Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke and the Bookish
I always take great care in recommending books to people who don’t really read. I want it to be something that will make them realize that reading is AWESOME. I don’t want it to be too difficult of a read nor do I want to insult their intelligence. I want it to captivate them but I don’t want them to miss out on the beauty of words. I deliberate and deliberate over this decision. My recommendations are always highly specific.
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (review): This is my go-to book for reluctant readers who I think will need/want something action packed to keep them interested. I actually just gave this series to a guy friend of mine who definitely wouldn’t enjoy something slow moving. I also give this to younger male readers who don’t, as they put it, want to read a “girly book”…Katniss is a girl but she is kickass..let’s be real here!
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: I can’t help recommend this to EVERYONE. And so far, my friends who only read once in a while, have really loved this one! The writing is great, the story is just…AHH, it’s heartfelt, thought-provoking and just great! It’s definitely a must for those who are at all interested in Nazi Germany.
3. I Love Everybody And Other Atrocious Lies by Laurie Notaro (review): I always recommend this to friends that I know would appreciate this humor and perhaps are the type of people who don’t typical read because they don’t have time! Shorter stories might get them more into reading!
4. The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd: I seem to always recommend this one (even though I only LIKED it because I wanted more from it) because I find it to be accessible, have memorable characters and a plot that moves at a pretty good pace. And mostly now that it’s a movie a lot of my friends will recognize it!
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: I seem to recommend this a lot. It’s got a good amount of drama and action, romance but also really great character development, in my opinion. It’s one of those books that has it all for people who don’t really read. It will keep their attention and give them a full range of emotions — at least I felt a lot of emotion reading this. ALSO again..they dig the fact that it’s a movie.
6. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (review): Are you all sick of me putting this book on all my lists, yet? The only list this book will never end up on is “Books I loathe”. I think some of my girlfriends would appreciate the humor of this one and love the romp through our adolescence. Also, Jessica Darling is freaking awesome. It’s a fun, light beach read that I would definitely give to those who don’t really read but want to pick up a book for the beach. BEWARE: I laughed my face off while on the beach..in public..while reading this.
7. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (review): I have been recommending this one a lot for people (who aren’t opposed to read YA) looking for a good summer read. This one is great because it’s fun but there is also a lot of seriousness. And Roger…we all need to feel a little pitter patter in our hearts.
8. Rebecca by Daphne Du Murier: I always recommend this as one of those book for people who tell me that they DID like some of the books they read in high school because I know that maybe they won’t mind a classic. I love Gothic lit and this one is great. Mystery, romance and fabulous characterization.
9. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (review): I can’t help it guys. This book just captivates you from the start and then twists your heart in all sorts of shapes like freaking balloon animals. And then you end up SOBBING and looking like a crazy person all in a matter of 4 hours..because that’s how fast I read it. I recommend this to people who I know get hooked by heartfelt dramas and don’t mind a good ugly cry.
Hmmm..oddly enough I can only think of 9 at the moment. I’m sure I’ll think of 1 more at some point throughout the day and have to fix this! But right now I’m have one of those durrrr moments.
Pam says
This is a marvelous list dahling.
Magan @ Rather Be Reading says
Definitely agree w/ Sloppy Firsts. I haven't read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour yet. I've really got to see if my library has it. I know I'd love it. Love, loved the Book Thief and Water for Elephants. Great list, Jamie! 🙂
Kelsey@TheLostBookReports says
Bahaha I LOVE LOVE the Teen Mom crying!!! overall there are great picks in there for sure!
Mary-Sweet Bookshelf says
I drove across the country (Cali to West Virginia) and people always ask me if I've read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. I love summer reads so this is a must!
The Hunger Games is such a good book for non-readers. It will make them into a reader! Don't you think? It is great for jump starting the interest in books again.
THE BOOK THIEF! Hallelujah! This book is such brilliance! I also loved The Secret Life of Bee's. I found it so descriptive. I could almost feel the sweat on my back and the taste on honey. I love books like that!
Ashley R says
Great list, especially Sloppy Firsts and Amy & Roger's Epic Detour! (Roger makes me swoon haha.) I keep meaning to finally read The Book Thief since it's gotten such rave reviews and seems so interesting. Definitely going to bump it up on my TBR list!
Ashley
My Top Ten Tuesday
Lori says
Sloppy Firsts and If I Stay are on my list as well! And of course The Hunger Games is! You can't have a list without that book. 🙂
My Top Ten Tuesday
Trish says
Rebecca is a good choice! I didn't think of that one.
Jessie Marie says
Farrah is probably the ugliest crier ever! Haha, Wonderful list; there's no doubt that the Hunger Games will be a popular one today but I love that you've got Rebecca on there. It would be on mine, too. Happy Tuesday!
Jillian says
I finally found The Book Thief at the library (courtesy of your recommendation)! You always have great lists.
Kell says
Great choices – I'll have to check some of those out!
My Tuesday Memes post
Amy says
Great list! I've read The Hunger Games, The Secret Life of Bees, and Water For Elephants and loved them all. Rebecca has been on my mind lately and I think I'll be reading that one soon. If I Stay sounds great, so I added it to my TBR. Thanks for posting!
Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) says
Am I the only person in the world that didn't cry at If I Stay? And I haven't read Where She Went yet either? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? WHY AM I NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?
Recommending books to people is a scary, fine line. If you recommend one they don't like, and they aren't readers, they may not want to read again which would SHRED my little heart. Going basic with things like The Hunger Games seems like an obvious choice for me, but it also kind of breaks my heart a little. It's always my hope that people will love it so much they'll come back for more recs and then I can get into the really good, better stuff…ya know what I mean?
It's kind of like how there's much better music then only the songs being played in heavy rotation on the big radio stations…you just have to have someone who is willing to dig deeper.
Nice list, Jamie. I really need to read Rebecca! Always wanted to…
thecheapreader says
The Hunger Games is my go to book as well. I turned both of my sisters on to it and they're non-readers. Yay!
Alison at The Cheap Reader
Alexa says
It's always hard to recommend books to friends who aren't really readers. But The Hunger Games has proven to be a great choice for a while now, so I definitely agree with that one!
Anna says
I WILL NEVER, EVER EVER GET SICK OF SLOPPY FIRST MENTIONS!
Jac says
I need a good cry, and I have If I Stay on my shefl – maybe I need to actually read it.
(And I love the rest of your list!)
Come see my Top Ten / Teaser Tuesday! (And be sure to enter my giveaway.)
Danica Page says
The Secret Life of Bees–how could I have forgotten that one.
I love Rebecca and always recommend that to people, and Hunger Games and The Book Thief made my list as well.
I loved If I stay. Great list!
Here's mine: http://danicapage.blogspot.com/2012/02/teaser-tuesday-15-and-top-ten-books-id.html
bridgetsbooks says
I've been seeing The Book Thief on a lot of lists. Can't believe I forgot that one!
Marmaladelibby (aka Ange) says
If I stay looks SO good! I will have to try it! Here's ours http://marmaladelibby.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-10-tuesday-4.html?m=1
Catherine Coffman says
Gaaah. I have *got* to read The Book Thief. I own it.
LBC says
Sloppy Firsts is a great suggestion. I wanted to include a chick lit book on my list, and I kind of wish I had included that one.
Sue Jackson says
Great list, including some of my favorites. Can you believe I have never read Rebecca? And even though it is a classic, this is the second time this week I have heard someone recommend it. Sounds like fate, huh?
Sue
Great Books for Kids and Teens
Book By Book
lisa [the nerd] says
REBECCA! What a creepy and awesome gothic classic. And the movie is rad to boot!
Melissa says
Awesome list! I wouldn't have thought of Rebecca myself, but now that you mention it…good choice!
April (BooksandWine) says
I've read and loved every single one of these except the Laurie Naturo or however you spell it, but word, I am down to check that one out.
ALSO how can one not like The Book Thief or Harry Potter? I don't understand that. Those books are totally awesome for converting people to READING.