Top Ten Tuesday is a meme by The Broke And The Bookish, and will be a feature on Emma, the Bibliophile-Librarian. In Top Ten Tuesday I make lists of books, because I love books and I love lists. Here at the Bibliophile-Librarian, I cannot guarantee that it will always be posted on a Tuesday, but I will try.
1. Gena Showlater: I picked up Alice in Zombieland from a charity bookstore while I was visiting family in England for Christmas. It is a fun, fast-paced, romantic read, and I promptly got the rest of the series from the public library. This series is pure escapism, and it is hard not to root for our tough heroine, Ali Bell, as she kills zombies and solves evil plots. The fourth book, A Mad Zombie Party, came out a couple of weeks ago, I’m excited to continue Ali’s adventures! I might check out Showalter’s adult romance series, like her paranormal series, Lords of the Underworld and Atlantis, and her contemporary series, The Original Heartbreakers.
2. Kit Pearson: Pearson is a new Canadian author I recently discovered, who writes historical middle grade novels. I read Pearson’s book, The Whole Truth, for my research project, and it was a good story! The plot, characters, and setting were authentic to the time period of the great depression, and the story is about a group of strong female characters.
3. CLAMP: I have been meaning to read this all-female Japanese manga artist group for a very long time, and I finally started with the new 2-in-1 printing of Card Captor Sakura. My husband got me the whole series, so I hope to continue with it soon. Volume 1 introduces an amazing story told with beautiful artwork. Even if you have seen the anime, I highly recommend reading the manga. I particularly enjoyed read the story with the insights that come with being an adult, because I spotted deeper themes and great LGBTQ representation. I would like to read Chobits next.
4. Jacqueline Garlick: Garlick is another Canadian author that I recently discovered. In one of my my Grad classes, I learned that people don’t read Canadian authors because there is no money in publishing here, so no one hears about them. This kickstarted a desire to read Canadian authors, and to advertise authors that are Canadian or live and write in Canada. I read the first book in The Illumination Paradox series, which was published back in 2013, and I loved it. I have book two, but I unfortunately haven’t had time for it yet.
5. Monica McCarty: I am not a big romance reader… as in I have never read a romance novel where there was a strong focus on other elements, like a plot or characters (think Twilight or Alice in Zombieland). Romance is my Grandmother’s favourite genre, and considering this I thought my knowledge of this genre is sorely lacking, so I decided to read three romance novels for a readers’ advisory assignment for grad school. I read Book 8 in the Highland Guard series, The Raider, and was completely surprised by it. It has a wonderful story, great character development, interesting historical elements, and feminist themes. As someone who isn’t a romance reader, it’s telling of this writers quality that I am planning to read the other books in this series.
6. Kate Leth: This is the last new Canadian author I have found so far this year. Leth is from Halifax where she works in a comic book store, and writes the popular Adventure Time series, and Bravest Warriors. I read Volume 1 of her comic adaptation of Edward Scissorhands, Parts Unknown, which was very well done! I love the original movie, and really enjoyed this adaptation.
7. Kore Yamazaki: Earlier this year, I heard about this mangaka’s new series, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, and thought it sounded amazing. It did not disappoint! I have read Volume 1, and have Volume 2 on my ‘to-read’ shelf (physical, not Goodreads!). So far, the manga has been picked up for five volumes, but I’m sure there will be more. The series is such a wonderful combination of Japanese manga themes, a Victorian England setting, magic, friendship, love, and character growth.
8. Zoë Marriott: I picked up the first two books in Marriott’s The Name of the Blade trilogy over Christmas, because I was intrigued by the cover and the premise. I liked the first book, The Night Itself, but I think I need to save her books for a less hectic time in my life. Right now, my interest wavers if books aren’t fast-paced, because I need to be able to put it down for a week and still know what’s going on.
Emma Kristensen 