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Literary matchmaking: in which I pick books for 3 readers with very similar tastes

The details on this ongoing project, and the factors I’m taking to heart.

Readers told me 3 books they loved, 1 book they hated, and what they’re reading right now. In turn, I’m choosing 1 mainstream pick, 1 eccentric pick, and 1 YA/memoir/nonfiction pick for each reader. (Or more, if I can’t help myself.)

This week we’re choosing books for Kim, Karen, and Caroline.

Kim: 

Love: Bread and Wine, To Kill a Mockingbird, Confessions of a Shopaholic
Hate: Can’t think of a title, but I dislike most science fiction
Last read: The Silent Wife, The Rosie Project

My picks: 

Mainstream: Jayber Crow, What Alice Forgot
Chick Lit: Get Lucky
Nonfiction: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle 

It sounds like Kim and I have similar taste (although I do like good science fiction). I chose Jayber Crow for its lyrical, bittersweet qualities, similar to To Kill a Mockingbird, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, because it’s a food memoir that’s about much more than food.

What Alice Forgot and Get Lucky are fun, breezy reads (like Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Rosie Project), but have a surprising depth.

I would highly recommend that Kim, Karen check out each other’s picks.  

Karen: 

Love: Under the Tuscan Sun, Crossing to Safety, No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series
Hate: The Lovely Bones
Last read: Outliers, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, What Alice Forgot

My picks: 

Mainstream: Possession
Eccentric: The Thorn Birds
YA: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Memoir: My Life in France

Rules 

Possession has a similar feel to Crossing to Safety, with a completely different story line. (Although if Karen hasn’t read Wallage Stegner’s other works, I’d suggest Angle of Repose.) The Thorn Birds has the open feel of Crossing to Safety and Under the Tuscan Sun, although I would never call it a read-alike. 

My Life in France is Julia Child’s surprising and delightful foodie memoir that’s about so much more than food, and I highly recommend the Flavia De Luce British YA mystery series for fans of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.   

Caroline: 

Love: Possession, Memoirs of a Geisha, Wild
Hate: Bridges of Madison County
Last Read: The Lucy Variations

My picks: 

Mainstream: Crossing to Safety, Bel Canto
Eccentric: The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber
YA: Wonder
Nonfiction: Into the Wild, Unbroken 

I love that Crossing to Safety keeps coming up. It’s one of my favorites! It’s bittersweet, with gorgeous prose, like Caroline’s chosen novels. I chose Bel Canto because of the role music and culture play in its plot, and because Patchett weaves a wonderful story.

Wonder is a little less angsty than The Lucy Variations, but I would expect fans of Sara Zarr to enjoy it all the same.

The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber is an offbeat choice, and only for those who enjoy a touch of absurdity. (In this true story, truth is stranger than fiction.) Into the Wild and Unbroken feel like obvious picks, but they’re both so good I’d hate to not mention them. (And definitely read Unbroken now before the movie comes out this Christmas.)

How did I do? What books would YOU recommend to Kim, Karen, and Caroline? 

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14 comments

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  1. Sarah M says:

    Just a thought: I really don’t think of the Flavia de Luce series as YA. They’re shelved with adult mysteries at the library I work at. I think they’re an example of adult fiction with a YA protagonist. Not that it really matters that much. 🙂

    • They weren’t written as YA but there has been some crossover appeal. One of the main issues I have with adult books written in kid’s voices is the distance between the protagonist and reality: they often don’t read as though they are kids but little people with adult voices. I found Flavia to be refreshingly kid-like, even in all her brilliance.

  2. Sarah Ronk says:

    I am loving this series!! I haven’t read all the books you have been suggesting, but I’ve read quite a few and totally see why you’re picking them! (Is it too late to go back and comment on that post? Now I’m regretting not joining in!!)

  3. Jeannie says:

    I just find it amazing that you are doing this for every single person who commented. Since my picks will not likely appear for another few years (just kidding! and I’m not complaining! 🙂 ), I think I’ll adopt the picks you made for Caroline, 2 of which I’ve already read, as my own. We seem to have very similar tastes.

  4. Thank you, Anne! Your recommendations are so spot on, three are already favorites.

    I remember hearing about Bel Canto years ago on NPR, but have never gotten around to it. Now I have a reason to. Crossing to Safety was my first introduction to Wallace Stegner. My grandpa recommended it to me. As an adult, I’d love to revisit it. Wonder is a wonder, something I ate up in a day and made sure both my boys read. And Into the Wild: John Krakauer could make anything incredible. I found out as I was reading the boy in the attended Frost Intermediary School in Fairfax County, VA, where I taught for a time.

    I wanted to thank you for recommending The Sweetness at the Bottom of the PIe. I adored it!

    • Anne says:

      Yes, I’ve read pretty much everything by him! If you loved Jayber Crow I’d highly recommend moving on to Hannah and Nathan Coulter and company next.

  5. Karen says:

    Thanks so much, Anne I couldn’t wait to see your suggestions. And I agree with Caroline, your recommendations for me are spot on. I’m eager to pick up each of the works you mentioned, especially My Life in France.

    And ah, Wallace Stevens – beloved indeed. I have read Angle of Repose, though Crossing to Safety remains my favorite.

    For Caroline – Bel Canto is fabulous and heartbreaking. And Memoirs of a Geisha would have been #4 on my list of favorites! I think I’ll be reading your blog too for more book ideas 🙂

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