Melody

Hello, my dear readers! Today is the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) and I am very excited to participate in this event again. Last year's BBAW was a blast and I was so thrilled to see a few of my favourite bloggers were voted the best in various categories. This year's BBAW is bigger and better than the last because there are over 1000 bookbloggers participating and more awards being introduced and awarded, but aside from the fun and recognition, this event is actually about bookbloggers and its wonderful community so this is a great time for you to say "Hello" and "Thank you" to the other bookbloggers out there and of course to talk about books and reading!

For today's post we are supposed to write a post thanking and spotlighting our favourite blogs that did not make the shortlists. Though I would love to write about this, I know it is impossible for me to list every of my favourite blogs (trust me, I have a lot!) and the fact that I might leave someone out given that I have a short memory, so my kick-off post for the BBAW today is all about sharing our favourite books instead. (I hope Amy, the founder of BBAW, wouldn't mind that I write a different topic!)

To make it more fun, I am having a giveaway and a lucky reader will win a book from my favourite books list (it will be a brand new copy purchased from The Book Depository). Just tell me what are your favourite books and name me a YA title (or a few if you like) that you would like me to read (I am addicted to YA novels lately and I would love all the recommendations I can get!). The giveaway is open worldwide, and the closing date is September 18. Don't forget to list the title you want to win from my list and your email address in this post. The winner will be announced on the following day, September 19. Good luck!

Here is a list of my 2009 favourite books so far:

Happy Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Bookbloggers rock!

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60 Responses
  1. Unknown Says:

    I found it really hard to write a list of my favourite blogs and I had so many on my first draft, then I decided to edit it and just have a few. I do feel bad for leaving some out - I love yours for example!

    My favourite YA book is Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. Have you read it?

    Your list looks quite similar to mine - we seem to share a similar taste in books. I'd love to win The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister - thank you for opening it world wide!
    Happy BBAW week!


  2. Happy BBAW week!

    Two of my favourite YA reads this year (excluding The Hunger Games) were If I Stay by Gayle Forman and What I Was by Meg Rosoff; if you haven't read those then do!

    I would love a copy of The Uncommon Reader, which is a gem of a book and one I was devastated to return to library.


  3. Sandy Nawrot Says:

    Some of my favorite books of all time are To Kill A Mockingbird and In Cold Blood. Honestly, I need to do my top 10 of all time. This question comes up frequently! For this year, though, I've really liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The School of Essential Ingredients (Erica Bauermeister), Random Acts of Heroic Love (Danny Scheinmann) and The Thirteenth Tale (Diane Setterfield).

    Now, I would LOVE to get my hands on the Mo Hayder novel. I need read from from that author! Thanks for such a generous giveaway! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com


  4. Awesome list. I will check out those that I have not read!

    BBAW: My very own shortlist


  5. And please count me for the giveaway.

    I choose

    Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto


  6. Bunny B Says:

    I love The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and Undone by Brooke Taylor.

    I would love to read Godmother : The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon or Ash by Malinda Lo. Both are Cinderella themed :P

    Thank so much!

    bunnybx at gmail . com


  7. Anonymous Says:

    lovely list Melody. Its very difficult to name fav books. I'll list the latest I read - The Thirteenth Tale. Also, in YA, have you read Going too Far by Jennifer Echols, I loved it.

    Please enter me for The Ghost Writer.


  8. Ti Says:

    Hi there...thanks for stopping by my blog to say "Hi."

    I would love to win The School of Essential Ingredients and I am not much of a YA reader although I should be as my son is now falls into that category. I recently read Skeleton Creek which is the first book in a series and combines the lure of the internet along with the book which makes it fun.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    thereedfamilyATsbcglobalDOTnet


  9. Jennifer Says:

    Great Giveaway! Should I be fortunate enough to win, I would choose: Fallen Skies by Philippa Gregory

    As for recommending a YA book, I have not read many. I did enjoy the entire Harry Potter series and the Pendragon series.

    knittingmomof3(AT)gmail(DOT)com


  10. Ana S. Says:

    I completely understand why you found it hard to pick your favourite blogs, Melody! I ended up picking randomly from my favourites folder.

    As for my favourite reads of the year so far, Tender Morsels, Fingersmith, The Children's Book, The Fox Woman, The Knife of Never Letting go...I could go on and on.

    Because the first and the last are YA, I'm going to go ahead and recommend those :P


  11. Serena Says:

    I just chose blogs randomly from among my favorites and posted about them.

    I really like this giveaway idea...I think you should read The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson if you haven't already.

    I would love to win any of these books from the list:

    The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
    Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
    Ash by Malinda Lo

    Thanks for participating in BBAW!

    savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com


  12. We all had a hard time choosing who to spotlight today! My list is blogs with series/features that I enjoy.

    Would you believe I haven't read any of the books on your list of favorites - several are on my wish list though.

    Last week I read/reviewed David Levithan's new LOVE IS THE HIGHER LAW, a very sensitive (not sensationalized) portrait of three teens living in NY during the 9/11 attacks. Highly recommended.

    dawn [at] sheIsTooFondOfBooks [dot] com


  13. Iliana Says:

    Happy BBAW Week, Melody!

    Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway and I'll throw my name in the hat for The Uncommon Reader. Everyone seems to love that book! :)


  14. Hey girlie--I've got a little BBAW love for you here: http://trishsbooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/bbaw-adoration.html

    By the way--great take on the topic...I think you still answer the question!


  15. Megan Says:

    Actually stopping by as a result of Trish's above mentioned blog love. ;-) I'd love to be entered in your giveaway. Seems like a bunch of my book blogging buddies are always raving about John Green, so I'll throw my name in the hat for Looking for Alaska, though I do admit it's a tough choice!

    My favorite books from this year?

    The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (hey, there's a good YA rec!), The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue, and I shared your love of The School of Essential Ingredients, too!

    A couple more YA recs... =)

    How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff and Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger were both favorites of mine. Now, that I'm all grown up, I'm really enjoying the YA! LOL.

    toadacious1 at yahoo dot com


  16. Anonymous Says:

    I haven't read any YA books in years. But I did read some delightful books this summer, among them, O to 60 by Susan Slater and Italian for Beginners by Kristin Harmel.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com


  17. Lisa Roe Says:

    Ooh! Fun twist on the post topic for today, Melody! I look forward to the rest of your posts for this amazing BBAW.


  18. bermudaonion Says:

    What a great giveaway! I would love to be entered to win Looking for Alaska. I recommend Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart to you. milou2ster(at)gmail.com


  19. Ceri Says:

    Ooh, you've got such a great list there. I'd like to be entered for Looking for Alaska by John Green (Sadly his books don't get published here in the UK :-( ). It's hard to decide what to recommend but some of the best I've read lately are "Love Aubrey" by Suzanne LaFleur (tell me that's a fake name - it's too beautiful to be real), and the "Wicked" series by Nancy Holder & Debbie ViguiƩ (which aren't the *best* things ever but they're a lot of light-hearted fun with a twist of dark teen supernatural mystery). :-D

    I hope you have a fun BBAW. I'm enjoying observing from the sidelines. :-D


  20. Orchid Says:

    Awesome contest! Please enter me.
    Books that I would recommend reading are:The Hero and the Crown- Robin Mckinley.
    Eragon- Christopher Paolini.
    and Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol One, The Pox Party- M.T. Anderson. :)

    I would like to be entered to win Shiver- Maggie Stiefvater.


    hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com


  21. Alice Says:

    Like you, I enjoy YA books too. I have bought quite a few (actually, many) and now having a challenging time reading them all. Need to refocus and reprioritise things...


  22. From what you listed, I'd love to read Ash.

    I think some YA books you should read and these are also some favorites of mine.

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

    Willow by Julia Hoban

    Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuhenert


    and finally...

    The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Brennan


    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com


  23. Amanda Says:

    I would love to read Ash!

    My favorites lately have been Between Mom and Jo (by Julie Anne Peters), Evermore, After (by Amy Efaw) and Wild Roses (by Deb Caletti). All of those are YA. I see Evermore is already on your favorites list, but I'd recommend all three of the others.

    Thank you for this contest! My address is amandagignac[at]gmail[dot]com


  24. Deborah Says:

    Oh, listing my favorite books is always difficult because there are so many! Still, to limit myself to a few: I love Peter S. Beagles THE LAST UNICORN, Terry Pratchett's WITCHES ABROAD, and Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN.

    As for a YA you should read immediately: check out either Neil Gaiman's CORALINE or THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. They're both superb!

    In case you need my e-mail address, it's dbrannon[at]gmail[dot]com. And thanks for throwing this giveaway!

    I'd love to win Lo's ASH in your contest!

    Cheers,
    Deborah


  25. Jenny N. Says:

    Thanks for the giveaway. SOme of my favourite YA books are:
    -Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong
    -Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
    -Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

    jen4777[at]hotmail.com


  26. donnas Says:

    Its hard for me to list my favorite books there are so many great ones that I loved. Authors are almost easier - Neil Gaiman, Kelley Armstrong, Claudia Gray, Rachel Caine are some of my favorites.

    For a YA book I would recommend Evernight by Claudia Gray, Glass Houses by Rachel Caine, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, House of Night by PC Cast.

    Out of your list I would pick Shiver.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com


  27. What a great idea, Melody! I'm glad to see the book I just won in your giveaway listed as one of your favorites. :-) So many good goods there!


  28. I would suggest to you to read Dreaming Anastasia. I am just finishing it now and really enjoying it.

    I would love to have Godmother : The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

    journey through books @ gmail dot com


  29. Llehn Says:

    I would love to win Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

    Some of the titles I have read and enjoyed are Peeps by Scott Westerfeld, Jessica's Guide TO Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey and The Demon's Lexicon.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com


  30. Blodeuedd Says:

    My fav YA book not on that lust would be Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, it gave me new faith in YA :)

    Oh I've heard great things about Shiver

    blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com


  31. Beth Says:

    Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would love to win the Ghost Writer.
    My Fav is the Twilight Saga.
    I would love for you to read the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer. There are 3 in the series.Great vampire books for boys (and girls). I have 2 sons and they are so hard to get to read. They love this series.


  32. throuthehaze Says:

    I would love to win Shiver. The Vampire Academy series is great.

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com


  33. Josette Says:

    My favourite YA books include The Book Thief and the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray. You could start with A Great and Terrible Beauty - the 1st book in the Gemma trilogy. :) It's a mixture of YA and historical romance. I love it!

    I would love to win The Hunger Games book. Thanks!

    josettebooks[at]yahoo[dot]com


  34. Lori L Says:

    I'm always totally incapable of naming a favorite book.... favorite recent YA titles have been The Book Thief and The Hunger Games.
    I've read great reviews of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and would like to win a copy of it.


  35. Alyce Says:

    I'd like to win The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

    Some of my favorite reads are:

    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
    The Pern series by Anne McCaffrey
    The Help by Kathryn Stockett
    Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

    and a YA title that I love is The Giver by Louis Lowry.

    akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com


  36. joemmama Says:

    Love your blog- Keep up the good work!


  37. holdenj Says:

    We have several titles in common! But, one you are missing is Impossible, by Nancy Werlin. It was really good and I highly recommend it. Of course, since you've already read The Hunger Games, I'm sure you're on to Catching Fire!
    I would love to win Shiver!
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com


  38. Unknown Says:

    Not sure if you've read her or not but Graceling by Kirsten Cashore is really good. Strong female character...
    I would love to read Shiver. I have heard that it is really good.
    Thanks
    new reader here -
    layersofthought{@}gmail{dot}com


  39. Sue Says:

    My favorite books... I have a hard time narrowing that down, but probably East of Eden and Pride & Prejudice.

    This year my favorite YA reads were The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Hunger Games, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and I'm currently reading Savvy by Ingrid Law and loving it.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com


  40. Unknown Says:

    I found random.org invaluable in selecting the blogs I highlighted! :)

    My favourite read of the year, is co-incidentally my YA recomendation! and that would be Nation by Terry Pratchett.

    I'd love to win Evermore by Alyson Noel


  41. Andrea Says:

    I honestly can't name my favorite book, but I can tell you the YA book you HAVE to read! It's My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent...I LOVED it! It is the only book I've given a 5 rating to so far this year!

    I would love to win The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!

    belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com


  42. I'd love to read / win Shiver.

    This one is one my TBR list; please enter me:

    dd DOT bookgoddess AT gmail dot com.


  43. Lynn Says:

    I haven't read many books this year (parenting issues intervened), but I'm just getting started again. I recently read the Book Thief and loved it (my favorite this year), but I'm guessing you've already read it? I also have Graceling here but haven't read it yet. In terms of your list, I just had a great time reading all of your reviews. So hard to pick! But I'll say the Uncommon Reader.


  44. Among my favourite books this year were The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell and Skim by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, both of which happen to be graphic novels. I don't read much YA so I'm not sure what to recommend, although Skim is set in a high school so it might fit the bill.

    I'd love to win The School of Essential Ingredients! Thanks for this giveaway.

    shereadsandreads(at)gmail(dot)com


  45. chocowafer Says:

    My current favorite read is The Hunger Games. And I'd like for you to read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. It's really fun! :)

    austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com


  46. babygirlG Says:

    I heard that Shiver is an amazing book so I'm looking forward to reading it.

    Books I would recommend you read :
    Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
    If I Stay - Gayle Forman.

    tehashley(at)yahoo(dot)com


  47. Veens Says:

    I don't read much of YA! But I mos definitely enjoy it. Last read YA that I enjoyed was a Sarah Dessen book - Just Listen. it was good!
    have you read tat author? you should :)

    Ohh GOD! what a great list.... I would like to be entered for everything :D
    maybe i will like to win Thirteen Reasons Why and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!


  48. Hmm. I'd be interested to hear what you thought of WILDWOOD DANCING by Juliet Marillier. It's a 2006 book, not 2009, but I *heart* it. :) Marillier usually writes historical fantasy - this is a slight deviation in that it's aimed more at YA than adult, and it's slightly less historical. It does, however, star vampires, dwarves, witches, and an enchanted frog. :) Plus it's set in olden Romania, which I found really interesting to read about, since I know nothing about Romania now or then. :)

    And I recently discovered Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. OH MY GOD. (Literally. The series has interesting religious debates.) I can't believe I never read it before! I'm sure you and everyone else has by now, but still: LOVED IT.

    I'm hoping to read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Hunger Games, Shiver and Ash, this year - and thanks for your other recommendations! Some of those look really interesting. I think I'd like to enter to win ASH or maybe THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS.

    Email: kiwibooklover at gmail dot com

    Thanks so much for the contest! :)


  49. ikkinlala Says:

    I'm horrible at choosing favourites - as far as fiction goes, I can never seem to choose. If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would be the Oxford English Dictionary.

    Have you read The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer?

    I'd be interested in reading The HUnger Games.

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca


  50. nylusmilk Says:

    ya is one of my favourite genres and i love recommending ya books. some of my favourite ya books are

    the outsiders - s.e. hinton
    the music of dolphins - karen hesse
    ella enchanted - gail carson levine
    i am david - anne holm
    i capture the castle - dodie smith

    they are all recommending reading, to me. :)


  51. Unknown Says:

    Two YA books I recommend are Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Bennett and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

    My favorite books are Straight Man, Empire Falls abd Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo and Crossing to Safety and The Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.

    I am not familiar with many of the books on your favorites list but I'm going to look them up and add many of them to my TBR list!

    I would love to win The School of Essential Ingredients.
    Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!

    Aimala127@gmail.com


  52. Heidenkind Says:

    I haven't read ANY of these books! :( Sad, isn't it?


  53. Gina Says:

    Okay, so for the shorter answer...I would like to win EVERMORE from your listing...haven't had a chance to get a copy for myself at this point.

    On to the longer answer..some YA fiction titles I'd recommend...
    Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
    The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
    Immortal by Gillian Shields
    Once A Witch by Carollyn MacCullough
    The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
    HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick
    Secret Society by Tom Dolby

    That should get you started... =0)
    Thanks for the great contest!
    Happy BBAW!

    grgenius(at)go(dot)com


  54. Kristen Says:

    Okay, I would love to win Hunger Games. :)

    And here's what other books you should read if you haven't yet:
    Anything Francesca Lia Block
    Anything Maria V. Snyder
    Anything Melissa Marr
    Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
    Graceling by Kristin Cashore
    Fire by Kristin Cashore

    bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com


  55. Book Dragon Says:

    have you read Tamora Pierce yet? I love her Protector of the Small series (four books) and Magic Circle quartet.


    bookdragonslair at gmail dot com


  56. ccqdesigns Says:

    I have heard so much hype about The Hunger Games, that would have to be my choice to win. Shiver would be my second choice.

    As to YA books to review, Dreaming Anastasia (if I have the name right), Dancing with Ana.

    rebecca dot cox at charter dot net


  57. deltay Says:

    Out of that list, I'd love to win Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher) or Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater) because I've heard so much great stuff about both of them!

    In terms of book recommendations, you should check out:
    Willow by Julia Hoban
    North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
    Candor by Pam Bachorz
    Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
    Give up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
    Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

    lucidconspiracy[at]gmail[dot]com


  58. Book Sp(l)ot Says:

    hmmm, favorite books: Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier, Time After Time by Sue Haasler, Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

    and a YA book? Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi... Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling, Once Dead Twice Shy by Kim Harrison, Just One Wish by Janette Rallison


    book.splotATgmailDOTcom


  59. Julia Says:

    I can already see that you're having a good time particpating on this BBAW! :)


  60. Paradox Says:

    I have numerous favorite books, too many to list right now, but I especially love the Harry Potter series, anything by Scott Westerfeld or Neal Shusterman, the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman, and The Gatekeepers/Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz.

    Right now I recommend to you another favorite (and I'm not even done with it yet!!! It's that good!) - Going Bovine by Libba Bray!

    paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com


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