Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!
This week the topic is "Top Ten Books that Were Recommended to Me." Now this is supposed to be recommendations from book bloggers, but I've only been writing and following for a few months now. So I thought I would do my top ten based on people recommendations, specifically my friends.
1. The Awakening by Kate Chopin - My high school English teacher recommended this book for my hour-long presentation in American literature. I wanted to do Huckleberry Finn, but she convinced me that I would love this book. I reluctantly agreed, read it, and absolutely loved it! It's become my favorite book of all time. Edna's struggle really hit home and pushed me into reading more about women's struggles. I eventually majored in Women's Studies with emphasis on women in U.S. history and women and religion. And it was all because of a recommendation in high school.
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - C knew I would love this book and forced me to read it. Okay, okay, I read it completely under my own power, but C can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be. I absolutely loved the mix of romance, adventure, and history. I read this during a few reenacting events (I am a part of Seven Years War living history). It felt perfectly natural to be reading about 18th century Scotland dressed in 18th century clothing! I started the second book, but somehow strayed away. I am resolved to read the entire series this July as part of my reading challenges. And did you hear? Supposedly a movie version is being made! Very excited!
3. At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols - Another C recommendation. Our local coffeehouse has a borrowing library shelf. C read it and then gave it to me read. And it was amazing. I cried so hard reading this book. Happy and sad tears.
4. Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons - J has been encouraging me to read graphic novels/comics. This was one that he told me I would like. I guess he really knows me, because I loved it. Just finished it and rewatched the movie to complete the week.
5. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer - I didn't really have any interest in reading the series when everyone else was. I thought it was just a silly teenage melodrama. After being forced into starting a book club at my school (requiring clubs without interest from students is a disaster waiting to happen), a few of my students and I started talking about books that we loved. Overall, they were reading a lot of young adult paranormal fiction. I was squarely in the American classics camp. After finding out that I hadn't read the series, they brought me the books and basically demanded that I read them. I ended up reading the entire series in about a week! I loved it! They were beautiful and stupid all at the same time. It was such a departure from my usual reading.
6. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - I'm pretty sure this was a recommendation from my friend B. She was a history major in college and really got into historical fiction. Its been a few years, but I remember seeing the book out and about, but for whatever reason not reading it. Then B told me that I had to read it. And I loved it. Haven't' gotten around to Gregory's other books, but they are definitely on my list.
7. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser - Another high school English teacher recommendation. She thought I would like this after my love of The Awakening. It's become on of my favorite classics. I definitely like early 1900 American authors. Is it any wonder that my favorite time periods in U.S. History are urbanization and the progressive era?
Well, it seems I can't think of any more. Looking back, I'm often the one recommending books. Of all my friends, I probably read the most, so I usually get to books first. Since starting to follow various bloggers, I now have a list of recommended books. But, I haven't gotten to them yet. Hopefully soon!
