This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday is the books we enjoyed recently outside of our typical genres or comfort zones. If you’ve been hanging around me or the blog for even just a week, you’ve probably figured out that my “typical category” is Christian fiction. When you’re as attached to a category as I am to mine, you get comfy and have a general idea of what to expect from books within that category. This is true for fans of dystopian fiction, bodice rippers, cozy mysteries, etc.
As someone who just plain loves stories and loves the adventure of reading, I do more than occasionally branch out into other categories 😉 But it’s always with a little trepidation at first, mainly because I’m not sure what I’ll encounter along the way. Will the writing voice be as warm and engaging as I’m used to? Will I have to wade through a little profanity or a lot? And so on and so forth.
So when I learned of this week’s topic, I couldn’t help but think of my category-adventures as a bit like going on blind dates. Which brought to mind the popular experience that’s been sweeping through coffee shops and bookstores lately. Which led to… this post 🙂
Click on each “wrapped cover” to be taken to the book’s Amazon page.
(Or if you just don’t want to click, you can hover over the Goodreads button and it should show you the title in the link.)
What I loved about this book: I was captivated the moment I started reading it. It is, at its heart and soul, a love letter to books but so much more than that, too. It is a poignant portrait of small town Midwest America, a delightful tribute to friendship that crosses all barriers, and a (mostly) gentle nudge to anyone who has been hiding their true selves behind a shell of insecurity. Read More.
What I loved about this book: A marvelously captivating story that spans decades through the seamless use of a dual timeline, I was swept away by the scenery, the family dynamics, and the unsolved disappearance that has haunted a family for years.Besides composing a beautiful narrative, the author shows her clever story-crafting skills as well – in the minute details that may go unnoticed individually but as a whole create the perfect atmosphere for the plot. Read More.
What I loved about this book: Oh my word – I love this author’s writing style! Droll humor, witty asides, hilarious larger-than-life characters. It’s like the swashbuckling humor from “The Princess Bride” meets the family from “While You Were Sleeping” (without the guy in the coma … or the love triangle… and set in the early 1800s.) But, you know, besides that. 😉 A note of caution to my Christian fiction readers: there were a couple of scenes in this book that got a little … umm… hotter than I’m used to.
What I loved about this book: This is one of those stories that made me laugh and cry and smile and melt over the course of time we spent together. It’s adorable. It’s heartwarming. It’s nostalgic. It’s romantic. The dialogue is real and smart and witty, and you just want to sit down with these characters for dinner and chat a while. Definitely a book I could read several times and still enjoy just as much as the first time.
What I loved about this book: First – this wins the award for “best last 3 sentences to end a book” 🙂 Left me smiling as I figuratively closed the cover (because of course I was reading the ebook). Second – at the risk of minimizing the author’s own great talent & voice, I couldn’t help but subtitle this “If Sheldon Cooper Fell In Love” as soon as I began to read.
What I loved about this book: I experienced nearly every range of emotions possible while reading this book. The hero is that playful, smoldering rogue-type who wields winks like weapons (say that last phrase ten times fast!) and leaves a trail of swooning females in his wake when he grins (me totally included). The banter between the hero and heroine– right from the beginning – is just top notch and so entertaining! I grinned through nearly every scene they shared. And then… I just cried for a while. And held my breath. While tears just kept streaming down my cheeks. Whew. This one tugged at all my emotions, y’all. In the best possible way.
What I loved about this book: A wonderfully cozy Christmas read tinted with shades of Scrooge and bits of delightful British humor, this book draws on everything that makes New York magical during the holidays. The hero starts out rather unlikable but has the greatest transformation, though it’s the heroine who is figuratively visited by the ghosts of her past, present, and future. The little girl steals the show with her adorableness and her authenticity. Read More.
What I loved about this book: It’s extremely entertaining and written for everyone who, like me, has a tendency to collect fictional crushes. The characters leap off the page and evoke a wide range of feelings – from distaste to hilarity to swoons. Speaking of hilarity, I envisioned actress Jennifer Coolidge every time one of my favorite secondary characters was in a scene, and I was absolutely delighted to see that she plays this character in the film adaptation. Which made the film worth watching. Because the book’s ending is way cuter.
What I loved about this book: This is “cozy mystery” at its best! Engaging writing, likable characters, and a couple of surprising twists make this a terrific choice for an evening or weekend read. The writing is light and witty without sacrificing on quality, and I loved the main character’s dry sense of humor. Read More.
What I loved about this book: The characters in this book – particularly the adorable little boy – will tug. at. your. heart. The hero had me swooning, and the heroine had me checking my contact list for her name because I’m certain we’ve been friends for years. This is a sweet, clean romance that will still have you reaching for your fan on occasion! Read More.
Sooo.. what books have you read lately that were out of your typical genre? Let me know & be sure to include a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post if you’re participating this week! 🙂
Oh my gosh! This is brilliant! I have loved this idea…but never knew how to share it over the internet! <3
Thank you!! 😀 It took me a while to figure out how to make it work lol
Yay! So love the format that you did! 😀 😀 😀
I loooove The Rosie Project, too! 😀 And I will be reading (hopefully) Attachments, soon!
Thanks!! I had fun putting this post together 🙂 I think you will love Attachments!!
Yay! That’s the only Rowell book that I haven’t read (I am a fan?;)) so I guess I will like it a lot!
Love, love, love your post this week! What a clever way to peak my interest. Way to go, Carrie!
Thanks, Beckie! I had a lot of fun putting it together 🙂
What a fun way to do this – love it! 🙂 Here’s my TTT for this week.
Thanks! I had a lot of fun with it 🙂
I had requested an ARC of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, but wasn’t approved. It sounded like such a fun read! I’ll have to check it out. And I haven’t read Austenland, but I really enjoyed the movie, so I’ll have to add that one to my list too. href=”https://notanotherdumbblonde.com/2016/02/23/top-ten-tuesday-outside-my-genre-comfort-zone/”>My TTT
Odd. That didn’t paste correctly. Let’s try again. href=”https://notanotherdumbblonde.com/2016/02/23/top-ten-tuesday-outside-my-genre-comfort-zone/”>My TTT
aww that’s too bad about Readers of Broken Wheel. But you should check it out – it was really really good! Austenland – the book is way better in my opinion!! 😀
The book is always better 🙂 But in this case I’m not sure I even knew it was a book, so now I’m definitely going to have to read it.
Yes! You must! lol
Carrie! You are so creative! I loved this post. Thank you for encouraging me to explore beyond my comfort zone. 😉
Thank you, Caryl!! I had a lot of fun with this post 😀
I really loved your take on this topic. You’ve done such an amazing job once again. I only wish you would have included the name of the books. I know, I know. I’m such a lazy reader. But all that clicking! 😛 Obviously, I’m just kidding. You did a great job.
Thanks for stopping by earlier!
Hahaha!!! But then it’s not “blind” 😉
But you’re making me work! *whines* Lol
LOL!! Here’s a hint – if you hover over the Goodreads button for each one, you should be able to see the title 😉
No! I literally clicked each one! LMAO!!! Good thing I wasn’t being serious. 😀
HAHAHA! Oops… I should have mentioned that sooner lol
Such a cool idea! My library is actually doing this right now! They have wrapped books with descriptions. It’s so fun!
oh fun!!! I haven’t heard of libraries doing this – what a great thing!
This is such a clever idea! Wow! 😀
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My TTT Post!
thank you! I had a lot of fun with it 😀
Fabulous idea! I admit I will be adding a few of these to my TBR 🙂
thanks! I had fun putting it together 🙂
As always, I love your TTT! And I had to add several books to my TBR. I’m know glad you have read and love Austenland. I think that one is so clever! Have you read Midnight in Austenland? It’s fun too!
My TTT: https://greenishbookshelf.wordpress.com/2016/02/23/top-10-tuesday-outsider-tbr/
I still need to read Midnight in Austenland – I had heard mixed reviews so have waited on it. But now that I’ve got a recommendation from someone I “know”, I’ll put it back on the list 😀
I’m glad! It’s definitely different than the first–more of a Northanger Abbey feel than P&P. But still enjoyable 🙂
This is such a fun idea! I really loved Attachments, it’s in my TTT as well 🙂
My TTT: http://www.lindseyh.be/2016/02/23/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-enjoyed-recently-that-werent-my-typical-genretype-of-book/
thank you! I had fun putting this post together 😀
“Blind date with a book”? How cute is your prompt this week, Carrie. Love it. I still need to read “Austenland” especially given how much I can fangirl about the movie. 😉
“Blind date with a book”? What a fun prompt you put together this week, Carrie. Also, I REALLY need to read “Austenland” at some point. Even more so since I can (and have) had some major FANGIRL discussions about the film. 😉
Ooops! Didn’t realize my earlier comment came through. Just delete one (and this one). 🙂
Lol no problem
The book is sooooo much cuter!! But I loved the movie too 🙂
And thank you! I had fun with this post 🙂
What a fun way to do this post! I agree that it’s hard to know what you’re getting into when you read contemporary fiction. Christian fiction is so much safer! 🙂
Thanks! I had a lot of fun putting this post together 🙂
I absolutely adore what you did here this week. It’s amazing, much props! I quickly clicked on the “obsessed with Mr. Darcy” novel because of important reasons 😉 Wonderful list this week!
Haha! Thank you! I had a lot of fun putting it together 🙂
I absolutely adore how you did this!
Readerbuzz.blogspot.com
thank you! I had fun with it 🙂
This was such an innovative and fun way to do the TTT post this week! You have several books here that have been of my radar for a while! Great post. 🙂
thanks! I did have fun putting it together 🙂
I really loved the way that you did this! This is a great list; and quite a few that I want to pick up now. This is a great way to get people interested in a book without judging it by it’s cover.
Yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I had such fun putting it together
I’ve recently been hearing a ton about The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and especially since I live in Iowa, I’ve been very interested in picking it up. Glad to hear your praise heaped on the rest!
I really enjoyed it!
Ooh, cool way of doing this! Thank you.
Thanks!
OMG I LOVE Attachments it was so cute and sweet and just all fun. Also made me remember the huge freakout over Y2K lol The only other one I know and btw I love the movie and didn’t know it was a book is Austenland.
Oh you must read Austenland – it’s even cuter than the movie!
I love this blind date format! It’s a good way to really get to know a book =P
Thanks! I had a lot of fun with it!
Love the sound of Murder on Wheels. In fact, I’ve been looking at it ever since I saw your review for it. I think though, the geocaching and the gluten-free food truck have officially sealed the deal. I’m also going to go check out both your historical romances because I do love those type of books. And The Guise of a Gentleman sounds RIGHT up my alley!
Oh yay!! Can’t wait to hear what you think of them 🙂
Love the format! So creative, Carrie!!!
thank you! I had a lot of fun with it 🙂
What a great idea! I love the Blind Date with a Book idea. I need to tell my library to give it a try. I loved the way you used it for this weeks Top Ten Tuesday. This is a great way to get people out of their comfort zone because based on titles or covers I might ‘write off’ (no pun intended) a book without giving it a chance. Thank you for sharing this with me. I can’t wait to see what you do next week!
Thank you! I had a lot of fun putting it together 🙂