Welcome to my new feature for Throwback Thursdays, Retro Recommendations!
Do you identify stages of your lives with books? Are there certain books you loved from your childhood, or that you have read with your child that stand out? Are there books from just last year or the year before that you really love but has faded from the spotlight?
This is the point of Retro Recommendations. Basically this can consist of books that aren’t brand new releases that have stood out to you or me. Plus, the occasional books for your kids. I plan on doing this 2 Thursdays a month for now, but if any authors would like to share their turning point books, I’d love to do it more. Send me some of your throwbacks to ana@anasattic.com with the subject Retro Recommendations.
Childhood
I have been through a lot of different book stages in my life. Haven’t you? When I was little, Judy Blume was the shit. Are You There God it’s Me Margaret was every girl’s first “sex” book, I was about 10 or 11. Then I read every single book Judy wrote. I don’t know why, but The Secret Garden gave me nightmares. Then came the Flowers in the Attic books by VC Andrews. I can’t believe they are making them into movies 35 years later!
The Teen Years
Once I hit around age 13, with 2 older sister and a mom who liked to read, I started reading full fledged adult books. Judith Krantz’s Scruples comes to mind, and Jackie Collins Chances (99¢) and all of the books I could read by those authors. I think I read every Danielle Steel book that came out, and Judith Krantz, Sidney Sheldon and all of my mom’s books were gobbled up in a day.
Then I discovered The Clan of the Cave Bear books by Jean M. Auel. I was hooked and completely obsessed. Almost 35 years later, those books completely still stick out to me as favorites, and since they took place in caveman times, they aren’t dated 🙂 and I still recommend them highly.
Young and Married
I went through years during college and immediately after, where I wasn’t really reading a lot. Sure, I read on vacations, but nothing big stood out to me. I do remember Couplehood by Paul Reiser being a stand out to me, a newly married woman.
Then came The Firm by John Grisham and everything changed again for me. I gobbled up books by John Grisham, James Patterson and Sandra Brown.
Then came the chick-lit stage. Jane Green’s Jemima J, and Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed kicked off a fun, light stage of reading, till I got pregnant and more into Mommy books.
Mommyhood
Now that I was a young mom, I wanted to read about other new moms. Enter Mommy lit. Enter Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell. I loved this book, and all of Whitney’s light, fun relatable reads. I ate up all the mommy reads I could, then hit a dry spell again.
When I moved jobs to one with an hour commute each way, I began an audiobook phase. Cracker Barrel and the library were my new friends. Did you know that you can rent audiobooks at Cracker Barrel? I listened to all of the popular romance and bestseller titles, then his One for the Money by Janet Evanovich and burned through all 18 books on CD. Now I am an audible member and get them there. Thank goodness, because Cracker Barrel is dangerous with all that candy. Special Offer – Get Your First 3 Months at Audible.com for $7.49/month!
The past 5 years
I was subbing in middle school when all of the kids started reading Twilight. I needed to see what the fuss was about, so I picked up the books. I was HOOKED. For two years, I read every paranormal series I could get my hands on. Favorites include Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress Series (I just finished the last one last night), The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, and so many more that I will address in future Retro Recommendations.
Then, when downloading some holiday books, I read a novella by Beth Kery called Holiday Bound that totally revved up my sex life. Then I found Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning, then Fifty Shades of Grey, a year before anyone ever really heard of it. But that cemented my switch to contemporary romance. At that point I was really into the BDSM stories so Cherise Sinclair’s Masters of the Shadowlands series really stood out. My marriage was better than ever due to these books, and all I wanted to do was find more books like Fifty Shades, hence the beginning of this blog 2 years ago. I wanted to share all the books and research I had done in the year since I had read Fifty. I read so many more amazing books, and I knew there were thousands of women just like me who would want more!
Here we are now….I recommend daily, I find sales all of the time. But what about those unforgettable books from 2-3 years ago? From 10 years ago? What about classics? What about great books for my kids?
Since Thursdays are Throwback Thursdays, I will do some retro recommendations a few Thursdays each month. This is my first, but in the future, I will have some book covers and recommendations that you send to me! Please send them to ana@anasattic.com with the subject Retro Recommendations.
I am going to give away a $25 Amazon card. I’d love to hear some of the books that stood out to you during your life, or a book from the past or for your kids that you’d love to recommend.
Megan Wickland says
I was addicted to James Patterson. Specifically the Women’s Murder Club series! xoxoxoxoxo
Cassie says
Are You There God, Its Me Margaret by Judy Blume 🙂
Marnie Prosser says
I was really into the Flowers in the Attic series when I was in 6th grade or so. Judy Blume stories, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew were also some of my favorite.
Joanne Christenson says
Definitely Are you there God, it’s me Margaret from being a kid. John Grisham, Twilight….50 shades….I’ve always loved reading….I just prefer Spicey reads now
Ricki says
All Judy Blume and Sidney Sheldon books became my obsession in my early and teen years
ajw says
I love Olivia Cunning books!! HArry Potter too!! I am all over the place. I like the dark reads too. Thanks for your blog! I read so many of your recommendations!!
Feifei Le says
I was (and still am, just haven’t had time to go back) really into fantasy books like Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan and the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan. Both are fantastic series for any age group. Good old days <3
Rachel Brown says
Definitely FROG and Twilight!!!
Rachel Brown says
Ummmmm that would be FSOG not frog……damn auto correct.
Nancy M says
To Kill a Mockingbird for a classic. For Contemporary, all Olivia Cunning and Lorelei James. And, I loved Cage by Harper Sloan.
Alissa Marino says
Definitely Judy Blume when I was young! Also flowers in the attic was probably the first series that I read obsessively in high school. Fifty shades got me hooked on romance now for the past few years!
Mayra Statham says
I would have to say The Bachelor by Carly Phillips!!
Debbie Szabo says
Pet Cemetery by Stephen King, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and so many more.
Loraine Oliver says
I loved reading Harlequin romances when i was 14, and Agatha Christie Novels, my first adult book is when my aunt came to visit and I was 15, and she gave me her vacation copy of Valley of the Dolls-what an eye opener, lol!
I also loved reading gothics by people like Phyllis A Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Dorothy Eden, also Mary Stewarts Merlin Series, I have read everyday since I was 13 years old and spent my summers in the public library looking for books. Thanks for the giveaway Ana. Btw, my favorite childhood story book is The Velveteen Rabbit, I cried when he became real!
claire cutler says
The Thorn birds. Long epic forbidden romance. I first read it when I was 14
Denice says
Loved the Little House books growing up. Read a ton of Star Trek: TNG, then moved into fantasy (Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, etc) and Stephen King’s Dark Tower series
Sarah says
As a kid I love Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and anything by Judy Blume. I also remember The House Without A Christmas Tree and The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. During high school and college I didn’t read much for pleasure due to all of the books assigned in my English and History classes. I do remember picking up Gone With The Wind and Scarlett and enjoying those. I read To Kill A Mocking Bird after college, and found. I like it so much I read it every summer. The Girlfriend’s Guides are a must for pregnancy, which oddly brings me back to children’s books. Every child should come home with a library of Sandra Boynton books! Dr Seuss is pretty good too!
Harry Potter got me into voracious reading after swearing I wasn’t going to give into the hype. Same thing happened with Twilight. Now I’m a hoarder with my Kindle. Debra Anastastia is one of my favorite authors.
Karen says
As a kid – Number the Stars by Lois Lowry –
High School – To kill a Mocking Bird and Nicholas Sparks books (before they were movies) – A Walk to Remember was my fav!
College Age – Pride and Prejudice (I had to read this in high school, but didn’t love it until college) and Harry Potter
Now – Beautiful Disaster (Travis Maddox? Enough said!)
Terri C. says
Hello! Most of my top favorites were read from 1994-2004 and are: The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer, After Innocence by Brenda Joyce, Night Fire/Devil’s Embrace/The Rebel Bride by Catherine Coulter, Stormfire by Christine Monson, Alyx by Lolah Burford.
Vickie Milizia says
I’m a huge Nora Roberts fan so I have most of her books.
JenCW says
A Wrinkle in Time and The Blue Sword were huge for me in grade school.
Cara O says
When I was really little, it was The Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew and The Babysitter’s club. I hit 4th and 5 grade, and I read Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, and I’ve read almost all of his books now. The Harry Potter books stand out, as does Lord of The Flies for a classic. More modern, other than FSOG, the big one that started me on erotica and series was Fantasy Heights by Meg Silver.
Jennifer Walls says
Scruples was the first “naughty” book I read! And I’ve lost track how many times I’ve watched it.
Pam says
Some favorites from my past…Circle of Friends and To Kill a Mockingbird. When was younger I love the Little House on the Prairie books, Baby-sitters club, and Sweet Valley Twins/High.
Renee says
I was so not a huge reader before the last three years If I read it was Danielle Steele John Grisham And I love Emily Giffin Beautiful Disaster stared my Indie Author obsession and those are the only books I read now
Marcy Shuler says
The Little House books and the Narnia series. Also LaVyrle Spencer.
Lisa says
Looks like we liked some of the same authors growing up. I still love reading Sandra Brown & Danielle Steel and believe it or not I have not read all of them. Great go to authors for when you don’t know what you want to read. They never let you down. Also include Nora Roberts in this list and some new favs Susan Wiggs, Robyn Carr & Susan Mallery.
Colleen Snibson says
A time to love, a time to mourn by Paige Dixon. My copy is so tattered I wish it was out on ebook. I have reread it so many times and I still love it.
Michelle Boersma says
Love Shel Silverstein poem books as a kid, then started reading Steven King and Ann Rice in high school.
Charlene E says
I’ve really only become a true bookaholic in the last four years or so…some standouts: The Sea of Tranquility, the Slammed series, the Hopeless series, Making Faces, Easy, Archer’s Voice, Sempre.
Marie says
FSOG was the first erotica that I read but now is my least favorite. But I will always be thankful for it because now I am hooked on the genre.
Nina says
I loved Judith Krantz, Jude Deveraux, LaVryle Spencer and Kathleen Woodiwiss!
Karissa Higgins says
Loved fifty shades, also read Belly Laughs, and twilight series and loved those too.
Lola Figueroa says
Harry Potter!
Jackie U says
Favorite Children’s Book A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Some of the books that made me fall in love with reading : To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, Member of The Wedding and The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers , The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing.
Ana says
Memories!!!!
Karen G. says
Kids book: Along Way From Chicago by Ricard Peck
from my teens: Go Ask Alice
Later: Harry Potter, Twilight
Got me where I am: Night Huntress, Black Dagger Brotherhood & Fifty Shades
Melisa P. says
FSOG opened up my world to books. Now I’m a book junkie, I’m reading all the time. Thanks for the giveaway.
Heather says
In grade school I couldn’t get enough Nancy Drew! Because of her I wanted to be an FBI agent – or work at Dunkin’ Donuts. Neither of which worked out. 😉
Tracey Kruger says
I had some of the same books as you. Definitely Judy Blume was the go-to for my kid/tween years. I also read a lot of Nancy Drew. Stephen King was the biggie for my teen years. As a new adult, lots of mysteries (Faye Kellerman, James Patterson), then the Harry Potter books, of course. More recently, it’s been a lot of YA, then when FSOG came out, it opened up all sorts of doors, and I was off and running with the usual suspects, like BDB, Sylvia Day, Karen Marie Moning, Sherrilyn Kenyon, just everything NA/YA/Contemporary.
Nikki Noble says
I would have to say the Brie series by Red Phoenix.
kp says
As a child it was Nancy Drew and Little Women!
Hope W says
This is a great question. I totally agree with about Judy Bloom. In 7th grade we passed that book around with pages highlighted. The other teen book for me is Sooner or Later by Carole Hart and Bruce Hart. That was also an ABC special/movie of the week and started my celebrity crush for Rex Smith. It is why I still love rock star books to this day. Getting out of HS it was Tiger Eyes by Judy Bloom. In college I found Rosemary Rogers! That woman and Ginny and Steve started me on being crazy about couples and sweeping romances. I had to hide the bodice rippers from my mom. Now my taste are so diverse. So many new authors so many books stand out. Current loves Kristen Ashley and Kallypso Masters,
Diana Garey says
I have read from a very early age, so there have been many stand out books.. I would say Gone with the Wind was one of my favorites and I read it over and over. Now I am in love with the romantic stories of many of your featured authors. This current trend kicked off with 50 Shades!!
Leslie Rodriguez says
Judy Blume, Nora Roberts The Mac Gregors
Erika says
I loved The Babysitter Club books when I was in grade school. In upper middle school, I believe I was into Christopher Pike books. Then in high school and college I don’t think I read too much. After I was a mom Twilight and then later The Hunger Games brought me back into reading full force! Thanks for the great recommendations! Love this new idea!
Aimee Renner-Saunders says
The Door to December by Dean Koontz, Contagion by Robin Cook, Wicked, Outlander, The Bronze Horseman
Meghen Barker says
I was 7 when I became addicted to reading. It all started with The Witches by Roald Dahl
ButtonsMom2003 says
Loved Janet Dailey’s Calder series when I was much younger. I don’t know when they first came out but I was getting Harlequin books delivered monthly and I think that’s how I was introduced to this series. I haven’t yet read some of the later Calder books. I didn’t read for many years but recently became addicted again. Love Fifty Shades and similar books.
Mackenzie says
Teenage Judy Blume too Tiger Eyes!!!
Colleen says
I have to say I absolutely love the Twilight Saga. I reread all the books every year. They are just so romantic!
Jessica says
It is so hard to chose …. So I will narrow it down to stand out series. I love the Crossfire Series, Dream Man Series , and Gabriel’s Infernal Trilogy!
Shelley Maier says
The books that really blew me away because I was transitioning from series romances to The Real Deal were Shanna by Kathleen E Woodieiss. Great books and theses were from the early seventies. Shanna was roughly 750 pages. Now, the publishers would have made the book toto a series. But in 1972, they hadn’t thought about that yet.
Shelley Maier says
Sorry, that name is Woodiwiss.
Julie K says
Archer’s Voice, Love In English and The Addicted Series are stand outs for me!
Julie says
My first “adult” read was the Flowers in the Attic Series.
Sara S. says
Twilight. Without that book I might have never gotten back into reading.
KellyMae Helfrich says
I was an Alex Cross fan (James Patterson) but then I met Christian Grey and I have expanded my Horizons. Two books that stand out for me are ‘Archer’s Voice’ and ‘Always’
Darci says
I can remember reading every V.C. Andrews book when I was a teenager. I was obsessed and even remember doing a book report on one of the series in about 8th or 9th grade.Then I got older, and school, work, and parties got in the way of reading time. FSOG actually got me back into reading almost 3 years ago, and since then, I have become obsessed 🙂 Was it the best book ever written? No. Did it reaffirm my love of reading? Absolutely!
Jenny says
I didn’t read much as a child; I do remember reading some Judy Bloom books and really enjoying them. I didn’t start reading again until 50 Shades; now I absolutely love it and thoroughly enjoy indie authors.
kim says
Thank you
Ida Stone says
I loved Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, pretty much anything by Linda Howard (especially Dream Man and Son of the Morning) The first romance I can remember reading was Johanna Lindsay’s Defy Not the Heart and that got me hooked. I will read pretty much everything put in front of me 🙂
Dacia B says
Some of my most memorable reads this year are: Carnage by Lesley Jones (EPIC!!!! READ THIS BOOK!!!),
The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher (LOVE!!),
Arsen by Mia Asher (Amazing),
and Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan (Perfect)!!!!
Dacia B says
Obviously, I can’t follow directions b/c those aren’t Retro reads! oops! lol
Childhood, I remember Charlotte’s Web
High school, I remember A Wrinkle in Time & of Mice & men
College, didn’t read much! 😉
My first love of reading after college was Sandra Brown’s Breath of Scandal. My boyfriend died in my early 20’s and I was depressed and Sandra Brown books kept me company!
Christine says
As a young girl I read the Nancy Drew mysteries and as a teen I read Danielle Steele. I have also enjoyed the books of Nicholas Sparks, and have recently become a fan of the FSOG series, The Pearl Series, and The Crossfire Series!
melissa crisp says
The Giving Tree and for my adult pick 50 Shades