The Innocent Smiley: Top Ten Tuesday #35

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday #35

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!

Top Ten Books I Read In 2014!

Are you serious.

You expect me to narrow down all 64 books I've read so far (and still counting) into this tiny, little list containing only 10 books? Haha. Yeah right.

Sigh. I guess I'll make this work.

I tried to make this list in order from most favorite to least, but that's pretty much impossible because I love them all.

Mistborn by Brandon Sander - I KNOW I JUST READ THIS, but it was beautiful. I have this as my #1 because it was 1) amazing, 2) my most recent read hahaha.

Cress by Marissa Meyer - I LOVE THE LUNAR CHRONICLES. This third book was definitely the best out of the three. I would put all three on here but that's slightly repetitive huh?

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - GAH this book made me FEEL like I've never felt before! It has the most gorgeous writing.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz - Just by the cover you can tell that this is another one of those amazing contemporary novels that just make you think and question your life values. It was a close tie to I Am the Messenger.

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas - DAT PLOT TWIST

Sabriel by Garth Nix - Such a great fantasy read. I still have to finish the last books, AND THEN READ THAT NEW PREQUEL!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - "Kiss me quick, Hardy!"

Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - I can't believe I got through this monstrosity of 1000 pages, but it is an accomplishment worth gloating about. PLUS, my first Sanderson novel. AND it is beautifully written.

Eon by Alison Goodman - I LOVED EON. It mixed in some Chinese heritage that I was pleased about. Oh, and cross-dressing because yes.

Parallel by Lauren Miller - THIS PARALLELNESS. It's not too sci-fi-y, but enough to make me love it! And there's that mix of contemporary too!

What do you think? Have you even heard of these books? Because it WILL be a problem if you haven't.

Comments (49)

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Nobody@TheStoryGoes · 537 weeks ago

Ah, there were just so many good books this year, heck the last couple years! Cress and Dream Thieves are both amazing, and Aristotle and Dante made my list this week...because it's just so so good!

I really need to read more Brandon Sanderson, I've only read one of his books, which I loved, and my mom is constantly badgering me to read more! =)

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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melanieymr 70p · 537 weeks ago

DANGEROUS GIRLS! God I love that book so hard. I will never get over that ending. Ooh yes I remember Parallel! It was such a sweet novel too.

I love your list, Val! <3 3

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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joyousreads 92p · 537 weeks ago

ARI & DANTE!!!! I seriously would not have been able to limit myself to 10 books. I've read so many wonderful books this year! :)

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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afterwritten 30p · 537 weeks ago

I have definitely HEARD of all these books, at least. But I've only read two of them. *hangs head in shame*

AHHHH SABRIEL. I really need to read it. I bought the whole trilogy on a whim in one go and then they've just... languished on my shelves. I NEED TO READ THOSE BOOKS NOW. Make me read themmmm.

MISTBORN IS TOTALLY THE BEST THOUGH ISN'T IT. I feel like I should reread that trilogy at some point. I read it over two years ago now, I can barely remember anything that happens in it, just that it was super awesome.

I keep seeing Dangerous Girls on so many people's lists. I really should read it. And Code Name Verity. I REALLY MUST.

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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gershgesrg 27p · 537 weeks ago

Heard of them all!! YAY I'M ONE OF THE COOL KIDS. I haven't read them all yet though. They're in the TBR and I shall devour them like crazy!! :D So spectacular list hun

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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Erica · 537 weeks ago

LOVE ALL OF THESE!! Especially Code Name Verity and Eon! Love, love, love! I have only read those two from the list *wince* but I must!! AWESOME post! Check out mine?? :)

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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journeythroughfiction 50p · 537 weeks ago

Ooh, oh I need to get my hands on The Dream Thief ASAP! I finished The Raven Boys over the weekend, and I can’t WAIT to continue on (plus, I’m REALLY liking Ronan right now :D ) And Cress! I’ve been putting off getting a copy, but I think I’m going to be giving in a LOT sooner than I think, lol. I’m a little scared of that plot twist in Dangerous Girls! I have it sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read, and I’m a little daunted by it! But it’ll be epic anyway :D (Well, hopefully I’ll find it that way, teehee.) Great picks, Val!

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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acps927 52p · 537 weeks ago

Yes to Cress! And Code Name Verity! But especially Cress!

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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amengelhart 68p · 537 weeks ago

Love this list! Code Name Verity was soooo good, and I fell in love with the narrator who read Julie's part. I think I need to buy it and read it again. Also, this is a good reminder for Sabriel for me. :P

2 replies · active 536 weeks ago

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kaylasanchez2 69p · 537 weeks ago

I’m stuck between Scarlet or Cress, as far as my favorite, but I guess my reread of Cress in a few weeks will help me decide :)

THE DREAM THIEVES. That book will probably be my favorite in the series - I just have that feeling.

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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Shannon @ ISAM 71p · 537 weeks ago

Dangerous Girls is a very good pick! And all the others, I have to read. I even own 4 of them. So I mean, it will happen. I am really anxious to read Parallel and Aristotle and Dante. Great list!

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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megicorn 45p · 537 weeks ago

*sigh* I've only read two books on this list. T_T

1. Mistborn: Gahh, Brandon Sanderson -- I dunno, man. I've tried two of his books, Steelheart and The Rithmatist, and so far I wasn't able to finish either of them because I didn't like the writing style (for Steelheart) and The Rithmatist was soooo slowwww. And you know how I feel about slow books. But I've been hearing such awesome things about his adult novels. TELL ME WHAT TO DO, VAL.

2. Cress: This is the third time I'm seeing Cress on someone's TTT list today! Which is awesome, because my friend just sent me both Scarlet and Cress, so now I can read them and fangirl with everyone. :D So far everyone seems to like Cress the best. I can't wait to see how Winter will be like!

3. The Dream Thieves: SO MUCH YES. I definitely enjoyed this one more than The Raven Boys. I'm really happy Maggie fleshed out Ronan more; I used to hate him in the first book, but now I'm like -- GIMME ALL THE RONAN. Not to mention, Blue + Gansey. Best ship. <3

5. Dangerous Girls: YET another book I haven't read but which everyone's been raving about. Oooo, I am so in need of a good YA mystery in my life, after the disasters that were The Body in the Woods and The Killing Woods. *facepalm* I don't like this edition's cover though. :P

7. Code Name Verity: THIRD TIME I'M SEEING THIS TODAY, TOO. If you liked CNV, you should totally check out Rose Under Fire! I've probably told you about how much I loved it, but hey, book pushing is never too much. ;) And also, I cried while reading that. So... READ IT. But maybe wait until your winter break... or your schoolwork is probably gonna suffer. Haha.

9. Eon: Eeep, I've been wanting to check this out since forever! It's super huge, but I love how diverse and different it sounds. And right? Nothing can go wrong with cross-dressing.

10. Parallel: Yay, so happy this made your list!!! I know, it was surprisingly one not-too-sci-fi book I really enjoyed, and it had so much romance! But the chemistry was just right, and Lauren Miller managed to pull me in effortlessly. DAT ENDING, THO. Like, I'm glad Abby found peace and all (somewhat), but it still makes my heart break a little. Josh and Abby forever and ever~

So I really need to check these books out asap. Don't mind me. I'm just drowning under all the books I need and want to read. *dies*

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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skizzles22 70p · 537 weeks ago

"Kiss me quick, Hardy!" <--STOP, JUST STOP, YOU'LL MAKE ME BAWL MY EYES OUT.

Also, DREAM THIEVES. DREAM THIEVES. <3 You gotta read BLLB during your break.

I clearly need to try a Sanderson book.

I narrowed it down to ten too (which you already knew because you've commented on my TTT), but damn, it was HARD!

3 replies · active 537 weeks ago

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pabkins 66p · 537 weeks ago

"You certainly accomplished a lot in a year! I don't know how I found you just now - I think from the comments section on another blog that I frequent - perhaps Cait's? I've been jumping all around this morning thinking it had been awhile since I found anyone new (since I'd been in a reading funk for a bit). I adore your cute graphics - did you draw them yourself? I love to draw and doodle and did the ones on my blog."

How odd that portion of comment that I swear I entered on your blog on another post just appeared in this box when I launched this post today....did you ever get it? SO STRANGE!!

Anyways - I love the Abhorsen trilogy - I read the prequel CLARIEL sometime in the last few months and didn't love it as much as the original trilogy...but still good.

Wow you STARTED your Sanderson relationship with The Way of Kings - that was a big bite to chew I bet. I started with his ELANTRIS years ago and I still love it, its so much lighter and easy to read since it was one of his first novels I think. Of course I ADORE all of his books especially the Mistborn ones and WarBreaker as well (I hope he writes more of those soon) you simply MUST make it a point to read THE EMPEROR"S SOUL - one of my favs of his. It's a novella I think or novellete whatever those are called - less then 200 pages I believe.

I definitely want to read EON. Looks like our taste in books is totally in line *wink*

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Cynthia · 537 weeks ago

I loved Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver series. I still need to read the Raven Cycle series. I have heard great things about it.

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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ebonyeellis 56p · 537 weeks ago

I need to read Mistborn and Scarlet (so I can read Cress) and Dangerous Girls and Sabriel and Code Name Verity, but YES. THE DREAM THIEVES AND ARISTOTLE AND DANTE.

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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iskultripscans 74p · 537 weeks ago

Dude, you forgot WARBREAKER, and THE EMPEROR'S SOUL... didn't these books break our hearts, our souls, and our minds, and repaired them anew but wired with Brandon Sanderson lovin'? Haha! I agree with many of these, but obviously, i still need to finish Mistborn. Fuck it, I'm so pissed that I'm getting stalled on that one. I want to discuss with you that soon! I swear by the end of the year we'll be flailing and fangirling and shouting our Brandon Sanderson Lovin'.

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divabooknerd 73p · 537 weeks ago

I'm desperatly wanting to read Code Name Verity, just buying it online as we speak actually. Thanks for reminding me. I just tried to read The Raven Boys, and as much as I wanted to love it, I just couldn't make it past 17%. But Aristotle and Dante was phenomenal. It made my heart ache, weep for joy and soar. Definitely one of my favourites of the year too.

Awesome list Val, going to check a few of these out <3

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nabanreviews 63p · 537 weeks ago

It is with immense sadness that I must say I haven't read or am not familiar with almost half of the books mentioned above. Uh oh, am I in trouble? A big yes to Cress, Ari and Dante, Dangerous Girls. They were amazing books. Eon and Code Name Verity is somewhere on my TBR, I believe. I've heard many good things about Raven Boys so I'm hoping to buy it soon, eep!

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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aperfectioncalledbooks 76p · 537 weeks ago

I seriously need to read all of those books! Except Cress, that one has already been read and deemed amazing :D Great list!

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actflipread 36p · 537 weeks ago

Dangerous Girls (OMG....so twisted and wonderful at the same time!), Cress (I love how Marissa combines fairy-tale elements and science fiction in such a wonderful way) and Code Name Verity ("KISS ME HARDY"!) are all absolutely pheonominal and well-deserving of their spots on this list. :D Thanks for sharing Val, and great choices! <3

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Laura Plus Books · 537 weeks ago

Gah, the only one on here that I've read is Ari and Dante but I totally adored that one! I really need to give the rest of these a look because I've been seeing a lot of them everywhere. When All the Bright Places comes out next year, you have to read it! Unless you already have. :P It's so amazing!

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hitormissbooksblog 54p · 537 weeks ago

Awww ahhaha, but that is some nice effort still, girl!! I LOVED Aristotle and Dante and Dangerous Girls, so those are great choices ^^ Cress was the best of the series?? Cannot wait to get to it then :D Awesome list!

1 reply · active 537 weeks ago

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