Top 13 Books of 2013

This is based on books I read this year and not ones that were published this year. Some of these books will be self-published as well. Also if a series got rated all the same then I count them as 1 book. If not then I'll just put my favourite book in the list.


13. Silence by Natasha Preston - 3.5/5

This book follows Oakley, who happens to be mute due to something that happened to her as a child. She's been best friends with Cole through-out her entire life and he knows what she's thinking just by looking at her expressions. The book 'Silence' dealt with some serious issues that not many authors would take on and the reason I gave it a 3.5 stars is because there were quite a few spelling mistakes and typos. This book is also self-published.


12. Broken Silence by Natasha Preston - 4/5

This book follows on with Silence, but this time it's fast forward four years. Oakley left for Australia and now she's back for the trial. However, she's not sure how to deal with Cole and the whole 'I still love him' phase. However, this book really closed the book up and made you think just how blessed you are. I only knocked it down because of the spelling mistakes and typo's. Natasha will also be having a book published next year, 'The Cellar' which will be published by Source Books.


11. The Selection by Kiera Cass - 4/5

At first I thought this book would've been terrible. However, it was written beautifully and the characters with brilliant. But the one character that I absolutely could not stand was Aspen. He couldn't decide if he wanted America or not and it happened on more than one occasion
through out the book. I wanted to give it a 5, but I felt like there was something missing.







10. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J.K. Rowling - 4/5

I first read Harry Potter when I was 11 years old. And I loved it. I thought it was full of action, but now as an 18 year old boy, I felt differently about the book. In some parts it was slow and boring, but nearer to the end it got better. However, the character and world development had me hooked. I couldn't believe how brilliant it was.


9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - 4/5

I can see why everybody loved this book. But I have read a lot of cliché and predictable books in the past years and this is included with them. Yes, the characters were great and the descriptions or Paris were amazing. But the book lacked something for me. I wanted more from the characters and the premise. However, it was still a great quick read.






8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 5/5

This book was amazing and at the beginning of the year I would've said that it was my absolute favourite. But then all the other books took over. Yes, this book made me laugh, smile and shed a few tears and it wasn't because it was just about cancer and love. The way it was written was beautiful and I loved John Greens take on Cancer. Overall an outstanding book!




7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 5/5

For me this book was brilliant. Not only that, but it was full of action and had some amazing new characters. I also loved the development of both characters and world because we could see that Harry, Ron and Hermione had matured a bit. We also got to know about the chamber and the girls toilet which, even though isn't relevant, it kind of is. Best book in the series so far! (Only on the 4th book.)



6. Before I Die by Jenny Downham - 5/5

This book is about cancer, love and a girl so desperate to make her last few months left the best and trust me this book was amazing. There were parts where I hated it, but I think that was because I had watched the film (without knowing) before I read the book. The characters we ok and the premise was cliché. I did shed a tear though. One tear that is.





5. Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare - 5/5

Best book in the trilogy. I liked Clockwork Angel and I enjoyed Clockwork Princess, but for me this one was the best out of the lot. There was loads of action that kept me wanting to read more and through out this book we got to know the characters a lot more as well as the new ones. My favourite couple out of the series was Gideon and Sophie they're perfect for each other and seeing them develop was the right thing for Miss Clare to do.

4. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - 4.5/5


If you're wondering why this has a rating of 4.5 but is 4th on my list then it is because the book was amazing. However, I knocked it down by .5 because of the insta-love. Insta-love is my bookish pet peeve and as soon as I saw him say "I love you" after like 3 days I knew I had to knock it down. If this book didn't have the insta-love then it would've been 2nd or 3rd on my list.







3. Slated and Fractured by Teri Terry - 5/5

Both of these books were incredible. Not a lot of action happens, but where there is no action (Fighting, etc.) there is a lot of tense scenes which just made the book so much better. Also with the way it was written I felt like I was in Kyla's dreams. I was in the book. One thing that shocked me thought that in 40 years 'Slating' could happen.


2. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - 5/5


Yes, this one is every single book of the series. I started it thinking I'd hate it, but came out of it obsessed with the series. The world. The characters. It's just mind blowing and I really want to be a shadow-hunter and one day I will. For me, Cassandra Clare is my favourite author of 2013. If you haven't read the series then I suggest you do because once you enter it you won't come back out!





1. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - 5/5 (If I could give it 10, I would.)

My original list had The Mortal Instruments as No.1. But I read Eleanor and Park and it was clear that this one had to had the first spot. It was quirky, cute and just amazing written. But what I loved most was the fact that Rainbow took us on a journey of high school, love and the Eighties. This book will probably be my all time favourite book without a doubt!

Bout of Books 9.0 - Goals

For those that don't know what Bout of Books is... here you go:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

There were my Goals:

1. Read 'The Coldest Girl in Coldtown' by Holly Black. Also review that on Youtube Channel.

2. Participate in at least 2 challenges.

3. Read and watch 'Carrie' by Stephen King. Also post review on blog.

4. Get through at least 112 pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

However, due to having an exam next Monday I cannot take part in this read-a-thon anymore! I am so sorry, but I need to revise for it and therefore, will not be reading as much. Thanks.

Bout of Books 9.0

That's right, bitches! it's almost that time again. Time to get our read on with Bout of Books! And, if you're thinking, is he participating, then you, my friend, are correct! Go forth and sign up on the Bout of Books blog! You won't regret it!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Book Review: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

                                                                                               


         Book Name: Eleanor and Park.
         Author: Rainbow Rowell
         UK Release Date: Been out since 2012
         UK Publishers: Orion
         Summary:

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with a chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black t-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing to lose.

                                                          Praise for Rainbow Rowell:

'Heart-warming, romantic and great fun.' Closer.

'Hilarious.' Daily Record.

'An enjoyable read.' Star Magazine.

                                                          Review:

For an eighteen year old boy, I am not, entirely fussed on contemporary/romantic books because I find them really unrealistic and, to be honest, all the same. None of them never stand out because they either follow the bad boy, good girl cliché or the love is always insta
-love, which doesn't really happen in real life. Like, can you really fall in love within two days? My answer, of course would be No!

However, Eleanor and Park was completely different for me. Once I first started it I was taken in with the Eighties and experienced everything Eleanor and Park had. From that awkward first day on the school bus, to the never ending swapping of the comics and mix tapes. But most of all I felt like Rainbow Rowell had taken me on a journey of high school; a realistic journey.

Now most books set in high school follow the cliques where you have your typical Jocks, Cheerleaders, Goths, Theatre Nerds, Etc. But Rainbow Rowell did not. She created her school to be a realistic school where there are no cliques. Yes. You have your typical groups, but they weren't over taking the story. It developed it to become more real and that's why I couldn't put it down.

From the very first page we are taken to the future where you learn that their love didn't last. But if made the book even more better because I was eager to learn how Eleanor and Park came to meet. And how they began to fall for each other.

For me, their journey never got boring. In fact it got better and better and I couldn't help buy smile while reading every page. The book even had me laugh in a few places as well, which only made me fall in love even more. But even though it made me laugh there was also a part where I had tears in my eyes and that was the end.

It was sad to learn that Eleanor had to leave because of her step-father, but it was so great to learn that her life had become so much better after it all. And, if I'm honest I do believe that Eleanor and Park would meet each other again one day. 5 years. 10 years. 20 years. 50 years. No matter how many years would go by they would some how meet again and for that I am sure.

And because of Rainbow's amazing writing style and the journey she took me through I gave this an amazing FIVE STARS. There were no faults for me. Everything was realistic and it felt real, not fake and that made me even more happier.

Rainbow Rowell deserves every success she gets because she is a REAL author.

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