18 December 2012

Top Ten 2012 Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Combining both a passion for all things bookish with an obsessive love of list-making, this rad meme was born. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I Read In 2012.

Okay, don't hate me but I'm technically cheating on this week's TTT post. But wait! I have legitimate reasons! Since this is a joint book and movie review blog, I feel I'd be doing myself a disservice to not plug the shit out of this year's amazeballs movies. Also, I'm a little short on book posts because, well, I've only been blogging here since August. So yeah, there you have it.

My top everything for 2012, starting with the creme de la creme (5 stars):


Every Day by David Levithan - If you checked out any of my 2012 Annual Survey then you'll know exactly how shameless I was in pushing this book on everybody. I WILL NEVER GIVE UP! I WILL NEVER SURRENDER! So seriously. Are you reading it yet? Cause you really should. 

Hysteria by Tanya Wexler - It's a movie about sex toys and masturbation. It's also a witty social commentary that's simply a pleasure (get it!?) to watch. Okay, so really it's not just a movie about sexy things, but c'mon!

The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott - So technically this wasn't my first time reading this book. Technically I read it before 2012. Technically this is an oldie for me. Oh, hell. I read it about once a year on average and to date it's still one of my favourites. It's my TT list and I'll include it if I want to, dammit!

The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius - It won the Oscar for best film of the year for a reason. Need I say more?

The Princess Bride by William Goldman - "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." What more could you ask for? Mandy Patinkin? Oh, yeah. It's got him. A real giant? Yep, you guessed it. Got that too. A battle of wits with a Sicilian while death is on the line? You betcha!


The Diviners by Libba Bray - I dare you to give me one character with as much pizazz and class as Ms. Evie O'Neil. I DARE YOU! Besides, I've always had a fascination with the Roaring 20's and since I'm, oh, about 90 years too late for that era, this will just have to do.

Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson - Super stylized, interesting and absurdly quirky. It's probably Wes Anderson's best film to date.

Terminal Freeze  by Lincoln Child - Think, John Carpenter's The Thing, only in book format. Yeah. It's that suspenseful and awesome. Just remember to keep the lights on while you're reading it!

Jeff, Who Lives at Home by Jay & Mark Duplass - This movie was so incredibly touching and gave me a big, ol' ugly cry. But despite the crying, it's movies like this that make me remember all that's good in this world.

Mind Over MonstersTo Catch A Vampire by Jennifer Harlow - I know I'm cheating with this one, but really, they are both that good! Don't get me wrong, I loved me some Sookie Stackhouse but this series blows True Blood out of the water. I'm a fangirl.



What are some of your top reads this year? Did anything surprise you with it's super amazing awesomeness? Which movies deserve some of your love and recognition? Anything you'd recommend for me in 2013?

24 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/18/2012

    I really enjoyed The Princess Bride when I read it (though I'm disappointed to see that the "new" cover doesn't have "The Good Parts Version" on it. My copy does. :D). I also will admit to looking for S. Morgenstern's version for a bit...til I read somewhere (maybe in the intro?) that there really is no "long" version lol

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    1. I know! Admittedly, I was thrown by the S. Morgenstern thing until I pretty much read the book (as I saw the movie first). It really is SOOOO good!

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  2. Anonymous12/18/2012

    I agree -- LOVED The Diviners! Every Day, too (which is why I've given it as a gift a few times already). The movie "Hysteria" was terrific -- I thought I was the only one who'd seen it! :)

    Lisa
    My TTT

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    1. Wait, wait, wait. You saw Hysteria?! OMG, we NEED to talk! I <3 that movie so much.

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  3. Every Day was an amazingly awesome read. I'll definitely be passing my copy around quite a bit to my friends and family. :]

    My Top Ten Tuesday

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    1. I agree, I'm doing the same, Ash. This book is just too good not to shove in everyone else's faces. They might hate me for being so forceful... until they read it. Then I'll get all the love in the world, MUAHAHAHA!

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  4. Awesome list! You've got quite a few books I want to read, like The Diviners and Every Day - and since you're pushing it so hard - I've got to pick it up soon :-)

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    1. Yes, yes you must. Or I will hunt you down and MAKE you read them. ;)

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  5. I took The Diviners out from the library and then had to return it unread. SAD. but it is enormous! I will try again soon, since it is getting rave reviews here :-)

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    1. The Diviners does look a bit daunting but once you get into it, it goes by really quickly! I devoured my copy.

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  6. Nikki, I literally just finished Every Day.....and you were so right. everyone should read it....tihis book just stomped all over my heart!

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    1. I KNOOOOOOOW!!!!! Words can't even describe. Not much leaves me speechless, but Every Day did.

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  7. I love the way you combined books and movies. I also loved The Artist, but never got to see Moonrise Kingdom:( Dying to read The Diviners, hopefully I can squeeze it in soon.

    Here's my Top Ten.

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! I have an equal passion for books and movies so it was the fair thing to do. If you like Wes Anderson, you NEED to see Moonrise Kingdom. And yes, read The Diviners. It's long but worth the time investment!

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  8. I really want to read Every Day and The Diviners! They sound so amazing.

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    1. They are soooo good! I'm interested to know your thoughts on both!

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  9. Ermagherd!! I'm reading "The Diviners" right now. I was SO psyched for this book to come out! I love the roaring 20s too and Libba Bray is my YA queen (well, one of my YA queens) so it sounded like the perfect book. I'm just in the thick of it and it. Is. BRILLIANT. It's all playing out like a movie in my head and aaaaahhhhhhhh. Sorry, I can only descend into incoherence - too close to it to be observational enough or whatever.

    And David Levithan. Ahhh, his writing is magical and I've read about half his books. I've heard a LOT of good things about "Every Day" but have yet to get my hands on it. I love the concept of A not being restricted by gender or race or whatever. He's brilliant enough to come up with and tackle something like that.

    Also, all your movie picks sound good. All except the Jeff one are ones that I've been wanting to watch, anyway. This just gives me more incentive.

    And you've inspired me to pick up "The Hunt for Atlantis". I've been searching for awhile now for a book with a good adventure, believable characterization and a dash of romance and this sounds perfect.

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    1. Haha, your enthusiasm for this book is SO infectious! I love it! And yes, it really was brilliant! I was lucky enough to have Every Day be my first foray into the magical world of David Levithan and I look forward to devouring all of his other books.

      I must warn you, The Hunt for Atlantis can be a bit ridiculous with regards to the face-melting action scenes, but if you know that going in, I think you'll really enjoy it. It's definitely entertaining! God, I heart Eddie Chase! Best. Action. Hero. Ever!

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  10. Anonymous12/18/2012

    Can you believe that I have never read The Princess Bride? It is one of my favorite movies, and I have wanted to read the book for years, but just never have. Tsk Tsk to me.

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    1. Don't feel bad, Quinn! I didn't even know it was a book until about two years ago! But definitely check it out. The movie does the book justice (er, the book does the movie justice?).

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  11. I'm dying to read The Diviners! I'm hesitant because it's such a huge book, but I'm planning on getting to it very soon. And I NEEEEED to read The Princess Bride! It's been on my list for ages and ages, and I still haven't gotten around to reading it. SOON, definitely soon!

    Books of Amber

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    1. The Diviners is admittedly long, but SO worth the time investment. Trust me, it doesn't feel as lengthy as it looks! And YES YES YES to The Princess Bride. If you love the movie, you'll adore the book.

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  12. Great list! I added Every Day to my wishlist after you recommended it :) I really want to watch Jeff, Who Lives at Home.

    I'm actually working on my '2012 End of Year Book Survey' post little by little and I have to say the most surprising book of 2012 for me was On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did.

    You know what I was thinking we should do? Some kind of 80's movies week. Or some kind of 80's movies posts. Let me know what you think. Some of my fav films are from the 80's (Pretty In Pink, Breakfast Club, 16 Candles and anything featuring my movie boyfriend John Cusack) We could take turns with it, one day you feature a film, the next I'll post...vice versa.

    Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah!

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    1. Yay! Please let me know if you enjoyed it as much as I did. And you totally should watch Jeff, Who Lives at Home (just make sure you keep a box of tissues nearby).

      I've never read On the Island, but I'll definitely check it out. I love it when books are pleasantly surprising! And I LUUUUUURRRRRV your 80's idea. I actually emailed you about it last night. So. Excited. You have no idea.

      Happy Holidays, lady!!

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