Monday, June 9, 2014
TTT: Favorite books so far this year
It's Top Ten Tuesday. This week's topic: Favorite books read so far in 2014. That is a toughie. It is hard to remember my favorites. I consulted Goodreads and listed my 5-star books in the order I read them.
1. The Round House by Louise Erdrich...it reads like a modern classic. Set on a Native American reservation. It is a coming-of-age story and a murder mystery. My first 5-star of the year.
2. Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd...this guy know graphic design and the book is proof of his craft. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself at the same time.
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman...a favorite author does it again, Gaiman writes a book that is a bit scary and very creative.
4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio...everyone should read this Junior book about a boy who has a facial deformity. It is a book about friendship and acceptance. Very inspiring.
5. How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig...I was completely inspired to incorporate more Shakespeare into my life.
6. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon...a book about a book and the tangled lives of the author and owner of the book. Set in Barcelona.
7. Cress by Marissa Meyer...the only YA book on my list. This is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series.
8. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter...I really got "into" the theme of this book of ruins. It has a cast of quirky characters and is partially set in Italy.
9. Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan...I just love anything and everything by Shaun Tan.
10. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin...this is a book for people who love books and bookstores, and for those who believe in the transformative power of literature in our lives. This will be the book I recommend to friends and family this year.
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I don't think I can go by my Goodreads account because I am too liberal with ratings there :-) The Round House is going to my TBR there though !
ReplyDeleteI still really want to read Wonder and Beautiful Ruins! And then also I have to finish Scarlet before Cress. And I agree that The Ocean at the End of the Lane was awesome! I think it was my first Neil Gaiman book!
ReplyDeleteOh man The Shadow of the Wind is definitely in a list of my all time favourite books! And WHAT?! I've never heard of The Storied Life - and I love Gabrielle Zevin, so this must be a new book. So I'm going to go find that now, yay!
ReplyDeleteRun, do not walk, to your nearest library or bookstore. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry is a true gem.
DeleteCRESS almost made my list today! So so good. I really need to read OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE, too. I started it a while ago but didn't get to finish it... not for lack of interest, just had a BUNCH of other stuff come up. Must fix that soon!!
ReplyDeleteI have heard so many great things of Storied Life of A.J. Fikry! Definitely on my TBR pile! Also need to get around to reading Cress.. I actually haven't read any Neil Gaiman books before.. would you recommend this one to start with?
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my TTT!
Michele
You asked what Neil Gaiman book I recommend as a starting point... I loved ANANSI BOYS. I laughed my way through it and I've enjoyed everything I've read of his since then. Since the OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is my most recent read of his, I'd say it is a good place to start. It feels current and timeless at the same time.
DeleteNone I've read, but several that are on my TBR list! I've actually started Cress, and need to finish it. The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry are both on my TBR list, and I think the book about teaching Shakespeare is too -- if not, it's going on it right now. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI love Cress and I love that I've seen it on so many lists this week! It would have totally made my list except that I had an ARC and so I read it last year! =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by the Story Goes...