I graduated from grad school over a year ago! EEK! That was a shriek of excitement and of sheer terror. I tend to have a sense of dread any time I think of the fact that I am no longer in school. No longer in my comfort zone of the world of academia. In order to calm my anxious nerves about living in the real world, I am never far from a book! Because of this quirk, I am often asked for book recommendations... So I will attempt to recommend my top 10 favorite books of all time!
A young-adult novel about a young girl who believed in angels until her boyfriend died in a car crash. Ironically as her belief faded he became her guardian angel and couldnt move on to heaven until he was able to warn her that his murder wasn't an accident and she was next. It's a three part series. Beautifully written and this book sparked my faith in love and in angels during a time that I needed it most.
Although I am in love with every single Harry Potter book J.K. ever wrote, this one holds a special place in my heart. Books 1 and 2 set the stage and are definitely a necessary part of the series but they lack the humor, intensity and passion that this book captures effortlessly. With Harry finding and losing family, harnessing his inner strength and the beginning inklings that there might be more than just friendship brewing amongst the three musketeers. It may also have to do with the fact that I began reading the series when the third one came out, so it was after reading book 1, 2 and 3 without pausing in a weekend reading spree, while I was visiting my father in Wisconsin, that I caught the the Harry Potter fever and HAD to have book 4.
This plot is simple yet seductive. A housewife happens to meet the love of her life, while her husband and kids are away at a fair in a nearby town. A rogue and rugged photographer rolls into town in his pickup with one purpose, to photograph a bridge. But he gets soooo much more! It's steamy, yet sweet and light hearted!
Staying with my theme of romance! I mean do you know a single girl that doesnt now swoon at this storyline... this is the only book where I didnt even try to find the original cover for the photo... reason being is because it's one of the only movies adapted from a book where I like the movie better. Haha! But I absolutely loved the book, even before Ryan Gosling was cast as the part of Noah... the only man who trumps my love for Pacey/Peter (see my top favorite shows post for more on that).
So the predecessor to this book is also one of my all time favorites... The Kite Runner, but if I had to choose only one then it would definitely have to be this one. It is hauntingly beautiful and it makes you cry, angry and feel empowered all at once. Both are must reads! No spoiler alerts here! This was a book I read in undergrad and it definitely changed me.
During my junior year of undergrad my roommate, my sister and my best guy friend started a book club "Smarts the new gansta" haha! We decided we would choose one book a month and then meet up over coffee and discuss it. Well we only made it through two books. This being the second... the first didn't make it on this list- Let's just say it had to do with little girls, sexuality, china and breaking feet. Definitely not a light read. Well neither was our second choice (we were such little activists in college). A long way gone is about the journey of young boy in Sierra Leone. It is his memoirs of being a boy soldier and how an organization and the help of a dedicated woman turned his life around. I actually got to meet Ishmael. A few years after I read the novel he came to my alma mater and spoke about his experience. He signed my book and everything! He was pretty awesome and so is his story!
Soooo I totally didnt want to put two books from any of the same series... but I mean c'mon! Any HP fan will tell you that 7 just freaking brings the whole series together and gives you so many chills and makes you cry and laugh so hard YOU feel like you just died, were born again, and saved an entire wizarding world with only the help of a snitch!! WHAT! Nerdom flows freely in my blood! :)
I'm actually not sure when I read this book. But it's another life changer. If you have ever questioned the existence of a higher being or the presence of God in your life, this is definitely a book for you. Its the story of an older man who has lost his daughter and his journey of connecting with God in a very peculiar way.
I read this in Grad school right after the worst break up of my very long (23 years old) life! I was in a really dark place and feeling very undeserving of love, marriage or anything to do with the opposite sex. A girl from my church recommended I read this. After collecting dust on my shelf for months (sometimes I have a habit of avoiding things that are good for me) I finally picked it up at during my Thanksgiving break. On my 10 hour train ride home to NC I finished this 432 page book in awe of God and in awe of real love. This book, along with the help of my wonderful friends from grad school and of course God, I was able to desire real love. Not lust, not puppy love, not toxic love, but real genuine, God driven love! (Let's just say several years later- a lady doesnt reveal her age-the real thing is SOOO much better) If you are a woman... READ it!
So I was late reading this book. It was recommended to me years ago and I just picked it up last fall. It is so heartfelt and the emotions are so raw and tangible. I definitely needed this book while I was growing up. It would have eased a lot of the turmoil I felt inside growing up as a biracial child. Definitely an inspirational novel for all multiracial families!
Ok so this one I also just read recently. This book was the shortest most adventurous book I have ever read. I mean seriously the plot had more twists and turns than Arabian Nights. I love the simplistic wisdom and universal truths that set the tone for this novel. It brings to question destiny, free will and happiness! Definitely a must read for all!
