Top Ten Tuesday (27): Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten Books I Want to Give As Gifts

(In no particular order)

1. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

I want to give this book to all of my blogging friends. It sounded like a great story, so I bought it on a whim at the Austin Teen Book Festival. It ended up being one of my absolute favorite reads for this year. Highly recommended especially for this time of year!

2. Wolfsbane and Mistletoe edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner

This one would be for Carmel of Rabid Reads and any other lycanthrope "lunatics" out there. It's Christmas stories involving werewolves, what more could you ask for?

3. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

I'd definitely give this one to Beth, my best friend from high school. The story just reminded me of her and I so much, though fortunately we weren't to the awful extent of Kathryn and Brooke. I think she'd read it for the nostalgia factor.

4. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

For Elizabeth, an old friend from high school, who just so happens to have a pink taser. I told her in FB she needed to check out this book after she mentioned owning a pink taser.

5. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

I'm looking right at you, Marla. Since Marla of Starting the Next Chapter has read and reviewed Touch of Power, I think the next step is getting her a copy of Poison Study, Maria's first book.

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
I can't help but think of Andy, my friend in the UK, when I see this book time and again. I would gladly get it for him for Christmas.

7. A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang
This title definitely screams Nova, one of my friends from San Antonio with a passion for...well, passionate books. And since I'm really enjoying it, I know it's right up her alley.

8. Ada: Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald
With Ada being such a kick-butt kind of character, I can't help but want to get a copy for Beth (same best friend from high school). Since she enjoys those kinds of characters (wonder where she gets it from), I think Ada would be just right for her.

9. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
After having the chance to meet this amazing and funny author, I would give this one to myself first off (hey, I don't have a copy yet) and any one of my readers. Texas authors come from a big state, so they need big reader love!

10. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Anyone who loves horses or Irish mythology because this is one courageous story about a dangerous horse race.
Plus check out the awesome paperback cover art! Just gorgeous!

There are definitely more books to give as gifts, but the amount of titles would fill a library. (And probably has already.)

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Underrated Books

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.