Tuesday, September 15, 2015

My Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Have Shared With My Mom



This upcoming Sunday, the 20th, will be twelve years since my mother passed away.  So much can, and has, happened in those twelve years.  It still baffles me that my mother hasn't been here for all of it.  Reading is something I didn't fall in love with until after she died, unfortunately.  I know it would have been something the two of us bonded over though, for sure.  She was a reader.  Not as avid as me, but I can remember her women's fiction and romance novels sitting on her bedside table.  Those rare moments when she wasn't doing something for everyone else, she would steal time away to get lost in a book.  Now, that is something I can definitely identify with.

I thought for this week's Top Ten Tuesday freebie, I would put together a list of books that I've loved and would have loved sharing with her.  It's bittersweet to create this list because it breaks my heart a little bit more.  I had twenty-two unforgettable years with her.  Though she's not here to share a book with me now, I know she would have loved seeing me become such an avid reader.

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Have Shared With My Mom



1. The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan -- since my mother lived in London the last few years of her life, I know she would have been a huge fan of this novel.  She loved everything about Princess Diana, and I know she would have loved following Prince William's love story, too (even if this is a fictionalized version).

2. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase -- for sure a favorite of mine, that I have a feeling would have been a favorite of her's too.  Between the setting, the characters, and the personal journey, I feel like my mom would have gravitated towards this one.

3. Golden by Jessi Kirby -- I feel like she would have been a big fan of Jessi's writing, too.  Especially with this novel.  My mother always enjoyed the stories that made you think, and feel, yet reflected purpose on your own life.


4. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler -- my mother would have had such a personal connection with this story, since she stood by her mother (my grandmother) as alzheimer's took her mind and eventually her body from us. I remember how painful it was for my mom and I'd like to think she would have found some comfort in these words.

5. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices series) by Cassandra Clare -- I remember she liked to watch TV shows/movies with a bit of fantasy and historical fiction rolled into one, so I think that's why she would have really enjoyed reading this series. Plus it's set in London, another familiarity she would have identified with.

6. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen -- she was always a big fan of re-tellings, and I know Robin Hood was one she would have loved to read about. I can just imagine myself sharing my copy of the first book with her, and then she asking for the second because she wants to know what happens next -- me too, Mom, me too!

7. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith -- between the two of us, romantic comedies never ran dry.  We mostly watched them on the big screen together, but I just know we would have loved reading about them together, too.  As soon as I finished this book I thought it would have made the perfect movie (still do!).


8. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell -- another example of a romantic comedy that I feel we would have loved laughing and swooning over together.  The year in this novel is fitting because that was also some of my last memories with my mother, since she passed just after the millennium in 2003.

9. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson -- Roger is definitely the kind of character my mother would have said, "He's such a sweet boy" about.  I just know it!  She would have really enjoyed the places they visited in this novel as well, considering a lot of their stops we ventured to as a family.

10. The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han -- for the simple fact that this is one of my all-time favorites, I know my mother would have loved it as well.  She did things like that -- would share in my joys and want to experience that sort of happiness with me.  Among the many things I loved about her, that was one of my favorites.  Seeing me happy, is what made her happy.  Oh Mom, I miss you so incredibly much.

16 comments:

  1. Sending you best wishes, especially for Sunday. This is a lovely topic and so personal, from the heart. *hugs*

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  2. I LOVE this idea! Very sweet and very touching! XXOO

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  3. I'm so sorry you can't share these with your mom, I bet she would have loved them. :) Clockwork Angel was pretty good, I really liked that series and was sorry I couldn't get into Clare's other books. They just didn't "click" in the same way for me.

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  4. What a beautiful post and tribute to your mom. Sending you positive thoughts as you deal with the anniversary of her passing on Sunday. <3

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  5. This is a really beautiful topic. I lost my mum last October and there are so many books and movies and just things I wish I could share with her. Sending you all my love for Sunday <3

    My list

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  6. Great topic, and one I can easily share having lost my mom almost 3 years ago (come October 14). She was a huge reader too and I loved nothing better than finding books for her that she hadn't read.

    Will be thinking of you this weekend <3

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  7. Nice theme for this week's TTT post. That's so cool that your mom was an avid reader too!! Sorry to hear that she isn't here with you.

    I chose to focus on banned books as Banned Books Week is coming up later this month!! Here's a link to my TTT post for the week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/top-ten-tuesday-my-list-of-favorite.html

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  8. This is such a beautiful list. <3 Not to mention so creative. I'll be thinking about you on Sunday.

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  9. i loved this idea!! Touching and I think your mom would want nothing more than to have some girl time and book talk with you! I absolutely LOVE Attachments and I have wanted to read The Royal We and Golden forever now :)

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  10. I really like your personal take on this week's TTT, Ginger. It's too bad that you weren't able to share these books when she was still with you. My mother and I do not share the same reading tastes but on rare occasion we've read the same book and it's been a memorable experience.

    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

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  11. This is such a lovely post, G. I'm sending you lots of love. <3 <3 I think Golden and The Book of Broken Hearts would be great to read with my mom, too.

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  12. What a lovely idea for a post, Ginger! Sending you love today <3 I love the selection of novels you'd share with your mom (and what a variety!). I'd like to think that she'd enjoy them and you guys would have had some lovely discussions about these books <3

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