Favourite Books of 2012

I've done this for the last two Christmasses (2010, 2011)so I guess it's become a bit of a 'Rebecca-Books Christmas tradition' now. As many followers may have noticed, I add the name of my favourite book every month on the Books of 2012 page as I have for the last two years. Anyway, this list is basically a congregation of the books I absolutely loved this year for any reason at all be it my surprise at enjoying a book THAT much or just the sheer amazingness of said book. Whatever the reason, here's the twelve best books that I have read this year.

ALSO, while I've got people's attention, I would like to thank some bloggers for being so so lovely over the last year who have helped in a few ways. It's really lovely to know I have people that both read my blog and care about what I think. It's just a nice feeling to be part of the blogging community. So, thank you to Amy, Nessie, Lucy, Ria, Clover, Emma (and anyone else I forgot, you know who you are!) and the author, Marie-Louise Jensen who I was able to complain of college work and university choices to.  Thank You.

VIII - H.M.Castor

There are not many times when a book is THAT good that I am lost for words. There are also infrequent times when a book is so gripping you have to resist the urge to carry on reading in order to go about your daily life.
This book has both of those things. I was stuck in bed for a day with sickness at the beginning of January 2012 with the only accompany being this book that I had just started. Oh my. My eyes were so sore from reading, my back ached from being in bed yet I just couldn't stop reading. This is the most gripping historical fiction book I have ever read with so much detail about a period of history I absolutely love: the Tudors. I shall be re-reading this in 2013 in preparation for my History exam on guess what - Henry VIII!

Review  |  Goodreads





Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

 I waited so long to get a copy of this (thank you to my friend Emma for finally providing a copy!) and this did not disappoint. This is something completely different to any other book I have read - it is kooky, quirky, hilarious, cynical, lovely and sad in a variety of ways with some of the best characters.
This really romanises the idea of reading and books I think, so many 'Kiss already!' moments that have you with a huge goofy smile plastered on your face. Ah, I want to go to the Strand Bookstore in New York now!

Review  |  Goodreads









Cinder - Marissa Meyer

I don't think I was expecting much when I first started reading this book. A cyborg in a book based on the fairytale of Cinderella? That wouldn't work was what I had decided before reading it.
Yet, I actually really loved this book and was so surprised! I think a lot of people, like me, would look at this book and discount it straight away, judgingly but I felt it was done so well.
The novel is full to the brim with tension, drama and the lovely cynical Cinder. It doesn't feel like an adaptation of Cinderella as you read it but a whole different unique story.
I've already got Scarlet on my Christmas list, so looking forward to reading the next in the series!

Review  |  Goodreads






The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

I don't think there is much I can say that hasn't already been said about this fabulous book. I liked John Green's writing on a 'Oh I like his books but I'm not like head over heels for his books' level.
A girl was sitting in my English class this time last year reading this, I saw it and asked her about it with which she replied with a long rant about how great John Green was and how great this book was and that I must read it.
Fast forward 3 months and I did. OH MY. I CAN SEE HER EXCITEMENT. This is a book that means a lot to me in a few different ways, one of which is that it had the power to help me make friends with at least 3 people. It makes me want to share this book with ANYONE.

Review  |  Goodreads





Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

I've said it before. This series wins the prize for 'I Can't Believe I Hadn't Read This Until Now' - I mean, they have everything I like in books, Scott Westerfeld is a great writer and I've been pondering over these books for years.
There are two things that stuck with me once reading the first book in this series. One, that I totally understood Tally's problem of trying to convert herself to a certain someone. It is something I think most teenagers can resonate with.
Two, the world that Westerfeld creates is very vivid and all together quite scary to how similar some aspects are today. So glad I finally read this series this year.

Review  |  Goodreads







Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

I think anyone with a book/movie that shares the same name as them would be curious. That is exactly why I read this book, as well as part of an assignment for English to read a Gothic literature text OTHER than Frankenstein (FYI, this is classed as a 'Modern Gothic Text').
So there was my excuse. I really didn't think I was going to like this but I was pleasantly surprised. This book is full to the brim of suspense, mystery and deceit - it's clear why Alfred Hitchcock chose to adapt this movie into a film under his name. I don't normally review books I read for college or classics in general as this is a YA blog but I liked this book waaay too much not to.
This book is 74 years-old. Yet I think anyone, whatever age, can still enjoy it.

Review  |  Goodreads





What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

I'm a Sarah Dessen fan, and have been for a number of years now. So I HAVE to have a Sarah Dessen book on here right?!
I tried to write a decent review for this but I think most bloggers would agree, when you like an author too much, the review isn't always one of your best.
For me, this will never beat the likes of Just Listen or The Truth About Forever but this latest offering comes pretty close.
Before I gush about my love for Sarah Dessen and her books, I'll leave you with one of the lines I wrote in my review which I hope sums this lovely writer up: There is just something extraordinary about Sarah Dessen's writing. Something absolutely magical and compelling that creates something that you devour.

Review  |  Goodreads






The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

This book wins the award for 'I Can't Believe I Liked This Book'.
In truth, I never intended to read this, the hardback sitting on my desk for months after my friend shoved it into my hands demanding it be read. Adult Fiction never really truly does it for mostly and the vague blurb left me less excited.
I'm not sure what made me pick this up eventually but something nagged me telling me I should read it. And I did.
OH MY. Some books are just lovely to read, the humour may be great, the romance too cute for words or a roller-coaster of emotions makes you feel so in awe by the end. With this, the writing and language is what sticks with everyone I have spoken about it to. It's so romanised  beautiful and vivid. This precise, intricate detail is just so well-thought. This is one of the first books I recommend at work now...

Review  |  Goodreads




After - Morris Gleitzman

After being introduced to this series by my friend, T, I have been a fan of Morris Gleitzman and the adventures of Felix in World War II.
I was a little disappointed with the third in the series, Now, which I thought was the last in the series. UNTIL. This was released and for me, it was the perfect and best end to the Once series. This is not one you read for fun, it's uncomfortable to read with the naive, innocence of Felix, yet extremely poignant.
This series does not need to be read in order, but if you want a book that will help you appreciate life - you've found it.

Review  |  Goodreads







Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

As I said before, adult fiction books don't always seem that attractive. They can be too fluffy, a little too intense or about things I don't quite understand. Being 18, I should REALLY be reading more adult books but WHO CARES.
I bought this book on a whim after being excited for the movie release featuring three of my favourite actors in the main parts (I am yet to see the movie...).
I finally read it a couple of months ago and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I loved the realistic writing and the main character of Kathy. Some say this book is boring, I beg to differ.

Goodreads








The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgereld

Very rarely have I still liked a book that I've had to study in English, it's something that really ruins English for me as I grow to dislike a book I thought was great after the first read.
That was until The Great Gatsby came along. Actually, the over analysis and facts I had to know about this novel only made me like it even more. If you're going to read a classic, this is a good one being barely 200 pages long yet so much happens. Fitzgerald fits so much impact, profoundness and tension into such a short book that I'm glad he was commended for it.
I am so excited for the film being released next year. I've already made plans with friends (who also do English!) to go and see it. I will enjoy seeing Leonardo Di Caprio on the big screen, just not sure yet about his accent...

Goodreads

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Favourite Books of 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's that time again this year! December for bloggers is the time to reflect on what we've read and think about the books we would like to read in the new year...and what books we want on our present lists!

This the second year that I have done one of these, it's so nice to know that this blog is still going strong. It's been an amazing year and I hope I'll be doing another one of these this time next year. If you want to have a look at the one for 2010, click here.

On the Books of 2011 page, I added my favourite book of that month and this is an end of year round up of  my all time favourite books of this year. Enjoy!

January: A Song for Summer - Eva Ibbotson

This is the first book of 2011 I read and it is one that has stuck with me for the rest of the year. It is incredibly beautiful and powerful to read and I think it shows the essence of Eva Ibbotson's great writing skills.
I also read another one of Eva Ibbotson's - This Morning Gift. Which although it was good and enjoyable, for me, it just didn't suit my tastes and I found it a little boring. Eva Ibbotson's plots can be quite complex but this book and The Secret Countess are ones that are more simple and much more enjoyable.

Review | Goodreads


February: Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

This is one of those books where you're not sure whether it's going to be good or not. I mean, it was an interesting concept but I read so many bad reviews for this before I started.
And until about halfway through, I thought it was so-so. This book has some of the most well thought-out and most original characters I have ever read in Audrey, Victoria and Jonah. The plot is fast and keeps you interested without being too fast paced. It has an interesting storyline and one, although it's never happened to me, I could relate to. Although there is a lot of swearing, like on every page, this book creates a fun, musical atmosphere that is so enjoyable and optimistic to read. You can tell I enjoyed it as I read it in only a few days.
Review | Goodreads


March Part 1: Chocolate Cake with Hitler - Emma Craigie

This was an extraordinary book, one that I remember frequently and really got me interesting in the whole story of Hitler's last days. This has a lovely range of characters in an interesting and intriguing setting. You can see how much research and detail has done into this novel and it has, although a horrible, shocking ending to the main story, a look at the different characters mentioned and how they spent the rest of their lives. This is a book that makes you reflect on life and how experiences like this can change you.

Review | Goodreads



March Part 2: The Legacy - Gemma Malley

Yes, I couldn't choose which one to have that month so I chose two. The Legacy was a book I waited for, for what seemed like ages. I had read the first two books in the trilogy, The Declaration and The Resistance and loved them - but they left so many things unanswered to I was itching for the library to have this book in. And it did - finally. This was my first dose of dystopian fiction and I loved it, from the characters of Peter and Anna to the plot to the interesting twists and turns that line the whole series. Gemma Malley, for me, is a genesis.

Review | Goodreads



April: I was Jane Austen's Best Friend - Cora Harrison

I admit I was dubious of this book when I saw the title and cover, something stopped me buying it until it was in the sale. But I absolutely loved it. The characters are amazing and really reflect the characters of Austen's best loved book, Pride and Prejudice. The plot, language, descriptions, characters, romance was just spot on and this instantly became my favourite book after reading. I'll looking forward to reading the next in the series, Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend (yes, I am dubious of the title still) which I'm waiting for the paperback version before buying.

Review | Goodreads



May: Looking for Alaska AND July: Paper Towns - John Green

Okay so there were two John Green novels at the top for 2011 but I thought I'd combine them.
Looking for Alaska was interesting and gave me a nice introduction to John Green in general. This was a great book with interesting characters, a great plot and a lovely setting. It isn't a perfect novel, I thought the second half of the novel was nothing special but for me, the first half made this book.

Review | Goodreads

Paper Towns was a much better read for me than Looking For Alaska. The plot and characters were much better and I don't think I've EVER laughed so much when reading a novel. This  book had me in stitches on every page, some of my favourite quotations come from this.
Great book, I would recommend it to anyone.

Review | Goodreads





June: Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier

I was introduced to this book by a friend of mine, she wanted me to read it thinking I would enjoy it. And boy, did I. It's quite interesting when you get behind an idea like a painting. I loved the original setting and characters that accompanied it.
Although this is a fiction book, I liked the idea that it could be real and that the story could have happened. So glad I read this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction or this movie.

Review | Goodreads | Movie Review







July: The Roman Mysteries: The Man from Pomegrantate Street - Caroline Lawrence

The Roman Mysteries was a series I started reading when I was in Year 4 (3rd Grade) and have read it over and over since. This year marked the end of the main series with the release of the final book in the series.
I loved it and it is my favourite of the whole series. This series is aimed at children 9-12 but is still amazingly interesting for a 16 year-old like me.
They have some great characters with vivid descriptions and lots of twists and turns throughout. The ending was perfect and a great end to the books that filled my childhood.

Review | Goodreads




August: Theodore Boone - John Grisham

I've always known about John Grisham, in fairness, who hasn't? But this was a nice way to be introduced to his writing and interesting with him branching on to teenage fiction. Theodore Boone is such a unique person with a life which is quite...nice. I would love to be him for a day.
There's something very different about this mini-series of books which makes you want to read them and read them.

Review | Goodreads






September: The Rogue's Princess - Eve Edwards

I absolutely fell in love with Eve Edward's writing and characters in her first novel The Other Countess. This year saw the release of the next two in the series, The Queen's Lady and this one, The Rogue's Princess continuing following the male Lacey's falling in love. Soppy, but she does it so well.
The Other Countess is my favourite so far but this one is close behind with moments I laughed out loud and moments I had tears in my eyes. She really is an author to watch eagerly.

Review | Goodreads




October: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

There is always that book where you seem like the last person to finally get around to reading it and then, when you do, you think 'Why on earth did I not read this one before?'
The Hunger Games is the case here. I borrowed the book from a friend after my close friends were always saying 'Rebecca, you have a blog about books, why have you not read it?!'
This is one of my favourites, the characters, plot and setting are all so unique and something incredibly different. I am so looking forward to the movie version in 2012.

Review | Goodreads



November: Wither - Lauren DeStefano

This is another case where I wondered why I hadn't read it yet. I bought this book in the summer because I loved the cover (sad but true I'm afraid). This is an amazing book with lots of morals we don't think about challenged.
For me, the thing that clung to me was the descriptions and DeStefano's beautiful writing. This is an incredible book that stays with you.
I'm looking forward to the sequel, Fever, released in February!

Review | Goodreads






December: Saving June - Hannah Harrington

This was my first Netgalley book and I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it at all. In fact, I really enjoyed it and I realised that this is the kind of book I truly like.
There are many faults that annoyed me but ultimately, this book reminded me so much of Sarah Dessen's work. The continuous change of location and the look at Harper's judgements about those around her constantly changing really interested me. One of the most surprising reads that I enjoyed indeed.

Review | Goodreads





Notable Mentions:
- Bright Young Things - Anna Godbersen
- Once - Morris Gleitzman
- Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery - Keren David
- Where She Went - Gayle Forman

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

My Top 10 Books this year (sorry it's a tad long!)

This is the first Christmas of the blog. Hopefully, there will be more. So. This is the top 10 books that I've read this year. There will be another one of the best moments of 2010 on New Year's Eve - hopefully. And I mean 'hopefully'.


So this is in no particular order, just the order I thought of them. This is also books, that I have only read once. The first time being this year.


1. Along For The Ride - Sarah Dessen

This was the first book reviews on the blog. Amazing isn't it?
I loved this book. It's one of the best of Sarah Dessen's in my opinion, as well as The Truth About Forever. Actually, I loved this book so much, I read it twice in about two months - of course with other books in between. It's also special for me because it was released on my birthday - February 6th. And my parents pre-ordered it for my birthday - god I love them more because of that. ha :)
Anyway. I just love the romance and the characters, they're all great. And Eli...hm. :) The girls are great and provided me with so many moments where I laughed out loud because they just came out with the most funniest things (and before you English people say something about 'the most funniest' - I do it all the time. I know. It makes sense to me.)
My Review
Goodreads

2. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

I just...I love this novel. It's modern. It's something different. And it all fits in with what happened at the beginning in the end. The first chapter has you sitting there like 'What the hell?' but by the end, you're like 'Oh. I get it now'.
I don't know about anyone else, but I like books that are like that. Just my taste, I guess. It was a long time ago I read this and I borrowed it from Joey so I can't remember all the characters names. But whoever they were, I liked them.
And they made me laugh. Which always raised the bar on a book for me.
And they made a movie of this in Japan...with Emma Roberts in. :S
I would like to see that as it is one of those books where you read it and could see it as a movie...
My Review
Goodreads
 3. Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness

Oh Patrick. Ness. This is the last book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. And I think the best.
Now, I'm not a fantasy gal normally but I love this. Because well, it's a mixture of everything. Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure. And again I love those books that have more than one genre in them. I think it makes them more interesting.
I'm so glad what happened to Viola and Todd in the end, it was just right. And even left it on a little bit of a cliffhanger so some of it it left to you to decide what happens in the complete end. That's nice. It was the perfect ending book for this amazing series.


My Review
Goodreads
Losing It Event
My Mention :)


4. If I Stay - Gayle Forman

This is the only book ever to make me slightly cry. And I mean ever. Sure, I've felt sad or had tears in my eyes but this is the first book to physically have me with tears streaming down from my eyes.
This book is actually slightly breathtaking. It's full of flashbacks of a girl in a coma which is (well we don't know do we?) slightly unrealistic but it didn't go overboard. There were flashbacks from her memory of the past too.
It was also just so beautifully written by Gayle Forman.
And like Love, Aubrey - it stays with you. I still think about it sometimes.
There is a sequel next year but I'm not sure if that's going to ruin it...make it...we'll find out.


My Review
Goodreads


5. (Halfway) The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson

Oh my. I wanted to read this as soon as I saw it in the shops and the reviews popped up on the blogosphere. Although, it wasn't AS good as I thought it was going to be, it was still pretty darn good and as I made so much hype about it, it deserves to be in the Top 10.
The difference and thing I loved about this book, was the fact we found out a lot of the main character, Lennie's feelings through the poems on the pictures, which were supposedly 'found', at the start of each chapter. I think that's what made me and Joey love it. It's now one of Joey's favourite books, I think partly because of that. George also recently borrowed it and read it in two days. Yeah I know. She liked that part of the novel too. I think it also just in the English version. I don't know...I think it's one of the best parts.
My Review
Goodreads
My 'I WANT THIS BOOK' post.


6. The Secret Countess (also known as The Countess Below Stairs) - Eva Ibbotson

This was the book that got me into Eva Ibbotson who I kinda have a love for at the moment. She is a historical romance writer. My favourite genre in the whole of the book writing world.
 It was again just different and completely original. Even if there was an element of the 'forbidden romance' which I guess is in most novels that have some kind of hint of romance.
I don't know. It's just it showed what it was like to be Upstairs in a big house in English and the 20's and Downstairs. It was a bit like Downton Abbey but less drama and involving one person...

My Review
Goodreads

7. Auslander - Paul Dowswell

Okay. So not the normal type of book you'd see me read or even have a look at. The thing that drew me to this book was the fact it's set during Nazi Germany. The period I'm studing for History.
This again is a book that had a bit of everything. Romance, Action, Tension, Comedy, Adventure. And it's also the Survival Guide to passing GCSE History - Nazi Germany. It tells you everything in so much detail about anything to do with that time frame. Life, before the war, during the war, what children did, how everyone was on edge about being sent to concentration camps, Jews.
I loved it and I think I'll always remember it. It made me understand truly what life was like then. Not nice.

My Review
Goodreads

8. The Other Countess - Eve Edwards

I think this has got to be one of the best books I've read this year - by then this whole list is. It kinda blew me away a little. I just couldn't get enough of it.
I bought it on a 3 for 2 offer, I was slightly...nervous about starting it. The cover isn't exactly the most teenager-ist. I loved it. I absolutely 100% loved it. Eve Edwards made it so detailed in the historical side. You understood everything. The romance, even though it's throughout the whole book, it wasn't too much - just right. The next book, The Queen's Lady, is due out next year (I maaay have pre-ordered it...WHAT? Waterstones were doing half price off pre-orders and free delivery...)
I have a weakness for this author and series...

My Review
Goodreads

9. The Declaration series - Gemma Malley

I say The Declaration Series but I mean the two books in this trilogy that I discovered this year, The Declaration and The Resistance. Both, absolutely amazing and entertaining.
Now, I'm not normally the type of person (Like I said for Auslander) to go for sci-fi or basically a book like this but I was kind of 'drawn' to it and I'm so glad that I did. Because these are such great books. And I think it's also the idea behind it that's so different. And so controversal. Tablets that make you live forever. I mean, we ponder it but no-one ever does anything or try and this book shows you the consequences of the world if you DID try and make something like this. They're just such interesting novels. And the last one in the trilogy, The Legacy was out in September and I hope to read it in 2011.
The Declaration Review
The Resistance Review
Goodreads (Declaration)
Goodreads (Resistance)

10. The Betrayal - Mary Hooper

There had to be a Mary Hooper book on here. Had to.
This book is the last in the triology of At the House of the Magican series. And in my opinion, the best one. I think it is supposed to be aimed at teenagers slightly younger than me but I'm 15 and I really enjoyed it.
What I love about Mary Hooper is, she gives you such an idea in detail about what life was like in Elizabethan Times. I think this is what makes me love her writing so much. And it's historical. And has a hint of romance. My favourite. :)
The whole series was good but I think this one just topped it off and I really enjoyed this series. I would recommend them to anyone.

My Review
Goodreads



Other Mentions (ones that were equally as good and should reserve a mention):
- Shadow Web - N.M.Browne
- The Luxe Series - Anna Godberson
- Fallen Grace - Mary Hooper
- The Lady in the Tower - Marie-Louise Jensen
- Love, Lies and Lizzie - Rosie Rushton
- Star-crossed - Rachael Wing

All of these rated 5/4 stars on Goodreads. All 5 stars for the top 10 though.
Thank you if you've got down this far. And Thank you so much to all the followers, commenters and people who have visited this year since February. I appreciate it a LOT.

Have a lovely Christmas and a lovely New Year. I shall be eating and seeing family so I probably won't have time to come online so this will probably be the last post this side of Christmas (I love that pun when it gets nearer Christmas).
Have fun :)