Top Ten Tuesday - I Don't Remember Colors

In honor of Independence Day, (aka the 4th of July, aka the holiday with the easiest date to remember,) the TTT linkup theme is . . . Books with Red, White, and Blue Covers!!

The thing is . . . I have less than no memory of what book covers look like, let alone what color they are.  I was reading a book earlier this afternoon, and I literally could not tell you what the color scheme was.  But enough about my life failures and problems.  After much consultation of my bookshelf and library account, I have come up with a list.  

 9: Blue

Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie
In my humble opinion, this is the best of Christie's books.  The twist at the end is absolutely shocking, but the lead-up does give all the clues.  I'd also recommend the movie that came out last year - it was quite well-done.

 8: Red

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
There's no bias attached to this one at all.  Especially considering that I was just in a production of Sherlock Holmes.  Ahem!  This is still one of my favorites Holmes collections, and will you look at that gorgeous cover?  I also love the backstory - this contains "The Final Problem," the story in which Conan Doyle tried to kill Holmes off in order to focus on writing other things.  The public protested, the Strand magazine begged, and Conan Doyle finally acquiesced due to needing money.  So Sherlock Holmes was resurrected, and Conan Doyle probably regretted it.  Writers, hmm? ^_^

7: Blue

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness - Andrew Peterson

I love this series (except the ending) and this book always causes me to laugh.  It's also one of the best portrayals of siblings and family I've ever read, not to mention Christian without being preachy.

6: Red, White, and Blue

Cinder - Marissa Meyer
Look at me finding a cover with all the colors!  Besides having one of the coolest covers, this book is also one of the best fairytale retellings I've ever read.  For a while, I put it off because of content concerns, but those ended up to be almost nonexistent.  And the idea of a cyborg Cinderella is just so cool!

5: Blue

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster
I love this book so much!  It's been a favorite of mine for years, and it's one of the most imaginative stories I've read.  Not to mention it has some amazing puns . . .  

4: Red and White

Scythe - Neal Shusterman 

Okay, so this book bears the honor of being recommended by me and all my siblings!  It was one of my more recent reads, and I found the storyworld and questions presented really intriguing.  Of course, there is a lot of death in the book, so a warning if that's not something you'd like to read.

3: Blue and White

The Little White Horse - Elizabeth Goudge 
Another one of my long-time favorites.  This book always reminds me a little bit of the Secret Garden, but with less annoying characters.  It has such a misty, moonlit feel to it, and it's a beautiful story.  And there's horses!

2: Blue and White

All the Crooked Saints - Maggie Stiefvater

I loved this one.  It was one of those rare books where I finished it, looked at the clock that read 1:30 am, and didn't regret anything.  Stiefvater is the master of quiet and meaningful books that stick with you for a long time afterwards, and her stories always make me think.  The theology isn't always exactly correct, but it's not as far off as I was expecting.

1: Red/White

Do Hard Things - Alex & Brett Harris/Christianity for Modern Pagans - Peter Kreeft

I couldn't pick between these two.  They're two of the best non-fiction books I've read in my life, and both are well worth buying for your bookshelf.  I'm sure most of y'all have read Do Hard Things, but it's always worth a re-read.  Christianity for Modern Pagans isn't as well known, but it's sheer amazingness.  Selections from Pascal's Pensees are followed by Peter Kreeft's reflections, interpretations, and expansions upon the snippet.  It's solid theology, brilliant apologetics, life-changing thoughts, and all-around mind blowing food for thought.  Absolutely worth the time - both of them.  I cannot possibly recommend them higher.  So go read them!!  

And that's it!  I actually do have ten books, if you're wondering, seeing as I doubled up on number one.  Just a disclaimer for my fellow perfectionists. ^_^