
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
This week’s topic: Ten Books Have Made Me Want To Do or Learn About After Reading Them
Oooh, great topic! I loooooove books that leave me wanting to learn more about a topic or a person π



In no particular order:
- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (review) — This is the book that sparked my interest in Spanish history and literature and books set in Spain. It even inspired a trip to Spain a few years ago π
- Juliet by Ann Fortier (review) — This book left me curious about the city and layout of Siena, with its different neighbourhoods marked by the different families that controlled the area. I had read the book when I was in Italy but unfortunately could not schedule a day trip to the city to see the carved statues for myself.
- The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (review) — We all know the major countries involved in World War Two and the impact that the war had on these countries but then there comes a book like this that reminds me that I still don’t know how smaller countries were affected, in this case Hungary.
- I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira (review) — This book left me looking up Degas’ artwork and examining them more closely π
- Madame Picasso by Anne Girard (review to be posted later this week) — I love books like this that focuses on the women in these artists’ lives because I learn so much more about these artists in the process and what they were like in life.
- Rodin’s Lover by Heather Webb (review) — I can’t remember if it was this book or another book, but it left me sketching a bit again.
- The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke (review to be posted in October) — This stunning book left me writing a bit of poetry afterwards! (I was also going through a bit of writer’s block, so the poetry helped) It also reminded me that I have yet to read some of his poetry! Need to rectify that one of these days.
- The Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonsos Falcones — After I read this book I looked up images of the Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona and kicking myself for not knowing about it when we were there as to stop by and check it out (I had picked up the book in the train station as we were leaving Barcelona -_-;)
- Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (review) — Well this book solidified my desire to go to Iceland someday; there was something about the landscape that permeated through the pages here…Oh, it also had me looking up the actual case of Agnes Magnusdottir.
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (review #1, #2, #3) — LOTR was definitely one of those books that, like The Shadow of the Wind, opened up new avenues for me, not only in reading more fantasy but also checking out books that influenced Tolkien, such as The Kalevala (review) π
And that’s my list for this week! I’m sure there are plenty of other books that left me seeking out more about a topic or wanting to try or do something or visit a place, but this is just some of those books. What books prompted you to read up more on a topic or visit/try/do something? Let me know, I’d love to read your list! π
I would LOVE to go to Iceland! I keep bringing it up as a travel option, but flights there are not necessarily cheap. Maybe someday in the future. π
Books are powerful forces in our lives.
I love that books can inspire us to go places or do things. The power of books! Great list. π
I just had a friend tell me I have to read BURIAL RITES. This is a confirmation here.
I like the idea of learning more about some countries and the effects of the war on them- countries that we don’t always hear about perhaps. Hungary is a great example (plus I have some lineage there so that makes it interesting too, I must say). And The Lord of the Rings does open so many doors if one is interested, with all the scholarship and linguistics behind it.
Iceland definitely sounds like a fascinating place to visit. And Burial Rites did a really fantastic job of evoking the atmosphere of the countryside, it was definitely a very memorable read. π
Great list! Even without Burial Rites I really want to go to Iceland, but having read your comments about it made me also look up the case of Agnes Magnusdottir, haha. I havenβt read that book yet but itβs quite hyped in literary circles. π
I definitely want to go to Iceland someday – and read Burial Rites.
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I have a few of these books on my TBR and I hope to get some insight into why they made it to your least, especially the books that have inspired travel.
Ooh, I like your list!! I’ve had a few books inspire me to get stuck into Russian history, but I haven’t read one that’s inspired me into Spanish yet. SOON PROBABLY. XD I find I get so easily infatuated with all the historical things!! π Books are awesome for teaching us so much. :’)
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So many beautiful settings in this list! I still need to read Burial Rites. I loved The Shadow of the Wind; Spanish history is an area I don’t know much about, but that novel gave me a beautiful impression of the country.
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I’d have loved to take art lessons, but it never worked out. As it happens even my attempts at basic drawings or sketches are awful. π
I’ve been fascinated by WWII and its impact ever since production companies like BBC have put a greater spotlight on them. There is SO much to learn about history that it’s overwhelming.
I love books that spark the researcher in me. It’s fun to dig up information and possibly other books along a similar topic–or perhaps even travel. This is a great list. I haven’t read most of the books you list, but a few are on my TBR or wish list. I really need to get to The Invisible Bridge. And of course I love the Lord of the Rings. Thank you for sharing!