Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Was Forced to Read

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday list is “Top Ten Books I Was “Forced” to Read” (either by teachers, friends, other bloggers, book club) — doesn’t necessarily have to be a BAD thing. Could be required reading, yes, but also book club, or just super enthusiastic friends “making” you read something!  Other than school teachers or professors, Sandie and I never have to be “forced” to read anything.  However, we certainly get our share of, “You have to read… it’s so good, you’re going to love it.”  Here are some of the books that we’ve been forced to read over the  years.

1.  The “Harry Potter” series by J. K. Rowling – After years of hearing from church friends how these books were responsible for the end of civilized society, Sandie convinced me that they were actually amazing books.  My son started reading The Sorcerer’s Stone and he confirmed that it was fanstastic. So, with my sister and son nagging me, I started reading them as well, and the rest is, history! Our family became obsessed with Harry Potter and joined the rest of the world in their love of the Wizarding World.  –Diana

2.  “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – When I was about 8, my older brother Jorge said I *HAD* to read this book he loved. He promised me it would be good, but he was kind of a jerk in that way only big brothers are about things. He basically demanded I read it, and he wouldn’t stop hounding me about it until I sat down in my room and read it. It was a quick read, and I remember being deeply moved, but despite loving it at that young age, I haven’t read it since! –Sandie

3. “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – When I was in college a friend asked me where I was from. When I told him that I was Colombian, he stated, “Ah, Colombia, the land of great coffee and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.” When I admitted that I had no idea who he was, my friend informed me that he had been the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. He couldn’t believe I hadn’t read “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and encouraged me to read it.  I was hooked from the opening line and discovered why this book is Marquez’ masterpiece.  I also discovered that it had been my father’s favorite book until the day he died, so in a way I also felt closer to him as well. –Diana

4.  “Jellicoe Road” by Melina Marchetta – Tammy, one of my very first book blogger buds, convinced me to read “Jellicoe Road” with her near incessant mentions of Jonah “Effing” Griggs. I had to know what all the fuss was about, so I took the plunge and was blown away by the intricacy, the depth, the humor in Melina Marchetta’s writing. Ever since I’ve been a Marchetta evangelist, trying to get everyone I know (and all of you!) to read her books as well. –Sandie

5.  “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman – “Diana, you have to read it, it’s soooo good, I know you’ll love it.”  So began several of Sandie’s entreaties to me to read this book.  She was very excited about it and I’ve learned over the years that if Sandra says a book is, good, well it is.  As she shared the plot, it did sound interesting.  So, to stop her repeated attempts to convince me to read it, I finally bought it and read it.  Foreman’s book left me emotionally spent.  I had to reread it several times before I could let Mia and Adam go.  It was worth giving in to “pressure” to read it. –Diana

6.  “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien – My oldest brother Louis also forced me to read a book when I was growing up, because he was going through this rare stage where he was really into a book. I think his love of “The Hobbit” had something to do with the book’s popularity with a bunch of rock stars who claimed it influenced their songwriting. Whatever the case, Louis wouldn’t stop asking if I’d read it, so I did, but I didn’t love it at the time, and I still can’t tell you anything that happened in it. Flash forward nearly three decades, and my own son just read it for school and loved it! –Sandie

7.  “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner – This is one of the books that I had to read for my high school junior year English honors class.  That was the year I had the incomparable Mr. John Ruppel as my teacher.  He was one of the best teachers that I ever had.  I know that many people are not fond Faulkner’s work, but Mr. Ruppel loved “The Sound and the Fury” and he passed that love on to his students.  A few years ago I reread this book for one of Oprah’s book clubs.  As I watched the videos of her experts, I realized that I learned the same things from Mr. Ruppel, but none of them had his passion for Faulkner.  I’m glad Mr. Ruppel made me read this book, it will always be one of my favorites.  I’m even more thankful that I was one of his students. –Diana

8.  “Graceling” by Kristin Cashore – When I first started reading YA on a regular basis, I reached out to my friends and colleagues about what books I had to read. I am not a huge fantasy fan, and I told everyone that, but two separate friends kept emailing me to recommend Cashore’s novel. I read it, and it was like nothing I had read before: the protagonist was a feminist of all things! I am so glad I listened to my friends! –Sandie

9. “The Red Kayak” by Priscilla Cummings – My kids will often tell me about good books and tell me I should read something they’ve read.  This book was suggested to me by my daughter when she was in middle school.  She kept insisting that I read it, but she really persuaded when she reminded me that I would “make” her read different books, yet I wasn’t willing to read one that she wanted me to read.  That’s when I knew I had to read it.  I’m glad I did.  This book depicts  the struggle that kids have of being loyal to friends versus doing the right thing.  It had a great impact on my daughter and it did on me as well.  I have several books on my TBR pile that they keep insisting I read, I know they’ll be good and I cant’ wait to read them. –Diana

10. “The Cider House Rules” by John Irving- I had to read this book for work before the movie came out, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into a book about an ether-addicted abortionist. But I ended up enjoying it more than any of the other Irving novels I’ve read, and was really upset at how the film adaptation was cast (even though Michael Caine was fantastic). –Sandie

 

 

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