Take Ten: books for your book club

It's kind of funny that this week's topic is books for a book club, since my aunt and I were just discussing this very thing. I'm not sure that I can stick to a list of ten books for a certain topic, but here are ten books that I would love to do with a book club and can recommend for just about any book club.

1. Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson

This one is fascinating, since it brings up interesting topics like raising a child with special needs in the 1950's when the world was all about stereotypes and pushing for women to be perfect housewives and mothers.


2. The Dandelion Field

This one is incredible! I love that it deals with teen pregnancy and some of the difficulties that accompany it.

3. The Hearts We Mend

This has been one of my very favorite stories from the past year, since it challenges the reader to over come prejudices.

4. Love Comes Calling

This one is a fun story that explores what it would be like to have ADD in the early 1900's. I thought it was well done!

5. Dear Mr. Knightley

I think just about every book club would enjoy this story, since it is chick lit at it's finest. Fun, cute, and whimsical without being cotton candy sweet.

6. A Broken Kind of Beautiful

This one is amazing, it kept me up late reading! I would love to discuss the themes in it with a club.

7. Invisible

This one is excellent! It deals with different facets of weight, from the overweight girl to the one fighting an eating disorder. I highly recommend this one!

8. The Tutor's Daughter

For those who enjoy a good Regency era story, I think this is one of the best I have read, since it is a wonderful combination of Gothic and romance.

9. Tackling the Field

This one deals with some weighty topics, like human trafficking and rape, but the author does a marvelous job at handling it. This one is another of my favorite books from this year.

10. The Giftsnatcher

I'm kind of surprised that I liked this book. While it is well written, the story is a bit dark, having to do with magic and Jack the Ripper. There are some great parts about family curses and redemption though!

Bonus:
11. Dysfunction Junction

This book is well written and such a fun story about a twenty something girl who finds love while following her dreams.

12. So Not Happening

Basically, if you need a good laugh with your book club, then I highly recommend Jenny's books! Her writing is just delightful.

I think it's kind of ironic doing up a list for a book club. While I love to read and would probably love to be in a book club of like minded readers, I have a terrible time with being told what to do when it comes to reading.;) I have gotten a bit better about being told what to read, on more of a schedule, since blogging, but I still get to choose the books I read and review. I think I would have to trust the other members in order to join a book club, since I hate being told what to read and when. lol.

Take ten: Freebie!

This week over at The Broke and Bookish, it's a freebie. So, I am going with top ten books that I think would make excellent selections for a book club to read and discuss together.

1. The Hiding Place

One of the most life changing books I have read on the Holocaust. Corrie's family didn't have to become involved, but they did. Perhaps one of the reasons this book hits me so hard is because Corrie and her sister are so close, reminding me of my own close relationship with my sister. If you haven't read this book, please do! I really need to take the time to re-read it. You can also listen to Corrie share her experiences through old recordings.

2. The Bronte Plot

A lighter story than my first pick, but still dealing with complicated issues like family relationships and the way they shape us. On a side note, I was totally ready to take a literary tour of England after reading this book.;)

3. The Giftsnatcher

This book would have to be for the very diverse book club, since it has some different elements to it, namely having a lot of the supernatural. I think it would be a fun book to read in a club though!

4. Mere Christianity

Despite the title of this book, I think it would be a great title to read in a group of people coming from a wide variety of religions.

5. The Help

There is a reason this book was so popular when it came out, since it highlights a very unjust time in American history, but does so in an interesting way.;)

6. The Chronicles of Narnia

Being an allegory, this one would be fun to discuss and see what each reader takes from the stories.

7. Chateau of Secrets

I love the depth of Melanie's writing and think her stories would be awesome in a book club!

8. Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

While I may of enjoyed Chateau of Secrets more over all, I think this one would be an even better choice for a book club to discuss, since it deals with how disabilities were viewed in the mid 1900's.

9. Paper Hearts

On one level, this is a fun, light hearted chick lit book, but then it surprises the reader with some depth and tragedy.

10. A Broken Kind of Beautiful

I just adored this story! It would be a fun one to read with a group.