Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Books of 2015 So Far!
Apologies for the day late entry. It's been a crazy week at work and I got my days mixed up. Here now, in countdown fashion, are my top 5 favorite books that I've read so far this year:
5. The Selection by Kiera Cass
There isn't any great story to this novel, but it was an easy read that I enjoyed because I didn't have to think too hard about a convoluted storyline with a million characters. It is nice to, sometimes, pick up a book and simply relax.
4. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
The weirdness of the main character made her interesting and her interactions with her "family" kept me reading. Her history was obscured by many years of secrets and finding out what those were make me anxious to get to the rest of the series.
3. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I thought it would be more YA because I didn't check the genre before reading it, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the writing is intelligent and the main character, while I wouldn't call her a heroine exactly, is very quick on her feet, which she needs to be considering she wakes up in the midst of an identity crises (to put it mildly).
2. Extraordinary Measures by Robyn Schneider
It feels like there are a lot of this sort of book out at right now, by which I mean there are a lot of books about sick kids. I think it might be the new trend (vampires, zombies, dystopian, etc.), which is weird when you think about it. Sick kids, a trend?
Anyway, I haven't read any of them yet, though there are a few on my TBR, including The Fault in Our Stars.
Extraordinary Measures was a great book. I wouldn't say the writing was amazing, but it was well done. The characters were well developed, though (obviously) the main characters were given precendence rather than the secondary characters. The ending was somewhat predictable, though I was crossing my fingers all the while that it wouldn't be as horrible as I was imagining it would be. As heartbreaking as I found it, I was also impressed because that doesn't happen often. I can be a bit cynical at times, so when something touches me personally, I admire the author for being able to do so.
1. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
While I remember hearing or seeing other versions of the original Arabian tales, knowing them is not crucial to this story. Come to think of it, Shahrzad doesn't actually relate many tales. Instead, the story is focused on why she has volunteered to be the bride of the "murderer" of dozens of women, each his bride for a single night. The journey from revenge to redemption through love and familiarity was exciting. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but ending it where the author did ensures that I will want to read the sequel next year.
5. The Selection by Kiera Cass
There isn't any great story to this novel, but it was an easy read that I enjoyed because I didn't have to think too hard about a convoluted storyline with a million characters. It is nice to, sometimes, pick up a book and simply relax.
4. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
The weirdness of the main character made her interesting and her interactions with her "family" kept me reading. Her history was obscured by many years of secrets and finding out what those were make me anxious to get to the rest of the series.
3. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I thought it would be more YA because I didn't check the genre before reading it, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the writing is intelligent and the main character, while I wouldn't call her a heroine exactly, is very quick on her feet, which she needs to be considering she wakes up in the midst of an identity crises (to put it mildly).
2. Extraordinary Measures by Robyn Schneider
It feels like there are a lot of this sort of book out at right now, by which I mean there are a lot of books about sick kids. I think it might be the new trend (vampires, zombies, dystopian, etc.), which is weird when you think about it. Sick kids, a trend?
Anyway, I haven't read any of them yet, though there are a few on my TBR, including The Fault in Our Stars.
Extraordinary Measures was a great book. I wouldn't say the writing was amazing, but it was well done. The characters were well developed, though (obviously) the main characters were given precendence rather than the secondary characters. The ending was somewhat predictable, though I was crossing my fingers all the while that it wouldn't be as horrible as I was imagining it would be. As heartbreaking as I found it, I was also impressed because that doesn't happen often. I can be a bit cynical at times, so when something touches me personally, I admire the author for being able to do so.
1. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
While I remember hearing or seeing other versions of the original Arabian tales, knowing them is not crucial to this story. Come to think of it, Shahrzad doesn't actually relate many tales. Instead, the story is focused on why she has volunteered to be the bride of the "murderer" of dozens of women, each his bride for a single night. The journey from revenge to redemption through love and familiarity was exciting. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but ending it where the author did ensures that I will want to read the sequel next year.