Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on my Fall TBR List

September 19, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the theme is: books on your Fall TBR

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a mood reader. And sometimes, I feel like I’m the moodiest reader there is. I can’t seem to stick to a TBR list to save my life. I tend to pick up books on a whim. The only exception to this is my book club books; I will read those no matter what. I just need the schedule ahead of time!

“Jackie,” you might ask, “Why are you participating in this Top Ten Tuesday, then?” Great question! Because I want an excuse to examine what is coming up with my reading. I want to look at my full TBR, set a reading list, and see if I can do it.

Join me.

 

All titles below are links to the book’s Goodreads page.


 

Top 10 Books on my Fall TBR

 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Believe it or not, this is a re-read for me! I don’t often re-read books, but one of my book clubs has picked this book up and it’s been a while since I read it. When I first read this book, it ensnared me. I wonder if it will again? Regardless, I look forward to discussing it at book club!

 

Check out my review!

 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Yes, yes, another book club book! But one I’ve been dying to read. I really only know the elevator story of Henrietta Lacks and her DNA. I feel like I need to learn the whole story. Science, history, and ethics must be learned! Besides, I’ve heard amazing things about this story.

 

 

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Sympathizer is on my TBR for so many reasons. It was recommended to me by a librarian I trust back in 2015. It fits my espionage thriller category for the Popsugar Challenge. It’s a historical fiction novel set after the Fall of Saigon at a time in my reading life when I’ve been craving Vietnam War focused fiction. Plus, it won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize. Why wouldn’t I read this?

 

The Legend of Buddy Bush by Shelia P. Moses

I am no social justice warrior. I’m a bit of a coward, honestly. Crowds make me hyperventilate and yelling makes me anxious. But, I do want to educate myself. I want to understand the issues and clearly articulate my feelings. So, lately, I’ve been on a social and racial justice focused reading kick with YA. Enter The Legend of Buddy Bush. More recommendations are welcome!

 

Anne of Ingleside and Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery

 

What? You knew these books would be here! Both of these are on my fall TBR for the #AnneReadAlong2017 ! (There’s still time to join up!) — This has been a wonderful journey, and I can’t wait to see what else is going on for Anne and Gilbert! Have you been reading along? I hope to see these on your TBR!

 

The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

 

I adore N.K. Jemisin’s writing. I found her accidentally a few years ago when I picked up The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Her writing blew me away. I read the first book in a single sitting. I knew I was in trouble then. Now that The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate have both won the Hugo, I have high hopes for the ending of this series. I cannot WAIT to see what happens!

 

The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Shall we talk blogger shame? Let’s do it. I picked up an ARC of The Sun is Also a Star in October 2016. That’s right. It will be a year this October since I picked up this book. and I am ashamed. I refuse to let a year go by, so gosh darn it, I WILL READ THIS BOOK.

 

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox

Oh, what’s that? You’ve never heard of this book? It’s the 1974 winner of the Newbery Medal, and next on my queue to read all the Newbery Medal winners. This *sorta* aligns with my social/racial justice kick. It’s supposed to be extraordinarily painful and depressing for a middle-grade novel which illustrates the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. Bring it on.

 

 

Okay friends, there it is! My top 10 Fall TBR books. The real question is this: Do you think I’ll actually read them all? 😉


What do you think?

  • Did you participate in Top Ten Tuesday? Share your links below!
  • Have you read any of these books? Where do you recommend I start?
  • Are you a mood reader, or do you religiously follow you TBR? Why?
  • Do you have other books focusing on social or racial justice you could recommend?
  • What books are on your fall TBR which have been waiting the longest to read? Any over a year?

24 Comments

  • Novels And Nonfiction September 19, 2017 at 9:26 am

    What a super varied TBR list! I like it 🙂 I’ve decided to not put together a TBR for this Fall because it just ends up making me feel pressured, but doing one of your priorities rather than a complete TBR list is a smart idea to make it feel less confining. Out of these picks I’ve only read The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks and it was REALLY good. Hope you love it! 🙂

    • Jackie B September 21, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      Right? This is why I never really make TBR lists– I’m hoping this will help keep me on track a bit more, without the pressure. I am SUPER excited to pick up The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, but I have been warned away from the audiobook. Apparently, the narrator sorta ruins it. Oops! 🙂 I look forward to sharing my opinions with you.

  • Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel September 19, 2017 at 9:46 am

    Lovely TBR list. I have heard high praises for Sympathizer but I am yet to read it. Hope you love finishing the Anne series as well

    • Jackie B September 21, 2017 at 8:39 pm

      Thank you, Resh Susan! I’m glad you’ve heard great things for The Sympathizer! I haven’t heard anything other than what my librarian recommended– and I happen to trust him quite a bit. 🙂

  • Ann Marie September 19, 2017 at 9:50 am

    Nicely varied list! I hadn’t heard of The Legend of Buddy Bush. I’m going to add that to my TBR now. I admit that I “cheated” and watched the Henrietta Lacks movie this weekend. It was phenomenal! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the book.

    • Jackie B September 21, 2017 at 8:43 pm

      Thank you, Ann Marie! I didn’t realize how varied this was until you mentioned it, actually…

      Watching the movie totally isn’t cheating. Sometimes, it’s just what we need. For example, I watched Hidden Figures instead of reading it. It looked too good to pass up. I hope I enjoy the book as much as you enjoyed the movie!

  • Annemieke September 19, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    Oh I really need to start The Fifth Season again. I want to. She sounds like an author I’d reall like but the prologue made the book seem so daunting. 🙁

    • Jackie B September 20, 2017 at 8:17 am

      It’s a little weird to pick up, since a few portions are written in 2nd person. But when was the last time you read something in second person? You get into a groove quickly. If you wanted to start with something a bit easier to digest, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is all in first person. 😉

  • Diana September 20, 2017 at 7:25 am

    I like how diverse your books are. Legend of Buddy Bush sounds like one I’d like to read. I haven’t read Sun is also a Star but I have heard so many good things about it so I hope that you will enjoy it. Happy reading.

    • Jackie B September 21, 2017 at 4:56 pm

      Thank you, Diana! It is quite a diverse list; I didn’t even noticed that. I hope that all these books are winners, as we all do when looking at our TBRs. The key is not to let the hype build up too much in our own heads.

  • battybibliophile September 20, 2017 at 12:02 pm

    A friend has recommended The Fifth Season, but I’m still waiting on a copy from the library so I didn’t add it to my list because it could be next year before I get it haha. I love your list and I’m going to look a couple of these up 🙂 I’m totally a mood reader, but I try to make TBRs anyway, and I think about half of the books on my TTT this week are books I’ve had & wanted to read for more than a year :/

    • Jackie B September 21, 2017 at 10:25 pm

      Preach at me. The library wait list for some of these books is RIDICULOUS. I am #43 on hold for the final book in the Broken Earth trilogy, The Stone Sky. It will probably be 2019 before I get to read it, too. Alas, I built my TBR on wishes. 😉

      I am also completely with you on books which have been on your TBR for over a year! Oy. some of my TBR books are pushing 5 years old… perhaps even older, because by GR account is only 5 years old. XD Oh well. We try and try– but mood reading gets in the way!

      I’ll have to check out your posts. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!!!

  • Dani @ Perspective of a Writer September 21, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    So yeah I’m sure you’ll read the books you have a deadline for Jackie! But just do you’re best ♥️ my book club read The Immortal Life and I hesitate to say this but was massively disappointed, maybe you’ll get loads more out of it than I did but it is more about her youth than science to me. The Slave Dancer is exactly the kind of book I’d have read as a early teen, lol. I’ve heard The Sun is Also a Star is quite good! What keeps you from reading it?

  • Anna @MyBookishDream September 22, 2017 at 10:25 am

    I have heard so many amazing things about The Fifth Season and I really want to read it! It just sounds like a book that I would enjoy. And as far as I’m aware it’s a trilogy that’s completed, so I should probably get to it soon! 😀 Great list!

    • Jackie B September 22, 2017 at 10:34 am

      It is! The final book just came out last month, hence the reason I’m working through these last two books. I read The Fifth Season for book club a few months ago. I really enjoyed reading it. NK Jemisin’s writing has a refreshing twist to it. I am addicted. 🙂 I hope you get a chance to read The Broken Earth trilogy eventually and that you love it!

  • Shouni September 22, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    The Sun is Also a Star is SO GOOD and Natasha and Daniel are the absolute cutest! I think you’re going to like that one! And I can’t wait to read you reviews of the last two Anne books! I… think you will manage to get at least five of them read 🙂 [how’s that for a vote of confidence? 😀 ]. I’m also a mood reader, I don’t plan ahead what I’ll be reading next unless it’s a part of a series.

    • Jackie B September 26, 2017 at 7:42 pm

      YAY! I’m so glad that you enjoy The Sun is Also A Star— I can’t wait to read it. And now I’m even more excited. It’s great when my bookish friends love these books, too.

      Pft, I’ll totally take your vote of confidence! 5 is better than none. Mood reading is both amazing and terrible. There are so many great things to read, how can I be expected to focus?! 😉

      • Shouni September 29, 2017 at 6:43 pm

        It’s one of my favorite contemporaries, I hope you love it! RIGHT THOUGH! It’s so hard to choose what to read!

  • Books, Vertigo and Tea September 24, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    NK Jemisin is coming up on my list 😉 And I have also been meaning to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for some time. Thanks for the reminder 😉 I will be awaiting your thoughts.

    • Jackie B September 26, 2017 at 7:30 pm

      NK Jemisin is amazing and comes strongly recommended. I would suggest starting with The Inheritance Trilogy, starting with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms first. It is a great introduction to Jemisin’s work– it’s really unique, but easy enough to follow. The Broken Earth trilogy is more of a challenge.

      I can’t wait to share my thoughts! Perhaps we’ll have much to debate when you eventually read them. 🙂

      • Books, Vertigo and Tea October 2, 2017 at 4:25 pm

        I will have to see which title I have on my Kindle. Thanks for the heads up on that. Always nice to have a recommended starting point 🙂

  • Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity September 25, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    I haven’t read any of these books so can’t comment on their greatness or not-so-greatness. But I can say that The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin was AMAZING and I’ve heard great things about her other books so I think they will be good! I accidentally discovered her through The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, as well! It became an instant favourite.

    I am a pretty moody reader so I don’t bother making lists of books I want to read in X timeframe anymore because I always ended up disappointing myself when I only got around to about two of them. I hope this list works out for you, though, Jackie!

    • Jackie B September 26, 2017 at 7:17 pm

      Yes! I’m so glad that I’m not alone in loving N K Jemisin! I *also* accidentally discovered her. And it was life changing. I couldn’t be happier that she has own two Hugos in the past few years. Here’s hoping The Stone Sky also wins!!!

      Yes, I never really do that either. So far, I’m not doing a great job. But perhaps if people commenting and bring me back here to this post, I’ll keep it at the front of my mind. 🙂

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