Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart A Little

1. Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Because the ending is just heartbreaking. When she can't reach him before he disappears... I was distraught. It really is the saddest thing. What's worse is that you don't expect them to meet, but it still seems so cruel when it actually happens.
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery The ending of this threw me into a slump for weeks afterwards since the pure sadness that took over stopped me from enjoying anything. It's an amazing book, it really is, but I hate that that had to be ending. And it was foreshadowed (I realised on second read) which bothered me more.
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Most people probably know why this is heart breaking, because everything seems so disjointed at the end. I can't put my finger on it, but it just felt like all the joy and everything that was good in the book's world was lost and I just couldn't believe it ended so- to me- hopelessly.
4. The High Lord by Trudi Canavan The ending of this is kind of bitter sweet. Looking back, it made perfect sense and I can't fault it, but it was still so sad. To think that he who one is led to dislike becomes he who is loved and then once again his fate is turned on its head. I'm trying not to give it away, but I think you get the idea.
5. Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings Not because of the love: because it was the end of the series I loved most! I found out there was a sequel series, plus two prequels, later on; but it killed me at the time to know that I had no more to read of that series. The others were good (especially the prequels) but never like reading those 5 books the first time.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Less heartbreaking, more bitter sweet, was how I found the ending and the book in general. There is some heartbreak in the hopelessness of the case, but it is there and it is poignant.
7. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson Mainly because we find out a lot more about Lisbeth and truly start to understand her situation. This is augmented by the next book (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) but realisng how terrible her life is just exemplifies the pity you already feel for her. But pity isn't the right word; since she is more than competent and above pity. Compassion, perhaps. Also, what happens in the end broke my heart in terms of how much had been done for such a small, empty even, gain.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern How things had to turn out with the Circus, and also the slow coming to this eventuality, just makes you ache with sorrow. It isn't particularly bad in some ways, but how much they gave up moves me into an area I can't express with words. 
9. The Road by Cormac McCarthy They go so far in this novel, and the father remains hopeful no matter what befalls them. He is rock in the story and is amazing though we basically know nothing about him. The ending, then, is all the more tragic because it symbolises so much more than a loss of a person, but the loss of hope and driving force in an otherwise empty and broken world.
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë As most people probably know, this boils down to a book of unrequited love and the things it can do to different people. Despite all the evil things done and the amount of times I wanted to scream out in anger, one is constantly emphatic with Heathcliff. Anyone can understand his motives, so we question whether we might do the same should such a fate befall us. This book, in some ways, is something that just keeps breaking your heart in several places.

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

(Debut authors, authors who seem to have taken a hiatus, OR for those who read classics authors you wish would have written another book before they passed.)

1. Jane Austen (Deceased) I haven't read all of Austen's books, but I think I've read half in less than a year. I feel as though I don't want to finish all her books because then I would dislike knowing there is no more. I could re-read, but there is no feeling like picking up a book for the first time and discovering a great love for it. Also, Austen's kind of my rock. If I have many bad books, I know can find Austen and rediscover a happiness in reading.
2. David Eddings  (Deceased) He wrote my favourite series of books and though he did write others, he never revisited this series. I don't want to say he left things unanswered, because I felt he did round off everything satisfactorily, but there were still other things I wanted to know about, other things I wanted to watch as they grew. I adored these characters and people too much.
3. Erin Morgenstern Though I doubt it happening, I'd love being able to dive back into the Night Circus either by her writing a new book or by an extension/sidestory. I just love this too much.
4. Kathryn Stockett I couldn't say she has taken a break or anything because with the film and her life, I imagine she's been ever so busy. Still, I loved the book and would appreciate another.
5. Michelle Paver I've read a lot of what she has written, and I find her a really engaging author that creates wonderful atmospheres and brilliant antagonists. She has other books, but I don't think I'd like them like I'd like her most recent writings. I actually don't mind what genre she's in. The series I read was YA/Teen Fantasy but another stand alone book was a Ghost Story; I loved both equally.
6. Douglas Adams  (Deceased) I imagine anyone who has read anything by him- either the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books, the radio script, or his other series can appreciate his unique wit and way of making people confused without ostracising them. He does it in a friendly, funny way. I always feel sad to think that he died, especially after reading stuff Stephen Fry wrote in his autobiography.
7. Muriel Barbery She's written something else and though I went to buy it, reviews warded me away. They said it wasn't bad, but if you'd read The Elegance of the Hedgehog (which is my favourite book) you might dislike her other book. Still, I may relent at some point since I loved her novel so much.
8. Stieg Larsson  (Deceased) I can think about him without feeling sad: he wrote all the books, left them with his publisher, and died before he could see them published. I wonder how he would feel knowing the response people had to them. And even though he lost me sometimes, he did have an insight into something that doesn't get a lot of press/
9. Anthony Horowitz Now he is neither my favourite writer nor one with remarkable skill: but he's good at coming up with stories and ideas for stories. The only reason I put him here is that he has written 4 books in a five book series but hasn't done the last one yet! When he did he publish number 4? 2008. Grrr. 
10. Stephen Chbosky Perks of Being a Wallflower is a well-known and well respected book, and I'm not asking that he write a sequel or anything, but I can appreciate his ability to write and craft really superbly realistic characters. I adored the book (are you seeing a trend in this list?) and I'd enjoy being able to buy something else by him and have him lose me in a great story I'll recommend to every passer-by.

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Because the world she created and the story in that world is magical beyond any reckoning or description. I can only think the most literal of readers, the kind who hate the fantastical, could dislike this.
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Since this was the first time I read Austen, because I felt I must, and I was hooked and have read half her books now...I think. It's so nice to know I love a classicist in every manner one can imagine.
3. Enclave by Ann Aguirre Since, on one hand, it's a really great book that was the start of all my dystopian love and allowed me to start in this section and world of reading. On the other hand, it's also the book I class as having opened the door for me to the book blogging world and community. I've got to love a book for that.
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth Since I wanted it for so long beforehand, and it didn't disappoint. Along with looking intriguing, the story was like rollercoaster you queue for hours for, expecting to be disappointed, and only being in complete awe of afterwards. I loved this book and I commend and definitely see why it won Goodreads' book of the year.
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett Because it opened my eyes to a suffering that I knew existed but never really understood properly until this book. It's one of those books that teaches and educates whilst also being entertaining and funny. It was one of those rare completely all-rounded books. And this is one no one could dislike, I'm sure.
6. The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson Since it was a much darker book than many I'd ever read and was graphic to a degree I don't want to think about. Yet it was the first non-fantasy or sci-fi book that I found myself hooked on and read in a day, moving immediately on to the sequel. Again, it was also quite and insightful book on Sweden.
7. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver One area of books I don't read is horror or ghost stories, otherwise my over-zealous imagination goes into overdrive and I'll sleep badly. I picked up this book in passing to just see how it was (Paver wrote another series I particularly enjoyed) and I found myself caught and couldn't stop. All the while, I was telling myself to stop otherwise I'd freak myself out but I couldn't. It riveting and brilliant. It's a ghost story as well, not horror, I might add.
8. Junky by William S. Burroughs Since I liked finding a modern classic writer I liked, since they're a bit rare. I found the book oh-so-clever and really liked the pictures and imagery created by it. I intend to read more of his work after this pleasant experience.
9. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting As I mention in the review, I found this through something else the writer wrote (an article I believe) and just fell head-over-heels in love with the writing style itself. I loved the book since it was both unique and tremendously well-written.
10. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Was probably the first predominantly romance book I sat down too, and I really liked it. It was quirky and perhaps difficult to understand at first, but it quickly improved and became a book I recommend when I can. At the moment, my Grandma actually has my copy.

There's my list, and I hope you all had a Festive Christmas and relaxing St. Stephens day (Boxing day... I like to be different, it's not religious I assure you) as well as wishing you a truly Happy New Year! Let's all make resolutions we can keep, hmm?

Happy Hopping and Happy Reading!!!

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

1. Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin I've read book one and I just couldn't bear the cliffhanger. I've asked for the rest of the books, but I'd be happy with just the next book to satisfy my curiosity. I mean, some reviews are saying they aren't good books.
2. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak is one I've heard basically raving about anywhere and everywhere. I'll be proud to know contribute in such conversation since I'll have read it.
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss Another one I've had recommended a couple of times that I'm finally getting around to getting. 
4. Legend by Marie Lu Since I heard about it a while ago, went to buy it and... it wasn't out yet. So this is the realisation of a book I've been waiting to have for a much too long time.
5. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson To add to my pile of fantasy, I have another book which has mostly received good reviews and criticism (at least where I've looked) and I find the concept interesting and unique enough that I couldn't, in good conscience, pass this by.
6. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Since my...inauguration in liking dystopia, this one has come up a few times. I haven't read it or seen the film, but again the positive feed back has me thinking I'll both like and be mildly disgusted by this book.
7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I'm trying my best to read classics, and this is another one that I feel I'll have to read. I've heard that with Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, these make quite the set. I'll be glad to have read them all.
8. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake Enough people have said this is weird in a good way that I feel I want to know how this book happens. The title puts me off a bit (I have a huge aversion to blood), but I've been mildly assured I shouldn't worry.
9. Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan I read the first book in this series earlier in the year and, bleak and depressing as it was, it was riveting and realistic. I won't be reading this too soon after Christmas (it is supposed to be joyous, after all) but I want to read it soon-ish, before I forget book 1.
10. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb The final one is another fantasy one that I want to read. Seriously, I could spending the next three months on fantasy exclusively and still have some left. I think I'm making things hard for myself since I'm starting all these series that have the potential to depress me and consume me at exam time, but they've all come well recommended so I shan't shy away just yet.

Thanks for hopping by. Maybe you could tell me one book; because if we all write lists of ten down there, it just gets cluttered. And, if I agree with the one you do choose, I can feel confident to hop on over to you.

Anyway, Happy Hopping!

Oh: Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year too (if you're just the casual hopper)!!!!

Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts (and to who...even if you won't actually give them!)

 

 I'll start off with the ones I can and will give, then get the unlikely ones.

1. An Undetermined Cookbook to my father. Now I know that sounds like I'm saying "You can't cook: fix it!!!" but it's more along the lines that he's got more interesed in cooking recently and- since he's a damnably hard person to buy for, I'm getting this. Problem solved, crisis averted.
2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan for my brother. I mentioned when I reviewed The Lost Hero that I buy the Riordan books for my brother, but mainly because I also really like them. And I always buy them for him- only he doesn't know I read them. This was easy to decide!
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern for Hannah at Once Upon A Time since I promised I would. Everyone who reads this can bear witness to me saying this. I will buy it for her if she does not have it by New Year's Day. It's amazing and I know I'll enjoy feeling as though I'm sharing my adoration.
4. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings for Hannah too. She likes fantasy (or at least she's a really great liar about the fact she does) and I want need someone else out there to have read these books and hopefully to love them. But I won't be buying it for her since I also feel special for discovering something I alone seem to love. (I'd probably buy these for every blogger I follow too. Someone else must love this!)
5. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings would also find it's way to her too. I don't think book one is really amazing, and this (book two) is what actually hooked me to the series.
6. Horde by Ann Aguirre for Karen at For What It's Worth. This isn't feasible because (a) it isn't published yet and (b) and don't even know if it's written yet. Regardless, I'd like to reach into the future and get this for her. I'm sure she'd adore it.
7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett for Tiger at All Consuming Books. On one hand, I'd like to buy this for most people out there since it's an amazing book. Yet, despite the film, I think it's kinf of unknown, which is sad. It's a great book, and I think Tiger is eclectic enough to not put it off.
8. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky to be bought an left on a train somewhere. It's so easy to love this book and be drawn into it. I'd leave it with a post-it saying "READ ME!" so that someone would try it. I'm sure they'd adore it.
9. The Road by Cormac McCarthy just like above. Maybe this time on a plane since it's short enough that you could read a chunk of this on a flight and still be kind of hooked. The lack of actual chapters makes it hard to put down since most readers like stopping a set intervals.
10. The Elegance of the Hedgehog for a director who could do it justice. I want someone to read this and at least make a stab of making this film. It's truly great, and I can't see how someone wouldn't love it. I know the film wouldn't be great, but I can only read this book so many times until it means unhealthy. I need another medium to enjoy it. Though he's not a director Adam (RoofBeamReader) would probably also like this!