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In my last post, I listed books as one of my five silly (yet motivational!) happy thoughts, and shared a picture of my kitchen bookshelf.
Someone I know messaged me and asked which book from that shelf I would recommend the most so she can add it to her summer reading list. That sounded like a pretty great idea for a post! |
So, here are my top 10 (who can choose just one??) books I would recommend if I could only suggest books from just this shelf.
*This post may contain affiliate links. When you buy or sign up via my links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.*
Before I get to the good part, let me just say I am a very eclectic reader. So if you are looking for suggestions in one certain style or genre, I can't help.
I'm a chronic "mood" reader, and I don't particularly care about whether or not a book is considered too snooty or too "lowbrow". So you are likely to see a crazy variety on any of my reading lists, shelves or recommendation posts!
I'm a chronic "mood" reader, and I don't particularly care about whether or not a book is considered too snooty or too "lowbrow". So you are likely to see a crazy variety on any of my reading lists, shelves or recommendation posts!
1. Ex Libris
By: Anne Fadiman
The perfect book for booklovers. It is a collection of essays written about loving, reading, and collecting books. The best one is where the author and her husband solemnly agree to merge their book collections!
By: Anne Fadiman
The perfect book for booklovers. It is a collection of essays written about loving, reading, and collecting books. The best one is where the author and her husband solemnly agree to merge their book collections!
2. The Naked Civil Servant
By: Quentin Crisp
The thought-provoking, funny, and sometimes bizarre autobiography of Quentin Crisp. He is absolutely one of my idols, and if you are looking for some motivation to do things your own way, break some rules, and defy societal norms that don't fit you...you'll find lots of inspiration here.
(As a funny side note: when I borrowed this through the library loan program, I had to carry it out in a paper sack. And the librarian also put sticky notes on the cover to hide things like the word "naked". :D)
By: Quentin Crisp
The thought-provoking, funny, and sometimes bizarre autobiography of Quentin Crisp. He is absolutely one of my idols, and if you are looking for some motivation to do things your own way, break some rules, and defy societal norms that don't fit you...you'll find lots of inspiration here.
(As a funny side note: when I borrowed this through the library loan program, I had to carry it out in a paper sack. And the librarian also put sticky notes on the cover to hide things like the word "naked". :D)
3. These Is My Words
By: Nancy Turner
Ever read a book that was charming and kinda lame (in the feel-good way) at the same time? This one! It's funny, but kind of predictable, and a perfect light read if you like western/pioneer type stories.
When I lived at home my mom and sisters and I would pick books, then take turns reading them aloud. We found this one at a yard sale and I remember us laughing so hard at times we would have to pass the book to the next person to finish the paragraph.
By: Nancy Turner
Ever read a book that was charming and kinda lame (in the feel-good way) at the same time? This one! It's funny, but kind of predictable, and a perfect light read if you like western/pioneer type stories.
When I lived at home my mom and sisters and I would pick books, then take turns reading them aloud. We found this one at a yard sale and I remember us laughing so hard at times we would have to pass the book to the next person to finish the paragraph.
4. Silas Marner
By: George Eliot
If you want to dip into a classic, and haven't read it yet, Silas Marner is one of my favorites. The tale of the miserly weaver who raises a lost child explores a variety of social and ethical issues that are still pretty relevant today.
By: George Eliot
If you want to dip into a classic, and haven't read it yet, Silas Marner is one of my favorites. The tale of the miserly weaver who raises a lost child explores a variety of social and ethical issues that are still pretty relevant today.
5. She Walks These Hills
By Sharyn McCrumb
This is a simple, beautiful story set in the Appalachian mountains. There are several story arcs that interconnect as each character faces their own trials and journeys. It's a little bit mystery, a little bit suspense, a little bit adventure, and a little supernatural.
My people are mountain people, and the folklore and superstitions peppered through the dialog are so familiar, it's easy to forget this is a novel, and not a family legend being retold by one of my own elderly relatives.
The other books in Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series are also good, especially The Rosewood Casket. But "She Walks These Hills" is my favorite.
By Sharyn McCrumb
This is a simple, beautiful story set in the Appalachian mountains. There are several story arcs that interconnect as each character faces their own trials and journeys. It's a little bit mystery, a little bit suspense, a little bit adventure, and a little supernatural.
My people are mountain people, and the folklore and superstitions peppered through the dialog are so familiar, it's easy to forget this is a novel, and not a family legend being retold by one of my own elderly relatives.
The other books in Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad series are also good, especially The Rosewood Casket. But "She Walks These Hills" is my favorite.
6. Christ Stopped in Eboli
By: Carlo Levi
By: Carlo Levi
I just finished this book! It is an pretty interesting autobiography by an Italian doctor who was exiled to a small, impoverished Italian village by Mussolini during the 1930's.
We see tons of stuff about America and Germany during that time, but not a whole lot about Italy!
This is also an excellent look at poverty and how it shapes people's ideals and opinions of themselves and others. It's rather sad and frustrating that so many years later, you can still find the same issues stubbornly persisting in rural communities.
We see tons of stuff about America and Germany during that time, but not a whole lot about Italy!
This is also an excellent look at poverty and how it shapes people's ideals and opinions of themselves and others. It's rather sad and frustrating that so many years later, you can still find the same issues stubbornly persisting in rural communities.
Runner's Up
While those would be my top recommended books (this week), here are the rest that I would encourage you to add to your reading list:
7. I Am Spock
8. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
9. Tuesdays With Morrie
10. The Bowl Is Already Broken
While those would be my top recommended books (this week), here are the rest that I would encourage you to add to your reading list:
7. I Am Spock
8. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
9. Tuesdays With Morrie
10. The Bowl Is Already Broken
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Your Turn! Name a Book!
What's on your bookshelf right now? Which book/s would you recommend from your stash? Share in the comments below (I'm always looking for another good book!)
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