Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Question: If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?

Some of you might hate me for this question, and colour me crazy, but I love it! Seriously, what's better than a question that really makes you sit down, limit yourself and think? Confession time: I love books. No. Really. I love pretty much anything and everything that is bound and can be read. Whether I love it or hate it, there's always a passion for it, and I will try any written thing once, as silly as that sounds. I've been asked a lot, however, what my favourite genre is.

At first, I think that's a super simple answer. Come on, guys. I review young adult literature. That pretty much means that YA lit is like gold to me. However, I'm a twenty-something lady who also loves memoirs, chick-lit, mysteries and a good ol' literary romp with shirtless (and pantless?) men every now and again. So sue me. Imagine for a moment that all your books are going to be stripped away except for a single genre. What would I want that to be. I actually put a lot of time and effort into this decision. My favourite reads vary, kids. We've got:

But we've also got:

So, what to do? I'm going with my gut on this one and stating that if I could only read one genre for the rest of my life, it would be young adult fantasy. Yes, I'm going that specific. While other genres are amazing, there's something so entirely limitless and freeing about this particular genre. Everything is possible. There's no pretentiousness or presumption. It's pure imagination - plain and simple. Yes, colour me crazy, but inside I'm still a 12 year old girl. Now, let's just pray we never really have to choose!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I'd Save From a Natural Disaster:

1. Watership Down - Daunting in size, I know, but this one is one of my absolute all-time favourites. It's beautiful, it's poetic, and, frankly, I don't know that it gets much lovelier than this! 

2. Many Waters - I have a few copies of this one. However, there are a couple of those copies without covers because I've worn them out by reading them too much. I don't think I could survive without this! 

3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - I want the whole series, and I'd probably sell my soul to save all seven BUT if I could only choose one and play by the rules, this would be it. Oh, Sirius Black. You have my heart. 

4. Time Windows - This is definitely not the best written novel I've ever read, but it may very well be what got me onto paranormal stories. It's beautiful and complex for its age range, and I love it to this day. 

5. Memoirs of a Geisha - I read this on a whim one day, only to find out months later that it was in our AP curriculum in high school. Needless to say, I loved it both times. It's so moving and beautiful, and the prose and backdrop are seamless. 

 6. My Sister's Keeper - Forget the movie. NEVER watch it if you can help it. It simply does not do this book justice. I cried for hours after this one, and I was just floored. It is so immensely powerful. 

7. The Glass Castle - I found myself re-reading this one last week to get out of a little bookish funk, and I remembered why I loved it so much. It's a quick read, but boy is it potent. That woman's story simply resonates. 

8. Between - This was a bit of a sleeper hit for me. I was worried when I first read it, but having read it a few times now, I'm just as blown away as the first time. This story sings with sadness, and I keep singing its praises. 

9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - So sue me. I can't leave Noah behind! Plus, I just have to re-read that cliffhanger of doom daily. I keep looking for hints, or clues, or some little sign I missed. But no...just doom. 

10. Salamandastron - I love me some Redwall books, and the badgers were always my favourites. I think a close second would be Pearls of Lutra, but this one simply has to win. It's so beautiful and rich, and I think living in that mountain would be epic!