As we start a fresh year (a year full of books to read!) I wanted to share with you my favorite books of 2011. These are the ones I read in 2011, so not just the ones published.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Delirium was one of my favorites. This book got me into the whole dystopian genre and therefore I love this book even more. The characters are amazing, the romance gushing and heart-breaking and the writing style is almost poetical. I can't really describe it. If you haven't read it, you should read it yourself. The first 70 pages or so are a litte bit slow, but you just have to read through it. Believe me, it's worth it.
Goodreads page
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
I read the Hunger Games trilogy in the beginning of 2011 and I just fell in love with it. I read all the books back to back in less than three days. Mockingjay wasn't as good as the first too, but I still loved it. They are such page turners. I can't wait for the movie to come out in March!
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Divergent by Veronica Roth
With all the buzz around Divergent, how could I not have read it. I have a lot of love for Delirium, but Divergent has to be my favorite debut of 2011. This book had me on the edge of my seat. It got me thinking about the idea behind the factions and I really like that about a book. Also Four was a great love interest and Tris was such a strong heroine. I'm so excited about Insurgent in May!
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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Yes, in 2011 I finally gave in on reading Anna and the French Kiss and I'm so glad I did. I loved this book so, so much! The setting in Paris, Anna, St. Clair, it was all just amazing. It's deeper than you're average chicklit. Every time I feel bad, I pick this book up. I haven't read Lola yet (I'm waiting for my delivery to arrive), but I definitely will. If you haven't read this book, READ IT!
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The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner
I read the whole Maze Runner series and I loved every single one of them. These books are suspensefull and action packed. If you loved the Hunger Games, you should give this series a try. My favorite out the three of them are the Maze Runner (the first one) and the Death Cure (the third one).
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Where She Went by Gayle Forman
I read if I stay and really liked it, but the sequel Where She Went I loved. This book had me tearing up the entire time. I felt the pain and love Mia and Adam felt and for an author to do that, you have to be very good. This is a book that I would recommend to ANYBODY.
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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Last (but certainly not least!), a 2011 debut. I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The story is set is Prague and Laini Taylor's descriptions are so vividly, that you feel like you're with Karou in Prague. Her writing style is amazing and Karou is a kick-ass protagonist. The whole story itself with Brimstone and his teethshop were so unique to me. I just loved it.
Goodreads page
So, those were my top favorites of 2011. Other honourable mentions are Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, The Summer series by Jenny Han, The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa and Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. If you haven't picked one of these up, please do. And let me know what you're favorite reads of 2011 were!
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Published: October 6th 2009
Publisher: Vintage
Pages hardcover: 440
Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.
Leviathan is the first steampunk book I've read in my life and I really, really enjoyed it. The concept of the book is very cool. The whole idea of steampunk is that the society is far ahead of its time. The book is set in World War I, but instead of having the Allies and the Central Powers like we're used to, you have the Darwinists and the Clankers. The Allies experimented with the DNA of animals and now they have these incredible beasts that they use as weapons. The Clankers, on the other hand, have very experienced technology. They have gigantic robots as weapons. In most books the steampunk aspect has to do with technology, but this time it also had to do with nature, DNA and genetics.
I love reading about the World Wars and especially with this new take on it. It made it all really exciting for me. The world building was phenomenal and I could picture everything in my head (but there are these amazing pictures in the book if you need help). The book is action packed and hard to put down.
Then there are these amazing characters. In the beginning of the book the Archduke Frans Ferdinand and his wife Sofia are killed in Sarajevo. With four of his father best trusted servants Alexander escapes from Austria. At that moment he is just a little boy, 16 but mentally just 12. In the few weeks that follow you see him change, growe up and making decicions on his own. I really loved him. In the beginning I just wanted to hold him, but in the end I admired him. He is loyal, good-hearted and clever. Then you have Deryn, a 15 year old English girl that passes as a 16 year old boy called Dylan to join the airforce. On her first day with the airforce she boards the big airship the Leviathan. There she is the bravest one of them all. She is so though that I almost felt like I was reading about a boy, but at some moments you can still see she's a girl which I really liked. She has a big love for flying and for the beast and you could sense that through the book.
Scott Westerfeld is an amazing author. I've read Uglies too, but I liked this book so much more. The creativity in this book with the Darwinists was amazing and he created some great protagonist. However the ending seemed a little abruptly and I would like to see the relationship of Alek and Deryn grow more. Thankfully, there is a second book called Behemoth and a third book called Goliath. I will be picking up Behemoth soon.
Leviathan was an excellent read that I would definitely recommend.
4 out of 5 stars.
