Happy Top Ten Tuesday, my fellow list makers and readers! This blog hop is brought to you by That Artsy Reader Girl. There you will find links to others who are participating in Top Ten Tuesday.
I had a lot of fun compiling this list. I did not begin reading cozies until last year and most of the ones I have read are fairly new, so I chose to list books in other genres as well. I've listed books I enjoyed reading as a child, books I shared with my students as a teacher before I retired on disability in 2010, and books I've read as an adult just for fun. They are listed in alphabetical order.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl - As a teacher, I used to read this to my third graders every year. It's just plain fun!
Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White - This is another one I used to share with my third graders every year. We always ended the year with this book. I didn't necessarily read this one to them. They usually read it on their own and we discussed it a chapter at a time.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke - This is quite a departure from the previous two! This is the first cozy mystery I ever read and it's the one that made me want to read more cozies. You can read my review here.
Curious George, by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey - Now we're back to the children's books, but even younger children this time. This is one I enjoyed reading when I was a child. I think the reason I liked it so much is because it features a monkey. I've always loved monkeys. Lol.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott - I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. I read this for the first time last year and I loved it. It's the only book I can think of that made me cry a river of tears. No other book, especially one chapter, has had such an emotional impact on me.
Magic Tree House Series, by Mary Pope Osborne - This may be cheating, but I cannot single out one book from this series. It's a good introduction for children to chapter books. I used to read this series to my second graders after recess everyday when I was a teacher. I have not read the entire series, but I read a good bit of them. I felt so nostalgic when I added it to this list that I added the first one in the series to my TBR list so I can re-read it. It's a children's fantasy book, but I think adults can enjoy it as well. I cannot say enough good things about this series. I highly recommend it. You'll be taken to places you never imagined you could travel to and you'll learn a thing or two along the way.
Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington, by Mary Higgins Clark - This was originally called Aspire to the Heavens and it was Clark's first published novel. I owned a copy of this book for many years until I finally read it earlier this year. I was blown away. It's so well-written and engaging. The writing style, which is a series of flashbacks and "flash forwards" is something I did not expect. It really works to neatly tie everything together.
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen - This is another classic for which I was late to the party. I watched the movie first and I loved it. It really helped me understand the book when I finally read it last year. It's become a bit of an obsession for me. I watch everything, even loose adaptations, that has anything to do with it. I also have a few related books on my TBR list.
Steal Like an Artist, by Austin Kleon - I read this years ago and I read it again last year. It's the first in a trilogy of books by this author. It's simple to read and it contains practical tips anyone on a creative journey can put into practice.
The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks - This is the first book ever published by Nicholas Sparks and it's the one that made me a fan of his work. I have read several of his books, but not all of them. In due time, I will.
Have you read any books on this list? Are there any that interest you? What would you put on your list? Do tell in the comments below!
