Top 5 Books read in 2015

I managed over 100 titles last year in my reading and in retrospect I wondered what one’s I would recommend to anyone asking for something new. So, here’s a brief list of my favourite reads from 2015 – 2 are part of a series, and one honourable mention at the end, but these books managed to tick all the boxes for me. Fun, indulgence and engaging…

Darklife and Riptide

 

This series by Kat Falls managed to cover the genres of Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, and Marine Biology – all of which are favourites on their own, but pulled together in one book had me just about melting into a pool of my own making.

The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest, and Winter)

Though I have yet to read Winter, the rest of the books in this series were a massive surprise. I’m not a fan of fairytale re-tellings, but The Lunar Chronicles had me eating my words. A truly entertaining and unique fable woven over so many volumes with great characters and such an interwoven plot. A masterful task!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Hot of the tail of The Lunar Chronicles, I broke and purchased yet another adaptation of fairy tales (from Beauty and the Beast). I’d heard great things from friends about the ‘A Crown of Thorns’ series, and thought I’d start with this single book rather than tackle a large series again. It did not disappoint, I was truly entranced in the Fae world and our Huntress’ predicament. Truly magical.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

I got to read and review a lot of GLBT+ titles this year, the majority of them ranking highly, but this is by far my favourite.

The Martian

This is nerd porn on steroids. With so much science and witty repertoire thrown in, this survival story where literally the intelligence of Watney is the only thing saving him from death at every turn on an alien landscape. This is also the only book to get in my top 5 that has multiple points of view…

 

Life and Death – Twilight Re-imagined

I have to include this, even though it is not a new novel, but only because it reminded me of a time that got me into reading and writing in earnest. Also the gender swap added another layer to the story and many of the issues critics had with the novel. With the addition of some changes and what-if’s Stephenie was able to address, it was a wonderful gift for the tenth anniversary of Twilight.

 

I also noticed that the colours red and blue (and black) dominate the covers of my favourites – a funny coincidence 🙂

© Casey Carlisle 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Do Amazing Things!

 

Hope you are having a wonderful time bringing in the New Year and that 2015 is the best year yet!

If you want a buddy to help reach your writing goals, message me and we’ll keep each other motivated and on track…

Waiting… and then all at once.

This seems to be the mantra for the end of 2014.

 

 

Here’s a little update, rather than my usual article or review:

 

I’ve been pushing to finish writing my latest novel, and after a few sputtering attempts (life kept getting in the way) I completed the final sprint wrapping up the last four chapters. (Cue the popping of champagne and throwing of streamers.)

 

So too has the moving house scenario played out in similar fashion, with many pauses in the process due to red tape, I was beginning to get despondent, that I would never get to unpack my office and jump back into writing full force. But the last fortnight turned everything on its head. Thankfully. Now life is moving at lightning speed.

 

It’s like the Universe feeds on this frantic energy – so many other aspects of my life have started ramping up and wrapping up. Have I missed some grand cosmic event?

 

I haven’t been active with my reading or reviews either – books are packed up and my time has been spent arranging aspects of the move.

 

But the anxiety is sure to be over in the next week as I am about to embark on a massive road trip to a place I’ve now dubbed the ‘Writers Cottage’ – purposely set up for nothing but scribbling out pages of my next W.I.P.

 

I can’t wait – where Melbourne offered plenty of distraction, the Writers Cottage is isolated and boasts panoramic views of the Sunshine Coast and a natural spring sequestered amongst rainforest at the foot of the property. Initially I was only planning to take short trips for bursts of productivity before returning to the city, but now after a 2 year relationship has ended, it’s quite possible the move will be more permanent, as I now have more ties on the tropical coast than I do to the café strewn metropolis.

 

Between packing, I dabbled in creating some marketing images for my books: it helps keep me enthusiastic about projects and stay in the head space to jump straight back into writing in a few weeks. So I can’t wait for the new year to start to share my fumbling foray into Photoshop.

 

This time has also allowed me to plan out writing goals for 2015… it can’t come soon enough. (Settle down girl!)

 

To all my fellow writing enthusiasts – may the words flow forever freely for 2015.

 

What are your writing goals? What environment do you write best in?

© Casey Carlisle 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Casey Carlisle with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.