Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Top Ten Books That Tackle Tough Issues

It's Tuesday and that means Top Ten day over at The Broke and the Bookish.  Today's topic is Books That Tackle Tough Issues.  I love this one because I always enjoy thought-provoking books that teach me or make me think about something (I love the alliteration, too!).  In fact, I wrote my own Top Ten list a few years ago of Books That Taught Me Something, which is a bit similar.

For this week's list, I tried to stick to more recent books I've read that have tackled a wide variety of tough topics for adults (you can read my Top Ten list of Kids/Teen Books at Great Books for Kids and Teens).

Top Ten That Tackle Tough Topics:

  1. Room by Emma Donoghue (abduction/rape)
  2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (violent crime against children, the afterlife)
  3. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (Alzheimer’s disease)
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (racism, injustice)
  5. Beloved by Toni Morrison (slavery)
  6. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff (polygamy, religious extremism)
  7. How To Be Sick by Toni Bernhard (chronic illness, dealing with life’s challenges)
  8. Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers (cancer)
  9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (racism, class struggles)
  10. Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon (mentally handicapped people)

What are your favorite books that tackle tough issues?
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10 comments:

  1. BookGal5:42 PM

    Room is one of my favorite books this year.

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  2. Lissa6:01 PM

    great list! looks like you and i have some similar tastes. i may have to come back and stalk your blog to add to my reading list =D

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  3. Anonymous7:05 PM

    It's interesting how intriguing books can sound just from their titles! Looks like a comprehensive list! Thanks for the suggestions!

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  4. Lark Andrea7:34 PM

    The Help made our list too. I also have seen The Lovely Bones on several lists and totally agree. That was a hard one to read, but it is well worth it.

    Reading Lark's Top 10

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  5. MJ8:28 PM

    I read The 19th Wife last year. It really made me want to go and read Ann Eliza Young's book. Have you read "Under the Banner of Heaven?" It's also about the early period of the Morman church.

    And as far as my list, I've posted one here: http://wanderinginthestacks.blogspot.com/2011/07/top-ten-tuesday.html

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  6. Anne@HeadFullofBooks9:49 PM

    Really thoughtful list. I like the addition of Riding the Bus with My Sister. It really helped me understand my nephew.

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  7. Marce10:23 PM

    I'm happy to see Still Alice, it is on my list also, an all time favourite. I really want to read Lovely Bones also.

    My Top Ten

    http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2011/07/top-ten-books-that-tackle-tough-issues.html

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  8. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz8:34 AM

    All thoughtful choices. Not too in-your-face. (I shy away from in-your-face.)

    Here's my Top Ten Books Tackling Tough Issues. And don't forget to enter my July giveaway!

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  9. Anne@HeadFullofBooks7:21 PM

    This is a first...someone else who has read, and liked, RIDING THE BUS WITH MY SISTER. Good one!

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    Replies
    1. Sue Jackson2:06 PM

      I am a HUGE fan of Rachel Simon. She's a local author - lives here in Wilmington, and I have read all of her books (except the writing one which is on my list!). I invited her to our book group when we discussed The Story of Beautiful Girl (an AMAZING novel!), and she was wonderful.

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