So, I keep seeing these lists of people’s top ten books so far. And I thought, hey! I wanna do that…
Here it is. I will start by saying I totally cheated with Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve loved all of her books, and I included them in one entry. Cause that’s just how I roll. These books are in no particular order. But, as I look them over, my favorites were The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Raven Boys.
1. Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley. This is book five of the Flavia de Luce series. Totally go get The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It’s creepy and fun and as reminiscent of childhood as The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I anticipate the new Flave from the moment I finish the one previous. Flavia, Flavia. I heart your face. And your creepy little mind.
2. Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson. Light, funny. Loved it, I did. 🙂
3. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. Pirates!
4. Maggie Stiefvater loves. The Raven Boys, The Scorpio Races and Shiver. In that order. 🙂 I am in…awe…of Maggie Stiefvater as a writer. She writes to the heart of me and the writer in me. Someday, maybe, my own craft will be as sharp and wonderful as hers.
5. Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst. Maybe for those who like high fantasy. It felt like the fantasy books I loved as a kid, and converted me to Sarah Beth Durst as a writer after what were (for me) two flops.
6. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. Super exciting, a little creepy.
7. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Interesting, different, so looking forward to the trilogy plus the little side stories.
8. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman speaks for himself right? Everything I’ve read by him has been super fun, so just go get this one. It’s my fave of his work.
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. Powerful, just powerful.
10. Doll Bones by Holly Black. OMGoodness. Everything I loved when I was a middle reader but delightful enough for me as an adult. So great.
Amanda A. Allen 