This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted at my other blog The Broke and the Bookish) topic is all about books and authors that we are thankful for. As someone who has been so impacted by books and this community and is constantly learning and growing from reading and interacting with readers, I definitely want to take pause and let you know the things I’m thankful for. I have to say honestly though? As thankful as I am for all these authors and books, I am thankful to have a place here where I can be myself and interact with all of you amazing people ABOUT these books in a very personal way. So just now that I’m thankful FOR YOU ALL! And I mean that sincerely.
Authors
1. Laurie Halse Anderson — for not only writing really amazing and powerful books but for being such an advocate for literature and for ALWAYS Speaking Loudly! Also, I saw how she interacted with her young fans at a signing I went to for Chains and I just loved how she made these young kids SO excited about reading! She is a wonderful woman who I admire and am so thankful to have met!
2. John Green — UM for writing freaking amazing books that I love so much and make me feel so many things and THINK THINK THINK. Also, I am so thankful for the things that he does for his fans and beyond to help decrease world suck! Seriously, this man is inspiring to me.
3. Maureen Johnson — For entertaining me to no end with her wit on the Twitter machine but also for being so passionate about YA lit & calling bullshit when bullshit needs to be called. And also for writing great books!!
4. William Shakespeare — Let’s be real — the man paved the way for all the types of stories I enjoy today! He knew how to write great characters, engaging plots and hellooo– ROMANCE? Romeo & Juliet is the epitome of a love story that makes you feel all the feelings!
5. All of my favorite childhood authors (Laura Ingalls Wilder, RL Stine, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Carolyn Keene) — All of these authors wrote incredible books that turned me into the reader that I am today.
BOOKS
6. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: I know I mentioned Laurie above but I am extra thankful for her being so brave to write this book. Reading all the Speak Loudly posts during that whole debacle made me realize just how much this book has helped so many teen girls who’ve experienced what this main character has. I’m so glad they can not feel alone and know that it’s ok to tell someone!
7. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Don’t write me off if you hate this book! I’m just going to tell you that THIS SERIES made me open to YA in a way that I never had been before! Like seriously, I didn’t read YA. It opened me up to all sorts of new books that I would have never read before. I also am thankful for the fact that, alone with Harry Potter, it got A LOT of people reading. My sister was a non-reader and then read this series and now is always begging me for recommendations!
8. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: I am extremely thankful for this book because it got me into reading again after not reading for a looong time. It made me remember how much books could make me feeling ALL OF THE FEELINGS. I cried, I laughed and I had heavy boots, too.
9. Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepytus: Firstly, it got me into YA historical fiction BUT it is an amazing book but it made me aware to something I didn’t even know about that had gone on in the world. I realized just how little I knew and made me want to learn more about it. It was so powerful and just made me want to save all the people in the world. It was eye opening and I appreciated that. I just didn’t know how bad it was elsewhere during WWII.
10. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson: So in the midst of wedding planning this year I was in a HUGELY AWFUL reading slump. Like the worst. I was so stressed out and I just was getting upset because I couldn’t read anything. I picked this up on a whim because UM Peter Pan is my fave and I thought it would be this sweet little story. What I got was a whole lot more than that. It was one of those books that are TRULY a gem and moved me despite a little bit of a slow start (which almost made me put it down). I sat there and bawled as I finished it. Totally broke my reading slump and become my NORMAL SELF again in the midst of all that stress. Just needed a good story like that to get all the feelies out.
What books or authors are you thankful for? Maybe that book really spoke to you? Introduced you to a new genre? Maybe an author inspires you or stands up for a cause you believe in?
BarefootMedStudent says
Such a cool list – I definitely agree with John Green, he really goes above and beyond what a bestselling author should do! And you’ve really intrigued me with Speak, I’m going to look it up now.
Oh, and Tiger Lily, YES! Most underrated book ever.
marissa says
I definitely need check out Maureen’s twitter, I loved 13 little blue envelops and there are so many on your list that I’ve been wanting to read!
Monica says
Great list. Speak is one of my faves. Feel free to checkout My TTT
DannyBookworm says
Twilight totally needs to be on this list! As much as I can complain about these book, they rocked my world and made me also open for YA!
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads says
Great list! As our Thanksgiving was last month, I’m thoroughly enjoying reading all my American friends’ Thanksgiving posts … hope you enjoy your holiday!
I have to agree with you on John Green and Maureen Johnson. John Green’s books are so … life-changingly awesome (if that can be a word) and I, too, love Maureen’s Twitter-wit, as well as her stories. Thanks for sharing!
Belle says
I’m really thankful for book bloggers too 🙂
I’ve been meaning to read Between Shades of Grey for aaaages, likewise John Green. I really want to get my hands on Tiger Lily too. Your list is pretty much my wishlist!
Liz says
Laurie Halse Anderson is just so amazing. I’ve only read Speak, but all of the authors I follow, she’s one of the biggest advocates for living, breathing teens.
I dislike Twilight but I am so glad that it got you (and a ton of other people) into reading YA <3
I completely agree about Between Shades of Grey. I never would have known about that chapter in history if not for this book. It's just so stunning.
I knew you liked Tiger Lily, but somehow I missed how strongly you felt about it. I have not read Peter Pan, but I have seen several movie adaptations of it. I'm looking forward to picking up the actual classic before reading Tiger Lily.
Here's my list of books I'm grateful for.
http://www.consumedbybooks.com/2012/11/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-im.html
Lola says
Such a great list! I thought about picking up Tiger Lily, but was never quite sure. After reading this, perhaps I’ll finally give it a chance! The Twilight series makes an appearance on my list too.
Sabina says
Great list! I wasn’t sure about reading Tiger Lily but I think I might have to now!
My TTT post
Delirious About Books
Liza @ Reading with ABC says
I love John Green and Maureen as well. Twilight will always have a place in my heart since it got me reading YA. I really have to check the rest of your list 🙂
Reading with ABC
Lori says
I totally should have put Laurie Halse Anderson/Speak on my list. That book got me through some tough angsty times in middle school and early high school. I read it countless times!
Kimberly says
I can’t believe I didn’t think to put Shakespeare! My degree includes both Theatre and English, and I forgot SHAKESPEARE?! Oy vey.
Great list!! Love that you included pictures. Btw, awesome hair action you’ve got going in the picture of you and John Green. 🙂
Li @ rulethewaves.net says
Great list Jamie! Good point about Shakespeare and I think I need to bump John Green up my list of want-to-read, everyone seems to be talking about him xD
Helene says
Love your list! I’m thankful for Stephenie Meyer too! She got me into reading again! I couldn’t imagine my life without books right now. If someone tells me they don’t read, I always want to ask: what do you THAN? 😉
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Cassie says
Great list, Jamie! I too LOVED Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close! Such a great book! Though, I don’t think the movie did the book nearly enough justice!
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I’m also SO thankful for Tiger Lily. It became one of my favorites books this year. I love it.
Mel@thedailyprophecy.
Ariel says
I’m thankful for Roald Dahl, Oscar Wilde, The Harry Potter Series, and I suppose you make a good point about Shakespear, although he didnt create the tale of Romeo and Juliet, (the original story is the legend of Tristan and Iseult), he did give them new life. Thanks for sharing your list, there are a few I’m definetly going to have to pick up.
Katie @ Inkk says
love your list Jamie. R.L Stine and Twilight on my list too! Check out our TTT ~ Katie @ Inkk
Amanda @ Late Nights with Good Books says
Word with Shakespeare. I had to include him in my list too! Not only for his creation of some of the best, most emulated stories ever, but also because he did create so many words for the English language. And I really need to read Between Shades of Grey! I’ve heard so many great things about that story.
Erin @Quixotic Magpie says
Tiger Lily!!! I loved that book! And I have Between Shades of Grey on my list, I am hoping it at our school’s book fair next week.
Kelly @ Belle of the Literati says
I cannot believe I forgot to include Shakespeare! *Facepalm* LOVE John Green! Cannot believe you met him, SO COOL! And I totally think I need to add Between Shades of Grey to my TBR list 🙂
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books says
The reason that I avoided doing this TTT was because I couldn’t decide which titles to pick and which authors to highlight. There are so, so many books and authors that I love and admire and am grateful for in my life. I do love your list though!