10 Books I'm So Happy Were Recommended To Me

Once again, Ronnica at Ignorant Historian had a fun post up on books that I had to copy. This time she was listing 10 books that she was happy to have had recommended to her. I would like to point out (a hem) that she listed The Mysterious Benedict Society which I recommended her to and she mentioned that she kinda sorta liked it. AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD TOO! But I digress...)

This site, by its very nature, is a book recommendation site. I like talking about books I've enjoyed. But I'm also listening and taking suggestions from you all and here are some that have been recommended to me through the book blogging world (and otherwise) that I have been incredibly grateful to have read.

All titles are linked to my reviews (after having finally gotten around to reading your suggestions!)

Number One:

First off, there was Redeeming Love which was pretty much recommended by every single one of you! Years ago my in-town friend, Mirlandra, recommended it to me. Since she initially threw it in my face all I heard from bloggers who like Francine Rivers is, "You've GOT to read Redeeming Love." So I did. And I was glad I did. And now I can join the ranks of all of the rest of you (not being out in the cold any longer!) in recommending it to anyone who has not yet read it. Are we all happy now!? (haha!)

Number Two:

Next up I'd have to say that I am so glad that Amy at Hope is in the Word recommended The Twenty-One Balloons which I only recently read. It was such a fun adventure story that I'm glad to know of it for my boys. I'm anxious to share this story with them because it was so intriguing and fun and perfect for capturing their imagination. Thanks, Amy, for the tip! (I owe you one.) I have another of her suggestions sitting on my shelf waiting to be read and - given her raves about it - I'm sure to like it as well. Hoping to get to it shortly. (What is it you ask? Unbroken. Given the fact that it's set during my favorite time period in history - WWII - I have high hopes!)


Number Three:

P.G. Wodehouse. That's an author recommendation as opposed to a book recommendation. But anything you pick up by Wodehouse is sure to be a delight. I've read a few books and reviewed them over at 5 Minutes for Books. Think dry British humor and lots and lots of snickering under your breath. If you haven't read Wodehouse, I highly recommend him to you! Wodehouse was recommended to be me by one of my (very favorite, of course!) law school classmates and so I'll namelessly thank him for this here. (Thanks, you person, you.)

Turns out Jonathan was a Wodehouse fan as well and when we got married we combined our Wodehouse collections, expanding our Wodehouse shelf until it's completely full. (Another law school friend gave us a wedding gift of many Wodehouse titles which was one of the cleverest gifts we received!)

Number Four:

I'm Outnumbered!, by Laura Lee Groves was originally recommended to me by Barbara at Stray Thoughts. A whole book devoted to the subject of raising boys to be godly men!? Yes, please and thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have since recommended it to every mother of young boys that I know. Of course, when I read it I had two boys and only a girl on the way. Now we're a mixed bag family but I'm still outnumbered and her advice was spot-on and very good! I have to turn right around and recommend this one to you. Thanks, Barbara, for the heads up about this! (And really, whether you have one boy or all boys, I would suggest this read for learning how to relate to your young man.)

Number Five:

I read Cordelia Underwood several years back at the recommendation of my friend, Sky. I'm linking this one to my paltry review against my better judgment. (I don't like the way I wrote - or didn't write! - back then.) At any rate, I read and loved this story and have Sky to thank for the enjoyment of it! That's what it is - pure, undefiled enjoyment. Since read Cordelia Underwood I have scoured used book stores for other books by Van Reid. They are kind of hard to find but I've managed to snatch up a few. I just haven't managed to read them yet. But I will! I purpose it! I hope. (Thank you, Sky, for the tip on this very fun author!)

Number Six:

When Lisa (from Lisa Writes) recommends a piece of fiction, I generally sit up and take notice. I tend to like what she likes. She popped me an e-mail sometime back suggesting that I might like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I tucked that little nugget away and was delighted to find a copy at our local Goodwill. I snatched it right up without a moment's hesitation and ended up enjoying it - just like Lisa said that I would. This is a very fun mystery. I just read it recently so you might have seen the review but, if not, CLICK HERE, and then go find yourself a copy. I think you'll probably like it (just consider the one disclaimer re: family dynamics.)

Number Seven:

Perhaps I shouldn't be including this one on my list JUST yet as I'm currently in the middle of it. The Help was recommended by any number of you. I'm probably one of the last on the bandwagons with this one. I've seen quite a few (positive) reviews pop up on this title from book bloggers I trust. The tipping point for my being willing to pick up a copy though was my mom, who read and loved it. With her saying that it was a great book that she really enjoyed and had zero objections to, I figured it was a very safe bet I'd like it too. (After all, if your mother tells you to do something . . .) As I said, I'm in the middle of this one but I am absolutely LOVINGit! I can't stop thinking about it. Will post my thoughts once I'm done with the book and I cannot imagine but that I will be trying to foist it on any of the rest of you who are further behind the reading times than I am. (Be prepared.)

Number Eight:


A Toast to Tomorrow, by Manning Cole was recommended to me by my friend Rose a very long time ago. The title is linked to Amazon and not a review because I don't think I wrote one. (Here's a link to some brief thoughts on it.) Originally published (at least in the U.S.) in 1941 it's a story of espionage set in Germany during World War II. Absolutely fascinating read and it's been far too long since I've read it! It is a sequel to the book Drink to Yesterday which I was just able to locate very recently! Definitely hoping to read them both now that they are in my possession. Extremely fun and fascinating, especially being that the story is set in Germany. I highly, highly, highly recommend it if you can find a copy! (Looks like it's just been re-released in paperback from though so we're all in luck!)

Number Nine:

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax is another delightful recommendation by my friend Sky (who knows a good mystery when she finds one!) If you are looking for some fun summer reading, look no further! I've linked to a brief mention I made of the series sometime back and my post includes all of the titles in the series so that you know where to head for a good time.

Mrs. Pollifax is a grandmother who decides she needs to spice up her life and so she volunteers to work for the CIA. That's definitely spicy! She gets into a good number of adventures and scrapes and I have thoroughly enjoyed each Pollifax title that I've picked up. Again, thanks to Sky for the good reads!

Number 10:

Lastly, I must conclude with a suggestion that Jonathan made to me when we were married. He read quite a few books when he was growing up by Patrick McManus, who is an outdoor humorist. Now, I know you may be thinking, "Outdoor humorist, eh?" But before you allow that doubtful thought in, I beg you to consider McManus for a good laugh.

I asked Jonathan to write up a post about Patrick McManus some time back and I've re-linked his name to the review. So many fun titles to choose from and each are great! I'm not an outdoorsy kind of girl but McManus really tickles my funny bone. He is to the outdoors what Erma Bombeck is to the home and family if that gives you a clue. Definitely recommend him.

And with that - I shall conclude my list.

I know you've probably had a slew of good reads thrown your direction but do any of them in particular stand out to you as being so good you have turned around and recommended them to others? Do share! And continue to enjoy, of course!

(Furthermore, if you would like to take this time to recommend a book to me that you think I'd like, now's the perfect time...)