Top Ten Books that Broke Your Heart a Little (or A LOT!!)

This weeks Top Ten, hosted by The Broke and Bookish, are books that broke your heart a little.  I went with total instinct on this one and listed the first books I thought of.  I think a book that breaks your heart also leaves a lasting impression. I don't think there is much I need to say about these books.  If you read them then you know why they broke my heart. If you haven't read them then I don't want to spoil anything for you :)  Happy Valentines everyone!!

1. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
2. Night by Elie Weisel
3. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
5. Sophie’s Choice – William Styron
6. Atonement – Ian McEwan
7. The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
8. Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
10. Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Top Ten Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Doesn't Like to Read

This weeks top ten, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is books you would hand to someone who doesn't like to read.  Shocking, I know, that such people exist.  I selected a variety of books so that depending on their personality and interests I would select one of these and dare them to tell me it wasn't great fun to read!!  My first three selections I have also picked for past lists.  I think that only means they are really that good!  I tried to select books that weren't too long in length and not difficult reads.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I think EVERYONE should read this book.  I hope someday it is required reading in high school.  It will make your heart break a little, but it will also make you smile.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I actually did hand this book to someone ...my son.  He was fussing about having to read for school and I handed him The Hunger Games.  I said read this and then try to tell me reading can't be fun.  Mom won ...he read the whole series in two weeks time and is anxiously awaiting the movie release.
3. Still Alice by Lisa Genova - An emotional look at a real and scary disease that can happen to anyone.
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - To a lover of fantasy movies I would say read this ....and then American Gods and then ....you get the point ...just pick up some Neil Gaiman.
5. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith - I would totally hand this to a history teacher.  The best part of the book is how well he blends the lore of vampires with actual history.
6. The Firm by John Grisham - I consider this his best novel and it's a definite page turner.
7. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris - For it's pure entertainment value.
8. Animal Farm by George Orwell - I wanted to include a classic.  I went with this one due it's length and readability.
9. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper - If you are looking for to laugh while you read then this is your guy. 
10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - The unique perspective of this narrative makes this a must read and it just sooooooo good.  This is the next book I plan to hand to my son!!

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

 

This weeks top ten, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is books I think would make great book club picks.  I went with the premise of a book club of readers new to the joys and passion of reading and looking for recommendations to help them appreciate the world of books. Any world ....any period of time ...be it real or make believe can be found by merely immersing yourself in a book.

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - A perfect example of why YA Lit can be enjoyed by even an adult reader.
2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - The most emotionally powerful book I have read in years. 
3. Still Alice by Lisa Genova - A book that makes you ask the question "What if that was me?"
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - A classic that is accessible and shocked me at how it could be a bit of a page turner!
5. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - Fantasy you say ...look no further then this series ....unless you are up for The Lord of the Rings!
6. Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen - Immerses you in it's circus setting and makes you cheer on an elephant!
7. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - Not an easy read but so worth the time spent.
8. Mystic River by Dennis Lehane - Everything a mystery should be ...and the movie adaptation is spot on.
9. Gone with Wind by Margaret Mitchell - A must read classic for anyone! That fact that it took me years to brave reading it is beside the point!
10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Yes, we have all read read it ...so my imaginary new readers need to join that "read it" club.

Top Ten Book I Would Want With Me On a Desert Island

This weeks Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish is a list of your own choice.  I selected a past Top Ten list; books I would want with me on a a deserted island.

1. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - This is one of my favorite books of all time and I have all the faith in the world I could read it over and over again.  I mean, I have already read it four times ....
2. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - I finally read this for the first time last year and I am already looking forward to reading it again.
3. The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson - Is it cheating to pick a series of books? So be it, I need to make the most of my choices :)
4. A Song of Fire and Ice Series by George R.R. Martin - I hesitate to add this to my list only because he isn't done with this series.  Am I able to have the new books air dropped in?
5. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller - I love, love, love this book.
6. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway - I haven't read all the stories in the book yet so it will make a nice addition to my desert get away!
7. The Odyssey by Homer - Maybe I will pick up some survival tips.
8. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - It has been a few years since I read this one.  It is time for a reread to remember why it is on my favorites list.
9. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - I think you could read this a million times and every time would feel like the first time.
10. War and Peace by  Leo Tolstoy - I have never actually read this book, but having now read Gone With the Wind this tops my list of a classic I want to read before I die.



Top Ten Books of 2011

This weeks Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish asks me to select my ten favorite reads of 2011.  I can easily pick ten ...the problem is choosing only ten! In no particular order they are:

1. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
7. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
8. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
9. Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein
10. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Top Ten Childhood Favorites

I am excited to be participating in my first Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!!! Such an appropriate first top ten as well. A top ten that is the roots that some 30 years later led to this blog!!! So here are my top ten Childhood Favorites :) :)

1. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White – What child hasn’t loved this book?  It was one of the first books I read and one of the first my daughter read.  To this day if you ask my daughter why shedoesn’t eat pork she will reply “I’m not eating Wilbur”
2. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume – I could list ten Judy Blume books alone on this list, but this was the book that made me feel older.  Hiding a copy of Forever also made me feel older and as a teenager it was the hidden copy of Wifey.  From Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret to Wifey …..was there a better way to have gotten through those adolescent years? I think not!!
3. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George – My 4th grade reading teacher read this to us and inspired a little backyard camping of my own.
4. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald – I read this series of books over and over and over again ……
5. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Another series that I read over and over again and to this day I will still watch the series on TV.
6. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein –There is something magical about his poetry no matter your age.  I now own the copy that belonged to my grandmother which makes it that much more magical.
7. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – C.S Lewis led to my love of J.R.R Tolkien which has led to my love of George R.R. Martin.  Man, what is up with all the initials!
8. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell – Anyone who knows me would expect to love this book.
9. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary – Just like Judy Blume, I really enjoyed all her books.  The Ramona series is probably what prompted me to consider my sister a “pest”…..ok, so it isn’t fair to blame the book for that one.
10. Bridge to Terebithia  by Katherine Paterson – The author that taught me not only can books be sad, but they can downright break your heart.

I could list so many books ….Little Women, Jacob Have I Loved, Harriet the Spy, Pippi Longstocking, Go Ask Alice, Stuart Little, Island of the Blue Dolphins ……..
I think I need to run to the bookstore now and pick up a few to reread!