Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new prompt is provided and book bloggers, like me, share their top ten lists. 

This week's prompt-
Top Ten Books I Read in 2014


As I've said before, asking a reader what their favorite books are is like asking a parent who their favorite child is- you can do it but there is no way you are able to pick just one! So, I will give it my best to choose my top ten books of this year... 



10. Looking for Alaska by John Green

This book totally caught me by surprise. I figured it was going to be another coming-of-age tale about characters falling in love and growing in themselves and the world around them. What I found, however, was a very mature novel that explored plenty of different themes and questions, some funny and humorous while others serious and deep. 





9. Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

This was a fast-paced book that, when considering the amount of information that was in it, could have read like a history textbook but was literally a thriller that kept me entertained and wanting more. You will get a glimpse into the life of a great war hero and noble man, as well as see how all of the other leaders of the time fit into his life and actions. You will find yourself wanting to read other books and continue to find out about this important time period and the people in it. 




8. The Shining by Stephen King

This was a book that I couldn't believe I hadn't read until this year. I felt like this was a truly haunting and creepy book that gave me the chills and had me making sure the doors were locked multiple times a night. The descriptive writing will have you picturing everything perfectly and will really suck you in to the plot as well as the setting. Danny, Wendy, and Jack will stick with you for years to come and you will never want to stay in a place like The Overlook Hotel. 





7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

All I can really say about this book is, sigh. While reading I was happy and sad and swoony and mad and frustrated and excited and... You get the point. This won't be a boring read for you and it will leave you feeling all kinds of things. It's such a unique and amazing story that you simply have to check it out for yourself. Jojo Moyes is an extremely talented writer and she came up with something that will live on forever. 




6. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

This book was unlike anything else I have ever read. While there were some things that could have been somewhat predictable (a hot single man with relationship issues? please) the reason why people were the way they were is something you never could have predicted. The plot and the storyline are the typical Colleen Hoover magic and it's something you can't put into words, no matter how hard you try. 




5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Who didn't read this book this past year? This was a book that really hooked me on Young Adult and made me realize that just because the main characters are teenagers, that doesn't mean what they are going through isn't real, heartbreaking, and mature. I loved all of the characters in this book and it broke my heart over and over again. 






4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain begins off unique in its own right as it is told from the point of view of a dog. Yes, the narrator is a dog named Enzo. Throughout the family's ups and downs, Enzo teaches us about the nature of humans, family, love, loyalty, and togetherness. He sees things in a dog-way and his innocence helps hard life topics seem somewhat straightforward and simple. If you have your own dog, I'm sure you will begin to look at it a little differently and wonder if it thinks the same as Enzo. If you don't, you will want one when you are done reading. A wonderful book. 



5. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

This was a powerful and thought-provoking book, which showed how much one person can go through and survive, coming out stronger and smarter because of it all. I came away from this book inspired by the author's determination and ingenuity, and extremely thankful I've never had to live in a car or scrounge through the trash for my next meal. 





2. The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

This book was a work of nonfiction and was a result of over five years of research and interviews. However, it was more intriguing than any piece of fiction and I read it faster than most other books despite the heavy subject matter. This book will educate you and open your eyes. It will shock you and make you empathize. It will infuriate you and make you want to share it with others. Trust me. You, too, will be entranced by the world of the underground girls of Kabul that Jenny Nordberg so expertly exposed to us. And you won't ever be able to forget them. 




1. Slammed by Colleen Hoover

I'm not even ashamed to admit this- I read this book in two hours. It sucked me in and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I thought it had a great storyline and the author's writing style was so descriptive it really made you experience those feelings of falling in love all over again. The main character, Layken, is an down-to-Earth girl who will make you laugh over and over again. Her neighbor, Will, is a great character as well and really balances her out with his logical thoughts and reasoning (most of the time). Overall, I felt like this was an extremely enjoyable book and I've already read it multiple times this year. Colleen Hoover is an amazing writer and she gave me my favorite book of 2014. Now get out and read it yourself! 




-Busy Brunette  


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