Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Club Books
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and make our own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday‘s on their site!
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This is a super idea for TTT! I love book clubs because, obviously, you get to talk about books, but I also love them because it’s a great excuse for reader buddies to get together, have some beverages, and chat. Don’t think that I’m dismissing the book aspect of book clubs, though. Sometimes one unexpected book will prompt some great conversations for any number of reasons. And always, I find that book clubs wind up cluing me into some great books. Woot! So, here’s my list of books that I think would make for some great/interesting/thought-provoking chats. I’m keeping this one to books I’ve actually read, with one exception. Also, I just want to say THANK GOODNESS that having this blog is like basically having one, huge, constantly shifting book club full of awesome people. Y’all make this THE BEST.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Because obviously. This book has so many interesting, provocative things to discuss from the serious (exploitation of youth, reality TV culture, sacrifice…obviously scratching the surface here) to the not-so-serious (Peeta or Gale? Gale or Peeta?). This book is SO chock full of juicy stuff! (For the record: Peeta 4 life, yo!)
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde. These books are reader-geek PORN. It’s like literary dystopia/alternate history/AWESOME, wherein there are essentially book police who can jump INTO stories–classics like Jane Eyre or Dickens–and sort out all these crazy literary crimes while interacting with characters we know and love (or hate). I think this would be fun to talk about and geek out over. Plus it’s such a clever premise! So fun to read.
Delirium, by Lauren Oliver. Mostly this is here because of the ending (WTF!!!!) but you could certainly have some talks about the society and what it would mean for love to be a disease needing eradication. But something tells me that book clubbing this one would be all, “Alex! HOLLA!” and “WTF with that ending, Oliver?!?!?!?!” Because PRIORITIES.
A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness. Whew. THIS BOOK. This one is a killer, but I think it would be one of those really profound books where everyone could talk about how much they cried, and how much they loved Conor, and how much of a LIVING GENIUS Patrick Ness is, and how much they cried some more, and how much the monster’s awesomeness knocked them out. Truthfully, I would make my book club read this just so that I could get more people to read it and have a “moment” you know? We wouldn’t even need to talk about it so much, so long as we all read it and knew it was amazing.
The Sky Is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson. I tried to find books to put on here that weren’t so serious or sad, but I think that there are just some times when those are the things you need to talk about the most. I couldn’t leave this book out simply because I think it’s gorgeous and I’d be curious to see what people thought of Lennie and her grief-stricken struggles, particularly her little thang with Toby. Also. THE WORDS!! They’re so pretty! I’d be curious to see what people thought of the poems; I know that those are sometimes deal-breakers.
I’ll Be There, by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Oh my goodness! I can’t even begin to think about how many awesome discussions you could have about Sam and Riddle and the strength of their brotherly connection. This book was so emotional and kind of dark, and the characters were so empathetic that I can’t imagine anyone not feeling anything for them. And Riddle. RIDDLE. Riddle, you slay me and I love you.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart. My library friends and I have all read this book and had different reactions to it. I liked it a lot; they, not so much. I kind of loved that Frankie took things into her own hands and fought the man (literally, the men). But my friends thought that she was kind of unlikable and…other slightly spoilery things. Huzzah for contrariness!
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. This is the book I haven’t read yet, and I know that it’s old and probably made the book club rounds FOREVER ago when it came out. (Get thee with the times, Amy!) Maybe I’ll have a book club all by myself for this one because I want to read it and it sounds like a book that will give me THOUGHTS and FEELINGS and other ALL CAPS kind of reactions. And you all know how much I love THE CAPS.
Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer. Nonfiction in the HOUSE! Guys, Jon Krakauer writes some CRAZY good nonfiction. I’ve read some of his books, but this one is, to me, the most bananas and DEFINITELY the most polarizing and provocative. It’s about fundamentalist Mormons and murder and…it’s shocking and eye-opening and I have OPINIONS about it. I can totally picture things getting HEATED with this one. DRAMZ at book club, y’all!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie. YAYAYAY!! I loved this book so much, not only because it was heart-breaking and hilarious, but because it opened my eyes to a culture that, sadly, not many Americans are so familiar with, despite its richness and longevity. Ever since I read the Little House books–which are admittedly SUPER racist about Indians–I’ve been fascinated with Native American culture, and this book is such a great window into contemporary life on reservations and the identity struggles of so many young kids there. Also, it’s brilliant. And there’s COMICS IN IT. BOOM.
I really need to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. Why have I not read this? Maybe because I’m not in a book club that picks cool books 🙁
Hi, you have some really interesting choices. First, I LOVED Frankie L. Banks. Second, I read Under the Banner of Heaven recently and honestly it gave me nightmares (with all the murder and whatnot). But I agree that he is an excellent writer and that it would make for a great discussion. His book Into the Wild could also be good, I think. It seems like people love to debate whether the man it’s about was an idiot or a genius. Great list!
Oooh The Book Thief is a good choice! I had The Hunger Games as well on my list. I have to add The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and The Sky is Everywhere to my TBR list. I keep hearing so many good things about both of them.
Yep I still need to read Delirium for sure!
http://kristina-worldofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-10-tuesdays-9.html
I’ve read Delirium and The Hunger Games and agree – those would make fantastic book club reads.
I’ll have to check out some of those – they look great!
My Tuesday Memes post
A Monster Calls is a great pick! Now I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it….
I can’t believe I didn’t put “The Book Thief” on my list! I’ve been meaning to read “A Monster Calls” for ages… must move it up the wishlist!
My Top Ten
The History of Frankie Landau-Banks is one of my favourite books ever! I don’t want to say things for spoilery reasons too, but the ending was perfect even if it was not what anyone wanted…
Great choices! Completely agree about The Hunger Games! I haven’t read The Book Thief or The Absolutely True Diary yet, but they are part of my assigned reading for my YA lit class. Yeah!!
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews
http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday-11-book-club-picks.html
I’m pretty sure you are my Top Ten Tuesday twin! I also had The Book Thief and A Monster Calls AND A SHERMAN ALEXIE BOOK! WHAT THE WHAT.
Also I am going to read that Under The Banner Of Heaven book it sounds awesome and your endorsement of it definitely goes a long way.
Also I feel like I failed TTT for not thinking of The Hunger Games. Boo.
Of the books on this list that I’ve read– I TOTALLY agree. And based on what I’ve heard of the ones I haven’t, I agree there too. Buttttt I haven’t read Delirium yet *ducks head in shame*
I knew very little about I’ll Be There before today, but I have seen it on several lists now. I will have to give it a try. Thank you for all the great club read suggestions.
-FABR Steph@FiveAlarmBookReviews
My Top Ten…
I complitely agree with The Sky is Everywhere! <3 <3 This book is so beautiful! And I too wanted to talk to someone about Lennie! And her POEMS – Oh my God, I started to love poems (and try to write them – they are that good in my opinion, but I'm trying) because of her! 🙂 This book has totally blown me away! 🙂 <3 <3
Totally agree on the Hunger Games which is on my list as well, Sky is Everywhere, and The Book Thief. The Book Thief has so many levels to it and would definitely stir a lot of talk! Great list this week!
Here’s my TTT!
Glad to find another Eyre Affair-obsessed person — it made my list this week, too!
I’ll be reading A Monster Calls this year as part of a reading challenge; it’s one I’m not sure about, so it’s nice to read good things about it.
The Hunger Games made it on my list, too! Your descriptions of the other books definitely piqued my curiosity! I’ll have to check them out. 🙂
My previous comment linked to my old blog, not my new one I just started a few days ago. So… ignore that one. ha!
The Hunger Games made it on my list, too! Your descriptions of the other books definitely piqued my curiosity! I’ll have to check them out.
Yes to Hunger Games and Book Thief. Haven’t read many of the others – more for TBR! If you’re looking for more comedy, this came out in Australia and I’ve heard it’s hilarious – The Exotic Rissole.
I’d love to discuss A Monster Calls. Wow. What an amazing book.
Here is my Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks. And I hope you will try to win my February Giveaway!Win All Kinds of Kisses or a $25 Amazon gift card!