Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Happy Tuesday! Welcome to April! Will you play pranks on people today? I don't get into April Fool's Day much, but this week's topic sounds like a fun one. We are sharing our...
Top Ten Books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read
The Lost Hours is one of Karen White's earliest books, and I found it to be one of the most stirring. It tells the story of a six-year-old girl who goes to live with her grandparents after her parents die. She and her grandfather bury a box in the backyard one day, which after her grandparents' deaths, the now adult woman will go back to find, uncovering family secrets in her quest for the truth.
Saffron Dreams tells the story of a pregnant Muslim artist and writer living in New York City with her husband. On the morning of September 11, 2001, he leaves for work and never returns. Discovering his unfinished manuscript, she is on a mission to finish his book while living in a city that suddenly sees her as the enemy. This is one of the most powerful stories I've ever read.
This is one of my favorite novels by Kathi Macias. My Son, John tells the story of the brutal murder of a beloved grandmother and the upheaval of a family when a treasured son is accused of causing his grandmother's death. This book is an emotional roller coaster.
Beyond the Code of Conduct by K. M. Daughters is the second book in Sullivan Boys series. It brings two characters with a history back together, forcing them to work undercover, which is bound to bring up old feelings. This romantic suspense novel had such an amazing ending that I read the last chapter three times.
The funny and talented Alison Arngrim played nasty Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. In this hilarious, irreverent, and courageous memoir, Arngrim talks about everything, including how playing Nellie and being on the hit show helped her survive childhood physical and sexual abuse. Confessions of a Prairie Bitch remains one of my favorite cast memoirs.
Though I have enjoyed many books by Jerome Charyn, by far my favorite is the fictional story of Massachusetts writer and poet Emily Dickinson. The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson portrays her as a passionate, witty woman who lived an amazing life despite the confines of society.
The Portrait by late author Hazel Staham is such a moving story. Both main characters end their engagement for different reasons. When fate is determined to bring them back together because of a family incident, they struggle to deny their feelings for each other. The author takes a good deal of time exploring the many facets of these characters, which makes their reunion that much more satisfying.
I had already read books by Heather Haven before she sent me Death of A Clown. This remains one of my favorites. It is a murder mystery with a surprise ending. The author's parents were part of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, which I feel makes this book and its characters so real for the reader.
This has to be one of the most fascinating stories that ties into Laura Ingalls Wilder lore. Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen is a masterfully told heartrending and inspiring story of one woman's journey to find her place within her family and to boldly embrace the future. A brooch the main character believes was left in Saigon by an American reporter is what spurs her search. This was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. Loved everything about this book.
I hadn't read a Gothic novel in a while before embarking upon The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright. This is a dual-time novel featuring two women connected by a mysterious castle. This novel offers Christian suspense, superb writing, strong female characters, and an unexpected ending that will knock your socks off.
What are your thoughts on this list? Have you read any of them? What is a book you could recommend?
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16 comments:
Your choices give me a chance to check out some new books. I don't know any of them. But I did laugh at the title for Confessions of a Prairie Bitch.
I've not read these, but they look good!
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-youd-be-a-fool-not-to-read/
I think I'll have to check out Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. I've always wonder what it was like for her growing up playing such a mean character.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/tongue-in-cheek-book-titles-titles-to-make-you-smile/
Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen is a book I've heard a bit about, but never got around to reading. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I am not a fan of April Fool’s Day at all, but Confessions of a Prairie Bitch looks good.
This week's TTT is going to add many books to my TBR shelf. I have read none of these but am definitely interested in several of them. Great list.
It's a great book, Anne. Hope you get a chance to read Arngrim's book. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks, Emily. Appreciate you visiting.
Alison did such a fabulous job with it, Pam. She is funny and sweet. Thanks for visiting today.
Pioneer Girl is such an amazing book, Deb. Hope you get a chance to read it. Thanks for visiting today.
Me either, Lydia. Just not my thing. Arngrim's books is amazing. Thanks for visiting today.
Yours and mine, Carla. Thanks for visiting today.
OMG Nellie Olson!!!
Yes! The funny thing is that Arngrim is nothing like her character at all.
I LOVE Jaime Jo Wright's books. There were 2 that I think I gave 3-stars to, but all the others have been 4-5 stars.
Me, too, Cindy! Love her work. Thanks for visiting today.
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