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 that Conjure Up Happy Memories.
I ran out of time to really think this one through, so I’m stopping at just 8 for this week’s list! Here’s my selection of books that I associate with happy memories:
1) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: I picked up this paperback for the first time while on a family trip near Yosemite. I went out to the meadow behind our cabin, sat on a big rock, and started reading. I’ll always associate this book with that gorgeous setting!
2) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: This one is a little bittersweet. The book was a gift from a very dear friend who has since passed away, and I miss her all the time. But whenever I come across this book, it makes me think of her, and that’s worth smiling about.
3) The Emily Starr trilogy by L. M. Montgomery: Another choice that mixes happiness with a bit of sadness. During the pandemic, I did a lot of traveling back and forth to spend time (in full protective gear!) with my elderly father. My only distraction was going to the hotel fitness room at the end of each day and getting on the treadmill, and the Emily books were my workout companions. They’re so joyful and wonderful, and always lifted my spirits.
4) Letters from Thailand by Botan: This book is part of my love story with my husband! Our conversation about this book was the first time we really connected on a level beyond being casual acquaintances. And of course, talking about books was the key to my heart!
5) Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce: My daughter fell in love with this series when she was in middle school and insisted that I read it. What a great shared reading experience!
6) All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor: I loved these books as a kid, and later shared them with my own kids!
7 & 8: Historical fiction from James Michener: I read this author’s massive historical novels, Alaska and Hawaii, before traveling to each place for the first time, years ago. I loved the books, and loved how they made the visits to each place so much richer and meaningful.
Do you have certain books that bring up happy memories for you?
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I love this theme. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was one of my mom’s favourite books so it makes me think of her. You listed some wonderful books that bring back good memories.
My mother grew up in Brooklyn, and I remember her talking about this book when I was a kid!
Someday I should read the Emily books!
I adored A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
The Emily books are wonderful! I think I’m due for a reread of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Yesss Outlander. I picked up the series because of the show (only saw the first season though), but then it inspired me to actually go to Scotland! Which I literally just got back home from last week 🙂 Amazing books with beautiful scenery that just makes you want to go out and explore the world yourself!
Oh, wow, I’m so envious of your trip to Scotland!! It’s been a dream of mine ever since picking up Outlander for the first time.
It was…. amazing. Absolutely perfect and everything I wanted from it. Highly recommend going if you ever get the chance–and it’s much more affordable than other European vacations!
The thing you wrote about your friend is so sweet and touching! It also reminded me of this quote:” We are a mosaic of everyone we’ve ever loved.” We can only hope that people will remember us for the little things. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
That’s a lovely quote, thank you so much!
I love that you and your husband have a shared book memory! So cool. Hard to believe we all used to sink ourselves into Michener’s huge books! I do remember reading an abridgement of Poland in a women’s magazine and feeling cheated lol
I’ve read a couple of his other books too — the idea of them now feels overwhelming, but there really was something magical about reading these and then seeing the places he describes!
Indeed!
I also have vivid memories of reading Outlander. Some books are so memorable you remember where you were when you read it, and that was one of them for me. I mentioned All of a Kind Family too!
The All of a Kind Family books are so special!
I really enjoyed reading your memories Lisa, thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much!
I love how you’ve personalized your list with so many memories😁 I remember reading Hawaii years ago!
Thanks! I remember that the opening of Hawaii really made me laugh (in a “what did I get myself into?” sort of way) — I don’t think I’ve read another novel that starts millions of years ago with geological formations!
Great selection! I think you are one of the few that actually stuck with the topic.
It was a fun one to think about… even though I ran out of time to come up with books!
I read Outlander on my honeymoon, so it definitely has happy memory associations! Even if reading it on a Caribbean beach probably wasn’t the correct vibe for the book… 😀
Outlander sounds like a great honeymoon book! What a great memory!
I should have taken part with this theme but at the time I think I was too tired and my brain wouldn’t co-operate. And yet here you are with Outlander – which would have been a perfect starting place for me as it’s a book I took on holiday, loved it and bought the next two whilst I was away because I couldn’t wait.
Lynn 😀
Outlander has that effect on people! 🙂
I really enjoyed hearing why each of these books brought you happy memories. How wonderful to associate Outlander with a holiday and to have a book so rooted in your love story with your husband. I’m sorry to hear about your friend though.
Thank you so much! And I appreciate the kind words about my friend.