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  The Books We Loved in 2008 (TOP 50)

  156 Members Voted
  1,059 individual books were listed

  The list can be found on Amazon by following this link:

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Frichpub%2Fsyltguides%2Ffullview%2FRWDHY4E2EDKG2%3Fie%3DUTF8%26%252AVersion%252A%3D1%26%252Aentries%252A%3D0&tag=allencotrip-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

  (It's much neater there.)

  Drum Roll Please:

  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 27
  Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen 22
  Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 19
  Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 15
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 13
  To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 10
  Life of Pi - Yann Martel 9
  The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Neffenegger 9
  Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen 8
  The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory 8
  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling 7
  The Host - Stephenie Meyer 7
  The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield 7
  Brisingr - Christopher Paolini 6
  The Giver - Lois Lowry 6
  The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson 6
  Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ... One School at a Time - Greg Mortenson 6
  A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini 5
  Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 5
  Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicky Myron 5
  Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore 5
  Persuasion - Jane Austen 5
  Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett 5
  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 5
  The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath 5
  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon 5
  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer 5
  The Road - Cormac McCarthy 5
  When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris 5
  19 Minutes - Jodi Picoult 4
  1984 - George Orwell 4
  A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore 4
  Atonement - Ian McEwan 4
  City of Bones - Cassandra Clare 4
  House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski 4
  Loving Frank - Nancy Horan 4
  Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden 4
  One Thousand White Women - Jim Fergus 4
  Outlander - Diana Gabaldon 4
  Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi 4
  The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson 4
  The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls 4
  The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood 4
  The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 4
  The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow 4
  The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd 4
  The Shack - William P. Young 4
  The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski 4
  The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen 4
  The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett 4
  Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr 4

  Though voting is CLOSED you can still view the original thread by following this link:

  http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10773/discussions/85513/Your-top-TEN-(and-only-TEN)-reads-from-2008-

  Thanks to everybody for their input.

  edited to add Dewey, there was a typo and it wasn't properly added

  Coyotemusic started this discussion 10 months ago (edited). ( reply )

• 

  dee~kay~tee 

  Great list! I think I will have to update my wishlist!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Coyotemusic 

  I forgot to mention, I've read 22 of those books and some are on my TBR. I added The Uncommon Reader to my wishlist, and plan to further investigate The Shack and The Gargoyle.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  show 3 replies

  • 

    dee~kay~tee 

    I hear The Shack is excellent (my mother keeps insiting I read it) and The Gargoyle has been on my wishlist for sometime now!

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    susanbellnc 

    I got The Shack on CD for my mother-in-law who is visually impaired. She called me after listening to it talking about how much she really loved it. A friend wants to borrow it from her, but she's afraid she may not get it back and doesn't want to lose it.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    Mary H. 

    Uncommon Reader was delightful.. Questions the time spent (others think wasted) while reading....wish I had had a book club discussion for it

    posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Ladyslott 

  I have read 21 of these books, am currently reading one (Edgar Sawtelle) and own 5 others.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  show 4 replies

  • 

    againstthetide 

    Too funny, Ladyslott - - I've read exactly 21 as well! There are eight more than I'd definitely consider reading too . . .

    And only one that I was really sorry I read, and that one will remain nameless.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    Katie P 

    Well now I'm curious as to which one it was because I've already read 22 of them (and voted for a few) and have 6 more waiting on my bookshelf. Which one didn't live up to the hype?

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    againstthetide 

    I'm afraid to say, but I will just hint - - it was WILDLY popular ;). I know I'm one of the lone folks who didn't like it . . .or the three books that followed it . . .

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    Katie P 

    OK got it. I read that too. Agreed :)

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  DeSeRt RoSe (edited)

  WOW great list, I read only 10 of them and planning on reading another 13 :)

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  SouthWestZippy 

  Thank you Coyotemusic for all you hard putting this together.
  I have only read 8 books on this list but have a few on my TBR pile. Sorry going to skip the twilight series. The Vampire part I can handle the romance part, not so much.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  serenity 

  I've read 16 of these books so far, and several are on my TBR for the near future!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Shannon 

  Great list! I've read 11 and plan to read about 10 of them.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    dee~kay~tee 

    I also have read 11 of them but have a lot on my wishlist already. But after reading the list I intend to add a few more.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  clutteredcloset 

  Good thing I've read a number of these already, otherwise I'd adding way too many books to my "books that I really want to read, but probably won't have enough time to, especially since I keep adding new ones to it every time I turn around" list.

  I've read 16 of them already and have five more of them sitting on the floor by my bed waiting to be read. Glad to have such an excellent list to work from.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  JennLynn 

  I've read 14 of these and there are 9 more at the top of my TBR.
  CM, thanks for the time and effort to compile the votes!!!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Alizabeth S 

  I've only read 13 of them, but am in the process of reading one of them, and 7 more are on my TBR list. But 5 of my top 10 made this final cut, so that's impressive. And no, none of those five were written by Stephanie Meyer.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Mtnmoovr 

  Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. I no it was no small task!

  I've read 20 of the books on the list and as many have said, have several on my TBR list. Can't wait to get to them!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Lori R 

  I have only read nine off the list, but the ones that I have read are definately some of my favorites.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  jenni_elyse (edited)

  I have only read 8 on that list, but a lot of them are on my TBR list. I'll have to add the other ones. I'm sad that The Hunger Games didn't make the list. Although, I didn't even read it until this year, lol. And, it's brand new, so hopefully, it'll make next year's list as it's a fantastic book! I keep recommending it to everyone and I can't wait for the second book.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  show 4 replies

  • 

    Erin D 

    What is the premise of Hunger Games? I have heard about it but don't know much about the book.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    jenni_elyse 

    The story's about a 16-year-old girl, Katniss Everdeen, who lives with her mom and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts rebelled against the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send two tributes, one boy and one girl, to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games.” The terrain, rules, and level of gamekeeper participation may change, but one thing's always the same year after year, kill or be killed. When Katniss’s sister is chosen by lottery as one of the tributes, she volunteers to go in her place.

    The story’s so compelling. Katniss is strong and likable. There’s tons of suspense and a little bit of romance. There’s just enough hope and compassion to balance the horror and barbarism. It's definitely worth reading.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    krisT J 

    I thought it was really good too. Nice good vs evil story! I can't wait to see if there will be more in this (series)

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    Sherry (edited)

    This sounds like a good book which I will put on my TBR list. I am always up for something new. What is the author's name?

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Scarlett 

  I've read 23 on the list.

  I'll add my voice to the others for THANK YOU for all the work you put into this!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Avidan A 

  I only read 5 from the list and 1 I'm reading at the moment (Pride & Prejudice), lots of them are on my TBR list though =)

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  krisT J 

  I have read all but 13. I will probably read all of those except the one Moore book because I can't stand his writing. Good list though. Some really good books on there. :)

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Brooke 

  i've read 23 books from this list, and i really enjoyed almost all of them! thanks for putting this list together. there are definitely a few more i'll be reading soon!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Karan 

  I have only read 13.. most of the rest are in my TBR and adding all of the others. If it made this list it has to be woth reading.
  THANK YOU... for your work on this

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  johnnylrider 

  I've only read 8 of those, but many of them look interesting.
  I'll definitely have to check some of them out.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  *Lena* 

  I have only read 9 of them. But, there are quite a few on my TBR list. Can't wait till I get around to them!!

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Sarshi 

  I've read 10 of those, but I think I'll be checking out some others...
  *wonders which to try first*
  hmmm... "Water for Elephants", I guess..

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Tera 

    Water For Elephants was great! I read earlier in Jan in about a day and a half!!

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Pamela S 

  Mercy!! I've only read 5 of these! :P I guess I'd better get crackin'!

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Marnie 

    Don't worry I've only read 15 of them, that leaves a lot of reading for me too!

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Julie T 

  I've only read 7 of these, but I've heard good things about alot of the others.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Ta§chima Cullen 

  Wow all of Stephenie Meyer...wonder when is she gonna write another one...
  Ive read 10 of these books

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Anna E 

  It's nice to see The Time-Traveler's Wife and HP7 on that list :)

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  SimplyVera 

  I don't get why Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series got into this list. They read like fan fic. It's really weird why they're with all those other good books on the list.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

  show 3 replies

  • 

    Sarshi 

    Because a lot of people liked them, apparently :P

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    jenni_elyse 

    It's because they get people to read. I didn't read before I read the Twilight Saga. I only read occasionally (one or two books a year, if that). Ever since I first read the books in June 2007, I've been reading non-stop. Yes, the books aren't written as well as others, but they're good stories and Stephenie Meyer does a wonderful job of telling the story, so a lot of people like them and enjoy them. That's my two cents.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

  • 

    Sarshi 

    And people like fan fics? :D

    Maybe I should complete my former reply, seeing that jenni_elyse's reply inspired me.

    But they're easy to read, have romance and some action, they're American in structure so very familiar to people around that part of the world, so they find it easy to approach the series. Also, they're light-hearted. Hmm... they do read as fanfics, what with Bella's Mary Sue-ness. Well, and the amazing dazzling features of the vampires, who made vampires in general look like embodiments of the Sue power - and since Bella was pretty much "bite me! bite me!" throughout the series, and was also meant to be a vampire, maybe that's why she was a Sue?

    I think well-enough written Sues have an amount of appeal even for the readers, especially if they haven't read it over and over and over again and again and again and therefore like identifying with such *lovable* characters. So maybe that's another part of the success?

    (if this opinion is delivered in a slightly confusing way, which I believe may be true, then it's the influence of my Literature teacher and it'll go away in time. Sorry)

    I read the series, too. *shrug* But I'm not a fan of vampires or cheesy romance, so for me they were... erm. cute, i guess, but overall not memorable.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Kathy-Diane L 

  I'm surprised I've read so many.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  cpauley929 

  I've read 18, gotten half-way through 2, and have darn close to all the rest on my tbr. There are a few I'm not interested in, but I plan to read most of them.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Bethawsomeness 

  sweat list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Bethawsomeness (edited)

  I need to read some of these books and add them to my shelf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  sandy 

  I have now read 10 of these books but there are lots more on my TBR.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  Lisa K 

  I've read 21 one of them and would say that only Brisingr was terrible. I'll check some of the others out.

  1) Twilight - okay
  2) Breaking Dawn - okay
  3) Eclipse - okay
  4) New Moon - okay
  5) To Kill A Mockingbird - Great
  6) Life of Pi - Great
  7) The Time Traveler's Wife - Good
  8) Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Great
  9) Brisingr - Terrible
  10) Persuasion - Great
  11) Pride and Prejudice - Great
  12) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Interesting
  13) When You Are Engulfed in Flames - Very Funny
  14) 19 Minutes - Keeps you interested
  15) 1984 - Great
  16) Atonement Great
  17) Memoirs of a Geisha - Great
  18) Outlander - Good vacation read
  19) The Handmaid's Tale - Good
  20) The Kite Runner - Good
  21) The Secret Life of Bees - Good

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Amy L 

  I've read 23 of these! Wow -- I'm impressed with myself! :o)

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Raspberrymocha55 (edited)

  I've read 10 of these. Part of the reason is that I rarely read books from the New York Times best seller list or from Oprah's list. And all were required reading for me either in school or book clubs, as these are not from genre that I care for. The exception is TTW, which I read on the recommendation of a co-worker, and I loved it.

  To Kill A Mockingbird (h.s in 1970... 3 stars)
  The Time Travelor's Wife (2005...5 stars...loved it)
  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (2008...3 stars...a real let-down from the rest of the series)
  The Thirteenth Tale (2007...4.5 stars...strange and slow but excellent)
  Pillars of the Earth (2006...3 stars)
  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime(2008...5 stars!)
  1984(1972...2 stars)
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005...1 star...awful)
  The Handmaid's Tale (2004...2 stars...tedious)
  The Kite Runner (2004...1 star...absolutely hated it)

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Julie T 

  I read 10 of these.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Kristel 

  I read 13 of them. I tried reading Engulfed in Flames and did not like it so quit half way through.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  garcialeon 

  I've only read 7 of the books on this list. I can't seem to keep up with all of you! What an amazing community of avid readers!

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  opuslibris 

  Thank you so much! Making a list similar to yours is what I wish all shelfari members would do!

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  ~KalyDawn~ (edited)

  WOW! My TBR list just got a lot longer! I've only read 8 of the books listed...

  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer -- great
  Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer -- good
  Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer -- good
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer -- not my fave
  To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee -- a classic must read
  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen -- a classic must read
  Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden - great
  The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd -- great

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Megan F 

  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 27
  Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 19
  Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 15
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 13
  Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 15
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 13
  The Host - Stephenie Meyer 7
  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer 5
  City of Bones - Cassandra Clare 4

  I have a few more on my TBR list from this list...

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Mokona 

  Well, I managed 8... but definitely going to bump the others up further in the TBR pile ;)

  Twilight
  New Moon
  The Time Traveler's Wife
  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
  The Bell Jar
  Memoirs of a Geisha
  Persepolis
  The Secret Life of Bees

  
  

  I could not get past the first chapter of Life of Pi.... it seemed so dull. I may have to give it another chance ;)

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Coyotemusic 

    I only made it to page 67 of Life of Pi. I thought it was dull as well.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Katie P 

  I voted for this list in December and have since read 3 other books that were listed as others' favorites. It's a great way to find new books!

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    Coyotemusic 

    I agree, that's why I left it pinned to the top.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Meggly 

  Water for Elephants
  To Kill A Mockingbird
  Life of Pi
  The Time Traveler's Wife
  The Other Boleyn Girl
  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
  The Thirteenth Tale
  Brisingr
  The Giver
  A Thousand Splendid Suns
  Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
  Persuasion
  Pride and Prejudice
  The Bell Jar
  19 Minutes
  1984
  A Dirty Job
  Atonement
  Persepolis
  The Glass Castle
  The Handmaid's Tale
  The Kite Runner
  The Secret Life of Bees
  The Uncommon Reader
  Wicked Lovely

  Twenty-five of them and I didn't even add the Stephanie Meyer books even though I did read them when they first came out. I also have a few more of these books on my "to read" list. =) How fun!

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• Sumeet Kang's reply was removed by an admin 4 months ago.

• 

  Kate MacDonald 

  Interesting list. More to read!

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Melissa L 

  i have read eight, working on the shack. more to go!

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Chanelle 

  I have read:

  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 27
  Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen 22
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 13
  To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 10
  The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Neffenegger 9
  Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling 7
  The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield 7
  The Giver - Lois Lowry 6
  A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini 5
  Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 5
  Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicky Myron 5
  Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett 5
  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 5
  The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath 5
  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon 5
  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer 5
  The Road - Cormac McCarthy 5
  Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden 4
  The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 4
  The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd 4

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  cspann227 

  I have read the following books and I must say that most of these are on my top favorites list.
  Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 27
  Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 19
  Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 15
  New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 13
  Life of Pi - Yann Martel 9
  The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Neffenegger 9
  Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ... One School at a Time - Greg Mortenson 6
  A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini 5
  Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden 4
  One Thousand White Women - Jim Fergus 4
  The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls 4
  The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 4
  The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd 4

  posted 1 month ago. ( reply )

• 

  Magda/Meggs 

  I have read these book
  Twilight-Stephanie Meyer-not that good
  Breaking Dawn-Stephanie Meyer-incredible
  Eclipse-Stephanie Meyer-interesting
  New Moon-Stephanie Meyer-incredible
  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-J.K Rowling-incredible
  The Giver-Lois Lowery-Interesting

  posted 13 days ago. ( reply )

• 

  Magda/Meggs 

  i have read more but they r not in this list

  posted 13 days ago. ( reply )

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