I love. love. love. to read! It’s always been one of my favorite hobbies, and I get so excited about books and reading. One of my goals each and every year is to read (at least) 52 books throughout the year, averaging one book a week. It sounds like a lot, but to me, it’s easily attainable and a fun challenge. I have always surpassed my goal & typically read between 60-70 books (of all types) each year.
Now, it may sound like all I do is read, but I assure you that’s not the case! I commute for 1.5 – 2 hours a day on the metro, so that really helps me when it comes to finding time to read. I guess that’s one advantage on metro-ing daily for several years!
I also adore my Book Club! It’s been a lifelong goal of mine to be in a book club.. and combining book club with good friends and happy hour is always a winner in my book. We read a lot of books that I love but, somewhat surprisingly, a lot of books that I end up loathing – ha! I like to keep an open mind when I read, but there are definitely some books that I enjoy much more than others.
I essentially have my own personal little library at home, and I love to “loan” out books to friends, and one of my favorite things to do is to recommend books. So that’s what I’m going to do here!
Here are some of my ALL-TIME very, very favorite books! I had to write that in caps to stress how much I LOVE these books. I’ve read thousands (truly) and these make the cut. I hope you will try them all out… and let me know what you think. I’ve been compiling this list for years (some of you know this is a bookmarked running “note” on my phone)!
In no particular order, Stephanie’s ALL-TIME favorite books:
- Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
- Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
- Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
- Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- East of Eden, John Steinbeck
- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
- Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis
- Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
- Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery
- The Help, Kathryn Stockett
- Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
- Dan Brown books (Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code)
- Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis
“If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he re-reads.”
– Francois Mauriac
Now tell me – which books do you recommend the most? What are your top books ever?!
Raleigh Wedding Planner 
Your reading abilities blow my mind. WOW. I need to take a speed reading class from you! I love the list of books you’ve recommended and will definitely add some to my (long) to-read list. Also – I love the quote you included. (I’m currently working my way though the HP series again. So good.) 🙂
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites, ever! I love your list, and your blog!
I am a random acquaintance from college…maybe you remember me? We are FB friends and I saw this post on books (and the bridesmaid one the other day…really enjoyed it and your joyfulness in being a part of peoples story….I see a lot of girls “get over it” ya know? disappointing!)…Anyways…I am a book nerd too. Are you on GoodReads? The App that keeps track of your books? If not, get it immediately! If so, try and find me my username is jewyamarie
I agree with a lot of your titles! GWW, TKAM, East of Eden! yes!
One book I’ve read recently that just really blew my mind is Cloud Atlas. It’s a little crazy and takes at least 20-30 pages to get into. Such a different book.
Happy Reading! Hope to see you on goodreads
Hi Julia! I definitely remember you, and thanks!! I’m actually reading Cloud Atlas at this moment! It’s my current book club book & I have about fifty pages left – it’s really amazing so far & I can’t wait to see how it ends! I’d heard such good things about Cloud Atlas, and I’m so glad you loved it, too. I’ve been meaning to get back on GoodReads but just haven’t – yet! Thanks for the suggestion!! -Stephanie
Thanks for publishing your list, but it doesn’t help me to find a book to read, as I’ve read all of them. The only one I disagree with is Eat, Pray, Love. – which held no appeal to me, what-so-ever. Great List!
I ADORE Eat, Pray, Love (I’ve read it about nine times), but I know a lot of people don’t enjoy it as much.
Some more suggestions:
The Fault in Our Stars
Cloud Atlas
Light Between Oceans
Paris Wife
Unbroken
Cutting for Stone
Me Talk Pretty One Day
Hope that helps?! Lots of love!
Stephanie, I am so proud of you! You are so full of joy and inspiration! Keep up the good work! Love, grandma Scholl