Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I've Read So Far in 2013

This was kind of a tough week for me as I’ve read a string of YA books recently that were just not as good as I wanted them to be. But still! I’ve managed to put together a (rather dark and murdery) list of the top 10 books I’ve read so far this year:

(Original feature courtesy of The Broke and the Bookish)

1.       The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

If you’re a Greek mythology nerd like me, you’ll love this beautiful take on Homer’s Iliad told from the perspective of Achilles’ lifelong companion Patroclus. It’s an intimate look at the boys’ relationship both before and during the Trojan War. Miller’s prose is lush and gorgeous, too. Definitely the best book I have read this year!

2.      The Diviners by Libba Bray

Even though I already reviewed it a few weeks ago, The Diviners definitely deserves to make my top ten list for 2013. A series of supernatural murders in 1920s NYC? Yes, please!

3.      Terrier (Beka Cooper #1) by Tamora Pierce

It is obligatory that I will read everything Tamora Pierce writes, ever. I think she authors some of the best YA fantasy with female protagonists, and Terrier was no different. Main character Beka is like a tough, smart cop/detective, only in the medieval-ish realm of Tortall.

4.      The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin

This is another series we’re obsessed with at Mad but Magic (The Unbecoming made Sam’s TBR list last week). I didn’t think it was possible, but The Evolution manages to be even scarier than the first one. Maybe try not to read this one alone, at night…

5.      Maurice by E.M. Forster

In this lesser-known novel by the guy who wrote the super-romantic A Room with a View, E.M. Forster explores a same-sex pairing. The author himself was gay, and I thought this book was really interesting since it was written in early 20^th century Britain – so main character Maurice doesn’t even know how to talk about his sexual orientation and at one point tries to get a doctor to cure him. Even more unusual for the time it was written: Forster insisted it have a happy ending!

6.      The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Hugely different from what I expected as Rowling’s first follow-up to HP, but not in a bad way. Told from a series of different character perspectives, it’s a pretty dark look at what happens behind closed doors in a small English village.

7.     A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

This was given to me by my boyfriend for Christmas, and I adored it… I think. It’s the story of Ignatius J. Reilly, who I loved to hate: he’s a lazy, paranoid, out of touch man-child who lives with his mother but considers himself a persecuted genius. Hilarious in the style of The Office in that it made me laugh but also physically cringe from awkwardness.

8.     Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I’m stealing a line from Kate’s review of this book: “At last a book about something other than ‘I love him/but we can't be together/I'll be moody for 300 pages.’” Right?? Katsa is a strong-willed, independent woman much more focused on her work in political intrigue than her love life. How refreshing!

9.      The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This one already made my last TTT for books that feature travel, but it deserves to be here, too, okay! Maybe I’ll include it on EVERY TTT -- wanna fight about it?

10.   Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

In spite of what I think is a silly title, I really enjoyed this smart and sweet modern-day adaptation of Sense and Sensibility set in Los Angeles. My favorite thing about it: Hallie and Grace (Marianne and Elinor, respectively) are mixed-race and that is actually depicted on the cover! I also found that McDonald’s interpretation of Colonel Brandon as an Iraq War veteran worked particularly well for me.

What about you - have you read any of these? What books make YOUR top 10 for 2013?

-Meg