Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books You Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

Top Ten Tuesday: the weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week they're looking at well-loved books that never got the attention of a full review.  When I was picking my books for this list, I had to consciously try to steer away from using books I've picked for other top ten lists.  Which means this is more "Books I Loved But Never Wrote a Review For" than "Top Ten." Also there are a million wonderful and important books I've never reviewed, but I focused on the type of book I would review.  Cause I could talk about how much I loved Thomas B Allen's Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War, but I'd probably never review it for this blog so not much point, you know?  Also reviewing non-fiction is boring.

With that little caveat out of the way...

1. Walsh Family series (Rachel's Holiday, Watermelon, Angels, Anyone Out There) - Marian Keyes - I seriously love Marian Keyes.  She writes about depression and addiction better than almost anyone, but her books are never depressing even with such heavy themes.  And I love the insane Walsh sisters and their adventures.
2. Academy 7 - Anne Osterlund - This is an odd little book about a school for geniuses, freedom, betrayal, and paying for the sins of your parents.  I really enjoyed it. (Though I couldn't get into Osterlund's other two books sadly)
3. Revolution - Jennifer Donnelly - I don't think I could write an articulate review for this book.  I'd simply be keysmashing my utter love over and over again.  This book.  You guys.  This book.  *Starry eyes*
4. Bewitching Season/Betraying Season - Marissa Doyle - These were a lighthearted and fun duology with Regency romance, magic, sisters, and the London Season.
5. Birthmarked - Caragh O'Brien - I read this one before my blog, and I'll definitely be reviewing Prized as soon as I get my hands on it.  Such a good dystopian novel AND it's set on the shores of one of my beloved Great Lakes!
6. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson - First off, is that the UK cover? I love it SO SO MUCH.  I love road trips.  Planning them, packing for them, going on them, stopping at dorky roadside attractions and dodgy museums, talking about them, laughing in the car, and reminiscing afterwards are all some of my favourite things to do, and this is an epic story of how people are changed by them.  Also Amy and Roger are ADORABLE.
7. Jessica Darling Series - Megan McCafferty - I'd somehow totally missed ever hearing about this series until earlier this summer when I suddenly saw everyone raving about them.  So I picked them up and ended up reading all five of these so quickly that I couldn't even begin to separate the volumes for review.  But they were delicious and Jessica is a wonderful main character.  I don't have as much Marcus Flutie love as many, but I definitely don't dislike him either.
8. Between Shades of Grey - Ruta Sepetys - This book is beautiful, and it made me cry a lot.  It's set during WWII so it's not surprising that the themes are so heavy, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to put my feelings about it onto paper.  I love this book.  I need a copy to go on my shelf next to The Endless Steppe.
9. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - What could I say that hasn't already been said?  Plus I'll get to talk about the movie when it comes out.
10. Divergent - Veronica Roth - Same here.  I read Divergent while I was at the cottage over Fourth of July, but by the time I sat down to try to write a review, I felt like I wouldn't be able to add anything new to the conversation.  I'm so looking forward to Insurgent.
11. The Splendor Falls - Rosemary Clement-Moore - Oops, I had to go beyond 10, but this one doesn't really count because I might end up writing a review for one of my favourite books of 2010.  The Southern Gothic atmosphere with live oaks and Confederate ghosts and archeological digs is beautifully written.

And there's my list!  I'd love to see what you have down so please leave your links in the comments.
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9 comments:

  1. IdrisAugust 23, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    I have Revolution on my bookshelf, I need to read it! : ) Great List! : )

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  2. TGAugust 23, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Hi Emily! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've become a follower - I had to when I saw I had finally met another person who'd read and loved How I Live Now! The only other person I met who'd read it, didn't like it; glad I've finally discovered someone who thought it was brilliant.

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  3. Two BibliomaniacsAugust 23, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Thanks for the tip on Anya's Ghost!

    I find it very difficult not to highlight the same books over and over again... nice work. Between Shades of Grey sounds great!

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  4. Beth D.August 23, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Other than the Hunger Games, I haven't read any of these. I do think that The Splendor Falls has a lovely cover. I swear YA covers are works of art now.

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  5. BaileyAugust 23, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    The Splendor Falls sounds great. I'm always sucked in when people say 'southern gothic'... love that subgenre :) I also really want to read Revolution!

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  6. Deb Nance at ReaderbuzzAugust 23, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Sometimes, when I read and try to review a very popular novel, I feel like everything has already been said. That makes it tough!

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  7. LBCAugust 24, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    I really liked Between Shades of Grey, and I did review it this year.

    Come check out my list this week at The Scarlet Letter.

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  8. AnonymousAugust 24, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    You have some excellent books here! I love the Wash sisters books too - had one of them on my list!

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  9. ibeeegAugust 24, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog Emily! This is a fantastic list.

    I read Academy 7 and liked the book very well. I also read Birthmarked and felt that book was amazing; I want to read the next book. It comes out in the Fall, right?
    I want to read Revolution. It is on my list. I must get my hands on it.
    Hunger Games was a great book; fantastic!
    Divergent resides on my bookshelves just waiting for its reading turn.

    I have not heard of the other books, but they sound good.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I read and adore each one.

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