Top Ten Tuesday – Books That Make Me Smile

Happy Tuesday everyone! This also means it’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday post! I hope you’re all enjoying what you’re reading or doing.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s given topic is Books that make me smile

So let us start the list!

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I don’t think this literary tour-de-force don’t need any introduction.It was an easy read rife with profound messages and memorable lines. “What is essential to the heart is invisible to the eye,” still resonate until today.

The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

It’s been nearly a decade since I have read Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of Vanities but memories of it remain fresh. This book’s strong satire made me smile. Its wit and humor made me laugh profusely.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

I knew that I jumped into the bandwagon when I bought and eventually read Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians. I knew it was in no way a great literature but it was entertaining. Its depiction and satire of Asian high society was on point.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe’s ostentatious cover captured my imagination. And I was right! Aristotle and Dante’s friendship reminded me of lighter days. It also reminded me of the beauty of falling in love. A wide grin was etched on my face from the start to finish, despite some heavy themes.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

From the movie to the books, Harry Potter Series didn’t fail to mesmerize me. Rowling’s world building was so imaginative that I’ve fallen in love with Hogwarts. The magic was outstanding as well but it was the camaraderie and friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione that captivated me, warmed my heart.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

This list wouldn’t be complete without Japanese contemporary writer Hiro Arikawa;s The Travelling Cat Chronicles. I picked up the book after several positive commendations from fellow book readers and I was glad I did. It is a heartwarming, albeit heartbreaking at the same time, tale about the relationship between animals and humans.

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

The Swedes, I have learned, were criticized for their dry humor but this book with a very long title proved that they are not. This book made me really laugh and smile. It was rife with wit and humor that a wide grin was painted on my face despite some references t dark and heavy historical events.

A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford

I am cognizant that this is a rather strange choice by I really loved Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance. It touches on a rather heavy subject but Emma Harte’s story really fascinated me. Her ascent from the quagmires of poverty to building her own financial empire is an inspiring story. I can’t help but smile at it all.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Who can’t help but love this literary classic brainchilded by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? The series is wrapped in an atmosphere of suspense but Sherlock Holmes’ wit transformed the entire narrative. Sherlock Holmes, together with Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, are some of my favorite fictional characters.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

The second Swedish work in this list, Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove just proved that the misconception on Swede humor is a nothing but fiction. This book, also about an aging man’s life story, is filled with life lessons and a healthy dose of humor and wit. A Man Called Ove is one of my favorite reads for the year.

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And that ends my list! I hope you enjoyed it. How about you, fellow reader? What books made you smile? Share it in the comment box. As always, keep safe and enjoy reading! Have a great week ahead everyone.