It's going really fast! We're already to the finding of the Final Four. Are you finding that your decisions are getting harder to make? I am. There have been a few books that I've found it hard to part with.
Here's where I start this time with my Elite Eight...
The only easy bracket for me this time was Amy & Roger's Epic Detour vs. What Alice Forgot. Somehow, even with only 4 stars, Alice managed to make it all the way to the Elite Eight. Not bad. However, there wasn't even a question. Amy & Roger make it to the Final Four without a struggle.
The other three brackets weren't so simple...
1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor vs. How to Love by Katie Cotugno
This pairing gave me quite the headache. Two very different books from very different genres. I loved them both, but only one could move on.
I struggled hard making this decision. I changed the bracket back and forth a few times. I don't know how I made the final decision really. Catch me on a different day and maybe I would have reversed my decision. Really I guess it came down to the fact that I am totally psyched to read the sequel for Daughter of Smoke and Bone whereas I don't as strongly want to reread How to Love. Not the most fair of circumstances, but it is what it is.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor takes the second slot in the final four and rounds out the right side of the bracket.
2. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson vs. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Once again, two very strong competitors. Tiger Lily is probably the best retold fairy tale I've read. It was amazing and I loved it. Divergent was riveting and powerful; it held my heart in my throat for a good portion of the book.
Honestly, the fact that Allegiant exists probably resulted in some damage to Divergent's chances here. I'm still just irked by that whole thing. I get it, but still... Argh.
I nearly swayed myself the other way for my decision while writing this post...even after the final decision had already been made. That's how tough this was.
Eventually, I had to evaluate each book by it's own merit (only fair). Pitted directly against each other (and ignoring the fact that Allegiant makes me angry), Divergent takes the win for this section of the bracket.
3. Landline by Rainbow Rowell vs. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
And here it is. The toughest match up of the round. What is it with these two authors? They have been my biggest struggles during this challenge. I love them both so much. And yet they just keep facing off with the books I seem to love the most. Landline particularly enjoyed knocking nearly all of E. Lockhart's books out of the running. Merciless. Gayle Forman's novels just seem to have it out for one another.
Getting rid of either one of these just breaks my heart. But, it had to be done. I started to waffle on this one as well. I wanted to use the Fangirl standard to help me make my decision (I liked Fangirl more than Landline), but that really wouldn't be fair. The whole point of this bracket system is to only pit each book up against the book that lands in the opposing bracket slot. No cheating.
Ultimately, I let my emotions decide. The more swoon-worthy book would have to win. The book I would choose to read again first. So... Just One Day takes the win.
And there you have it...only 4 challengers remain.
vs.
vs.
How's your favorite fairing in my bracket?
Link up to your Final Four Bracket in the comments below! Don't forget to go visit the brackets of other participants...you just might find some new books to love!
Considering I only read 4 of your total books, it's neat that one made it to the end. :) Of course, had I read them this year, I probably would have let Allegiant cloud my opinion of Divergent. It wouldn't have been right of me to do, but it's hard to forget how it ended. :/
ReplyDeleteI was sad to lose Timebound today, the most. It was really really fantastic, and if up against one of my others, it would have remained. Ah well. Here's my Final Four.
We're pretty even on that. I only knew a couple of the books from your bracket. That just makes it more fun for me to see which ones make it to the top for you. Then I know which ones to go evaluate for my own TBR.
DeleteYour point about making choices based upon what you'd like to re-read/if you'd like to read the next book in the series in a really good one. But it's also making my choices harder! :P
ReplyDeleteMy updated bracket will be up soon.
Here! http://shainareads.blogspot.com/2015/01/2014-book-of-year-boty-bracket.html
DeleteIt's a double-edged sword for sure. I need to learn to just go with my gut and then not allow myself to over think it or change my mine.
Deletehttp://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2015/01/2014-book-of-year-bracket-challenge_13.html
ReplyDeleteHow will you ever choose. All these books are on my to read or read list. They all look great. I have an idea in my mind what you final two will look like.
It's getting tough. Every book in the final four is a good one.
DeleteI must say, I'm surprised to see Landline made it as far as it did. I just really didn't get it when I read it. The whole phone-to-the-past thing never clicked with me.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I just really liked that idea. Maybe it's because there are people who I could see wanting to be able to have that connection with. I liked that she more or less got a second chance to see what was important.
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