Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!  This week’s topic is favorite book settings.  I wasn’t quite sure how to approach this week’s topic.  I debated between specific places/time periods in books I’ve read versus general settings.  In the end I did a little of both.  Let’s get to the list!

Middle Earth-There is so much to explore in the world J.R.R Tolkien created.  How wonderful to be able to visit places like Rivendell, Rohan, and The Shire all in one series!

Victorian England-I find this time period intriguing.  I’ve read many stories as well as a few really good non-fiction books about this period.  How to Be Victorian by Ruth Goodman is excellent.

Colonial American/American Revolution-Another time period I find especially interesting.  Toliver’s Secret by Ester Wood Brady is one I’ve just recently read with my children.

American Civil War-Little Women is the first example that comes to mind for this time period.

England in the late 9th and early 10th century-I’m about half way through The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell and it quickly become a favorite.  When I finish it, I’ll be on the lookout for more series set in this time period!

The Past-While I’ve picked out a few specific time periods, I have been captivated by historical fiction in general ever since I read Little House in the Big Woods, Anne of Green Gables, and the American Girl series as a child.  I generally prefer historical fiction set before the twentieth century or at least from World War II or earlier.

Small Towns/Rural Areas-I’ve spent most of my life living in small towns and seen their beauty as well as their flaws.  I can easily relate to characters living in that kind of world.

Urban Fantasy-I suppose this is technically a genre rather than a setting, but there is just something about mixing the paranormal with an urban setting.  Of course the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs comes to mind.

I also enjoy stories set in bookstores and bakeries though no specific examples are coming to mind.  If you have any recommendations, let me know!

Do you enjoy these settings?  What sort of settings do you enjoy?

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!  This week’s topic was Freebie.  This past week marked the beginning of Autumn, and as I write this, the weather has changed and it is really starting to feel like Autumn.  So I decided to put together a list of books that I think would be good to read in Autumn.  Let’s get to the list!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling-When I think of Autumn reading, this is one of the first books that immediately comes to mind!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien-I always associate The Hobbit with Autumn as well.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte-This is perfect for a rainy Autumn day.

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Aston-This fun twist on Jane Eyre is perfect for those not wanting something quite as moody as the original tale.

Persuasion by Jane Austen-Most of the time I associate Jane Austen with Spring, but this one seems more like an Autumn read.

The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe-No one does dark and moody better!

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder-Another one that instantly makes me think of Autumn!

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schulz-Both Charlie Brown stories are classics and perfect for Autumn!

A Separate Peace by John Knowles-I read this years ago in college and recently stumbled across a copy in my local used bookstore.  Autumn seems like a good time to re-read it.

What do you think?  Clearly, I have a preference for “moody” stories in the Autumn, but I have some lighter and heartwarming choices as well.  What sort of book do you prefer in the Autumn?  Would any of these make your list?

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!  This week’s topic is Books Guaranteed to Put a Smile on Your Face.  I feel like I could make that case for just about any book.  After all, we’re all here because we share a love of books!  However, I did try to approach my list with the idea of avoiding books that were heavy reading or actually brought me to tears.  I also tried to pick books I haven’t highlighted before or at least not recently, especially since I’ve done a lot of talking about my favorites recently.  Let’s get to the list!

Any of Ree Drummond’s cookbooks-I absolutely love Ree Drummond’s recipes and I love all the stories and pictures she sprinkles throughout her books.  Her Charlie the Ranch Dog books are hilarious too.

The Fog Ladies by Susan McCormick-I like a good cozy mystery and this one was full of colorful characters!

The Bear and Mouse series by Bonny Becker-I can’t even think about these without smiling!

Copper and Goldie by Larry and Rosemary Mild-This collection of mysteries was a lot of fun to read, and of course I loved the dog, Goldie!

Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding-I picked these up in a used bookstore years after they came out and enjoyed them both!

National Geographic Book of Poetry compiled by J. Patrick Lewis-There are a lot of wonderful poems in this one!

Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book-Calvin and Hobbes is always good for a smile.

Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King Smith-I had a lot of fun reading this with my children!

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright-The idea of discovering such a place as a child really stirred my imagination.

Do you agree with any on my list?  What other books make you smile?