This week's Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish asks for my Top Ten Books on my Spring To-Be-Read list. I’m on a United We Read (UWR) committee and we meet once a month from March to June, so many of my Spring reads are from that committee. I’m so excited about many of the books, but that’s how they made the list.
1) The Submission by Amy Waldman - (UWR)
2) A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines - (UWR)
3) Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo - (UWR)
4) Chocolat by Joanne Harris (UWR)
5) When She Woke by Hillary Jordan - (UWR)
6) Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – Do any of you read Lawson’s blog? She is hilarious! So I was excited to find out I’ll be getting an ARC copy of her memoir in the mail sometime soon. Here’s a link to one of my favorite of her posts.
7) Literary Brooklyn by Evan Hughes – An ARC copy that’s shamelessly never made it to the top of the TBR stack.
8) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – In the next two months I’m throwing a bachelorette party, planning a 60th birthday surprise for my Dad, attending my 10 year high school reunion, I’m a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding, planning a trip to Tennessee, Wisconsin and Montana and about 2 dozen other fun things. It will be a very busy spring and I have a feeling I’m going to need a comfort reread of some Austen.
9) Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss – It’s been on my list forever.
10) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin – I’ve heard about this author for years and have yet to read anything by her. That must be remedied.
Do you guys highly recommend any of these? Should I bump them up the queue?
Image from here.
24 comments:
I always thought of Chocolat as more a winter-y books, but S&S is definitely Spring-y. Also have Eats, Shoots & Leaves on the TBR for ages. I wonder if it reads like a novel (looking forward to your thoughts).
I adore Le Guin, but I'm not sure if I'd recommend The Left Hand of Darkness to start with. It's a very rewarding book in the end, but it takes a huge initial investment and also trust in the author. I'd be really curious to hear your thoughts on it, though!
You really have the most eclectic and interesting tastes! This is a great list, and as I'm sure everyone would be shocked to hear (ha) I've read none of them!
I have recommended Behind the Beautiful Forevers before and will recommend it (highly) again. Thanks for the tip about The Bloggess, she is hilarious! I wish I had room for a Beyonce. I didn't care for Eats, Shoots and Leaves and couldn't finish it, but to each his own and everyone needs goals, so the list is great. My library does something along the line of United We Read, but not every year and it is usually something pretty popular, like The Guernsey Potato Pie and Literary Society (last year) and they get the author to come and talk as well as distribute free books.
Chocolat is so delightful. And it's climax comes right around Easter, so it's perfect for Spring! :)
I really enjoyed When She Woke last year. It will be a great book for discussion for your UWR committee!
I also associate reading Jane Austen with comfort. Great choice!
Besides Jane Austen, I honestly have not heard of some of these books. But they sound awesome!
Great picks.
-Marybeth P.
Alex - I'm curious about Eats. I'm not sure what the format will be, but I've heard it's funny.
Nymeth - Ok, I'm officially putting that one on hold. Between your comment and Eva's review a week or so ago, it's not the right time. So I want to know, where should I start? I have a feeling I'll love her work, but I want to start with a good one.
Sandy - Thanks! I love a wide variety of genres. It keeps my brain on its toes. And I obviously haven't read any of these either (except S&S). So many books to look forward to!
annieb - I can't wait to read Behind, I've heard such great things. Last year we picked Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for UWR and that was a popular one. I think it's such a great program. Anything that encourages people to read it good!
Amanda - Perfect. I remember the movie from a few years ago and have wanted to read it for years!
Kat - From everything I've heard about it, I think so too. I like it when they have great discussable issues.
Teacher/Learner - I've read all 6 of the big novels and now I'm going back and rereading them. Love them so much!
Marybeth P. - Some are new and some are old. It's a good mix.
I have Eats, Shoots & Leaves on my list for the year. I took it out just the other night to start it. It's been on my list for years.
Here's my Spring list: http://bookishnerd.com/2012/03/20/its-spring-and-heres-what-i-want-to-read/.
I have Chocolat on my shelf. That's cool what Amanda said about the climax coming around Easter. Maybe I'll read it this spring as well.
Lucky you on ARC of Let's Pretend This Never Happened. The Bloggess is hilarious! I hope you enjoy the book. It's probably not one I'll buy, but I'll try to get a copy from the library as soon as they have a copy.
Yay so happy to see The Submission at the top of your list! SO SO GOOD!
The Left Hand of Darkness and Chocolat were both terrible disappointments to me. Alas. I would replace them with two better books.
I thought When She Woke was very good, and enjoyed it all except one tiny plot point that I thought was unrealistic. Definitely a timely read with all of the current discussions in politics.
What a nice diverse list! I'm more interested in The Submission. I keep hearing it is really good but haven't seen too many bloggers review it.
Great list! I read The Left Hand of Darkness years ago and am planning to reread it soon. It is a book I have held onto but I can't really remember it any more.
Looks like a fun list. I totally want to read Jenny Lawson's book as well. It's already on my wishlist. Happy reading!
I love Chocolat! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. The sequel is a delight to the senses as well.
thespotts - It's funny how some books never seem to get off our shelves.
Kristi - You should read Chocolat too so we can compare notes!
Brenna - Your rave review definitely bumped The Submission up my TBR!
Mumsy - Well that's disappointing. Chocolat is part of my committee reading, but I think Left Hand is getting bumped.
Alyce - That does sound good!
Jenners - I'm excited about that one too!
Kailana - I have too many books like that!
LBC - She cracks me up.
Captain - I vaguely remember hearing there was a sequel. I'm glad to hear it's good!
I like the movie version of Chocolat.
Also, I recommend The Earthsea Trilogy if you're starting LeGuin. It's wonderful, and in it necromancy doesn't pay.
I'm so EXCITED that you'll be re-reading Sense & Sensibility!!! That's my favorite Austen to-date, and it's on my re-read list as well. Austen is great for a comfort read. I'm feeling stressed right now and am pulling to her. :)
Happy reading!! (And spring.)
Jeanne - "and in it necromancy doesn't pay." Bahahah, no wonder you love it! I'll have to check that series out. Apparently I need a better LeGuin book to start with.
Jillian - I feel the same way about Austen. I love that you're rereading Little Women right now. I really want to too!
I won't lie--I really struggled with the Left Hand of Darkness. I'm not even sure that I still own my copy.
I do adore the movie Chocolat and would love to read the book one day. Have heard great things about it!
Trish - Sheesh, I'm so glad I listed it here. I need to start with another book of her's. I got off on the wrong foot with Atwood (reading Oryx and Crake first) and it took years for me to realize how much I enjoy her (read The Handmaid's Tale first people!). I don't want to do that with LeGuin.
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