“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” ― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood
Surprises!
That is the main theme of The Broke and the Bookish‘s Top Ten Tuesday today.
February 23: Ten Book I Enjoyed Recently (last yearish) That Weren’t My Typical Genre/Type of Book (or that was out of your comfort zone)
So here are the out-of-comfort-zone books that I truly enjoyed recently. 🙂
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I am not into classics. But this one’s surely worth reading.
2. Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav
This is my first read poetry book. I read it as I am getting addicted to writing my own poems. To say that I am crazy about this book and Lang Leav would be an understatement! 😀
3. The Small Backs of Children by Lidia Yuknavitch
A book I just read because I can’t sleep, I am surprised that I actually liked the brutality and the explicit language used in this book.
4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Historical fiction, though I enjoyed some, is not actually my to-read genre. But this one is, for me, one of the best.
5. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
I am a certified Albom fan, so why the hell this book is here?
It’s because magic and fantasy isn’t my comfort zone. And to tell you honestly, I am quite anxious that I will not like this novel as much as I loved Tuesdays with Morrie and his other books. BUT! I am wrong! 😀
6. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Mystery and thrillers is my fave genre. But this came as a surprising hit for me as it is my first try for John Grisham. 🙂
7. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
With its intimidating length and historical depth, I thought this book will bore me. But I was, again, wrong! This is insanely a great read!
8. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Medical drama is a genre I haven’t tried until this novel. And with the courageous and eloquent storytelling of Lisa Genova, I may read some more medical drama. 🙂
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Photo and link credit: Goodreads
That will be it for this week!
Have you read some of this books?
If not, what are the books that surprised you?
Let’s dicuss!
❤
I’ve read some of these and loved them. The others I am interested in reading, especially Albom’s book. I think you would really enjoy Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts and The Deception of Livy Higgs by Donna Morrissey.
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Ooooooohhhh! Wait. I’ll go to goodreads and check them out! 😀
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Marked as To-read already! 😀 😀 😀
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Awesome! Enjoy 🙂
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I think I will. Ive read their summary and they all sound interesting.
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They are very well-written and are the most beautiful stories. You will not be disappointed!
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Yay! That made me excited to read them!
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Some great books here! I also find classics tedious but loved Mockingbird! I’m a bit of a hist-fic fiend, so I loved both Kite Runner and All the Light.
I’ve never heard of the Small Backs of Children, but I’ve added it to my TBR now!
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Yay! Glad to know that Meg!
This year I am having The Nightingale for historical fiction. Have you read it? Is it good?
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I actually didn’t know Still Alice was a book! I saw the movie last year and it just ruined me… not sure if I could handle it on page though…
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Oh. I haven’t watched themovie yet but it has won Oscar’s right? So I think itt is good. Ruined you? How?
Thank you for reading!:)
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I liked The Kite Runner as well 🙂 It was good but sad haha. Great list!
My TTT
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I agree! Thank you!
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I haven’t read any of these books but I have read outside my comfort zone 🙂 I read the entire Chief Inspector Gamache series of mystery/thrillers/police procedurals/etc by Louise Penny and I enjoyed them so much, I am listening to the audios books a second time through 🙂
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Oooooh! Mystery and thriller! I am getting a lot of great recommendations from you from this genre! Yay!!
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It’s the same series I was telling you about. I’m rereading it. I missed some of the clues.
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Ooooh. Happy reading! 😀
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well not for the murderer in each book. 🙂
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Uh oh! That is true! 😀 😀 😀
BTW, have you accepted my invitation in gmail? 🙂
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I did 🙂 we’re connected–or is it circled?
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I am not sure. Hahaha. What time is it there? Do i have to make a google docs and share it with you. 🙂
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You can or I can what was our topic?
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Our topic is nature. 🙂
I am thinking that we both write two poems of any form or if you want a form you can tell me. Our 4 poems will be about nature’s element, earth, wind, water and fire. 😉 What do you think, Mel? 🙂
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okay which two elements do you want?
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You pick first. ❤❤❤
And… Do you want to include a poetic form. 🙂
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I thought we had settled in haiku or senryu. But we can do anything
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Oh yeah. Its senryu. Because we’ll get high on senryu. 😀 (sorry. Forgetful again. )
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you and me both! We’re in good company! Let’s start this on Friday. I should have some time to breathe then!
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Okay!:)
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😀
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We gonna do it now?! 😀
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I’m about to head to bed, but we can email or share a google doc and I will add to it tomorrow either from work (if it’s quiet, today wasn’t) or after work.
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Alright! I am quite busy too. 🙂
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Then we shall try tomorrow 🙂 I’m heading to bed now, really I am! I was just double-checking my post to make sure I didn’t miss any errors.
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Alright! 😀 😀 😀 Will be reading it soonest. ❤
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😀 😀 😀
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😉
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😀
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Mel, it’s a bit late night there right?
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11:41 pm but I’ll be up a little longer. if you want to chat on google+.
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Oh. Our collab isn’t started yet. Argh.
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That’s okay. I can’t email or share google docs with you even though I can chat you on Google Hangouts. Do you know why that is?
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Oh. I don’t know. Hmmm. Wait. I am out of the office today. I hope I can share one with you tomorrow.
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Ok that would be great otherwise we’ll find a way
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I will try to share one to you today. 😀 What is your gmail again?
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Since we connected, I’m guessing you found my email address
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Yes! I scanned all my posts to look for it and I found it! 😀
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Yay 🙂
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❤
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😀
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❤
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I LOVE that Murakami quote. I wish I’d thought about using that in my post. I still have complex feelings about To Kill A Mockingbird. Perhaps I’m due for a reread, so I can get my feelings situated. The last time I read it, I was in high school, so I’m hoping adulthood will have given me added perspective.
My TTT: http://brownbooksandgreentea.com/2016/02/23/reading-outside-of-my-comfort-zone/
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Oh thank you! It is surely a nice quote. 🙂
I am not so crazy about Mockingbird, but it was truly good. 🙂
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I’m glad that you enjoyed the books out of your comfort zone! I really want to read All The Light We Cannot See!
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Oh please do so. It is awesome. Might be long, but it will definitely be worth it. 🙂
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I’ve seen All The Light We Cannot See on a couple of lists this week! I will have to check it out 🙂
My TTT.
Also, feel free to check out the last week of our giveaway!
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Yay! Please do so! 😀 It’s a great read!
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So glad you decided to give To Kill a Mockingbird a shot, it’s a wonderful novel!
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Yes. A classic, a modern classic. 🙂
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This a truly varied selection. I admire your taking courageous steps out of your zone. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy contemplative literature, let alone mystical. I read some mystic text in college and thought it was too much. But I’ve been meeting with a spiritual director, and he has recommended works that I have liked and admired. Works on the spiritual life by Jean-Pierre de Cassaude (a few centuries ago), Gerald May (contemporary), and Mary Oliver (writing now). The writing speaks of a better life through understanding how we are inside. I find what these folk have to say abstract yet practical for day-to-day living. I don’t think I was expecting that. The practical part, especially.
The Sacrament of the Present Moment (de Caussade), Wisdom in the Wilderness (May), A Thousand Mornings (Oliver). Works to get one started. (De Caussade and May write in prose; Oliver is a poet.)
You stretch us, too. Thank you!
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Wooooow! The books and authors that you gave mentioned indeed intersting reads. I have books, contemplative and self-improvement books in my tbr this year. Those written by Joel osteen and the author of The Five Love Languages. 🙂
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