Top Ten Tuesday | Diamonds in the rough

Posted on by Jess @ Jessticulates Posted in Top Ten TuesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TTT-NEW

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week’s theme is ‘Hidden Gems (which books haven’t been talked about as much or haven’t been marketed as strongly that you think deserve some recognition?)’ – and any chance I get to shout about a book that I think deserves more love, I will take!

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Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: One of my favourite books of all time and a book I will constantly recommend at every chance I get. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books aren’t read enough and this book in particular is amazing, flitting between the 1980s and 2009 and following a Mexican girl who discovers she can cast spells via her vinyl records.

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough: This novel in verse is one of my favourite books of 2018. It’s stunningly written and tells the true story of 17th century Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, my favourite artist, who surprised Italy when she pressed charges against a man who sexually assaulted her. It’s a harrowing story in many ways, but it’s a story that deserves to be told.

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie: Pirates, sea monsters and lesbians. What more could you possibly want? I love how Skrutskie plays around with the ‘bad boy’ trope (or girl, in this case) so common in YA, and actually has her characters discuss what consent means when you find yourself falling for the pirate who abducts you.

My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland: I love the humour in these books, and if you’re a fan of urban fantasy who still hasn’t picked these books up then I recommend that you do. Even if urban fantasy isn’t a genre you usually lean towards this series is so fun and I find myself devouring them like candy – or brains, I guess.

Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik: Contemporary is a genre I don’t read often, but every now and then the mood takes me and this book was so much fun. It’s an own voices Muslim rom-com and Sofia Khan is such an entertaining heroine to follow.

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All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry: I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting to when I read it last year, and I’m surprised I haven’t seen it around more. I imagine it was probably more commonly seen on the blogosphere when it was released in 2013, but I think it’s a book good enough to stand the test of time and I think it’s a shame it hasn’t.

The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo: This is a cultural history of Anne Boleyn, looking at how Anne Boleyn has been portrayed throughout the centuries since her execution in 1536. It’s incredibly readable and definitely one of my favourite pieces of non-fiction.

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix: Admittedly I didn’t love this book, but I love its design. I’ve mentioned this a few times before so apologies to people who’ve already seen me gush, but this book, a ghost story set in a department store, is formatted to look and feel like a department store catalogue and it’s so cool. Even though the story isn’t the best, the design team deserve more love for this one.

Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked by Catherine Orenstein: To be honest this book could do with an updated version to discuss more recent books, films and TV shows that have incorporated the story of Little Red Cap, but the book as a whole is still fascinating. It takes a look at the history of this particular fairy tale, from its origins with the women at the French court to its collection by the Grimm brothers and beyond, and I found it super interesting.

The Undressed by Jemma L. King: I know this one’s underrated because the only rating on Goodreads so far is mine. I don’t read much poetry, and I don’t always rate it when I do because I don’t know poetry as well as I know fiction, but this is one of my favourite poetry collections and it deserves way more love. Jemma L. King stumbled on a stash of erotic photographs from the 19th/early 20th centuries, and this poetry collection features a photograph with an accompanying poem in which King gives the woman in the photograph a name and a voice of her own. I love it.

Which books made your list this week?

33 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday | Diamonds in the rough”

  3. Reply
    Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight says:

    I own about half of these, though I have not read them yet which is a fail. Of course I need to read Signal to Noise, Blood Water Paint, The Abyss Surrounds Us, and All the Truth That’s In Me. Like, NEED. And I will forever want to *own* Horrorstör even if I never actually *read* Horrorstör 😂 Great choices!!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Reply
    CG @ Paper Fury says:

    Oh I loved All The Truth That’s in Me!! I don’t remember it being super hyped when it first came out either?! But it’s SO GOOD and so so sad ahh. And I really want to read Signal To Noise because I’ve read that author’s vampire book and really loved it. 😍

    Liked by 1 person

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