Top Ten Tuesday: Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

The word yes is written into sand on a beach. A wave is just beginning to reach the top of the letter y in yes and erase it. Here are some of the things that make me instantly want to read a book.

1. It’s written by one of my favourite authors.

This doesn’t mean I’ll automatically love a book, but it certainly raises the odds of that happening!

 

2. Someone in my inner circle recommended it.

Once again, this isn’t a guarantee I’ll like it, but it is a good sign for sure.

 

3. It’s about prehistory, hunter-gatherers, and/or Neanderthals 

There aren’t enough stories about those topics if you ask them.

 

4. The narrator breaks the fourth wall.

When done well, there’s nothing like a narrator or protagonist speaking directly to the audience as if they’ve known all along we’ve been following on with them on their journey. I get a thrill every time this happens.

 

5. It is hard science fiction. 

I am in awe of science fiction writers who are able to write this sort of thing. Someday I’d like to join their ranks.

 

6. There are biographical elements to the story. 

Autobiographies and biographies are some of my favorite types of nonfiction to read because of how much you can learn about a person and the era they lived in by following someone’s life from beginning to end. I also enjoy fictional stories that are anywhere from loosely to heavily based on the lives of real people.

 

7. It is a banned book. 

There’s something about banning books that makes me want to read them. Maybe it’s part of human nature?

 

8. The plot includes humorous moments.

I read a lot of heavy stuff, so I’m always on the lookout for lighter fare to balance out my literary diet.

 

9. It includes happy pet rabbits who do not die at the end!

Those disclaimers are needed due to how many books about pets have a tendency to end with the pet’s death.

When I see a happy little rabbit featured on a cover or mentioned in a title or blurb, the chances of me wanting to read that book skyrocket even if it’s in a genre I don’t usually pick up like romance or World War II fiction.

I adore rabbits, but they don’t show up very often in cheerful scenes in adult literature.  (Luckily, children’s books do not have that problem, so I still have plenty of rabbit fiction in general when I want it. 🙂 )

79 Comments

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79 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book

  1. Good humor in a story is underrated. Love when something unexpected makes me laugh, and so many of us are talking about favorite authors. For me, that’s like a “comfort” read. 🙂

  2. Anita@seriesbooklover

    Banned books-I like that one!

  3. Ah, now let’s see if you can find a book with Neanderthals that has been banned in which there are happy pet rabbits who do not die at the end. Good luck!

  4. I’ve heard that if a book has a Newbery award, then someone small and innocent (a kid or an animal) dies in it. I’m mostly with you on ‘banned’ books, but only the ones that mass society doesn’t want people reading. A lot of books will advertise being ‘banned’ because one library or school removed something obscene after parents objected to it. When someone reads the Communist Manifesto, Mein Kampf, etc then I take them seriously as a banned book reader!

  5. I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered #4 in a book, but I love it when it happens in TV shows!

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

  6. I also love humorous moments in books. That will get me reading every time.
    Did you change up your blog look? It looks so fresh. I love it.

  7. I haven’t seen anyone else mention breaking the 4th wall today. That’s I don’t come across often but I enjoy it when it’s done well.

  8. Rosina @ Lace and Dagger Books

    Happy pet rabbits sound kind of perfect to be honest.

  9. So agree with biographical elements! If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend you read the Neapolitan Novels. I feel like it’s exactly what you just described.

  10. When done well, 4th wall breaking is so good! It can be hard to know in advance when it’s going to happen, though.

    I always get so nervous when I see a cute animal on a book cover. That’s one time when I’m likely to go looking for spoilers to make sure the animal is okay at the end of the book. I was getting my hair done the other day, and the whole salon stopped at one point so that we could look up whether the animal in a book one of the stylists kids was reading for school would die or not. (The animal was okay! Whew.)

    My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/05/23/top-ten-tuesday-things-that-make-me-instantly-want-to-read-a-fantasy-book/

  11. Yes, I love when books break the 4th wall. Some of my favorite books ever do this really well. I feel like it draws you into the story more when they talk directly to you.

  12. Oh yes, prehistoric and ancient times is so rare but a great topic, especially if the author study the time

  13. So many reasons to pick up a book!

  14. Athena

    Nice, I love hard scifi too!

  15. Great list. I have to admit your last one made me chuckle a little but I understand it as well. PS don’t read Watership Down.

    • Thank you!

      And that’s actually why I included the last point. I thought that book was going to be totally different from what it actually was. LOL.

  16. Lots of good reasons! Rabbits or well any animal that doesn’t die by the end would do it for me as well.

  17. It is so much fun when an author breaks the 4th wall. I read one recently, and it was so much fun, even though it was a thriller/mystery.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.
    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/recent-additions-to-my-physical-tbr-may-2023/

  18. #3- yes. I want a steady diet of those. And #6 too.

  19. Awwww! My brother loved rabbits when he was growing up, so I have a fondness for them too, especially in books. You’re right, there aren’t enough of those!

  20. If a book’s written by one of my favourite authors I’d probably read it too!

  21. Great list! I’m very intrigued by #3 and am now wanting to read that kind of book. And there should be more books with rabbits in them…and the rabbits must never die! 😀

  22. I cannot express how much I agree with #10. I get genuinely nervous when I see an animal on the cover now, or even read of one in a blurb–I’m always so grateful to people who do give trigger warnings for it!

  23. #6 is on my list today as well. I love a good based-on-a-true-story novel. It’s a fun way to learn about interesting people and parts of history.

    Happy TTT!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

  24. These are so good! 1 & 2 are often how I choose a book as well!

  25. This is an absolutely awesome list, and there’s so many things on here that I do as well. I’ve loved prehistoric fiction ever since reading Clan of the Cave Bear, and there’s definitely not enough books on that topic, so keep me posted if you find a good one.

    • Yes, of course! Please let me know if you find more good prehistoric fiction, too.

      Clan of the Cave Bear was also my introduction to that sort of story. 🙂

  26. The pet rabbits one is so niche I love it hahaha

  27. I love how specific some of your items are (bunnies and Neanderthals!). As for the rest, I’m with you — if it’s by an author I love or if a trusted book friend recommends it, that’s a huge draw for me.

  28. A great list! I like it when authors talk to you too!

    We don’t have banned books here in the UK (currently that I know of!) otherwise I too would be curious based on that!

    Have a great week!

  29. I agree with so many of these, but especially a book written by a favorite author and an inner circle recommendation. Fantastic post this week Lydia. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/things-getting-in-the-way-of-reading/

  30. Love your list! I definitely also prefer happy pet bunnies. And I do love a book with humor in it too.

  31. Banned books are appealing. Mostly because there are such stupid reasons to ban them to begin with haha.

  32. Jo

    I love how wonderfully specific to you some of your items are, very unique (I have not seen bunnies or Neanderthals on anyone else’s lists this week!). I agree on favourite authors, humour and having biographical elements, those are all things that would make me pick up a book as well.

  33. Yes, to banned books!! Nothing makes me want to read a book more. haha. I also love when they break the 4th wall! Great list.

  34. Meezan

    That’s an interesting point about rabbits! Have a great rest of the week. 🙂

  35. You know I’ve got some favorite authors that are must-read for me! And banned books are appealing. Something about being told what we can’t do makes us want to do that very thing, doesn’t it?

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my list!

  36. Oh, banned books is a great one! And so important.

  37. The narrator breaks the fourth wall; do you have any recommendations for this one? I need a book like this in my life.

    • Most of the ones I’ve read so far have been picture books.

      So, for example, The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone or Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems.

      I know I’ve read a book or two for adults that breaks the fourth wall, but I can’t remember their titles right now. I’ll let you know if that changes.

  38. Inner circles and favorite authors are always such good bets for good reads.

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