Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic:
Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2015
These are the stories I enjoyed the most thus far. I didn’t give them all 5 stars on Goodreads for various reasons but they are all gripping and I enjoyed them immensely. They are listed in the order that I read them.
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
★★★★
Summary: The story follows Seraphina, a musically gifted girl who’s half-dragon, as she accepts her identity and helps the Prince uncover a plot to destroy the peace treaty between humans and dragons.
Why I enjoyed it: This one was a reread. I liked it the first time I read it back in 2012, but loved it this time when I reread it. What drew me were the world-building and Seraphina, who is both smart and brave and grows to appreciate who she is.
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
★★★★
Summary: The Call of the Wild is told from the perspective of a dog called Buck, who is kidnapped from his home in sunny California and brought to the harsh, cold Klondike region to work as a sled-dog. The story tells how he slowly returns to his wild nature.
Why I enjoyed it: It’s entertaining and it’s different for me since it’s told from the dog’s perspective. Also, I like Buck. He learns quickly and easily adapts to his surroundings to survive. I also like London’s commentary on survival in the wild without the comforts civilization provides.
Between You and Me by Mary Norris
★★★★
Summary: A memoir by a copy editor at the New Yorker.
Why I enjoyed it: I learned a lot. It’s informative and Norris’ witty prose kept my interest high throughout much of the book. Lots of tips within.
In Search of Lost Dragons by Élian Black’mor and Carine-M
★★★★★
Summary: This is a reporter’s travel journal in which he documents his travels throughout Europe and Asia as he searches for evidence of dragons and a lost group of explorers.
Why I enjoyed it: The beautiful illustrations. The story isn’t too bad but it’s worth the read just for the illustrations.
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
★★★★★
Summary: An eccentric scientist, his nephew, and a guide journey to the center of the earth, where they are marveled by what they see.
Why I enjoyed it: The dialogue, which is quick and highly entertaining. The narrator, who’s a bit sarcastic, especially when talking about his uncle. And the characters because they play well off each other; the personalities are well balanced.
Saga: Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, illus. by Fiona Staples
★★★★★
Summary: A sci-fi/fantasy comic about two individuals from warring planets (a planet and its moon) who fall in love and have a baby. Both of their governments find out and try to kill them.
Why I enjoyed it: I love the story, the characters, the dialogue, and the illustrations. The story is gripping and dramatic and gory. The illustrations might be shocking to some but I like them.
Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe, illus. by Roc Upchurch
★★★★★
Summary: A trippy fantasy comic about a group of female mercenaries who fight to protect their town.
Why I enjoyed it: It’s friggin dope. It’s somewhat unfiltered and the ladies are rude sometimes. They’re great fighters and they love to hang out and have a good time (drink and throw crazy parties). I love the characters! Love them! And I also love the art.
Unteachable by Leah Raeder
★★★★★
Summary: A girl falls in love with her high-school teacher.
Why I enjoyed it: The taboo and the prose, which is descriptive and poetic in some spots.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
★★★★
Summary: Anna moves to France for school and ends up liking a guy who obviously likes her too.
Why I enjoyed it: Not sure. I didn’t expect that I would but I like the narrator and the writing style.
You by Caroline Kepnes
★★★★★
Summary: This is about a guy stalking a girl and it’s told in the second person from the stalker’s perspective.
Why I enjoyed it: Because it’s awesome. It’s great. And it’s the best story I’ve read all year (Unteachable comes in second). I love the narration and the voice.
So what’s the best book you’ve read this year? Share below.
Other top reads in 2015
- Top Ten Books I’ve Read so Far in 2015 (lovethyshelfblog.wordpress.com)
- Top Ten Books I’ve Read so Far in 2015 (book-scents.com)
- Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books (So Far) in 2015 (www.teainthetreetops.com)
- Top Ten Tuesday — Favorite Reads Thus Far in 2015 (nodorkfear.blogspot.com)
Zezee with Books 
I haven’t read any of these but some of them do sound interesting.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/top-ten-tuesday-11/
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Thanks for linking back my list! Yours is a great one! I read Unteachable, too. I really enjoyed it. I haven’t read Journey to the Center of the Earth (I own it though) but I have see the movie lol they’re probably totally different.
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Thanks Anjie! Yea, the movies are a little different. After reading the book though, my opinions of the movies changed. I don’t like them much.
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Haha yeah I figured that would happen.
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You sounds disturbing but very intriguing, I will definitely check it out!
I liked Seraphina’s worldbuilding a lot, though I wish the characters got more development. I still need to read the sequel!
Great list!
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Oh yea. It’s so disturbing but sooo goood.
The sequel was good too. I was so hooked, I hardly put it down and we get to visit the surrounding countries. Of the two, I prefer “Seraphina”, though.
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Saga is something I have been meaning to read for ages but I just have not done it yet. Whats wrong with me? Great list 🙂
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Lol. Thanks Jazmin.
I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
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Hi Zezee, great list! I’ve been meaning to read something from Jules Verne every since I started watching Bones and Hodgins said he was his favourite author, but I’ve never known where to start. So I might try Journey to the Center of the Earth as you enjoyed it so much. I know what you mean about Anna and the French Kiss. I can’t pin point what it is that made it so enjoyable either, I just know that I did. 🙂
Happy Reading for the rest of 2015
Rachel @ Paein-and-Ms4Tune.co.uk
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I’m not a big fan of Bones TV show but of all the characters, Hodgins is my fav. Bones is actually my least fav actually. But yea, Journey to the Center of the Earth is really good and funny too.
Yea, Perkins’ book just snuck up on me.
Thanks Rachel! Same to you!
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Slaughterhouse five, holds first place, followed closely by Londons sea wolf, for me.
❤ your picks, will check them out for sure.
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Another London book. Yeahie!
And I’ll take a look at that Sea Wolf.
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The second half of sea wolf is as the critics say ‘ not as good as the first ‘ quite implausible even, but if you can suspend that belief, and tolerate the attitude of the time concerning women, then this book will show Londons philosophy clearly.
A masterpiece!
And if you liked the scene in divergent where four shows his tats, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the ‘scene’ when wolf bares his chest and flex’s, drawing the comment ‘ my hasn’t god made you well ‘ 😉
Saw a copy of ‘you’ today while book hunting $29.99!!!
I’ll buy it next year for $1
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Lol. Wow! That’s pricey.
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That Lost Dragons book looks amazing! I’ll have to check that out I think 🙂
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Oh you definitely should! If you click on the link, it will take you to my review where you can see some of the illustrations.
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