Top Ten Tuesday - autobuy authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that I occasionally like to join in with.  Today's theme was pointed out to me by Strange Chemistry on twitter and I thought of my first 4 straight away...

1. Terry Pratchett is my fave author in the whole wide world and has been for literally half of my life.  I discovered him because there was a poster on the tube advertising the Discworld in which TP was the spitting image of my Dad!

2. I've loved Frances Hardinge since her first book, Fly By Night in 2005, and they keep getting better.  She has a wonderful way with words.

3. The Chaos Walking trilogy and then A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness are so perfect that he has to be on my staples list now.

4. I added James Dawson because I loved his first book, Hollow Pike, and am really excited by the blurb for his next, coming out this year.  He came to my school last year and my pupils (and I) loved him :-)

So those were the 4 I tweeted.  Thinking further, there are dozens of authors that I love but I am a library addict, tending to borrow and rarely buying, so I can't say that many are 'auto-buy'.  There are things I will automatically buy for my school library but I don't think I can really count them...I will drop everything and read something new by the following authors, and do own a large number of their books:

5. To my shame, I didn't mention her in my tweet, but I adore everything by Maggie Stiefvater and have managed to get all my copies signed by her at various UK events.

6. The Dustland trilogy, so far, is wonderful.  Moira Young is a lovely lady, she's visited my school twice and is really engaging, she has an amazing imagination.  I can't wait for the last book.

7. Garth Nix is another one who seems to consistently deliver brilliance, I've been reading his books for years, and at a book signing last year I snagged one of Sabriel's bells so I love him a little bit more!

8. I have proofs and signed hardbacks of the first two Department 19 books by Will Hill so have to continue for the whole series...conveniently they're really good and well worth having on the shelf...but sadly the third proof was an ebook!

9. Philip Reeve is another of my long term favourites, Mortal Engines is one of the most gripping books I've ever read, so I always keep an eye out for another prequel/sequel!

and finally...10. hmm, will have to be shared by all the newish series I've been reading and am desperate for the next one of, but won't necessarily buy for myself - Veronica Roth, Charlie Higson, Michael Grant, Michelle Paver...

The next time you hear from me will be my personal Carnegie short list - the real one is announced on 12th March and I've only 2 of the longlist left to read!

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Confessions

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme started by The Broke and Bookish that I love but rarely contribute to.  This week's theme caught me though as it isn't just another list of books, but is a lot more personal!

So my bookish confessions:
1. I get bored reading grownup books and worry that it is because, having read so many children's and YA books, I've lost all stamina!  Nothing to do with the quality of the writing, but books for teens generally have a much faster pace, with less scene setting and more interest.
2. Even though I've always worked in libraries I quite often have overdue books!
3. I get sent so many books, and pick so many up at conferences, that I will never have time to read them all :-(
4. I always go to see the film version of a book I love even if I know it will only disappoint or anger me, and I avoid seeing films if I know they're based on a book I haven't read (even if I know I'll never find time to read the book!).
5. I don't buy many books, I'll read a library copy and only buy it if I'm getting a signed copy and/or particularly love it, but will always pre-order Terry Pratchett.
6. I prioritise library books on my tbr shelf because I know they need to be returned, so if I own a copy of something sometimes I'll borrow another from the library just so I can justify bumping it up the pile!
7. The folding down of pages, or when kids fold a book in half to read it, pains me...I suffer a lot at school!  But that is why I have a wedge of bookmarks next to the checkout for them, grr.
8. I don't like lending people my own books and sometimes I don't even want to take them out of the house myself in case they get damaged in my bag.
9. I feel guilty reading something that I've picked up just because I fancy it - I should be reading new releases because it is hard enough to keep up - and I never make time to re-read anything
10. I have a list of first editions that will be the first thing I hunt for if we win the lottery.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I want to re-read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish blog that I occasionally remember to do on the right day!

I've completely reneged on my promise to blog at least once a week, having done nothing since going back to school, but real life got in the way!  3 weeks into term and routine has re-established itself so hopefully I can start back up.

Anyway, top ten books I'd like to re-read...I like to buy books that I've read and loved (having nearly always borrowed them from a library, as you know) so that I can look at them on my shelves and pretend that one day I'll have time to read them again.  Unfortunately at the moment re-reading seems like a luxury I don't have time for but one day, maybe when I retire, I will start with...

1. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - I have mentioned before that this is one of the greatest books ever written, and one of the few that I have read more than once!

2. Animal Farm by George Orwell - I read this yeeeeeeears ago and remember that it was amazing, but apart from that only remember "four legs gooood two legs baaaaad" which I quote to kids swinging on their chairs and they look at me like I'm a loon...

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - definitely deserves a re-read, maybe I'll find the time to do it before going to see the film

4. Postcards from No Man's Land by Aiden Chambers - beautifully written

5. slightly cheating with this one because there are loads of them...but all of the Discworld by Terry Pratchett!

6. Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher - I'd like to read it and go find all the statues around London that take part in the story!

7. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - I read them about 20 years ago so it must be about time I refreshed my memory

The next two are ones that I really have to re-read:

8. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - I didn't really enjoy this when I first read it but everyone goes on about how amazing it was.  Also, I've joined a reading group for which this is the next book!

9. My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher - in a few weeks I need to tell a group of Librarians why to vote for this as the CILIP YLG London suggestion for the Carnegie award!

And I'm cheating now but number 10. goes to every book I've rated 5* on Goodreads ;-)

My Top Ten Books that should be Required Reading for Teens

Thanks to SisterSpooky I have just discovered the Broke and the Bookish Top Ten Tuesday, and this week their top ten is of required reading for teens - what better for me to jump in on?!

I thought I'd give it a go but realised it is harder than it sounds, I have hundreds of books that I recommend to different teenagers for different reasons, depending on reading age/maturity/likes/dislikes.  I struggled to whittle it down to 10 but I like to think there's something here for everyone. I guess 'required reading' could be interpreted to mean 'worthy' books, but I like to think that reading for pleasure is reason enough...so here, in no particular order, are 10 that I have read and would blanket recommend to 13-18year olds...

1. 1984 by George Orwell- a classic novel but still horribly believable future!  Even though it was written in 1948, before we used the internet daily, it is still relevant and will really make them think about censorship and government.
2. Hero by Perry Moore - Thom has two secrets - he has special powers and he is gay - a really good story about family, friendship, and being happy with yourself.
3. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud - first of the Bartimaeus books, all hilarious.
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - the first of the trilogy is the best but they all left me speechless.  Very violent but excellent.
5. Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman - a young lad is literally left holding the baby as his ex-girlfriend decides she can't look after the child she hadn't told him she was expecting.  It also includes a carefully thought side story about homophobia and it's consequences.
6. Three for the price of one here - The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness - awfully, epically depressing but fantastic.  Patrick Ness is currently one of my favourite people, having written some of my favourite books (I was tempted to include A Monster Calls because it is beautiful), and his inspiring CILIP Carnegie acceptance speech
7. Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace - set in a Zimbabwean boarding school just as Robert Mugabe came into power after the war for independence, the story demonstrates racial tensions perfectly
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - the very best of all the paranormal romance type books (plus sequels).
9. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve - the first novel of the Hungry City Chronicles is by far the best but I enjoyed the whole series.  Municiple Darwinism is a fantastic idea and the story and writing are excellent.
10. The Declaration by Gemma Malley - the first in yet another trilogy but a chilling tale of a future where the Longevity drug has given everyone a long life at the expense of younger generations.

Man alive, with all the trilogies/series this is a lot more than 10 books, if you've not already read them then get a wriggle on!