Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week, they post a different topic and you get to create your own top 10 list! This week, the topic is:
Top ten books I loved but never wrote a review for
Most of these books I read before I started blogging, so some (and hopefully eventually all) will be able to be found in my rather erratic series "Friday favourite". But for now, here they are:
1. Secrets in the Fire, by Henning Mankell
This is the story of Sofia, a young African girl who one day while out playing with her sister, steps on a landmine. It is a true story of an incredibly courageous young teenager - the things she has seen and experienced before she turned 13 absolutely blew me away.
2. The Island, by Victoria Hislop
This was an absolutely fabulous summer read. The story of a girl who sets off for Greece in search of family history. Love, relationships, family secrets - it has everything you want in a beach read!
3. The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennet
I really must get around to reviewing this one - that will give me an excuse to read it again. This book is superb. Laugh out loud funny - it certainly provides a different take on the Queen!
4. The Chief, by David Nasaw
I don't tend to read too many biographies, but after visiting Hearst Castle - the incredible architectural feat that is William Randolph Hearst's property on the Pacific Coast Highway, I was so intrigued by this media mogul that I had to read this book to find out more. I now want to read more about the architect behind Hearst Castle - Julia Morgan
5. The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
This was a delightful book - the main character, concierge Renee Michel, provided everything you wanted in such a character: secrets, intrigue, a rather diffident approach to life. It was a very different story which made for a refreshing change and the cover was just beautiful!
6. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
I read the first four books in this series many years ago now, then only made it halfway through book number 5. I really want to revisit them and pick them back up - but I'm wondering why I have such great memories of them if I gave up halfway through?! Jamie and Claire though - you can't beat that relationship!
7. The Bookseller of Kabul, by Asne Seierstad
This was the first book I read set in the region of Afghanistan, but it certainly wasn't my last. I've since enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns and Born Under a Million Shadows, but The Bookseller of Kabul still stands out as a favourite!
8. Fame, by Daniel Kehlmann
This book was very, very unusual but so cleverly written it has remained a favourite. Each chapter is a short story in itself but they all tie together at the end without you even realising it is happening! The Guardian has a fabulous review on it.
9. From Notting Hill with Love... Actually, by Ali McNamara
This was cheesy, chicklit at its best. Two of my favourite films about London in a chicklit novel set in London. It was simply too good to put down. I loved every decadent moment of it!
10. Secret Diary of a Call Girl, by Belle de Jour
Much like I am with Harry Potter, it took me ages to get around to reading this one but it certainly provided entertainment when I did
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I've only read one of these - The Bookseller of Kabul. I really liked it until the end. It seemed like it just ended rather abruptly, like the author had another assignment to jet off to, to something.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your list!
Great list. I also really loved 'The Uncommon Reader'.
ReplyDeleteInteresting list. Secrets in the Fire sounds especially interesting. I drove by the Hearst mansion on the Pacific Coast Highway, but didn't check it out. It must be pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, Jamie. LOVE that series. I really need to get back to it and actually get caught up.
ReplyDelete