So, it's December. The last month of this fine year of 2012. It's been pretty eventful, I guess. I finished my GSCE's and started college. The Hobbit finally came out (more on that later, but short version is I loved it). Um, some other stuff probably happened, but I don't really pay attention to anything (though I probably should). December also means a crap load of top ten posts, so let's get started with that.
In no particular order, I present to you my top ten books of 2012 (that I read, not that essentially came out this year)!
So this book is probably on every top ten list for everything ever this year, but this is one of those rare books that genuinely deserves every acclaim it gets. I understand why John Green can sometimes be seen as being a bit overrated, and as much as I love his books, I agree that they're a bit samey. But regardless of that, TFiOS was a truly moving, sometimes funny and always brilliant book about two teens who fell in love that just happen to have cancer. One of the few cancer books I'll ever read, I think, and undoubtedly one of the best.
I should probably mention some of the fabulous UKYA that I read this year, too. Adorkable is the first book I've read by Sarra Manning but it won't be the last. I really adored Jeane as a character, and her voice is one that I won't be forgetting in a long time. Definitely warrants a reread. And getting to meet Sarra at the UKYA meet up this year and tell her how much I loved this book was probably one of my highlights of the year.
In no particular order, I present to you my top ten books of 2012 (that I read, not that essentially came out this year)!
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
So this book is probably on every top ten list for everything ever this year, but this is one of those rare books that genuinely deserves every acclaim it gets. I understand why John Green can sometimes be seen as being a bit overrated, and as much as I love his books, I agree that they're a bit samey. But regardless of that, TFiOS was a truly moving, sometimes funny and always brilliant book about two teens who fell in love that just happen to have cancer. One of the few cancer books I'll ever read, I think, and undoubtedly one of the best.
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
It's taken me a bloody long time, but I finally got around to reading this book. And now I finally understand all the fuss about it. One of the best contemps I've read, like, ever. And the film wasn't half bad either.
3. Adorkable by Sarra Manning
I should probably mention some of the fabulous UKYA that I read this year, too. Adorkable is the first book I've read by Sarra Manning but it won't be the last. I really adored Jeane as a character, and her voice is one that I won't be forgetting in a long time. Definitely warrants a reread. And getting to meet Sarra at the UKYA meet up this year and tell her how much I loved this book was probably one of my highlights of the year.
4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I never knew how much I could appreciate high fantasy until I read this book. It took me a while to read, but for the whole time I was captivated. The writing was so lyrical and I really liked Seraphina as a heroine, as well as the mythology behind the dragons in the world that Hartman had created. I hope there'll be a second book, if not just for an excuse to reread this one.
5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
I can't believe it took me until now to read a Shannon Hale book! Another sort of traditional fantasy that really blew me away. I am officially a high fantasy convert. And I seriously need to pick up the rest of the books in this series, as well as all the other books she's written!
6. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
I never reviewed this on the blog, but only because it was so different to what I usually read, and because I loved it so much I really didn't know quite how to put in into words. Weird, and absolutely hilarious. I named my tablet Crowley because of it. I really hope the tv series does it justice.
7. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Wow. Just wow. My favourite dystopia possibly ever (yes, even over THG.) I just loved it. I loved every inch of it. And I am so terrified to read the sequel because I just feel like there is no way possible it can top the first book for me. A really brilliant piece of fiction full stop. Don't let the dialect put you off.
8. The Diviners by Libba Bray
I have never read a 600 page book faster than I read this. I don't think it was possible for me to physically stop reading. I was gripped throughout. Full of 1920's flapper glamour as well as having a genuinely creepy mystery at the heart of the story. Bring on book 2!
9. FrostFire by Zoe Marriott
Another great UKYA book from this year. Zoe Marriott always writes great fantasy, but with each book she just gets better and better. Plus it's one of only three books (I cry a lot, okay?!) on this list that actually made me cry. I'M STILL NOT OVER IT, ZOE. STILL. NOT. OVER. IT.
10. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
I still don't really have the words to describe this book, and I'm still really upset that I haven't managed to convince anyone else I know to read it. They really need to. I didn't think that it'd be my kind of book, either, but it blew me away. Such an interesting, emotional read, yet it still let me feeling hollow at the end. A really stunning book.
Honorable mentions: the first four Harry Potter books that I read this year, and the last four Vampire Academy books. Night School by C J Daugherty, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, The Look by Sophia Bennett, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley, The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg and Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma.
What really saddens me about all of these is that I read them all at the start/first 8 months of the year. I haven't read any really amazing books since September! Or maybe I've just become more apathetic? I don't know. It might just be because I haven't been reading as much. I haven't included any 2013 books that I read this year, though, so that might also be why.
What were some of your favourite books of the year?
5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
I can't believe it took me until now to read a Shannon Hale book! Another sort of traditional fantasy that really blew me away. I am officially a high fantasy convert. And I seriously need to pick up the rest of the books in this series, as well as all the other books she's written!6. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
I never reviewed this on the blog, but only because it was so different to what I usually read, and because I loved it so much I really didn't know quite how to put in into words. Weird, and absolutely hilarious. I named my tablet Crowley because of it. I really hope the tv series does it justice.
7. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Wow. Just wow. My favourite dystopia possibly ever (yes, even over THG.) I just loved it. I loved every inch of it. And I am so terrified to read the sequel because I just feel like there is no way possible it can top the first book for me. A really brilliant piece of fiction full stop. Don't let the dialect put you off.
8. The Diviners by Libba Bray
I have never read a 600 page book faster than I read this. I don't think it was possible for me to physically stop reading. I was gripped throughout. Full of 1920's flapper glamour as well as having a genuinely creepy mystery at the heart of the story. Bring on book 2!9. FrostFire by Zoe Marriott
Another great UKYA book from this year. Zoe Marriott always writes great fantasy, but with each book she just gets better and better. Plus it's one of only three books (I cry a lot, okay?!) on this list that actually made me cry. I'M STILL NOT OVER IT, ZOE. STILL. NOT. OVER. IT.
10. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
I still don't really have the words to describe this book, and I'm still really upset that I haven't managed to convince anyone else I know to read it. They really need to. I didn't think that it'd be my kind of book, either, but it blew me away. Such an interesting, emotional read, yet it still let me feeling hollow at the end. A really stunning book.
Honorable mentions: the first four Harry Potter books that I read this year, and the last four Vampire Academy books. Night School by C J Daugherty, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, The Look by Sophia Bennett, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley, The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg and Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma.
What really saddens me about all of these is that I read them all at the start/first 8 months of the year. I haven't read any really amazing books since September! Or maybe I've just become more apathetic? I don't know. It might just be because I haven't been reading as much. I haven't included any 2013 books that I read this year, though, so that might also be why.
What were some of your favourite books of the year?
What a great collection of books! The Fault in Our Stars, Seraphina and FrostFire also made my list of favourites this year :)
ReplyDeleteMost of the books that are on my list were also read in the first part of the year!
We're going to do a Top Reads of 2012 post in a couple weeks, so we won't list them all here, but we will second TFIOS as being on our list too, and we'll say DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT and CROWN OF EMBERS are likely to be on it too.
ReplyDeleteFantastic roundup of 2012! I'm afraid to say that dispute owning most of these titles i've only actually read The Diviners *hangs head in shame*.
ReplyDeleteYour blog's green now! (I love the way it keeps changing). I've read and enjoyed a few of these as well. Maggot Moon, TFioS, Perks, Good Omens. Yay for awesome books. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A TV SERIES OF GOOD OMENS??? *freaks out* Thank you for the news.
ReplyDelete