Every year Goodreads members cast their vote for the best books in 20 categories. This year as I was voting I realized how many of the books listed I didn't read. It was an overwhelming amount really. So I want to take the time next year to read more books written in 2014. Here are some winners in categories I want to delve more into next year:
Memoir & Autobiography
I Am Malala tells the inspiring story of a schoolgirl who was determined not to be intimidated by extremists, and faced the Taliban with immense courage. Malala speaks of her continuing campaign for every girl's right to an education, shining a light into the lives of those children who cannot attend school. This is just the beginning...
The Choice: I'm not all that surprised that I Am Malala won. When I watched a news story on what happened to her and her fight to make girls education available everywhere I started rooting for her. I would actually be interested in reading her story.
The Future: I've only read a few memoirs but I've loved them. I really want to read more humorous ones or just more in general next year. I've got two planned already - How to be a Woman and Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I hope more insightful or fun memoirs come out next year as well.
Food & Cookbooks
A clever tribute to literature, Tequila Mockingbird is the cocktail book for the literary obsessed. Combining beloved classic novels with witty humor and delicious drink recipes, some of the charming recipes include Vermouth the Bell Tolls, Gin Eyre, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita, Bridget Jones’s Daiquiri, and more. Accompanying the 65 cocktail recipes are a list of tools and techniques, a spirits glossary, and a handful of drinking games and bar bites, making this cocktail book both fun and functional.
The Choice: I am not a cocktail type of person so Tequila Mockingbird isn't for me but the way the recipes are entwined with novels and humor I can understand why it was chosen.
The Future: I only knew of Relish and I didn't even read it so that's pretty bad. I have a ton of food related books I want to read next year and I plan to scout some good cookbooks as well.
Graphic Novels & Comics
In crisp black and white manga pictures, Ethan Wate narrates his dreams, haunted an unreachable raven-haired beauty. When she moves into the small Southern town Blackwood mansion of her protective Uncle Macon, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her. As her 16th birthday nears, Lena must choose - or will the family curse choose for her?
The Choice: Feels kind of biased but I have looked at a couple of pages inside so I might be wrong.
The Future: I don't know what's wrong with me! I love graphic novels and comics. My brother has a whole library of comics I haven't read and I used to read a lot of manga. I really want to read all of Fables next year. I want to also try my best to find some new graphic novels at my library if they ever get any.
Young Adult Fiction
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
The Choice: It was either this or Fangirl. I'm more partial to Faingirl's synopsis but I'm not surprised again by Eleanor & Park's win. Does anyone else find it funny that the two top books in this category was written by the same person? Now that's a statement.
The Future: But you always read YA books - what gives? Umm... I kind of read none off this list and I am very ashamed of myself. I want to read a bunch of them but I just didn't this year. *face palm* I'll have to make an effort to read YA books that come out in 2014.
Middle Grade & Children
They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.
(Didn't want to spoil anything for me and you so I got a smaller synopsis.)
The Choice: All that Rick Riordan makes is gold so I'm sure The House of Hades is awesome.
The Future: I am so behind on this series it's driving me nuts! This was actually my best category because I read two in the total nomination list. *pats on back* I do read a lot of books in this category but I want to read more. They are just so good to sideline in my reading life.
Picture Books
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!
The Choice: I would have thought Chu's Day would have won because Adam Rex illustrated it but The Day the Crayons Quit was illustrated by Oliver Jeffers so it's a bit of a toss up. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild would have been great as well.
The Future: Saying that I have read none of these titles. I have seen book trailers, reviews, and images on the web so even if I sound like I know what I'm talking about I don't really because I haven't read any of them... and I want that to change! I love picture books and I am so going to read more of them.
P.S. Why wasn't Carnivores on this list???
So what do you think about The 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards?
Are you baffled by the winners or nodding your head along with the choices?
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Looking through the list you link, I'm surprised that I actually read one of the winners (Inferno by Dan Brown), as I only read two books published in 2013 this year. Not at all surprised that I Am Malala and Eleanor and Park won, though. They really seemed to be prominent titles.
ReplyDeleteI don't know myself how many books I read that were published in 2013. You probably have really good taste in books then. Same with me on those two titles although even though I didn't read it, I would have preferred Fangirl for some reason. I guess it appeals to my more immature side of me. Can't wait to join in on the event! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou're so right about Rainbow. That really does say something.
ReplyDeleteI'm so adding all the picture books you mentioned to my TBR.
Everyone's discovering how great she is now. I actually want to read an older book of hers - Attachments because it looks so darn cute and feel good (:
DeleteAwesome! You should check out Waking Brain Cells - it's a great children's blog that I've loved for years.
I feel like I spend so much time reading books for other people that I never get to read for myself. I haven't read any of these books, yet I've read almost 200 books this year. There is something wrong with that and it's one of my goals for next year - to read more of what I want.
ReplyDeleteYour preaching to the choir. I'm reading more of the books I want to next year too. I want to read a lot of MG and Children's books so it'll be interesting how people take to it but I love those types of books. Read some books for yourself once in a while! That's what books are there for. For YOU to enjoy them and for YOU to choose.
DeleteQuite honestly I'm a bit disappointed with some winners. Especially with Allegiant. I mean that book was out like for a few days only and I'm not sure all those people who voted got to read it. Just saying. Anyhow I need to read Fangirl soon. It sounds like an amazing story. Great post Adriana :)
ReplyDeleteI felt some books could be biased. It's a popularity contest so what can I expect? :/
DeleteAllegiant also has some mixed reviews too which makes it less likely to be picked.
I feel like all the world has read Fangirl and I'm missing out on something glorious. Hopefully when I read I feel that way.
There were a lot of books on the list that I hadn't read- which made me realize that I have been reading a lot in just a couple of genres. I have been wanting to read Eleanor and Park since I first saw it (Fangirl too). I am very intrigued by the writing and the fact that the writer had two books at the top of the list! Wow! I am behind on the Rick Riordan series- but I love his books and know I will catch up soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
I realized the same thing. I mean some genres I just don't plan to get into but others I do and the fact I read no books from the YA pile makes me want to change my ways.
DeleteI heard great things about "I am Malala" and I have a few books in your post that are in my TBR list. I'm looking forward to read Eleanor and Park soon :)
ReplyDeleteI think I have to get on the bandwagon eventually with Eleanor & Park. It doesn't sound as interesting to me as Fangirl does but I might as well give it a try.
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