Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Adult Fiction 101

I thought about which subject or genre I would choose for this week's list for a very long time. While I was looking at my shelves, I noticed I had a lot of adult fiction novels that I really wanted to read, but I haven't read them yet because YA has taken over my life this year! So I thought I would make a list of some of my favorite adult fiction books I have read in order to remind myself to pick up some of the unread ones on my shelves. 


1. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger 
This is one of the first adult fiction novels that I read and truly loved. I was maybe a freshman or sophomore in high school when I read it, and to this day, it is the book that has made me cry the hardest. It's so unbelievably sad,  but so, so good. The movie was awful, so please don't judge the book by the movie and pass this one by. 
  
2. The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
I read this one way back before I started blogging, and loved it! It's about Hemingway's first wife, Hadley, and the time the two of them spent in Paris. It's no secret I think Hemingway is a big ol' jerkface, but I loved that this story was about Hadley and didn't idolize Hemingway.  

3. The Oscar Wilde Murder Mystery Series, Gyles Brandeth
I LOVE this series, There are six books out so far, and I'm dying for more. I love Oscar Wilde, and Brandeth captures his persona perfectly. Plus authors such as Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle make guest appearances in many of the novels. Wilde, Stoker, and Doyle solving murders, what more could you ask for? 


I have read this book twice now, and laughed out loud both times! If you are a single woman living on your own (or if you ever were one), you will love Bridget and see yourself in her. 

The concept and execution of this novel are both very unique, and the book comments on so many interesting and deep themes. I often find myself thinking about this book even though I read it years ago, and I'm itching for a reread. The movie adaptation is great too. 

This book will change your life. Atwood is genius. Every human should read this book, especially those who think women's rights shouldn't be on the forefront of political discussions. 


Of course I had to include this, as it is one of my all-time favorite novels, and I reread it every year. It's set in 1930's New York City, and is a great self-discovery novel. 

I read this book a few months ago and loved it. It's a great piece of historical fiction for book lovers. The plot is so rich, and the mystery is impossible to put down. Everything weaves together wonderfully in this novel, and the 1945 Barcelona setting is so atmospheric. 

I was introduced to this author and novel through one of my lit classes last semester, and I'm really happy about it. Erdrich is not an author I would have found, or tired, on my own, but her writing is great. All her books feature Native American characters and magical realism. The writing in this novel is phenomenal and the characters were so vivid. I highly recommend checking out this author's works, I know I'm eager to read more from her. 

This book was a lot of fun, I love books that use classic authors, literary characters, or classic novels as part of their plots, and this one was very well done. If you like Sherlock Holmes, check this one out. Fun fact, Moore just won an Academy Award for Best Screen-Play for The Imitation Game, which was a fantastic movie- so his writing is great. 

18 comments:

  1. I love the Time Traveler's Wife and the Virgin Suicides...I would DEFINITELY take this class. I've also read the Handmaid's Tale - but on my own - so I'd be curious to read it in a class room setting. I think i would take this for sure! GREAT syllabus!

    My TTT: http://rachelwritesthings.blogspot.com/2015/08/top-ten-books-that-would-be-on-my.html

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    1. The Handmaid's Tale would be great to read in a classroom setting! There is so much potential for discussion there.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Great list! I love many of the books you mentioned on it--The Shadow of the Wind (also on my list this week!), Bridget Jones' Diary, The Paris Wife, The Time Traveller's Wife, The Virgin Suicides--I hope you enjoy them :) The Handmaid's Tale is on my TBR queue at the moment :)

    My TTT

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    1. Move the Handmaid's Tale up in the queue! It's brilliant.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. What a great list! I've enjoyed so many of these books! My TTT!

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  4. I have not read a single book on your list. Not one. Several I've meant to. That being said, I did see the movie adaptation of The Virgin Suicides. Such an odd story. And then I love the Bridget Jones movie. I need to read the book.

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    1. Oh my gosh! Well all of these are really great reads. Bridget Jones is even funnier than the movies- I highly recommend that one.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. Hi! I've forgotten about Bridget Jones. I loved that book. And The Shadow of the Wind, too. A great list :)

    My TTT: http://lesliehauser.com/2015/08/25/top-ten-tuesday-ya-contemporary-101-syllabus/

    -Leslie

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  6. I have been so caught up in YA lately that I often forget that Adult can be just as amazing. I shall have to check out all the books on your list so I can get back into Adult Lit! Great job :)

    My TTT https://jazminjade.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/top-ten-tuesday-fantasy-101/

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    1. I feel the same way! There are so many adult fiction novels on my TBR right now.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. The Handmaid's Tale is one of my favorite books to teach; I haven't read that particular Eugenides book in years but I think I have a friend who's taught it before. Anyway, nice list! Yay!

    Layla @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. I would love to teach both in a classroom! Both of those novels could provoke so much discussion!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. Will have to check out The Sherlockian - sounds interesting! My TTT

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    1. It was a fun read. The mystery was very well put together.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. The Paris Wife is also on my shelf to read! I bought it specifically because it was about Hemingway's first wife. I was required to read quite a bit of Hemingway in high school, and I think I even did a partial research project on him, so The Paris Wife intrigued me.

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    1. It's a really great novel. The characters feel so real and the Paris setting is so atmospheric.
      Thanks for stopping by!

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