Top Ten Tuesday (29): Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011

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 our 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 Favorite Books I Read in 2011

(In no particular order)

1. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

An exciting story featuring a strong, female lead and werewolves. (Review)

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

A perfect story to pair hot cocoa and holiday cookies with alongside a blanket. (Review)

3. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Just. Plain. Awesome. Story. That happens to involve Irish horses. (Review)

4. The Princess's Dragon by Susan Trombley

One amazing dragon story after having not read one in so very very long. (Review)

5. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Learn the real story behind high school competitions (in choir). (Review)

6. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

A too funny, too thrilling story not to read and enjoy. (Review)

7. A Bride's Story Vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori

Family dynamics within a tribe after a rather unique arranged marriage. (Review)

8. Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carries Jones

Powerful stories from some amazing and strong people. (Review)

9. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Time travel + romance + ghosts = Phenomenal paranormal read! (Review)

10. Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

A great cavalcade of characters gathered at a summer camp for paranormals. (Review)

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Want to Reread

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 Books I Want to Reread

(In no particular order)

1.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Not only is this one of my favorite classics, but it's also on the most frequently challenged list of books.  This was one book I was very happy to read back in high school, and I look forward to reading it again soon.

2.  Colors in the Dreamweaver's Loom by Beth Hilgartner - It's hard to believe I read this back in middle school, and I really want to revisit Hilgartner's world that she created for this novel.  

3.  Full Moon City edited by Martin H. Greenberg - With it being nearly Halloween once more, I'm reminded of my first review on my blog, which was for this book.  It makes me nostalgic and wanting to read it once again.

4.  The Princess's Dragon by Susan Trombley - I was really fangirly with this book in my review, so I'd like to give it another read to see if I would still go as kooky over it as I did before.  Still, one can't help but get excited about dragons. 

5.  Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder - This was the first book by Snyder that I ever read and it is still my most favorite.  I need to make sure I have a cinnamon roll with me when I read it  again. 

6.  Tales from Watership Down by Richard Adams - Not unlike it's predecessor, Watership Down, this one is close to my heart, and I remember devouring the stories while my family was en route to visit my grandparents.  

7.  Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - Lucky for me, we'll be reading this one in our library's book club next year.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the other club members will have to say about the story that I thought was so profound and amazing.

8.  Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner - It isn't Christmas without reading at least certain stories from this werewolf anthology.  Not anymore at least!  This year, I'm thinking of doing a holiday giveaway for this title.  Any objections? ^_^

9.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Another favorite childhood classic, I'd really like to reread it not only for my own enjoyment, but so I might see the similarities and differences when I read Little Women and Werewolves.  

10.  A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I really want to reread this classic so I might better appreciate the parts that I was either unable to understand or found tedious to the overall plot.  

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.