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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Recommendations


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week we are asked to give our Top Ten Books That Came Highly Recommended. Those books that we wound up loving but would never have tried if some other book-lover hadn't directed our attention to them.

Here are my recommendation candidates:



1. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes. This was my introduction to this fabulous author. I would never have discovered him without you, Nick.

2. Paradise News by David Lodge. I'd already stumbled across Lodge's writings--absolutely marvelous British wit--but it took Richard to introduce me to my all-time favorite Lodge novel.

3. Katherine by Anya Seton. I'm not a big fan of the medieval time period, but Patty brought this one to my attention and it was well worth it. It tells the story of the love between Katherine Swinford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster in the 14th C.


4. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom--thanks to Karen for this one.



5. Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes by David Stuart Davies. If Jean hadn't loaned it to me, I wouldn't have had a chance to read this very good biography of the best Sherlock Holmes ever.



6. Death Lights a Candle by Phoebe Atwood Taylor. One of Taylor's finest--brought to me by Richard.



7. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon. Another more recent book that I would have missed if it hadn't been for Richard. He seems to be my go-to guy for this sort of thing.



8. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Pushed into my hands by Nikki. Although I can't say I'm as big a fan of Vonnegut as she is, I am thankful that she brought him to my attention.



9. the curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon. Another recommendation from Nick. He and Richard rarely steer me wrong with "Bev, you ought to read" books.



10. Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie. I'd always been a big Christie fan, but had never read this fine courtroom book until Mrs. Heavilon (high school teacher) loaned me this one. One of my favorite non-Poirot and non-Marple books.


***Extra! I just got reminded of The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I loved that book and don't know how I could have forgotten that Katie recommended it to me.

7 comments:

  1. It sounds like you have good collection of trusted book recommenders!

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  2. *puts Bending the Willow on my list*
    Bev, you'll be the death of me with all these great recommendations.

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  3. Oooh, I'm going to read the Jeremy Brett bio for sure! Thanks for the recommend!

    I've read WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and loved it. Also THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME. Loved that as well.

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  4. I am reading Tuesdays with Morrie out loud to my students right now. Only problem: getting choked up!

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  5. I haven't heard much about Lord of Misrule, expect that it was in the Tournament of Books. It's nice to hear a recommendation.

    Check out my list here

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  6. Oh yes, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. I am constantly telling people to read it. I wonder who told me? Thanks for dropping by my blog.

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  7. I never thought how much I owe other readers until we were given this prompt. Let's keep sharing good books with each other.

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