qualifier, I'm just going to make this a Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most BECAUSE I LOVE THEM list. I'll be sure to note genre, because even though I know Tamora Pierce if the greatest ever and I'd probably push all of her books on you even if you don't love fantasy books, there should be some kind of level playing field, right?

So here they are. My Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most based solely on my book feels and nothing else.

1. Anything set in the Tortall Universe by Tamora Pierce
Genre: YA Fantasy
I could list each quartet and cheat a couple of times but instead I'll just cheat once and put a whole universe up here. I think there are 17 books set in Torall? I haven't read all of them - just the first 13 - but I don't even need to read the last ones to tell you they're probably genius. Tamora Pierce just knows what's up. Her books are just MAGICAL. And if that's not enough, they're set in medieval times with knights and kings and castles. And if THAT'S not enough, all of her books are pro-feminism in a not-in-your-face kind of way (aka the best way). There's just so much amazingness in her series and I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to read them.

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Genre: YA Contemporary

I KNOW. I KNOW. Everyone else in the world ALSO has this book on their list but I can't help myself. This book was just SO FREAKING GOOD and I just want to stare at it slack-jawed all day. But I can't. Because I have things to do (stupid life). So instead I just go around trying to articulate the feels you WILL feel when you read this book. Inevitably I'll fail, show you a vlog brothers video instead, get you hooked on John Green as a human being and then guide you to his books (this is actually a thing I do. It works fairly often).

3. If I Stay + Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Genre: YA Contemporary

*More cheating lalala* but y'know what? You can't list one without the other. They are so very much a duology of feels and everyone should read these books. So good. So many feels. And honestly? Where She Went was so much better for me than If I Stay and you can't read the former without reading the latter first, so it's really, actually one book in my head. Does that make sense? No? Go read the books and get back to me, okay?

4. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Genre: YA Dystopian

I think this is my favorite dystopian out of the bunch. That's not to say I didn't love Divergent, Wither, Uglies and a whole bunch of other books full of awesome, but there's just something here I love so much. I would tell you what it is that makes me love this series so much, but it's really not just one thing. It's like everything. Together. Which I guess is the sign of a pretty decent series. ALSO, Unravel Me was possibly BETTER than Shatter Me, which doesn't happen often in second books of series. So yeah. Also. One thing I can tell you for real that made me love this book: SUPER. HEROS. *nerds out like whoa over this fact for the a millionth time*

5. All of the Sarah Dessen
Genre: YA Contemporary
The reason I say ALL is because I do obviously have my favorites, but I always recommend reading Dessen books in pub date order. This is because sometimes characters from earlier books will pop up in later books and it's just SO FUN when you can spot them. Seriously. But in general, I just love Sarah Dessen. Her books are so wonderful. And squee-worthy. I love a good squee, y'know?

6. Night by Elie Wiesel

Genre: Memoir

Elie Wiesel taught at my University until just recently. I was never able to take a class with him but he gives a series of lectures in the fall (seriously, if you're in Boston in November and he's still giving these talks, GO). He's such an adorable little old man (as pictured, because I couldn't help myself) who's been through SO MUCH. And he has this AMAZING voice and, well, yeah. I feel like so many people think The Diary of Anne Frank is the quintessential Holocaust book but then I read Night and, y'know, it's not a competition, but I think Night is the one I would push just a bit harder. It's also a bit easier to get through and it's about the actual camps. Which is terrifying, of course. AND it's the story of a teen told from the memory of an adult, so there's that element as well.

7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Genre: YA Historical Fiction (?)
Okay. This is another Holocaust book (Sorry guys, it's a combo of very much growing up with the topic because I'm Jewish and a bizarre fascination with the event), but this one takes a very different approach. This one's fiction from the perspective of Death. So it's kind of historical fiction but kind of not? I don't know. The writing is absolutely stunning either way. It took me a little bit to get into because of the different perspective, but it was totally worth it. But take this one slow. Don't get frustrated if you don't tear through it in a day. I know it took me a little while and that's okay. Because it's worth it.

8. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

As previously noted in this post, I'm Jewish. But if I'm being honest? I'm fairly religious. I went to a dual curriculum school nursery-12 and I guess I retained some stuff. This "stuff" includes the story of Dina. Or really, the lack of the story of Dina. So when I heard about this book I was like YEAH OKAY I WANT. I excepted it to be good, but I didn't expect to have my insides fall apart. It was brilliant because I wanted a fictional tale of Dina's life, but it was also brilliant because for a while I forgot that's why I picked up the book. As I tore through the pages I was like: THIS IS AMAZING on a secular level, not a religious one. Of course, whenever I paused for snackage or to explain to someone why I couldn't talk to them, my brain would catch up with me and I'd be like, okay, this story has religious significance, but really, it's for everyone, not just people who like bible stories.

9. His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman
Genre: YA Fantasy
I've already told you guys about that time I read these books in Middle School. Fantasy was my number one genre back then. It was pretty much all I read. So Pullman and Pierce were like my holy books. Fantasy worlds are so lush and complex and wonderful and when done RIGHT they're so amazing. They take you somewhere else. Pullman takes you somewhere else. He grabs you and drags you behind him and you don't WANT him to let you go because it's all so magical. Granted, I picked up this series because of my favorite English teacher of all time (it was required reading, but I read ahead and finished the whole series before the class finished the first), but really, it was just reaffirmation that reading was my THING.

10. Watchmen or V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

Genre: Graphic Novel

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" "Remember, remember the 5th of November the gunpowder treason and plot..." Yeah, that's right darlings, I read graphic novels (comics too!). Look, would I recommend this to first time comic readers? NO. PLEASE. NO. If you're not used to the format, it's tough and these are TOUGH novels to get through. However, I will say that these particular graphic novels are a bit more mainstream. You can find a lot of reviews and commentaries and MOVIES (shiny! - although, Watchmen was eh and the V for Vendetta movie kind of conveys a slightly different message than the graphic novels, but whatever). Alan Moore's a bit of a loon, so if you're interested in complex social commentaries, these novels are the bomb dot com. If you're looking for a superhero who saves the day, please turn your attention to Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis (aka my favorite) or any superhero originally created by Stan Lee, the coolest man to ever walk the Earth.

**BONUS**

11. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Genre: YA Paranormal

OKAY GUYS DON'T HATE ME FOR SAYING THIS but I my number one pet peeve is people knocking something they haven't tried. Oh, you think this book/movie is garbage and you want to trash it? BE MY GUEST, just make sure to read/watch it first, otherwise you're just a jerk who parrots other people's opinions. If you want to get on the bandwagon, at least do some research first and have real opinions instead of being all: "It sounds stupid" or "Well, everyone else hates it." Even if the product you're bashing is so awful you only make it through the first 20 pages or watch the first 20 minutes, at least you've earned the right to complain. Don't borrow opinions. Form your own.

This list is full of cheating, but I still think you should read all of these books anyways. Based on my feels, not on your personal preferences, of course. But since I do care about your feels and all that, let me know whats on YOUR list in the comments below - and how you feel about mine!

Top Ten Authors On My Auto-Buy List (12)

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

There are SO MANY authors I would put on my auto-buy list. Mostly because there is so much awesome out there and I apparently ENJOY being broke (no, not really, I just like books more than I like money, I guess). But here are my Top Ten. I feel like a lot of mine will be on a lot of your lists.

1. Sarah Dessen
ALWAYS Sarah Dessen. She is a contemporary genius. It's like she helped invent the feels. Or the word squee. Or both. I just can't imagine not pre-ordering something she wrote.

2. John Green
John Green is a genius I haven't known about for nearly long enough. Not only do I love the stories he tells, I love HOW he tells them. Not to mention, every time I read one of his books, my fangirling gets more and more serious because I realize JUST HOW CLEVER this man is.

3. Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce has been on my auto-buy list since I was a tiny, itty bitty reader. The worlds she crafts are just so magical and I want to soak up EVERY BIT of it in hopes that one day I'll find myself in those worlds. But until then: EVERY SINGLE BOOK WRITTEN BY THE GODDESS SHOULD BE MINE.

4. Gayle Forman
Gayle Forman is another author who probably helped invent THE FEELS. She's so awesome-pants I'm not even sure we're all worthy to read the words she puts on the page. She just knows how to tell a story, y'know?

5. Tahereh Mafi

I feel like there are a lot of authors who helped invent the feels. Add Tahereh Mafi to the list. I fall to pieces again and again with every word. I can't BELIEVE I waited so long to read her books, but I know I'm hooked now, to be sure, and will be buying everything she writes ever from now until the end of time.

6. Philip Pullman

I don't even know if Philip Pullman writes all that much anymore - a least not YA, but I DO know the man HONEST TO GOD knows how to weave an amazing tale. So I'll pretty much overlook any bizarre, angry undertones found in his work just for that.

7. Maggie Stiefvater
On more than once occasion I’ve noted that she could write about feet and I would still buy that book. And I meant it. Not to mention Maggie Stiefvater is entirely adorable, which makes me just LOVE HER EVEN MORE.

8. Rick Riordan
Honesty time: For the release date of the latest Percy Jackson book, I put an all-day event in my calendar entitled: PERCY JACKSON DAY. I regret nothing. But really, I just love what Rick Riordan does with mythology and I kind of hope he starts up another series about a different mythology group. Norse, this time? How many different mythologies are there? I don't even know, but I want this author to write a series about each one I can HAVE THEM.

9. Markus Zusak
I read The Book Thief and proceeded to buy everything else he’s written. Markus Zusak's writing style is SO DIFFERENT and so very heart breaking that I can't imagine my life without his books.

10. J.K. Rowling
But only if it’s YA. I took The Casual Vacancy out of the library a couple of months ago because I really wasn’t sure how I would like J.K. Rowling’s foray into adult fiction and, I’m not going to lie, I haven’t yet finished the book. But if she ever puts out another YA book, I assure you I’ll be buying it. And so will all of you, probably. And then we'll all freak out over it together. So I'm EXCITED.

HOW CUTE IS THIS MAN?

So that's the list. I know, I know, so many obvious choices, but it's the TRUTH and I would never lie to you guys! Now tell me, who do we have in common and what are your other choices?

Top Ten Favorite Characters in Fantasy/Contemporary (11)

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

I’m cheating this week (as you could probably tell from the title of this post) and am doing Top Five Favorite Characters in TWO DIFFERENT genres. I did this mostly to stop myself from compiling a list consisting of ONLY Tamora Pierce characters. So really, you should all support my cheating.

TOP FIVE FAVORITE FANTASY CHARACTERS

1. Alanna of Trebond (The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce)
Alanna is my homegirl. I really don’t feel the need to say anything more than that. BUT I WILL. She's strong, brave and honestly, one of the most compelling characters I have ever read. Ever.

2. Veralidaine Sarrasri aka Daine (The Immortal Quartet by Tamora Pierce)
I love Daine just about as much as I love Alanna. She's similarly wonderful but in her own way. And she makes for an awesome hero.

3. Remus Lupin (Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling)

I have a VERY SERIOUS crush on Remus Lupin. But the Remus Lupin of books 1-6, not the Remus Lupin of book 7 because, seriously, if you think the Remus Lupin of book 7 even vaguely resembles the Remus Lupin of books 1-6, we cannot be friends.

4. The Darkling (Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo)
So I could have picked Alina or Mal (BECAUSE I LOVE THEM BOTH), but The Darkling is the character in this story who really threw me for a loop and, as such, I had no choice but to pick him for this particular list.

5. Lyra Belacqua (His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman)
To this day, I think my absolute favorite part of Lyra is her name. I mean, she's totally badass and I love her to bits and pieces, but hello, her name is Lyra Belacqua.

TOP 5 FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS

1. Adam (If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman)
I just want to HUG Adam FOREVER. Sorry Mia… But seriously, reading Where She Went absolutely broke my heart and it's crazy to think of his transformation between and during both books.

2. Hazel (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)
Oh Hazel. I cry just thinking about you.

3. Augustus (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)
If you have to ask why I picked both of the protagonists from The Fault in Our Stars, we can’t be friends anymore. Just a heads up. (Clearly I'm whittling down my list of friends this blog post... oh well.)

4. Chloe (Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell)
I love Chloe. I don’t know if she and I would be friends, but I love her. She's just so whimsical and wonderful and flawed. 

5. Owen (Just Listen by Sarah Dessen)
No list is complete with Owen. NO LIST, I TELL YOU. He's the quiet strong type that makes me swoon big time. Not to mention he likes music, so we could bond over that.

I could make lists like these for every genre under the sun. But this particular topic says I can only pick the Top Ten, so I'll have to stop here. What genres did you guys make lists for? I'm all excited to read about who everyone else loves, to be sure to share in the comments below!