July 14, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books That Make Me Smile
*I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make Me Smile.
If you’ve clicked over from That Artsy Reader Girl, Welcome! Please look around and enjoy your stay.
Today’s prompt is “Books That Make Me Smile” and I hope that I’ve chosen books that will make you smile, also. I interpret “make me smile” to mean that they make me “happy I read that,” not funny books that make me laugh out loud.
Because I read a great deal of histfic, I do not have an overabundance of “uplit” books that fall into this category. I hope you enjoy the titles I’ve picked out for this week’s prompt. Let me know if we share any favorites or if you have an “uplit” title I can add to my list.
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
No.1 Ladies Detective Series by Alexander McCall Smith
Kind, gracious, and wise Mma Precious Ramotswe and a cast of quirky supporting characters and the culture of Botswana bring many smiles to my face. A recent favorite is The House of Unexpected Sisters and I look forward to a new installment this fall, How to Raise an Elephant. Each installment is like visiting with old friends. If you are looking for easy-reading, gentle, comfort reads with likable characters and uplifting themes, this might be a good option.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abi Waxman
Smart, snappy, and humorous writing with a likable and quirky character will bring a smile to your face. (skip Ch 5 if you are would rather not read crude humor)
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman
If you have children in your life, Backman’s essays on parenthood will bring a smile to your face.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Delightful illustrations and poignant, thoughtful reflections on life (reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh) will bring a smile to your face.
This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagán
Some snappy writing, a quirky character, and an enemies to lovers trope will bring a smile to your face.
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
A delightful group of quirky characters, a book club formed from necessity during the war, a loving community, a quaint village, and a gently told story of found family will put a smile on your face.
(are you surprised or entertained by the way I work this book into almost every list?!)
Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls or Parenthood this memoir might bring a smile to your face.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Reading about the Danish secrets to cozy living might bring a smile to your face.
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This candid and endearing classic collection of letters between Helene Hanff of New York and a bookstore owner in England will bring a smile to your face.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Although there are some thoughtful themes, the trip these sisters take in memory of their mom is heartwarming and their adventures will bring a smile to your face.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Even though Harold struggles with some personal issues, his unlikely pilgrimage will bring a smile to your face.
***EDIT: OOPS! I just realize I have 11 listed here!
QOTD:
Have you read any of these stories and did they bring a smile to your face?
What is your favorite “book-that-make-me-smile” title?
Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
ICYMI:
TTT: 10 Highly Rated and Favorite WW1 and WW11 Books
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Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price. This money will be used to offset the costs of running a blog and to sponsor giveaways, etc.
Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
The book covers and author photos are credited to Amazon or an author’s website.
© ReadingLadies.com
As a Dane, it always makes me smile how fascinating foreigners find the concept of ‘hygge’. It’s such a huge part of our life that it blows my mind that other countries don’t even have a word for it.
I have a Norwegian and Danish heritage and I recognized so many concepts from the way our extended family has always done things! It never occurred to me that the things I thought of as important were really Hygge! In the u.s. people are more concerned with accumulating things than with Hygge 😢
I have always known Americans would never make it in Danish society, but that’s just because they seem to be scared of things like free education and health care.
I never really considered that they wouldn’t get the appeal of playing board games while drinking hot cocoa, either…
😂😂😂 everyone’s so stressed out with their careers and getting more “stuff” ….. a board game or a good book and hot chocolate and a cozy fire sounds perfect to me!
Good! Embrace the Dane inside you 😀
Absolutely!
Oh The Unlikely Pilgrimage… I loved that and forgot all about it! Great list this week!
My TTT is here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2020/07/14/top-ten-tuesdaybooks-that-make-me-smile/
Thanks for sharing a love of Harold and for stopping by to read and comment! I’m hopping over now to read yours!
Nina Hill and Guernsey are both great books! Great list. Just followed your blog!
My TTT: http://theburstingbookshelf.com/10-authors-whose-books-i-always-buy/
Thanks! Following you back! I notice we have a few books in common for this list! 😍📚
I read and enjoyed anything I read by Alexander McCall Smith), The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and 84 Charing Cross Road. I wasn’t too keen on The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
Nice list.
My TTT.
Thanks for commenting! I’m happy to hear we enjoy some common reads! Harold is rather quirky! I’m hopping over to read your post now!
I think that’s why we “found” each other, because we have a similar taste in literature. Glad to have met you.
Cheers 🥂 to virtual bookish friendship! 🙌
Cheers back.
Good choices with Guernsey, Alexander McCall Smith and 84 Charing Cross Road!
Thanks! 🙌
I really liked the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, too.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
It’s a lovely story! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
I loved Harold Fry, such a lovely story!
I’m happy to hear we both love quirky and earnest Harold! 🙌
Great List!
Thanks Jaymi! 🙌
Mma Ramotswe always makes me smile too – and so do the covers!
My TTT: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/toptentuesday-books-that-make-me-smile/
Yes…Thanks for mentioning the charming covers! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
I haven’t read any of these, but I really want to read Lauren Graham’s memoir!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/top-ten-tuesday-272/
Yes, Graham’s memoir is a fun one for fans! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
🙂
I’ve got The Bookish Life of Nina Hill on loan from the library! I’m thrilled it made your list; even the book’s cover makes me smile! Happy reading and happy Tuesday!
I hope you enjoy it Maggie! 🙌
I LOVE the No 1 Ladies–I listen to them on audio and can’t wait for the new one. I also love many of the others. Great list!
Thanks! I’m happy to hear we share a love for No 1 Ladies!
I almost added the Lauren Graham to my list.
My ttt
http://www.thehauntedgravebooks.com/2020/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-make-me-smile.html
It’s a fun one! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
I love this topic and list!
It was fun to plan!
Great list! I have Nina Hill on my TBR! I love Guernsey and Lauren Graham’s book. Here is my post-http://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2020/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-make-me-smile.html.
I’m happy to hear we share some favs! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
Those Alexander McCall Smith novels look so fun!
My TTT .
They are delightful, charming, and gentle! I’m hopping over now to read your post!
Great list Carol. I loved Harold Fry and Backman’s book. Some of these look interesting.
Thanks Carla! 🙌
Fredrik Backman’s books make me smile. They’re so funny!
Love his quirky characters!
I love your list – I just completed a “books I’m grateful to have read” challenge, and I had a hard time limiting my list. I love Lauren Graham, and This Won’t End Well has been on my TBR list forever. I recently read (well, listened to) Bossypants by Tina Fey – it made me laugh out loud (not the best thing, since I was supposed to be working).
[…] TTT: 10 Books That Make Me Smile […]
[…] See my similar post (with a few different titles) published on July 14, 2020. […]
[…] wrote a post similar to this in February of 2021 and in 2020, so I’m revising those lists today to add some new selections. I think that during the […]