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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Day 3 of Faves of 2011

Yes, it's more of Nomes's fabulous little blog series, the Faves of 2011. Today we have a few random awards to give out. Hope you enjoy my list!  



the scenes
1. best first chapter
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
I loved how the scene just seemed to fly off the pages, almost like stream of conscious type writing, and as many of you know, I'm particularly fond of opening scenes that involve kissing strangers (points to Nikki's Wish button above). 
2. best climax
There are really too many that fit this description so I'm going to break my rules of choosing just one.
All of these are kind of action packed, though I didn't intentionally do that.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi 
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness


3. best ending
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The ending of Finnikin is just much, much too sweet for words.


4. best plot twist/revelation (no spoilers!)
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Because I was too blind to see it coming. :( 



5. scariest/most disturbing scene
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
There's a scene in the middle of this one that absolutely turned my stomach. I mean I knew that it wouldn't come to fruition, so to speak, but it was still chilling to read. 


6. steamiest scene (or sweetest/sexiest kiss award)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
This book is so sexy almost from the get-go, but there's one scene in particular that was just HOT - and then funny - and then rather sweet. Loved it. :) 


7. best swoon-worthy moment
Anna and the French Kiss
Close to the end, at the park. Yes, that one. :)


8. biggest nail-biting moment
Burning For Revenge, Tomorrow Series #5 by John Marsden
This series is full of nail-biting moments actually, but there's one in particular in book 5 that sort of turns the whole series around. JM isn't afraid of kill off his characters, and I was certain that one of them was going to bite the bullet this time around. Can't say whether they did or not, of course.


9. most hilarious scene
Angus, thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Picture a young girl, a Sex God, and um... hair fried by over-bleaching. I started laughing out loud. :)


10. most heart-breaking/tear-jerker moment
Please Ignore Vera Dietz
There are a few heartbreaking moments in this one that makes you just kind of crumble up inside. Anyone who has ever had a friend turn on them will be able to relate.




 the random

1. fave first sentence
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
The string slices into the skin of his fingers and no matter how tough the calluses, it tears. 
(so she's talking about a guitar here, but you could take a leap and say that it's a metaphor for the MC - just brilliant!)


2. fave book title 
I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
It's significant, unlike so many other titles out there, but you won't know what it means until the very end. Also I know that I could never come up with anything that simple, desolate, and brilliant.
3. fave reading experience (ie: created a great reading memory)
Guitar Highway Rose
This book made me crazy desperate to be a teen and free of responsibilities and eager to make mistakes again. Gah! 


4. book with the best food in it (made me so crazy-envious-hungry)
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Examples: Turtle soup, pheasant stuffed with figs, stewed oysters, potted larks, greens cooked with bacon, pickled watermelon rind, buttered parsnips, cold tongue. Gingerbread, pies of brandied peaches, cherries and mincemeat, macaroons, blancmange, Jordan almonds, and maple syrup bread pudding. The list goes on and on. Obviously not everything in this book would appeal to all palates. 



5. book with the most sensual weather (made you shiver/sweat)
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi 
Well, it's set in a futuristic world where much of New Orleans is underwater and there are hurricanes all the time and what not. And it's very very hot. And they're on a ship for parts of the story. Nasty. 

6. most embarrassing book cover (feeling sheepish in public)
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
So it wasn't particularly the picture, but rather the title, especially since I was reading it at my son's soccer practice. :)
7. can’t believe you waited this long to read the book (!)
Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin
If there's one book that deserved a heck of a lot better marketing, it was this one. 


I'll be hopping around to all the blogs again soon. If I've missed you over the past couple days, my apologies. I try to visit everyone, but sometimes I get lost in Bloggerworld and can't find my way out. 


4 comments:

Jess - The Tales Compendium said...

Nick and Norah's is one of my all-time fave books! *HIGH FIVE*

AND Guitar Highway Rose! Another A-T-F of mine!

Plus, big YAYs for Anna and the French Kiss and Burning For Revenge (!)

Hope you are enjoying Five Flavors of Dumb!

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

Ha, Angie. I have to agree about that embarrassing cover!

And YES! I loved that first line in The Piper's Son. I've never heard of I Am The Cheese before, but I love books that reveal the meaning of the title at the end so I will have to check that out.

This list is awesome! Looks like you have read a great mix of books this year. Bravo.

My List

Alix said...

Oh I LOVED Nick and Norah and I can't believe I didn't put it on my best kisses list ~ they have some incredible and hot kisses :)

I just got Guitar Highway Rose and I can't wait to start

And oh the end of Finnikin I am swooning just thinking about it "I would die for you" *sigh*

Great list :)

Nomes said...

oh THE ENDING OF FINNIKIN (!!) it was BRILLIANT. (i am quietly apprehensive about reading the sequel soon O.o but i know it will be brilliant)

and isn't #5 in the tomorrow series completely INSANE (!) it's like an action movie. i thought it was lots of fun. #6 has a different vibe altogether, kind of in another directino, not as action-y. and then you'll be up to the last one (!)

so glad you loved GUITAR HIGHWAY ROSE. it's gorgeous :)

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