TTT: Best reads of the year 2013

I have read a LOT of great books this year, so this was very difficult!

1. Days of Blood & Starlight: (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #2) Fantasy about a generations old war between seraphim and chimera. This is becoming a favorite series of mine. Just waiting for the last installment.

2. The Book Thief: If any of you haven't read this it is one of the best stories ever. This is the journey of a little German girl during WW2 as told by Death. It is extremely touching and well written. Review.

3. Let's Pretend This Never Happened: Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)'s memior. This women can take any moment that would crush most of us and make it funny without taking out any of the emotion. This story makes me feel better. I have the audio book and I listen to part of it at least once a week. I've been down a lot lately and it's a great pick me up.
 

TTT: Summer TBR 2013

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: The begginning was great and it's been recommended by two trusted sources.

A Game of Thrones



2. A Game of Thrones: Mostly a conversation piece, guys at work are reading it. Also it's challenging my comfort zone, it's what I usually consider a boy book (that certain kind of Sci-fi, like Redwall series) and avoid.

3. Delirium: This story seems addicting. Honestly I just haven't gotten to it. I read mostly in bed with my kindle lately. (I love that it's its own light source.) Anyway the copy I own is a hardback, and I've been too lazy for hardbacks lately.

Delirium

TTT: Great books with a travel focus

 

 

 

                                                   

 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight                        Beauty Queens                

 

1. A cute story of two people who connect very strongly at an airport, then over an international flight. The writing/MC point of view is fun and kind of snarky.

 

2. Starts with a plane crash. Beauty Queens stuck on a desert island learning they can take care of themselves and choosing who they want to be as opposed to being told who they should be. Introspective characters mix with the crazy writing full of satirical commercials.

 

3. When Ginny's aunt dies she sends her a a series of letters with instructions meant to help Ginny be more spontaneous and independent. This book made me obsess of Maureen Johnson's writing, she became one of my buy everything authors. (She also has a very amusing blog.)

 

 

13 Little Blue Envelopes

 

 

TTT: Best Read in 2013 (so far...)

 

 I have read so many great books this year... 
                                         But I think these are the best!

1. Days of Blood and Starlight: True Story: Karou has one of the strangest upbringings you've ever heard. But it's only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more she doesn't know.This series is wonderful so far. It could very well breach my favorite stories, as long as the last book stands up to the other two and concludes everything well. I am anxiously awaiting.  
2. The Book Thief: A story of a young German girl in Nazi Germany circa WW2. This book is SAD. It is not easy to get through. And it is basically a necessary read for all living beings.
3. The Phantom Tollbooth: Story of a young boy with no ambition and his journey figuring out the importance and fun of learning and trying. I can't believe no one exposed me to this when I was a child. My love of words could have begun so much younger. Anyway this is fun even as an adult.

 

 

What's your favorite story of the year?

TTT: Great books with Great Covers

     

1. Ella Minnow Pea: The literal nature of of the pictures fits very well with the story and the writing, and I love it.
2. A Great and Terrible Beauty: I just think corsets are beautiful. The cover is soft and artful in person so much so that I saved for the hard backs of the whole series. I think it fits the story and it's always been one my favorite covers.
3. Anna Dressed in Blood: The image is a specific scene from the story and it's a powerful one. I love this story and this cover is beautiful and scary and everything I could want from the cover of this book.
4. Twilight: original cover series. I love the artistic red on white. I always see this tiny corruption and seduction in it.

 

 

TTT*: Before Blogging

I want to reread these just to get reviews up.

     

1. Perk's Of Being a Wallflower: All time top three. I've logged more rereads than any other story but never reviewed because it was pre-blog. I'll just say Charlie is so lovely with his steadfast personality. He's weird, emotional,studios, and just a good guy. I love that he doesn't let life take that away from him.
2. A Great and Terrible Beauty: The imagery is so wonderfully vibrant. Enthralling story.
3. White Oleander: The story was brutal, and touching. One of my favorites but I've lost mostof the details.

*I don't read as fast as many books or as fast as most who participate in this meme so I decided to do a Top Three. This way my posts wont be so repeatitive and I can still play with you guys. Love you all. Please tell me what you think of my list and link yours.

Top Six Tips For New Book Bloggers

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I am still working on my blog -- so I often feel like a new blogger. But these are my thoughts:

1. A unique opinion in the writing.
2. Concise content: Rambling is OK every once in a while but usually I, and many others according to surveys, only have a few minutes.
3. Easy to read: Artistic vision is great but make sure it doesn't distract from the writing (leave your background in the Background).
4. Have your own touch -- deliver more than facts -- be funny or ranty or inquisitive or whoever you are, just give people something to relate to.
5. Read and take hint from as many TTT suggestions today from bloggers you like/admire.
6. Be open to suggestion, and (I know it's hard) criticism. Some people are just mean, some are helpful, some are both.

That's all I have this week, I am going to take my own advise and see what everyone else has to say. If anyone has suggestions I would love to know, and thank you all who read this and who comment, you guys make my week!

Deceiving Ten

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Wildefire: The cover is a beautiful and mysterious piece of art (look above) and the synopsis promises crazy times with teenage mythological Gods. It still angers me how shallow and underdeveloped the actual story was.
2. Ditched: What seemed like it would be cute and light was surprisingly substantial and moving.
3. The Name of the Star: Fun with the paranormal became a story about making sure you are a person you respect and not letting the world just happen to you. (+ bits of intriguing history)
4. The Knife of Never Letting Go: A boy chased by an army on an alien world seemed like an interesting sci-fi that would be full of action. BUT this is also a story about truth and hope and all the big questions.
5. Atlas Shrugged: I thought this super thick philosophy classic would hold important insights but be a typical dredge. Really, though it has some monster monologues, it was rather enjoyable with amazingly complex characters, moments of extreme action and shocking reveals.
6. Divergent: I thought this interesting debut would be fun but ultimately forgettable in the sea of dystopians. What I discovered were characters I instantly connected with and cared about + can't put it down action.
7. Anna and The French Kiss: I thought chick flick in Paris, fun but typical fluff. This story is actually unforgettable and moving, and the Paris in the story puts you there in the bustle of a real word, not a fantasy. A world you'll never want to let go.
8. The Hunger Games: I thought this would be a remake of older "fight the man" stories (Brave New World/1984/etc) with teenagers; unoriginal. But surprise: Katniss is pure, caring, witty, independent and affecting; and the story was able to stand on its own and excite revolutionary thought.
9. The Fault In Our Stars: I thought nerdy coming of age, emotional with great characters (ya know, typical John Green). It was those things but it was also a real life epic. Life changing without the use of extraordinary circumstance.
10. Haunted: I sought interesting tales about the dark in some people. The disturbing result  bore into my brain making all people a little frightening after reading a story about what people will subject themselves to for financial freedom and then later survival.
Have you guys read any of these, and were you as surprised as I was? Any suggestions on what surprising novel I should delve into next or completely avoid?

Top Ten Books To Read In A Day

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I took this as what would I read in a 24 hour re-read-a-thon. These are some of my shorter favorites.

1. Animal Farm: 112 pages. What happens when the animals take over. I remember loving reading this in a history class, but I have lost all the details as to why.
2. Fahrenheit 451: 179 pages. I love this every time I read it. In a future where individualism is so frowned upon firefighters burn books, one fire fighter's life is turned upside down by them.
3. Stargirl: 186 pages. This story of a girl that embraces her differences. It is so uplifting.
4. Poetry Out Loud: 203 pages. This is one of the best poetry collections I've seen. The poetry spans the ages and genres. And all these do lend themselves to being read out loud so it would break up a marathon reading day nicely.
5. Ella Minnow Pea: 208 pages. A funny love affair with letters, very creatively written.
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: 213 pages. A favorite of mine that is long over due for a re-read. This story takes you through every emotion. A wonderful coming of age story.
7. Something Maybe: 217 pages. The cutest little story about a girl coming out of her shell after hiding from the spotlight her mother tries to live in.
8. Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging: 247 pages. The hilarious diary of British teenager in school and in love.
9. Ditched: 288 pages. Ever look at things the wrong way and mess things up? A desert of a story. Check out my review.
10. Anna and the French Kiss: 372 pages. Kind of long but if I had a whole day I was using to escape into reading I couldn't resist this beautiful story.

Spring Fever: Top Ten Books I'd Play Hooky With



Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

To me, if I play hooky, I want to be transported somewhere else.These are books I know would take me out of the everyday and refresh me. They are like a vacation from my reality.

1. Twilight: I don't care about the haters out there. This story is romantic and thrilling, it takes you somewhere totally new and of its own. Don't over analyze, this is a vacation.
2. A Great and Terrible Beauty: These girls go to a magical world they can manipulate. Powerful take you away stuff.
3. The Fault In Our Stars: If you are ever feeling bad take a walk in Hazel's shoes. You'll feel like you're living your best life today.
4. Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes: Traveling on a journey led by letters. It's a lot of fun.
5. The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy: If this isn't the most fun thing in the universe X 42. 
6. Necklace of Kisses: Weetzie Bat all grown up and in need of a break. Who can't relate?
7. Stargirl:  Different in the best ways. If you don't know this girl you should. 
8. Ella Mnnow Pea: Fun with words and the political worship of "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog". How much fun would it be to live in a world where words are worshiped, before everyone goes crazy at least.
9. Ditched: This prom night is a deliciously fun story.
10. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging: These diaries are the most fun and funniest ever! And they have fun American/British glossaries.

Top Ten Spring TBR List!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Born Wicked: Witch sisters in a town that reviles witches. This debut has excited more than all the others I have heard of this year and the reviews have been very good.
2. Scorpio Races: A magical and dangerous horse race. I wanted to read something by Maggie because I love her blog and I decided to start with what everyone agrees is her best.
3. Delirium: A dystopian everyone won't stop raving about. Am I the only person who hasn't read this?
4. The Book Thief: I love the idea  the narration by death. AND the things people say about this book, it makes me feel like I'm a blasphemer against the world of great literature. I must read this... hmm.. I seem to be in a dramatic mood, but that's how I feel...
5. Youth In Revolt: A boys epic journal, sounds fun and different.
6. Tithe: It seems most of my favorite writers are crazy about this story and it is a faerie story which is a former obsession of mine. This one somehow has never jumped to the top of my TBR and so I am changing that.
7. The Sky Is Everywhere: Too many people love this emotional roller coaster for me to pass it up.
8. Secrets of Simplicity: I have a dream of a simple life and bought this on a whim. I hope it helps.
9. This Book Will Save Your Life: I love this writer's short stories about the secrets of suburbianism and this story about corporate living-dead sounds just as good.
10. How I Became a Famous Novelist: My honey bought this for me and this "careful what you wish for" story sounds perfect for me (I might sometimes romanticize the life of famous writers).

Top 10 Classic Books



Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. King Lear: I love Shakespeare, every play I've seen or read and all the remakes and cameos. King Lear is a story about pretty lies and harsh truths, and I don't think it gets enough attention lately. People who truly love you will tell you the truth and you have to be strong enough accept it.
2. Frankenstein: Ever feel like you don't fit in? Did it make you mad? This is the classic for you.
3. Atlas Shrugged: A world built on pity will not survive. The few that do can not shoulder the many that won't forever. At a time when the world wasn't worth holding up Atlas Shrugged.
4. Animal Farm: Anyone for a little political satire?
5. A Christmas Carol: Material gains only take you so far. This is a look at what is really important in life with a surprisingly charming and snarky narrator.
6. Flowers For Algernon: Is there such a thing as too smart? What happens when the greatest gift you're given starts to slip away?
7. Candide: More satire, and crazy times.
8. Are You There God, It's Me Margaret: This is the best introduction to becoming a young woman I know of, or have heard of.
9. Pygmalion: My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, She's All That.. this book has spawned some of the most fun remakes but the original has something none of the other's do - a kickass prologue from the author's point of view and a whole different ending. All the versions are awesome in my opinion, though.
10. The Jungle: What a hard hitting look at the industries that built America? The things you learn you will never forget.  
11. Fahrenheit 451: Had to add this one, because where would a book lover be without it?

Top Ten Favorite Covers

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I love a lot of covers. I hate to say it but it is often the cover that gets me. With so many books in the world my attention must be grabbed. Though attractive covers get my attention if they don't relate well to the story beautiful covers are ultimately forgettable. These are some favorites I feel relate well to the stories within.



1. Ella Minnow Pea: Everything about this book expresses a love for language in a fun and slightly silly way. This cover expresses the whimsical nature of a story about a town that loves the alphabet and their interesting politics.

2. Lamb: An imagination of what Christ was like as a young man is wonderfully captured here. I think this special edition is bond like a gospel and it fits perfectly.

3.Anna Dressed In Blood: This girl floating here -- Beautiful, long black hair, gorgeous white dress from her first young adult party, ... and her blood staining white red, so much blood, her blood -- is a girl rightly bent on revenge from being cut down in the prime of her life. The cover is eerie and strong and unforgettable, just like Anna.

 4.White Oleander: Life really beats down on Astrid. This cover expresses that feeling for me, of being exposed and open to people and getting destroyed, face in the ground, over and over.

5. Speak: Trees live so long, see so much, they hide our secrets. This imagery expresses the emotions of the main character hiding her pain, being stoic, and quiet; unable to speak the truth.

6. Looking For Alaska: The story is mysterious and lovely, the labyrinth is mysterious and lovely, Alaska is mysterious and lovely. Just like smoke. There are also inferences to candles that can be taken after finishing the story.

7. Atlas Shrugged: When the people of the world were no longer worth holding up Atlas Shrugged. I love Greek mythology and the reference to the few people who are the driving force of this world as Atlas.. I just love it.

8. Where The Sidewalk Ends: It is very literal and amusing. It is my favorite book from childhood and I think the accent of Shel's art to his writing sealed the deal.

 9. A Monster Calls: The Green Man comes walking with stories of the complicated nature of humans. The Illustrations in this book are amazing. Check out my review.

10. Fahrenheit 451: A burning man, to me, shows the growth of the character in the story -- from a man that blindly follows orders to burn books to the internal burning of the questions he must answer after seeing people who would sacrifices their lives rather than be without literature.

This was more difficult than I thought it would be. What criteria did you judge your favorites by?

Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To

I've never thought of this before, I enjoy that the stories exist in my imagination and I think adding music might change the view.  So for this I just took some random favorite books and matched them with favorite songs with similar sentiment. Hope you like the matches.

1. Ditched: A Love Story: Like You by Bow Wow and Ciara (I ain't never had nobody show me all the thiings that you done showed me And the special way I feel when you hold me)  -- This song has the same feelings of girl trying to win all theromantic attentions of someone she's deemed amazing.
2. Knife of Never Letting Go: Maiden Calling (oh don't deceive me. oh never leave me.) --This is the song in the story and it will eat your heart.
3. Fahrenheit 451: Slept So Long ( touching you makes me die inside, touching you makes me feel alive) -- Expressing the thrill of knowing literture though it's forbidden.
4. The Fault In Our Stars: Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls (And I don't want the world to see me Cuz I don't think that they'd understand When everything's made to be broken I just want you to know who I am) -- Agustus and Hazel connect over what most of the world just can't understand.
5. Confessions of Georgia Nickleson: Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Lepperd (come on fire me up) - I can see Georgia dancing to this, it's just as crazy as she is.
6. Weetzie Bat: So Sick by Flyleaf (I'm so sick infected with where I live. Can't we live without this emptyness, selfish.)-- Weetzie refuses to live life on everyone elses terms.
7. Fight Club: Bodies by Drowning Pool (Nothing wrong with me...Something's got to give) -- A life going nowhere, it's time to make a change or lose your mind, or both...
8. Safety of Objects: I Write Sins not Tragedies by Panic! At the Disco (I chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the god damn door?!") -- All the secrets of the suburbs revealed.
9. Anna Dressed In Blood: Sarah Yellin' by 3 Doors Down (This time it's over I' gonna make it end. Now it's over, the old man is dead.) A bad girl ghost; strong, evil and vengeful.
10. Awaken: Loose Lips by Kimya Dawson (we won't stop until somebody calls the cops and even then we'll start again and just pretend that nothing ever happened) -- Fighting for what's right and not giving up on humanity.
11. White Oleander: Bleed by Anna Nalick (And the edge of your sword isn't sharp enough for me
    To bleed)-- Anyone with an overshadowing mother can relate.
12. The Taming of the Shrew: Joan Jett And The Blackhearts Bad Reputation (A girl can do what she wants to do and that's What I'm gonna do An' I don't give a damn ' bout my bad reputation) I think that expains it all.

WOW that was hard. Opinions?

Top Ten Books I'd Quickly Save If My House Was Going To Be Abducted By Aliens

  

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

1. Shel Silverstein's Poem collection: This is actually three books but they are the books I've owned the longest. This was my first favorite author at 7 years old, and the first person's death I cried over at 12. Wonderful books that can bring people together and bring a smile to a child's face. Pictured above: A Light in the Attic, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up.
2. Fahrenheit 451: This is a book I have read many times and really expresses my love of literature.
3. The 100 Best Poems of All Time: I can always find a poem to express how I'm feeling and comfort me in this book.
4. You Are Here, This Is Now: There are some wonderful stories in this (especially one involving Oreo sponsership) and I dont think it would be easily replacable.
5. Ella Minnow Pea: Another that explores the love of language.
6. White Oleander: One of my favorites. This goes through many emtions and is a beautifully written slow read that I could enjoy over an over again just as much as the first time.
7. Atlas Shrugged: This is a long story I could read over and over. And the copy I own is littered with sticky tabs of my favorite points, from when I wrote a paper on the book.
8.  The Fault in Our Stars: I haven't even finished this but I can tell it will be a favorite, and a favorite to reread.
9. A Collection of Readings for Writers: I have the forth edition; a gift I think would be near impossible to replace. Though I haven't read much of it I always felt it would make me a better writer as I did.  
10. Canterbury Tales: I haven't read all the tales, but I like the ones I have. And I have the beautiful goldleafed copy below.

What do you guys think? Would you pick all favorites or some you've never read?

Top Ten Books That Broke My Heart A Little

1. White Oleander: Oh Astrid, so dragged through the dirt. A life of satisfying other people's agendas and overcoming to find herself. Yeah, this is a gut-wrenching story but it is also so good.
2. Knife of Never Letting Go: The most common comment I have read about this book is it makes your heart leak out your eyeballs. It is violent, torturous, but it is so worth it.  
3. A Monster Calls:  Patrick Ness you are a heartbreaker. This guy, I am new to him, and he just drags you through the dirt until you're screaming and you'll do whatever he wants. And Patrick wants the truth, the whole screaming, dirty truth of you. At the end you are torn but you're a better person and you just want him to torture you a little more.
4. Before I Fall:  Life is short, some more so then others, will you be happy with what you've accomplished? You've probably learned these lessons before but they were well delivered.
5. Looking for Alaska: This story, BAM, it hits you hard. And TRUTH (is this a trend here?) and pain and mysteries!
6. The Jungle: Dark gritty secrets of being an immigrant in Chicago 1906 are revealed and the family featured has it tough . This story has violence and dirt, death and disgusting sacrifices. It is, also, the most touching and life changing book I read in high school.
7. Weetzie Bat: Fairytale world meets hazy punk LA. Francesca Lia Block builds a world in a soft pink smog and thicker in emotion.
8. Divergent: A broken world has five different factions of beliefs on how to rebuild. At 16 one must chose their faction. This is the journey of a girl choosing her faction and hope, against hope, that they choose her back and she survives initiation. Then there is a disturbance bubbling under the shaky peace the world is in. Every second of this story is walking on some edge.
9. Awaken: Electronic are great, but do they break us apart. The lies we accept from false images has allowed us to hide from each other. Can we get the connections back?
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: This is a roller coaster of a story. Those lows man they are low, but I shed happy tears at some points in this story too,and that is just an indescribable feeling.

Top Ten Books You'd Hand To Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read



The Name of the Star: Jack-The-Ripper, ghosts, boarding school in England, and the legendary wit of Maureen Johnson. It is just so thrilling. I stayed up hours past my bedtime, happily sacrificing sleep for the next page.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading: It's about a person who avoids books! It is hilarious and shows how much stories impact our lives, no matter what. 

Uglies: A wild ride. A cliche saying but it was. Around every turn you wondered would the authorities be there? What would happen if they were? And was the life the authorities offered actually better than fighting for the alternative? I think the subjects posed affect us all these days and I've had success with a "non-reader" getting interested in this one before.

Candide: It was so much fun and short AND SO MANY WILD THINGS happen! It could change anyones' mind about what Classics contain.

Anna Dressed In Blood: From the first sentence the narrators voice is gripping. Snark in the best way. Then there is Anna, scary, tragic, killer, and unforgettable to get to know.

Down and Out in Paris and London: Semi-autobiography, that is entertaining, and shows that we written accounts of real life can be well written. This book is interesting enough for me to take another look at non-fiction (even though some classify it as fiction, so this one does blur the line), which I usually find too dry to be anything but work. I feel it would be the same for others.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Any nerdy or geeky person should have this book in their repertoire. And most people I know fall into those categories. The tangents and cultural references make it enjoyable and unmissable.

American Gods: A story of worship. The original Gods are being replaced, forgotten because of what the modern person worships, like TV and Highways. Who of us can't relate? And it is well written and the characters are well developed.

Lamb: Christian influence is something I think most people have been effected by, and because of that I think a well thought out and funny look at a young Christ's life would be an intriguing tale for even those who don't really read.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: I remember this book being such an impact on me. The narrator addresses the reader as this friend he's writing to, it's like you're let into the greatest secrets in his life and at one of the biggest turning points of his lifetime. It's amazing.

You guys read these? Have you gotten any reluctant friends to read any of them?

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

I have never been in  a book club so I will be kind of winging this.. These will be stand-alone novels, 200-400 pages, conversation starters, with somewhat wide appeal.

1. The Lovely Bones: A devastating murder and what happens after to those involved. The murderers life, the victims take on an afterlife, and the after effects on her family and friends.
2. The Bermudez Triangle: A fun and touching tale dealing with first love and GLBT issues.
3. The Jungle: A classic that exposes the dirty underside of living and working as an immigrant in turn of the century Chicago.
4. Awaken: When was the last time you looked someone in the eyes and felt comfortable? When was the last time you met someone new and hugged them because you hit it off so well? This digital age connects us in so many ways, but does it disconnect us in the most important ways?
5. Smack: Two teenagers in love run away and get caught up in a dark drug filled world.
6. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things: A story of never fitting in from the perspective of a narrator who is refreshingly blunt and witty.
7. A Monster Calls: This novel goes through topics of strength in grief, the power of stories, the complicated nature of humans, and the importance of truth in our lives.  
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower: This book has so much in so few pages... It's a story of growing up, of embracing life and of facing truth.
9. Ella Minnow Pea: On a more fun note this is a story about the love of words. Would you be able to communicate effectively if letters of the alphabet were banned?
10. Speak: girl is ostracized at school after calling the police at a party, but the real problem haunting her is the secret she's keeping, the reason she called the cops in the first place.   

Have you guys read these? What do you think? Do you agree with my choices? Would you join my bookclub?

Top Ten Freebie

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

For this Freebie I have decided to research a question that I always ask in the back of my mind: What books inspired the authors I love? So.. Here are ten authors and a book of theirs I love each paired with a book they loved.*

1. Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes- Ginny is led on a journey through her deceased aunt's letters): Berlin Stories: Set in the 1930s an incredibly descriptive mix of history and fantasy.
2. John Green (Looking for Alaska- A life changed by a mysterious girl named Alaska): The Catcher In The Rye: A complicated 16 year old leaves his prep school to discover underground New York.
3. Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty- Historical fantasy about secret pasts and magical escapes with a dark side): Tithe: An independent modern teenager, Kaye, becomes caught between battling faerie kingdoms.
4. Scott Westerfeld (Uglies- A world where the government makes pretty at sixteen with surgery, but is that the whole story?): Charlotte's Web: Charlotte the spider makes her friend Wilbur the most famous pig in town to save him from a usual darker farm pig destiny.
5. Sarah Dessen (This Lullaby- A life shattering tale of first love): Mrs. Darcy and the Blue Eyed Stranger: 14 bittersweet short stories.
6. Christopher Moore (Lamb- A take on those years missing from Jesus' tale in the Bible): Choke: Victor goes to fancy restaurants and pretends to choke making his "saviors" feel responsible for his life and getting them to send him monthly checks for bills.
7. Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss- A romantic tale of an American student in Paris; so real, so touching, so irresistible): Cat's Cradle: John researches what was going on in America when Hiroshima was bombed and ends up following this spiral of a historical journey.
8. Judy Blume (Forever- The truth of what happens in most tales of first love no matter our intentions): Betsy-Tacy: Stories about friends so close people often referred to them as though they were one person.
9. Stephenie Meyers (Twilight- Love it, or hate it an epic love tale and a new take on vampires): Wuthering Heights: A classic story of all consuming passion.
10. Janet Fitch (White Oleander- A tale of Astrid's journey through foster care and never really escaping her all encompassing mother): Tropic of Cancer: Part autobiography, part fiction story of an expatriate in Paris.

*Out of these author favorites I have only read two, eight more to add to the monstrous TBR. Can you guess which two I've read? Have you read any of these? Have you ever wondered what your favorite authors read and have more to add to my list? (Some of these were very easy to find, Christopher Moore suggesting who to read while waiting in between his own releases, And some difficult, like Scott Westerfeld saying he thought favorites were silly questions and only giving in on a childhood remembrance.)