Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
This week’s Top Ten is Top Ten Books I hope Santa Brings This Year. Well, I buy my own books or get them from the library, so this prompt doesn’t work for me. As I was checking out other blogs, I stumbled upon The Reindeer Book Tag, inspired by Rudolph and including Olive, so, Ten Books. I want to thank Jo over at BOOKLOVERSBLOG for posting hers today, so I stole her idea. This tag was created by booktuber Hailey in Bookland. So here we go:
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: An Underdog Or An Inspiring Book/Character
I read a lot of historical fiction and although these books are usually based on real characters, I find them so inspirational. I am choosing social worker Jane Forrester in Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. This is a book about the forced sterilization of many teenagers (lied to them and told them they were getting an appendectomy) because they were poor, and “feeble minded”. Jane refused to participate and helped these families in so many ways.
Dasher: A Book You Read Quickly Or A Fashionable Character
I enjoy Kate Quinn’s books and this is a novella she wrote, which I listened to in about an hour. This is a historical fiction story with a twist as there is a time travel/time slip element that I enjoyed.
Dancer: An Artistically Inspiring Book Or A Character Who Loves To Party
Winterdream: A Retelling of The Nutcracker by Chantal Gadoury was a beautiful story. It is set in Russia and is told from Clara’s point of view. I very much enjoyed this one.
Prancer: A Light-Hearted Book Or A Conceited Character
I have read a lot of Christmas books that were very lighthearted and fun. It was hard to just pick one, but this is the first one that came to mine. There is a grief angle and some guilt that added a bit of seriousness to the story, but a woman wanting to find her Santa Claus and going on dates that her best friends set up, how fun is that.
Vixen: A Trickster Character Or A Deceptively Hard/Easy Read
For this prompt, I thought of Hawthorne Fell from Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli. Hawthorne was under the power of Wood King and tricks Emmeline Lark to make a deal with the Wood King in exchange for her grandfather. This was a great story, and even though I don’t read a lot of fantasy, I enjoyed this book.
Comet: A Book That Is Out of This World Or A Children’s Book
I think one of my favourite children’s books is The Magic Paintbrush. The illustrations are amazing and the story has a great message.
Cupid: A Couple That You Really Want To Be Together Or A Hyped Book That You Liked
I have a love/hate relationship with hyped books, like a lot of people. One that didn’t disappoint is The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. I know it was one of those books it seemed you either loved or were very disappointed with, but I enjoyed the imagery of this one.
Donner: A Book You Constantly Shout About, Or An Opinionated Character, Or A Character Who Lacks Tact
Where the Crawdads Sing is a book that I often recommend when someone asks me if there is one book I recommend. I listened to the audiobook and recommend that if you like audiobooks, but the story is good. I recently watched the movie and loved it as well. They did a wonderful job with it.
Blitzen: A Powerful Book Or A Quick Read
I did a quick read up above so selected a powerful read for this prompt. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was an excellent book about the power of books and being able to read. This is based upon The Pack Horse Library Project founded by Eleanor Roosevelt, but also educated me about the “Blue People of Kentucky”
Olive: A Self-Effacing Character
Shelby Springfield in Built to Last by Erin Hahn is a character that started a new life, quietly working in a small town in Michigan refinishing homes with her father and furniture in her own business. She was happy in her new life and didn’t want to be back in the spotlight. She eventually does a home renovation show and ends up back in the limelight, but in a very different way.
So there we go, a very different Top Ten for me this week. Do you have any different suggestions for these prompts? Then you can share in the comments, or better yet, do this tag yourself. Merry Christmas!
January 5, 2023 at 1:03 am
What a fun tag, Carla! I also enjoyed Signal Moon and Built to Last. Necessary Lies is waiting on my kindle. I always enjoy Chamberlain!
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January 5, 2023 at 3:48 pm
I am gradually working my way through her backlist. She always writes such interesting books and they are so well researched too.
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December 24, 2022 at 8:56 am
I like what you shifted into with this stag, Carla💜 Like you, I buy my own books or get them from the library or publisher.
Funny, Where the Crawdads Sing is the first book that comes to my mind, too, when asked for a recommendation!
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December 24, 2022 at 10:56 am
Thanks Jo. It was fun to do. I can’t tell you how many people I have recommended it to.
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December 23, 2022 at 9:34 pm
What a fun tag Carla and I love your choices!🤗📚💜
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December 23, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Thanks Susan. It was fun.
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December 23, 2022 at 10:45 am
I’m saving this tag for next year. It’s so much fun. 🙂 I hope you have a great Christmas.
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December 23, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Thanks AJ, same to you.
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December 23, 2022 at 9:55 am
I think I’m definitely going to have to save this tag for a future December TTT! Great post, Carla. I really enjoyed reading your answers 🙂 I enjoyed Quinn’s novella and Crawdads, and I can’t wait to read Built to Last and The Underground Railroad!
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December 23, 2022 at 1:36 pm
Thanks Dini. It was fun and I look forward to seeing other people answer, even if it is next year. I love sharing favourite books any way I can.
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December 22, 2022 at 11:25 am
What fun! I love this. Great pics too!
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December 22, 2022 at 11:59 am
Thanks Kimberly.
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December 21, 2022 at 5:47 pm
What a great tag! I love your choices. The holidays are gearing up fast so have a wonderful Christmas!
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December 21, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Thanks, Lisa. I enjoyed doing this tag. I don’t do many, but this one was a perfect fit.
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December 21, 2022 at 12:04 pm
I really enjoyed Edgewood. Great post.
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December 21, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Thanks, it was fun to put together.
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December 21, 2022 at 11:36 am
I keep shouting about Lessons in Chemistry too! What a fun tag, Carla!
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December 21, 2022 at 1:00 pm
It was a fun one, Wendy. I enjoyed putting it together. I still haven’t read Lessons in Chemistry, but I will.
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December 21, 2022 at 11:21 am
I enjoyed several of these books Carla – they are great picks! If you haven’t read The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain I’d highly recommend it. I read it years ago and it’s stuck with me. Happy Holidays!
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December 21, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Believe it not, that was my first Diane Chamberlain and it hooked me on her books. I am trying to read her backlist now. Happy Holidays to you as well, Jodie.
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December 21, 2022 at 7:27 am
The single Kringle did suffer some grief is that story. It turned out really sweet through.
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December 21, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Yes, I loved how it all turned out.
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December 21, 2022 at 7:10 am
Love this Carla great idea! I loved Signal Moon as well, it was brilliant!
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December 21, 2022 at 7:19 am
Thanks Nicki. A different way to share books I loved. I don’t think I’m glad you love it too.
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December 21, 2022 at 6:51 am
I love your twist on today’s prompt. And I think Edgewood is a perfect fit for it. Excellent post!
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December 21, 2022 at 7:17 am
Thanks Tessa, it was fun to do.
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December 20, 2022 at 10:22 pm
Such a creative Top Ten. Well done, Carla (and those other bloggers who worked off of this idea).
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December 21, 2022 at 7:11 am
Thanks Linda. It was fun to do.
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December 20, 2022 at 8:09 pm
This is such a fun tag! I loved both THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK and NECESSARY LIES. I’ve yet to read Kate Quinn, something I need to remedy soon.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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December 20, 2022 at 8:12 pm
It was fun to do. I love sharing books I love, so this was another way. Thanks Susan.
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December 20, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Fun tag. Have a very Merry Christmas!
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December 20, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Thanks Cindy, same to you.
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December 20, 2022 at 7:10 pm
I love this tag! I may just have to do it myself. Happy Reading!
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December 20, 2022 at 7:17 pm
It is a fun one, please do Jana. I love seeing other people’s choices.
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December 20, 2022 at 5:46 pm
Necessary Lies sounds really good. That was such a sad chapter of history.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-hope-santa-brings-this-year/
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December 20, 2022 at 5:47 pm
It certainly was, Lydia. I like her books, she always finds something important to write about.
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December 20, 2022 at 5:02 pm
How fun! This was a cute tag.
I buy my own books, too. Or I ask for specific books from my family and maybe they get me one. I did books I would give someone else today.
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December 20, 2022 at 5:20 pm
I saw you post, Deanna. I loved your ideas and reasons behind them.
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December 20, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Yes! Some excellent books here. And you’ve turned me onto a new author with audiobooks–Kate Quinn. Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have Signal Moon, but I did find The Huntress and it sounds good. Have you read?
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December 20, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Signal Moon is only available via Amazon/Audible at this time. Yes, I have read The Huntress and it was very good. I love all her books. She does a lot of research before writing them, Virginia.
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