Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most
I’m going to keep this week’s Top Ten post short and sweet — I’m away from home and trying to make do with a moody netbook and an unreliable Internet connection. So, no pictures, no interesting layout, and probably very little in the way of commentary. Still, I like this week’s topic, so here I go, quick and to the point. The books I recommend most often are:
1) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Book 1 of my favorite series for adults, Outlander is an amazing mix of adventure, romance, and historical fiction. Simply superb.
2) The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Unforgettable characters, moving plot, and so much to think about! Plus, absolutely beautiful writing.
3) Harry Potter series by J. k. Rowling. Whenever I meet a supposedly well-read person who hasn’t read HP, my solution is to nag them until they do (or until they no longer want to be friends with me, whichever comes first).
4) Lamb by Christopher Moore. I love all of Christopher Moore’s books, but Lamb is my absolute favorite. Hilariously funny, but never offensive.
5) 11/22/63 or Under The Dome by Stephen King. I consider either of these two massive books to be essential Stephen King masterpieces. For people who associate Stephen King strictly with his early horror novels such as Carrie or Cujo, I absolutely recommend checking out these two marvelously written novels.
6) A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. For anyone still wondering what all the fuss is about, start with this one. I dare you to stop reading this series after just one book.
7) Deerskin by Robin McKinley. I love Robin McKinley’s fairy tale retellings, but Deerskin, aimed toward an adult audience, is a cut above everything else she’s written, in my opinion. Gripping, intense, and intensely disturbing.
8) The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I’ve read this book so many times by now, and I just always love it. So romantic, so mind-bending — just essential reading.
9) Oryx and Crake or The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Nobody does chilling visions of the future better.
10) Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. A look back at San Francisco in the 70s, the Tales of the City books capture a time and place so perfectly, and with such humor and compassion, that reading them is like stepping back into an earlier era.
Those are my 10! What’s on your list this week?
Happy reading!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
Really a lot of good books on this list. Outlander, Harry Potter, The Time Traveller’s Wife, The Handmaid’s Tale … But I’m a bit curious about your choice of Stephen King novels. I liked 11/22/63 a lot and thought it so interesting that he chose to write this type of novel. However, I was so disappointed by Under the Dome’s ending. I thought that he had written this really great book – and then just didn’t know how to finish it … It was really too bad since I felt like it had the potential to be as good as The Stand (my favorite King). How did you feel about the ending?
In a way, I agree, but it didn’t bother me too much. I didn’t love the reason behind what happened, but it also didn’t matter that much to me. I felt like the story itself was so inventive and the human drama so intense that the explanation for the dome was almost secondary.
Loved Harry Potter, and A Game of Thrones and The Time Traveler’s Wife are both sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read them.
Great list.
My Top Ten
Sabina @ Delirious About Books
Harry Potter is pretty darn amazing. I read him under my covers or on the beach far away from home as my mother didn’t like it too much. Maybe that’s why I love them so much.
I think where and when we read certain books are big factors in what they mean to us! I love that you read HP hidden away like that!
We share a few, great list! I have yet to read many form your list though and I hope I get to them soon!
Happy reading!
My TTT
Great list! Yay for GoT 😀 And once again, I still have to read one of Margaret Atwood’s books…maybe I should include it for my summer tbr pile so that I remember xD
My (slightly modified) TTT
I really enjoyed OUTLANDER, but it’s been so long since I read it that I think I need to re-read it before I can continue on with the series. It’s a BIG book, though, so who knows if I’ll ever actually do it. *Sigh*
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Well, I’m obviously not unbiased 🙂 but I’d say it’s worth the time to get back into Outlander!
I’m a little intimidated by the sheer volume of The Game of Thrones series, but I do LOVE the show. One of these days I’ll need to carve out some quality time for them. But the Harry Potter series, OMG, so amazing!
I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about Christpher Moore and he’s one of the top authors who I’d really like to get into, especially because I love me some well-done satire.
The nice thing about the Game of Thrones series is that you have plenty of time, since it’ll probably be a few more years until the next book comes out!
Game of Thrones is so good! I haven’t read those Stephen king books but i must get to them soon!
My Top Ten Tuesday!
Outlander and Game of Thrones made my list too – the first for the swooning, the second for pretty much everything BUT swooning (except for you, Jon Snow – you’ll always be in my heart). Confession, though: I’ve never read a single Stephen King book. I think I have to now, though! He’s on so many lists today.
Great list!
My TTT is here!
Oh, Jon Snow! Definitely swoon-worthy. But no one compares to Jamie Fraser!
Embarrassing admission: when I was looking for a b&b in Inverness, I purposely picked one called Fraser House. I’m not actually that ashamed.
LOL. I hope to go to Scotland next year. Are you kidding? I would absolutely want to stay at a Fraser b&b!
Outlander and Harry Potter would have been on my Top Ten list too. 🙂 Great list!