Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Book Titles and Covers that Intrigued Me Enough to Read the Book (and I'm Glad They Did)

When I was young, I had nothing to go on when choosing a book except a good title or a good cover. No recommendations from fellow readers. No helpful blogging friends. No Goodreads. 

So that's how I found all my good books. I roamed the library and looked at the titles on the book spines and pulled the intriguing books out and took a look at the cover. 

I found some good books this way. 


The Hobbit...My friend Greg's teacher was reading this book to his class when we were in fifth grade. Every day, while we waited for the bus, Greg recounted the chapter his teacher had read that day to a group of fascinated kids, including me. 

A Wrinkle in Time...I remember seeing this in my Scholastic book order when I was in sixth grade. I had to find out what a wrinkle in time was.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...Ray Bradbury. I discovered him in my teens.

Working: People Tell About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do...This came out about the time I was deciding on a career. It became very clear to me which jobs I didn't want to do.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance...A tourist left this book behind in his cabin the summer I worked in Yellowstone Park. I couldn't stop thinking about this book.

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within...I wrote my first book when I was six, a book of short stories on a rainbow tablet. I wanted to free my writer within.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life...Bird by bird? Yes, I can do that.

Stargirl...a blank cover, except for a star...who can resist that?

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation...Punctuation, related in a snarky way.

Book Lust...I discover superstar librarian Nancy Pearl.


What book titles and covers 

intrigued you enough 

to read the book (and you are glad they did?


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.

33 comments:

  1. So many great titles. I never heard of the Bradbury book though I love his writing, as well. Must explore.

    My TTT.

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  2. I also read Stargirl and Eats, Shoots, and Leaves because I thought the covers were intriguing, and I'm glad I did! Here's my list this week.

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    1. I wasn't wild about the sequel of Stargirl, though. Wish people would stop writing sequels to good books.

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  3. That Book Lust title and cover have my interest, so I can understand why they made you want to read it. I'm happy it worked out for you!

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    1. I enjoyed the Book Lust format so much that I sent it along with a blank book around the world through BookCrossing to get others' recommendations.

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  4. 'A wrinkle in time' is always great title to me though I didn't like the book all tha tmuch. 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' is also great though I haven't read that book.

    It's always enjoyable to read book titles even if you don't end you reading the book.

    Great list. Have a lovely day.

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    1. Meg in Wrinkle in Time is a character I identified with as a child.

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  5. I know we're not supposed to say this, but I definitely judge a book by it's cover. As a school librarian, though, I was always trying to "sell" books with bad covers to students, assuring them that what was inside was excellent even if the cover wasn't.

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  6. These are good ones and I've read a lot of them! I love the covers for the Maisie Dobbs book and the Maggie Hope series, and all the British Crime Library mysteries. A good Eiffel Tower or Big Ben will probably get me every time!

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  7. These sound super intriguing! I love the simple cover for Stargirl - great list!

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  8. Great list of books!

    When you get the chance, I hope you come over and check out my post: http://readbakecreate.com/15-book-covers-that-scream-summer/

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  9. That's kind of how I was with Roald Dahl books and other stuff our teachers read to us in school. :) I like that story about The Hobbit!

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    1. I wish teachers realized how much readalouds influence reading behavior.

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  10. A great book cover will make me pick it up for sure.

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    1. I usually push ahead to see what others think of it before I set my coins on the counter.

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  11. Something Wicked This Way Comes really is a fantastic title.

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  12. Sometimes I miss the days of wandering into the library or bookstore and making a leap of faith like that. Even when I go in without an agenda these days, I find myself checking GoodReads to see what others thought of a book before I check it out.

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  13. I have read all of these except the last one. Thoroughly enjoyed them all

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    1. You would like Stargirl. She makes the world a better place.

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  14. Something Wicked This Way Comes sounds intriguing.

    Happy Wednesday!

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  15. I tried to read The Hobbit more than once when I was younger. Wonder if I would be able to read it now. I liked Working and Bird by Bird. One of these days when I finally ready more classics, A Wrinkle in Time will be on my list.

    Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.

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  16. I love that cover art for The Hobbit. I've read a several on your list and loved Stargirl.

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  17. I spy several favorites on here! You can't go wrong with Ray Bradbury, and I adore Something Wicked This Way Comes. And it's nice to see Working mentioned. I was introduced to the book in high school when I discovered the musical, but I only recently bought a copy. Looking forward to finally reading it.

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  18. I haven't read it yet, but the title for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has always intrigued me.

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  19. I'm positive I saw that book cover for a Wrinkle in Time at my school book fair too! This is what I love about going to bookstores and browsing and just letting the book covers and titles capture my attention!

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