Allison: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

A Northern Light/The Tea Rose/The Winter Rose/Revolution
by Jennifer Donnelly

As most of you know, Jennifer Donnelly is one of my go-to authors that I discovered before I was a blogger. I was introduced to her writing by my college English professor, and ever since then I’ve been hooked. I still have to read The Wild Rose which is the final in the Rose trilogy so maybe when I do read it, I’ll review it here on the blog.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
I remember reading this in grade school and it having such a profound affect on me. It really is such a thought provoking story, and it was such a wonderful experience to listen to the audiobook last year, and re-live all those feelings I experienced before I was a blogger, and also find new ones along the way.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
I had a discount coupon to use from Barnes and Noble so I asked April if she had any suggestions. She immediately suggested Divergent, and trusting her as I do I bought it. Of course, she was right, and I absolutely fell in love with the story and the characters of Divergent. CAN’T WAIT FOR THE MOVIE! (Also, need to read Insurgent soon).

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
This is the book that first introduced me to the wonder that is Libba Bray. I’d like to think it was the beginning of a wonderful journey.

Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume
I re-call this being one of the first “big” books I ever read, and I loved it. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Also, it is also the school library book that I accidentally dropped in the bathtub. Opps!

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
“Read this. You’ll love it. It’ll make you cry.” This is what I was told when I was handed this book by one of my closest friends. Very valid points. Also, should never have tried to finish it on a bus on the way home. Cannot wait to read the sequel Fly Away very soon!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Admittedly, I read Speak when I first heard about the man who wanted it added to the banned books list. Both curious and because I had seen April very angrily describing her feelings on the situation, I decided to go out and by the book to see what the “fuss” was all about. I’m so glad I did because I loved the story of Speak, and it made me very angry to think that someone was trying to ban it. Speak is one of those stories that should be read by all.

Searching For David’s Heart by Cherie Bennett
April and I both had to read this for the book club that we were involved in during our middle school years. I’ve read it many times since then. It is a beautiful story that never fails to pull at my heart strings and make me tear up.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albon
A tear-jerking kind of book but one that has a tendency to come to me from time to time. It definitely makes you think and reflect on things.

Titanic: The Long Night by Diane Hoh
One of my favorite fictional Titanic stories. I’ve re-read multiple times, and will probably be doing so again in the near future.

Have you read any of these books? If so, which ones? What did you think?
Let me know in the comments and be sure to drop me a link to your top ten list!

As always Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

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Allison is 27 years old. She is always looking for new books, good music, quality/epic adventures, and a normal sleep schedule. She currently works with the elderly.

Comments

  1. Sarah/Moose says

    You’re welcome.

  2. I liked Divergent a lot too, though I’ll admit, not as much as others. I’m probably going to read Insurgent next month. I am excited for the film, though. Tuesday’s with Morrie is sort of a bucket list read for me. I’ve just never gotten to it, but should. 😀 Great list
    My TTT

  3. You have hit a lot of my favorites. I loved Tuesdays with Morrie, Firefly Lane (which made me cry too!) A Great and Terrible Beauty, The Giver, Divergent, A Northern Light. I have had The Tea Rose on my radar for so long. I should check it out since I like Donnelly as well. Sadly, I haven’t read Speak yet…it’s shameful. I need to make time for it. Great list, Allison!

  4. I loved A Great and Terrible Beauty or really the whole Gemma Doyle series as a whole.

  5. I really want to read A Great and Terrible Beauty!

    Here’s Mine @ Pinkindle Reads & Reviews

  6. Divergent is on my list, too. I absolutely loved that one! I loved Insurgent, too, and I can’t wait for the last book!

  7. I still need to read Divergent! 🙂 My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/04/08/beforeblogging/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

  8. Jennifer Donnelly is great! My favorite is The Tea Rose so far, and I really need to finish up that trilogy.

    I loved The Giver as a kid, but I didn’t like it as much as an adult, sadly.

    Didn’t like A Great and Terrible Beauty when I first read it, but since I’ve loved other Bray stuff I’m going to give it another go.

  9. AAHH All of these? Haha I LOVE A Great and Terrible Beauty! Libba Bray is my favourite author for historical fiction, by far. I also loved The Giver and Speak (sob). Both were such amazing reads.

  10. Hey Allison!

    Okay so I’ve read a few from your list: the first two Gemma Doyle books, the first three books in The Giver quartet (LOVE), and Divergent which I am like the only person ever to not really love but I’m gonna re-read it and give it another chance. But it’s the rest of your list that has me interested. SO MANY of these I want to read. I’ve heard so much good about Jennifer Donnelly and I even have A Northern Light on my shelf! Since I’ve recently taken a liking to historical books I think I should probably try and work her into my reading more. I just added Firefly Lane to my Goodreads shelf and added your name as the recommender because I think, probably, I’ve seen you mention this one before and it sounds AMAZING. And I’m LAME for not reading Speak yet.

    This list is fantastic. I just need to read the whole thing like it’s required reading! Can’t wait to meet you soon Allison! -Asheley

  11. Great list! I loved Divergent & The Giver, although I read them both after I started blogging.

    My TTT

  12. Speak is totally one of those books that you’re like HEY LOOK WORLD, YA IS AWESOME! I’m so glad you got to experience it, even though it’s super duper heavy.

  13. Oh man, Speak is amazing! I heard about it long before I actually read it. I was so nervous I wouldn’t be able to handle the subject matter, but I was. And it was just such a wonderful book.

  14. I remember The Giver started a lot of discussions in my class. The ending was so open, and half the class believed one thing and the other half of the class believed another. It was the first time I was introduced to the idea that a reading experience could be different depending on the perspective.

  15. I want to give A Great and Terrible Beauty a try seeing as I’ve loved 2 of Libba’s other books!

  16. Divergent is one of my favorite books ever, ever, ever. I remember that I had picked it up because I thought the cover was interesting, and the story sounded really intriguing. I’m so glad that I was right, and I have LOVED the book and its follow-up Insurgent. I’m super psyched for the movie and for the third book, Allegiant!

    I also recently read Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly and enjoyed it. She has a clever way of writing, and I look forward to experiencing more of her novels.