12 books of 2012

Aloha friends and foes
What are you up to this week?

Well, I recently read a blog post by J.R. Johansson author of the upcoming novel Insomnia (check it out!) about her 12 favourite books.
And I thought I'd do the same. So here is a list of the 12 books I read in 2012 and loved. They are in no particular order, and the links lead you to the reviews:

1. Matched by Ally Condie
Isn't it funny that I cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed a book where words were so important for the story? My favourite scene was definitely the one where Cassia read the poem for the first time. It showed how much power and energy words can have, one of the many reasons I love poems. The scene was beautifully writtten and like a poem itself, really poetic. 

2. The Eagle Of The Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff has a really great writing style. She delivers a beautiful image of ancienct Britain and the people living in it, so vivid that you fear and wish the scene comes to life between the pages.
I cannot even pick a scene I liked the most, since there were so many with big symbolism or pure epicness (yes, I have to call it "epicness") in it.

3. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
Whenever I think this world can not get bigger, better or more epic I read the next installment and it comes bigger, better, and more epic. I love the series and I loved this book simply for the great characters and vivid and interesting world they're fighting for.

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I had a bet with a friend going on that I would be able to finish this book within two days. I did. And I could finish this review within two seconds: AWESOME!
But even the Antagonists in this book are awesome. I can emphathize with everyone and I shared the thrill with all of them. 

5. The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore
The chapters of this book work like mirrors, because they capture so many nuances and different states of life. This book feels like a journey to myself and to the person I want to become one day, a true heroine, no matter if I ever "safe the world". It's enough, if I save my own day. Erin Blakemore shows that amazingly. 

6. The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
How can you write about something when the only thing that comes to your mind is "I freakin' love this!"Charlie is in my opinion one of the nicest characters I ever read about. He is introverted and he does not quite participate in life. But because of that he sees things differently and asks questions about life most people would never think of. This gives a phylosophical touch to the entire novel. 

7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I loved the characters and I feared for them like I don't do often. It was an amazing journey back to a world I loved visiting the first time. If you thought the capitol can't get any meaner, read this books!

8. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
If you read between the lines this book can make you sad as well as unbelievable happy. It is a great book for children and even more for adults. Because it shows you what really matters in life and what is terrible wrong with us today. 

9. The First Truth by Dawn Cook
When i started this book I wanted to set sales and leave home, for a journey into distant countries full with magic, fantasy, and a lot of words.Dawn Cook, who you might know as Kim Harrison is able to write a book in this genre without making the reader think "Oh, we already had that", half a dozen times. This plot seems to be new and thrilling. 

10. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare wrote a fulminate third book to a wonderful series. If I remember right The Mortal Instruments was planned as a trilogy and this book would have been a perfect ending. She creates a wonderful world that lives through its details. The world of the shadowhunters is rich with myths, beliefs and traditions. But the little details got me even more.

11. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
How far is science allowed to go? Should humanity arise over the rules of nature and become its’ own god? Those questions were important back when Stevenson wrote his novel and today, were new technically devices and a growing medicine are part of our everyday life, have become even more important.

12. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The story of Katniss has a hidden meaning and tells the reader something. The book teaches something about war, how to protect, how to loose, and something about human cruelty. 
There are not many contemporary books that have a message. Normally you find those messages just in old classics by Schiller or Goethe who tried to teach the people something. But the Hunger Games trilogy is different, there is a message hidden in every book. And you do not even need to read between the lines, it is right there in the open. 

I know I'm not posting a lot lately, but I do not have a lot of time to read. If you still want to stay updated with bookish news and my reading goals follow me on twitter, I'm a little more present there these days (there's supposed to be a button somewhere under the contact section, so just click that :D)

What were you're 12 favourite books of 2012?
Love and words
KJ