Top Ten Tuesday: Auld Lang Syne

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP TEN BOOKS I READ IN 2013

Farewell 2013! Life is too short to dwell on the past, therefore, I wish everyone a beautiful 2014 filled with laughter, love, and a ton of good books. 

My favorites this year are:

FanGirl and Bloodlines: My highlight of the year. Although, at first glace, both main characters and I wouldn't get along in real life -- I got to know them and realize that everyone acts according to their personal baggage. Some people just have barriers, and are pretty cool once they let their guard down. 

 

Ketchup Clouds and The Catastrophic History of You and Me: Contemporary will always be a guilty pleasure of mine. 

The Madman's Daughter and The Lover's Dictionary: Love stories I assumed would finished differently -- but absolutely loved what the author did with them. Life isn't a fairy tale. 

Smile and Origin: Two main characters with great will power. Glad they both learned to embrace it. 

What book tops your list?

                                                 

Review: These Broken Stars

When the Icarus spaceship malfunctions and breaks into several pieces in the sky, Lilac Laroux -- the owner's daughter -- and Tarver -- a war hero who's social status is below hers -- manage to escape in a pod. Surviving on an island while waiting to be rescued is hard on both of them, who can't stand each other. But as the island comes to life and rescue seems unlikely, working together becomes their only hope. 

Although, Kaufman & Spooner wrote a great collaboration, each voice different from the other and as interesting to read -- the spaceship is destroyed in the first thirty pages ruining the ''Titanic'' comparison completely. We were, however, spared from the instalove clichés. Both Lilac and Tarver work at their relationship, learning not to step on each other's toes. 

It's great to see a boy need a girl's skills and vice-versa. Women are less and less portrayed as Mary-Sues in literature, and that is some outstanding progress.

Feature and Follow Friday: So this is Christmas

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Recommend a book from a specific genre.

Topic sounds a little familiar. Soooo I picked a Holiday Book over Genre.

Ruining your ex-boyfriend's Christmas might sound like a sensible idea. But Lilia made a mistake and must take responsibility for her actions. Even if it means going on a road-trip with him.  

I rest my case on those three highlighted words. 

Review: Andi Unexpected

Sympathetic Andi Boggs gets her first mystery quest.  

Having never met another Andora, Andi Boggs is curious why anyone would've kept hushed about a relative that wore the same name. But the investigation turns from a puzzle to frighteningly creepy when an author decides to play around with the information for his own gain. Who exactly is this Andora? And why is everyone denying her existence?

Amanda Flower didn't just stick to the mystery plot, but also dedicated time to sort out Andi's and her sister Bethany's relationship. Although the girls just lost their parents and need each other more than ever, there's a lot of tension between them. Mostly repressed feelings over who their parents loved the most.

A great companionship to Nancy Drew collectors. 

Review: Dreams of Significant Girls

Three unlikely girls bond at a summer camp and form a lasting friendship.

All of them are different, and not due to their ethnic or religious background. Instead, we meet conflicting personalities. Ingrid, the loud one, who enjoys having a reputation. Shirin, the introvert despite of the fact she is an actual Iranian Princess who'd never stepped out of the castle. And lastly, Vivien, who lives preoccupied by her father's marital affair. 

Although the characters did show potential --including three different point-of-views -- the story relied solely on narrative. Important plot twists such as  Shirin stealing pastries, or the girls first sexual encounters were briefly mentioned. Even the rape scene was glanced at. Seeing the girls share very little of their emotions or fears made their decade lasting friendship unlikely. 

The ending was historically powerful, but again too narrative. Too bad the story didn't go deeper instead of just scratching the surface.