Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is Top Ten Books You Would Classify As ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS from the past 3 years. I decided to make it easiest I would go with books I’ve read since I’ve started blogging, and seeing as I recently celebrated my two year blogversary, it seemed like a good time frame. I was also able to come up with a list very quickly by doing this. I’ve decided to make this week’s list in the order that I read the books, starting with the one I read first down to what I’ve read most recently.
1. Start by Jon Acuff
AKA, the book that started this blog.
This was the book I was reading when I started my blog, and this book (along with Acuff’s previous book Quitter) got me back to writing seriously again. If you’re out of school and feeling stuck in a job and/or with life in general, seriously read these.
2. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
AKA, the book that changed my worldview.
I think most are familiar with the general story of this book thanks to the movie’s release, which focuses on a WWII POW and survivor. I cannot fully express how amazing the story is. You just need to read it. My Review
3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
AKA, the book that gave me feels like never before.
It’s rare to find a book where the writing, story, and characters are all equally glorious and beautiful. This is one of those books. My Review
4. Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
AKA, the book that is quite possibly one of the most “Amy” books ever written.
Have you ever read a book that just felt like everything about it was tailored just for you? If not, I hope you find it. This book was that for me. (And I loved the predecessor to this one as well!) My Review
5. Cress by Marissa Meyer
AKA, the book that made me realize this was going to be one of my favorite series ever.
The characters and stories that Marissa Meyer have developed are just spot-on and WOW. My Review
6. The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
(We’ll focus on Shadow and Bone since it’s first)
AKA, that book that made me fall in love with fantasy.
I bought this one on a whim when I saw it on sale, devoured it while on vacation, and haven’t looked back. I had not read much fantasy before this and a whole new world opened up to me after this. My Review
7. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
AKA, the book that made sure I stayed in love with fantasy.
I haven’t reread a book since I’ve started blogging, until now; I’m reading this one in preparation for the sequel, Shadow Scale. In my opinion, it is a slow start, but it is 100% worth it for the world-building and the people. My Review
8. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
(Again, we’ll focus on the first book, The Sorcerer’s Stone)
AKA, the book that made me want to go to Hogwarts.
I am now 5/7 of the way through with reading this series for the first time, and yes, I am loving it and totally on board with all the hype it’s gotten for 15 years. My Review
9. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
AKA, the book that made me look at my spiritual life differently.
This is a book that I won’t say that I love quite in the same way as the others, but was an important read for me.
1o. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
AKA, the book that made me not afraid of high fantasy.
I can’t say I’m ready for The Way of Kings yet, but I’m ready for more of this world and more like it. My Review
What are some of your favorite reads from since you started blogging (regardless of time frame)?
Ooh I love this list! So many great books, including some that would have been on my list if I followed the rules and limited it to only the past three years.
I didn’t realize you hadn’t read the HP series yet! So glad you’re enjoying them so far. I would like to go back and re-read them someday. I thought maybe I would next (either re-read those or the LotR books), but I recently ordered Mistborn and feel like I should give that one a go instead because a) I haven’t read Sanderson yet (which seems like a crime) and b) Dave loved it and recommended it to me. We’ll see what happens though!
Well, you know how I feel about Mistborn, but I don’t disapprove of a Harry Potter reread either!
YOU ARE READY FOR WAY OF KINGS! Hahah. But that book took me a month to read so good luck! And yayaya I’m glad you’re enjoying your first read of Harry Potter 🙂 I really need to reread that because I don’t remember much except for what happens in the movies.
Great list Amy! I’ve read pretty much all of these! Except for the first couple! Like Unbroken, which I mean I have seen trailers for it but that’s not the same!
Maybe I should have said, “I’m not ready to spend an entire month reading one book,” because that’s pretty much what I meant, ha ha! Maybe the next time I have like a week long beach vacation I can get that sucker and try to knock at least most of it out!
I would strongly recommend reading Unbroken! The movie trailer is definitely not the same!
I LOVED Across a Star-Swept Sea! So good! I’m about 2/3 through Seraphina and am loving it. Can’t wait to get further into it (I’m listening on audio).
I’m glad you’re loving Seraphina, especially on audio! I would think that would be hard to follow with all those new terms and so many characters!
It always amazes me when I come across someone who’s reading HP for the first time. I held out reading them, but only until just before the 5th one came out before I caved. I wish I hadn’t waited, they are so amazing. Hope you are loving them so much! Here’s my Top 10 of past 3 Years post.
I know it’s crazy! I just wasn’t super interested when they were first coming out, which is too bad because I was at the right age for them, but I’m glad to finally be reading them now!
*headdesk* I can’t believe I keep forgetting the Peterfreund books. They’re on my shelf!!! Okay: summer goals. Read the books, Kayla.
I think Scarlet is still my favorite, but Cress is a close second, if only for Thorne!
The Screwtape Letters will always be one of the turning points in my spiritual life as well. I was never the same after I read it. It’s like you said; I don’t think about it instantly when someone asks me about my favorites, but if I thought about it this one would be on that list.
You & the Peterfreund books are like me and Faking Normal, except I don’t own it, but still, I need to seriously read it. I’ve just got to get through HP and the second and third Mistborn books first though…
You have so many that I want to read, especially Mistborn, Seraphina and Shadow and Bone! I love Harry Potter and Cress too! Here’s my TTT: https://thewornbookmark.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/top-ten-books-i-read-in-the-last-3-years/
I hope you enjoy them when you read them; they’re all awesome!
I should be rereading Seraphina right now! I like the way you think! Also, I have only read Cinder but really need to get caught up on that series.
The series only gets better, so yes, you definitely need to!
I really need to re-read the Grisha series, it is so freaking good! And I have to re-read Lunar before Winter comes out!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
I would love to reread The Lunar Chronicles before Winter comes out, but realistically, I’m not sure if I will. We’ll see!
I am SO HAPPY to see some of these books on here. I haven’t read The Book Thief, For Darkness Shows the Stars, or Seraphina yet, so I’m glad to hear that you love them! I also want to read more C.S. Lewis. I’m working on The Chronicles of Narnia now, but want to read more of his other books! I also got a biography I need to read about him!
Great list! I’ve only read two books/series from your list (Harry Potter and Cress – I loved both), but the others are almost entirely books that I have been meaning to read for ages. I actually own The Book Thief, Shadow and Bone, and Seraphina. I’m hoping to get to them all sometime this year.
Those three are great books, so I definitely hope you have the chance to read them soon!
You have some great books on this list. I’m primarily a fantasy reader, but I’ve been trying to branch out more lately. I’ll have to check out the books I haven’t read yet from your lost.
Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Shadow and Bone! I have nothing more intelligent to say than that 🙂
Except I really want to read Mistborn. Brandon Sanderson has been on my TBR list FOREVER and I have yet to pick up one of his books. I need to do that… And Across a Star Swept Sea. I enjoyed the first book so much (though the title escapes me) and I’ve wanted to read this one, especially because of how much you like it. I think these two books just hit my April reading spree.
Ah, I’m so happy to see Cress on there. The entire series gets so much love from me. <3
It’s the best! 😀
I think I need to give Across a chance..I didn’t like the first one that much but perhaps this one will be more my style!
Are you a big fan of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Because if you are that may affect your opinion of it. I know Charlene was kind of disappointed, because I think she expected it to be a bit different than it was. I did like it better than For Darkness, but I did like For Darkness quite a bit too.