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Tuesday 24 May 2016

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Ten books that get better with time

(Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish!)

10) 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown
This is cheating, because it was a five star book the first time I read it; it's just that when you reread this book you pick up on so many aspects that you missed first time around. 

9) 'Girl Online' by Zoe Sugg
I don't know if 'Girl Online' actually gets better, but when I think of it now I think of it affectionately. It feels like a children's book, though, so it's almost like reminiscing of a younger time. 

8) 'My Life Next Door' by Huntley Fitzpatrick 

I wasn't too excited by 'My Life Next Door', but I keep having this urge to reread it and dive back into Sam and Jase's story. I have a few other Huntley Fitzpatrick books to read first, so hopefully I'll fall head over heels in love with one of those!

7) 'This Song Is (Not) For You' by Laura Nowlin
There's still a lot about 'This Song Is (Not) For You' that bothers me, but I don't dislike it as much as I did when I read it - I appreciate the attempt to portray asexuality, and to include a relationship model that isn't typical. 

6) '99 Days' by Katie Cotugno
Because '99 Days' tells the story of 99 continuous days, I got a bit restless while I was reading it - not much seemed to be happening, and I just wanted to skip ahead. However, recently I've read some books that have skipped too much and I've felt lost, and I just need them to slow down and take more time with it; it makes me appreciate this book that much more.

5) 'The Darkest Part of the Forest' by Holly Black
I was really glad this was a standalone when I read it - I thought the story was flat, predictable and irritating. Now, though, I find myself wishing that there was a sequel, and that proves I must have warmed up to the book - at least marginally.

4) 'Silverwood' by Betsy Streeter
I wanted to like 'Silverwood', but I found myself disappointed when I read it. I've been dying  to go back to the world, though, and to reconnect with some of the super scary and original monsters that Betsy created; I look back on this one fondly, and I think if I reread it I would love it a lot more. The sequel hasn't been announced yet - hopefully that'll come soon!

3) 'Queen of the Tearling' by Erika Johansen
The more time passes since I read 'The Queen of the Tearling', the happier I feel about it. At this point I've forgotten all of the unnecessary filler description and how irritating Kelsea's character was - I can just remember the excitement, the fighting, the cleverly weaved perspective switches. Hopefully the sequel will be better, because I'm actually excited about it now. 

2) 'Savage Run' by E. J. Squires
E. J. Squires sent me a copy of 'Savage Run' for review and I was desperate to like it. I didn't. But the imagery in 'Savage Run' is so evocative that sometimes I find myself thinking "hm, what dystopian was that scene from?" and 9 times out of 10 I'm thinking of 'Savage Run' again. It's memorable, even if the writing isn't my cup of tea. 

and 1), a book that gets worse...
So I couldn't actually think of ten books that get better with time, but I could think of one that has diminished in my opinion over the months since I read it. I gave 'Landline' five stars, but for the life of me I cannot remember why.

I hope you enjoyed this Top Ten Tuesday! See you again next week. 

8 comments:

  1. Sometimes my initial love for a book dims quickly as the weeks pass.

    http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/05/funny-how-time-changes-things_24.html

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    1. I feel as though we all get too swept up in the story, and it's only with reflection you can see the flaws in a plot.

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  2. I have Queen of the Tearling on my list, AND I've gotten through Invasion, but it kind of goes downhill. I really wouldn't recommend it!

    Have a GREAT week!

    Aditi @ http://athousandwordsamillionbooks.blogspot.in/

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    1. Oh no, I was hoping the second book would redeem the first! I'm going to lower my expectations a bit before I pick it up...

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  3. I really need to read "Red Rising" and "Queen of the Tearling." I read "Landline" and while I liked it, I found Georgie rather annoying. I liked "Attachments" so much better. Great list!

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    1. You definitely do! I haven't read Attachments yet, but I'll try and check that out as soon as I possibly can. I love Rainbow Rowell's writing, so I think I was expecting to love Landline and that was why I rated it so highly - every time I think back on it I just can't help using the words 'predictable' and 'cliched'...

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  4. I personally think that This Song Is (Not) For You, could have done a better job portraying asexuality. I think there is more behind it than what was shown in the book...Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I do give Kudos, for trying.
    My Top Ten Tuesday!

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    1. This is my problem too; it definitely could have been done better, but it's the first YA book I've ever read that's even started trying to deal with it. As soon as there are more novels featuring it, I'm sure I'll be able to judge it more fairly.

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