Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Breaking out of my Comfort Zone!

This week's topic is a bit tricky because I read a lot of genres, so I will comfortable in most of them. I have read a few books outside of my usual genres in the past year or so that I really loved. I also have some on my TBR that I'm hoping to get to really soon! The read section links to reviews, and the TBR section links to goodreads!

Read

1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Memoirs aren't something I read too often, but I really enjoyed this one. I want to make it a point to read more nonfiction this year, including memoir so hopefully this genre will move into my comfort zone this year. 

I don't read a lot of nonfiction in general either, and if I do they are often biographies. This is a look at the lives and challenges faced by women around the world. It was informative, horrifying, and hopeful all at once. I highly recommend this one.

I've read quite a few graphic novels in the past two years, but this one was something I wouldn't normally pick up. It's a space/Apocalypse type story that is totally confusing, but really interesting at the same time.
 

YA contemporary is far from my favorite genre, and I read it pretty sparingly. This one is written in verse though so it was such a quick read. The topic of Siamese twins was fascinating and I flew through this in one sitting.
  
5. Tracks by Louise Erdrich
I read this one for my American lit class, and I'm so glad I was introduced to it. I would have never even heard of or picked this up without that class. It's about Native Americans and has stunning magical realism. I need to pick up some more Erdrich in the very near future. 
To Be Read


6. Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Stittenfeld
I LOVE P&P, but contemporary romance is not my favorite genre! I hardly ever feel motivated to pick anything in this genre up, but I really want to read the Austen Project because I love Austen. This one has gotten really good reviews, so I'm willing to give it a try. 

7. Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer
Another one that falls in the adult contemporary genre, this one has been floating around and caught my eye. It looks like a light, pick-me-up read that could be a lot of fun. 

8. Hold your Own by Kate Tempest
I LOVE poetry! (See my top ten favorite poems here) but I have not read a lot of contemporary poets. To me, the feel is very different and I can't quite get into the current poets I have tried. I have heard great things about Tempest though, so I am really eager to read her work and give current poetry a shot. 

9. Illumiane by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman 
I don't read a lot of science fiction, but this one looks amazing! I have been trying to find the time to get to it forever, but I haven't yet. I will be reading this one for sure this year. 

20 comments:

  1. I have One coming up fairly soon, so I'm pleased to read that you enjoyed it. I also want to read Illuminae, although it is outside of my comfort zone!

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  2. I bought Half the sky last year and haven't gotten to it yet, so happy to see it on this list and hear you enjoyed it. Now i really want to pick it up very soon :)
    Wonderful list :)

    My TTT: http://booksbeautifylife.blogspot.de/2016/02/top-10-tuesday-books-different-books-i.html

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    1. It's a really great read! Hope you enjoy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I haven't read any of these, and while I am really interested in reading Illumiane, I am nervous. The hype is vast with that book. And, well I am worried that the interesting and unique format of the book is the only thing truly special about it. I don't have a lot of shelf space, and books are expensive but borrowing this book as an eLibrary book isn't how I want to enjoy that book, because I do think a large part of what people like about that book is how stunning it physically is, and it is a stunning book. Maybe since I've already heard and read so many praising reviews I should read some negative reviews?

    My TTT: Marie @ Pages to Explore

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    1. I agree, I think this is one you need to read in physical form to enjoy. The hype around this one is pretty big, but it could be justified; I haven't seen any negative reviews that I can remember!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Illuminae was good I thought, it lived up to the hype mostly but I didn't love it as much as some people did. I thought it was a solid sci fi adventure. YA contemporary is also something I don't read a ton of, although as I look back I have read more of it than usual the last year or so...

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    1. I'm really interested to see how the form works to tell the story more so than the actual story itself. Unique form always sucks me in.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I've got a copy of ILLUMINAE and really need to read it soon. Have heard good things. And I don't often read sci-fi either.

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    1. I've had mine for a couple of months now, just need to find the time to get into it! Maybe over Spring Break?
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I love poetry too! I have to check out Hold your Own by Kate Tempest. Btw, I love the name of your blog!

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  7. I loved Eat, Pray, Love, though it's been a looong time since I read it! Half the Sky looks really interesting, I will be sure to check that one out. I hope you like Illuminae, sci-fi isn't really my thing either, but I ended up really liking it!
    here's my TTT!

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    1. Half the Sky was a really poignant and informative read.
      Enjoy!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. I saw Eat, Pray, Love when it came out, but I don't think I could read the book. It was a little much for me.

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    1. The middle section of the book was less thrilling than the beginning and end, but I loved seeing Gilbert cast off what was expected of her to do what made her happy.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. I've heard good things about Eligible as well - will definitely add it to my TBR. I love that you've added a poetry collection to your list! I love reading poetry (and share some of my favourites on my blog), but I actually need to be better about reading collections as a whole instead of just random poems each day. I think it's so interesting to experience a poet so fully through a collection and it's something I want to do more regularly.
    Great list!
    My TTT

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    1. I have seen you talk about poetry on your blog! I love to read other's thoughts on poetry.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. I've recently read East of West, Vol. 1, too and I liked it quite a bit. Illuminae is easily one of my favorites! :)

    Check out my TTT.

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    1. Glad to hear you enjoyed Illumiae! I'm hoping to pick it up over spring break!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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