Top Ten Tuesday #7

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click here to read more and join!

This week’s TTT prompt is: Top 10 books I resolve to read in 2013. Considering all the books I own yet never read — while I continually purchase more — has, on occasion, motivated me to read a select few off my shelves. Last year I challenged myself to read at least 10 dusty bunnies and failed miserably, which is why I’m daring myself to read only 5 in 2013. Out of all the books I do own, however, here at the top ten I am most eager to read (which was a difficult decision in the first place… I want to read them all):

1. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
“Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king…” Okay, Smith, you had my attention by the second word, and you had me hooked by the synopsis’ end. Just give me some extra time to tear my eyes away from the pretty cover, and I think this book and I will get along just fine.

I have pined for this book and flirted with its pages for months, but I have yet to read one page. I’d love to pick this book up next… I haven’t the slightest clue as to why I haven’t read it yet.

2. When I was Five I Killed Myself by Howard Buten
This is the kind of book I can read in one sitting. Just me, a cup of good tea, and this book. I especially like the idea of wrapping myself in a warm blanket at my favorite reading spot as the soft patter of rain hits the windows. (I’d rather have snow, but my faith in this happening has all but died.)

From the summary: “This is Burt’s story as written in pencil on the walls of Quiet Room in the Children’s Trust Residence Center, where he lands after expressing his ardent feelings for a classmate.” I’m disappointed that I did not make room for Buten’s novel over break, although I’m almost afraid to learn what Burt did to his classmate as I am curious to find out.

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
No book on this list gets me quite as excited as this classic. Naturally, because it is the oldest literary work of the bunch, it is therefore the one book I’ve wished to read for the longest amount of time. With classes quickly approaching, I’d rather hold off and include Frankenstein as part of my summer reading instead — a less hectic time of year when I can lose myself in a book without thoughts of assignment due dates bearing their weight on my shoulders. Everyone I know who has read Shelley’s masterpiece highly regards it, and I hope to value it just as much.

4. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
As far as I am concerned, whisperings of Battle Royale seemed to come straight out from nowhere and grew louder. Before I knew it, people were discussing it. Everywhere. “Silence your ignorance, fool. Collins CLEARLY ripped of the much sexier, more violent and better Battle Royale!”

…Well, I quite enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy, and while I am not interested in doing a Battle Royale vs. THG comparison, I am hooked on Takami’s premise and fancy the idea of reading it (preferably this year or so help me).

5. Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
I just want to read this book already. Period. The end.

Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.

…Yes, I want to read it. Soon. Decidedly soon.

6. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Oh, the ARC reviews on this one! I’d say the pre-release hype hit an extreme high. Reviewers rained Kristoff’s debut in so much praise that all I could do was soak it in like a dehydrated sponge, and I desperately needed to read this, too! Unfortunely the book hit stores shortly before classes began. I knew there was no way time would allow me to read Stormdancer and top the experience with a thoughtful review. So: reluctantly, I sat the book down and returned it to the library from whence it came. Now I own the book (I oogle at the cover frequently) and can only hope I enjoy it as I know many other readers do.

7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
A new fact I learned about myself in 2012: I love dystopian novels, and the only thing I love more than a dystopian novel is a really good dystopian novel. I started Dashner’s The Maze Runner last year, yet schoolwork and exams once again got in my way. This book reeled me in so quickly, and I instantly found myself smitten with everything I was reading. I had no trouble trying to force the book onto friends, though I had little success. I’m eager to start once again from the beginning and finally finish to the end this time, however.

8. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
It’s only proper that I finish the last Harry Potter installment. It isn’t right, otherwise. How can someone work her way up through all the books and abandon the final book midway? Harry Potter defines a period of my life like nothing else, and it was the best part of my childhood. The disappointment I feel towards myself for not finishing off book 7 is tremendous.

Of course, I will re-read books 1 through 6… and at last: book 7. Fist pump!

9. Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes
I have ten fingers and ten toes to count on, but there are too many ways a moody, “dysfunctional” teen narrator can create a disaster of a novel. That is why I absolutely love it when such a novel proves itself a worthwhile read. One-star reviewers can say whatever they like about Tales of the Madman Underground, because I can’t be dissuaded. Karl Shoemaker sounds disturbed, all right, but this story sounds right up my alley.

Karl has decided that senior year is going to be different. He is going to get out of the Madman Underground for good. He is going to act – and be – Normal. But Normal, of course, is relative.

10. The Postmortal (a.k.a. The End Specialist) by Drew Magary
The year 2019: “Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems…” This is like sci-fi / dystpian-ish post-apocalyptic awesome blossom come at me End Specialist, I wanna read you.

I had checked this out in particular from the library over the summer, but the book’s due date beat me to it. Maybe this year will be the year?

 

Share if you care: Which books do hope to finally knock off your TBR list?

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