Recommending books is always hard. I may recommend a certain book to my daughter that I would never recommend to one of my friends. And what if the person hates a book I love? Here are some of the books I tend to tell people they should read.

Classic

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Yes, it’s long, but it’s a grand adventure and the revenge novel. Make sure you get the unabridged version.

General Fiction

The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Made me laugh and cry and gave me a new look at the South in the 60s.

Mystery

Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series – tTis is the only mystery series I’ve told my mother she had to read. They have more layers than the average who dunnit.

Have Gun, Will Play by Camille LaGuerre – The sleuths in this Old West mystery are one of my favorite fictional couples.

Fantasy

Trash, Sex, Magic by Jennifer Stevenson – Unique plot, gorgeous writing, truly memorable.

Childrens/ Middle School

Favorite Tales of Monsters and Trolls by George Jonson – One of the few books from my childhood I remember clearly and am so happy to still have. Great stories, amazing illustrations. If you have kids, buy it if you can find it.

The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall – Another favorite from my childhood. It shows that even those who don’t fit in can become heroes.

Non-Fiction

At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Dwight D. Eisenhower –  I spent a year or so working in Gettysburg and one of the things I did was sell tickets for the tour of the Eisenhower farm. I picked up this book at that time and while I’m not much of a history or military buff, I truly enjoyed these stories.  It really did feel like him just telling about his life.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson – Non-fiction that reads like fiction. I was fascinated by the World’s Fair and the true crime angle added a bit of spice.

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts by Julian Rubenstein – Attila Ambrus’s life is almost too big to be believed. (Actually I should pick up a copy for my husband. I bet he’d love it.)

What books do you tend to recommend?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, and yes, I’m a day late. Sorry.

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