Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recommend To Others the Most

 

If you've read any reviews on this blog or any of my top ten lists, then you probably already know some of the books I'm going to list here. I'm honestly not someone who "recommends" books to others. I find reading is so personal that what I like is often not for others and those who read my reviews on my blog are usually either already looking for the genres I prefer or are open to anything. 

But I will list the ones I'd recommend if someone asked me, "What should I read?" Some are non-fiction, some serious fiction, and some are for pure enjoyment. Hopefully you find one you'd like to try and be sure to share some of yours with me in the comments. Happy Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) and happy reading!

1. William Monk Mysteries by Anne Perry- my favorite Victorian mystery series. Perry passed away last month and now her books will be even more special. I had hoped there would be more but sadly the series has come to an end. 

2. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon- everyone's favorite Scottish based series about time traveling Claire and her husband Jamie Fraser.

3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis- the timeless classic case for Christ by an exceptionally wise man.

4. Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie- the most thorough, engaging story of the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia that I've read. I learned so much about the causes and outcome of the Russian Revolution.

5. Shattered Crowns series by Christina Croft- a great narrative way to learn about the beginnings and subsequent political intrigues surrounding World War I. It centers around all the major aristocratic players and family drama of those involved. 

6. Queens of England series by Jean Plaidy- simple yet informative, Plaidy covers the major queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth Tudor.

7. Plantagenet series by Sharon Kay Penman- the best historical fiction series covering the Anarchy period to the death of Richard the Lionheart.

8. Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters- starring everyone's favorite crime solving medieval Monk, Brother Cadfael.....each one is unique and intricate with some history thrown in.

9. Animal Farm by George Orwell- I feel everyone should read this satirical take on the dangers of Communism. It is a timeless classic about human nature and the dangers of following the wrong ideas.

10. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer- I included this one because it has always stuck with me through the years....a young man embarks on a journey of self discovery and finds himself in over his head. His story is heartbreaking and you can't help but feel it all right along with him.

Stacking the Shelves #2

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that jogs your memory of something you want to read. Enjoy your reading this week :)

This is book three in the Lottie Sprigg cozy mystery series. I haven't read books one or two yet but the "Cairo" hooked me. I love books set in this time period in that location. I have waaayyyy too many types of these books already but I just love them. With all the drama in the world today it's nice to read something charming, simple, and with a mystery thrown in.

This is another book on my Classics Club list that I have needed to add to my shelves. I've only read Pride and Prejudice so I need to get started on this one stat.

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley. It is book three in the Joubert Family Chronicles series. It looks unique and is based on the historical period of the French Huguenots in the 16th Century. 

What are your shelves stacked with this week?

The Sun in Splendour (Plantagenet Saga Book 14) by Jean Plaidy

 

Publication Date: October 5, 1983

Length: 365 pages

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I have been trying to read this book for years. After plowing through Sharon Kay Penman's 1,200 page version, also titled The Sunne in Splendour, I wanted to get Plaidy's take on the Wars of the Roses and the life of King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville. Penman's version focuses on younger brother Richard's point of view while Plaidy sticks with a multitude of viewpoints, mostly that of Edward and Elizabeth. Of course I knew going in this was the YA version of the story and nothing in the realm of a huge historical fiction work like Penman's but I don't care. I enjoy Plaidy's simple style. She has a way of taking the complex and simplifying it and adding her own personal touches. That's why I continue to read and review her books even though I realize they are really for a younger audience just starting out with the subject of the book.

The story begins with the viewpoint of the Woodville family, specifically Jacquetta Woodville. Her beautiful daughter Elizabeth Grey, recently widowed, is determined to confront the new Yorkist King, Edward IV to try to regain her sons' inheritance lost when their father died fighting for the Lancastrians in the second Battle of St. Albans. Their famous meeting in Whittlebury Forest sets off a romantic chain of events culminating in the marriage of Edward and Elizabeth and propels the Woodville family to the highest standing in the country, allowing for numerous appointments of family members to important positions. The Woodvilles become more powerful than most of the reigning nobles of the land and create widespread resentment for years to come. 

As the story shifts from the initial meeting of Edward and Elizabeth and their betrothal to their reign as King and Queen of England, Plaidy's narrative viewpoint also shifts, to that of Richard Neville, called the Kingmaker due to his role in seating Edward on the throne, and Edward and his brothers, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. We see the unfolding of the Wars of the Roses through the lens of Neville and the King and the many twists and turns of loyalty and betrayal between them all. 

The three main parts of the book are divided into: Sunrise, High Noon, and Sunset. This correlates to the rise of Edward IV and his glory days of rule, followed by his death and the period of instability when his very young son and heir, Edward V is proclaimed King only to be dethroned by his Uncle and ultimately the disappearance of Edward and his brother. I found that Plaidy covers all the relevant players thoroughly and leaves no one out, from the many friends and admirers of Edward IV to Anne of Neville, to Buckingham and Henry Tudor. Her research is solid and detailed and she includes personal stories for each. 

If you know the story of the Wars of the Roses you won't learn a lot of new information with this book. But somehow that didn't bother me at all. I knew what was going to happen pretty much throughout the whole book but it was like getting a refresher course. I It doesn’t delve into battles or detailed politics of the day but focuses more on relationships and betrayals. If you are new to the story you will come away with everything you need to grasp the major players and the historic timeline.

Top Ten Tuesday: The First 10 Books I Randomly Grabbed From My Shelf

 

Sometimes I feel like I have the same authors all the time on my shelf! Probably because I do :) I also read so many books on Kindle that my bookshelf is kind of bare these days. But here are the ten random books I picked out to share. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

1. Alexandra by Carolly Erickson (wonderful biography written in a narrative style about the last Tsarina of Russia)

2. The Road To Compiegne by Jean Plaidy (Book Two in her series on the French Revolution)

3. Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George (The title says it all....I need to read this!)

4. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (truly a prized possession....I've read it four times and here is my review https://www.shellielovesbooks.com/2022/04/gone-with-wind-by-margaret-mitchell.html

5. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (a children's classic about a boy from Boston who experiences the American Revolution first hand...a fantastic book for adults too) 

6. The Highland Clearances by John Prebble (can be a bit dry in certain parts if you are used to historical fiction, but this is the gold standard for non-fiction information about this time period, I am lucky to have a copy!)

7. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (Book 5 in the Outlander series....I have all of her books so honestly, I could close my eyes and point and I'd probably have a good chance of getting one of them)

8. When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman (Book One in her fantastic Plantagenet series; I want to read it again one day but it's a beast to get through!)

9. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (a satirical take on the Christian life by a man I have read and admired for many years)

10. Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (I really need to finish this series....a great way to learn about the politics, wars, and drama of the early 20th century). 

Stacking the Shelves #1

 

Sometimes I just want to post about books I'm planning to read or have recently added to my shelves. Stacking the Shelves is perfect for that....it's a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. While I might not do it every week, it looks fun to do when I am wanting to share what my TBR pile is looking like. Happy Reading!

Book One in a new series.....combine Scotland, a cozy mystery, and a manor house and you make me happy! I recently posted for Can't Wait Wednesday about book two in this new series so I thought I'd start with the first one. Hoping I've found another Verity Bright-type of book. 

I'm currently watching this movie (it's four hours long so I'm viewing it in chunks!) and it's on my Classics Club list to read in the next five years. May as well get started, right? I love, love, love Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean so I'm hoping the movie doesn't spoil my enjoyment of the book if the images in my head aren't aligned. Also, born, raised, and lived in Texas all my life so we will see if I like how it portrays my home :) 

As spring arrives and we near summer vacation, I just go crazy for all things Caribbean. I have wanted to read this book for awhile and it was on sale at Book Bub so I bought it for my Kindle. After seeing the length (over 800 pages) and realizing not all the sections look interesting to me, I've decided to read the parts that I want to and just take my time with it. But that cover....can I move there please?

What new books have you acquired recently? Share with me because I'm always up for new things to read!