Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - Tyrannical Governments 101

This is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They feature a different top ten list every week. This week's topic is books that would be on my syllabus if I was teaching a class. I am a huge fan of dystopian books so my class would be called Tyrannical Governments 101.

 1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - Ahhh, yes . . . the tyrannical government to end all tyrannical governments. A government where women are treated as sexual objects. It could happen. 

 2. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - The first dystopian series I ever read and it's still my favorite. President Snow was one evil villain!

 3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Unfortunately, this tyrannical government was not a fictional one. This book was emotionally devastating and it was so scary just how many people believed in Hitler.

 4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - A book about an Empire that demands loyalty or you will be killed. Oh, and there's that whole pesky women being sold into slavery thing. No biggie.

 5. Rook by Sharon Cameron - Sad that the Sunken City of Paris is now under the rule of a new government, where everyone who opposes it is put to death.

 6. The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer - Okay, so Prince Kai was not a tyrannical ruler. But Levana, the ruler of the Moon, most certainly is. All of her actions are geared towards trying to take over the universe.

 7. Wayward Pines by Blake Crouch - You have to read the whole series to realize just how evil this government is. 

 8. Young Elites by Marie Lu - I just read this one and LOVED it. It is actually better than Legend. Teren, the one leading the charge to get rid of all Young Elites, is pretty damn evil. Yeah, and I also think he's kind of hot too. Weird, right? 

 9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Yeah, a government that advocates the burning of books. Scary!

 10. Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill - I swear, this one creeped me out even more than The Handmaid's Tale. A must read!
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48 comments :

  1. LoveOfBooksAugust 25, 2015 at 8:22 AM

    I am seriously enjoying reading everyones Top Ten this week. It's cool to see all the different themes people chose. You have a lot on yours that I want to read. I can't believe I haven't read Legend yet.

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:11 PM

      Christy, oh yes I love seeing how creative everyone has gotten with these topics. It's so much fun! You should read Legend. It's so good!

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  2. Trish @ Between My LinesAugust 25, 2015 at 8:42 AM

    I love dystopia books so much and love so many from your list. The two that I'd tell people are must read are The Handmaiden's Tale and Only Ever Yours. Both creeped me out and I know I'll never forget either of them! And of course THG. Great list!

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:14 PM

      Trish, I totally agree. Margaret Atwood is the Queen of dystopian literature, but I swear Louise O'Neill gave her a run for her money with Only Ever Yours. It was super creepy!

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  3. RhodaAugust 25, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    This is such a great post! I just downloaded Only Ever Yours onto my kindle so I'm hoping to get to it soon. Fab list!

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:15 PM

      Thanks Rhoda! Oh I really hope you get to Only Ever Yours soon! It was so good, but SUPER creepy!

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  4. ChrissiReadsAugust 25, 2015 at 11:15 AM

    Ooh I'd love to take your class Cynthia! What a great collection of books. My TTT!

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  5. Grace @ RebelMommyBookBlogAugust 25, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    Great topic choice!! I love HG and am really enjoying the Lunar Chronicles. I have Wayward Pines on my Kindle and need to get to it. Great list!

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:17 PM

      Thanks Grace! Wayward Pines was SO GOOD!! I swear, the final book in the series was nonstop action. I hope you love it.

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  6. GregAugust 25, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    I would take this class! Would finally give me an excuse to read The Hunger games... :)

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:19 PM

      OMG Greg, you haven't read The Hunger Games?!? Blasphemy! Ha, just kidding . . . a little. You must read it!

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  7. AnonymousAugust 25, 2015 at 2:44 PM

    This is an awesome topic. I love a good tyrannical government story. I have read a few of these put the others have now made it onto my TBR. Great job :)

    My TTT https://jazminjade.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/top-ten-tuesday-fantasy-101/

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  8. AnonymousAugust 25, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    Man, another great list! This week is killing it! Also, I think I'd read Rook for that cover alone.

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:20 PM

      Thanks Wendy! I totally agree the cover for Rook is awesome. And the book is pretty damn good too. :)

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  9. MeezCarrieAugust 25, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    This week's theme is so much fun! I'm loving everyone's different "classes"!! My TTT

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:20 PM

      Carrie, I know! It's so much fun to see all the creative topics.

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  10. Joy August 25, 2015 at 3:47 PM

    Great prompt!

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  11. AnonymousAugust 25, 2015 at 4:22 PM

    Great title! I love so many of these books. I bet your class would be lots of fun! I need to check out Only Ever Yours.

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:23 PM

      Thanks so much bookshelffantasies! Oh you MUST read Only Ever Yours. It is one of my favorite books this year. It is so good, but super creepy!

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  12. Ely @ Tea & TitlesAugust 25, 2015 at 5:01 PM

    This is so great. I would love to take a class like this, I love reading about governments especially in dystopians.

    My list

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  13. AnonymousAugust 25, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    Wow, this was a fantastic topic choice! I've only read Cinder off this list. Everything sounds amazing. I'm ready to sign up for your class!

    http://hiddenstaircase.net/2015/08/25/ttt-top-ten-books-that-would-be-on-your-syllabus-if-you-taught-time-travel-101/

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:24 PM

      Thanks so much hiddenstaircase.net! Looks like you have some reading to do. There are some great books on this list. :)

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  14. Piecraft BucharestAugust 25, 2015 at 6:22 PM

    For me, The Handmaiden's Tale was the most terrible. But I haven't read Ember in the Ashes and Rook :) Awesomest list ever, Cynthia!!

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    1. CynthiaAugust 25, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      Thanks Ramona! I agree about The Handmaid's Tale. I think part of the reason it seemed so terrible was because it could actually happen. I hope you get a chance to read the others as well.

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  15. EllieAugust 25, 2015 at 7:15 PM

    Great theme! I love The Hunger Games, The Book Thief, and The Young Elites.

    My TTT: http://thespellboundreader.blogspot.com/2015/08/top-ten-tuesday-characters-101.html

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  16. AnonymousAugust 25, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    Great topic and book choices! The governments in Fahrenheit 451 and (obviously) The Book Thief were frightful/dreadful.

    My TTT

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    1. CynthiaAugust 26, 2015 at 8:01 AM

      Thanks electictales11! You are so right. And The Book Thief was really dreadful since it was a real government!

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  17. iloveheartlandXAugust 26, 2015 at 12:27 AM

    Love The Book Thief (although obviously the government was terrible, made all the more devastating by the fact that it was not a fictional one) and The Hunger Games.
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/top-ten-tuesday-19/

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    1. CynthiaAugust 26, 2015 at 8:02 AM

      Thanks IloveHeartlandX. You are so right about The Book Thief. The fact that it was real made it even more devastating.

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  18. CG @ Paper FuryAugust 27, 2015 at 12:51 PM

    I'm STILL trying to recover from Only Ever Yours. I just about bawled my brain out...and OH OH I WANT TO READ THE HANDMAIDEN'S TALE. And also Rook, so so badly, although I confess 99% of the reason I want that one is because it's set in Paris. XD

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:15 AM

      Cait, oh you MUST read The Handmaid's Tale!! It really was even creepier than Only Ever Yours and that's saying something. And yeah, I pretty much only wanted to read Rook because of the setting in Paris too. It was a great book though. :)

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  19. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction AddictionAugust 28, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    Only Ever Yours is one of those books that I completely ignored for some reason, but everyone raves about it. Why haven't I read that book yet?!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:16 AM

      I have no idea Nicole, but you really need to! It is an AMAZING book!!

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  20. Shannon @ It Starts at MidnightAugust 28, 2015 at 7:01 AM

    LOVE this topic! Tyrannical governments are kind of my jam, so this list is basically perfection! Obviously, The Hunger Games. But YES to Only Ever Yours, Rook, An Ember in the Ashes, TLC... VERY good choices!!
    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:17 AM

      Thanks Shannon! I can't get enough of books with tyrannical governments! And there are so many great one.

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  21. Loony LiterateAugust 28, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    SUCH A GREAT DISCUSSION POST :D I love most of these books, actually - The Book Thief, Fahrenheit 451, The Handmaid's Tale, and so many more...despite dystopians going out of style, they still have so much to offer ;)

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:18 AM

      Thanks Loony Literate! Yeah, I don't even care if dystopians are going out of style. I still love, love, LOVE them!

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  22. Vlora @ Reviews and CakeAugust 29, 2015 at 5:37 PM

    Book burning governments are the worst. Who would burn a BOOK? What's it ever done to you, dammit. Ahem. Good list!

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:19 AM

      Vlora, I KNOW!! That is so crazy and so blasphemous! I don't care how much I dislike a book, I would never want to burn it. Insane!

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  23. Julie SAugust 29, 2015 at 9:54 PM

    Ah yes, scary governments in books are really powerful themes, since they are so possible in reality. Great picks! I have to add some of these to my lists.

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:20 AM

      Thanks so much Julie. I agree. It does seem as if all of these could ACTUALLY happen, which makes them even scarier.

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  24. Lyn KayeAugust 30, 2015 at 7:17 AM

    Totally adding Only Ever Yours to my book wishlist. I freaking LOVE creepy government stories because it distracts me from the reality of today's Big Brother-eque government.

    Lovely list.

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    1. CynthiaAugust 30, 2015 at 9:28 AM

      Bahahaha, nothing like a creepy book about an evil government to take your mind off the real evil government, right? Only Ever Yours is so incredibly amazing. I hope you read it and hope you enjoy it.

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