Tuesday 4 May 2021

Top Ten Tuesday ~ My Ten Most Recent Favourite Reads


"Top Ten Tuesday" is an original feature/weekly meme created on the blog "The Broke and the Bookish". This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at "The Broke and the Bookish".

It is now hosted by Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl.

Since I am just as fond of them as they are, I jump at the chance to share my lists with them! Have a look at their page, there are lots of other bloggers who share their lists here.

This week's topic is: My Ten Most Recent Reads

I thought it would be too easy to just share the last ten reads, so I thought I'd share the last ten reads of this year I enjoyed the most.


I was surprised how many of them were either about women oppressed or whole countries or parts of them oppressed.

Dickens, Charles "The Old Curiosity Shop" - 1840
Charles Dickens is one of my favourite authors and even though this is not his best book, it certainly is good enough to make it into my top ten. Nobody can tell us about poverty in the 19th century better than Mr. Dickens.

Elliot, Jason "An Unexpected Light. Travels in Afghanistan" - 1999
I have read many books about Afghanistan but next to "The Sewing Circles of Herat" by Christina Lamb, this is certainly one of the best reports about this country. Written by a guy who travelled through it during all kinds of dangerous times and really got to know the people.

Gogol, Nikolai (Никола́й Васи́льевич Го́голь, Nikolay Vasilyevich Gogol) "The Overcoat. Stories from Russia" (Russian: Шинел/Shinyeliь) (German collection: Gogols Mantel. Erzählungen aus Russland) - 1842 et al.
If you like Russian authors, you will certainly find one or probably more among the authors in this collection of short stories.

Hansen, Dörte "Mittagsstunde" [Lunchtime] - 2018
A German book that has not been translated. Yet. Her first book, This House is Mine, has been, so I am hopeful this will be finding its way onto English speaking shelves, as well. A good story about the end of many villages, and this doesn't just happen in Germany.

Harris, Kamala "The Truths We Hold. An American Journey" - 2019
Do I need to explain who Kamala Harris is? I hope not. I have read this book shortly after she was elected vice president of the USA. What a fantastic woman.

Jacobs, Harriet Ann (Linda Brent) "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" - 1861
One of my books on my classics list. I have read lots of books about slavery but this one was actually written by a slave herself. With all her thoughts and fears.

Lee, Min Jin "Pachinko" - 2017
A book about Korean immigrants in Japan. Nobody wants them there and people are awful to them. A great book for anyone, especially those who have to deal with foreigners in their own country.

Obama, Barack "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters" - 2010
I have read some books by Barack Obama whom I greatly admire but not a children's book, yet. This one is wonderful.

See, Lisa "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" - 2005
After reading "Peony in Love" by the same author, I was looking forward to this one. While "Peony" is about Chinese tradition and their beliefs of the afterlife, "Snow Flower" is about the life of women in 19 century China.

Stroyar, J.N. "Becoming Them" (The Children's War Book 3) - 2017
"The Children's War" and "A Change of Regime" belong to my all-time favourite books, so I had to read "Becoming Them". It's a good finish of a long, long story.

17 comments:

  1. I didn't know Kamala Harris had written a book! Now I'm curious about it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, she's written more than just the one.

      I hope you will read my review and also get to read the book yourself. Happy Reading.

      And thanks for your visit.

      Delete
  2. Ooh I didn't realise Kamala Harris had written books. Will have to check that one out!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/05/04/top-ten-tuesday-314/

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    1. Thanks, Jo, looks like you're not the only one as you can see in the comment above you. Yes, she's written several and I really enjoyed this one, I'm sure I'll read more of them.

      Thanks for visiting and leaving your link. Will hop over there soon.

      Delete
  3. I really like Lisa See's books, although I've only read a few of them. I definitely need to read more by her. Glad you're a fan as well!

    Happy TTT!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Susan, I've only read the two I mentioned though, like you, I will definitely read more. And I'm not surprised we both like her, she is really a great author.

      Thanks for your visit. Will see you on your page.

      Delete
  4. Great list! Pachinko's on my TBR as well.

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    1. Thanks, Lindsey, I hope you will love the book as much as I did.

      Thanks for stepping by.

      Delete
  5. I've not read any of these! I'll have to look into them. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Poinsettia. There are some very different books on this list, I am sure you will like one or the other.

      Happy Reading. Thanks for the link and the visit.

      Delete
  6. I've never read Dickens, amazingly enough. I think several of these look nice.

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    1. Thanks, Greg, well, classics are not for everyone and so Dickens definitely isn't. I love classics and then you can't really avoid him. And I'm glad I didn't, I love his books.

      Thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  7. I bet that Kamala Harris book was interesting.

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    1. You win that bet hands down. She is such a remarkable woman, it was great reading about how she became what she is. And I would love to know more about her, wouldn't be surprised if she would become the first female president of the USA.

      Thanks for your visit.

      Delete
  8. I just read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan earlier this year and loved it. It's one of those books that I still think about regularly.

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    1. I couldn't agree more. I'm just putting together the review and hope many will read this book, as well. So fascinating.

      Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  9. Love this list. Thanks for sharing! :)

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