Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tahleen's Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Book Club Picks



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


For future Top Ten Tuesday topics through February, check them out here!


Hi everyone! This week's topic is great book club picks. I hope you agree with me that these would spark some great discussion, even if you don't particularly like the books themselves. Sometimes that sparks the best discussion, don't you think?


1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Come on, you know I am all about YA. This books has lots of appeal for adults as well as teens, and there is definitely a lot to talk about here.


2. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris. This is one that is less known, but I think extremely well written and full of stuff to talk about. It's told from 3 perspectives, 3 generations of women, all coming together in the end. I really liked this one and I want other people to know about it, too.


3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Yeah, I know, I know. Everyone's already read it. But think about how you can all talk about why it's so popular, or even if it deserves all the buzz! Also, it was written by a woman who had a black maid, so there's that bit to talk about too. There's a lot that probably can be uncovered in a second read-through or discussion.


4. Anything by John Green. There is so much to his writing, with literary allusions and philosophy and ways he connects the past to the present. Love it.


5. A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I actually read this for my book club, and there was a lot to talk about. Especially when you put yourself in that position, thinking about how you would react if that ever happened. (You'll find out what I'm talking about when you read it.)


6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. A good non-fiction book to add to the mix. Skloot makes science accessible and tells the story of one of the most overlooked women in the history of science. It's fascinating and personal and very exposed all at the same time. Makes you really think about medical ethics.


7. Maus by Art Spiegelman. If you haven't read this graphic novel, you should. Spiegelman is a master at this art. There is so much to talk about in this two-part memoir, I can't even begin to talk about it all.


8. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I had to. You guys KNOW me by now. He is my hero. Also, this book is hilarious and full of an enormous amount of interesting facts. This is due for a reread.


9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. I just really liked this book and think it has a lot you could talk about.


10. Sunshine by Robin McKinley. This book is the very best vampire book ever. In my opinion. SO much going on, and you will want to eat all sorts of baked goods/try your hand at baking while reading this. Plus, vampires are not sparkly in this one. They want to kill you. Most of the time.


Those are my picks! Tell us yours. Link up below!

63 comments:

  1. I didn't think of The Absolutely True Diary, but it's a great selection! I did think of Handmaid's Tale (one of my all-time favs), but selected When She Woke and The Giver instead, which I felt kinda summed up the same discussion points.

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  2. Sorry if my link double-posted! It went thru, and then seemed to disappear!

    I have The Help as my #1! :)
    I hear Maus is a MUST!

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  3. I haven't read A Walk in the Woods, but what a great writer to pick for a book club group! Bill Bryson is just great! Some other fantastic choices on your list. Great topic as per usual :)

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  4. I love you so much for picking Sunshine. It's one of my favorite books. Total comfort read.
    =D

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  5. I'm not a fan of reading non-fiction in book clubs, for some reason. I think it's too easy to become personally invested, and if there are a lot of strong personalities in the room that could get ugly. But I do like your choices! There are some great books mentioned.

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    1. That's true, I guess you need to be careful of what you pick depending on who's in the group. But I think it's nice to have variety every once in a while. Maybe history books wouldn't be so troublesome?

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  6. Oh yes, definitely The Handmaid's Tale! That's one of my favourites. :)

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  7. Love Handmaid's Tale! I've really been wanting to read #7 too.

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  8. I really want to read the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks with my book group. I think it will generate a great discussion.

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  9. Interested to find out what you're talking about - A Handmaid's Tale. And no, I haven't read #3 :) Oh, wait... was Fried Green Tomatoes made into a film? Guess I have a DVD of that *recalling*

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  10. I agree-The Help is quite perfect. It's a book that simply makes you smile.

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  11. Great selection! It's funny to see if any of us come up with similar books. I almost added 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks', but 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' won over it.

    Check out my TTT! http://mtgreviews.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/top-ten-tuesday-02/

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  12. These are all excellent choices. I'd love to read any of these with a book group and discuss them.

    Here is my Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks. I hope you will stop by!

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  13. I accidentally put the wrong link the first time and now it won't let me change it or add my proper link ;A; this is what I get for trying to post before my morning coffee.

    When you said "Anything by John Green" I got really excited for a second because I thought there was another book of his I hadn't read. I completely agree, by the way.

    Here's my proper link :( http://coffeeandwizards.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/top-ten-tuesday4/

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    1. Hahaha that's awesome. I bet he could write a book called "Anything."

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  14. Oh god, it linked three times. I am so sorry. I would delete two of them if I could. I feel like such a failure.

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  15. The Handmaid's Tale is brilliant!
    The more time I spend in the blogosphere, the more I realize that I have to read Bill Bryson.

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    1. Ahhh yes do it!! He is fantastic. If you like audio books, get the ones he narrates himself. He's brilliant.

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  16. Great list! We read The Help for my book club and it led to a great discussion.

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  17. I chose "The Help" too. What an amazing book! I didn't put "Fried Green Tomatoes" on my list but I love that book (and film) so much.

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  18. I loved this question! I was literally kneeling in front of my book case trying to choose!

    Abi @ Loveofliterature

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  19. We had some of the same ones! Maybe we should be in a book club together! LOL! I have a different Sherman Alexie book, but seriously anything by him is great! I struggled with putting Handmaid's Tale on, but decided I had a couple dystopians already so I should round it out more with other types instead. Love that book though! Made me SO mad! Here's ours: http://marmaladelibby.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-10-tuesday-3.html

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    1. I'd love to be in a book group, period! We should start one haha. I wish I had time to read more.

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  20. I also have The Help on my list! There are so many on your list that I forgot for mine!

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  21. Great list for discussions and a couple that are new to me. Thanks for hosting.

    -FABR Steph@FiveAlarmBookReviews
    My Top Ten...

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  22. Oh I completely agree with True Diary. I've read that 3 different times for 3 different classes and we always have huge discussions about it.

    Alison at The Cheap Reader

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  23. Sounds like a great book club already! Great list and a few more books just made it to my TBR pile.

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  24. It's sad to say, but I haven't read any of these! This is a hugely successful top ten because it's given me some great ideas to add to my reading list.

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    1. Hooray! Glad to help! I hope you enjoy them. :)

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  25. Yay yay for Bill Bryson! I just put A Walk in the Woods on one of my recent TTT (top ten non-fiction books for non-non-fiction readers).

    My TTT

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  26. Yeah for the John Green mention! He is amazing! I'm getting read to read the Sherman Alexie book for my YA lit class...so excited! Great list!

    Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews
    http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday-11-book-club-picks.html

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  27. great list today. I've always wanted to read Fried Green Tomatoes--I think I'll do that now. I loved the help and I agree with you on Sunshine. Very Creepy Book. kaye—the road goes ever ever on

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  28. I've read the Alexie book, Maus, Handmaid's Tale, and Fried Green Tomatoes, and I agree they'd make great book club picks! I considered adding Maus to my own list--neat to see it here. :)

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  29. Agreed on Atwood :) and I've recently been pointed in the direction of John Green so I'm happy to see him on your list as well!

    Aspen @ Inner Aspen
    http://inner-aspen.blogspot.com

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  30. There are so many good books I wish I could have experienced with a group. The Help is definitely one of them!

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  31. OMG, I can't believe you have SUNSHINE on your list! I thought I was the only person who's read this amazing book. Great choice!! Also, Bill Bryson, love him!

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    1. It is by far my favorite vampire novel out there. I really don't think many can compare or come even close. Maybe Interview with a Vampire. But Sunshine is on a level way above the norm. Glad you have read it and love it too! And also that you love Bill Bryson. As everyone should. :)

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  32. I didn't think about Maus! Good call.

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  33. Sunshine, YES!!!! Fave book, EVAH!!! And yes, anything John Green also would rock a book club:)

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  34. John Green-- YES. I've only read Looking for Alaska, but I'm reading TFioS now and shnikeys, it's amazing. I also checked out Paper Towns from the library a week ago, so I'm ticking them off the list.

    Haven't actually read The Help yet (or even seen the movie), but I waaaant to. Need to get on that soon! Great list! :)

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  35. Haha I almost put that exact wording for John Green when I was making my list yesterday, but then I went with Looking for Alaska. (:

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  36. Ah, Maus. I read the second part for a class in university and enjoyed it so much that I got the first part from the library when I went home for the summer. Interesting read, that's for sure.

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  37. I found this one hard to do but really good fun - great topic! Mine is at YA Yeah Yeah if you'd like to take a look.

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  38. I didn't participate this week, because the only bookclub I have ever attended I thoroughly detested, so the topic left me a bit stumped... however, the Help I would think would make a wonderful book for discussion, and number 6 I would loooove to read.

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  39. John Green made my list too, although I went with TFiOS (after a long debate with myself!) in the end.

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  40. I really loved The Help and would love to discuss it. I didn't like Sunshine at all, but I'd still be interested in a discussion...maybe someone could show me why I should give it another chance. :)

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    1. I can understand why you wouldn't like Sunshine. It's really hard to get into, especially with all the world building that is thrown at you in pieces. I just loved the language and characters so much. I think I should read it again; it's been a few years now.

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  41. I am so loving The Fault in Our Stars! As soon as it becomes a paperback, I'm going to encourage the Teen Lit Club to tackle it.

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  42. While I've shied away from vampire books, the intersection of vampires nad baked goods is intriguing!

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  43. I am new to this meme. For the life of me I hope I did it correctly.

    I discovered your blog last week and this. =)

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  44. I am not one for book clubs because I want to read what I want to read when I want to read it, I don't do well with coloring inside the lines, that is why I started my blog, to be a book club of one!

    Gosh I need to read A Handmaiden's Tale. I have wanted to read it for so long but never got around to reading it!

    http://deadtreesandsilverscreens.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday-book-club-of-oneplus.html - my post

    Visit my giveaway to win a copy of Within! http://deadtreesandsilverscreens.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaway-win-ebook-copy-of-within.html

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  45. Fried Green Tomatoes, heck yea!

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  46. The Help is probably one of my new favorite books of all time. I would love to be able to discuss it with some friends over tea and baked goodies. :) I didn't realize Fried Green Tomatoes was a book! I'll have to add it to my list. Just discovered Top Ten Tuesdays and am looking forward to doing my own! Thanks for the post. It was lovely, and I look forward to more!

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  47. Hi: This is a great idea for a top ten and your list is a great mix! Thanks and here's mine: http://yearofreadingmybooks.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/happy-belated-birthday-edith-and-top-ten-and-teaser-tuesday/ Ruby

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  48. Oh, John Green books would be good! And you've got a nice variety of books there. Great picks! :)

    -Meredith

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    1. Thanks Meredith! I tried to get a good variety, didn't want them all to be YA or fiction or whatever. Glad you liked it!

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  49. Just posted my first Top Ten! I really co-posted this because my buddy at Indie's Bookshelf is doing the same post tonight. The two of us work together and co-sponsor a teen book club.

    Thanks!

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  50. I absolutely LOVE Sherman Alexie - he is my go-to recommendation for reluctant readers.

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  51. I love this list! I love that it's so eclectic, and that you included John Green books AND Fried Green Tomatoes on one list.

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  52. I really want to read Henrietta. It sounds so interesting!

    Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library

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  53. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is on my list too!!! I love that book! I also love this meme!

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  54. Late to the party but I linked up! "Maus" would be a great read for discussion and I had "Handmaid's Tale" on my list as well.

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  55. It makes me so happy Bill Bryson is on your list. I love his writing! Sadly, I haven't read A Walk in the Woods. That needs to change soon.

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