Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The Top Ten topic this week is: Top Ten Books That Make You Think (About The World, People, Life, etc.)
Here is my attempt at a Top Ten.
1. The Fault in our Stars – John Green
An incredible story about teenagers who attend a cancer kids support group. A lovely story about life and living it.
2. Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire
This is the chaotic love story of Travis and Abby and how they meet and fall in love. I remember shaking my head as I read the last page of Beautiful Disaster. I flew through this book, the story was addictive. But I cannot understand how anyone can believe that these two will find a happy ending. Travis is bound to turn violent towards the heroine. He is unstable and Abby increases his instability. Travis isn’t romantic, he’s controlling. Head for the hills Abby.
3. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Sarra Manning
Neve the main character used to be grossly obese but has fought her way to a healthy weight. Loved how the book deals with Neve’s confidence issues. The character has stayed with me.
4. Breathe – Abbi Glines
Breathe is the story of a young girl who falls in love with a world famous pop star. I found the story troubling in that I wondered what message it sent to young girls about relationships. The male character has all the power in the relationship. He makes all the decisions and the heroine is simply carried along.
5. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks – E. Lockhart
Frankie was adored by her boyfriend Matthew not for who she was but for who he wanted her to be. I love how Frankie breaks out and becomes her strong capable self. So amazing after reading about the many weak girls sadly prevalent in YA. Sorry Bella!
6. A Long, Long Sleep– Anna Sheehan
Parental abuse wasn’t obvious in that there were no bruises or physical scars but every time Rose’s parents didn’t feeling like dealing with her, they put her to sleep in a stasis tube, often for years at a time. A terribly sad story really.
7. Tom Crean: Unsung Hero of the Scott and Shackleton Antarctic Expeditions – Michael Smith
People are amazing 🙂
8. Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
Does the ends justify the means.
9. Blood and Chocolate – Annette Curtis Klause
Learning to accept who you are.
10. The Hunger Games Trilogy – Suzanne Collins
I’ve pondered the ending of the Hunger Games many times. I know many people were unhappy with the way the book ended but I thought it was perfect. Katniss was traumatised by all she had endured. If the ending had been happy go lucky, it would have negated or belittled all the loss and death and suffering experienced by the characters.
Adina's Book Blog 
Great post, I think everyone has the Hunger Games on their list! I do.
Check out my list here
Ya, I see The Hunger Games everywhere today.
I saw Ender’s Game on another list and realized it could have been on mine, too.
Totally agree about the ending to Hunger Games. It fit the story that things don’t end perfectly. We just need to keep going.
I think this topic has generated the greatest diversity of responses (which is awesome because it’s given me a bunch of books to add to my list), but The Hunger Games seems to be the lone consesus
My husband keeps telling me to read Ender’s Game – I need to do it!
I loved Hunger Games and Blood and Chocolate. I agree with you about the end of Hunger Games as well.
Definitely read Ender’s Game if you get the chance. It’s a great and surprising read.
I’m working myself up to read The Fault in Our Stars cause I know it’s gonna make me cry! Great list!
I thought The Fail in Our Stars was very thought-provoking as well, but I seem to be the only one uncomfortable with the implication that sex is one of the end goals of life. Or maybe the end goal of a relationship, at least. I guess I am saying that I think the story would have been equally beautiful if they had never slept together, but that does not seem to be the attitude the book has.
I was not a fan of Blood and Chocolate, but I might have gone in with too high expectations. I should have added The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. It slipped my mind.
I’ve ruined many a book by going in with sky high expectations 🙂
Great list! I’ve read THE HUNGER GAMES (love it!) and want to read THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. I understand what you’re saying about the ending of THE HUNGER GAMES; as someone pointed out to me, in real life endings aren’t always happy, and Collins totally showed that. (But did she have to kill Finnick?)
Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf
Oh yes, poor Finnick. I adored him and Annie.
For me it was the death of Prim, the girl who triggered the entire series, that frustrated me the most. I can deal with characters having PTSD, losing friends (either to death or changed personalities, ie Gale), but Prim’s death seemed to add nothing to the story. That and Katniss spending most of the story hiding in the closet…
Prim’s death was so shocking. I had to re-read that scene several times to believe it.
I saw an excellent one-man show of the story of Tom Crean in Ireland! Amazing, inspiring story.
An incredible man. I can barely comprehend the bravery.