Ten Books/Authors I'm Thankful For

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

There are so many things in life to be thankful for - family, friends, laughter, sunshine, air. And coffee. We can't forget coffee... and chocolate. That being said, this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic (click on the link above to see the list of topics) is books/authors you're thankful for - and I have to think hard because I tend to be thankful for all. But here we go.

1. Maggie Stiefvater
   
   She continues to get me in trouble. My husband is quite upset that I have more interest in her books when I'm reading them than him. He just doesn't understand. She gets me... even if she doesn't know me.  

   
   
2. Brenna Yovanoff
   
   I'm thankful for the cover artist(s) of her books, since that was what attracted me to her first book. I saw that cover and bought it - didn't read the jacket flap, didn't look it up, just bought it. And I never regretted it. It's eerie, dark, and refreshingly different at the same time. And her follow up novel did not disappoint either. Anxiously awaiting her next! :)

   
   
3. Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
   
   I read this as an adult and found myself wishing I had a book like this when I was a teenager. I wish more books were written like this; about 'real' things (even harsh realities) in an open and honest and sincere way, without being preachy.

   
   
4. JK Rowling
   
   Rowling created a world that I wanted to live in, not just visit. Which is saying a lot given that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named inhabited that same world. I cried when the series ended; I felt like my best friends had gone and left me and things would never be the same. I thought about the story, the lives of these characters, for months afterward.

   
   
5. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
   
   Not typically one for historical fiction, I devoured this book. It was recommended to me by my best friend (knowing I tend not to gravitate toward the historical) and I will be forever grateful to her for it. 

   
   
6. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
   
   I wanted a Dash. I wanted my husband to be Dash after reading this. That didn't work out for me, but it also didn't lessen my love of the book. 

   
   
7. Judy Blume
   
   She exists. She writes. That is all.

   
   
8. Kevin Henkes
   
   Such a wonderful children's author, he addresses issues kids have without them even knowing they're being addressed (such as starting school or getting too old for a blankie to be carried around all the time).

   
   
9. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
   
   "You know, some things don'e matter that much, Lily. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the over-all scheme of life? But lifting a person's heart - now, that matters... The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters." -August, pg 147
   Do I need another reason for loving this book? Beautifully written, thought provoking, and lovely.

   
   
10. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
    
    This one makes the list not for me, but for my husband, who was never much of a reader. I read this book and wanted to share parts of it with him. For the first time in nearly 12 years, I told him he *had* to read a book. And not just any book - this book. Since then, he has become a reader. Possibly not an avid reader (okay, not at all), but a reader nonetheless. So I am forever grateful for this book and its impact on my husband.

    
    
11. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
    
    Okay, okay. I know it says ten, but since I did one on my husband's behalf I'm not counting that toward my ten. Sounds good, anyway. :) I'm adding this one because I loved it so much as a kid and as an adult. I read it in fifth grade, in high school, and in college. I even made a play out of it as an assignment. I realize this sort of contradicts my earlier statement about not loving historical fiction, and that two books on here fall into that category, but such is life.  I am excited for my kids to get old enough to share this with them.

I'm hoping this holiday weekend will give me some extra time to read and find more books and authors I'm thankful for. I don't see that happening as it tends to be a busier time more so than relaxing down-time, but we shall see.

What about you? What books/authors are you thankful for? Share a link to your own Top Ten post or just share some of yours in the comments below.

Happy Thanksgiving,

B