I talk about books a lot here, and I recommend a lot of them as well. But I have noticed that I continue to recommend the same titles to different people, so I thought I would share them here.
1. The Martian - seriously, why haven't you read this yet? Ignore the title, ignore the synopsis, ignore the feeling that 'it's not for you'. Believe me, it is. If you're worried about the science and math, listen to it instead (I highly recommend that anyway!).
2. Wonder - This should be required reading for every single person who can read. If you can't read, it should be required that it be read to you.
3. The Book Thief - No book has stayed with me like this book. So much love for this book.
4. The Sea of Tranquility - The title, the synopsis, the cover - none of them do this book justice. All the feels.
5. How to win friends and influence people - I know this is a bit of an odd one, and it honestly can be a bit boring at times, but the meat of it, the important stuff is still relevant today and can help in all areas of your life.
6. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - a book for book lovers. Like #4, the title, the synopsis or the cover do nothing for this book. Maybe that's why it's so good? It encourages medium expectations and then gets you right in the feels.
7. The Lunar Chronicles - Okay, they aren't for everyone, but if it even sounds remotely like your kind of thing, you need to check them out. I loved them.
8. The Royal We - it's a bit dorky, but I don't even care. More people need to read this book and love it as much as I do.
9. The Time Traveler's Wife - I know it's not everyone's jam, in fact I know several people who couldn't stand it. But I distinctly remember where I was when I read this book, when I read a certain chapter and my world collapsed around me. I was sobbing, really truly sobbing, for these people I didn't know, for these people who were not real. It was the first time I truly experienced 'non fictional feelings for very fictional characters'.
10. The last book I recommend: I recommend that you read a book, any book. Just read. Because reading is amazing. It's a whole new world and a whole new life, and that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your world and your life, but to have the chance to experience that and not do it? That's crazy talk.
I bet you expected to see Pride & Prejudice on this list. The truth is, I don't always recommend it, in fact most of the time I don't. I can't remember the last time I told someone they should read it, but I can remember several times I've said 'you should read Bridget Jones instead'. It's simply not for everyone, like vegemite. That's the beauty of books, and spreads. There is something for everyone.
Speaking of books, just wanted to remind everyone, if you read Jackaby by William Ritter this month, the link up is next Tuesday! If you don't want to link up, we'd still love to hear your thoughts about it.
What book are you currently recommending?
Such a great list, I love the Time Travelers Wife and The Book Thief. I will be sure to check some of these other books out! x
ReplyDeletehttp://www.daydreamsofsummertime.co.uk
I have a few on my list because of you and I TOTALLY was looking for P&P! You SIKED me out, lady! I agree with your last point, though. READ, JUST READ! Happy Friday, friend!
ReplyDeletePINNED and noted! Adding many of these to my to-read. The Sea of Tranquility was such an under the radar book when I read it and it caught me by surprise. I'd love to read it again! Also--your snap from yesterday about throwing cars into trees and poles keeps popping into my head and making me laugh out loud :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list!! I Absolutely ADORED Cinder and all the books, but I remember distinctly thinking the synopsis sounded ridiculous. I even told a few friends to read it and just not ask me for a summary because it sounds too silly haha
ReplyDeleteI have been recommending The Martian left and right to everyone I know lately. Most of the time, they gee me this look that says, "ew, I just don't know..." and I respond with, "I'm not into sci-fi either. Trust me." I've also recommended The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson to those who like mystery-thriller type books.
ReplyDeleteI read The Time Travelers Wife, How to win friends and influence people and of course The Royal We (still love!). I really need to read The Martian next! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
ReplyDeleteIve read a lot on your list and totally agree with those ones. For the ones I haven't, Ill be adding them to my "to read" list for the future. But in the meantime, YES to reading. I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful relaxing weekend that involves some reading ;)
I got a book for my birthday and I'm excited to implement reading actual books back into my life. I need it! I've heard awesome things about The Martian and Wonder sounds like something I need to read.
ReplyDeleteLinds @ Not A Mom
I have read SO MANY great books thanks to your recommendations. I have been halfway through the Book Thief for months now and just picked it up again this week..I want to love it, and I do like it, but something about it just isn't pulling me in 100% yet. I will have to check out Wonder!!! I won't have gotten to Jackaby in time for the link up but will still be interested to hear thoughts on it!!
ReplyDeleteI actually was expecting P&P but we've discussed that so I also know why it wasn't listed. I do want to read several of these and I promise I WILL read The Book Thief. That's probably the only book I'll read after already seeing the movie.
ReplyDeletetotally agree with most of these! sometimes i wonder how others say they didn't like Fikry because i'm like WHY THE HELL NOT?! and my niece who is an avid reader refuses to read Wonder and i'm like WHY THE HELL NOT?!
ReplyDeleteI'm just about to finish up Serial and then I'm gonna start listening to The Martian! WEEEEEEEEEE!
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, fiiiiine. I'll go read The Martian!
ReplyDeleteI am saving this blog so that I can go back and look when I need something to read! Wonder is on my list!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I didn't expect Pride & Prejudice to be on the list just because like you said it's not everyone's cup of tea. My sister in law keeps telling me to read it. Maybe when I quit the video store the beginning of the year and have more time I'll give it a shot.
I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. Such a good one. The Book Thief as well. I actually think The Book Thief is a good book for people who aren't typically readers.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of these on my TBR, and of course The Martian and The Lunar Chronicles were awesome. So obviously I have no reason to doubt your taste. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI read the Royal We because of you so I need to scoop some of these other ones up - I love your book recommendations! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteAw... yay books! I want to want to read The Martian... because I know that everyone loves it, and people that I totally trust... but I just have no interest in space travel etc. I've identified this recently.. unless they're never on the ships or whatever I hate it. So I think that's my aversion... but it may get demolished... because despite all of that I still believe you guys... :) I definitely want to read ALL of the other ones A LOT though, so that's something. #9 tore me up a little too much. I had parts I liked. But in the end I was just heartsick. Too heartsick to enjoy. : / I have a feeling that I will love all of the others though. :) XO -Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I haven't read any of these. Eep! Ok ok I'll add them all to my list :)
ReplyDeleteI read Martian because of you and only you (and maybe Nadine!) but it was amazing, so I totally trust your book judgment. Adding these on my TBR. Have a good weekend lady!
ReplyDeletegreat list! adding a few of these to my shopping list on amazon. xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree on The Martian (thanks for that one, by the way), Wonder, AJ Fikry, and The Book Thief. I liked The Time Traveler's Wife but it confused me. I had to keep checking to see how old everyone was. I kept getting lost.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I volunteer at my daughter's school library and I saw that the librarian had recently purchased Wonder and I went nuts. SO EXCITED that that book is now on the shelves.
I've either read most of these or have them on my too read list but I did add Wonder. After looking at all my friends Goodreads ratings I've definitely missed the bus on that one.
ReplyDeleteAdding Wonder to my list. I loved The Martian and am still haunted by The Book Thief.
ReplyDeletexx, Carly | carly blogs
The Time Traveller's Wife is amazing, but also devastating. And yes to number 10... just READ. I don't are what you read!
ReplyDeleteAdding these to my list! I have heard The Royal We is great!
ReplyDeleteI love your #10 :) Also, I would agree on the Book Thief! So good. I actually haven't read any of these other ones, so I'm gonna save this for a time when I have time to read again! Have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThe Wonder is a required reading in our Middle School here. They do a "choose kind' talk every year. My daughter read it, but I still have not. And the Martian. I will def look into reading this book now. I didn't think it was my thing. I'll let you know what you think.
ReplyDeleteps. I LOVE your posts about books!!!
I love Time Traveler's Wife (and the movie) so I have to check out the others. Thanks as always for the recommendations!!
ReplyDeleteI've only read The Time Traveler's Wife and I cried too! I've had How to Win Friends and Influence People on my list since you mentioned it in another post. I haven't read The Book Thief, but I have seen the movie (I know, I know) haha I've heard so many good things about The Martian. I always think it won't be for me, but then other people say they thought that too and then they loved it, so I think I better just read it already!
ReplyDeleteThe books that I haven't read yet on this list were all already on my TBR list, so yay!!! I just love books!!! I am so glad I listened to you on AJ Fikry and The Martian. They were both amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe Time Traveler's Wife is my favorite book of ALL TIME!!! And I've been told to read Wonder--I definitely will!
ReplyDeleteLauren :)
ohheyilikethat.blogspot.com
I LOVED the "Time Traveler's Wife" and it evoked a lively discussion at my Book Club when we read it. I really think it was incredibly well-written and really touching.
ReplyDeleteI still need to read How to Win Friends, only ever heard good things.
And yes, I've heard the martian is incredible! My brother in law was reading it all through Paris and was always laughing out loud.
You always inspire me to read more! I am adding a few of these onto my books to read list...including the Martian. I laughed when you said to ignore the title/synopsis because those are the reasons why I wasn't interested in reading/watching the movie in the first place. But I trust your recommendation!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great list. Wonder should be required reading. I really liked Tranquility and A.J Fikry, such different but wonderful stories.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading Wonder, I've heard really good things about it. The book thief sounds good also, I might use it for the reading challenge!
ReplyDeleteWow, I've read almost all of these except The Royal We, which is on my to be read list, The Storied Life, and How to Win Friends.... Great list!
ReplyDeleteI really loved the Sea of Tranquility too!! I have to try out some of these others!
ReplyDeleteI've read almost all of these books except The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. I've bumped it up on my reading list :) So happy I came across this post! And, I totally agree, The Book Thief is an amazing book!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
http://anchoredtosunshine.com/
This is such a fantastic list-I have read all of these or have them on my TBR except Wonder. Can't believe I've never heard of that one!
ReplyDeleteI love that you ended the post with "just read". Of these, I've read The Martian and Wonder. YES YES to both.
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet you because I'm chuckling as I read this list. It has some of my favorite books (Sea..., Wonder, and A.J. Fikry) and two of my least favorite (Time Traveler's Wife and The Book Thief). Fascinating, right?
ReplyDeleteI loveee reading!! I haven't read The Book Thief but I've seen the movie and it was so good! I forgot that it was even a book (oops) so obviously I'll have to actually read it!! Have you read The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas? I think you'd like that one a lot!
ReplyDeletexo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants
I've only read The Martian, but I own The Book Thief and just haven't gotten to it yet and most of the others were on my TBR list already! But now I know I need to read the ones that weren't there yet too. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your #10 :) The books on this list that I have read (The Martian, Wonder, How to Win Friends) have been because of your recommendation and insistence, and I've loved them. So thank you. Four more are on my TBR and I'm hoping to get to them soon, but I've been a slow reader lately. I have a feeling they'll make for perfect cold-weather reading marathons though :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously why don't people read more? I wish that I would've read the Martian instead or reading it because the math and science really got me. Totally agree with you about the lunar chronicles, the time travelers wife, and the book thief, all just so amazing books! Adding the royal we, the storied life, and the sea of tranquility to my ever growing book list! And I can't wait to link up for Jackaby next week!
ReplyDeleteOMG, the linkup is next Tuesday as in the 3rd?! I feel like I was just thinking about how I had so much time to read it actually in time-- where do the days go?! But The Martian and AJ Fikry are two of my FAVORITE books thanks to you :)
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Jackaby right now, so thanks for the reminder (because, hello, free book!!). This is the perfect list from you. I'd switch out three or four of them (because we're all different and what works for some, doesn't others), but overall...love this list!!!
ReplyDeleteAh I just adore you! I love weird, borderline scary, murderous and sad novels - what can you recommend? (I know, I'm oddly dark with my reading...haha) think Jodi Piccoult just as a reference
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween weekend!! xo
I think I wanna pick up wonder eye now :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great list! Guess I need to pick up Wonder. The Book Thief has been sitting on my shelf (paperback, pre-Kindle days) for months, so I need to jump into that one. I'm still recommending Eight Hundred Grapes to everyone - I have a deep emotional connection to that book now for some reason.
ReplyDeleteLove The Lunar Chronicles and I'm reading The Martian right now :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I've read The Martian but the Book Thief has been on my TBR list for a while along with Wonder and the Time Traveler's Wife. Will be adding the rest of these to my list as well!
ReplyDeleteI recommend the Unbearable Lightness of Being (Kundera), 100 Years of Solitude (Marquez), If on a Winter's Night a Traveller (Calvino) and Freedom (Franzen) to everyone.
ReplyDeleteOnly one I've read is The Time Travelers Wife and LOVED it!! The Royal We is on its way to me right now and I can't wait to get into it - off to check out the rest of your suggestions!
ReplyDeleteSeveral of these are already on my "To Read" list, so I'm so glad you highly recommend them! And definitely a big YES to The Sea of Tranquility ... I just loved that book so much! (I've been recommending it to a bunch of people as well.)
ReplyDeleteI've been considering writing a post about some of my all-time favorite books. It's interesting, though, because like you with Pride and Prejudice, I don't always rush to recommend some of my favorites. I mean, I do recommend them ... But some of them are just not for everyone.
The Martian is on my list, and now I am adding some others. I didn't love The Book Thief as much as most people, but I still enjoyed it. My most recent awesome read: Calling Me Home. Flew right through it!
ReplyDeleteTo me, the Bible is the best book written. The Lunar Chronicles looks interesting. Will have to check it out. Have you read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan? That one is one of my all-time faves.
ReplyDeletei have not - i will have to check it out!
DeleteI've been wanting to read the Royal We but for some reason it's not out in the UK! I can't find a copy anywhere! And you're not the first to highly recommend the Time Traveller's Wife - I don't have any distinct memory of watching the movie - I mean I watched it but there is nothing good or bad that comes to mind, so I'm getting intrigued about the book now! and I 100% agree with the book thief!!
ReplyDeleteOh man, The Book Thief had me in tears! But it's a good one for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe Royal We is on my list! I have SO many books on my shelf that I haven't read yet but am dying to so hopefully I'll be able to step my reading game up soon!
ReplyDeleteThe Martian was sooo good! I have gotten a ton of great book ideas from your posts!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm so excited you put together this list. And guess what....I have read NONE of these! So lucky my I will not run out of book recommendations for quite awhile. I am totally that person who says, "The Martian is not for me." I do want to read The Royal We though...that's been on my list for ages.
ReplyDeleteI was recently working on a post like this after three people in three days asked me for recommendations. I definitely suggest some of these on your list and i also have a few on my TBR list. Like, The Sea of Tranquility. I need to read that one asap!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I went with your suggestion and read The Martian. I had bought it knowing I wanted to read it and then shelved it. But when I saw you raving about it, I cracked it open and fell in love. Sooooo good. I passed it on to my friend who prefers historical fiction and she loves it too. The movie was pretty damn great too! Thanks to your suggestion, I'm adding almost every book on this to my tbr pile :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I went with your suggestion and read The Martian. I had bought it knowing I wanted to read it and then shelved it. But when I saw you raving about it, I cracked it open and fell in love. Sooooo good. I passed it on to my friend who prefers historical fiction and she loves it too. The movie was pretty damn great too! Thanks to your suggestion, I'm adding almost every book on this to my tbr pile :)
ReplyDelete'non fictional feelings for very fictional characters' I feel these ALL the time. I love how much you love books, and I really love your note at the end about just reading something because, no matter what, it's worth the effort. It is. It so is.
ReplyDeleteI want to read every single one of these. There goes my list of books growing even more!
ReplyDeleteTHE LUNAR CHRONICLES! LOVE SO MUCH! Reading Winter nowwwww :)
ReplyDeleteAnd The Royal We was definitely so much better than I thought it was going to be!!!
I absolutely loved "Wonder" ... I told everyone I knew about that book. I had never read anything quite like it before. A really fantastic new fiction book out there that is definitely mind-blowing is "The Question" by R. Breuer Stearns (rbreuerstearns.com). A lot of people have even compared it to the "Da Vinci Code." The book focuses on science and religion in a really fascinating way posing those all important questions, "What is the meaning of life?" "Why are we here?" "Is there a "God"? It is easy to forget you are reading a fantasy thriller at times! "The Question" explores the concept of mental unity. If enough people concentrate on one question, can they reach an answer at the same time without actually communicating, and can it be done on a large scale, including worldwide? It is a must read for sure! I can't stop talking about it and I have already purchased it for a few family members for Christmas :)
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