Ten Books
As usual, I’m late to the game of the ‘meme’ of ten books that stayed with you, making some impact on your life. Here are my ten!
( in random order)
1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: probably obvious considering the header on the blog)
2. Diary of Anne Frank
3. Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh: if you haven’t read this author, you’re missing out. I think she is one of the best. This book gripped me for a million reasons that I read it in almost one sitting ( plane ride back from London, plus one 4 hour night)
4. Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos: I picked this book up probably at the library book sale and grabbed it for a plane ride to California ( seeing a theme of great books on planes), not knowing anything about the author or the book. The story, the characters, the historical tie-ins– definitely highly recommend. I loaned this out to someone years ago and it makes me sad I didn’t get it back nor can remember who I gave it to!
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: One of the only books I read in school that I really enjoyed.
6. Charlotte’s Web b E.B. White: The first chapter book I read on my own. I had a wonderful hardcover copy that was part of a boxed set of E.B. White books.
7. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: I ‘read’ this on audiobook over my commute and I think part of the reason it stayed with me was not just the amazing true story ( movie out at the end of this year), but Edward Hermann ( the dad on Gilmore Girls) was the narrator and I really loved how he read it.
8. Anne of the Wild Rose Inn by Jennifer Armstrong: A slightly cheesy, sappy teen romance-like historical fiction that I read in junior high school. There are a whole series of different girls of the Wild Rose Inn that cover different historical eras or events, but this one was about the American Revolution. It was probably my first ever historical fiction. It also remind me of a dear friend who passed away recently and anytime I see the book on the shelf, it makes me think of her.
9. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett: Recommended by my mom, another read in almost one setting. Totally captivating- couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what was happening.
10. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: Read for a college literature ( or writing?) class, this book made me fall in love with memoirs.
Gosh, just noticing that with the exception of one, all of these books are by women! I’m sure there are books by men that have stayed with me, but these 10 were the first to come to mind!
Life By Kristen 
May I complement you on a great share book list. Truly appreciated. I do remember “Ann of the Wild Rose Inn.” Two other school classics were “Watership Down” and “Where the Red Fern Grows.” A recent read where kleenex was needed was “Reunion” by Karen Kingsbury. Please tell your mom I am starting Bel Canto tonight. Thank you.
I have Baker Towers on my TBR list; I guess I should pick it up soon. Thanks for the recommendation 🙂