Top Ten Book Turn-Offs

-Insta-love. Nothing makes me want to throw a book more than insta-love. It usually happens in books with no character development beyond the obsessive love, where each character's world is defined by their relationship. Yawn.

-Love triangles. It's been overdone more than a chicken dinner at my house (I'm really paranoid about salmonella).

-Possessive/borderline abusive guys. So many YA authors seem to think this is hot. It really isn't.

-Awful characters. I don't mind flawed characters, but there has to be something sympathetic about them that I can connect to.

-Animal cruelty. Animals in books make me scared because I can't bear it when anything bad happens to them. And it does way too often.

-Repetitiveness. The same words, phrases and - worst of all - descriptions used over and over again is ridiculously annoying. Especially when connected to how hot a character is. We get it, his eyebrows/cheekbones/big toes are really god-like.

-Terrible nicknames. I was going to say terrible names in general, but the vomitous nicknames couples give each other is always so distracting. "Siren", "Pigeon", "Vagine"... OK I made that last one up but seriously enough with the silly nicknames!

-Girl on girl hate. I can't stand when a female main character is all "not like other girls" (what's so wrong with other girls?) and/or every other girl is a biatch and someone to compete with.

-Bad 'isms'. Racism. Sexism. Homophobia (Yeah it's not an 'ism', but it's along the same lines). It's one thing if a character acts this way and it's not endorsed by the narrative, but if the book itself is any of those things it is just despicable. This includes unintentional 'isms', through stereotypical/cardboard characters and the insensitive treatment of issues and language.

-Illogical worldbuilding. I can suspend my disbelief for anything as long as it makes sense in world. Magic is fine. Vegetarian vampires are fine. Vampire venom acting as sperm to create a hybrid baby with a human? Not fine.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I'd Love To See As A Movie/TV Show

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. It's a fun, fluffy and fabulous teen book that would make a fun, fluffy and fabulous teen movie.

2. The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. I would love to see Marchetta's fantasy series as a TV show. I love the characters so much and it would be awesome to see them brought to life.

3. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. This atmospheric tale of selkies and magic would make a moving and whimsical movie or mini-series.

4. The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Another fantasy series with great characters that would be fantastic on screen - especially the titular thief, Eugenides.

5. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. Amazing and Aussie movies don't always go hand in hand unfortunately, but I think this could be a great one - or even a good TV mini-series. We seem to be doing better in that medium lately.

6. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Epic love story set across the back-drop of Russia during World War II. Swooooon.

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The visuals alone would make this a gorgeous movie, and I think condensing it could only improve the rather slow story.

8. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Who doesn't love a roadtrip movie?

9. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. Some classics, mainly those by Austen, Dickens and the Brontes, have been adapted to near death. I'd love to see a different text brought to the screen - like this one!

10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I adored this weird and wonderful book, right up until the cliffhanger ending. I think it would make an awesome, eerie movie, with hopefully more resolution at the end.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters

1. Anyone from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Each character in these books are amazing. I love that nothing is black and white, and each character is complex and realistic – magic notwithstanding. Neville, Luna, Snape, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Dobby, the Weasleys, the Dursleys, McGonagall... there are so many I love, and love to hate.

2. Jeffrey Lu in Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. Jeffrey was one of the highlights of Jasper Jones for me. I loved his cheekiness and positivity, and was rooting for him in the cricket match and beyond.

3. Anyone in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. My favourite thing about Dickens is the quirky collection of characters in all his books, but David Copperfield is a particular fave. Betsey Trotwood, Mr Micawber and Uriah Heep (shudder) are some of the most memorable literary characters ever.

4. Finnick and Cinna in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I couldn't pick between these two. I love them both and they make me want to cry.

5. Jimmy in Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta. One of my fave characters ever. I missed him in The Piper's Son, so I was super excited when Marchetta said Jimmy had popped back in her head and would be in an upcoming book!

6. Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. I can't say anything more because I will start to cry. Not even joking.

7. Squire Hamley in Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. The old fashioned, rough-around-the-edges squire with a big heart is great on the page, but even better as portrayed by Michael Gambon in the 1999 mini-series. Fave line: "I'm not saying she was very silly, but one of us was very silly and it wasn't me."

8. Mrs Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I know Mrs Bennet isn't everyone's fave, but she just makes me laugh - especially when combined with her weary but witty husband.

9. Mia's family from If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. Another one that makes me cry. It was so nice to come across a genuine, close family in a YA book. Of course, they don't stay that way... sigh.

10. Hareton in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Heathcliff who? Seriously, I am so not a fan of abusive abuser Heathcliff. Hareton on the other hand, is an actual puppy dog who I want to adopt.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Things That Make Book Blogging Easier

1. Goodreads. I loooove Goodreads. It's great for connecting with fellow book-lovers and cataloging books. I have a ridiculous amount in my TBR pile and on my wishlist, and it would be impossible to keep track of everything without Goodreads.

2. Booko. This is my one-stop search engine for book buying. It finds all of the available outlets a certain book is at, and ranks them from least expensive to most expensive, shipping including. Brilliant.

3. Netgalley. Netgalley is wonderful for access to e-galleys for review. It brings many books to my attention that I may not have noticed otherwise. Too many, even - I always end up with way more than I have time to read. Must. Stop. Requesting.

4. Bloglovin'. I only just started using this thanks to the demise of Google Reader, and I actually took the time to organise the blogs I follow into categories. It has made blogging life so much easier, I am obsessed with it.

5. Spare time. Book blogging takes up a lot of time. If I had more of it, it would be so much easier.

6. Awesome books. They are the main reason I read and blog, after all.

7. The library. Free books. Nuff said.

8. Fellow bloggers. The book blogging community is amazing. I've made so many wonderful friends.

9. My kindle, Betsy. While I still adore physical books, my kindle is so convenient for acquiring and transporting books.

10. Audiobooks. OK, I've only "read" one so far, but I plan on getting into them big time. So easy and fun!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Top Ten Books Set in Australia

1. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. This book beautifully encapsulates so much of Australian culture and what it's like to grow up in this country. It also has the most exciting description of a game of cricket ever. Like, it's actually exciting.

2. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. Two teens explore Melbourne over one night. I want to go there so bad (yes, I've never been and I know, it's terrible).

3. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. The isolated rural setting of On the Jellicoe Road is as beautiful as it is haunting. Pretty much all of Melina Marchetta's contemporary novels could go on this list, the Australian setting is so central to all of them.

4. The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams. A roadtrip with a difference. It made me want to see Australia this way. Minus the surprise in the boot.

5. And All The Stars by Andrea K. Host. I haven't come across too many (read: any) sci-fi stories set in Australia so I was pleasantly surprised by this one. 

6. Puberty Blues by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey. This is an iconic Aussie book, putting a spotlight on the darker side of surfie culture.

7. I Came to Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington. This book showcases a variety of Australian settings and the main character, Med, is the epitome of an Aussie battler. 

8. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. An Australian classic, this atmospheric and eerie tale explores the tension between European settlers and the harsh landscape.

9. Cinnamon Rain by Emma Cameron. This verse novel tells an Australian story that's not often told - teens who leave school before year 12. That's it. But it's also so much more. 

10. Preloved by Shirley Marr. Aside from the 80s reference, ghostliness and general awesomeness, I love that the main character in this book has Asian heritage and highlights what it's like to grow up in a migrant family.


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Wish Had Sequels

I don’t know that I actually want sequels to any of these books, coz I’m a big fan of standalones these days. But there are some books that have left me wanting more, with characters that stay with me well after I’ve finished reading…

-Liar by Justine Larbalestier. This was a mindscrew of a book and I just want to know the TRUTH. But Larbalestier has said even she doesn’t know, plus I think a big reveal would undermine the power of the story somewhat. But on the other hand CLOSURE.

-Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. This was an adorable, heartfelt roadtrip book that made me happy sigh when I finished it. I loved the characters and would like to read more about them, although I felt satisfied with the story told in this one.

-The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Mary grew up to marry Dickon and have lots of forest animals and babies and a beautiful big garden and she definitely didn’t marry her broody cousin Colin and Dickon definitely didn’t die. The end.

-Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington. Although I loved how this one ends, it definitely left me wanting MOAR.

-The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I’d love to see Buttercup’s Baby, Goldman’s joke sequel chapter, actually happen. I have to know what happens to Fezzik. Namely how he gets saved because HE CAN’T DIE.

-North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It would be awesome to see the wedding and Margaret settling into life as Mrs Thornton. And the actual reaction of the elder Mrs Thornton. And maybe the wedding night… you know, the feast and stuff. Yeah.

-Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. OK, so technically this does have a sequel in Lola and the Boy Next Door, but another story focused on Anna and Etienne would be great. I love those two.

-Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. I'm keen to spend another night with these characters. Perhaps a year after the events in the original.

-Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. I’d love to see Josie as an adult. I related to her so much as a teen, I wonder if I’d still relate to her as a (not quite) grown-up. I like to think she achieved her dreams. And made it work with Jacob Coote.

-This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. This is another book where really, I just want to know what happens on the page after the last one. It had quite an ambiguous ending, and I like CLOSURE. But as with Liar, I think if I actually got it, the book wouldn’t be nearly so powerful.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Opening Lines

1. "Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o'clock at night." - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. 

2. "The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone... she was no longer the careless colour of sea foam, but rather the colour of snow falling on a moonlit night." - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.

3. "My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted. It happened on the Jellicoe Road." - On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

4. "First the colours. Then the humans. That’s how I usually see things. Or at least, how I try. ***Here is a small fact*** You are going to die." - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

5. "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

6. "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." - 1984 by George Orwell.

7. "All children, except one, grow up." - Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.

8. "Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that... Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail." - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

9. "This is my favourite book in all the world, though I have never read it." The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

10. "Jasper Jones has come to my window. I don't know why, but he has." - Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Movie Adaptations

1. Jane Eyre (2011), based on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It packs a lot into its limited running time, and manages to capture the emotions and feel of Bronte's classic beautifully. Plus Michael Fassbender.

2. The Princess Bride (1987), based on The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It's so faithful to the book and just plain awesome.

3. The Notebook (2004), based on The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. One of those rare movie adaptations that's actually better than the book. Much, much better.

4. Never Let Me Go (2010), based on Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Gorgeous, heartbreaking movie to fit a gorgeous, heartbreaking book.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), based on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The acting is a highlight of this classic adaptation.

6. The Secret Garden (1993), based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It may not always be faithful to the letter but it is very faithful to the spirit of the book, filled with the same whimsy and magic that's present in the original.

7. The Last Unicorn (1982), based on The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Sure, the animation isn't exactly high-tech, but it does manage to convey a lot of the same beautiful imagery that's in Beagle's book. Such a strange, kinda creepy but magical tale.

8. Clueless (1995), based on Emma by Jane Austen. It says a lot about both the movie and the novel that studying them in high school didn't forever sap my enjoyment of them. On a superficial level Clueless doesn't have a lot in common with Emma, but below the surface they are clearly kindred spirits.

9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It's just not Christmas without this book or movie. And Gonzo as Dickens? Pure genius.

10. Little Women (1994), based on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A gorgeous movie that hits all the right emotional notes. Which means a few laughs and a helluva lot of tears.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

These are the books I want to read, mainly because I feel like I should, but man, they look like so long/hard/a helluva lot of effort...

1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. 

2. Crime and Punishment by Fyoder Dostoyevsky.

3. Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

6. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.  

7. Ulysses by James Joyce.

8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

9. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

10. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.

Have you read any of these? Tell my which ones I should man up and read!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

July: The Month of Netgalley

I’m officially declaring July the Month of Netgalley here on Belle’s Bookshelf. I’ve got quite a few ebooks from Netgalley that have been left languishing on my Kindle for FAR too long (seriously, I’m a bit embarrassed by the list below) and I want to knock as many as I can off ASAP. The problem with a Kindle is the books don’t physically take up space. Of course this is awesome in many respects (mainly coz it means I can acquire more books and still have room to walk in my apartment), but it also means the ebooks can get kinda forgotten when I’ve got a physically bulging bookshelf to deal with. But now those IRL piles are going to be dismissed for at least this month, as I plan to read nothing but Netgalley books during July. I’m hoping to get through at least some of these:

-Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil. This edition is published August 1 2013. Life in Outer Space has received amazing reviews by some of my Goodreads friends, so I’m really excited to read it.

-Outcast by Adrienne Kress. Published June 4 2013. The plot of this sounds bizarrely interesting - featuring aliens and/or angels and/or time travel.

-15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins. Published May 8 2013. A few of my blogging friends have really liked this book and I haven’t read much British YA so I’m looking forward to it.

-Lost Cat by Caroline Paul. Published April 9 2013. I’m not a big non-fiction (or, to be honest, cat) person, but the idea of tracking a pet and what it does when you’re not around is kinda fascinating.

-The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag. Published April 4 2013. It sounds like such a lovely, whimsical, bookish tale.

-White Lines by Jennifer Banash. Published April 4 2013. This sounds like an emotional read, which I’ve been kinda into lately. Plus the reviews are pretty good.

-Mind Your Mental Health by Kaz Cooke. Published March 27 2013. This ebook is based on chapters from Cooke’s larger book Women’s Stuff. I have a feeling it might be useful.

-Marilyn: Norma Jeane by Gloria Steinem. This edition published March 19 2013. I’m fascinated by Marilyn Monroe and while I’ve seen a lot of (mostly bad TV) movies and docos about her, I haven’t read a biography, so I’m keen for this one.

-Song in the Dark by Christine Howe. Published February 27 2013. This is set in my hometown, which is rare, so I HAVE to read it. Also it sounds great.

-Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Published February 26 2013. I’ve heard good things about Rowell’s writing, and this book sounds adorable. Plus it’s set in 1986, a.k.a. the best year ever (hello, it’s when I was born!).

As you can see, there are some long-overdue reads here! Sadly this is not everything I have TBR from Netgalley – but it’s what’s jumping out at the moment. Hopefully I can smash through as many as possible this month. P.S. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has a long Netgalley list? I think I need to stop requesting until I catch up!

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013

1. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. Gorgeous, descriptive writing telling a beautiful, harrowing, whimsical story about selkies.

2. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. A zombie novel focused on human relationships and emotions. So many feels.

3. Adorkable by Sarra Manning. Realistic characters + authentic romance = pure fun.

4. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. After loving the show for two years, I actually got around to reading the first book this year. It was a bit of a slog, but worth it. Westeros is such a rich world, populated by wonderful, flawed characters.

5. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. An all-in-one-night story (my favourite kind) featuring a smart girl and mysterious boy wandering around the streets of Melbourne. Le swoon.

6. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. After enjoying the first book and being disappointed with the second in The Queens Thief series, I finally saw what all the fuss was about with this third book. I loved the twisty plot and awesome characters, especially the King of the title, Eugenides.

7. Liar by Justine Larbalestier. The kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read it. Mostly because the unreliable narrator totally messes with your head.

8. Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. What could have been clichéd was actually quite lovely, and the idea of one girl living two lives simultaneously was unique and interesting.

9. In Falling Snow by Mary-Rose MacColl. A moving historical novel spanning generations and countries, with a tale of the relationships between women at its heart.

10. Alaska by Sue Saliba. Beautifully written and designed, this book is about finding yourself.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR

I feel like I was just doing one of these, and embarrassingly I've read a big fat ZERO from my last TBR list. Hopefully I'll do better this time - here's what I'm hoping to get to...

1. Trumpet by Jackie Kay. I have to admit I'd never heard of Jackie Kay before seeing her at the Sydney Writers' Festival - but I was blown away by her talent, humour, wit and wisdom when I saw her. I immediately bought this book, which is about a transgender Jazz musician, and was lucky enough to get it signed. Now I just have to read it!

2. Going Bovine by Libba Bray. I've been wanting to read another Libba Bray book since reading and loving Beauty Queens, and seeing her at the Sydney Writers' Festival gave me the perfect excuse to take home another of her books. I can't want to dive in to the story of a boy with mad cow disease.

3. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes. This was another Sydney Writers' Festival discovery (seriously I spent so much on books that weekend). As soon as I heard the words "time traveling serial killer" I was sold.

4. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin. I loved A Game of Thrones when I read it a couple of months ago, but I needed to take a bit of a break before I read the rest of the series because it was kinda exhausting. But lately I've been obsessing over it a bit (can you tell?), thanks in no small part to the end of the latest season of the show, so I now I'm itching to read book two. I just have to wait for it to arrive from The Book Depository!

5. Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead. I love Mead's Vampire Academy series and have been wanting to read more of her work. Even though it's gotten mixed reviews, I'm excited to read this one.

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I think this has made every one of my TBR lists since it came out, because I really want to read it, but can never quite bring myself to do it. I will one of these days!

7. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. I have a thing for zombies lately, and this is one of the few zombie books I already own, so I want to get to it soon.

8. Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington. Love the concept of this one - a girl lives two lives simultaneously, switching day by day. It's also got some great reviews from my Goodreads friends.

9. Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan. I really enjoyed Larbalestier's Liar when I read it recently and I've heard great things about Team Human.

10. Night Beach by Kirsty Eager. So many people have told me I need to read Eager's books. I have this one so it's a good place to start!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Top Ten Beach Reads

1. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares. It's all about summer (amongst other things), and it's so much fun. My kind of beach read.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Teen romance at its best.

3. Adorkable by Sarra Manning. Teen romance at its second best.

4. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. Just pure fun.

5. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. Not exactly a light beach read, but the ocean is such a central part of the story it would be fantastic to read this book surrounded by the sounds and scents it describes.

6. Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst. A book featuring vampires that are actually deadly, that's still fun, light-hearted and highly entertaining. Awesome.

7. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Teen romance at its trashiest. Perfect for sunny, no-brainer days on the sand.

8. Cargo by Jessica Au. This is another book which is not exactly light, but the beach is central to the story.

9. Puberty Blues by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey. Again, it's all about the beach and surf culture. Even though it goes to pretty dark places, it's also hilarious.

10. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. It's Toddlers and Tiaras meets Lost. And it's as brilliant as it sounds.

Top Ten Books Featuring Travel

1. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. The best roadtrip book I've read. It will make you laugh, cry and swoooon.

2. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. I could put the whole of The Lumatere Chronicles, but Finnikin is the one with the most travel. They're all wonderful.

3. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. The magical, gorgeous tale of one unicorn's quest to find others like her.

4. The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams. A roadtrip book with a very unique twist. Not for everyone, but I loved it.

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Trip to the Peak District, anyone? Namely Derbyshire.

6. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. What better way to travel than through time? Though it doesn't exactly work out well for Henry. This book gives me All The Feels.

7. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. Four friends use a magical pair of jeans to stay in touch when they're separated over the summer. It's nowhere near as lame as I thought it would be before I read it.

8. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Second star to the right and straight on till morning!

9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. One of my favourite books of all time, I wouldn't mind a trip with Fezzik and Inigo - and Westley, of course. Buttercup can stay at home.

10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. While it's mostly set in Paris, the kids do travel there to start with (and to America and back again over the holidays). Anna may whinge about it at first, but I wouldn't have minded going to school in such a gorgeous city!

Top Ten Light And Fun Books

1. Adorkable by Sarra Manning. I read this recently and it's the first book in a long time that has made me really smile.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. What I now measure all teen love stories against. It's awesome.

3. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. I've never laughed so much at a book as I did with this one.

4. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. OK, so it's not completely light, dealing with some pretty serious subject matter, but overall its such a lovely ride filled with fun and adorable moments.

5. Preloved by Shirley Marr. It's a ghostly love story with a heavy '80s influence. Yes, it's as awesome as it sounds.

6. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. A fun premise set at the most magical time of year (Christmas!) in one of the greatest cities in the world (NYC, natch).

7. Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst. The antidote to wangsty vampire novels, it features a kick-butt heroine and a hero who sparkles. Guess who's the vampire in that situation (spoiler: it's not the dude).

8. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. It's cheesy and melodramatic but just so incredibly fun.

9. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I didn't love it as much as Anna, but Perkins sure has a knack for contemporary YA.

10. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. There's a surprising amount of depth to this novel, but it's still full of glossy, hilarious fun.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Top Ten Words That Make Me Pick Up A Book

1. Whimsy. I love anything quirky, unusual, lovely and magical.

"Am I whimsical yet?"

2. Road trip. The open road, the endless opportunities, the music, the company, the food... who doesn't love a road trip? Or reading about one, at least.

I wish I was road tripping right now.

3. Contemporary. Lately I have been a bit addicted to contemporary fiction. I think it's because of my extended paranormal hangover.

OK it's not a book but Skins is contemporary. And also giving me a lot of feels right now.

4. Fairy tale. I love fairy tales in any form - originals, retellings, Disney adaptations...

Oooh, shiny...

5. Australia. It's nice to read books set in my home territory.

'Strayla mate.

6. New York. One of the best cities in the world, it naturally makes an awesome setting.

In New Yoooooooooooork (sorry, had to).

7. Russia. I've studied Russian history since high school and the place fascinates me. I love to read anything set there, especially during the time periods I'm familiar with.

Sorry if this guy haunts your dreams tonight.

8. Summer. Summer goes hand in hand with romance. And holidays. And ice cream. And lens flare cover photos.

I'm a sucker for the sun.

9. Classic. Although I haven't read many lately, I love collecting the classics. Especially when they have gorgeous covers.

A gorgeous guy doesn't hurt either.

10. Movie adaptation. I love reading books before watching their movie adaptations, and it's often the movie coming out that gives me the kick up the butt to actually pick up the book.

BRB crying...

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More/Less

I'm ba-ack. After a pretty overwhelming week last week in which I didn't blog at all (terrible, I KNOW), I'm back with bells on. Or at least with a list. Of books I thought I'd like more...

1. Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. I was sooo excited when I heard the Fug girls were writing a YA novel. And I was sooo disappointed when I didn't enjoy it very much.

2. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. After enjoying The Thief, the first in this series, I was super keen to read The Queen, having heard from a bazillion and one people that it was ah-mazing, and even better than the first. Unfortunately it frustrated the hell out of me.

3. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I love, love, loved the movie version of this growing up, and I also adore Burnett's The Secret Garden. But the little princess in question drove me nuts when I read the book.

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. Lizzy Bennet fighting zombies?! I thought it couldn't get more awesome than that. But I was wrong. Because it wasn't awesome at all.

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Anna and the French Kiss quickly became a favourite (see below) so I had extremely high expectations for Perkins' follow-up novel. They were not met.


And some I thought I'd like less...

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The lame name and lame cover turned out to be hiding an awesome book.

2. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Having never read Bray's work before, I didn't realise how amazing she is. I thought this would be a trashy read, and it was so much more.

3. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. I avoided this book for a long time because it looked depressing and sappy. But although it was heartbreaking, I found it strangely uplifting and lovely.

4. The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. I didn't think I enjoyed verse novels - until I read this one.

5. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Not only is the cover really embarrassing, the plot didn't particularly interest me until I read some great reviews. So I gave it a chance and I was instantly hooked.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Pre-Blog Reads

I find it a lot harder to remember the books I read before I started blogging. One of the reasons I actually started this blog was to keep track of what I read, and it has been helpful in that way. These are the books that stand out in my memory from the days before I recorded my thoughts on every book I read...

1. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. This was my favourite book for a long time. It would still hold that title, except I feel like it's been so long since I read it, I need to revisit it to reconfirm - or rethink - my love.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I used to reread this every year - sometimes more than once a year. I haven't read it since I started blogging. I miss it.

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I think this makes my top ten practically every week, no matter what the topic is. It's such a stunning book.

4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It gives me All The Feelings.

5. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Mr Thornton. 'Nuff said.

6. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. An absolutely haunting dystopia, it contains some hope in its tale of the strength of the human spirit.

7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. This is another book that is a top ten repeat. It makes me smile every time I read it.

8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Strong characters, beautiful imagery, a fantastic plot and powerful writing. One of my all-time fave stories.

9. Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. My best friend throughout my teen years, and still a great novel to read as an adult.

10. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. I don't think any other book has made me laugh so much as this one.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Fictional Crushes

When I saw this topic I knew I just had to participate in Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) this week. I love me some literary man candy. I used to do a meme called My Book Boyfriend so I have whole posts devoted to my many fictional crushes, but I managed to get the list down my faves…

1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Do I even need to say why?

2. Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen. The lady sure knew how to write amazing heroes who write amazing letters. Swooooon.

3. Westley from The Princess Bride. He’s actually the perfect man.

4. Etienne St Claire from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea because of the whole, er, cheating thing, but he sure got my heart beating. He has great chemistry with Anna, is obsessed with history and does things like give books with hidden messages as gifts. Sigh.

5. Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. He’s so broody but still has a great sense of humour. I adore the way he treats Jane with respect and meets her as an equal. Let’s just not mention the whole crazy wife in the attic, though…

6. Mr. Thornton from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. He just wants to be a gentleman! And be loved. I could give him so much love.

7. Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. He’s the strong, silent and sexy type, with badass fighting skills and a killer bod. Literally.

8. Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. He’s a tall Viking vampire with a cheeky sense of humour and a lot of, er, talent. Ahem.

9. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. He immaturely shows a girl he likes her by insulting her and spends the next five years trying to make up for it. Silly, adorable boy.

10. Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This book is totally cheesy but completely hot – just like its hero, Alex.

Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

Actually, I push books

 1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It's so beautiful and exquisite and wonderful and all the amazing things.

2. Anything by Melina Marchetta. She is the best.
 
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen. A lot of people have read Pride and Prejudice, but I love Persuasion almost as much and not nearly enough people have read it.

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I also recommend this to fans of Pride and Prejudice; it's a lot darker but has the same kind of awesomesauce hate-turned-love story and a totally swoon-worthy hero.

5. Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters. I was blown away by this biography when I read it last year so I push it on to everbody.

6. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The lame name and cover for this book really don't do its delightfulness justice (although it has had a redesign!), so I try to tell everybody how fun and non-lame it really is.

7. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. I devoured this book in a day. It's a remarkable, beautifully-crafted Australian story featuring brilliant characters.

8. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan. I read this quite recently but I've already pushed it onto several people. Such a sublime read.

9. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth. A gorgeous fairy tale adaptation/historical romance. It's pure magic.

10. The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I think pretty much everyone has seen the movie (if you haven't, what are you doing with your life?!) but not a lot have read the book, which is a shame because it's wonderful.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish