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Karsyn's Kickass Jocoserious, Kooky, Jannock book blog: Top 10 ~ Books I Read in 2014

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Top 10 ~ Books I Read in 2014


Here I am back for another top 10. This one will be one of my favorites, seeing what everyone else liked from the year. It's fun to see what everyone else is reading, though again it shows me how I read such different books than many others. I've looked through those who have posted that I follow on Bloglovin' and saw just one person mention one of the books on my list, and saw a LOT of similar books read. I hope that maybe my list will give you all a few books you've never heard of, since I don't read all the normal things that everyone else is. I'm seeing Cress a ton, while looking at posts from others. I did read the series, and it would have been in my top 20, it didn't quite make top 10 for me.

This list is also roughly in order, the first 3 specifically, the others could be mixed up a bit. Having finished my 300th book of the year last night, it wasn't very hard for me to pick. I LOVE to read and I love a lot of what I read. I have gotten really picky about what I REALLY love and am extra critical, so these 10 have been the strong standouts, even though I've probably rated over half of my books 4 stars, or at least a really enjoyable 3 star.

With my list, I only went with books I read for the first time in 2014. I did some re-reads (The Night Circus & Harry Potter) and if I included those, they would take up half of the list. :) I also read a LOT of series, so even though I'm a fan of the series and may have read (and loved) multiple books from that series, I've either included the first one, or my favorite one, which might not be the first (usually is though). Typically with theses lists, I just give the cover, but this time I'm going to give some information, so if you haven't heard of it, then you can know a little about what it's about. So on with ~


Top 10 ~ Books I Read in 2014



1 ~ The Shadow of the Wind ~ the real start of my not paying attention to genres anymore. This literary novel isn't something I'd normally try but I was on a "books about books" kick and gave it a try and OMG did I love it, and it's sequels. A book mystery and I LOVED it so much!! I highly recommend, if you are up for something a little deep and heavy. My Review

2 ~ The Great Zoo of China ~ the opposite of TSotW in every way, this adventure book is all guns blazing and unimaginable creatures. Think Jurassic Park meets Godzilla (of the 90s). I'm a huge fan of Reilly, have read almost everything he's written, this is definitely my favorite of his. If you loved Jurassic Park, you're gonna wanna read this book! My Review


3 ~ Lock In ~ Don't look past this book because of it's description, which reads like it'll be some boring medical thing. It's not, at ALL. It's a mystery tied into the world where many people are "Locked In" to their own bodies and use robot like machines to house their minds, so they are able to still live in the real world. Different and very imaginative, it's definitely worth a read!! My Review

4 ~ Redshirts ~ The first book by Scalzi that I read, this book is a Star Trek spoof. If you are a Trekkie (as I am) you are going to find this book really enjoyable and so funny. I had a hard time muffling my laughs, when I listened to this book at night. Really enjoyable and this book as well as Lock In were made more enjoyable, for me, because I listened to Wil Wheaton narrate. While perhaps not the best narrator, he sure is entertaining!


5 ~ Timebound ~ This year saw me reading a lot of time travel books, which I don't know that I've done before. I enjoyed most of them, but the Timebound series was definitely my favorite. Kate learns she's a time-traveler and she's trained by her grandmother to fix the timeline, which a group of people are changing. Enjoyable story, great characters and a lot of fun to read.

6 ~ 15 Minutes ~ Another time traveling book that I enjoyed. In this one time travel is something you can do like taking a vacation, and Lara decides to go back and save her mother from being mugged when Lara was young. She didn't know everything else that was going on at the time and things end up changing in ways she couldn't imagine and didn't want. She spends her time trying to fix everything and make everything the way it should be. Really enjoyable!


7 ~ Cruel Beauty ~ My favorite cover of the year, I also really liked this lightly Beauty & the Beast retelling. I especially loved the castle and her exploring all of it. So far, I enjoyed the novella of the series and I really can't wait to read more about the world. Beautiful books in many ways!!

8 ~ An Evil Mind ~ this book is the newest from one of my favorite series. If you like reading crazy serial killer books, there isn't much better than the Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter. Carter writes crazy REALLY well and this one was definitely crazy and very enjoyable, if you like those kinds of books (which I do!).


9 ~ Forgotten ~ This was a different and enjoyable book. In it, London only has memories of the future. Everyday her memory is reset, so she doesn't remember any of the days before. She has to leave herself notes so she knows what she wore to school, and what tests are upcoming. It's really different and interesting. A really enjoyable story! My Review

10 ~ Hover Car Racer ~ another Reilly that I didn't get to until now, this book was just a real FEEL GOOD book. It's about young Jason Chaser who is just 15, and his younger brother Bug. They race Hover Cars, and go to a special school for Hover Car racers. I listened to this book on audio and stayed up all night listening to it, because I couldn't turn it off. It was just a great good, good for middle grade and up, as long as you are ok with some mild swearing. A really enjoyable book!


What books are your favorites of the year? Do you read what everyone else is reading, or do you find those unique reads that only you seem to enjoy?

37 comments:

  1. I got Cruel Beauty recently, and I look forward to reading it. Same for Lock In, I've seen it around a lot so I hope to get my hands on it soon!
    Happy reading!

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  2. Nice list of books. I haven't rad any of them, so will have to check them out. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a post on my TTT post this week.

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  3. Cruel Beauty is on my list! I can't wait to read it. I have read Forgotten which I enjoyed. Looking forward to exploring the other titles.

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  4. I want to read Timebound! I read hardly any fantasy books this year, which is atypical of me. I have lots on my TBR list though.

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  5. The Shadow of the Wind is on my TBR list, it sounds so good!
    thanks for stopping by my TTT

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  6. Cool cover of Forgotten - I liked that one too. Cruel Beauty is one I've been meaning to start. Hope next year is another great year in books for you!

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  7. Timebound has been sitting on my Kindle for quite a few months now. I'm reading a time traveling book right now, so maybe I'll pick up that one afterwards :) - Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks

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  8. I haven't heard of any of these books...interesting. I have read Zafon before, but it wasn't this one.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

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  9. Your list is awesome! I was really excited to see what people loved this year and then noticed that a lot of lists looked very similar. How am I supposed to add new books to my TBR list if it's the same books everywhere? So this was very refreshing and I'll be adding a few of them. :)

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  10. I have Cruel Beauty on my TBR list, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!

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  11. I love time traveling books too!
    I read Timebound a little bit ago and I really enjoyed it =)
    Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. I am so glad you did because now I have found your amazing blog!
    Can we just take a second and adore your background?! LOVE
    New bloglovin follower =)
    Don't be a stranger =)
    Ashley
    http://bookstothetea.blogspot.com/

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  12. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is amazing! And Cruel Beauty was definitely a really good read :)

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  13. I really need to get round to reading Cruel Beauty! I'm looking forward to it. Nice list!

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  14. I've had Red Shirts forever (ok not forever but awhile) I really need to read it.

    My TTT is here.

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  15. I really need to read Cruel Beauty! I've heard so many people have loved it and I've had it forever!!!! I haven't heard of any of the others though!

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  16. Cress was at the top of my list! 300 books?! Woah. I haven't read any of these. Time Bound is on my wishlist and Cruel Beauty is on my Kindle. Redshirts sounds funny. 15 minutes and Forgotten are now on my wishlist.

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  17. I've got Timebound on my TBR pile and need to pull it up higher as we head toward 2015.

    I love that you've got two Scalzi books on here. They were both great.

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  18. Cruel Beauty has been on my TBR for a while now, I'm really anxious to read it! Nice choices and I hope you encounter some other great reads in 2015!:)

    Claire @ Bookworm Reviews

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  19. I might have to check out Redshirts sometime since I am a Trekkie!

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  20. I am definitely adding The Great Zoo of China to Mount TBR - it sounds pretty fantastic and I have not read Reilly before. Redshirts is the only Scalzi I've read about a year or so agao and I did really really enjoy it. I'd like to try Old Man's War from him and Lock In sounds fascinating. Finally, You are a reading superstar! I am going to be super stoked to hit my goal of 90 books read. 300 is astronomical and awesome! I bow before your reading prowess!

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  21. I do love the cover of Cruel Beauty, but was disappointed with the actual story. The Great Zoo of China is on my list to read, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  22. Timebound and Lock In are two that I really want to read. Redshirts sounds great, I think I'd like it! I wasn't a huge fan of Cruel Beauty, but I think I just didn't like the characters. The writing and the world were beautiful. I'm looking forward to reading Crimson Bound to see if I like it better. Great list! Thanks for stopping by Michelle's Minions!

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  23. Great list! I really want to read Cruel Beauty. It sounds like a great book!

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  24. I keep hearing great things about both Cruel Beauty and Lock In, so this is telling me I need to add them to my wishlist, pronto.

    Haven't heard of much of the rest of your list, I'll have to look into them. The Shadow of the Wind sounds like something I might like for sure.

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  25. I really can't wait to read Lock In (well, I'm actually waiting for the paperback to be released, but I'm super excited about it!) -- I loved Redshirts, and really want to read more of his books. Looks like you did some great reading in 2014!

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  26. Ohh, Timebound and Cruel Beauty are both on my Kindle, so I am excited to hear that you loved them! Wonderful list!

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  27. I haven't read any of your favorites, Karsyn, but several are on my TBR shelf. How I wish I could spend even more time reading :)
    Have a great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping by earlier.

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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  28. I haven't read any of these books, but it's definitely a list with all kinds of reads on there! 'Shadow of the Wind' has an amazing cover, quite curious to give that one a try!

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  29. Good list. Some of those covers one the list about beautiful.

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  30. Great list! The Shadow of the Wind and Cruel Beauty are both on my TBR - hopefully they're books I'm going to finally read in 2015!

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  31. I keep meaning to read Cruel Beauty! Hopefully soon! :-) Great list! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  32. Cruel Beauty is on my TBR, I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  33. This is a really nice list! I'm dying to read Lock in because it sounds sooo good, and I'll definitely check out timebound, seems like an excellent time travel series.Forgotten sounds pretty itneresting as well. Thank you for all the recommendations.

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  34. I have simply got to read Cruel Beauty! I've heard so many good things about it!

    Great list and I hope yu read even more awesome books!

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  35. Guess who just picked up The Shadow of the Wind for a holiday vacation read? This gal! Can't wait to see what you loved so much. :)

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  36. I've not read any of these, but the covers for Cruel Beauty and Timebound are just stunning! Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

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  37. I've been starting to see Timebound here and there.... may have to look into it more! Thanks for sharing!

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