Portobello Book Blog

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

The rules are simple:

Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post. Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists. Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

This week’s theme: Books I Recommend to Others the Most

Quite often I am most enthusiastic about the most recent books I have read. For this challenge, I tried to think of books I read a while ago and which I still think about or, in some cases, still use regularly. For many of these authors, I’d say read any of their books as they are all brilliant. But since we’re constrained to ten, here’s my selection of books I wholeheartedly recommend to others.

How To Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson

This is my most used baking book. I haven’t baked all the recipes in it – there are loads – but there are several family favourites. Banana bread, lemon drizzle cake, butter cookies, Lily’s scones – these are all recipes we use time and again. I think the recipes are pretty much foolproof and would recommend this book to anyone hesitant about baking.

Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson

Yes, it’s another from Nigella! She’s my favourite cook. I really like this book as the recipes are all, as the title suggests, fast or at least quicker than you might usually expect for certain recipes. It’s full of tips and short cuts to get food on the table quickly without too much faff but with lots of flavour. Again, there are several recipes from this book which are staples in our house.

Lost for Words by Stephanie Butland

This book is just wonderful! Here is a snippet from my review to let you know what I thought of it: Lost for Words is a book I adored. It’s full of warmth with wonderful characters and it’s full of the magic and power of books. If you love books set in bookshops, you’ll love it. If you love books about damaged people learning to love again, you’ll love it. If you love books with quirky characters, you’ll love it. In fact, if you love any beautifully written story, you’ll love Lost For Words!

Between the Stops by Sandi Toksvig

This is a book I listened to on Audible and I really recommend the audiobook if you like listening to them. It’s narrated by Sandi Toksvig and really, as it’s her memoir, it couldn’t have been read by anyone else! It’s funny, warm, emotional and so informative too. A real gem of a book.

And The Land Lay Still by James Robertson

I had to think hard which of James Robertson’s books to include here but I had to go for And The Land Lay Still. I have a precious signed copy on my bookshelf. It’s an epic read covering a large chunk of Scotland’s recent history and is a social history as much as a novel.

The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson

I love language and words, I’m sure that won’t be much of a surprise. I am fascinated by the etymology of words so this book by Bill Bryson is one I really enjoyed. He looks at many of the quirks of English and where words and spellings came from. You’d never imagine a book about words could be so interesting but it really is.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

This is another epic read and one I put off reading for a while because of its size. That was a big mistake because once I started reading, I flew through the pages. Cyril Avery is the main character as we follow him throughout his life. His friendships, acquaintances, experiences and loves are all expertly combined to create a sweeping epic novel of an ordinary, yet also extraordinary life. I could happily have read more about Cyril and was genuinely bereft to have to leave him behind.

A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale

I could have chosen to include any of the Patrick Gale books I’ve read. I think he’s a wonderful writer and I have loved all his books. I have chosen A Place Called Winter which was his first historical novel. I was concerned I might not like it as much as his contemporary work but I needn’t have worried. A Place Called Winter is a well crafted, moving novel of love and repressed feelings. Patrick Gale creates a sense of time and place that is pitch perfect.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Ah how to choose a favourite Maggie O’Farrell novel? Well, that’s impossible so I’ve just chosen her most recent book which I’ve been raving about since I read it last year. I was delighted to see it’s been included on the shortlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Maggie O’Farrell is an exceptional storyteller in my opinion and had me utterly gripped by her beautiful writing throughout The Marriage Portrait, which is a stunning piece of historical fiction

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is an author whose books I unfailingly enjoy. I’ve chosen another I listened to as an audiobook with narrator Eilidh Beaton had a wonderful way of bringing all the emotions of the characters alive. With a fabulous location and characters you will love, The Bookshop on the Shore is a heart-warming and engaging story. There are serious issues covered but also a lot of warmth and light-heartedness and a rather lovely love story too.

Have you read any of these titles?
What other books have you read that would fit this week’s topic?