Top Ten Books I Enjoyed
That Are Outside My Comfort Zone
TTT for September 3, 2019
#TopTenTuesday
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For this edition of #TopTenTuesday, we are talking about Books I Enjoy That Are Outside My Comfort Zone.
Please click on the covers to access my review
1. Time travel stories
I usually don’t like time travel stories, but it works here, with a nice mix of history and cultural touches.
2-3. Manga
I have tried to read Manga, but often I didn’t like them. Except these:
The Secret World of Arrietty is actually a Film Comic Adaptation, I didn’t even know such a thing existed. This story is cute, and the artwork is just stunning!
I was surprised to love Orange, because it’s basically a teenage love story, but the art is well done (essential for me), and the plot is actually intriguing and original. I quickly devoured the two thick volumes of it.
 
4. Ghost stories
I about never read ghost stories, but I won this book for somebody else. Before giving it to the person, I opened it, and devoured it! I was really surprised to enjoy this Middle Grade ghost story. Very rich story!
5. Hemingway
I really don’t like his books, except this one, a beautiful memoir on his time in Paris.
6-7. Political books
Another genre I almost never read. But these were surprisingly very well done and interesting.
 
8-9. WWIIÂ and YA
Having read so much about WWII in my French curriculum and in novels, I now try to stay away form it. However, these 2 books were amazing, the first one for the quality and originality of the writing, the second for the content (WWII and YA, 2 categories I rarely read in).
 
10. Essays
I rarely read short stories or essays collections, because I usually feel the end comes too abruptly. This one however, was fabulous, being written by an amazing author.
Have you read any of these?
Any other good title you would recommend
in these categories?
Words And Peace 
Interesting list. One should try to go outside the comfort zone sometimes. It will probably surprise you. I seldom do though. I always said I don’t like time travel, but love Outlander and The Time Traveller’s Wife. I don’t know what it says about me. Maybe I have to change my mind? Liked a moveable feast and is eager to read more by him, and about him. Manga and Ghost stories, hmm, no, I don’t think so. Possibly the Canterville Ghost which I have already read. Political books,nja…WWII and YA, read to many of the first and not so many of the second. Essays, seldom but for Umberto Eco it is always open.
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The other books by Hemingway are novels though, and so very different. One day, I’ll have to try Outlander…
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I often, or should I say usually, read outside my comfort zone. It acts as some kind of therapy for me. I rarely read romance though which I am not comfortable with because I usually find those books unreal. I am about to read A Moveable Feast and am glad to know you liked it so much. The only Hemingway book I have truly liked was For Whom the Bell Tolls.
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I have a feeling you will really enjoy A Moveable Feast. Yes, romance is not my cup of tea either
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I tend avoid sci fi and fantasy even thou in my teens I read a lot of them
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I realize how classic scifi are really good. Fantasy is still a difficult genre for me, apart from some exception, like from “the inklings”
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Trace sounds like such an intriguing story. I’m going to see if my local library has it!
My TTT.
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I do hope you can find it, it’s a beautiful story.
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Ah, it is nice when a book outside our comfort zone surprises us! It’s funny, I used to think sci-fi and time travel were outside of mine, and then I picked a few up, and now I can’t get enough! Funny how that works! And some, like classics, have simply never worked for me. Glad you were able to find these gems outside your usual fare!
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Ah, but have you tried classic scifi, and classic time travel novels?? I discover more and more how awesome classic scifi is. Would you be interested in a post on these?
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I haven’t read any of these, but I have read three time travel stories in the last 12 months, and I read a lot of YA.
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Which time travel story is your favorite?
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I loved Vintage 1954. It was such a great surprise.
I need to look for the two WWII books. I enjoy reading those so much.
Who could love Paris and not love Movable Feast?
Thank you for sharing your list.
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so glad you loved Vintage 1954. Now, if you have a list of books you are ready to give away, we can do a swap, and I can mail you Defy the Night
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Your first few choices were uncannily close to my own ‘out of comfort’ books. I too dislike ghost stories – anything that is not ‘real’ in fact so that includes spirits. Time travel doesn’t appeal much either. I;ve never read a Manga and would only go looking for one out of curiousity.
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I believe curiosity also led me first to manga
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I usually don’t read manga, or read much outside my comfort zone, but I might have to try these! They sound so interesting! I’ve always been curious about trying manga, but never knew where I should start!
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I usually don’t read manga, or read much outside my comfort zone, but I might have to try these! They sound so interesting! I’ve always been curious about trying manga, but never knew where I should start!
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same here!
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I am not a Ernest Hemingway fan, but A Moveable Feast sounds interesting. I think some authors are more fascinating than the books they write.
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I hate Hemingway’s novels. But this one is very different, it’s nonfiction, with beautiful prose on his time in Paris. Give it a try
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