Best of 2010: Books

I have a slight obsession with end-of-the-year specials, so it's only fitting that I do a Best of 2010 miniseries on this blog. Yesterday, I talked about my favourite music and television of 2010, and today, I'll talk about my favourite books released and read in 2010.


I became obsessed with YA over the summer. Sure, I loved my Sarah Dessen and Judy Blume books, but I'd never even heard of THE HUNGER GAMES until I joined Absolute Write (why yes, it is uncomfortable to live under a rock.) I've been playing catch-up, so most of the books I read this year were not released this year. That's why I'm doing two lists: one for the best five books released in 2010, and one for the best five books I read in 2010.

Top Five Books Released in 2010

 5. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green and David Levithan
I'm cheating: I haven't finished this book yet. But, I love it so much that it needs to be on this list. A book has never made me laugh and feel so much at the same time. Honestly, I'm not a fan of either Will Grayson, but it's impossible not to love Tiny Cooper. I laugh out loud pretty much every time he speaks (my favourite part of the novel thus far is when he saw a bed and said, "Look, a bed!" Seriously, I lost it...it doesn't take much to impress me.) This book isn't just funny, though. I had to put the book down and flail after reading one scene because it made me feel so much. I'm looking forward to finishing it. 

4. Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers

In making this list, I've realized that Courtney Summers is currently my favourite YA author (uh, spoiler alert.) I love her style so much, and it shines in this book. Regina's voice is uncomfortably real, to-the-point, and packed with emotion. This is such a page-turner, I-need-to-know-what-happens-next-more-than-I-need-sleep book. I love bitchy MCs (as you will see...spoiler alert), and Regina is just perfect in all her flaws.

3. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

Look, it's another bitchy MC! Yay! I hated Sam, but I loved that her attitude towards popularity wasn't oh-it's-so-hard-to-be-popular one I'm used to reading, but instead it she thought along the lines of, "Yeah, my life is easier because I'm popular, and that's the way it is." Her honesty is as refreshing as it is off-putting. The plot of this book is incredible as it's intricate and at times shocking, but it still makes sense (as much as a book with this premise can make sense, that is.) My favourite thing, though, is the romance in this book. In fact, it's the best romance I've read in YA. I felt and believed every moment of their relationship. These characters still haven't left me.

2. The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson 
Up until last week, I thought this book would be number one on my list, so know that it is a close runner-up (actually, my top three are all quite close.) I don't need gorgeous prose to like a book, I just need it to be honest. Well, this book is written in gorgeous and honest prose, and that's what makes it so incredible. Lennie is perfect. I understood her, gosh, did I ever understand her. Grief is hard for me to read about, but when I find a book that handles it well...I can't explain how wonderful that is, but I think all of you understand. It's like someone finally gets it, and Lennie got it, and I got it, and it was incredible. The romance in this book is wonderfully real and sweet, and gah, the entire thing is perfect.

1. Fall For Anything - Courtney Summers
There are so many things that I want to say about this book, which is why I'm going to dedicate a post to it in the new year. For now, I'll say that I've never felt as much as I have reading a book as I did when I read this book. Much like THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE, this book handles grief in way that was hard for me to read, but gosh, I needed to read it. I've known a couple Beth's, and could relate so well to Eddie's hate of her. Milo is just my favourite boy ever. Everything with Culler was thrilling and intriguing. Eddie is flawed and perfect and I've never wanted to hug a character so much. Stop reading this post and go buy this book. Seriously.


Top Five Books Read in 2010
French the llama, it was hard to narrow this list down to five. Honourable mentions go to HANDCUFFS by Bethany Griffin, BREATHING UNDERWATER by Alex Flinn, and IF I STAY by Gayle Forman.

5. Before I Die - Jenny Downham 
Honestly, I wasn't crazy about this book when I started it. I hated Tessa. I couldn't sympathize with her, even with her condition. But, as the book went on, I started to appreciate her honesty and just her raw her voice was. And there was Adam, oh, Adam. Their romance is second only to the one in BEFORE I FALL as my favourite YA romance. It was the same thing: I felt every moment of their relationship and it was beautiful and terrifying and completely heartbreaking. It took me awhile to get into this book, but by the time I was finished? I couldn't get it out of my head.

4. Looking for Alaska - John Green
This is the first YA book I read when I started to play-catch up, and I'm so glad it was. It helped me understand what YA is, which is when I realized that it's everything I love: honest, fast-paced, and incredibly emotional. This was also my first introduction to John Green, which led to me discovering the vlogbrothers and nerfighteria, which is just awesome. It's an incredible book, but it means a lot to me as well, and that's why it's number four on this list.

3. Cracked Up to Be - Courtney Summers
By now it should be obvious that I love Courtney Summers, yes? I think I'm one of the few people who prefers this book to SOME GIRLS ARE, though FALL FOR ANYTHING is definitely my favourite. Parker's another bitchy MC and gosh, I love her for it. The voice in this book is incredible, as it is in all of Courtney's books. My favourite thing about the book, though,  is Parker's relationship with Chris. It's just so perfectly real and messed up. This book is raw and uncomfortable and I loved every word of it.

2. The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind - Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Why haven't more people read this book? I think it's the perfect coming-of-age book. Morgan's life certainly has issues, but it's not an issue book, it's just an honest representation of the life of a sixteen-year-old. Morgan's confusion over Derek, Rob, and Tessa is so real, and so well-done. My favourite thing about the book is the small town setting (I always love small town settings), and Morgan's overwhelming desire to just get out. I know tons of sixteen-year-old who can relate to that feeling. Heck, I didn't even grow up in a small town, but I pretty much felt like that since I was twelve until I graduated. Morgan's just such a real character and I see her in myself.

1. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
I hate to be so obvious with my number one pick, but I love this book as much as everyone I said I would. It's the first dystopian I've read since THE GIVER back in grade six, so I wasn't sure how much I'd like it. Well, once Peeta was introduced, I was sold. Seriously, biggest crush on a fictional character ever, which says something. I'm not a huge fan of Katniss, to be honest (which is why her and Peeta isn't one of my favourite YA romances), but I definitely rooted for her. This book is  so intense and I had to put it down a couple of times (understatement) because I couldn't deal with it. But, I always picked the book back up again, because I needed to know what happened. And because of Peeta. It's funny, because I'd read the descriptions for CATCHING FIRE and MOCKINGJAY (note that I haven't read MOCKINGJAY yet, so no spoilers, though I'm 99% sure I already know the two biggest spoilers), so I knew that certain people needed to survive the games. Well, I pretty much convinced myself that it was some sort of marketing scheme by the publishers that all of you were in on, because I didn't see how they could survive until the end of book. Seriously, I was surprised when they did! So many things surprised me in this book that I would've seen coming if I hadn't been so into it. I was right there with Katniss at the games, and I felt everything she did.

What books have you read/enjoyed on these lists? What are your favourite books of 2010?

Have a fun and safe New Year's Eve, and I'll see you in 2011!

Best of 2010: Music and Television

I have a slight obsession with end-of-the-year specials, so it's only fitting that I do a Best of 2010 miniseries on this blog. Today, I'll talk about my favourite music and television of 2010, and tomorrow I'll talk about my favourite books published and read in 2010.

Music

Best Albums Released in 2010         

Taylor Swift - Speak Now
I wrote a post in November about how Taylor Swift is one of my inspirations, in which I talked a bit about my love for her newest album, Speak Now. Well, I've listened to it a lot since then, and it's become one of my favourite CDs to write to. It's just such an honest representation of a young adult's life. I've added the entire CD to my playlist for BUILDING FORTS, because at least one of my characters has felt what Taylor sings about.

Maroon 5 - Hands All Over

My love for Maroon 5 tends to surprise people, because I'm a bit of a prude, and...well, just look at the cover art. But, their slower songs are incredible (seriously), and to be blunt, the rest of their music turns me on. I'm a prude, but I'm human. Maroon 5 tends to release their worst songs as singles ("Give a Little More" is my least favourite song on the CD, and I'm not crazy about "Misery.") The best songs on the CD, by far, are "How" and "Just a Feeling." But as a whole, Hands All Over is a solid album, with the perfect mix of emotional and sexy songs.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

I saved the best for last. Mumford & Sons are not only my favourite new band, but one of my favourite bands of all time. It's so refreshing to hear new music that really doesn't sound like anything else, and I don't know of any bands with Mumford & Sons' sound. My favourite thing about them, though, is not how unique they are, but rather how emotional their songs are. I feel every single note, to the point where it's almost uncomfortable, and I love that. They're just so brilliant.

Best Single of 2010

Whip My Hair by Willow Smith

I'm only half-kidding. Honestly, my favourite single of 2010 was probably "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, which is weird, because I have many issues with Katy Perry. But, it definitely has something to do with the fact that it's perfect for my novel, and I never fail to smile when I hear it.

Television
Best New Series of 2010

Parenthood
I don't understand why more people aren't watching and talking about this show, because I think it's currently the best show on television. The storylines are real and emotional, the characters are well-developed, and all of the actors are brilliant (how can you can go wrong with Lauren Graham?) Seriously, I cried during the pilot of this show. I cared about the characters that much after spending no more than forty minutes with them. It's first show I've seen that has as much heart as the next show I'll talk about.


Best Season of an Old Series

Season Four of Friday Night Lights
Clearly, I'm a Jason Katims fan, as he works on both Parenthood and Friday Night Lights. I'm counting this season as airing in 2010 because that's when NBC aired it, even though DirecTV started airing it in 2009. Friday Night Lights is my favourite show, but I was wary of a season with little Matt Saracen. Honestly, Matt makes Friday Night Lights for me. He's my favourite character of anything, ever. Well, "The Son" gave me everything I needed from Matt Saracen. I wrote a post about that episode, so I won't repeat myself except to say that it's my favourite episode of the series, and easily one of my favourite episodes of any television show, ever. "The Son" is enough to make season four of Friday Night Lights my favourite new season of 2010, but the rest of the season was solid as well. I loved that there was more focus on my second favourite character, Landry, and I warmed up to all of the new characters (especially Luke and Becky, though I know the latter is an unpopular opinion.) It was a solid season for an incredible show, despite the loss of multiple main characters.

Your turn! In your opinion, what was the best music and television of 2010?

2010 Overview and a Thank You

I hate New Year's Eve.

It's just so much pressure. You need to go to the best party, have the perfect midnight kiss, and make resolutions for the new year.

Also, I really hate fireworks.

Last year, I was home alone on New Year's Eve. I watched Bring It On and danced around my basement to Ke$ha's TiK ToK. I made one resoultion: I was going to have fun in 2010.

I kept it. 2010 was one of the best years of my life.

The last half of 2009 was terrible. I hated my first semester of university, and you're not supposed to hate your first semester of university. You're supposed to make the best friends you'll ever make and have the most fun you'll ever have and live the best years you'll ever live. That didn't happen to me. I don't have a problem with people drinking, but everyone seemed to have a problem with the fact that I don't drink. I I hated living in residence, and my only friends on my floor were friends I'd had since high school. I did well academically, but, that was because I obsessed over my schoolwork to the point where I had no life outside of it. I didn't write. I didn't dance. I didn't spend time with God like I needed to. I didn't make plans with my friends. I worked and watched everyone around me have the time of their lives.

Guess it's no surprise that I was miserable, eh?

I knew that something needed to change in 2010. As mentioned, I made the resolution to have more fun, but I didn't really know what that meant. When 2010 came around, I didn't change overnight. There was no epiphany where I realized, "If I do x, y, and z, I'll be happy." Little things just started to change around and in me, and it led to happiness. I was still a perfectionist when it came to my schoolwork second semester (honestly, I still am one now), but it wasn't as bad as it was first semester. Funny thing is, I did better second semester than I did first semester. I started to make friends at school and I became particularly close to my school's Christian Fellowship. I danced and spent more time with God. Things weren't perfect at the beginning of 2010, especially since I was dealing with a particularly nasty illness, but things were better.

Then May came around, I had four months of summer vacation, and I decided to write again. Up until I graduated high school, I was a fanfiction writer. I loved it, and don't regret a second of it. But, even though I'd tried to write a novel a couple times before with no success, I made a promise to myself that I'd stop writing fanfiction by the time I graduated high school, and focus on writing a novel instead. I kept the first half of that promise, but as I said, I didn't write during my first year of university. I didn't even write the summer between high school and university. I don't know what my motivation was to start writing again in May, to be honest. I just knew that I needed to.

I wrote fanfiction on small a message board opposed to posting it somewhere like fanfiction.net, so there was a real sense of community there, and that was my favourite thing about it. I was scared to write without a community supporting me, like I thought I'd have to do if I wrote a novel.

Then I started this blog, and realized I had nothing to be afraid of.

I'm not sure we always realize how rare and wonderful it is to have a group of people, most of whom have never met, who support each other like the YA community does, especially since we all more or less have the same goals. I didn't think anyone would read my first post, but all of you were quick to welcome me into this family, and there are no words for how much I appreciate it. Honestly, I'm getting emotional writing this because you guys have done so much for me, and I'm just overwhelmed by it. Every comment means the world to me. Every post you write on your own blogs has helped me to become a better writer.

There are two moments I can point to in 2010 and go, "This is when I became happy again." One is when I joined the leadership team for my school's Christian Fellowship and found my university family. The other is when I started this blog and found my online family.

I needed to write again. Thank you for helping me write. Thank you for helping me become happy again again. Thank you for everything.

I had so much fun in 2010.

I currently do not have plans for New Year's Eve. I have two Bring it On movies saved on my DVR and Ke$ha's We R Who We R on my playlist. I'm making one resolution: I'm going to have even more fun in 2011.

Wishlist for the YA Genre

On the Playlist: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Carrie Underwood

Considering all the time we spend reading YA, reading about YA, blogging about YA, and of course, writing YA, I think it's fair to say that the genre owes us a Christmas present or two. What could the YA genre give you this Christmas to make you love it just a little bit more? Note that though I'd love to see more of everything on my list in YA books, I don't necessarily want to see these items replace anything else. This list isn't a criticism of what the genre lacks, but rather what I'd personally love to see more of in the future. Also, if you know of any books like the ones I mention in my list, please tell me about them in the comments!

My Wishlist:

• Books centered around football. I don't watch football and can't understand it for the life of me, but I'm slightly obsessed with football movies and television shows. Think Friday Night Lights (the television show, because I'm a terrible person and haven't read the book yet), so it goes beyond I'm-dating-the-quarterback, but that's still a part of it. I'd actually love to see a football book focused on the male relationships within the team, because I'm fascinated with male/male friendship. 
• On that note, books that focus on male/male friendships.
• More boys in general, really. Not because I think they're underrepresented in YA, necessarily, but because I love boys and I'm shameless like that.
• I think I'd like to see more unrequited love. Not the kind where the boy would never like the girl because he's so much more popular than she is, but ones where the readers think there really is a chance that the main character will get the boy or girl they want, and the boy or girl just isn't interested in that way. 
• More attention paid to characters' passions, what they want to pursue after high school. Don't get me wrong, I love hormone-crazy teens, but I was a hormone-crazy teen who wrote and danced throughout high school. I want to see what teens love other than each other.
• A really good mystery, and I think what makes a mystery great is a satisfying and sensible ending that's still a little shocking. I love mysteries so much, and would love to write one (this is coming from the girl who fails at plotting), but I'm not finding many examples in the YA genre. I could be looking in the wrong places, though, so please let me know if you know of any awesome YA mysteries.

What's your wishlist for the YA Genre? Do you know any books that fit with my/a commenter's list? Let me know in the comments!

Favourite Holiday Songs!

On the Playlist: Silent Night - Mercy Me

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Wondering what music to listen to while you're on a sleigh ride through a winter wonderland? Need to add noise to your silent night? In the mood for some silver bells that jingle?

Can you tell that I've been watching The Sing-Off which, let's be honest, is actually a competition of puns? 

Now, I'll share my five favourite holiday songs, and you will laugh, because they are embarrassing. But, that's the beauty of Christmas. It makes it ok to listen to campy music! (We will ignore the fact that I listen to campy music year-round.)

5. O Holy Night - Kelly Clarkson

It's just a gorgeous song, and Kelly's version resonates with me the most.

4. My Only Wish (This Year) - Britney Spears

Don't judge. I know you love it too. 

3. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Rosie O'Donnell and Elmo

It's Elmo. Do I have to say anything else? And I LOVED Rosie O'Donnell when I was a kid (seriously), so the duet never fails to bring back memories of those magical Christmases you have when you still believe in Santa Claus.

2. The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone) - Celine Dion

I honestly don't know how to explain what this song means to me in words. It's not the song itself, but it's how it reminds me of my mom, who passed away. When I hear it, I feel like she's with me again. That is truly magical.

1. The Seven Joys of Mary - Great Big Sea

I'm a maritimer. To be a maritimer, you have to love Great Big Sea. Seriously, it's a requirement. I love where I live, and as Great Big Sea does so well, this song captures the maritimes. It sounds like home.

What are your favourite holiday songs? 

Road Trip Wednesday: Toys and Shirtless Boys

On the Playlist: Deck the Rooftop - Glee Cast

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway.

This Week's Topic:

You spot Santa at the mall, climb onto his lap, and whisper that you've been a good boy or girl in his ear. What do you want Santa to bring this year? Go wild! Have fun! After all, you earned it

I just watched A Very Glee Christmas (...again), and cried (...again) when Brittany asked Santa for Artie to be able to walk, but my favourite line of the episode was when Mike told Santa, "I want Channing Tatum to stop being in stuff." I'll put that on my Christmas list, too. Well, I'd edit it to "I want Channing Tatum to stop being in stuff with his shirt on." A girl can dream.

I would also love it if whenever I make a change in revisions that affects the overall structure of my novel, everything in the novel that needs to change to be consistent with what I changed would automatically fix itself. Santa can do that, right?

As for things I could actually get...

• Books! ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins as at the top of my Christmas list.
• Microsoft Office. I lost it when my computer exploded (I may be slightly dramatic), and I'm sorry Microsoft Works, but you are just not Microsoft Word.
• Notebooks.
• Pens. I lose pens like nothing else. Well, except for bobby pins. I could use some more of those, too. 
• Clothes, anything anyone will give me. I hate shopping for clothes and rely on holidays to give me a wardrobe. Seriously.
• Chocolate. I always need more chocolate.

What's on your Christmas list? 

Holiday Blogging!

On the Playlist: Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time! - Sufjan Stevens

I am done with exams (and if you're still suffering through them, I suggest you watch this video made by the brilliant dwkazzie, who also made the famous So You Want to Write a Novel video), which means it's winter break, which means I have no responsibilities for three weeks other than Christmas-y things, which means CHRISTMAS IS SO SOON AND I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T FIGHT MY URGE TO USE CAPS LOCK.

To spread some of the holiday cheer (or annoy all of you, we'll see how this goes), I'm re-vamping my blog with a holiday layout (check out other holiday layouts here), and from now until Christmas, most/all of my posts will be holiday-related. There will also likely be a New Year's post or two.

Some of the posts will be writing/reading related, and some won't be. So, lookout for posts about favourite holiday songs (really, I just want you guys to help me with my Christmas playlist), best books read in 2010, a Christmas teaser, and other posts related to this wonderful season. If I get a credit card over Christmas as planned, I will likely also do my first giveaway over the holidays, but I can't make any promise there.

I need your help! I would love to do a post of links to other holiday posts, so if you do one (this includes giveaways!), leave me a link in the comments, and I'll be sure to include it! You can either comment in this post or on a future holiday-related post. Also, if anyone who celebrates a holiday other than Christmas at this time of year is willing to do a guest post about the holiday you celebrate, please let me know in the comments. I don't want this to become too Christmas-heavy, and I'm sure everyone will get sick of me talking soon enough ;)

That's all! What do you guys think? Any holiday-themed posts you'd like to see? I'm totally open to/begging for suggestions. Don't forget to leave links to your own holiday posts!

Just Sharing Some Inspiration

Sometimes we're struck by stories that aren't in books, but in music, in photographs, in film.

In people.

This dance has hit me in a way that's like that breathless feeling you get after you read a book, one that worked its way right into your heart, that somehow found a home in you. I won't say anything else about the dance. It is what it is, and just like with books, you'll like it or you'll won't. I'm posting this in hopes that someone else will get knocked out by it like I did.

Choreography: The brilliant Erica Sobol.

Dancers: Leah Moyer and one of the most underrated dancers ever to be on So You Think You Can Dance, Thayne Jasperson.

Music: "The Moment I Said It" by Imogen Heap, and "I Don't Feel it Anymore (Song of the Sparrow)" by my favourite artist of all time, William Fitzsimmons.

Enjoy. 

I'd love for all of you to share what stories (that aren't found in books) have left you breathless.

Road Trip Wednesday: Six Word Memoir

Road Trip Wednesday is hosted by YA Highway

This Week's Prompt:

Your six-word memoir. Literally, your life story in six words.

When this week's prompt appeared on Twitter last night, this was honestly the first thing I thought, and it happened to be six words. I won't explain it because, well, it's my memoir, it should tell you everything. So, here it is:

Found God and never been kissed.

What's your six-word memoir?