A Bookworm's Favorite Reads

As our weather turns warmer and our thoughts turn to summer, I thought you might enjoy some books to add to your beach reading list.

I’ve been a bookworm since I was a child. Two of my friends, Dianne and Sue, are also avid readers and we swap books regularly. I am particularly fond of mystery novels, historical fiction, and “chick lit”, but I’ll read just about anything I can get my hands on.

Several months ago, my brother Gary challenged me on FaceBook to name my top 10 books. They didn’t have to necessarily be my favorite books; instead they should be books that made an impact.

From my childhood, I vividly remember reading Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, not because it was my favorite story but because it was the first book that I ever owned. Conversely, I also remember Moby Dick by Herman Melville, because I found it unreadable and it was the only book that I used the Cliff Notes for in my honors English class back in High School (still haven’t read it…)

Without further ado, here’s my list of favorites. With the exception of Clara, which never leaves my nightstand, and is my all-time favorite book because of the humorous writing style and subject matter, they are not in any order. I’ve read all of these books many, many times.

1. Clara: The Early Years: The Story of the Pug Who Ruled My Life by Margo Kaufman (Warning, after you read this book, you will want to run out and buy a pug or two.... As I write this blog post, Elvis and LarryPug are snoring underneath my desk.)
2. Eleni by Nicholas Gage (a gripping and true story)
3. The Gate to Woman’s Country by Sheri Tepper (if this book is the future, I don’t want to go)
4. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (see comment above)
5. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks (based on a true story about life in a plague village during the 17th century)
6. The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta (wish you were still in a band instead of working for corporate America?)
7. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (set during World War 2)
8. The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds (set in a religious sect)
9. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (the movie was good, but the book is better)
10. Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gardner West (I liked this book for its quirky characters and small town charm)

Need more to fill your beach bag? Some of my favorite authors include: Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Harlan Coben, Daniel Silva, Ken Follett, Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon and JA Jance.

Have you read any of the books on my list? Do you love to read? What’s on your reading list this summer? What are your top 10 books? Who are your favorite authors?

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy