Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Top 10 Books I read in 2010

"Top 10" Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish.
This week's list:

Top 10 Books I read in 2010
(in no particular order)



1. The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck: I hadn't read anything by John Steinbeck since high school & was wary of reading this brick of a book. Once I slowed down with the reading instead of trying to fly through it, I was able to appreciate what a wonderful, beautifully written book this was. I found it to be very touching & loved seeing a glimpse of what many people struggled through during the Great Depression.

2. The Hunger Games series - Suzanne Collins: I avoided this series for a while because the idea of reading about teenagers fighting it out to the death sounded so gruesome! But I am really glad that I gave into the pressure to read it because it easily became one of my all-time favorite series!

3. Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead: This was another surprise series for me. After reading Twilight & loving it, I didn't think I'd care to try out another vampire book/series.  I thought one was enough. Well I started reading the first book b/c my neice loved them so much, & I was hooked. I flew through this series & am anxious to read the final book: Last Sacrifice.

4. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton: I loved, Loved, LOVED this book!!! I thought the language & descriptions in the book were so beautiful. It really captured me straight from the beginning. I also loved how Morton interlaced the different narratives through different time periods to slowly bring the mystery together.


5. The Mortal Instruments series - Cassandra Clare: This was a fast-paced series that I didn't want to end. I loved the characters & storyline (although it was a bit predictable). I definitely have a major crush on Jace - just call me a cougar :) I'm excited for the fourth book to come out later this year: City of Fallen Angels. I'm also anxious for the movie due out in 2012!

6. The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson: This was a very different book. It was quite disturbing & made me uncomfortable, but at the same time, the message was very powerful & stuck with me for a long time. Davidson is a very blunt writer - he didn't sugar-coat anything. I loved the stories written within the story that transported me to different times & places. I also loved the use of Dante's Inferno throughout the book.

7. The Maze Runner - James Dashner: I read this one before reading any of The Hunger Games series, so I wasn't tainted by any comparisons like others were (I personally didn't see that many similarities.). I loved this book & couldn't put it down. I was literally on the edge of my seat while reading this & after finishing, paced back & forth freaking out. I went out & bought it right after returning the copy I had read to the library b/c I wanted a copy for my personal collection.


8. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett: This is another book I put off reading due to its massive size. I just finished it a couple days ago & loved it! I was sucked in from the very beginning, & the story never slowed down for me. Follett brought the characters to life, & I felt very deeply for them - I was surprised with how attached I felt.

9. The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom: I read this book for a book club & thought I was going to have an anxiety attack pretty much throughout the entire book. Even feeling this way, I loved it. It was a heartbreaking look at plantation life, & I really connected with the characters in this book. I thought it was very well written.

10. Peace Like a River - Leif Enger: I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. It was one I swiped from my mom's shelf, but then put aside for years before finally picking it up. It's not one to rush through. It was beautifully written! I loved the characters, the narrator, the story, the relationships, the life lessons, & the miracles throughout.

10 comments:

Elodie said...

Wow !! My favourites series are The Vampire Academy's and The Mortal Instrument's... so I have to say, great choices !! I loved The Hunger Games too!!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I love reading through these lists.

Here is my Top Ten of 2010 post: http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-ten-books-ive-read-in-2010.html

Unknown said...

So glad to see the Vampire Series on your list. I plan to read it in the new year! Nice picks!

Carmel @ Rabid Reads
My Top Ten Tuesday

Daisy said...

I'm so glad the size didn't put you off The Pillars of the Earth! It is daunting, but none of it is filling you could have easily done without (I always hate it when they don't edit that stuff out).
I need to get to reading The Maze Runner, I've heard really great things about it.

Anonymous said...

I ADORE Kate Morton's books. The Forgotten Garden is just so beautiful. :D Thanks for sharing your list!

A Journey in Reading said...

I have a few of yours on my list for the top 10! So when I start reading Pillars, are you going to cheer me on??? :) Kat

Anonymous said...

Nice list, I hear great things about Pillars of the Earth and loved The Forgotten Garden.

Sarah Joyce said...

The Forgotten Garden is sitting at the top of my TBR pile. I'll have to start it soon!

Jen said...

what a great list! i loved pillars of the earth, have just started reading the maze runner, and am planning on reading some steinbeck after that!

The Phantom Paragrapher said...

Some good books here , a few of them I read and enjoyed. I love th VA Books , The Maze Runner is on my TBR ListCheck out my list www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com and Im a new follower