Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten “Older” Books I Hope People Never Forget
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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Ten “older” books that I am hoping against hope stand the test of time and are still being read for years to come, huh? I’m finding myself at a little bit of a loss. How do I classify “older”? Thankfully, the lovely ladies at The Broke and Bookish are letting us decide that for ourselves and so I am taking a hint from that awesome meme Rewind and Review (shout out to Ginger and Lisa!) and making my cutoff 2010 and earlier. Let’s see what I can come up with while trying to avoid putting Harry Potter on here because OBVIOUSLY. At the end of the world, it’s going to be the cockroaches, Keith Richards, and a full set of Harry Potter. I’m convinced.
The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern #1) by Shannon Hale
This is one pretty book, friends, and one of the best fairy tale retellings I’ve ever read. I had never heard of the tale of the Goose Girl before I read Shannon Hale’s book, but I can’t imagine a more definitive version of it now. This whole series is great, but THE GOOSE GIRL is the best, in my opinion.
The Penderwicks (Penderwicks #1) by Jeanne Birdsall
Ahh, my old, sweet, heartwarming, adorable friends, the Penderwicks. It seems like it’s been an age since I last dropped this name around these parts but you can be sure that I haven’t forgotten about them! Seriously? The world would be a sadder place without these super sisters. Jeanne Birdsall’s story has a really timeless vibe about it; I can totally imagine THE PENDERWICKS being around for awhile.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
I still remember reading this book when I was in college. It’s a really epic, amazing story about Africa and missionaries and racism. I love reading about Africa. It’s so sprawling and different. The atmosphere and the language and the drama from THE POISONWOOD BIBLE are amazing.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon/Eona #1) by Alison Goodman
DRAGONS. Except not awesome, in-the-flesh dragons. Oh no. These are spiritual dragons that exist on another plane of the universe and can only be called on and mastered by people gifted with the ability to see and control them. AWESOME. Complex, intense, well-constructed, Asian-inspired fantasy.
Graceling (Graceling #1) by Kristin Cashore
Do you think it’s possible that people forget about GRACELING? I hope not. It’s just too good, too emotionally satisfying. The world-building in this series is great, but what really left the most lasting impression on me is characters: Katsa and Po. Strong, respectful, mature, impressive.
Fablehaven (Fablehaven #1) by Brandon Mull
Guys, these books are incredibly fun and smart and full of action. There are so many fairies and creatures in these books that it’s impossible to not be sucked in to the totally vibrant world of mythological beings and the secrets and lies that govern them. Plus, Kendra and Seth, the siblings at the heart of this series, are awesome.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indians by Sherman Alexie
This book blew me away, friends. It’s hilarious and heartbreaking and fantastic. These kinds of stories–the ones about coming-of-age under less than ideal circumstances and braving all the shit life sometimes throws at young people–won’t ever get old.
Dairy Queen (Dairy Queen #1) by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Sigh. I hope that people years and years from now are still reading about DJ Schwenk because she’s pretty outstanding. She’s brave and frank and straightforward and knows how to work hard on things that matter: family, friends, relationships, basketball, the farm. I appreciate her no-nonsense vibe SO MUCH.
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
So it was basically a tie between this book and GAME OF THRONES, and I figured that GoT is just so freaking awesome that no one will ever forget about it. That’s not to say that THE NAME OF THE WIND isn’t good enough to never be forgotten either. Kvothe on his own would be enough to make a lasting impression on people. But the world and the other characters only compound his awesomeness.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This book is one of the books I remember most clearly from my childhood. It’s not quite the same rereading it now, but I’ll always love it. I’ll forever love Wilbur and Charlotte. They’re SUPER.
Glad to see The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian on here. I love that book and have had it in my mind lately since I recently did a review of it. Despite being #5 on the ALA’s list of books most frequently contested in 2011, I think it’ll stand the test of time.
I really loved that book so much. I experienced so many feelings while reading it. I hope that it is around for a long time!
“Older” is relative. What “older” to me, is probably not “older” to you. I see so many books that fall out of print that are wonderful stories, and it makes me very sad.
Here’s my Ten “Older” Books I Hope You Won’t Forget. I hope you will stop by!
Out of print books ARE sad! Especially when they are stories that are important or special to us. Hopefully none of these books will ever meet that fate!
We would both have Graceling on our list!
Also, Charlotte’s Web makes me cry all the ugly tears and I LOVE IT SO.
Graceling is seriously the best. Of course we both have it on our lists. We are the same (it’s been a REALLY LONG time since I said this to you!)
Charlotte’s Web makes me cry and want a teacup pig at the same time.
I still need to read Graceling!! I saw it on somebody elses list and it reminded me I have it here on my bookshelf. ALSO yes to Charlotte’s Web!! And I totally loved The Poisonwood Bible! I need to read more books by Kingsolver!
Great list, Amy!
My Top Ten
I hope you get a chance to read Graceling soon, Jamie! It’s wonderful. But can we talk about The Poisonwood Bible? I loved that book so much. It was a toss-up between that one and Out of Africa.
I love Charlotte’s Web definitely one not to forget about
I agree! (obviously ;-))
EON is EPIC. I will say that. I mean, come on, DRAGONS. And dragons that are so UNIQUE. I loved that book, and the sequel, SO MUCH.
Also, Charlotte’s Web was one of my favorite books as a kid. That would probably explain the reason I wasn’t afraid of spiders back then…
And Graceling should never be forgotten, simply because Katsa is SO kickass.
I really need to read the other books you mentioned, especially The Penderwicks, which sounds so cool!
AHH! Alexa, I hope you read The Penderwicks soon. It’s one of those books that I love to push on people because I think it’s sweet and adorable and heartfelt, but I also worry about pushing it on people because I think some readers might find it slow or not fast-paced enough. I kind of adore it, though.
Also, YES to all of the other things. Eon was so fantastic. It still sometimes catches me off guard how some authors can still seem to come up with ideas that are so unique.
Oh, SUCH a good list! There are several on here that I’m kicking myself for not including on my own. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by! Don’t kick yourself too hard! I’m sure that I’ll see your list and kick MYSELF for not including something you mentioned!
Graceling is a great pick! Check out my TTT.
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Yay Graceling! And everyone keeps mentioning Goose Girl. I’ll read it one of these days.
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2012/10/top-10-tuesday-top-ten-older-books-you.html
If people forget about Graceling I will sit in a corner and cry. Forever.
The story about the loner boy and vamp girl is still there, of course, but each character is definitely more creepy than their movie counterparts. Oscar, who is severely bullied, wears a sponge in his pants to soak up urine as he’s constantly wetting his pants, and you feel sorry for him until he reveals his scrapbook of serial killers and starts fantasising about hacking up other kids. OK, they’re his bullies but… he’s one creepy little boy. No wonder he and Eli, the little vampire, get along so well. Eli, of course, is even creepier, with the ability to sprout not only fangs but wings and claws. Not to mention she’s a perpetually prepubescent bloodsucker with a paedophile in tow.