Hype or Like Friday is a Goodreads group started by Jill at Rant and Rave About Books, Larkin at Wonderfilled Reads, and Britt at Geronimo Reads.
Today’s Hype or Like Friday prompt is about books recommended to me that I’m thankful for.
- The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I didn’t get into this series until after the fourth book was published, and one of my friends recommended the series to me. The first movie had just come out, and I was convinced this was a series for kids only. Boy was I wrong, and I could not be more thankful to my friend for recommending the series and forcing me to watch the first movie. I of course peppered her with questions the entire movie long and I was hooked and promptly went out and bought all four available books and devoured them, and patiently waited (ha!) for the next few books to be released.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – This is a book that was selected for our Hype or Like Friday book of the month this past July, and I’m so thankful that this was chosen! Based on The Iliad, this is told from the POV of Patroclus, and delves into Patroclus and Achilles relationship (romantic here). This was a beautiful story, and really brought the characters and story of The Iliad to a modern audience and made it easier to read. Read my review here.
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – This was a book club selection in my book club, The Page Turners, and this is a beautiful story about a grumpy old man and how his neighbors slowly soften his heart. Keep the Kleenex handy! Read my review here.
- Shark Dialogues by Kiana Davenport – This was recommended to me by a friend, and focuses on the history of Hawaii throughout the generations of one family. Historical fiction that is dark and gritty, but also beautifully written and has one of the strongest and most memorable female characters I have ever read. This was the first book I read this year, and it’s still my favorite that I’ve read this year. Read my review here.
- The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout – Another book club read, this fascinating western is set in the 1850s, and has a frontier woman, Mary Bee Cuddy, transporting mentally ill women out of the frontier and back east to an asylum. Stunning and powerful.
And in my previous Hype or Like Friday post I erred on which book we are reading this month. Turns out the selection for November is Three Dark Crowns, which I think involves sisters and magic and royalty. Sounds like a fun read!
What books have been recommended to you that you are thankful for?
luvtoread 
My aunt recommend I read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger, and it’s one of my favorite series now.
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I’ve only read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and really loved it!! They are such classic fantasy novels – I really need to read them all.
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Great choices! I keep seeing A Man Called Ove a lot recently and it’s really making me want to pick it up.
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Thanks! Ove is just such a great book. Great characters and a great story. We read it in my book club and we all loved it.
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Sounds great! I’ll definitely add it to my TBR now.
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For me it would be the Bible because it holds the words of life.
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Yes indeed! 🙂
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I was also glad The Song of Achilles was our book of the month, I would never have picked it otherwise and it was an interesting and heart-breaking story!
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Me too! I think I would’ve been too intimidated to pick it up, and it was such a beautiful story.
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Definitely agree with you on Harry Potter and The Song of Achilles. HP is a staple now in every bookish person’s collection. I’m obsessed with the movies. I no joke watch a few of them per week. It’s sort of weird. Haha! And Achilles ❤️ You already know how much I love him and Patroclus.
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Song of Achilles was such a great selection!
HP is just such a great series, wonderful characters, and I love escaping into that world. I think that is partly why I love it so much – it’s a wonderful escape and I become fully immersed into the wizard world! 🙂
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I feel the same way about HP. The world is so unique and special. And Achilles will always have a special place in my heart. Ever since my freshman year of college and he still hasn’t left me.
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Was tickled that my BC choice “The Homesman” made it on your list. I really thought it was a good book. ☺️
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🙂 It’s such a great book! Thanks for choosing it – it was an excellent discussion book and the plot and characters were haunting. It makes me want to give other Westerns a try, as it was nothing how I expected a Western to be.
Weavily wheat!
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