Top Ten Books that Stayed with Me in Some Ways

I was recently tagged by a lot of my Facebook friends on their statuses about a list of the books that have stayed with me in some way. I want to return the favor to them by posting but I'm afraid my non-reader friends might get annoyed with my redundant Facebook status. Plus, my list constantly changes! So I decided to just share this list on my blog. I think this is the most accurate list so far.

Rules: Don't take more than a few minutes and do not think too hard. They do not have to be right and great works of literature. (But to turn it up a notch, maybe you can share a line or two on why these books stayed with you.)

Not in a particular order, but these are the top ten books that stayed with me in some way:

HEY NOSTRADAMUS! BY DOUGLAS COUPLAND

The book talks about four stories connected, and Cheryl's doodle on her notes "God is nowhere, God is now here". It talks about love, pain, family, miracles, and God. Included in the list 101 Books to Read Before You Die, Hey, Nostradamus! made me feel the connected with the characters and the the trauma they felt by the characters because of the high school massacre. Read my (very amateurish) review here.

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL BY ANNE FRANK

THE STORY OF MY LIFE BY HELEN KELLER

VAMPIRE KISSES BY ELLEN SCHREIBER

For the love of vampires! This is the first vampire book I've read and I love the series! Who wouldn't fall in love with Alexander, anyway? I really wanna feel how to be loved and protected by a vampire and Alexander made me feel it even if I'm just reading... You can check out my review here.

THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME BY JESS ROTHENBERG

This novel is a book not mainly about death, but about acceptance and letting go. AND FALLING INLOVE ALL OVER AGAIN. There's also a twist in the story that made me confused at first, "the other life" of Brie.  This, so far, is the most touching and heart melting contemporary novel I ever read. I never expected this to be so great. I love this. I absolutely love this novel!

“You can obsess and obsess over how things ended- what you did wrong or could have done differently- but there's not much of a point. It's not like it'll change anything. So really, why worry?”

EVERY DAY BY DAVID LEVITHAN

The fact that I was so moved by the story, the way it touched my deepest emotions within, the way it made me feel loved, the way it broke my heart... I can say that this is a very good book. Not all books can leave you crying in the end, and feel like you're really a part of the story.

“When first love ends, most people eventually know there will be more to come. They are not through with love. Love is not through with them. It will never be the same as the first, but it will be better in different ways.”

HOPELESS BY COLLEEN HOOVER

The love story between Sky and Holder is perfect. No instalove happened. But in Holder's case, there has always been something about Sky the moment he saw her. And Sky have no idea about Holder's interest for her. It's because he has always been gentle to her. No pressure at all. But he's always there for her and promised to protect her with all his life. They were both broken, but they gave each other the strength and hope they needed. Gaaaah! I just loved every single page in this book.

“When I touch you, I’m touching you because I want to make you happy. When I kiss you, I’m kissing you because you have the most incredible mouth I’ve ever seen and you know I can’t not kiss it. And when I make love to you—I’m doing exactly that. I’m making love to you because I’m in love with you.” 

ELEANOR AND PARK BY RAINBOW ROWELL

This is a simple, classy and nostalgic novel that will bring you back to those days where it all began. When you first felt something weird in your chest, the fast heartbeat, when you first felt the butterflies swarming around the insides of your stomach, when you first felt the heat on your cheeks, when you first felt conscious about how you look... and so many other first times when it comes to falling in love.

"You never forget your first love."

A CRY FOR HOPE BY BETH RINYU

At first, I thought this will be another love story about a girl and a boy who were bestfriends then ended up marrying each other. But I was wrong. This is a story about Hope, a mother, who lost her son. Not only did he lost her son, but also her husband's heart. He blames her for the tragic incident and she can do nothing but to take the blame. I am not a mother (yet) but through Beth's writing, I can feel the exact feelings of Hope. If I were her, I wouldn't know what to do. It's too much heartbreak for me and I can't bear that kind of pain. . .

"My two greatest fears in life were losing my child and dying myself. Since I had already faced one of those fears head on, I no longer feared the second."

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER BY STEPHANIE PERKINS

So far, this is the best Contemporary book I've read this year! Stephanie Perkins  is the Contemporary Romance Queen! There are no words to describe how lovely this book is!

“Do adults realize how lucky they are? Or do they forget that these small moments are actually small miracles? I don’t want to ever forget.” 

“There's no story,' I say. 'I saw you one day, and I just knew.” 

I actually have a looooooooooooooooong list of books that stayed with me in some ways. But, like the rule said, "Don't take more than a few minutes and do not think too hard." and these books are what entered my thoughts immediately. Some are what I have read just this year, while some I read years ago. Either way, great books are timeless. :)