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--Martin Luther

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I was "Forced" to Read

October sure is flying by, and it's another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Books I Was Forced to Read", either by school, a friend, book club, etc.  Here's my list:

1.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey:  We read this in English class in high school and I found it fascinating. 

2.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:  Another one from school.  This is one of the most beloved novels around, so it's no surprise that it made my list.

3.  The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas:  I actually read this for a history class in high school, but found it an exciting and entertaining read. 

4.  Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev:  Read in a Russian History class in university.  I love Turgenev.  I also love it when teachers and profs assign fiction to give a glimpse into the time period and mindset. 

5.  A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes:  This is a non-fiction look at the Russian Revolution.  I have a few issues with it, but it's an illustration of how history books can be made readable and engaging.

6.  The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis:  My mom lent me this book out of the blue, saying it was hilarious.  To my surprise, it was fantastic and I've to the sequel on my TBR list.

7.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:  Okay, no one forced me to read it, but we were on a road trip and I was in the back seat with my friend's copy of THG.  I was picked it up because I was bored, and suddenly I'd read 50 pages and was hooked.

8.  Half the Sky by Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn:  My friend bought me this book for Christmas, so I felt obliged to read it, though was worried it would just be depressing.  It certainly has its sad parts, but also tells stories of hope and encourages readers to make a difference.

9.  State of Wonder by Ann Patchett:  We read this in my book club and I wasn't really looking forward to it.  I ended up being drawn into the strange story and really enjoying the read.

2 comments:

  1. I read hunger games . I didn't read the last one but I watched "the three musketeers"

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  2. I read Fathers and Sons for uni as well. I was a little wary at first that a novel was assigned for my 19c Imperial Russia course (I have to be in the mood to read a Russian novel, which is why I'm so thankful I never read any of Dostoevsky's works for school--okay, except Notes from the Underground *just remembered this now*) but then I absolutely loved it in the end; it's still one of my favourite Russian novels ever <3

    I haven't read that title by Figes (my independent study prof in my final year suggested The Whisperers for my paper, which was my introduction to Figes and then used Natasha's Dance for my MA thesis) but that's true, his stuff is very readable and engaging.

    My TTT

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