My Top 10 Books of All Time

2.03.2014


This post is no joke. When I originally thought of the idea of writing about my favorite ten books, I didn't anticipate just how difficult it would be to cut down my massive list of favorites to ten.

Ten is not a lot, in case you didn't know. I didn't even allow myself to count an entire series as one, so each item on this list is an individual book. There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth, but I finally have it. And yes, I have two Anne books on this list. They're just too good.

These are my 10 favorite books of all time (up to this point in my life, obviously) in alphabetical order, because putting my top 10 in order of favorites would probably kill me. I've read many of these a number of times, and just last year I reread the entire Anne series and Christy.

____________________

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery

Christy by Catherine Marshall

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Little Women by Louise May Alcott

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
_____________________________

Have you read any of the books on my list?
What is one of your favorite books of all time?
* * *
[ Linking up with Emily for My Favorite Things! ]
Anonymous said...

I love Anne! I think I read the first book at least twelve times when I was younger. I'm not sure I could narrow my favorite reads down to 10, but thanks to you will likely spend my day thinking about it. :)

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

I think Unbroken is the only one that I have read of these books. I tend to lean more toward mystery books. Narrowing my favorites would be way too tough.

Allison said...

How did you ever?!
I like your list. I've been thinking about rereading Anne of Green Gables and the Little House on the Prairie series, but I can't find Little House on the Prairie at the library for my kindle… so I've been putting it off. I've been drawn to "prairie books" lately. In some strange way the whole wagon train idea just seems to be really resonating with me right now…?

Jes. said...

The Scarlet Pimpernel, yes!!!

Helene said...

some of these I haven't read, I need to step it up!! Love Little Women, definitely one of my favorites!

Ashley - Married to the Game said...

I love Water for Elephants! I haven't read any of the other ones.

Ashley said...

I love Anne of Green Gables. My poor copy is so tattered I'm surprised it hasn't fallen apart yet. I'd have to say that my favorite book of all time is either All the Tea In China or one of the books in the Christy Miller Series. I may do a post like this sometime. I like it. :)

Raige Creations said...

hmm. haven't read any on this list. :(
I think I want to read Water for Elephants though.
might start with that one.

The Lady Okie said...

If you like mystery, I think you'd really like the Scarlet Pimpernel. It's like the original Batman or Zorro. The character of the SP inspired both of THOSE characters.

Laura Morgan said...

I love how many of these are children's novels. I adore children's lit even more than YA. It's such a magical age. I am maybe sad that no Harry Potter books made it, but that's okay. You've still made some awesome pics with Anne and Little Women. I'm relieved you don't have any Jane Austen. I might think you were pretentious. Just kidding. Some people can get away with claiming Pride and Prejudice as a favorite (like Hannah or Lauren or you), but I just roll my eyes at others because, seriously...it's not that great. /tangent

Allie @ Everyday Adventures said...

I looooved Water for Elephants! My favorite all-time book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.

Kate @ Another Clean Slate said...

A lot of your favorites are mine too :) Love the Anne of Green Gables books and I have read all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books too!

Kaysie said...

I can't imagine trying to limit my favorites to 10. It makes me nervous to even try. I LOVED Water for Elephants as well, but I have to admit it made me anti-circus (I am infatuated with elephants) and I don't support that treatment of animals. I'm THAT person, I know (ANTIFUN!). I have Unbroken on my "to-read" list and I've heard it's amazing.

Kate said...

Just seeing the cover of ANY Laura Ingalls Wilder book makes me giddy. They defined my childhood, and I keep telling myself it's time for a re-read.

And So I Did said...

I completely forgot about Christy! AAH! I loved that book! You should look into Sarah Addison Allen's books. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was my favorite, but they're all wonderful! :)

Ali said...

I loved Water for Elephants, and Unbroken is on my list. Along with 40 or so other books...there's just not enough time in the day!

17 Perth said...

Oh my gosh...I knew I loved you. I absolutely adore the anne books....anne of green gables is such a wonderful classic for me! I have never read Water for Elephants...My mom told me not to because I am such an animal lover. lol. She said I would probably be upset for a while! haha.

Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC said...

LOVE all the Anne books and outside of the original two you listed, I also really loved Rilla of Ingleside. Hmmm - I may have to go reread them!

Kylie said...

I'm embarrassed to say I haven't read any of these books but I have seen the Little Woman move! I have heard Francine Rivers is an amazing author! I will have to check out her book! Thanks for sharing your favorite things with Emily and I!

Anonymous said...

Gone With The Wind, Forever Amber, all of Agatha Christie's books. I love English literature.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh...I haven't ready any of these, and they're total classics. I need to stop watching so much TV ;)

Thanks so much for linking up!

-Em

Unknown said...

I love that The Scarlet Pimpernel is on this list! I kind of thought I was the only one who'd read it --- seriously, so good. If you haven't yet, you should probably see the Leslie Howard film version (c. 1935). It will bring meaning (and tears) to your life.

Rachel said...

I've read and love 5 out of these 10! Your description of The Scarlet Pimpernel on an earlier comment is definitely making me want to read that one, though!

Allison said...

I love how you had to organize them alphabetically otherwise it would drive you crazy. I'm the same way, haha! I love Anne of Green Gables!

Shelley said...

i can't even imagine trying to narrow my favs down to just 10! and i hate to admit, but i've only read 2 books from your list. guess i'll have to add some of the others to my to-read list!

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

I LOVE A Voice in the Wind! I also loved her books, Redeeming Love and A Lineage of Grace. So so amazing! Great picks, girl! I've been wanting to read Water for Elephants. I'm going to have to go out and buy it soon!

Alicia | Jaybird: Home in Motion said...

I love Water for Elephants, and the Anne of Green Gables series was a favorite when I was growing up. I think those would be a fantastic re-read for my next bedtime book.

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

I'm gonna have to ditch my Mary and Martha book for the Anne series =)

Jeneric Generation said...

Oh, I want to read The Scarlet Pimpernel! And Water for Elephants made your top ten? I might have to add that to my list, too. Gah! I obviously highly approve of your two Anne choices. My sisters and I looooooooooooooved Christy (the show) growing up, but we never read the books! I do own the first one, however. I really love this collection of top ten. I love that many of them are books that obviously shaped you as a person, and that you have chosen so carefully. I love that a top ten says so much about a person! I may have to do this too....(with great weeping and gnashing of teeth, as well, I am sure). Great post!

Anne said...

I'm in the middle of the Anne series now. I like each book a little more than the last! Based on the other books you like, you might like my favorite, "Mrs. Mike", about a girl who is sent to the wilderness in Canada and her life after marrying a Mountie. Canadian YA literature - it's a thing!

Susannah said...

I'm going to have to read the ones I haven't!

The Lady Okie said...

I know! I have so many books on my reading list. Gah!

The Lady Okie said...

I've never seen the film version. I really should. Thanks for the tip!

Chantel said...

You've got some great books here! Judging by your list, have you read Liz Curtis Higgs' historical fiction books? I thought those were awesome!

The Lady Okie said...

Yay! I'm so glad to know you're loving the Anne books. They really are so good. I'll have to see if Mrs. Mike is at the library! Thanks for the tip.

Jennifer Prod said...

i'm having trouble finding your goodreads- can you send a link?

Unknown said...

I tried reading Little Women and I couldn't get through it because I am too sentimental and I cried in the first twenty pages!!!! I like this list, I need to read some on here. I would also list Water For Elephants as one of my favorites... I read it in one sitting! Thanks for sharing!

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

I tried to do a post like this one time...and almost had a panic attack trying to narrow them down. Props to you, friend.

Betsy said...

LOVE Little Women. my favorite Anne book is the last - Rilla of Ingleside :) and I always felt guilty about this but my favorite Little House On The Prairie was the Almanzo one, set in New York when he was a kid!

Anonymous said...

YES to Anne, Christy, Water for Elephants, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Francine Rivers (that book was my favorite one of hers too). Good picks, I must say ;)

Megan said...

How did you ever narrow it down to 10 without counting series?!?! You are a far braver woman than I, Amanda. Also, I'm embarrassed to say I've only read about half these books, so I'm adding all the other ones to my Goodreads now!

Torrie said...

How have I missed this post? And how are there books on here I've never even heard of? Welp, now I'm off to the library website to see if they have some of these...

Also, you must not be as huge of a Harry Potter fan as the rest of us, since I see those didn't make your list...appalling! :)

・ DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS