Top Ten: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  

This week our list (brought to you by Becky and Randi!) is on Books I wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me.

Becky's Top Five Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me
I'm a very picky book collector.  I only like hardcover, and I don't even want to own every book I give five stars to.  These are a few of the books I'd love to add to my shelf, although none of them are the least bit Christmas-related!

Daughter of the Forest, by Juliette Marillier I first read this book in high school and it sparked a mini renaissance in my reading habits.  I love how this story adapts an old folk tale/fairy tale into a historical fiction/fantasy novel.  I also love the survival details, strong female MC, and the magic.
The Book of Lost Things, by John Connolly This was a recent read, and I was instantly enthralled by the menacing and nightmarish feeling of the story.  I've never been one for "happy" stories, and this book just delivers on the creep while pulling from fairy-tales and weaving a world I'd love to stay the heck away from.
The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater Confession, I'm actually in the process of listening to this audio-book but I only have two discs left.  I'd love to get this book in either a hardcover or audio cd format.  It is splendid.  I wouldn't say no to the Scorpio Races, either. The magical realism is both chilling and intricately formed.
The Monstrumologist, by Rick Yancey This book is just outrageous and I loved it.  It was so gory, frightening, multi-layered and symbolic.  The ultimate teen horror book, in my opinion.  I only want it with this cover, though, lol.
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern I actually already own this on audio-book, but I leant it to my darling mother.  It is actually so amazing that I want it in two formats.  Yes, it is that good.  This is a book I know I can read over and over, noticing different things each time and falling endlessly in love with the atmosphere and characters.
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Randi's Top Five Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me Unlike Becky, I am an indiscriminate book buyer. I usually buy books before reading them, unless I read a library copy and decide I must have it a copy for my future classroom. Some (ahem, my husband and close friends) might say I have a book-buying problem, but I just remind them "I'm building my classroom library! I need these!" ...And then they roll their eyes and change the subject. ;) Anyway, my favorite gift for any occasion is obviously books or gift cards to bookstores, though I don't actually receive them all that often. So, of course I have a shortlist of books that I would love to have in my possession, mostly books that my library doesn't have.

Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes 

I have been awaiting this book for quite a while now since high fantasy has always been one of my favorite sub-genres! And that cover just kicks butt. :) Hopefully my library will buy a copy when it comes out next week!

Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother, by Eve LaPlante

Well, if you've seen any of my previous Top Ten picks, you likely know that I'm a bit obsessed with Louisa May Alcott! I did an independent study on LMA in college, so I'm anxious to read more about Louisa's mother since her father Bronson (also a famous guy in his time, but a bit ...eccentric, to put it mildly) gets most of the attention in historical accounts.

Personal Effects, by E.M. Kokie

I have been loving YA contemporary this year, especially when it's about a topic not often touched upon. First off, male protagonist (I don't read nearly enough male-centered fiction); second off, how often does a contemporary book revolve around the issue of a teenage boy losing his brother at war? And it's a debut!

Starting From Here, by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

This book has been on my radar since July. I've been trying to read more YA fiction with LGBTQ protagonists/main characters that aren't necessarily "LGBTQ books." I really appreciate it when an author creates a gay or lesbian main character and makes his/her sexuality just another facet of his/her identity rather than constantly pointing out how said character is "different." (I haven't read this book yet, but the description makes me think that this may be one of the books that really makes the extra effort.) I wish there were more LGBTQ books out there like that.

The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, by Nikki Loftin

I've wanted to read this book since February! I greatly enjoy middle grade fiction (especially MG fantasy), so this is a "must read" for me. Not only does it sound like every kid's dream, but it totally sounds like my dream, too! ;)

So which books would YOU most like to receive? Link us up, we wanna know!