Tubular, I really like that word. When I use it, which is frequently, my audience typically cocks their head in awe and sometimes worry. "Yes", I tell them, "I am odd".
Another odd thing about me is that I rank my favorite books. Yes, I know. Why do I take the time to do this? I dunno, I just like ranking things and since books are my #3 favorite things in the world, then why not rank my favorite ones? Right.
I am, however, starting to worry that my ranking system is off and maybe a little disingenuous. Here's why.
As of right now here is the list (each title is followed by the month and year in which I read the book)
1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (February 2009)
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (September 2009)
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (May 2009)
4. The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd (January 2010)
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green (November 2009)
6. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (December 2009)
7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (January 2010)
8. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (June 2009)
9. Swim the Fly by Don Calame (January 2010)
10. The Giver by Lois Lowry (June 2007)
As you can see, only one book, The Giver, is not from the last year. Why have my recently read books had such an impact on me that they have made it to the very top of my list? I do not think many people would challenge the presence of The Road or The Hunger Games series on this list, but the others would not ordinarily be at the top of someone's all-time list. I cannot explain why they are there other than when I sat down at goodreads.com to add each book, I felt that book needed to be at the top. The current list, which you can view via the Goodreads link, currently has thirty titles. Only eight are from 2008 and earlier.
Have my views changed and the books that used to be at the top just aren't as good to me anymore? Or are the books that I devoured last year just that good that they make it to the top?
Do you have a list of all-time faves, what's on there, does it have an interesting timeline? If not, if you threw one together, what would be among the top? Are they childhood favorites or are they books that mean something to you, but you just read them. Did some books loose their luster the longer you had to process them?
Last question, and be honest, my friends. Are you totally judging me and my list or is it just tubular?
And, as always, puppy. The little one is Belle and her mama is Molly.
I'm surprised you liked Catching Fire MORE than The Hunger Games. I liked it less -- still good, mind you, just less than the first. But I find that with most series.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay! The Giver made the list! I adore that book. My book is very Giver-ish. :-D
The Hunger Games would defintely be at the top of my list! The Host was pretty good though, too. Hmmm...I think I must read it again (its been awhile).
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good question. I will have to really think about which books would make my list.
Jon, how dare you make me think! (It hurts.) : )
Happy Tuesday!
Elana - Well, I am not sure why exactly, but I think because I liked the venue for the games more and the expanded teamwork between the players. It was slightly more ingenious than the first book. I am not thinking the third will top the other two, but if it does make the top ten...The Giver will lose it's place. By process of elimination, you may have noticed that The Giver used to be #1.
ReplyDeleteKim - Not as bad as your mini snip-it from your book...
Let's play nice from now on. You post your list, I really want to know and post more of your writing and I won't make you think too much.
I have no idea what my ranking would be for books. I'm more of a Thumbs UP, thumbs Down, or Meh kind of ranker.
ReplyDeleteAnd also that puppy is WAY to cute.
Books from the 1800s are at the top of my fave list. I am and always will be a literature nerd!
ReplyDeleteDecember - That's not precise enough for me...give some of your +most recent thumbs up recipients.
ReplyDeleteMariah - Ditto on the latter.
If by tubular you mean, a round hollow, cylinder shaped thing that you can send a marble down, or a spit ball through, then perhaps your list is tubular. You know, like a circle and things are always revolving or rolling around or something. I'll have to work on that metaphor. Doesn't work as well as lettuce or onions. But in the end that's why I don't rate books. I have no objectivity.
ReplyDeleteMy faves are the Harry Potter series, the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. I think the Harry Potter series are the only books to be added to my all-time faves in the last seven years. I've been very selective in my reading and would like to give more literary novels a chance, since I tend to gravitate towards sci-fi/fantasy (not to say they can't be literary), and I tend to re-read my favourites over and over. Right now I am reading "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand and I hope to start including various other new books to the list. I will have to check out these favourites of yours...thanks for the suggestions!
ReplyDeleteSeveral of those books have received excellent reviews, so it's no secret that you, or anyone else, could put them on your fav list. I am surprised though that they all are very recent. Is that just because you only have begun reading seriously in the last few years, or is it because you honestly like them better than older literature?
ReplyDeleteTina - Uh, sure, that's what I mean. Less in the sense of the 80's and more in the descriptive sense...like Steampunkish. Yup.
ReplyDeleteMorgan - You're welcome about the suggestions. I truly look forward to hearing your feedback once you are finished.
Void - I...did read more books last year than usual, but I have always been a reader. The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter are in the top thirty, but they have been out of the top ten for a while. What are some examples of older literature? Keep in mind that I generally stay within the YA genre.
Jon--I cannot answer this question right now. My head hurts too much--but not because of the question. (surviving a migraine). I'll be back to weigh in another day. But, you might want to stop by my blog today ;-)
ReplyDeleteI’m right there with ya, Jon, when it comes to having current favorites dethroning older ones. I think it just comes with the evolution of language. The more recent the book, the more in line the phrasing and word choice match what we are accustomed to and appreciate. Our blasts from the past are still oldies, but goodies. They just might not be our favorites anymore.
ReplyDeleteMy current favorites: Anything from Cinda Williams Chima
Oldies, but goodies: The Belgariad series (David Eddings), The Riftwar Saga series (Raymond E. Feist)
Yes, I have a distinct fantasy slant. :)
I love The Road.
ReplyDeleteI dont know how you can make a list like this. There's no way I could make a list of favourites. I couldn't even make a list of what I've read last year--way too many!
Again, cute pictures =)
I don’t keep an actively changing top 10 list like you, but I do have a general idea of what my favorite books are. I know that I had lots of books that I loved when I was younger, but I don’t think I would put many books on my top ten list that I didn’t read within the past three or four years. I’ve actually been tempted to reread some of my old faves. Perhaps it isn’t that all the books you read last year are better than your past reads, you’ve just forgotten you much you loved those other books.
ReplyDeleteAlso, based upon your favorite books list, I have to recommend THE SPARROW by Mary Dorria Russell. It is definitely my number one favorite book of all time, and has some similar elements to some of the other books you liked. You should check it out.
Heather - For me? Thank you! I'll post it tomorrow. In the mean time, FEEL BETTER!
ReplyDeleteBrandon - Interesting point. As you can see from my list, Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres. I usually most enjoy books that supersede the notion of genre. I am, however, beginning to find myself interested in your list.
Nat - It's called Goodreads. I am sure I am enough of a freak that I could have figured my list of read books out on my own, but it wouldn't be finished yet. Goodreads makes it all possible. Join.
Kate - The Sparrow has been added to my 'to-read' shelf. I agree that I may have forgotten somethings about the books that used to be my favorites, but I am the type of person to remember the things that strike me. I may be revisited some of my old faves soon, just to test it out.
I don't have a ranking system - I just have some books that I love more than others. My favorites are The Hunger Games series, The Mortal Instruments series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Road, Hush Hush, Pride and Prejudice, and A Wrinkle In Time. So I have a mixture of old and new.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great list of books. I loved The Maze Runner. I also agree with Elana. I liked The Hunger Games better than Catching Fire, but both are awesome. :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay. Truce??? I promise to post more from my book as soon as I get more to post. I've only just finished chapter 2 this weekend. So, it might be a few weeks before I can post anymore.
ReplyDeleteI promise you don't want to read my really unedited version. But, like you said, I'm a tease. I can't post too much. Where would the fun be in that??? LOL.
As for the list...hmmm...thinking...
I am embarrassed to say that I have not read any of those books...some are on my To Read list though!
ReplyDeleteI need to really think about my all time faves but they do include Harry Potter, The Outsiders, and The Dirt by Motley Crue :)
Melissa - The Mortal Instruments series is on my list to read, I am next in line for Hush, Hush at the library.
ReplyDeleteShannon - What was better about book one of the Hunger Games than book two?
Kim - Truce, indeed! And, i truly understand if it takes you forever to post more, I just don't want it to.
Kelly - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, ...Sorcerer's Stone, and ...Half-Blood Prince are in my top thirty. Don't feel too embarrassed for not having read any of my top-ten...just feel a little embarrassed. I looked at your list from 2009, I loved The Graveyard Book too. You should definitely read Shiver, based on your other top picks.
Just finished THE GIVER - great book.
ReplyDeleteI've never ranked books this way. Don't think I could. I like different books for different reasons, so it's like comparing apples to oranges (how cliché is that?). I mean, I love Peter Mayle's A DOG'S LIFE, but I certainly wouldn't compare it to McCarthy's THE ROAD. There are books I've read in the past that have stuck with me as favorites: SAVAGE HUNGER, THE HOBBIT, A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES. I'd rank those above THE HUNGER GAMES for no other reason than they've passed the test of time.
Keewt!! Love the puppy. Your list IS totally tubular (and that word, btw was completely hip when I was a teenager :D)
ReplyDeleteI, however, don't have a list.
I only have one book (actually a trilogy, but one set of books) that are my all-time faves and everything else just morphs around that one fave.
I make to-do lists compulsively, but that's about the only list I make!
So interesting -I love seeing people's lists! And I am surprised th see The Host on there. My friend loved it better than all of the Twi books.
ReplyDeleteBTW, are those yellow lab pups? I have a chocolate and she's a great doggie!
VR - You can compare apples to oranges though. Apples are crisp and sweet, while oranges are tart, stringy, and disgusting.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I see your point regarding books, but I suppose I rank based on how I feel after I finish the book and after time has passed. Since many of these are newer, we'll just have to see.
Ali - What trilogy do you speak of? Is it similar to your writing?
Christina - The Host is far and above the Twilight Saga. The story, and writing, are much crisper and you can really feel SM's voice.
Yes, they are yellow labs, but they have red and black in their heritage.
Hey, I over via "Frankie writes".. and I think its cool to get compared to glitter. And thanks for listing those other blogs. Will have to check them out.
ReplyDelete