Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, a state that you don't have to worry about being deprived of more books as long as you're near a library. This week's Top Ten is:
Top Ten Underrated Books
1. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston - Updated or revamped fairy tales are definitely making a nice comeback in today's literature, but I haven't seen this one discussed too much. Henry is a different kind of hero and the setting is definitely unique when you think about fairy tales. I would love to see this one grow in popularity.
2. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer - As this is a debut novel, I can understand it not being discussed a lot on other blogs. However, it definitely discusses issues regarding relationships that would appeal to teens and adults.
3. Flawless by Lara Chapman - This is such a great light read, and I believe it would appeal to many different readers. With no heavy issues to weigh down the story, anyone could just sit back and enjoy the ride.
4. The Princess's Dragon by Susan Trombley - Books featuring dragons are still far and few between, and I think Trombley takes it to the next level by turning it into a transformation story.
5. The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison - This one has qualities similar to the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale only with a twist.
6. Ada Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald - From the independent circuit, this is one of my favorites that I was asked to review. As a girl-empowering story, it would be great to see its readership grow, and I hope to see the next part of Ada's story soon.
7. Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson - A graphic novel for paranormal readers who happen to like dogs, though it can be a rough read at times.
8. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause - Paranormal readers will hopefully find this an appealing early read for werewolf literature.
9. Instructions by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess - This is actually a children's book for both kids and adults. It discusses attributes of many different fairy tales, and even if readers aren't familiar with those stories, it's still an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this for parents.
10. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - For all the popularity of the Miyazaki film of the same name, I don't see this one mentioned much. The novel is actually somewhat different from how Miyazaki depicted and definitely worth a read.
Instructions sounds like a good one! It's amazing how many children's books go unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteGreat list - it is full of books that I have never heard of but that I will have to check out on amazon sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love dragons so I am very interested to check out "The Princess's Dragon". Have you by chance read Patricia Wrede's The Enchanted Forest Chronicles? It features a delightful Princess and her dragon friend. It's a Middle Grades book, but definitely worth the read!
ReplyDeleteI really liked The Princess an the Hound-good choice!
ReplyDeleteI love Neil Gaiman and I've never read that book! I will have to check it out next time I'm at the lib.
ReplyDeleteI've heard some good things about Flawless. Will have to try it out!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Top 10!
I've seen the movie for Blood and Chocolate but I haven't read the novel. Flawless and Rival also look like great reads.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see Blood and Chocolate and Rival on your list. I absolutely LOVED Rival and will read anything else Sara Bennett Wealer publishes. The movie for Blood and Chocolate was probably the worst book to movie adaptation I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my post today :)
-Sarah @ Y.A. Love
I haven't read any of these! I've heard really good things about Dust City though so I'll be sure to check it out. I really like how you alternated new and old releases.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten: http://bit.ly/qqOf7F
I've thought about reading Howl's Moving Castle for a long, long time. Thanks for the thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked Rival. I've been meaning to read it for a long time. It got press when it first came out but has fallen off since then.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm definitely going to have to check these books out. I've heard of a few, especially Blood and Chocolate, and I've been meaning to get it from the library. :)
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