Monday, April 17, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday!


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week's topic is:

April 18th: Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book 
Basically any topic or theme or ANYTHING (i.e. if X person recommends it) that will make you instantly want to pick up a book.

Oh dear. This might exceed ten. I will try my very best to stay near ten. No promises though. Given my love of non-fiction, this will be mostly by topic. Of course there are certain authors I will read no matter what, and certain topics where I want to read every book I can possibly get my hands on, no matter the viewpoint. I will also be posting books with each category and will try to limit myself to only two. Here are a few, in no particular order:

1. Eleanor of Aquitaine

This BAMF deserves her own category, apart from the Plantagenet Dynasty. Easily the most fascinating figure of the Middles Ages, what I would not give for a time machine (and the security of being able to return to 2017 with no problems).

My Recommendation:

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2. The Anglo-Saxons
I have seen articles recently suggesting that Alfred is not as 'Great' as once thought. Phooey. I don't think anyone believes the 'burning the rolls' story anymore, but he certainly kick-started, or helped further, the idea of education and reading, and left a solidly defend-able England for his grandson Aethelstan to unite. And I will be forever tormented by thoughts of 1066 what-ifs, had Harold survived Hastings, etc. But then we may not have had my next favorite topics...

My Recommendation:

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3. The Plantagenets
The ruling family of England for roughly 300 years. Definitely dysfunctional and definitely fun. Except for the murders and throne-stealing.

My recommendation:

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I have to stop there or I will seriously have a list 20 books long.

4. Roman Britain
Boudicca. Bouddicca. Boadicea. I could go on and on. However you want to spell it, she was another BAMF that we know even less about than Eleanor of Aquitaine. But I believe she existed and I believe that for a very short time, she was able to bring the Roman army in Britain to its knees. If only things had gone differently at the Battle of Watling Street (for lack of better title to give it), who knows what England might look like today.

My Recommendation:

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5. The Tudors
Dysfunction abounds in the dynasty after the Plantagenets too. Just as much blood and gore, if not more so just from Henry alone. He is of lesser interest to me than those around him though; the many Thomases, the women unfortunate enough to be married to him, and his children who would, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view), fail to produce another Tudor generation.

My Recommendation:

17456975 20821029      27904523 690539

Much like with the Plantagenets, I have to stop here or this topic will be loooooong.

6. Queen Consorts of England (1509 - 1547)

It is really hard for me to refer to these women as 'Queens to Henry VIII'. They need to be allowed to stand on their own as real people, and not just considered by what is viewed as the greatest achievement in their lives - marrying a king. I am even willing to extend that to Anne Boleyn, and I can not stand that woman. I can however, recognize a good biography about her, which Eric Ives has written and I highly recommend. I also appreciate books dedicated to one queen, instead of lumping them all together in one book. I feel that each one deserves their own look. Yes, even Anne.

My Recommendation:

29139385 31086 7971464 29430787

I am still needing to get my hands on biographies of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Parr. There are a few on my TBR list but if you have recommendations I would love to hear them!

7. Gilded Age New York
...especially when about the big name families - the Rockefellers, Morgans, Vanderbilts, etc. Seeing 5th Avenue, lined with those gaudy mansions, would have been amazing. And some of them were actually quite beautiful. I wish they were still around!

My Recommendation:

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Another topic that threatened to get out of control!

8. Scottish History (up to 1603)
Pretty much the entire UK and its history is interesting. I still, however, like to acknowledge the fact that they are three different countries.

9. Irish History (up to 1603)
See above.

10. Anything by Dan Jones

I know, I know, I include him on lots of lists. But whatever, he is one of my favorites, his research is thorough, and he writes mainly about one of my favorite topics: the Plantagenets and medieval England.

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Have I already mentioned how psyched I am for his new book this fall about the Knights Templar? Yes? Oh well, here is another reminder: I. Can't. Wait.

11. Biblical NonFiction and Archaeology
I am forever reading the King James Version Bible and I enjoy finding non-fiction texts that discuss different aspects of the Bible and Christianity. Unfortunately, anymore it seems like the term Christian has been hijacked by the hard right here in the US, so I prefer simply saying I am a follower of Christ, so as to not be lumped in with those using and abusing His words (and words He did not say) for their own purposes. I love studying the Bible and appreciate books that help give me a deeper understanding of God's Word. I also enjoy texts relating to these places that existed so long ago and still exist today. It is a dream to see Jerusalem, though I would not feel entirely safe embarking on that journey at the present time with a three year old. I hope in the future we will be able to do so.

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Once again, stopping myself from posting my whole Goodreads shelf.

12. Fashion History
I am especially fond of the histories of the major fashion houses - Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, etc. Someday I WILL own an LV traveling trunk and it will be amazing.

20174442

13. US Presidents
One of my reading goals here in 2017 is to read more about US Presidents - specifically those who are not named Washington, Lincoln, or Kennedy. it is nothing against those presidents, but just that I have already read SO MANY books about them. The Kennedy family might as well also have their own category, because I am endlessly fascinated by the creation and illusion of Camelot.

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Okay, this goal has been slow-going since I started writing my own book, but I am getting there. Sloooooooowly.

14. Titanic
What can I say? The 16 year old in me can never let go. But jokes aside, I am one of the many who will forever be fascinated and haunted by this tragic loss of life and man's arrogance in attempting to defeat nature. I was in Ireland in 2010 but we did not have time to get to Belfast and it was HEARTBREAKING! But it is another item on my bucket list, and a trip my little lady and I can take together some day.

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Ugh. I could have gone on way longer. And listed SO many more books for some of these categories. I think fourteen is as good a place as any to stop though. This was about to get seriously out of control. If you are also interested in any of these topics, I would love to hear your book-specific recommendations and/or share some of my own with you.

Happy Reading,
Sarah

22 comments:

  1. I confess you have categories of books I never ever have read. But, I do enjoy reading historical fiction so I would likely enjoy the books you suggested. My TTT

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    1. I am glad you might find something of interest here! What times of historical fiction do you enjoy most? Thanks for coming by!

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  2. I enjoy reading historical books and I have a particular obsession with the Tudors! :-) Great list and thanks for the recommendations.

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    1. Thank you! For a long time I had a Tudor obsession, and then I met the Plantagenets and WOW! Basically now my interest encompasses the first peoples in Britain up through 1603. I find that I lose interest as the 1600s unfold. If you read any of these, I'd love to know what you think, thanks for coming by!

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  3. Some great stuff here. I would echo the Plantagenets and the Tudors. I've enjoyed the American Revolutionary era in the past as well. And I'd love to learn more about Eleanor of Aquitaine.

    Biblical non fiction and archaeology as well.

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    1. I do have some interest in the Revolutionary War for sure, but it has been hard as an adult to reconcile the men I admired when I was younger with the fuller picture that I now understand them to be - primarily slave owners. I guess when learning about them in history class, it was always kind of glossed over. I still find these figures interesting, but I view them in a different light now.

      I LOVE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY! I read an article some months back about one of the gates being discovered from the town where Goliath was said to be from. I love this stuff, it is so cool.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Big yes to Tudors and Plantagenets! Yes to US Presidents and Queen Consorts though I don't get to read as much about them as I like at the moment. I've read bits and pieces of some of your other topics like Titanic and vrious history periods. Great list!

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    1. Thank you! I thought long and hard about it for a while, and still managed to leave off a few topics I should have included! I have read two great queen bios in the last two weeks, the ones I included about Catherine and Catherine. Such great books. If you read them, let me know!

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  5. These are some interesting themes/people. I definitely had a Tudor phase when I was in school but I haven't really read much fiction set in that time - thanks for the recs :)
    My Top Ten Tuesday.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! I once had a pretty big obsession with the Tudors until I discovered the Plantagenets. Basically all of UK history up to 1603 is my jam. I am not much for fiction, even historical fiction, but the one I included about the Anglo-Saxons, '1066 Turned Upside Down' was great and was alternatives to how 1066 might have ended, instead of with the crowning of William the Bastard. If you ever read any of these, I would love to know your thoughts!

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  6. Fascinating. I'm not sure I've read a single book about any of these except the Titanic! I love history, too, though.

    https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/04/things-that-will-make-me-instantly-want.html

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    1. I am glad you found my list of interest, all of these topics are near and dear to my heart - and of course I have thought of a few more after re-reading it. And I don't think Titanic will ever stop capturing our attention!

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  7. Gilded Age NYC for the win! http://mwgerard.com/top-ten-tuesday-things-that-make-me-want-to-read-a-book/

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    1. Oh gosh, yes! Can you imagine seeing any of those homes? Luckily the summer homes still exist (mostly) at least. I just can't get over this time period. I find interest in the following Jazz Age a bit too.

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  8. I will have to check out some of your Tudor recs as I love The Tudors!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/top-ten-tuesday-103/

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    1. I had quite the obsession until I discovered the Plantagenets. They are both still among my most favorite topics to read about. Any of the books in that category or the Queens Consort one are fantastic. Thanks for coming by!

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  9. Great list! I had the Tudors on my list as well - I can't get enough of them! I can't believe I forgot about Titanic - I am so fascinated by it!

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    1. Right?? Titanic is extra special to me, because I remember always checking out the book by Ballard about its discovery when I was in elementary school. Then the movie came out when I was 16 and, well, the story had me, all over again. The book about the musicians was just on sale a day or so ago on Amazon for $1.99. Such a great, sad book. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Titanic is on my list today, too. I haven't read any of the books on the topic that you mentioned, so I'm definitely going to be adding them to my TBR list on Goodreads. I'm also fascinated by the Gilded Age. I've had EMPTY MANSIONS sitting on my shelf for months -- I need to get to it ASAP.

    Happy TTT!

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    1. Hey Susan, thank you for coming by! The Titanic book about the musicians was just on sale on Amazon for $1.99 a day or so ago, definitely check it out. I think B&N has it too if you have a Nook. I can't get enough of the Gilded Age! Such excess and splendor and such snobbery and just, amazing what new/old money does to a person. Have you read the Phantom of 5th Avenue? It is also about Huguette and I think the books compliment each other well. Let me know what you think if you read any of them!

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  11. I'd love to get my hands on some Eleanor of Aquitaine books! :)

    Lauren @ My TTT and my current giveaway (INT)

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    1. I have been lucky with my finds at Half Price Books, to find some in very good condition. I had to get quite a few off Amazon though. The first one pictured was quite pricey, as it was a translated version to English from French. All are very well worth the time, even just to have to compare good scholarship vs. not so good scholarship. Happy Reading, thanks for coming by!

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