Sunday Book Talk: Top 5

What follows are our favorite books we read this year. We restricted ourselves to stand-alone works of fiction that were first-time reads. (Okay, technically A Wrinkle in Time and Code Name Verity are the beginnings of series, but both books also work as stand-alone novels.) These titles are listed in the order in which they were read.

Katie:

• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - This macabre children's book tells the story of Nobody Owens, a boy whose family is murdered when he is very young. By chance, he escapes and ends up in a graveyard, where he is raised by ghosts.
• A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd - We talked about this book last week.
• O Pioneers! by Willa Cather - Willa Cather uses beautiful, descriptive writing to tell a story of the frontier and the people who settled it. Protagonist Alexandra Bergson is a pioneer girl who grows up on a Nebraska farm. Her tenacity and devotion to the land shape the course of her life.
• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - Set during World War II, this piece of historical fiction is told from the perspectives of two young British women, a spy and a pilot, who end up behind enemy lines. The author did her research, and the story felt real on both a factual and emotional level.
• Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis - This book is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. It's highly allegorical and has an entirely different purpose and focus from the original myth. Narrated from the perspective of Psyche's older sister Orual, Till We Have Faces is a tale of moral development, self-sacrifice, and love.

Sarah:

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - Originally aired as radio broadcasts, this book masterfully presents the fundamentals of the Christian faith to believer and non-believer alike. Lewis phrases complex doctrine with an ease and fluency that I have never heard from anyone else.
• A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd - We talked about this book last week.
• Countdown by Deborah Wiles - Set in Washington D.C. during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, this children's book tackles tough issues while keeping a sense of optimism and hope. The 12-year-old heroine, Franny Chapman, is an endearing character for readers of any age.
• Othello by William Shakespeare - The main themes of this intriguing tragedy are the dangers of jealousy and misplaced trust.
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle - This marvelous sci-fi read follows an adolescent girl who sets out on a journey through time and space to find her father. The story rings with tasteful whimsy, an offbeat sense of humor, and syntax that is elegant and expressive.

Granted, the year isn't over and we might read something else that is worthy of a "Top 5" list. We'll let you know at the end of the month!

Also, we realized that Christmas falls on a Sunday, so there will not be a post next week as we will be taking a break from blogging for the holiday. See you on the 31st.