December 28: Best 2013 Releases! This year had a lot of great releases so I’m going to be sharing some of my favourites! I think there were a lot of posts similar to this throughout the year so if you’re participating, consider it like a giant wrap-up post!
PS (Pre-Script instead of Post-Script).
"Top 10 of 2013" for the "End of the Year Read-a-Thon": Overall top 10~ already posted
"Top Ten Books I Read In 2013" from Top Ten Tuesday: Dystopian Novels~ 12/31
"End of the Year Book Survey" from: Top book per category~ this weekend
So as you can see this is the fourth event and I'm going to do my top 10 contemporary novels, and there will be repeats from previous posts.
1. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock: Matthew Quick~ I've raved about this book in past "Top _" lists, and in passing posts because this truly was teh best contemporary novel I read in the year 2013. My friend from school had lent it to me, and at first I was shocked at the blurb, but it had sounded so interesting that I read it and don't regret that choice. This book isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for a book dealing with "tough issues" from a teenage male's perspective this definitely is the one to read.
2. Where She Went: Gayle Forman~I have a series overview of "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" that explain all of my feelings. I love "Where She Went" so much mainly because of Adam's POV, and the romance between him and Mia, how they both suffered so much from the accident and their separate journeys of recovery that meld int one. *score for sounding like a publisher*
3. Speak: Laurie Halse Anderson~ My first review and post on "Loving the Language of Literacy" was of Speak, and it explains everything from the characters I liked, to where I discovered the book. Even though Melinda seemed whiny at times, the overall book and the way it was so beautifully written which is why I loved it so much.
4. Before I Fall: Lauren Oliver~ Ironically this was my second review and post on "Loving the Language of Literacy" (this is just a walk down memory lane). I explain all of my feelings about this extremely unusual book. I'm actually not even certain that this is a contemporary novel because of the fact Samantha relived the same day 7 times. Al of the other elements of this novel were completely realistic and contemporary as it was essentially a story about a teenage highschool screw-up. That sounds unappealing, but just read te ereview if you're interested in the book.
5. Thirteen Reasons Why: Jay Asher~ There is a long, complicated, tnangled, messy story having to do with this book and my love of it, one I donn't want to delve into right now. Basically although unrealistic, Thirteen Reasons Why was one of the best books I've read in my entire life because of the somewhat strange plot, and solid characters.
6. Identical: Ellen Hopkins~ There is quite a confusing story having to do with this book because when I borrowed it from the libarary, I wasn't aware that it was written in poetry. I thought maybe the first two pages were writen in verse, and the rest was solid book, but boy wa I wrong. This was actually one of the best book mix-ups I've ever had because it let me discover the wonderfully talented Ellen Hopkins.
7. The Fault in Our Stars: John Green~ So I jumped on the badawagon and read the book after everyone in my school was simply raving about it for weeks. Even though this book is on my list, my feelings are still very mixed (Joyce and Aurora don't kill me). I liked the book and everything, great storyline, but I was disssapointed. Hazel and Gus might be the cutest couple I've ever read about, and their love story is one of the sweetest, but I still didn't love the book.
8. Burned: Ellen Hopkins~ Tis book gave me some insight (correct me if I'm wrong because some Goodreads review people got really upset at some other people's reviews) on what it is to be a Mormon. I know probably some of the information was altered, and maybe changed entirely, but thevery idea of it was interesting. I hope any Mormon isn't affended by this, but their hush hush society portrayed in "Burned" was very different in my mind. It was quite a thought-provoking read
9. If I Stay: Gayle Forman~ I'm not going to go on and on about this book because there's already a series overview on it, and lots of my opinions are expressed in #2 Where She Went. What I would like to say about this novel is: Is this a contemporary book? Where She Went certainly was with Adam and Mia's love story, but in this story it's about Mia after the accident when she's floating above her body, trying to decide if she should stay on earth. Nevertheless it was very good and a refreshing read.
10. Just One Day: Gayle Forman~ My third Gayle Forman book! I really enjjoye this...on the romance category rating. lI find it very hard to compare a romance novel, to a post-apocalyptic one. The end of the world, versus being lost in Paris. I don't need to ask which is more problamatic. This was also my first romance in a long time after a period of reading strict dystopias. Anyway this was a good book and a series overview is coming soon to a computer near you.
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