Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts

10 Best Reads of 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic and the last one is 10 Best Reads of 2010.  Not all of these books have a 2010 release date but are books that I read in 2010.  And instead of talking about why I loved each book I have posted a favourite quote from each one.  ~drum rolls~ And the winners are in no particular order:


"From the moment you stepped into the nevernever, you've been my undoing. I should never have agreed to that contract."



"When I turn around, he cups my face in his hands and he kisses me so deeply that I don't know who is breathing for who, but his mouth and tongue taste like warm honey. I don't know how long it lasts, but when I let go of him, I miss it already."



"Well, don't expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear."




"And then we're at that moment where you both go and get what you want or you both go back. The moment when you say, Stuff being scared; what's on the other side is better. That moment when you inch closer to each other little by little, till you skin starts and ends in the same place. Till your faces get so close your lips start and end in the same place, too. Till you taste milk shake and salt and sugar days and the world spins and the stars sound like harmonicas."


"Now play nicely, make-believe dead girl"



"I look into his sorrowless eyes and a door in my heart blows open. And when we kiss, I see that on the other side of that door is the sky."



"Maybe she'd always been there. Maybe strangers enter your heart first and then you spent the rest of your life searching for them."



"You were just worried about me"
An exhale, relieved that i had understood. "Yeah"
I turned. "Because you think i'm worth it"
He put his fingers under my chin. "I absolutely think your worth it"
But you don't think you are"
His mouth opened. Shut.
That's what this is about, Derek. You won't let us worry about you because you don't think you're worth it. But i do. I absolutely do".



“The ocean is a vivid emerald colour and the wind ruffles the wave faces so that they shatter the sunlight like glass. Seeing that glittering skin always tightens my throat with joy. It’s stupid, but that how I feel: joyous. I forget about the underbelly of things, my secrets, and I feel easy and free. I know that I’m meant to stay on the surface and be happy. Just enjoy being alive.”



"The campus lay before me, pristine and untouched by the terror I was experiencing tonight.  The school had dorms filled with people who would hear me scream, which made it my best option.  The quickest path was through the graveyard, so, already gasping for breath, I took off at a sprint, bearing down on the old cemetery."


Back to normal posting tomorrow.  I have enjoyed participating in the Five Challenge and found some great blogs along the way.  Hope everyone has a great New Years!

5 Great Miracles

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 great miracles that occurred to me to get me reading more contemporary fiction.  Before this year I was a paranormal girl but now I read just as much contemporary fiction.  In no particular order the winners are:



A novel about music, love and friendship.  Beautifully written with characters that capture your heart.  Realistic and gritty so I found this easy to relate to my teenage life.  Just thinking about this book makes me wants to go re-read it.




This book is gorgeous from the writing to the characters to the cover to the postcards, receipts and all the other little added extras inside.  After reading this I wanted to go on a road trip.




Don’t let the light and fluffy title of this book deceive you. This book will make you cry, break your heart and then fill it up with hope again.  A story of friendship, grief and love.  One of my favourite books.   



This story was more than I expected. It sucked me straight in and took me on an emotional ride and that I didn't want to end.  Another coming of age story that deals with grief and first love.



BEST BOOK EVER.  It deals with so many issues like abandonment, addiction, friendship, love, suicide and more.   A plot that unravels beautifully and cast of characters that I will never forget. There is really something special about this book.


~Honourable Mentions~
Books I would have loved to squeeze in the top 5



Tomorrow is my top 10 of 2010 and then it is back to normal posting.

5 Great YA Bloggers

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 Great YA Bloggers:


This one was a tough one since there are so many great blogs out there.  Originally I had 15 plus blogs.  I am still a little bit over but here they are in no particular order.......

Inkcrush -  Nomes is super nice and a blogger that I admire.  Her reviews are always interesting, funny and smart.  Best place to go if you are looking for Aussie YA or contemporary reviews.

Words on Paper - I am always jealous of all the amazing books Cass is reading and reviewing.  She normally gets her hands on a book before it comes out and is always ahead of the news about author blogs and competitions. 

Lost in Stories - Romy reviews are always so detailed you get a clear idea whether the book is for you  or not.  Great place for paranormal and fantasy reviews.

Not Enough Bookshelves - One of the friendliest bloggers I have meet.  Has great taste in books and writes awesome reviews.  Alexa has just done a Christmas Countdown featuring favourite couples and it is one of my favourite posts of the year.

Supernatural Snark - The best place to go for paranormal.  Well structured, interesting and honest reviews.  Jenny did a little feature called Harlequin Cover Critique and it was the funniest post of the year (I am hoping she will do more).

I Swim for Oceans - Love Melissa VLOGS for In My Mail Box and her feature Friday Fix always makes me laugh.

Bibliophile Brouhaha - Reviews young adult, paranormal, contemp and dystopia.  I always look forward to Literary News Round Up post each Thursday.


~Honourable Mention~
 My Love Affair With Books (does a great range of genre and features)
 Good Golly Miss Holly (one of the first blog I started following)
A Myraid of Books (upcoming blogger - one to watch)
Collections (super nice and a Marchetta fan who converted me)

5 Great Movie Deals

Monday, December 27, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 Great Movie Deals:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


This is probably going to be on everyone's list but so it should be.  Hopefully the movie can live up to the fan's expectations.

The Dead of Night by John Marsden

My favourite series when I was teen.  Tomorrow When the War Began already has been made into an amazing movie and can't wait to see what they do with the next installment.
 Watch the trailer here for Tomorrow When The War Began.


Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams


This is book is quirky, completely original, funny and brilliant.  Hopefully the movie will be the same.  


Firelight by Sophie Jordan 


Dragons, who doesn't love them!  I can imagine great special effects and a gorgeous cast will equal blockbuster.
Movie deal details here


The Dark Divine by Bree Despain


Mystery, werewolves and a good love story.  Lots of twists and turns so if you haven't read it and watch the movie you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. 
Movie details here


My wishlist:  I would love to see Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta be made into a movie.  Also Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley.

What books do you think would make great movies?


5 Hopes for YA in 2011

Sunday, December 26, 2010


Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 Most Hopes for YA in 2011:

1. Less love triangles.  While I do like them occasionally when they are done right, I don't think every  book needs one.  It would be nice to have a guy or a girl know who they want.  The back and forth bit drives me crazy.

2. Still on the subject of romance since I love a good love story.  More of the nice, bestfriend type, average guy getting the girl.  Not always the dark sexy stranger or most popular boy at school that every girl is crushing on.

3. More realistic parental presence in story lines.  Quite a few books I have read the parents come and go in the story.  One minute they are protective and the next minute they have disappeared from the story line all together. 

4. More Aussie books available international.  I have lots of friends that can't get their hands on some of my favourite books.

5.  Less cliffhangers.  Not every book that is part of a series needs to end on a GIANT cliffhanger.  If the story is interesting and the writing is good we will come back for more.

What are your hopes for YA in 2011?

5 Most Anticipated (2011 titles)

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 Most Anticipated 2011 Titles and is the hardest to pick so far.  In no particular order the winners are:












~Honourable Mention~
Can't wait for these as well


And these two that don't have covers yet

Stayed tuned 5 Hopes for YA in 2011 tomorrow!


5 Great Re-Reads

Friday, December 24, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE Challenge.  Today's topic is 5 Great Re-Reads. Books you've LOVED so much that you went back for moreIn no particular order the winners are:





I only read this a few weeks ago and I keep going back for more.  Gorgeous writing that made my heart ache.




My favourite bunch of characters and whenever I read this I feel like I hanging out with friends.




This book is powerful, gritty and gut wrenching.  Everytime I re-read it still shakes me up but yet I still go back for more.




My favourite book in the series partly because of Claire and Shane's romance but mostly because of the action, twist and turns, suspense and witty characters that you can't help but love.





This book will come up every year as it is my all time favourite read.  INCREDIBLE plot and unforgettable characters.


~Honourable Mention~
Other re-read favourites!

 



5 Great Series

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE ChallengeToday's topic is 5 Great Series (which to me means series that have had a book released in 2010).  In no particular order the winners are:



Scary vampires, fast paced and action packed plot, witty dialogue and guaranteed good read every time.  Need I say more!




Katniss is one of my all time favourite characters - strong, brave and loyal.  This series made me a fan of dystopia novels.




This is the first series I fell in love with and holds my first literary crush, Dimitri.  This series has me made laugh, cry, smile and scream.  So sad it has ended.




This series is funny, smart and sexy. I am always crushing on the Fuentes brothers.




This is the most incredible world and it is filled with unforgettable characters.  So excited there is going to be a fourth book in this series.


~Honourable Mentions~
These series nearly made the list:




5 Great Covers

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Over at Persnickety Snark, Adele has created the Pernsnickety Snark FIVE ChallengeToday's topic is 5 Great Covers.  In no particular order the winners are:











 
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - Love the romantic feel and how the writing frames the couple.  Just beautiful!

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - Simple but at the same time grabs your attention.  Perfect cover for one of my all time favourite books.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta - I love this black and white photograph.  Suits the storyline and is an actual photograph of a Australian singer from his CD cover shot.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan - This is one of the covers when you get in your hands is even more gorgeous.   I like the peak of dragon scales on the girl's face.

Hold Still by Nina Lacour (note paperback cover released in 2010) - I think this pretty cover sums up the cover's blurb perfectly.

What are some of your favourite covers of 2010?
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