I'm going to make a bet with you. Do you want to bet me? I bet you a cup of coffee and a homemade blueberry muffin right now that you have not read ANY of the books I am listing below. Check yourself. (BTW, the ratings refer to the number of ratings on Goodreads).
Mrs. 'arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico
1795 ratings
1795 ratings
The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers
1493 ratings
1493 ratings
That Night by Alice McDermott
1420 ratings
1420 ratings
So Many Ways to Begin by Jon McGregor
1400 ratings
1400 ratings
Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West
1238 ratings
1238 ratings
Happenstance by Carol Shields
1184 ratings
1184 ratings
The Box Garden by Carol Shields
956 ratings
956 ratings
Rhoda: A Life in Stories by Ellen Gilchrist
659 ratings
659 ratings
Wife by Bharati Mukherjee
220 ratings
220 ratings
The World is Not Enough by Zoe Oldenbourg
182 ratings
182 ratings
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
88 ratings
88 ratings
Oh, and if I need to pay up, let me know when you will be in my part of the woods and I'll put a pot of coffee on for you.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
Woo hoo! I've read two- the first and last books. Mrs 'Arris and Walter Mitty. Probably the shortest two on your list I expect. Now I just have to work out how to get to Houston again.
ReplyDeleteIf you make it to Houston from Australia, I'll make you a complete meal.
DeleteI've read one of them - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - back in high school I think. Or maybe college. And if I'm ever in your neck of the woods, I'll accept the coffee with pleasure. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes, pop in, Kay, and I'll pay up!
DeleteI haven't read any of them so I guess I owe you coffee and a muffin when you come around here. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll remember!
DeleteHmm, interesting that I've read the same two Louise has read: Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber. (By the way, you gave Walter Mitty multiple lives below the book's cover.) Since Louise and I have read the same books, does that mean she and I should show up together for coffee (tea, in my case, since I've never liked the taste of coffee)?
ReplyDeleteI think that would be lovely!
DeleteYou got me! I have actually heard of 3 of your authors, but have not read them. And oh, am ready to go to your place right now, fed up with the cold here. Now, how are you doing with my list?: https://wordsandpeace.com/2019/02/19/top-ten-underrated-books/
ReplyDeleteI loved how your list was filled with books set in France.
DeleteThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty only has 88 ratings? I thought it'd be more, I mean there's a Ben Stller movie based on it. This list looks to be riddled with hidden gems!
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT: https://dinaratengri.com/2019/02/ten-criminally-underrated-books/
It was surprising to me, too.
DeleteI feel like I might have read The Box Garden once, but I don't remember anything about it.
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten Tuesday post.
I'm feeling like a Carol Shields reread is coming on soon.
DeleteI was really hoping there was one here that I could shout out, "I've read it!" Sadly, that wasn't the case. What a fun post!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised, Les. I guess you owe me a coffee and a muffin next time I'm in the Pacific Northwest.
DeleteAll new to me books in your TTT post this week!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to my TTT post: https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2019/02/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-loved-with.html
I'm surprised to find that Carol Shields isn't as widely read as I expected.
DeleteI have read all of the Mrs Harris books and loved them. I also have read Walter Mitty. I'm in Tasmania so your airfare might be a bit high to get my coffee and muffin delivered. 🤠🐧
ReplyDeleteI think I shall have to wait until you visit Texas to pay up!
DeleteI haven't read any of these books! I would like to read Alice McDermott though. Mrs. Arris looks like a fun book. Thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteThe Alice McDermott is a whopper of an emotional ride.
DeleteHaha! I have read Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris AND seen the movie multiple times!
ReplyDeleteAND I have read "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" multiple times and seen the Danny Kaye movie.
You win the bet; I haven't read any of these. I have never paid attention to how many reviews a book has on Goodreads. Unless it has hardly any. Now I'll pay attention!
ReplyDeleteI've read Walter Mitty, and a great deal more of Thurber's work for sure. I might have read The Goldberg Variations? Maybe?
ReplyDeleteGood to know I have coffee and a muffin waiting if I ever make it to Texas.
nice
ReplyDeleteBoooo hoooo, I've only read two: Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I went through a Thurber phase in high school, starting with A Thurber Carnival in an old box of books I found in our attic. I also found Forever Amber there and managed to read it before my mom discovered I'd brought the box of books into my bedroom and said they were "inappropriate." I honestly found nothing wrong with them, but maybe some things went over my head. Thurber's short stories and cartoons and weird versions of fairy tales were funny to me, and I really enjoyed them.
ReplyDelete