Tag Archives: favorite books

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

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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 Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time. To me, that means books that made a huge impact the first time around — anything from an intense emotional experience to sheer delight to big twists and surprises I never saw coming.

Here are my top ten:

  1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: As a die-hard fan of the series, I can’t help but think back on how powerfully the first book affected me.
  2. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell: The opening pages knocked me for a loop.
  3. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: The jumps between times confused me and delighted me so much.
  4. Fingersmith by Sara Waters: This book made me literally gasp out loud at certain twists.
  5. The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans: I just remember sobbing. That’s it.
  6. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Such an incredible reading experience. I find something new to appreciate with each reread, but the first time was especially mind-blowing.
  7. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal: My heart was in my throat.
  8. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn: Such a delightful, playful story.
  9. The BFG by Roald Dahl: I don’t know if I’d appreciate it on my own, but I read this for the first time with my kiddo when he was about 9 or 10, and his laughter was everything.
  10. Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: This horror novella is like nothing I’d read before, and the key horror element is a knock-out.

What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? Do we have any in common?

If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books that surprised me

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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 Surprised Me (in a good or bad way).

I’ve decided to embrace positivity! I’m going to talk about books that provided me with surprises that made me happy, intrigued, or otherwise amused and delighted.

My top 10 are:

Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum

What surprised me: I picked up this book just to read the chapters about Survivor… and ended up reading the whole thing, start to finish. I did not expect to be that fascinated by a book about TV!

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

What surprised me: Everything! I am not a sports fan. At all. I picked this book up, way back when, after hearing an interview with the author. I did not expect a book about football to interest me in the slightest, but I just couldn’t put it down.

(And yes, this is my 2nd non-fiction book in a row… I am not usually a non-fiction reader, so any time I enjoy a non-fiction book, it’s pretty surprising!)

Amazon – Bookshop.org

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

What surprised me: I was under the impression that this book would be more “literary fiction” than what I enjoy, so I disregarded it whenever it popped up on my recommendations list. Once I finally gave it a try, I was immediately hooked.

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

What surprised me: I misread the synopsis for this book and had a completely wrong impression of what it would be about! It worked out fine — I ended up loving the book — but seeing what the plot actually was was definitely a surprise for me.

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

What surprised me: The intricacy of the language and world-building. The Goblin Emperor is one of my favorite books, but the first time I read it, the storytelling style was not at all what I expected in a fantasy novel. The use of language itself as a key part of the story was one of the biggest surprises. This book is a masterpiece, and I had no idea before I picked it up and started reading it.

Amazon
My review

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

What surprised me: It’s been many years since I read this outstanding book… but I still remember how I gasped out loud at some of the plot twists!

Amazon – Bookshop.org

Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

What surprised me: With the main character described as someone who hates books, I was prepared to dislike this book (which I got as a “blind date with a book” — otherwise, I probably never would have picked it up). It turns out, the book is delightful, and the issue around hating books is more nuanced than it might seem. And anyway, this is a sweet, upbeat romance — in a bookstore!! — that’s just so much fun.

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

What surprised me: I was skeptical — did we need another Hunger Games prequel? Surprise! The answer is yes. The story of Haymitch and the 50th Hunger Games pulled me in right away and was impossible to put down.

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

What surprised me: I suppose I can’t really say this one surprised me — whenever I pick up a John Scalzi book, I know it’ll be amazing. And yet, before reading this one, I just couldn’t imagine how a book about the moon turning to cheese could possible work. But it does! In totally fabulous ways.

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

What surprised me: Based on the cover, I thought this book would be a bit on the corny side… but it was actually really fun and endearing. I was surprised by how much I liked it!

Amazon – Bookshop.org
My review

And there you have it — ten books that surprised me in all sorts of good ways!

What books have surprised you?

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite Books from Ten Series

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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 Ten Favorite Books from Ten Series.

I almost skipped this week’s TTT — this topic is a tough one! I love so many series, and choosing a favorite book from a favorite series is like choosing a favorite child. Don’t make me pick!!

I’d be tempted to just go with the first book from each series, because hey — if the first book didn’t hook me, why would I keep going? But, I feel like I’ve featured first books in series before (for example, here), so instead I’m focusing on books other than the first. The books I’ve chosen all have something about them that makes them stand out. I’m not playing favorites… but all these books are noteworthy!

My top ten are:

Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal

Series: The Glamourist Histories
Book #: 3 (of 5)
Published: 2013

Why this book? The entire series is excellent, so picking a favorite is especially hard. Here in book #3, the setup is just so good, and I really enjoyed the introduction of new political realities and new directions for certain characters.

Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi

Series: Old Man’s War
Book #: 4 (of 6)
Published: 2008

Why this book? I actually love the first book in the series best of all, but Zoe’s Tale is just so clever. Basically, this 4th book retells everything that’s already happened in the series, but from a different character’s perspective. I know some people who’ve stopped after book 3, but I always urge them to give Zoe’s Tale a try.

Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey

Series: The Expanse
Book #: 9 (of 9)
Published: 2021

Why this book? Because it pulls off the seemingly impossible feat of providing a stellar ending to a complicated (and excellent) series.

Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire

Series: Incryptids
Book #: 4 (of 13 – so far)
Published: 2015

Why this book? This is a somewhat random choice, since the whole series is really fun. This one shifts the action to Australia, which is new for the series, and introduces new characters and monsters in a really engaging way. With this many books in an ongoing series, it’s notable when an earlier book really sticks with a reader, and this one does.

Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev

Series: The Rajes
Book #: 3 (of 4)
Published: 2021

Why this book? Each of the four books in the series retells a Jane Austen novel, and this one works especially well. I loved the setup, the characters, and the plot development.

Breakup by Dana Stabenow

Series: Kate Shugak
Book #: 7 (of 23 – so far)
Published: 1997

Why this book? For a series that goes to some pretty dark places, this 7th book is actually very funny. If you’re binging the series, it’s a really enjoyable moment of lightness before more tragic events come in the next few books.

A Twist of Fate by Kelley Armstrong

Series: A Stitch in Time
Book #: 2 (of 4)
Published: 2021

Why this book? The timeslip story in this installment resolves a mystery introduced in the first book. The characters are terrific, and there’s a lot of emotion mixed in with the adventure.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Series: Bridgertons
Book #: 4 (of 8)
Published: 2002

Why this book? First of all, it’s the only one I’ve read twice! I love all the Bridgerton kids, but Colin and Penelope’s romance is a special treat. (And it’s my most recent foray into the series, since I just reread it, so it’s freshest in my mind…)

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Series: Wayward Children
Book #: 2 (of 9 – so far)
Published: 2017

Why this book? The story in this installment is particularly haunting and beautifully written. I’ve enjoyed each book, but this one is a stand-out.

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon

Series: Outlander
Book #: 8.5 (of 9 – so far)
Published: 2012

Why this book? OK, let’s be real. My choice for a favorite in the Outlander series should absolutely be (and truly is) the first book, Outlander. But that’s kind of obvious… so instead I’ll highlight this excellent novella, which fills in the blanks of a particular character’s family history and is simply excellent storytelling. I know a lot of Outlander fans focus just on the main novels (or, Big Enormous Books, as the author refers to them) — but skipping the novellas and other related novels means missing out on a lot of content that adds so much to the overall Outlander-verse.

How did you do with this week’s topic? Did you have as hard a time as I did with narrowing down the choices?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2023

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snowy10

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 Favorite Books of 2023.

There were so many great ones! It’s hard to narrow my list down to just ten…

Consider this just a sampling of the great books I read in 2023!

1.. Wolfsong by TJ Klune: But really, the entire Green Creek series is my top reading experience of the year. I loved all four books, but Wolfsong holds an especially strong place in my heart. After all, it’s all candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome. (review)

… plus…

2. Hello Stranger by Katherine Center: The main character’s situation is like nothing I’ve ever read before. This book is fascinating and entertaining and lovely. (review)

3. Hard to pick just one T. Kingfisher book! I read three by this author in 2023, and these two are especially wonderful: (reviews here and here)

4. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: The hype is real! This book has gotten so much buzz, and it’s all deserved. The cozy fantasy I never knew I needed. (review)

5. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus: This wins the prize for the weirdest thing I read all year… and yet, I still can’t get it out of my mind! (review)

6. A duo from a favorite series: Sleep No More (review) and The Innocent Sleep (review), books 17 and 18 in the excellent October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, were released one month apart in the fall, telling the same story from two different characters’ perspectives. Simply awesome.

7. Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer: Every once in a while, a Georgette Heyer novel is just right for the moment, and I absolutely loved reading Sprig Muslin this year. (review)

8. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto: This book made me laugh and kept me guessing. Just pure fun. (review)

9. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley: I loved this story of friendship across the years — beautiful and emotional and truly resonant. (review)

10. The Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris: I hadn’t thought this would interest me, but after reading the first book (An Easy Death) early in the year with my book group, I couldn’t stop until I’d read all five (and I’m hoping for more!).

The rest of the best:

Who am I kidding? I can’t name just 10!! Here are other books from my 2023 reading adventures that I loved too much not to mention:

What were you favorite books of 2023? If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With One-Word Titles

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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 With One-Word Titles — a topic I’ve done multiple times over the years (see here, here, and here). So, the challenge for me today is finding ten MORE books with one-word titles without repeating myself!

Here’s what I’ve come up with — all books that I’ve read within the last year or so:

  1. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
  2. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  3. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
  4. Reputation by Lex Croucher
  5. Waypoints by Sam Heughan
  6. Wolfsong by TJ Klune
  7. Scorpica by G. R. Macallister
  8. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
  9. Passing by Nella Larsen
  10. Anatomy by Dana Schwartz

What books made your list this week?

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Top Ten Tuesday: My daughter’s top 10 books from the past 12 months

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Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week is a Freebie week, so we all come up with our own topics. I was drawing a complete blank, so I decided to enlist my daughter once again! Not only is she an amazing human being — she’s also an amazing reader, so seeing her top 10 lists is always a treat.

She originally sent me a list of 20, but put in a valiant effort and narrowed it down to 10. Here are the books she’s loved recently:

  1. Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk
  2. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
  3. The Deep by Rivers Solomon
  4. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
  5. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
  6. Love Radio by Eboney LaDelle
  7. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
  8. The Street by Ann Petry
  9. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
  10. Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? (I’ve read 3 out of 10, have one all queued up to read this summer, and have my eye on at least two more of these!)

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recommend to Others the Most

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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!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library

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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 Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library.

This does happen for me quite a bit! Sometimes it’ll be an audiobook I’ve listened to that I need to own in print, or maybe I’ll have read either an ARC or e-book or library book and fallen for it so hard that I needed my own copy!

Here are my top ten:

1 . The Emily Starr trilogy by L. M. Montgomery

2. The Good Neighbors (graphic novel trilogy) by Holly Black

3. If It Bleeds by Stephen King

4. Newsflesh trilogy (boxed set) by Mira Grant

5. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

6. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

7. Wonderstruck, The Marvels, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

8. Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

9. Plain Bad Heroines by emily m. danforth

10. Mythos by Stephen Fry

What books made your list this week?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Completed Series I Wish Had More Books

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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 Completed Series I Wish Had More Books.

So… last week, my topic was first books in favorite series that were published over 10 years ago, and I definitely did not look ahead to see what this week’s topic would be. As a result, there’s going to be a lot of books/series in common between last week’s and this week’s lists, but that’s okay!

These are all books and series that I love, and I never mind featuring them in a post.

Ten series that are already done, but which I wish had more books:

The Glamourist Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal

This five-book series has been described as “Jane Austen but magic”, which is okay at a basic level, but just doesn’t convey how absolutely wonderful the characters and world are.

The Expanse by James S. A. Corey

My heart hurt by the time I read the (amazing) conclusion to this 9-book series. Yes, the story is done… but really, I’d happily read more about any of the characters or the worlds of this series.

Newsflesh by Mira Grant

The Newsflesh trilogy blew me away! Who knew zombie books could make me cry? There’s a 4th book that retells certain events from other characters’ perspectives, plus a bunch of spin-off stories, but really and truly, I just want to read more novels about the main characters!

The Parasol Protectorate (and the Parasol-verse at large) by Gail Carriger

I don’t know if it’s really true to say that this series is complete, because the lovely author continues to publish related stories and novellas… but after the five books of the original series, the four books of the Finishing School series, and the four Custard Protocol books, I am highly attached to these characters and would LOVE to see more full-length novels (or another series??) set in this world.

Codex Alera by Jim Butcher

This was such a good series! Six books, great world-building, great story progression — I’d definitely read more!

The Kopp Sisters by Amy Stewart

The seven volumes of this terrific historical fiction series showcase the real-life Kopp sisters as they solve crimes and go off to war in the early 1900s. The author has said that she’s not writing any more Kopp Sisters books any time soon… which could mean never, but since she doesn’t actually say never, I’ll continue to hope for more!

The Mure series by Jenny Colgan

The 5th book in this charming series just came out in June, and comments by the author seem to suggest that the series is now done… but wait! I still have questions! Yes, most characters got a beautifully happy ending, but there are still some loose threads and (I’m sure) plenty more stories to tell. Please, Jenny Colgan????

The Rajes by Sonali Dev

This series of interconnected stories about a large Indian-American family consists of four books retelling Jane Austen classics… But – there are six Jane Austen novels! I’ve read that the Rajes series is now done, but I think I’ll feel incomplete until there are Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey volumes too!

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

This sweet, huggable YA superheroes love story trilogy has everything, and it had a very definitive ending — but can I help it if I love these characters so much that I want to see the rest of their lives too?

Bridgertons by Julia Quinn

I mean, yes, the Netflix version will keep me busy for years to come (I hope), and there are always other Julia Quinn books to read — but I felt a bit misty when I finished the books in the series and had to say good-bye to this incredibly entertaining family!

What series do you wish had more books? Do we have any in common?

If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!

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Top Ten Tuesday: 10 favorite series starters from over 10 years ago

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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 Love That Were Written Over Ten Years Ago.

I know I have a tendency to mention the same favorite books over and over and over again (*cough* Outlander *cough*), so I thought I’d narrow the focus a bit this time around. My list this week highlights books published 10 or more years ago that are the first books in series that I love. Some of these series are still ongoing, some are done — all are amazing!

Note: I’m listing here whether the series are complete, and how many books they include. For some, there are other published works (such as short stories) that fit within the larger stories, but to keep things simple, I’m just listing the number of primary works (novels) per series.

Without further ado, my top ten are:

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Series: The Glamourist Histories
Published: 2010

Completed series – 5 books

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

Series: Old Man’s War
Published: 2005

Completed series – 6 books

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Series: The Expanse
Published: 2011

Completed series – 9 books

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Series: Jane True
Published: 2009

Completed series – 6 books

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

Series: October Daye
Published: 2009

Ongoing series – 15 currently available; #16 to be released September 2022

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow

Series: Kate Shugak
Published: 1992

Ongoing series – 22 currently available; #23 to be released April 2023

Feed by Mira Grant

Series: Newsflesh
Published: 2010

Completed series – 4 books

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Series: Slains / The Scottish Series
Published: 2008

Not exactly a series — 3 interconnected books; all work as stand-alones as well

Kin by Holly Black

Series: The Good Neighbors
Published: 2008

Completed series – 3 graphic novels

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Series: His Dark Materials
Published: 1995

Completed series – 3 books

Do you have any favorite series, either completed or ongoing, that started more than 10 years ago? And back to the official TTT prompt, what are your favorite books from before 2012?

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