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 Books I Recommend to Others the Most, but I’ve decided to do something different!
Hello Readers! I was not feeling today’s prompt. I don’t recommend a lot of books in my regular life. Sadly, I’m not surrounded by many other readers. The few books I have recommended are ones I’ve already talked about repeatedly on the blog. I had so much fun with last week’s prompt—and I’d seen several of you twist it to use your ebooks—that I decided to continue the fun from my physical shelves to my digital shelves.
It was super easy for me since I have an ‘on-my-kindle’ shelf on Goodreads that has all the books I’ve read and need to read from my Kindle. I selected that category and then selected ‘random’ in the drop down sort option at the bottom of the page. It created a selection of random titles within that category. I was pretty happy with the result, which included a few books I’ve read and never mentioned, a few I’ve enjoyed and reviewed on the blog, and a few I still need to get to! Nice and random! Although, most of them were ARCs (advanced reader copies).
Content Warning: A note on the tragic weekend in Texas
At some point recently I decided this blog would be a happy place—an escape for me and for my readers. I live in Texas in America, there’s something disheartening and soul crushing weekly… sometimes daily. But I also don’t want it to seem like my head is stuck in the sand. For the past few years, living in Texas has been exhausting. Like screaming into a void. At some point, you grow a bit numb. With each election, I get hopeful and then nothing changes. Our government has made it harder and harder to vote. When I received the text from my daughter on Saturday who works in retail that there was an active shooter at a shopping mall not too far from where she lives and works, I was afraid and angry. Why are we continuing to live like this? Why are we not protesting in the streets? Why are we not demanding change? It makes no sense to me. There have been over 200 mass shootings in America in four months. We should not be afraid to go to spend the day shopping or run into the grocery store for milk. Or go to the doctor or the bank or a parade or send our children to school. We must demand change. No one—in any country—should live this way.
Thankfully I already had my TTT done early in my drafts, but I wanted to add this note. I encourage you to find out how you can help. I encourage you to join Mom’s Demand Action and/or Everytown if you haven’t already. Donate, write letters and make calls to your representatives, show up in person when you can. VOTE!*
*A small step in the right direction, as I was writing this note, a group of people from Moms Demand Action were holding a rally at the Texas State Capitol demanding lawmakers to take swift action on HB2744, a bill that would raise the age to purchase and possess firearms from 18 to 21. A bill that lawmakers had refused to even hold a vote on. Thanks to the rally, and especially pressure from the parents of the victims of Uvalde, it advanced out of the committee! It still has to pass through several other channels, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s important not to give up!
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
- Hello Stranger by Katherine Center – I thought it was funny that the first one chosen was an ARC of a book that hasn’t even released yet. But happily I’ve already read it and I can share my review with you! It wasn’t my favorite of Center’s but I did enjoy it.
- Once, In Lourdes by Sharon Solwitz – I read an ARC of this one in my pre-blogging days. It has some mixed reviews, but I ended up giving it 4 stars. From my review: “Shrouded in electric anticipation, this novel is set during the turbulent summer of 1968, when four friends, each ensconced within their own personal turmoil, make a deadly pact.”
- Claiming Noah by Amanda Ortlepp – Thankfully I only have a few of these, but this is an ARC I received pre-blogging that I never got to. It was one of the books that fell into the ‘let’s-request-everything-on-Netgalley’ phase. The reviews for this one are mostly favorable, which is why it’s probably still on my Kindle.
- One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank – Another pre-blogging ARC I read. (Maybe it’s time to clean off the Kindle!) I only gave this YA book 3 stars because it read very young and seemed extra dramatic, but other reviewers have been more favorable.
- The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk, #4) by Dean Koontz – I was a big fan of this thriller series by Koontz. I was able to read ARCs of all five books (also in my pre-blogging days), and I gave 5 stars to this one!
- Blood and Feathers by Beth Revis – This is a fantasy book I just added to my Kindle last month. I just shared it on my most recent haul post. I’ve yet to read a book by Revis, but I own several. 🤦♀️
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney – I can’t remember how I ended up with this classic sci-fi selection on my Kindle. It’s not one I’d normally pick. I probably received it free somehow. Let me know if you’ve read it!
- The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave – I read an ARC of this mystery/thriller in 2021 and shared my review on the blog, giving it 5 stars! I’m currently also enjoying the adaptation on Apple TV+.
- Someone Else’s Summer by Rachel Bateman – Guess what?! Another pre-blogging ARC I read. I mostly enjoyed this YA selection, giving it 3.5 stars, but I said some of the plot didn’t feel organic to the story.
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – And finally, a book that isn’t an ARC and one I still need to read. I wasn’t a huge fan of Gone Girl, but I guess I liked it enough to want to read more by the author. I just never actually did. I also don’t read as much in the mystery/thriller genre as I used to. Give me a cozy romance!
Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
The only one I’ve read is #8 – loved it as well. Interesting and varied list – will be checking some out for sure.
I was so pleasantly surprised by that one. Loved the stepmom–stepdaughter relationship.
I read One Paris Summer years ago. And someday I must read a novel by Katherine Center. They look like fun reads. 🙂
Center’s books are joyful and uplifting!
I’ve yet to read Gillian Flynn… something about Gone Girl just didn’t appeal somehow and then the movie came out and everyone was talking about it….
This is my (over long) list of most often recommended books https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-recommend-to-others-the-most/
Yeah, it was a lot. I recall that I liked the first half of the book, but not the second.
I’ve finished The Last Thing he told me last week and it’s a good read. I hope you will enjoy it! Sharp Objects is really good, but a rather disturbing read…
Hope you get to all of these eventually!
Have a lovely Tuesday!
Ten Books I recommend to THE OTHERS
The Last Thing He Told Me was a great read! I’m enjoying the adaptation now.
I’ve not read any of these, but there was a time when I read a *lot* of Dean Koontz. Back in the 90’s I went through a big Koontz phase and gobbled up so many of his books. It’s been a long time, though!
Yes! I went through that phase, too! My favorite is still the Christopher Snow series. I wish he’d finish that one.
I struggled with this week’s prompt, too. You are not alone.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-ive-recently-recommended-to-others/
It’s hard to recommend books!
I went 3.5 on One Paris Summer. I also found the FMC immature, but thought she grew over the course of the story. I love Dave’s books. I am so glad I picked one at random for a reading challenge. I will admit, I don’t rush to celebrity book club books, but I can admit that I enjoy Dave’s books.
Yes! The first time I read Dave was Eight Hundred Grapes when I was sent an ARC. It was such a lovely surprise read. She has a way with characters.
Interesting list, Dedra. I have #1, #8 and #10 on my TBR, but have seen some of the others around.
Oh, I know you would enjoy The Last Thing He Told Me. Such a great stepmom–stepdaughter story.
I’ve not read any of these.
https://seriesbooklover.wordpress.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-recommend-the-most/
It’s quite the mix. 🙂
I loved Hello Stranger and Sharp Objects. Great books!
Maybe someday I’ll be brave enough to try Sharp Objects. 😉
Great list of books, but I wanted to also say thank you for the note on the state of affairs in Texas (and the US in general). It’s not normal, and we don’t have to accept it. Even little steps forward are steps in the right direction.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-recommend-to-others-the-most/
Thank you for your comment! It helps to know I’m not alone in my frustration. <3
Hello Stranger was so good! Great list!
I am so sorry that your daughter was so close. I was born in Texas but now live in Ohio. I have a lot of family there. In fact, I lived in Hondo, next to Uvalde for many years. It was terrifying when that happened and yet no one seems to give a crap. Instead, they relaxed gun laws, what!? Texas seems like the scariest place to live right now and it just keeps getting worse. It’s starting to bleed everywhere. I don’t understand how so many people want change and yet our vote keeps being shut down.. it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t understand the obsession with automatic rifles. It’s not like we want all guns taken away, just make it harder to get and there’s no need for military-grade weapons in any home. IF they are so scared of our government, do they really think they have a chance?! The military could probably take out a whole state without even really trying. Let’s be real here. I don’t understand it. Sorry, I went on a rant. It’s just so upsetting and I don’t live there anymore but I do have a lot of family there. I share in your pain and I love both of those groups!! They do walks and stuff here in Cinci too. <3
Yes, yes, yes!! Everything you said. It’s so frustrating that this just keeps being accepted as normal. People just shrug and say this is just how life is now. WHAT??!! I’m ready to join protests, walks, etc, but there’s nothing close to me right now. I don’t know if it’s because there aren’t enough people who care or if people are too scared? I may have to go on a road trip to Austin. But thank you for your comments. It helps so much to know I’m not alone. <3 <3
What a fun mix of books! I’m excited to read the new Katherine Center novel. And I love that you have Invasion of the Body Snatchers on your Kindle. I’ve only seen the movie version of it, but now I kind of want to check out the book. 😀
I was hoping someone would say they’ve read Invasion so I’d get some feedback on it. Someday it will probably fulfill just the right reading challenge prompt. 😃
I read lots of Koontz when I was a teenager and young adult, but I haven’t read the series you mentioned. I might have to check it out!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I really really enjoyed it. I’ve also read many of his older books. My favorite was the Christopher Snow series, but I also loved Odd Thomas. 🙂
Sharp Objects is the one Gillian Flynn novel I’ve yet to read, I enjoyed Gone Girl but Dark Places was a bit too….well dark and horrific for me. I bought Sharp Objects a few years back but still haven’t got around to reading it yet, I need to change that someday.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/09/top-ten-tuesday-419/
Maybe we’ll both get to (and enjoy—not sure if that’s the right word for it, though) Sharp Objects. 😃
Hopefully one day!
You’ve got a good mix of books there! I’ve read The Last Thing He Told Me and Sharp Objects. Looking forward to Katherine Center’s latest.
I hope you enjoy it!