Top Ten of 2010

I've read a LOT of books this year, and having to narrow my favorites to just 10 might prove a little difficult. Let's see how this goes...

In no particular order (links will take you to Goodreads):

1. Matched by Ally Condie (will hopefully have a review up later this week)

2. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (MUST read The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer first, though)

3. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

4. The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

5. Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan

6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

7. The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

8. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

 

9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

10. By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Oh, but there were so many great books this year! What's on your Top Ten list?

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

I'm going to do the Off the Shelf Challenge!

 

I discovered this challenge thanks to Mindi Scott. I'm already signed up for the Debut Authors 2011 Challenge and didn't really want to stretch myself by doing any others, but the Off the Shelf Challenge is perfect for me. This challenge is to tackle your to-read pile--the books you already have but haven't gotten around to reading yet.

I'm going to try the "Trying" level--15 books. I've got a ton of great books just sitting and waiting for me:

1. Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
2. Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott
3. Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
4. Kingdom Keepers III by Ridley Pearson
5. Heavenly &
6. Penitence by Jennifer Laurens
7. Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft
8. Songs for the Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson
9. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
10. Halo by Alexandra Andornetto
11. Pretty Little Liars books 3-8 by Sara Shepard
12. The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Bezenoff
13. Unthinkable by Shirley Duke
14. Virals by Kathy Reich
15. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011 and reviews are optional. Head over to the Bookish Ardour's Reading Challenges page to learn more and sign yourself up!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.
A quiet week for me, as I've just come back from vacation...finding it a little hard to get back into the swing of things!

ARC received from publisher:

• You Killed Wesley Paine by Sean Beaudoin

Borrowed from the library:

• The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

And...my Secret Santa gift (from the Book Blogger Holiday Swap) came today! It was truly a Secret Santa so I can't thank him or her properly, but I love everything!

I got some cute coasters, monogrammed cocktail napkins, a journal (for my to-read list!), and...Twenty Boy Summer! One of my all-time favorite books but for some reason I've never purchased it for myself, so this is AWESOME! Thank you, my Secret Santa!!

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme event created by Breakingthespine to help showcase upcoming releases. I first learned about it through WORD for Teens.

How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain

Chronicle Books, May 4, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

David Gershwin's summer is about to take a turn for the weird. When his dad's new patient Zelda tells him she’s from outer space and on a quest to take Johnny Depp back to her planet, he knows he should run away screaming. But with one look from her mean, green eyes, David's hooked, and soon he's leaping across rooftops, running from police, and stealing cars just to stay by her side. He might not be a typical hero, but David's going to get the girl even if it takes him to the ends of the earth—or beyond.

I've chosen this book to read as part of the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, and I specifically chose this book because of its title. I think it sounds like a fun book, and one that perhaps might interest boy readers.

What are you waiting for?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is an Internet meme hosted by The Story Siren to share new books received, purchased, or borrowed.

I'm actually on vacation this week, but I got some great books before I left!

Borrowed from the library:

• Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

 Downloaded to my nook:

• Matched by Allie Condie (yes, I broke down and pre-purchased so I could have it right away. CANNOT WAIT to read it!
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman (have already read it, but it's a great book to add to my collection)

 eGalley from NetGalley:

• Unthinkable by Shirley Duke

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Miss Page-Turner's City of Books Holiday Giveaway!

Miss Page-Turner is hosting an incredible contest over at her blog. Simply follow her blog and fill out the form here to enter. You can also gain extra entries by tweeting, adding her button, or blogging about the contest.

So what do you win? Well, this is an international contest (open to any country the Book Depository ships to), and one winner will be able to select one of these 2011 release novels to preorder:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (January 4^th 2011)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (February 1^st 2011)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (January 11^th 2011)

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (April 26^th 2011)

Timeless by Alexandra Monir (January 11^th 2011)

Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (January 11^th 2011) 

 

What are you waiting for? Head over to Miss Page-Turner's City of Books, become a follower, and enter to win!

 

Enjoy your reading!
Christi

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme event created by Breakingthespine to help showcase upcoming releases. I first learned about it through WORD for Teens.

OK, this Wednesday is slightly more exciting than most for me, as I'm literally waiting for my vacation to start! And what better way to gear up for a (hopefully) warm vacation than by spotlighting a book about freezing cold snow?


Trapped by Michael Northrop

Scholastic, February 1, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....
Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....

I'm getting a little panicky just thinking about being stuck in a school for a week during a snow storm with no heat, electricity, or hope of escaping. I can't wait to see the direction this story takes! Trapped is scheduled to be released in February--just in time for snow season! Trapped is also part of the YA Contemps Challenge.

What are you waiting for?
Enjoy your reading!
Christi