More thank yous for a few ladies.

Cortney Pearson for the Stylish Blogger Award. (Which I did previously, so check back a few posts.)

Andrea Teagan and Theresa Paulo for the Booker Award.

The rules for the Booker Award:

This award is for book bloggers only. To receive this award the blog must be at least 50% about books (reading or writing is okay)

Along with receiving this award, you must also share your top five favorite books you have ever read. (More than five is okay) You must give this award to 5-10 other lucky book blogs you adore.

Here are some of my favorite books in no particular order:

The early years:
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The not as early years:
War and Peace (the abridged version)
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Current years:
Split by Swati Avasthi
Night Sky by Jolene Perry
Shattered Soul by Jennifer Snyder
 
Here are the ladies I am passing this on to, and hopefully they haven’t received it yet.

LeighAnn Kopans
Amy Rose
Jade Hart
Dahlia
Valerie Lawson
 
I’ve wondered about what makes other people love a story. What makes them give a book a 5 Star Review?

I generally don’t over-analyze books; I either liked it or I didn’t. But now I’m starting to think more about why. So when I love a story to death, these are usually the reasons.

* I wish those characters were my friends/boyfriends/parents/etc…

* I’m sad for the characters (if it ends badly), and wish I fix it for them. (Although that would totally change the story.)

* I want to keep reading, even though the story is done. I desperately want an epilogue or sequel.

* I couldn’t put the book down. (Or only did because I had to… for instance, to get my kid to school on time.)

* The book was an easy read. (I’m not into purple prose—hello, skimming time.)

* I wish I wrote that book.

So what about you? What makes you love a story enough to give it a 5 Star Rating?