Top Ten Tuesday–Favourite Books I’ve Read During My Blog’s Lifespan

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fab Broke and the Bookish.

Each week we are invited to post a top ten list about a variety of book related topics.

This week’s list:

Top Ten Favourite Books I’ve Read Since My Blog Began

This is a challenging list to create.

I’ve been blogging for 2 1/2 years and I’ve read A LOT of books in that time…..

Be sure to check out the reviews to see why these are my favourites.

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay – Review

Delirium by Lauren Oliver – Review

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting – Review

Divergent by Veronica Roth –Review

The Fault in our Stars by John Green – Review

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater –Review

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate –Review

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern –Review

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas –Review

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky –not one I could review…..

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi -Review

If I Stay by Gayle Forman -Review

What’s on your list? Do we have any in common?

Grim by Anna Waggener -Book Review

Today I’m thrilled to welcome a new guest poster on my blog. 

Daphne is 15, an avid reader and one of my favourite teens ever.

She has great taste in books!! Welcome Daphne!!!

Grim by Anna Waggener

Published June 2012

Source: Finished copy provided by the publisher

Summary:

   When Erika wakes up after a horrific car crash, she finds herself somewhere between earth and heaven, between life and death. She doesn't want to accept help from Jeremiah, who she's not sure she can trust, even as she finds herself drawn to him, following him into a grim city of souls. She's not sure who wants to help her and who wants to hurt her. And she's desperate to get back to her children. 

Shawn's never thought about having to shoulder the responsibility of caring for his young sister Megan and his reckless older sister. And he never imagined that the three of them would find themselves in a haunted wood, sometimes chased, sometimes assisted, never sure where they're headed.

Daphne’s Thoughts:

   GRIM by Anna Waggener, is an incredible book combining myths and legends to produce a truly vicious world where the dead live. Pulled in by its twists, turns, and unsaid truths, the reader will be driven to finish this book with bated breath. Waggener creates a vivid scenario with a cast of authentic characters, bewitching and readily identifiable. The novel weaves a haunting tale by interspersing intriguing nuggets of the past within an unfolding storyline. GRIM is both enchanting and horrifying in turns. The reader will be forced to contemplate the events within its pages long after the last page is turned, eagerly anticipating her next novel.



add to Goodreads
download for Kobo

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead–Book Review

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Published by Random House Children’s Books

August 7th 2012

Source: Finished copy provided by the publisher

Summary:

When seventh grader Georges (the S is silent) moves into a Brooklyn apartment building, he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner and self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend?

My Thoughts:

I have to begin by saying that Rebecca Stead is an incredibly talented author. I would read anything by her. She crafts memorable stories and her characters come to life. I loved the twists and unexpected turns in this book.  It’s geared towards the middle grades but still relevant for teens and adults. Liar & Spy tells the story of Georges (silent s) as he moves into an apartment after his dad has been “downsized” at work. There, he begins an unpredictable and at times frustrating friendship with Safer.

Georges is named after famed painter Georges Seurat. Seurat was a pointillist and  created Masterpieces using only dots of colour. The author used this brilliantly as she highlighted the contrast between seeing what is right in front of you, and seeing the big picture throughout the book:

(Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884)

I also have to comment on the messages that went back and forth between Georges and his mom through the Scrabble tiles… I loved this aspect so much.

Liar &Spy has so much heart as we watch these boys cope with their lives in seemingly different ways. Touching on themes of bullying, perseverance, overcoming fears, risk taking and family; to say I was moved by this book would be an understatement. Fans of Rebecca Stead’s award winning novel “When You Reach Me” will fall in love with this one as well.

Highly Recommended, This is one to buy for your reading shelf at home. It would also make a great read aloud for a family to share together.

add to Goodreads
order for Kobo

Top Ten Tuesday–Book Romances That Would Make it in the Real World

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous Broke and the Bookish.

Each week we post our Top Ten on a variety of book related topics.

This week’s theme: Book Romances that Would Make it in the Real World

My List:

Violet & Jay from The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting : If you have not read this series yet, you are missing out.  Violet and Jay were childhood friends until they finally expressed their feelings for each other. Jay is supportive, good looking, kind, brave and all the girls have eyes for him. They work so well as a couple.

Kate &Vincent from The Revenants series by Amy Plum – Even though Vincent fights the urge to die for others, and every now and then doesn’t exist, these two are committed.

Puck & Sean from Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – Loved this book, loved these characters…destined to be together in my books.

Celia & Marco from The Night Circus  by Erin Morgenstern– What wouldn’t these two do for love?

Dash & Lily from Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan – It all started with a little red notebook…

Eleanor & Edward from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – It took so long for these two to get together, they better stay together for life

Hermione and Ron from the Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling – a relationship based on friendship is always a wonderful way to begin. I loved watching Hermione and Ron fall in love.

This list proved more difficult to create than I thought. Perhaps it's because many of the couples I read about go through so much together...perhaps it's because I read a lot of Dystopian fiction which doesn't always have a happy ending:)

I do believe in Happy Endings though, and that you can find one true love. The theme of this week's Top Ten Tuesday was in honour of Jamie's (Broke and the Bookish/Perpetual Page Turner) upcoming wedding.

A toast to love and laughter, and happily ever after.

Jamie, I wish you the happiest of happily ever afters! Much love and congrats.