It's time for the Top Ten Tuesday meme, brought to you via The Broke and The Bookish.
Today, I'm going through the Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year. This list actually goes to six because, so far this year, I've only read eight books for funsies and I didn't really enjoy a couple of them. And, by "funsies", I mean "not school assigned reading".
My list may be short, but it won't stay that way for long. There is plenty that I look forward to reading this summer. I'm currently reading The Book Thief and The Giver.
1) The Mortal Instruments: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

I've finished The Mortal Instruments series, but I'm not yet ready to write-off the Shadowhunter world. A lot of people dislike that Clare writes so many series about Shadowhunters, but I love it. I love knowing that there is still more to learn about her world. I'll be reading The Infernal Devices next, and after that, The Dark Artifices.
2) Paper Towns by John Green
Again, I have a review coming out for this, so I won't say much. But, I will say that Paper Towns doesn't disappoint. John Green never does. Every piece of paper his pen touches turns to gold.Paper Towns is a fun story with serious undertones and deeply inspirational messages. Green is an author whose characters can say something incredibly profound in one moment and something humorously trivial in the next, and it doesn't seem superficial or like he's trying too hard. And, for that reason (among many others), I enjoy every minute of his writing. I'll be reading An Abundance of Katherines next!
3) If I Stay by Gayle Forman
I recently wrote a review of If I Stay, expressing my love of the book. It was the first book I started reading this summer. The book had been in my TBR pile for some time, and after I had heard all of the Hollywood buzz surrounding it (yay for Chloe Grace Moretz as Mia!), I decided to go ahead and pick it up. The plot is great, and really makes you think. But, I admit that the ending is kind of obvious considering that there is a sequel. Nevertheless, I am excited to read the sequel, Where She Went.4) Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Boy was I wrong to think that this would be a "nice contemporary romance". This book has so many unexpected twists and turns, and very serious subject matter. It is a great read. Also, I think Dean Holder has officially topped my list as the perfect fictional boyfriend.
Next I'll be reading Losing Hope (Hopeless #2).
5) City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Yesterday, I posted my review of City of Lost Souls.
Again, I'll just say that I really love Cassandra Clare's writing. This book was really long, but still really good. Readers got to see all of their favorite characters and some romantic relationship development. And, we got to learn more about Sebastian, which I actually enjoyed although he is evil? What can I say? I love a villain who isn't purely evil, who struggles with emotions of love and hope. It reminds readers that those characters are human, just irrevocably damaged.
6) The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
I finished this book just last week although it had been sitting on my nightstand, neglected since January. The Scorch Trials was okay. Not terrible, but not great. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Maze Runner, but it was still interesting. Now I'm just ready to read The Death Cure so that I can hopefully figure out what the hell is going on in this world. Reading these books is like watching LOST: the questions continue to rack up, yet none of them are answered.
***
What have you read so far this year? Have you read any of the books I've listed? Talk to me in the comments!
If you've written a Top Ten Tuesday this week, be sure to link it below.
See y'all next week!
--Teisha xx
I've got The Maze Runner on my Summer TBR. The comparison to LOST is both a recommendation and a condemnation - when LOST was good, it was SO good, but . . . that ending. Hopefully, The Death Cure is more satisfying. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's definitely a recommendation & a condemnation. LOST is one of my all-time favorite shows (Friday Night Lights is the other). It was beautifully written and had amazing character stories & character development. But, when it came to the science/mystery aspect...ugh, it was so frustrating. But, I have a confession: I binge watched the whole show on Netflix. So, I try not to complain considering I wasn't one of the viewers who watched it on ABC and had to wait an entire week for answers/more questions. Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteAh, there are a lot of shows I've binge watched (Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Mad Men) but I did watch LOST when it originally aired - I bet it's better when you don't have to wait! I got frustrated because the writers couldn't decide if the island was magic or if there was a scientific explanation.
DeleteAre you planning to read The Maze Runner prequel? I've heard good things:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13089710-the-kill-order
Not sure if I'll read The Kill Order. I think it will just depend on whether or not I like The Death Cure!
DeleteIf I Stay is so good! I listened to the audiobook a few years back. I've just bought the book and the sequel :)
ReplyDeleteI love If I Stay! I'm so excited for the movie. I'm a great fan of Colleen Hoover. I've yet to read a book of hers that I didn't like. :D
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
I'm really excited to read more of Hoover's books. I love her writing style:)
DeleteI love Paper Towns! Have you read An Abundance of Katherines?
ReplyDeleteI'm putting Colleen Hoover's book on my TBR list. I haven't read anything from her yet.
Here's my TTT:
http://wendimlee.blogspot.com/2014/06/top-ten-ya-books-i-read-this-year.html
No, I haven't read An Abundance of Katherines yet, but I just bought it a couple of weeks ago so I'll be reading it soon. That one, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson are the only John Green books I haven't read.
DeleteStill need to read If I Stay! Glad you enjoyed it, great list :)
ReplyDelete