#AMonthofFaves: Top 10 Books That Blew My Mind in 2014

Today is all about mind-blowing books! The link-up for Top 10 Books That Blew My Mind in 2014 is over at The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday.

I agonize over the definition of "mind-blowing" since it could go in so many ways. I am going with "intensely affecting the mind or the emotions." 

Here's my quick list, in no particular order. I'm mind-blown by ... because ....


The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- Disclaimer: I love everything by Gaiman.
- This adult version of Coraline left me deeply saddened yet totally in awe of Gaiman's storytelling.

The Trickster's Hat: A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity by Nick Bantock
- Disclaimer once again: I love Nick Bantock's art!
- Practically art and creativity lessons from Nick Bantock himself. How cool is that?

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
- Out of the mouth of babes, the horrors they face in conflict-ridden Africa is a tough read. But it's a necessary one which sheds light on the harsh reality that many children in the world live through every day.
- Heartbreaking. I remember each of these five stories vividly.



- Makes mythology sexy. I'll never think of The Iliad in the same way again.
- While technically a re-read for 2014, the love story affected me so much more the second time around. 

- A chunkster that never felt like a chore. Masterful and engrossing storytelling. 
- What a fascinating, chameleon of a woman! And yes, she was a real person.
- Wait ... this is historical fiction? It feels so real!

- High school required reading put on its head. Who knew Juliet's nurse with the insider track of the Romeo and Juliet love story - and her own love story - would be so much more interesting?


- I'd never thought I'd enjoy reading short stories of the medical field. I LOVED these!
- These stories are bizarre and surreal. Sometimes absurd, sometimes uncomfortably disturbing. But I couldn't stop reading them!

The Frangipani Hotel: Stories by Violet Kupersmith
- Reminded me so much of my own roots where culture, folklore and superstition meld together in strange mysterious ways. I lapped up each of these Vietnamese ghost stories.

Man V. Nature: Stories by Diane Cook
- Because these stories distill human nature to its basest, these made for unsettling reading. It's disturbing yet illuminating. 



Cain by Jose Saramago (unreviewed)- Growing up Catholic, these alternate versions of oft-told Biblical stories really shook me up ... and even made me laugh!
- Provoking, challenging, logical ... I reveled in all Saramago had to offer.


Get more info for A Month of Faves hosted by the awesome gals Estella's Revenge, Girlxoxo and Traveling with T. Go get it here.


Link-up is over at The Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday


#AMonthofFaves at Guiltless Reading:
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