Top Ten Tuesday: some favorite backlist titles

Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl is hosting another week of Top Ten Tuesday. I enjoy participating each week for a couple reasons. I'm a compulsive list maker and love a good list. And, I love a connection with other readers as I wander their book blogs.

This week's prompt is to share books I love that were written over 10 years ago. Well I'm not a fan of the classics, so you won't find any of those on this list. So, as I made a preliminary list and ended up with over 30 titles, I whittled it down by choosing books that don't seem to get a lot of mentions. Maybe there will be something new here for you - I loved them all. Here goes.

Book cover image links to Goodreads because all of these were read before I had my blog and might only have a brief GR comment on them.

The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham

Published 1995

COA story of a young Orthodox Jewish girl figuring out how to navigate her strict upbringing and the seductive yearnings of her heart

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Published 2012

Another COA story about a young awkward teen who loses the person closest to her, a favorite uncle. Her uncle died of AIDS, an unspeakable 'condition' at that time, and as the girl gets to know his partner, she learns of love and family secrets

Shogun by James Clavell

published 1975

This one is not nearly as obscure, so it may show up on other lists, but I absolutely loved this immersive novel set in Japan.

Ireland by Frank Delaney

Published 2004

I remember this book being such a surprising, evocative, enjoyable read about a man who wanders the country making his living by telling the old stories about Ireland, and the little boy who becomes enamored of him.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

Published 2002

I remember when I first read this I had to tell everyone how great it is. And that Christmas multiple copies of the book showed up as various family members bought it as gifts. We all got a copy! :)

From this man's twisted imagination comes a delightful wander through Christian history as Christ and Biff grow up together.

Cry to Heaven by Anne Rice

Published 1982

I read all of Anne Rice's witch and vampire books and I think this is my fave - and it's neither. It's a story of the Catholic Church castrati in the 1800s in Venice and Naples. So good.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Published 2008

An award winning story of a mute boy growing up in a family who raises special dogs. When his dad dies suddenly, a series of events sends him and three of the prize dogs on the run in the wilderness until he returns home to try to resolve his dad's death.

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

Published 1971

This Pulitzer winner is a quiet but powerful multi-generational story, lightly autobiographical. The writing is ..... just stunning.

The Bookman's Wake #2 by John Dunning

Published 1992

Something a little lighter: A short series about book dealer and collector Cliff Janeway and the various bookish mysteries he finds himself in.

The first in the series is Booked to Die

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand

Published 1999

Whether or not you're interested in horses or horse racing, this engrossing nonfiction look at winning horse Seabiscuit reads like a novel that you won't be able to put down.

Then, because I can't stop there, here are a few honorable mentions:

I'm looking forward to visiting all you other readers' blogs - I have a feeling my TBR is going to multiply this week!

Have you read any of these - do you think they belong on a "best of" list?