Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I Recommend to Others the Most.
I feel like I have a tendency to rave about the same books over and over again (*cough* Outlander *cough*), so I’m going to make an effort in this post to spread the love a bit. My focus this time around will be books I’ve recommended a bunch in the last few years. How’s that for non-specific?
Here are my 10:
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
I read this book a long time ago, but I find myself recommending it at least a few times each year!
Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow
Believe it or not, the 23rd book in the series was just released this year! I love the characters and plotlines in this Alaska-based series so much… and yes, before you ask, you really do need to start at the beginning. It’s worth it, I promise!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Not only is this book delightfully creepy, it’s also amazing on audiobook. In fact, this is the first audiobook that made me truly fall in love with the listening experience — something about the narrator’s delivery absolutely drew me in and wouldn’t let go.
A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
Such a weird and wonderful book! With a chapter for each day of the month of October, it’s easy to see why some people (i.e., me!) make an annual tradition of re-reading this book.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Actually, I recommend the entire Folk of the Air trilogy… a lot! I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Holly Black, but these books really are special.
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
For anyone who tells me that they’re too scared to try a Stephen King book, this is the one I try to push into their hands. His storytelling gifts shine in a fantasy tale just as much as in horror.
Emily Starr trilogy by L. M. Montgomery
I’m very, very late to the joys of L. M. Montgomery’s fictional worlds, and I’m trying to make up for lost time! I could easily recommend the Anne books, or The Blue Castle, or Jane of Lantern Hill… but for whatever reason, these Emily books just make me really happy.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
I could put pretty much any book by this author on my list! I’ve loved them all — but The Calculating Stars really spoke to me and moved me. I recommend everything she’s written, but this is the book I consider a stand-out!
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
And now for something a little lighter! This series (4 books) is sweet and romantic, and I love the RenFaire settings. Great escapist romance — and who doesn’t need that every once in a while?
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Not only is this the 1st in a terrific sci-fi series, and not only is the writing smart, funny, and engaging… but Old Man’s War is also the first book to turn my reading-averse teen into someone who wouldn’t put the book down, and then immediately demanded the sequel as soon as he finished it. And that right there makes this a book to recommend!
Have you read any of my recommended books? Which books do you recommend the most?
If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
Parable of the Sower was so good.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-ive-recently-recommended-to-others/
It was! I’d like to go back to it again at some point (and meanwhile, I still have more Octavia Butler books to read).
Old Man’s War was such a surprise to me. I didn’t anticipate liking it (I prefer near-future SF), but Scalzi immediately hooked me. I resisted King at first, but as you say he has strengths outside of horror. I started with his more SF titles like Firestarter & The Stand, and then found the horror books of interest. My own TTT/TT is here: https://readingfreely.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-teaser/
One of the things I love about Stephen King is that by this point in his career, there’s really something for everyone!
Yes! He even did a baseball one!
Well Met is a great recommendation. I loved that book.
So much fun — definitely made me want to dress up and go to a Ren Faire!
I still want to read Th Calculating Stars and We’ve also lived in the Castle is such a unique read for sure.
Happy Tuesday!
Elza Reads
Two absolute favorites!
Cruel Prince = 100% yes! We Have Always lived in the castle is intriguing!
I love the world of The Cruel Prince so much!
I’ve only read The Cruel Prince.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-recommend-to-others-the-most/
Have you read the rest of the trilogy? They’re all so good!
Great list! I loved both Well Met and Old Man’s War. And I want to read The Calculating Stars still. š
The Calculating Stars is amazing! I love everything about it. š
I haven’t read that John Scalzi series, but I’ve read another trilogy of his, The Collapsing Empire, and his writing is just so good! I need to read more of his work! Great list!
Oh, I loved The Collapsing Empire books too! I love how he adds humor to intense sci-fi.
Yes, he does it so well!
Several of these sound very good to me, but the Emily books most of all. I haven’t read them read. I’ve only read LMM in the last 15 years–after age 50! They were out of style I guess when I was a kid or where I lived or something. Good post–I did not do TTT this week.
Hmm, I came to LMM books after age 50 as well — maybe they were out of style when I was growing up, I never considered that! I’m so glad I finally gave her books a try!
I’ve read quite a few of these. Parable of the Sower is one I also recommend frequently. And I’m really enjoying Jen DeLuca’s series! I love the Ren Faire setting. I’d like to read more by Montgomery, I’ve only read Anne of Green Gables. The Blue Castle is on my TBR list.
The Blue Castle is so wonderful! Reading the DeLuca books made me really want to dress up and go to a RenFaire — hasn’t happened yet, but I haven’t give up hope. š
I don’t see people talk about The Eyes of the Dragon much, but it’s such a wonderful storyš
I’d read it so many years ago, but decided on a whim to listen to the audiobook during the pandemic, and just loved it!
I’ve read ANNE OF GREEN GABLES a number of times and a few of the sequels once, but I’ve never read anything else by Montgomery. I need to try some of her others. I’ve heard especially good things about THE BLUE CASTLE.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
The Blue Castle is terrific! I’m on a mission to read even more of LMM’s books this year. š
I’ve not read any of these, but I felt a similar way about The Diviners as you did about We Have Always Lived In The Castle, it was one of my very early audiobooks, I think only the second one I listened to after I got Audible and January LaVoy’s delivery was SO GOOD and so enhanced the creepy atmosphere of the story that it reminded me why I had initially liked audiobooks as a kid (I came back to them as an adult after not really listening to any as a teenager).
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-419/
Interesting about The Diviners! I loved the book when I read it, back when it came out, but didn’t end up continuing the series. Maybe I should check out the audiobook and get back into the story!
I think the audiobooks were a really great way of consuming the story, so I would definitely recommend that as a way of continuing š
I’ve read some of Holly Black’s other books but I haven’t read that series yet. I remember I purchased the first book recently. I’m glad it’s a good series! š sometimes when you try a new series by an author it’s a bit of a flop, but I’m glad that isn’t the case here x
Oh definitely, it can be risky to read more by a favorite author — what if you hate it? š