I picked topics instead of words because I'm not entirely sure what specific words persuade me to check out a book or even to purchase it. I wish I knew, but I think that's more of a subconscious decision on my part. And it's rare when a topic or a single word can convince me to "instantly" buy a book. A favorite author, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. So, without further ado...my list!
1. Deadly diseases or monsters that wipe out almost the entire population and force the remaining population to fight to survive - Whew, that's a conversation starter and quite a mouthful. A few examples are The Passage (I love this book!), The Stand (which I own and still need to read but its size intimidates me), and The 5th Wave (which I have pre-ordered because I now worship the ground Rick Yancey walks upon).
2. Unsettling dystopias - Wither is a perfect example for this topic, considering the series takes place in a dystopia where women only live to the age of 20, and men to 25. Other favorites are Unwind, which was very disturbing, and Blood Red Road. And, of course, The Hunger Games series!
3. Gothic anything - I mainly bought Unspoken because of its Gothic looking cover. I might not have liked the book as much as I thought I would, but the cover is stunning. Rebecca, Frankenstein, Dracula, anything by Edgar Allan Poe and other favorites of mine are all popular in this genre and are classics I simply had to read.
4. Fairy tale retellings - I don't read these nearly enough, but there are so many I intend to check out and a fair amount I already have read. Some examples of retellings I have read are Beauty, Beast, Sweetly, Sisters Red, Cinder, Zel, Book of a Thousand Days, Daughter of the Forest, and so on...
5. Magic - This is a pretty broad topic, but I have so many books that fall under it, and I continue to find myself attracted to books that take place in magical kingdoms or that intermix magic into our present-day world. Some favorites are The Curse Workers, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Poison Study, Shadow and Bone, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the Old Kingdom series, and Howl's Moving Castle.
6. Supernatural phenomenon - I love scaring myself, and I don't completely understand why. And of course, I am always drawn to Stephen King books.
7. Intense, jaw-dropping books - I love books that are really emotional and heart-wrenching. The Book Thief, Glass Castle, The Kite Runner, Jellicoe Road, The Fault in Our Stars and The Bell Jar are all wonderful examples and I love them all.
8. Assassins - I need to read more books that star assassins because I think they're kickass and are a great reason to check out a book. And that is why I loved Grave Mercy and Graceling.
9. Alternate worlds - My wardrobe, or well closet, is so boring and does not, in fact, open onto Narnia. Which is why I search for fantasy books where characters escape from reality into another world. The Magicians, Coraline, the Gemma Doyle trilogy, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (I think this was another world), and The Book of Lost Things are all examples that I've enjoyed.
10. Grief - I don't know why I am always drawn to upsetting, dark subject matters. I guess these type of books could technically fall under intense, jaw-dropping books. I find beautifully written issue books to be so rewarding and lovely to read. The Sky is Everywhere is a favorite of mine, and I definitely intend to read more like it in the future. I also picked up If I Stay because of its dark, upsetting premise, though I have yet to read this one.
What's your Top Ten this week? Leave me your link in a comment!
Supernatural/paranormal stuff and assassins are two favorites of mine too!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my TTT!
yay! they're definitely worth reading a book for
DeleteI have to say that I quite agree with magic. I haven't had a great dose of satisfying magic in a book since...gosh, I don't even know when.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm your newest follower.
Thanks Melissa! And same here. I can't remember the last time I read a fantastic book dealing with magic. Probably Poison Study
DeleteRetellings made my list too! They're everywhere lately and I just can't get enough of them! Great list :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten!
Thanks Jessica! I know! I love retellings, especially retellings of more obscure fairy tales. :D
DeleteI love your last one. Grief has been getting me too!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I like upsetting myself so much, but there's definitely something profound and beautiful about books that deal with grief and loss.
DeleteI love fairy tale retellings too. Dystopian also features on my list. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteI love the idea of retellings, but I find I often get disappointed with the execution. But I do enjoy seeing how the author has used and adapted the source material - especially what they've chosen to leave out and in. So cool.
ReplyDeleteI put grief on my list too – I think that grief stories very much lend themselves to an exploration of so many important, beautiful, precious things – things like hope and identity and love and family and courage – and who wouldn’t want to read about things like that?
That is the difficulty with retellings. I often find myself disappointed with retellings, but then, out of nowhere, I find an amazing one that exceeds my expectations.
DeleteAnd that's it exactly! When I am feeling down, somehow grief stories help me to better understand what I'm feeling and they give me hope when I least expect it. :D
Fairy tale retellings are on my list too, and I'd love to read more books with alternate worlds! :) My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/04/29/topicsword/
ReplyDeleteAlice @ Alice in Readerland
I know! I'd like to actually enter an alternate world, but it hasn't happened yet. I'm still hoping though! :P
DeleteMagic, assassins, and alternate worlds do me in too! I love them and am such a sucker for fantasy books. (AND YOU'RE READING CHARMED THIRDS! YAYY!)
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I actually just finished it and Fourth Comings is waiting at the lib for me. I cannot believe I'm this far into the series. I'm feeling nostalgic for Jessica's high school years.
DeleteFairytale retelling, magic, dystopians, assassins, I really like your list :)
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
Thanks Mel! It was a challenge to narrow it down to 10, but all of these topics definitely belonged on this list. :D
DeleteI'm sooo with you on these. And you listed quite a few that I wish I had thought of for my list. I of course love post-apocalyptic/dystopian books - especially when they're scary or unsettling in some way. Which is why The 5th Wave is so brilliant. That, and it's written by Rick frigging Yancey.
ReplyDeleteLove LOVE magic and alternate worlds and assassins, but that goes without saying.
Rick Yancey is now one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read The 5th Wave! i will not tolerate any interruptions once that book arrives. :P
DeleteI also love and read a lot of fairy tale retellings!
ReplyDeleteThey are definitely worthwhile reads for the most part!
Delete3, 4 and 7 from your list is what gets me interested :)
ReplyDeleteThey always catch my interest. :D
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