Top Five Favorite-Can't-Put-it-Down Reads

Gretchen (@gretchen_stone), one of my long-time friends from my college days, is full of fabulous words and ideas and might have an obsession with shoes. She's great for an absurd discussion, but is also an intellectual. It was all her idea for this post, and I loved the suggestion! She's now hired as my post idea generator.

Without further ado, my top five favorite books I just can't put down.

5. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

It should come as no surprise that I'd have at least one piece of nonfiction on this list. What was so captivating about this book is that the crime is real, because you cannot imagine something so gruesome happening to someone. It provided a very thorough history of the Mormon faith, and the language was accessible, but not condescending.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

It was difficult to choose between the finale and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. But I've read and reread about the Deathly Hallows more than any other book in the series, I think because it seems more...complete than the others. Yes, you need the other six to completely understand all the references at the end, but HP7 so fully embraces friendship, trust, faith, hope, violence, and love that I think it's enough to stand on its own. I can't forget my 14-hour reading marathon finishing it in one sitting and the tears, laughs, and gasps as I turned the pages.

3. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Ah, the book that changed my eating habits for life. This book will gross you out, as it should, but if it means never eating McDonalds again, I can't think of anything better. It's a must-read if you care AT ALL about what you put in your body.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I have a slight obsession with Holocaust literature, but this is the story that made me sob uncontrollably. However, these were happy sobs and the tears still come every time I read it.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

If I had to be stranded on an island with only one book, this is the one I'd want, hands-down. I could never tire of Ms. Lee's moving story about a child's loss of innocence and a man taking up for his fellow man. It's beautiful.

That's it! What would be on your top five list if you had to choose?