Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is ‘Rainy Day Reads’! While rainy days can be frustrating if you have plans, I love it when a rainy day comes around, I don’t need to be at work, and I can just stay in my pyjamas all day and curl up with a good book. Those opportunities don’t come around as often as you might think – there’s always some kind of adulting to be done, whether it’s nipping out to get more milk or filling my car up with petrol – so when they do I treasure them.
If you’re anything like me, then you love sitting down with big, sweep-you-away kind of books when the weather’s rainy and you don’t have anywhere to be, whether you want to be swept away to a fantasy world or swept away to a different era. So those are the kinds of books on my list today!
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik: Like a few of the books on this list, Spinning Silver sucked me in from the very first page. I went into this book fairly sceptical because I didn’t love Novik’s previous fairy tale retelling, but I adored this book so much. If you’re a fan of slow-moving, character-led fantasy then this is the book for you.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: This is another book for fantasy fans who prefer slow-moving, character-led stories, and it also just happens to be my favourite novel. (Also how gorgeous is this new cover for the UK edition that has FINALLY been released? Thank you Rebellion for picking this book up!)
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: This book really will sweep you away to a new world, Taylor’s writing style is gorgeous, and if you can I highly recommend listening to the audiobook narrated by Steve West who brings this book to life so vividly.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Escape the rain and hit the ground running on the grimy streets of Ketterdam. Last year, when the UK was at the mercy of the Beast from the East, my office ended up closing due to snow and I had a blissful four-day weekend. It was during that time I curled up under my blanket and read this book, and it was the perfect escape.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin: If your tastes are a little more post-apocalyptic, and you still haven’t read this series, then you need to get on that. One of the story threads in this novel is told in second person which makes it so compelling. Even when it was bamboozling my brain, I couldn’t put this book down.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: Leave the rain behind and journey into the Mediterranean sunshine of Ancient Greece. Much like Naomi Novik and Laini Taylor, Madeline Miller’s writing sweeps me away.
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom: Perhaps crime fiction is more your style, so travel back to Tudor England to an isolated monastery where a hunchback lawyer must discover who is murdering the monks against the backdrop of the turbulent reign of Henry VIII. Sansom is a master at bringing the Tudor era to life.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters: This book is eerie and slow and sometimes frustrating, but it’s so worth reading for that very last line. If you’re in the mood for a ghost story and you love books about old houses, you need to give this one a try.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: Speaking of old houses, Manderley is the ultimate creepy old house. There’s a reason this book is so often described as a masterpiece, and there’s no better time than a rainy day to be creeped out by Mrs. Danvers.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: Again, a Gothic novel with a creepy old house. To be honest I can’t help wondering if du Maurier was inspired by Jane Eyre when she wrote Rebecca, so they’re both the perfect read for a long, rainy day.
Not nearly enough days to lounge about with toddler 😦 Some great books on here. I really need to get The Goblin Emperor at some point!
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Yes, Six of Crows is perfect for a rainy day!
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Rebecca is an awesome choice. I agree that it’s atmospheric enough for a rainy day. I actually read Jane Eyre during a thunderstorm when I was camping.
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Six of Crows and Jane Eyre are great picks, I love your list!
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Thank you! 😊
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YAAS The Fifth Season!
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It’s SO GOOD.
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I love a big old fantasy doorstopper on a rainy or stay home kinda day!
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It’s just what the doctor ordered, isn’t it? 🙂
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This is such a great list. I love books that sweep me away and several of these are favorites of mine.
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Thank you! 😀
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I feel like rainy days, especially on a weekend day with no plans, is the perfect excuse to read all day! I think something with a Gothic feel would be perfect. I loved Rebecca
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Rebecca’s such a fantastic novel! So many of du Maurier’s novels suit a rainy day, to be honest. 🙂
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Six of Crows is a great choice for a rainy day read, totally sweeps you away. Strange The Dreamer is on my TBR for later this year and I can’t wait to read it!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/16/top-ten-tuesday-207/
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I hope you enjoy it! I didn’t think Strange the Dreamer would be for me but it’s a wonderful story. 🙂
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Me too!
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I have to read Spinning Silver at some point. It looks like such a good book. Strange the Dreamer and Six of Crows are good choices too.
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It’s SO GOOD! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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I need to pick up Spinning Silver. I love when a really good fantasy read slowing unfolds. This one sounds so perfect. Great list!
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Spinning Silver is amazing! I hope you enjoy it. 😀
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Yeah, I really need to finish The Fifth Season sometime!
My TTT.
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The Fifth Season is so good, and the rest of the trilogy is fantastic! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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Jane Eyre made my list as well. Six of Crows is a great choice too. I’d like to read Rebecca some day. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday
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Rebecca’s brilliant, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
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The Fifth Season and The Goblin Emperor have both been on my TBR for so long. I really love that new cover though, so perhaps this is the kick in the butt I need to finally pick it up. 🙂
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Ahh I hope you enjoy them when you get to them! The Goblin Emperor is my favourite book, it’s just wonderful.
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I’ve heard so many good things, I’m not sure why I’ve not got to it yet! 🙂
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I’m all for books that sweep me away! I need a book to hook me from the start so I like reading crime fiction novels on rainy days as well as something light and romantic 🙂
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
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Crime novels are a great shout for a rainy day!
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Six of crows will always be a good choice!
Lotte | http://www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk
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I love Six of Crows! 😀
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Rebecca is such a good choice! I love that book.
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It’s such a great book, I keep meaning to re-read it actually!
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