Posted on July 5, 2020 at 4:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Sometimes we find our favorite books through a careful course of action — asking our most sophisticated friend, consulting a best-of list, or, um, subscribing to a customizable book-recommendation service ;)
Other times, literary gems just fall into our laps or pop up unexpectedly on a shelf somewhere.
That’s been the case for several of our Facebook followers, who shared the titles of (and stories behind) their own hidden bookish treasures!
Amanda W.: I randomly grabbed Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier off the shelf at the bookstore. It wasn’t even displayed, the spine just caught my eye. Little did I know what a gem I’d grabbed and had never heard of it before!! … (I also obsessed) over my mom’s copies of The Red Tent and Pillars of The Earth just from seeing them on her shelf. And both of those are high on my favorite list. Sometimes you do pick great books by the covers!
Cheryl K.: The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart.
Crystal R.: The Psychic I series by Victoria Laurie. Now I'm a huge fan of her work.
Hoyt G.: The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber.
Kathryn B.: A friend loaned me a novel when I was recuperating from surgery, and I loved it. It's the first book by an independently published author. The story is relevant today even though it's set during the Depression and Civil War. I feel good whenever I think about it! ALONG THE RED DIRT ROAD by Jane Yearout. My friend bought it on Amazon.
Kristi S.: Found The Liar's Club by Mary Karr and Stiff by Mary Roach on the same trip to Half Price Books. It was a good day. And yes, I'm one of those people who will buy a book I know nothing about based on the title and/or cover.
Laura S.: I came across Outlander by Diana Gabaldon at a book fair for $1. She has now ruined me for all other authors, and the series are my favorite books ever. I’ve read them at least 10 times.
Lisa K.: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
Liz B.: Ambulance Girl, by Jane Stern (of RoadFood fame). Found at a Goodwill for, maybe, $1.00. A good, quick read.
Mark S.: He Shall Know Them, found at a strip mall bookstore sidewalk sale table.
Melinda T.: I came across one called Of Windmills and War that I could not put down. There is a sequel to it also.
Melissa K.: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I was sent a free copy by the publisher for a review so I kind of expected it to be mediocre and while it did have a slow start before I hit the halfway mark I was totally engrossed and emotionally involved and I cannot say enough good things about this book.
Pam E.: Three actually. Secret of the Blood by Lucian Wilde — a man searching for eternal life becomes the main suspect in a murder mystery. The Dark Side of Genius by Lucian Wilde — a dark poetry book like Edgar Allen Poe. And End of Illusion — a short story by Lucian Wilde. I highly recommend all of them or anything written by those two authors/poets. I have reread them many many times
Philip B.: I read The Secret Agent by Stephan Talty. It is non-fiction and explains a number of things related to WW II over which people have wondered. I got it as an e-book in German. It is also available in English.
Shraddha S.: Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan.
Steven M.: Once came across 12 Alexandre Dumas novels translated and printed in 1926 and never read. Price was right so I snapped them up. Found in a box, at a flea market, in a small Louisiana town, on a rainy day.
Susan H.: Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. I used to love her books but the library doesn't have them any more — too old, I guess. So I started buying some, and this title came up. I'd never heard of it, so I bought it, and it is now one of my favorites!
Virginia H.: The Orphan Keeper and The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright are masterpieces in my mind and something everyone should read.