Today's Topic:
Top Ten Books That I Was Forced to Read
Whenever I am being forced to read a book, I usually assume I will hate it. Especially if it is for school... probably because I did hate most of the books I was forced to read in school (ummm The Great Gatsby anybody?? or Great Expectations??? or The Sun Also Rises???). But these are the pleasant surprises:
1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs- I didn't love this one, but I thought it was a cool little book.
2. The Diviners by Libba Bray- I would have NEVER picked this up if it wasn't for book club. For one the cover puts me off for some reason, and also it's just not my genre of book. But I totally loved it and am happy book club made me read it :)
3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- I hadn't heard about this book before it came up as the book of the month for book club last year... and it was SO good!!
4. Wake by Lisa McMann- This is another one that I didn't LOVE... but I would have never read it if it weren't for book club and I like being pushed out of my comfort zone.
5. Third and Indiana by Steve Lopez- This book was amazing. I read it for sociology class in college and I couldn't put it down. If you are from Philly, you gotta read it!
6. The Coocoo's Egg by Clifford Stoll- I read this for a computer 101 class in college freshman year... and even though it's about computers, it's a really cool mystery book at the same time. I was really pleasantly surprised
7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker- LOVED! I read this in college too. It's amazing.
8. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton- I *think* we read this in 6th grade. I remember really liking it... and then we watched the movie with all the awesome actors before they were big stars.
9. Night by Elie Wiesel- Scarred for life, but worth it. I don't think I really got the extent of the Halocaust before we read this book in 6th or 7th grade... and then I was like WOW. Powerful stuff.
10. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen- This was the first book I was made to read in school that I really really liked. It's such a boy book too. Not sure why I was so into it, but I made my mom buy me a copy so I could read it like 5 more times :)
What books were you all forced to read in school or by friends that you ended up loving?? I'm excited to see :)
I also have Night on my list -- what fabulously chilling story! I cried way too much but loved every minute of it. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI've only read one book on your entire list - and that was Anna. I loved that book! :D Night is one that I've been thinking about reading... and the main reason for that was because it was on Oprah's book club back in the day :P Great list! I like the variety.
ReplyDeleteNice! I have nothing from school on my list; we read such terrible books! :D
ReplyDeleteI need to get on Diviners asap.
Happy reading!
My TTT
I forgot about Hatchet! I read that one forever ago, and I remember really liking it. Night was on my list as well. I still haven't read The Color Purple, but I really need to!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list. I've been meaning to read The Diviners but haven't picked it up yet so I'm glad to hear it's a good one! And remember reading Hatchet in school and being surprised at how much I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI really need to read Anna And The French Kiss. I keep seeing it around blogs and keep meaning to pick it up. I enjoyed reading The Color Purple. Thank you for stopping by my blog :-)
ReplyDeleteNot gonna lie, The Diviners scares me. It is SO big. I do need to read it though. And so happy you read Anna. I've read it just a couple times...okay, 6 times. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT List
I loved Anna and the French Kiss, it's such a cute read. I really want to read The Diviners, but it's so flipping big, I keep putting it off. I will read it eventually though, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my TTT! :)
Your book club picks are amazing. I want to read Miss Peregrine's and The Diviners, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I love Anna and the French Kiss though. Etienne St. Clair!!!!
ReplyDeleteAly @ My Heart Hearts Books
My TTT
Aw, I wish I had a book club that forced me to read books! But yes, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS; I LOVE that book! And it's been several years since I read THE OUTSIDERS, but I think I liked it? Nice list! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteRachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf
Ohhh Hatchet, I totally forgot about Hachet! I remember when my teacher told us we were reading it I never thought I would have liked it but then I ended up loving it. I have such a distinct memory of the description of the pilot's body after it had been decaying (why I remember things like this I have no idea...). Good pick :)
ReplyDeleteDude I was SO freaked out about the description of the pilot's body when Brian swam down to the plane... ICK. It's too much for a 11 yr old! At least back in the 90's it was.
DeleteI really enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss. I've also been planning to read The Diviners and Wake - they both sound really interesting. My TTT
ReplyDeleteSilas Marner and Les Miserables
ReplyDeleteAhhhh The Diviners.. good call... although I still have yet to pick it back up. I know I'll love it, but it's so hefty and I started it and haven't gone back to it yet.. Great list! Thanks for stopping by my TTT! :)
ReplyDeleteMichele
All of Libba Bray's books are amazing! Love Anna and Miss Peregrine, too. I read The Outsiders for book club and Night and Hatchet for school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my TTT!