Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
The Topic This Week Is: Books I Enjoyed but Rarely Talk About
1. A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
This is the first book in the Unbound series, and I absolutely loved it! It is a contemporary story that weaves in the story of Jane Eyre. Fabulous! I don’t talk about it much because not many people I know have read it.
2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Twilight is one of those books that people either really love or really hate. There isn’t much in-between, and people are very judgy about this book.
I’m of the opinion that any book that can get millions of teenagers to read is worth a read and discussion. I loved it!
TEAM EDWARD!
3. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Everyone knows Shakespeare, but how many people do you know that love and talk about Macbeth?
I love it, but I don’t talk about it a ton. If I were talking about Shakespeare, usually Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet comes up. But I’ve always enjoyed this story of blind ambition, manipulative witches, and the consuming power of guilt.
4. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Okay, this book is sad. It delves into topics like suicide, death, depression, and complicated family relationships.
It’s a heavy book, but it’s also powerful and poignant and a fascinating look at how different people deal with death and grief.
5. The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah is my Queen. Well, her, Lizzo, and Sarah J. Maas.
I love this book. It is enlightening, spiritual, and empowering. However, I don’t talk about it a ton because it is such a personal book for me.
6. The Selected Poems and Letters of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is one of the most famous female American poets, and I’ve been a fan since highschool.
Fun Fact: I actually used part of one of her poems for my senior quote in the yearbook.
I love this book because it includes letter penned by Dickinson, which I found fascinating! However, I don’t know many people who would find this as fascinating as I do.
7. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck is a phenomenal storyteller. Most people think of Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath when talking about Steinbeck, but my favorite Steinbeck story is The Pearl. It is a fascinating piece about discrimination, love, loss, and what is really important in life.
I’ve read and taught this at least twenty times, and each time it is as enjoyable and poignant as the last.
8. Wish You Well by David Baldacci
I have a soft spot in my heart for this book. This was a Reading Across Rhode Island book, and all of my students participated. They read the book and got to video conference with the author.
I even met David Baldacci! He is the first author I ever met, and he is a lovely man – very nice to my students and enthusiastic about reading and writing.
9. Tartuffe by Moliere
I don’t know many people who like to talk about seventeenth century political and religious satire. If they did, I would totally talk about Tartuffe. It’s a funny, smarty, and satirical play that offended many people (especially religious and political leaders).
Unfortunately, I’ve yet to meet a person who says, “You know what play I really like? Tartuffe.” If you’re out there, let me know. We could have a lively conversation!
10. The Book That Shall Not Be Mentioned by the Author I Don’t Support
I absolutely love this book. It is probably in my top 10 favorite books of all time.
However, I have refused to talk about the book and promote it because of the author’s anti LGBTQ stance. I won’t condone or support his beliefs in any way.
Well, there you have it. There are 10 books that I enjoyed but don’t talk about. I struggled a bit with this list, as I pretty much talk about almost every book I read. Have you read any of these? What did you think?
Which books made your list? Comment below!
I’ve done a seminar on Macbeth and I think it’s my least favourite Shakespeare play 😀 It’s still a good play though-I liked the spooky atmosphere 🙂
Hahaha – It’s one of my favorites! My least favorite is probably Henry V. I had a tough time getting through that one.
The Pearl is a good choice!
My TTT .
*raises hand* I’m an in betweener on Twilight! I started on the judgy side because it was hip to be snark among my friend group, but I also always kind of knew I would be an Edward/Bella fan so I finally read the books, and yup. They still don’t blow me away because vampires, but I’m quite fond of all the Cullens.
Also, that is an awesome story about your yearbook quote, not least because I always thought yearbook quotes were a pop culture myth.
I like the Cullens too and was always team Edward.
And, yes, I graduated in the ’90s, and you were pretty uncool if you didn’t put a quote in the yearbook. 🙂 Too funny!
I loved Twilight so much I had to buy the complete set! lol
Nice! There’s not much better than falling in love with a book! 🙂
TWILIGHT is the only book on here that I’ve read. I loved it when I read it, but the subsequent books weren’t as good, IMHO. I don’t think I ever finished the series. I’ve tried to read ENDER’S GAME a few times and I just can’t get through it. I don’t know why. I’ve enjoyed some of Card’s other books, just not this one.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
The first is the best IMO too, though I liked the series as a whole. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I’ll admit to loving Twilight. It’s the first book I read more than once.
Nice! I’ve read it more than once too. No shame in that! 🙂
None at all! 😉
Oh, I love Emily Dickinson. I love Shakespeare too – my favorites are actually Much Ado About Nothing and Titus Andronicus.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I love Much Ado About Nothing! I haven’t read Titus Andronicus though. Maybe I’ll give it a shot… Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Amazing 🙂 Thank you for sharing
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Wow I had no idea the Ender’s Game author was a jackass, definitely not promoting any of his works again
I was shocked too. Then I researched, and found out that he has a long history of homophobia, and he vocally opposed same-sex marriage. I was so disappointed!
My favorite Steinbeck is The Moon is Down, another one not many have read or have even heard about. I haven’t read The Pearl since early high school days, so over 25 years. I should give it another read.
Also, I never read Ender’s Game and had it on my TBR forever. When I learned about the jackhole author it was an instant “will never read” for me. Once in a while I feel like I missed out on something, then remember there are still billions of books out there by authors who are much better humans than that guy.
The Moon is Down is a great story! I forgot about that one.
You’re right! There are so many better authors, and better people, than OSC. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I loved The Moon is Down. So beautifully written.
I love the inclusion of Twilight! 🙂 I mean, it’s not a GREAT book … but if you take it for what it is — an easy-to-read and rather brainless urban fantasy — it offers a lot of eye-rolling fun!
Absolutely! I mean, hot vampires and werewolves that like moody women? I’m in! lol
Twilight… well I could speak about it for days! I find guilty pleasure in reading it, yet also have so many problems with it. Though I may enjoy the process of reading it, once I’ve put it down I could certainly complain…
Yes, that is it exactly! 🙂
Ah I do get what you mean about Ender’s game. And I also live Macbeth and rarely talk about it
It’s disappointing because I loved the book. 🙁 Luckily, there are a ton of others that can take the pain away. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Macbeth is one my top 10 and my favourite Shakespeare play. Murder, witches, overweening ambition and wonderful speeches–what’s not to like? It’s such a pity that people get put off Shakespeare because they get stuck with the language. They should start with the story–he tells a great story.
I agree! There is so much depth and poignancy to his plays, and the themes he highlights are still relevant today. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
We love Shakespeare, but rarely admit this to our peers because it makes us really uncool! But, Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream… They are awesome, the imagery is unrivalled, the stories continue to have huge appeal, there happens to be a character called Hermione and teachers might grab people’s interest if they didn’t try to ignore the bawdy bits!
The bawdy bits are some of the best parts!! 🙂
I’m totally with you on Ender’s Game. It’s such a shame because it’s such a great book! It completely sucked me in. Great list!
I agree. It’s one of those books that I want to recommend, but I just can’t separate the author from the book. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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