Ten Memorable Books (Top Ten Tuesday)

I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday today, hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

Here's today's topic: Books with Sensory Reading Memories

This one took a little thought and also goes back a ways, but here are ten books that have memories related to them (most of these I haven't reviewed, so books are linked to Amazon, using my affiliate link, if there is no review):

Anne of Green Gables

by L. M Montgomery

This was the first book I remember receiving as a gift. I got it from a friend at my 8th birthday party and it was the first book I really dove into on my own and couldn't stop reading. I remember losing track of time as I read it. I've read it several times since and have also watched the movies. I have to say that not only was it the first book I really dove into on my own, it also contained my fist book boyfriend, Gilbert Blythe, who is still one of the best.

Scottish Chiefs

by Jane Porter

I have fond memories of sitting with my siblings in my family's living room on the couch either across from my dad or next to him and listening to my him read this book. We read a chapter every night until it was finished. My dad collected the N.C. Wyeth illustrated editions and when he came to a picture, he'd turn it and show us. When I got married I began my own collection. It's been a while since I showed them off, so I'll have to do that soon. When I look at, think about, or read this book now, it always feels a little like coming home.

Westward Ho

by Charles Kingley

This is another illustrated edition by N.C. Wyeth that my dad had in his collection and I also added to my own later on. This one we didn't read together. After reading Scottish Chiefs and some other classics, my interest for more was fairly strong and I remember picking this one up and reading it in a day or two. It was the first book that made my cry. It is an excellent and bittersweet story. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!

Twilight

by Stephanie Myers

My husband likes to tease me about my fanning of this series. I resisted reading this for a couple years after all the hype it got, but finally gave in to see if it was any good. My husband worked full-time and was in law school at night while I'd just had our third child (man, this makes me sound so old!). I needed something that would suck me in with some romance (a woman needs a little romance in her life!) while I was manning all things at home and exhausted at night. This series did that for me and got me back into reading after not reading a lot after college and having babies. I remember being so tired, reading this late at night when the kids were all asleep (making sure the baby would stay asleep), and not being able to put it down. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Bronte

I've read Jane Eyre many times, but the time I remember most vividly was right after our youngest was born and I won a movie copy from a blog giveaway. I sat reading late at night, with the house quite, while being up nursing and rocking the baby. It's interesting to me that we can have a different experience with a book that we've read before depending on what's going on in our lives. And yes, I've read it since them and have also seen all the film adaptations.

Six of Crows
by Leigh Bardugo

I actually started this one while waiting to meet Leigh Bardugo at an event at one of my local bookstore's other locations. I was waiting for seating to be set up and sat in a corner in the book store and began reading. I'd already read her Grisha Trilogy and was looking forward to more stories set in this world (so, so excited for King of Scars!!!). I remember how the corner wasn't the most comfortable and I had to keep checking to see if we were being seated yet and then I got lost in the story and almost missed getting a good seat. Lol! If you've never met Leigh in person, let me tell you, she's fabulous! I've met her twice and both times were well worth it.

True to You
by Becky Wade

I'm a huge Becky Wade fan! I just really connected with her debut, My Stubborn Heart, and have loved her since. I don't remember what I was doing or where I was when I read her debut, but I do remember where I was when I read True to You. I was sitting on my comfy chair at 3 AM crying my eyes out. Lol! I had meant to read just a little, thinking I'd be able to put it down after a chapter or two (even though I really knew better), and stayed up reading until I finished. Tears and all.

Seeking Persephone
by Sarah M. Eden

I read the original, self published edition of this book before Sarah was contracted. We are related to some wonderful people who are related to her and her books were loaned to my mom to read. She passed them to me and this was the first one I read. I remember reading the back and thinking it sounded interesting. I love historical romance, so it seemed like something I might enjoy. And I did. Immensely. I read this in our little house on the couch in one sitting at night after the kids were down. I was thrilled when she was able to republish her Indie books (so I could get copies) and has continued to write new stories.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J. K. Rowling

So don't hate me or throw things... I don't know if I've ever admitted this online. I haven't read th first four Harry Potter books. I've only read the last three, books six through eight. I know, I know, that is terrible. Just like with Twilight, when books get so much hype I tend to resist reading them for some reason (unless I've read them before the hype is crazy). Plus, I don't read a lot of Middle Grade. Just a few here and there. Of course, that didn't stop me from seeing all the movies. When I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix I had to know where the story went from there. How it all ended. My in-laws owned the series, so my husband and I borrowed the last three books from them and binge read them. He started first and then passed it on to me. I remember dying to find out what happened after the movie ended (and I know movies do not follow books completely or even remotely sometimes), but I picked up from that movie and read. I remember sitting in bed next to my husband while we read the series together (me reading this one and he reading the next book). It's one of the few books we've both read. The rest is history as we now own the set, the illustrated editions, the movies, and I have a bunch of bookish accessories that my daughter keeps trying to steal. Yes, we passed our HP love onto our children.

Heist Society
by Ally Carter

How I love this series!!! Have you read it? Do. Really. It's freeking brilliant! Jen, who was one of the first bloggers I followed and who I love still, recommended this to me. My life was crazy and, like most moms, I was trying to fit in reading while still keeping the house clean and spend time with the kids. I grabbed this from the library in audiobook format and listened to it on m iPod while cleaning and running around the house. The voice was spot on and I remember laughing out loud while doing dishes with my hands all wet and the kids wanting to know what was funny. This is defintely a book I recommend in print or audio. Read it.

How about you? What books would be on your list?