Top Ten Tuesday is a meme sponsored by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s top ten – in recognition of BBAW (that’s “Book Blogger Appreciation Week”) is:
” Top Ten Books I Read Because Of Another Blogger.”
I don’t always do these top ten lists, but they’re always fun and this one also is a good list to give a nod to some fellow book bloggers, so here goes…
9. Oh, yeah. I forgot to say I only could come up with nine… This one (and the next few) are books that I don’t know where specifically I first heard of them, but I do know I read them because I learned of them within the blogging community. So for number 9 I’ll go with Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games. Yes, it’s intended for a little younger reader than me, and yes it’s a little out there, but it was a great story (actually a trilogy, along with the follow-ups Catching Fire and Mockingjay) and a fun, diverting read.
8. The Ubiquitous The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (book and series). A towering best seller, I think driven by the great character of Lisbeth Salander. I’d like to meet her. I think.
7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Another book outside of my usual genre, but an entertaining, diverting read for me. Here’s what I had to say last year.
6. Beastly by Alex Flinn. I can’t remember which blog I first heard about this modern retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. I did download it at about the same time as my blogging colleague, Jade, at Chasing Empty Pavements though, so I’ll give her a plug. This book became a pick in my book club as well and we all enjoyed it. My original post about the book may be found here.
5. Under the Skin by Michel Faber. Learned about via The Literary Nomad. An interesting concept for a book blog, where the blogger “visits” a country by reading a book about it or taking place in it. This book was creepy but a real page turner. A beautiful alien (reported to be portrayed by Scarlet Johansson in an upcoming movie adaptation) picking up hitchhikers in Scotland. How could I resist? My original post is here.
4. Gullivers Travels by Jonathan Swift. I read this one because Allie at A Literary Odyssey hosted a read along. Like other read alongs I’ve participated in, I started off with great intentions only to fall behind the schedule. I did finish it, though, and I’m so glad I did. I took a lot out of it that I am ‘carrying around in my head.’ Truly a classic work, and I can’t believe I waited until I was so “old” to finally get around to reading it.
3. Two on a Tower by Thomas Hardy. I learned of this previously ‘unknown’ Hardy book at Chris’s blog, “ProSe.” A great, lesser known work by one of my favorite authors with a predictably intricate plot. Great 19th century literature! My original post about this book was written back in November 2010.
2. After Rain by William Trevor. Heard about at one of my favorite blogs, Ana the Imp. Not exclusively a book blog (lots of politics and history too), but I take her book and movie recommendations seriously. This is a collection of short stories by an recognized master of the form. I posted about several of them this year. Lost Ground, After Rain, and Gilbert’s Mother. The first two were my favorites.
1. The Warded Man by Peter Brett. Heard of through Borough of Books. My friends and I have all enjoyed this book and its sequel, Desert Spear. We are eagerly awaiting the third book… My praise of the book was written this past May.
Bibliophilopolis 
Debbie Nance said,
September 13, 2011 at 6:04 am
I am in awe of how you know exactly who guided you to what book. Wish I could give proper credit, but I just know vaguely that recommendations came from “other bloggers.”
Here’s my list, Top Ten Books I Read Because of Another Reader. I’d also invite you to sign up for the contest to win a $25 Amazon giftcard this month at my blog.
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trish said,
September 13, 2011 at 7:35 am
That’s so great how you remember where your recommendations came from! The blogosphere is such a great place for book reviews.
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Jay said,
September 13, 2011 at 11:21 am
Thanks for the comment, Trish. I try to remember. It helps when the review or post about the book is so overwhelmingly positive. Even if the book in question is out of my normal reading range, I have to read it to see what about it earned such praise. 🙂
-Jay
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Jay said,
September 13, 2011 at 7:40 am
Thanks for the comment, Debbie. As you can see, I actually couldn’t remember who guided me to several of them… 🙂
Book publishers should take note of this week’s top ten lists. More and more books are being read because of the buzz about them in the blogosphere…
Thanks for the invite to your contest!
-Jay
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trish said,
September 13, 2011 at 8:12 am
Yes, I was thinking that too, about the publishers. This is also a great resource for them.
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Megan said,
September 13, 2011 at 10:27 am
I just love Thomas Hardy. I love the pacing and imagery in his books. I feel like he should get more recognition.
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Jay said,
September 13, 2011 at 11:30 am
I just picked up his “Desperate Remedies” at Half Price Books last week. I’ve read all his “major” works and am starting to explore his lesser known efforts. He’s one of my favorites as well.
-Jay
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AsianCocoa said,
September 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I’ve got Stieg Larrson’s book listed as well. Lisbeth is brilliant. I’m still waiting for the paperback of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest to complete my collection.
Here’s my Top Ten.
~ Monique
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Jay said,
September 15, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Thanks for the comment, Monique. I liked the Swedish film too. I thought the actress Noomi Rapace (did I spell that right?) really did a first rate job portraying Lisbeth too.
-Jay
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chris harris said,
September 15, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Jay, I’m so glad that you enjoyed “Two on A Tower” and that you found yourself a copy of “Desperate Remedies”. I think you’ll enjoy it too. What was fascinating for me as I read the novel, was experiencing the young Thomas Hardy as he was just beginning his writing career. The pacing and structural organization and presentation of the plot was, as one would imagine, quite different from that of the later Hardy in his more prominent works. I’ll be interested in your assessment and observations when you finish. Cheers! Chris (at ProSe)
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The Literary Nomad said,
September 18, 2011 at 4:26 am
I am so stoked that a book I reviewed made your top ten! I still think about Under the Skin – you are right, very creepy but also riveting simply because it is so original!
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