Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed from My Shelf (close your eyes and touch/grab/point to 10 random titles and tell us what they are! And tell us what you thought if you’ve read them!)
Hello Readers! It’s May!! It’s May?? How is it that next month we’ll be halfway through the year?! I feel like we just celebrated Christmas last month. Whether we like it or not, the days are ticking off, and I hope each new day finds you safe and well.
Today’s prompt reminded me of a past Popsugar Challenge prompt to close our eyes and pick a book to read randomly off our shelves. I had so much fun with that prompt, so I was excited to see it here on TTT. I debated how to handle the choosing, but I decided to stick strictly to the prompt this time. I may do the same prompt with my digital shelves on a future TTT. And on a few of these, I had an instinct to skip them and pick something else, but I forced myself not to. These are the first 10 books I touched with my eyes closed, four I’ve read and six are on my TBR.
Let’s see where my fingers led me!
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
- Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
- Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – I finally read this beast of a book several years ago. It has its issues, but there’s a reason it’s a classic.
- Three Women by Lisa Taddeo – I read this nonfiction book last year. It wasn’t what I expected, but very intriguing.
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson -The third book in the Millennium series which I read over 10 years ago, I was obsessed with these thrillers. Someday I want to do a reread.
- Float Plan by Trish Doller – I read an ARC of this book in 2021, and when I came across a paperback copy, I snatched it up for my bookshelf. It’s a romance I’d love to reread someday. My Review
- First & Then by Emma Mills
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
- Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
- The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith
Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I’ve read both Float Plan and Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Love both of them. I agree Float Plan would be a good one to keep around for a reread.
Yes!! Someday I need to get to Ya-Ya…
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is on my shelf at home and I haven’t read it. I don’t think I can stand how badly Tess is treated.
Yeah… it’s on my classics shelf and been there for 20+ years. I’m not sure it’s one I’ll ever actually read. 😃
I think I own First and Then and I’ve heard a lot about Beatriz’s novels! Haven’t ever read one of them though. 🙂
I have read several of Beatriz’s novels and I really enjoyed them! Great historical fiction about women.
Gone With the Wind is one of my favourite books! I love Tess of the d’Urbervilles too. I really like Beatriz Williams but haven’t read that one. What a gorgeous cover!
Gone With the Wind is a beast of a book! So is Tess, which is why I probably haven’t picked it up yet. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it. I’ve heard mixed reviews. I’ve also enjoyed the Beatriz Williams books I’ve read! The cover of this one gives me such summer vibes. 🙂
That’s how I felt about Gone with the Wind, too.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-the-first-10-books-i-randomly-grabbed-from-my-shelf/
Yes! It seems to be a pretty common observation nowadays. Which is true for a lot of classics, I guess.
Tess is an old all-time favorite. So tragic, so intense and so provoking. Hardy really knew how to put his characters through the wringer! I hope you read it, though likely tears will be involved.
Oh ok. You’re the second one to recommend it. Maybe you’re all convincing me. I’ve been scared of the size of it!
Great selection of books! I love the Millennium series so much! I hope to re-read it one day too.
Yes! I’m still crushed that the author didn’t get to finish it himself.
I’m very curious about Bel Canto but I’ve heard it’s a very polarising book? Would love to hear what you think of it whenever you read it 😃 I’ve also got First & Then on my TBR and I’m defo keen to read it (one day, lol). I hope you enjoy the ones you haven’t read yet, Dedra!
I’ve heard the same thing about Bel Canto! Probably why I haven’t picked it up either. 😃 I do hear good things about First & Then. Hopefully we can both get to it someday, Dini!
I also have those Larrson and Mills books on my shelf.
I loved the Millennium series! I hope you get to pick it up someday. It was one of those I was addicted to and couldn’t put down. 🙂
I actually read it years ago. It was great!
Those Larsson books have always had me so curious. Especially since I like Scandi- noir series so much on TV, I should try some books…
Oooh, then you would probably love them! They’re so addictive!
I also closed my eyes and plucked the books from my shelves this morning! I read Gone with the Wind years ago. Every once in a while I think about rereading it but just can’t commit, LOL.
Oooh, yes. I don’t think it’s one I could reread either. At least not now. Maybe someday?? 😃
Love your list! Float Plan and Tess of the D’Urbervilles are two of my favorite books. And I randomly picked one of Stieg Larsson’s books for my TTT list this week, too. 😀
Several of you have said Tess is one of your favorites! I’d pretty much written off ever reading it, but now I need to reconsider. 🤔 And yay for Stieg Larsson! The Millennium series is so so good!
I haven’t read any of these, but it is so fun to see everyone’s random picks!
Yes! Gives us a peek at everyone’s bookshelves. 😉
That’s a fun random selection! I haven’t read any of them, but a couple are on my TBR.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/05/02/top-ten-tuesday-10-random-fantasy-books/
Yes, I was glad that it was a mix of things. Although, I do know where all my books are so I kind of knew which genres I was reaching toward. 😂
Float Plan and First & Then are two faves. I am kind of sad that Mills’ newest release isn’t along the lines of her others because she writes amazing YA contemporaries.
Ohh, I’ve yet to read any Mills book, but now you have me curious. I do have several of her books on my tbr. Sounds like I need to get to this one soon, so many of you have recommended it.
Her contemporaries are adorable and lovely, and she writes the best friend groups
It looks like I also own This Adventure Ends. I need to get to both of these sometime soon!
That was a good one!
Gone With the Wind is on my TBR but MAN is it huge and intimidating. Hopefully I’ll get to it one day! I remember reading First and Then many years ago and enjoying it.
My TTT: https://www.mollysbooknook.com/top-ten-tuesday-my-husband-picks-my-tbr-with-bonus-picks-from-my-toddler/
It is!! Although, I don’t remember it taking me as long as I expected it to. So it seems like it reads fast, maybe?? So many of you are recommending First & Then. I need to move it up the tbr!
I’ve read GONE WITH THE WIND, but that’s it from your list. It’s dated, but still a good read. I enjoyed it even more when I re-read it after visiting Atlanta for the first time.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes, it definitely has those issues that a lot of classics have. I’m glad I read it, but I don’t think it’s one I’ll reread. Maybe I’ll change my mind someday?? 😃
Definitely an eclectic mix of books, Dedra. Let’s see, I’ve read Gone With The Wind (so many years ago), The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (again, many years ago) and The Float Plan. I think I read the Ya Ya Sisterhood, but am not positive. Someday you’ll read all those books on your shelves, right? 😁😂
It was a nice mix of books! I was worried what I’d end up with. 😃 I think it’s time for another book shelf cleaning. I have way too many. 🤦♀️
I am in the same boat. I said I was going to do it when I got home from Florida this year, but then the weather was nice, and then…….. You know how it goes. 😁
Haha! Yep, I definitely do!
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest was so good. I really enjoyed that whole trilogy. I know another author stepped in after Larsson’s death and continued the series, but I never read any of those.
Yes! It was such a great series! I was so addicted. I haven’t read the newer ones either, but I do own them. I haven’t gotten up the courage to try. 😂