Book Talk: Top 12 of 2012

I know I'm a month late in making this, but this blog was only made this week. All over booktubing community (youtube book reviewers), there are videos of the top 12 books they read in 2012. I'm adapting that concept and putting it in blog form. So here we go. These are in no particular order, it's was too hard to choose.

 I decided to put these two together because they are part of the same series, but they are two whole different stories. They have separate characters, plot lines, worlds, and time periods. They are Bitterblue and Fire by Kristin Cashore. I anticipated these books since I read Graceling by the same author. The librarian at my library suggested it to me and I thought I wasn't into any of the fantasy-type books. Back then, I was all about vampires and werewolves. I admit, they are dreadfully boring in the beginning and it makes it hard to get through. The endings blew me away with all the plot twists. They are the kind of books that you have to pay attention to but you won't get it until the end. I loved how Kristin Cashore left the reader in the dark until a confrontation between characters. There was no inner dialogue that whispered in your ear who had done it.

 Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins surprised me. I thought it would be girly and cheesy, but I was in a big France kick when I picked it up. So when Lola and the Boy Next Door came out, I put it on hold at the library right away. It was different than Anna but I loved how both stories intertwined. Lola and Cricket are were interesting characters to get to know and watch them develop. They both have really strong personalities. I thought including a gay couple as parents was very daring on Perkins' part. It was refreshing, like she was comfortable with her writing and didn't care about any controversy. I realized that it was my first young adult book that actually had homosexual parents. It made the book stand out from others.

I had seen the Studio Ghibli film Howl's Moving Castle twice before I found out it was a book by Diana Wynne Jones. My dad decided to get me a copy on a day that I wasn't feeling too well and I read it within two days. The movie stays true to the book. It's a perfect book when you crave some spell-casting witches and eccentric characters. Howl is like no other character I had ever encountered in any book I've read. He's mysterious, snarly, a baby, a complainer, and caring all at the same time. Calcifer, the fire demon, is a joy to read about because of his constant muttering. If you loved the movie, you'll love the book.

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Does this even need an explanation? It was the book of the year because the movie with Emma Watson came out. Charlie is one of those characters that you will never forget. If you haven't read it yet, you're missing out

A Tale of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin was my first high-fantasy experience. I was introduced to Le Guin while watching The Jane Austen Bookclub. They say her works are fantasy classics. The thing is, this book challenged me. I would find myself wanting to skim a few sentences to get to the good part like I do with any book, but I would miss vital information. Le Guin doesn't do anything half-ass.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot was one of those books that I didn't want to admit I read and liked. I mean, look at the title and the pretty pink cover with a giant sparkly tiara. I grew up watching The Princess Diaries movies on repeat, so I had to read it. Five or six books later, I still need to finish the series. It's definitely not the movie and I'm having trouble figuring out which one I like better.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See probably kicked off my obsession with Eastern contemporary books. The relationship between the main characters was so complex and complicated but beautiful at the same time. They shared everything with each other, the good and a lot of the bad. I loved seeing the girls grow and watching them lean on each other on the way. This is a great book if you want emotionally strong women in harsh times.






I read these books around Christmas time to get me into a jolly mood. Well, it certainly worked. Both are really cute, fun reads that tie together. Great for those days that you are snowed in.


-Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
-Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Con and David Levithan

 Oh goodness, these are the books that are packed to to the brim with emotion. I warned you, these are the tearjerkers. They made my eyes puffy and my nose runny. I am the world's ugliest crier so I try not to do it when I can. While reading these two, it just couldn't be contained. Any book that causes that emotion gets a good rating in my book.

-A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
-Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford