Books I’m Thankful I Read

Hello all! Hope Monday was ok, I had a horrendous stomach ache at work but coded with a friend all afternoon which was both productive and fun. Swings and roundabouts I suppose!

But enough talk of dreary old Monday, it’s Tuesday and that means Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s topic is a thankful freebie and I’ve decided to list books that I’m thankful for.

1. Percy Jackson

This book is easily top of the list. This series got me into reading really. I wanted to be cool at school by claiming I liked reading, since my friend really did, and she kept begging me to read this series. I felt I really had to or she’d see through my rouse. The series definitely got me gripped and later helped me meet one of my best friends. Our friendship is founded on fangirling, and Rick Riordan’s books were definitely instrumental in that.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird

I’m grateful my English class was assigned to read this novel over summer because I never would have picked it up otherwise. I really enjoyed the novel and loved Scout as a character, she felt similar to me when I was a kid. This novel is also really powerful and important and I’m so glad I was made to read it.

3. Smith by Leon Garfield

This was the first book I attempted to read in my quest to become a reader. It was assigned to me by my English teacher and, although I never finished it, I think it did get me started on the slippery slope of books.

4. Harry Potter

I can’t not include it because I read this series when I’d just started reading and, although I’m not grateful for all the days it made me late for school, it meant a lot to me. Also the midnight book releases (I’ve been to two for Harry Potter now), merchandise and film franchise introduced me to the world of fangirling.

5. Rebel of the Sands

I’ve spoken about this series so much on the blog over the last few years because I honestly think it’s why I’m still a reader. At the end of first year in university I read very little, and I mean very little: I think I read two books the whole year. I even told my friend I didn’t really read books anymore, but she still recommended me this one. On the off chance I might actually like books again I gave it a bash, and it definitely had me hooked.

6. Skulduggery Pleasant

Fun fact, the first year my friend and I went to YALC it was just to see Derek Landy. We’d been wanting to see him for ages and my friend found out he was doing a signing in London so we brought some tickets and headed over. Little did we know we were about to be in the glorious YALC and would be returning year on year, even though Derek stopped attending.

7. Animal Farm

I’ve added this book to the list because it’s one of many I remember discussing with my boyfriend before we got together. We’re both big book worms and both stood giddy in front of the viaduct the Hogwarts express crosses every Harry Potter when we went to Scotland. So, yeah obviously I’m pretty thankful for books like these.

8. The Maze Runner

This series is an odd one to include but I sort of owe it a lot. My bookish friend and I had wanted to go see the film and I’d invited my seemingly random friend along, who hadn’t read the book nor did she know the friend I was going with. It was the best decision ever because the three of us are inseparable when we’re together now and hang out together loads.

9. The Mortal Instruments series

GCSE year was when a lot of my hobbies got forgotten. My first proper exams so I was knuckling down and reading was at risk of getting the chop if it weren’t for Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. I raced through each book, waiting months for the next one. I might have been in a very permanent slump were it not for Clary and the gang.

10. A Darker Shade of Magic

I read this book in second year at university during my January exams and I’m thankful that it provided me with a little touch of magic in a tricky time and kept me interested in reading when I could have easily given up.

Let’s Compare Notes

What books got you into reading? Were you a born reader? What books are grateful for? Would love to hear your opinion or check out your top Ten Tuesday post so feel free to drop either in the comments section!