Tuesday 13 December 2011

Top Ten Tuesday (14)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and the Bookish where a new top ten list is posted each week. This week is: Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts (and to who...even if you won't actually give them!)

I was actually going to sit out this week seeing as the majority of people I've brought books to give as gifts know where my blog is, until I saw Mist's very clever post over at Bookaholics Book Club where she picked ten of her favourite books that she would be happy to give as gifts. My list is in the same spirit as hers and I've marked all the books as YA or Adult :)


1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Definitely one of my favourite books of 2011, I really enjoyed this book! Written in Maggie Stiefvater's normal atmospheric style I quickly fell in love with the world and the characters. Plus creepy water horses aid an air of danger that I adored. (YA)

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I tried reading this as a teen and couldn't get into it. When I tried again as an adult (after seeing the TV adaptation) I ended up totally hooked. It's an incredible world full of depth and ideal for any fantasy fan, or anyone who would love luggage that walks by itself. (Adult)

3. Tomorrow When the War Began by John Mardsen
This isn't my usual type of book but I picked it up after seeing the movie and realising I'd read it a few years earlier. It tells the story of a group of Australian teens who come home from camping in the outback to find their country invaded. Action packed and great for pretty much anyone. (YA)


4. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
This was the first fantasy novel I read and liked. I adored Yelena and ended up ordering the rest of the trilogy and rationing this until they arrived. The story is action packed from the start and goes from strength to strength throughout. (Adult)

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is one of the few male authors I read, and Harry Dresden is probably my favourite male protagonist. This book focuses on a wizard for hire who takes on a case that gets out of hand. Cleverly written with a believable world, this is a great read. (Adult)

6. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
One of the most unique urban fantasies I've ever read, Ill Wind focuses on Wardens who can control the weather, earth or fire. The book starts right in the middle of the action and the pace doesn't let up throughout. The series is now complete at 9 books which is handy in a genre where some series go on forever. (Adult)


7. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
My first urban fantasy and one that really sucked me into the genre. Elena is the only female werewolf in the world and she gets sucked back into the paranormal world when her pack needs her help. A great action packed read. (Adult)

8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
I read this recently and thought it was brilliant (my review will be posted soon). It's one of my favourite dystopian novels and is set in a broken world where women die at 20 and men die at 25. Rhine is trying to escape her forced marriage and I was glued to the page throughout. (YA)

9. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
I love the whole Psy-Changeling series and, despite the cheesy cover, I like recommending this to people. There is an amazing depth of world building alongside the romance and the author manages to set up two distinct species of character with believable histories without info dumping. (Adult)

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The ultimate Christmas book that everyone should have read, at least in my opinion. I own two copies and I gave my niece her own copy last Christmas, despite the fact she was only a month old. I read it every year (and watch the movie) and I'm hoping to include my niece in the tradition as her Mum is not a Grinch fan. (Everyone!)

15 comments:

  1. Great choices...gotta love the Grinch! And Bitten by Kelley Armstrong is an awesome book.

    Here's my Top Ten: http://escapeintofiction.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-ten-tuesday-2.html

    Wendy @ Escape Into Fiction

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  2. Thanks for commenting Wendy! The Grinch rules :)

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  3. Now that is one great list of books. :) Ironically, a UK friend of mine gave me Thud! by Terry Pratchett for my birthday, so I need to get around to reading that soon. I love that The Scorpio Races and Poison Study made your list, too. And who wouldn't want a copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas in their home library? Great list and thank you for sharing! Happy Holidays!

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  4. Great list! The Scorpio Races is one of my recent favs as well. I am so obsessed with it that I want to give it to everyone on my gift list just so they read it too!

    My Top Ten!

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  5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss should be in every household. It's a classic!

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  6. I read Storm Front this year and loved it! Great list!

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  7. The Weather Warden series is one of my FAVS!!

    P.S. Love the name of your blog!

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  8. Funny, the only one here I've heard of is The Grinch, and I'm not even sure I've read it.
    I loved your description of book rationing. I've done that when there aren't so many books left for me to read by a certain author!

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  9. Someone gave me Ill Wind to read a couple of months ago but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Tomorrow When the War Began is an awesome novel, I'd happily give that one away to lots of people! It needs to be read.

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  10. We both have Bitten on our lists. I may have to pick up Wither and Slave to Sensation some time. I liked your picks!

    My top ten

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  11. Thanks for commenting guys :)

    @DJL and Annie - I actually have two copies of the Grinch (a mini one plus a big one with a CD) plus the movie :)

    @Smash Attack - thank you :)

    @1girl - Yay! Another fan of Tomorrow When the War Began. The whole series is awesome!

    @Manda-rae - if you do pick up Wither and Slave to Sensation I'd love to know what you think of them.

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  12. Wither is definitely up there on my wishlist!!

    BTW, love your blog header :)

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Michele | My (HP) Top 10

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  13. That's so cool I inspired you to do a post after all, and this is a great list! :)
    Yay for poison study! And ahh I shoulda put the colour of magic on my lit, fail! I'm currently reading the latest Discworld book, I love them all :)
    I still haven't read wither, I got it for my birthday is June and it's just been collecting dust! I plan to get to it next year! Lol

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  14. I really enjoyed reading about your picks. And I definitely agree about the Scorpio Races. I love Maggie Stiefvater and this is an incredible book :)

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  15. Thanks for commenting guys :)

    @Michele - Thanks :)

    @Mist - The Discworld books rock! I've only read up to Mort so I've got loads to catch up on.

    @Alexa - Another Scorpio Races fan! Yay :)

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Thank you so much for commenting on my blog! I read and cherish every comment, and always try to comment back :)

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