My 10 Favorite Books From the Last 10 Years

Well, happy May then. Can you even believe we've got four months of 2025 under our belts? And yes, I missed another whole month of blogging. This year has been a tough one so far, and things that happened in my personal life last month made it difficult to even read, much less blog. But I did have an idea pop into my head to go over all the books I've read these past ten years and pick my personal top ten favorites. So that's what I'm sharing with you today.

As I thought about the books from the past decade of my reading life that rocketed onto my personal list of All-Time Favorites, it actually wasn't too hard to come up with the ten best. 

These are not ten brand new books. But they are books that I read for the very first time over these past ten years. Some of them are books I had never heard of, some I'd been meaning to get to for ages, some are books that I knew would be good for me to read but didn't realize how much would move me or completely delight me. Without further ado: My 10 Favorite Books From the Last 10 Years (in the order I originally read them, not ranked in any way).

To Kill A Mockingbird 

First Published: July 1960

My First Time Reading: January 2016

This Southern classic by Harper Lee is often assigned reading in school, but I missed out on it during my growing up years. Wise Atticus Finch and his two children Scout and Jem, their cook Calpurnia and mysterious neighbor Boo Radley: these characters immediately embedded themselves in the hearts of readers the world over, leading to a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award winning film (which I still have not seen). It's about time I picked To Kill A Mockingbird up again and give it another read. 

The Hiding Place

First Published: November 1971

My First Time Reading: August 2017

I grew up knowing the story of Corrie ten Boom's family and their work to hide Jews from the Nazis during World War II, but I didn't get around to reading her book for myself until 2017. It is now the first book I recommend to anyone regardless of age, gender, personal reading preferences, or any other factor. Everyone should read this book. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

First Published: July 2008

My First Time Reading: August 2018

I stumbled across this title by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows browsing one of my favorite secondhand bookshops and ended up reading it right away thanks to the encouragement of a fellow reader I had befriended over the internet. What a serendipitous jumble of events. This epistolary novel set right after the German occupation of the Channel Island of Guernsey during WWII is an ode to book lovers. Instant favorite. 

Tuck Everlasting

First Published: 1975

My First Time Reading: March 2020

I'm not sure if I even knew Disney's 2002 film was adapted from Natalie Babbitt's thoroughly charming children's novel when I watched it in high school, but upon discovering it was and then coming across a copy in a secondhand shop, it ended up being one of the first books I read after COVID-19 caused a global shutdown. I remember feeling so regretful about missing out on this book for so much of my life. And I blame Disney for part of that because the movie is entirely forgettable and certainly didn't inspire me to seek out the brilliant source material. 

The Penderwicks

First Published: 2005-2018

My First Time Reading: June 2021

Technically, this first book by Jeanne Birdsall is meant to represent the five book series in its entirety so I guess this list is actually my favorite fourteen books from the last ten years. Semantics. I immediately fell for the Penderwick sisters, their lovable dog Hound, and the lonely boy Jeffrey whom they befriend. This series is a delight from beginning to end.

The Secret Garden

First Published: August 1911

My First Time Reading: September 2021

I read Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic when COVID-19 finally caught me in 2021. The story of neglected little Mary Lennox and her awakening to childhood and joy and friendship and nature utterly captivated me. This book is just lovely.

Gone With the Wind

First Published: June 1936

My First Time Reading: October/November 2021

Gone With the Wind is one of the books on this list that I had been meaning to get around to reading for ages but was daunted by the sheer size of Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece. I needn't have worried. I was swept up in the saga of Tara and its young mistress Scarlett O'Hara as she faced the onset of the Civil War, then had to pick up the pieces in the aftermath during the Reconstruction. An epic, for sure.

Cold Sassy Tree

First Published: November 1984

My First Time Reading: May 2023

I grew up in ignorance of the existence of Olive Ann Burns' Southern historical novel, but it didn't take me long to realize it would be a treasured favorite. Will Tweedy's coming of age in 1906 small town Georgia stole my heart and took me straight back to my own teenage years, sprawled across my grandmother's bed listening to my own family history. 

Dandelion Wine

First Published: 1957

My First Time Reading: Summer 2024

Not only is Dandelion Wine now one of my All-Time Favorite books, but Ray Bradbury is quickly becoming one of my All-Time Favorite authors. This interconnected collection of short stories centered around the Spaulding boys is a pure hit of nostalgia, summertime distilled into a novel. Dandelion Wine should be savored slowly and stretched to its absolute limits. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

First Published: 1972

My First Time Reading: November 2024

Are you kidding me? Barbara Robinson and her awful Herdman kids teaching their small town the true meaning of Christmas when they hijack the annual pageant is an absolute gem. I will be reading this every Christmas for the rest of my life. 

My All-Time Favorite books can be characterized like this: they make me laugh and cry, I'm sad when I get to the end and want to start over again immediately, and they are the books I reach for when everything else in life is too hard to face. Discovering the charms of these books over the past ten years has been a boon to my soul, and I look forward to what the next ten years of reading will unearth for me. 

What are some of your All-Time Favorite books? Have you discovered any new ones in the past ten years? 

Casual Fridays

It's been a minute since we attempted a Top 10 list around here, and today I'm going to try my hand at one that has almost limitless possibilities. There are hundreds, even thousands, of beautiful hymns of the faith, and the following list contains my absolute favorites. Worshiping God through song is not only a natural response to the mercy He's shown us (Psalm 89:1, Psalm 104:33), it's an obedient response as well (Psalm 105:2, Colossians 3:16). This list was surprisingly easy to compile given the myriad options available. Without further ado, Hannah's Top 10 Favorite Hymns of the Faith.

1. I'd Rather Have Jesus (1922: Text by Rhea F. Miller, Music by George Beverly Shea)

2. Jesus Paid It All (1865: Text by Elvina M. Hall, Music by John T. Grape)

3. I Need Thee Every Hour (1872: Text by Annie S. Hawks, Music by Robert Lowry)

4. Come, Thou Fount (1757: Text by Robert Robinson, Music by John Wyeth)

5. What a Friend We Have in Jesus (1855: Text by Joseph M. Scriven, Music by Charles Crozat  Converse)

6. I'll Fly Away (1929: Text & Music by Albert E. Brumley)

7. 'Tis So Sweet (1882: Text by Louisa M.R. Stead, Music by William J. Kirkpatrick)

8. The Old Rugged Cross (1912: Text & Music by George Bennard)

9. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (1680/1863: Text by Joachim Neander/Catherine Winkworth, old folk melody)

10. Victory in Jesus (1939: Text & Music by Eugene Bartlett)

What are some of your favorite hymns?

Casual Fridays

A few weeks ago I attempted my first ever Top 10 list on the blog and despite all my disclaimers and difficulties, it seemed to go over well and it was pretty fun to put together so I thought I'd try another one today. I'm calling it "Top 10 Movies to Watch When You Just Need A Good Cry". It's a working title, but you get the idea. While most movies usually get me a little choked up at some point or other (seriously, I'm probably one of the most ridiculously emotional people alive), these are my go-to movies when I just want to cry out all my feelings and frustrations. Am I crazy or do other people do this too? Anyway, here we go.

1. A Walk to Remember starring Mandy Moore & Shane West (2002)

The first time I ever watched this movie, it was with my whole family on a vacation we were on because someone had recommended it to my mom. I'll never forget it. At the beginning of the movie, my mom was all, "oh this isn't good....teenagers making bad choices....language" etc. etc. And by the end of the movie she was sobbing. Loudly. We were all too busy laughing at Mom's meltdown (bless her heart) to be sad ourselves. But now I totally get it. This movie makes me ugly-cry too, and it seems like every time I watch it, I just start crying earlier and earlier in the film. When Landon brings Jamie the pink sweater, I lose it every time. 

2. Remember the Titans starring Denzel Washington & Will Patton (2000)

If you've ever watched this movie and made it to the end dry-eyed, I don't know how you did it. My dad doesn't like to watch the end of this movie because it even makes him cry. When Julius walks into Gerry's hospital room, sees how bad Gerry's condition is, and says, "You can't be hurt like this. You're Superman." I die a little inside. It's such a powerful scene. I'm getting teary just now thinking about it.

3. Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson & Jennifer Aniston (2008)

Oh man. I think I scared small children when I saw this one in the theater, I was crying so hard. Lyndsey and I went together thinking it would be a funny, heartwarming movie (which it totally was) but by the end of it, I was bawling and I couldn't stop. Why would they release this kind of movie on Christmas day??? We didn't go on Christmas (thankfully), but still. All the tears. Whenever Jenny comes home from the hospital after her miscarriage and Marley just lays his head in her lap, I can't keep it together.

4. Return to Me starring Minnie Driver & David Duchovny (2000)

I've mentioned this movie on the blog before. It's one of my all-time favorites, and I cry from beginning to end. From Bob coming home from the hospital after his wife dies and telling their dog she's not coming home, to his and Grace's first date where he asks if he can hold her hand while they're standing on the roof of a building he built, to Marty telling Bob that Grace's heart beat truly for the first time when she saw him, I can not stop the tears. Such a sweet story.

5. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants starring Tamblyn, Bledel, Ferrera, & Lively (2005)

TIBBY AND BAILEY'S RELATIONSHIP. That's all I have to say about that.

6. Martian Child starring John Cusack & Bobby Coleman (2007)

I don't have words for this one. Just watch this scene from the end of the movie. All the feels.

7. The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Okay, pretty much every Disney movie makes me cry. Fox & the Hound, Finding Nemo, Tarzan, Toy Story 3. Just pass the tissues, please. But The Princess and the Frog has a special place in my heart because I went to see this movie while I was living in South Africa. My BFF Helen had just left to go home, my twins had just been adopted, and I went to this movie by myself, sat in the back of the theater, and sobbed my little heart out. When Ray died, I think a little piece of me died, too. 

8. Cinderella starring Lily James & Richard Madden (2015)

This is a new one, but it instantly made the Cry It Out list when it had me crying in the VERY FIRST SCENE. But the part that gets me probably more than any other is when Kit curls up on his father's bed as his father, the king, is dying. My mom and I were both crying right along with him. And speaking of my mother, she's the one I get this compulsive need to have a good cry now and then from. Thanks, Mom.

9. Ramona and Beezus starring Joey King & Selena Gomez (2010)

When Ramona finds the bowling ball in her suitcase? When Picky Picky dies? When Beezus asks Ramona to sleep in her bed? When Aunt Bea drives off with Hobart? I can't even.

10. Pollyanna starring Hayley Mills (1960)

And finally, an oldie but a goodie. Who can help it when they carry Pollyanna out of her room with those limp little legs and the entire town is there to help her be glad and see her off?! Not me. Just get ready for the waterworks. 

So there you have it. Don't even get me started on Honorable Mentions because we'll be here all day. Richard Gere coming up the escalator with a single red rose for his wife in Shall We Dance? Holly bursting into the bar to cry on her mother's shoulder in P.S. I Love You? Celia Foote burying another miscarried baby all by herself in The Help? Seriously. The list goes on and on. But the 10 I've listed above are the tried and true ones that require more than one tissue to make it to the end. And in making this list, I think it's worth mentioning that the great Cry It Out movies don't just make you cry, they make you laugh too. 

What's your go-to movie when you need a good cry? Don't leave me hanging here. I can't be the only woman on the planet who will sit down and watch a movie just to have a cry.

Casual Fridays

Today I thought we'd try something a little different: a Top 10 list. They seem to be pretty popular around the interwebs, and a topic popped into my mind that I thought would be fun to try and tackle: favorite musical numbers from my favorite musical movies. This turned out to be a lot harder than I anticipated so before we get down to my picks, here are a few disclaimers. 

-I decided not to include any Disney or animated movies in this list (except for Newsies--I don't really count that one as a Disney film) because I could probably do a Top 10 list for Disney movies alone and if I included other animated films it would just make the pool too big. 

-This list is in alphabetical order by movie title because I couldn't think of any other way to possibly organize it because trying to pick my actual favorite musical is definitely impossible.

-There were certain song and dance numbers that could have made this list but didn't because I couldn't find a good video on the internet for said number (i.e. I'll Capture Your Heart from Holiday Inn). 

-And finally, I know this is supposed to be a Top 10 list, but the songs I've chosen from any particular musical are not necessarily my favorite songs from each movie. It would actually be impossible to choose a favorite song from say, The Sound of Music, so instead of torturing myself with that kind of pressure, I decided to limit myself to one number per musical and tried to choose one that I either feel is under-appreciated for its brilliance or some other such random criteria. 

Now that I've already shown my complete incompetence for making Top 10 lists, enjoy scenes from some of the greatest musicals to ever grace the big screen.

1. We Got Annie from Annie

Annie is real nostalgic for me because my Mom is a huge fan of this show. She played Annie in high school, she had an Annie music book and played all the songs from the show while we kids were growing up, and she took me to see the show when I was a little girl--just the two of us. I chose We Got Annie because even though this song isn't in the stage show, I think it's a great addition, and I love the dancing and joyfulness in this scene. 

2. Hushabye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

My little sister went through a period of obsession with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and I mean, really, who can blame the kid? What a great movie. This is still one of my go-to movies when I'm sick, and even though the child-catcher is totally creepy, every single musical number in this film is gold. It was really hard choosing just one for this list. Also, I always wanted that music box when I was a kid. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

3.  We Should Be Together from Little Miss Broadway

Ok, so here's the thing. I probably could have done a Top 10 list of favorite Shirley Temple scenes, but I decided to just pick one. It wasn't easy, but this is what I decided on. I love this song, and I love the tapping. Shirley Temple films have a special place in my heart because I used to watch them with my Grandmother. She had probably all of them taped from television on VHS tapes, and it was always special watching them with her. I think we watched this one and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm the most. 

4.  Marian the Librarian from The Music Man

Okay, it kills me but this video cuts off halfway through the number. I had a hard time finding good videos for The Music Man, but I just could not omit it from this list. The problem is that youtube is flooded with videos from the Matthew Broderick version, but in my opinion, the Shirley Jones version is the only one worth watching. Do yourself a favor and just go watch the whole movie sometime this weekend. I love it. I'm not lying when I say I can sing every word to every song from this movie. 

5. King of New York from Newsies

Love, love, love this film. Was anyone else out there as big of a Spot Conlon fan as I was? He was probably the scrawniest kid in the movie, but he was the one I had a crush on in 4th grade. And who can resist a young Christian Bale singing and dancing before he became Batman? If you've never seen this movie, you should probably watch it just for that.

6. Kansas City from Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! was another difficult movie to choose from but the dancing in Kansas City put it over the top. This is one of my favorite musicals, and I once convinced my friend Jon to watch it with me. He's never forgiven me for it. I'm not exactly sure why he hated it so much but I guess 2 hours and 25 minutes of old-time singing and dancing is just a little much for some guys. Sorry Jon!

7. Sobbin' Women from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

You guys, I know I said it would be impossible to pick my favorite musical of all time, but if it absolutely came down to it, this one might win. I will never get tired of this movie, and in fact, when Cody and I started dating and I realized he had never seen it, I immediately made him watch it. I'm not gonna say his liking it was a pre-requisite for marriage, but.....it totally was. (I love you, honey!) I can't imagine anyone not liking this film. It's a gem.

8. Good Morning from Singin' In The Rain

I couldn't not include a scene from Singin' In The Rain on this list and Good Morning was actually a pretty easy choice for me. Even though I love Make 'Em Laugh and Moses Supposes and oh, EVERY song in this movie, Good Morning is my favorite. It's so fun, and I love these three dancing together. 

9. The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music

How do you choose a single song from The Sound of Music to include on a list like this? I'm not sure, but I picked The Lonely Goatherd because I don't think it gets enough credit. Julie Andrews is the bomb dot com, and if I could only choose one famous person in this world to sing a duet with, she wins hands down. Her singing chops (especially in her prime) are incomparable.

10. Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me from White Christmas

Oh hey, Rosemary Clooney! I absolutely love this number, and I think it's one of the most forgotten ones in the film. Maybe because it's near the end or maybe because it's not super-flashy like some of the others, but whatever the reason, it was an easy one to choose for this list. Cody and I watch this movie every year while we decorate our Christmas tree, and I love it. Even though this is a Christmas movie, it's one I'll watch any time of year.

We have a few honourable mentions because Top 10 lists are hard, y'all. Or maybe this was just a really ambitious one to start with. Either way, be sure to check out these videos too.

-Stepsisters Lament from Cinderella

-I Whistle a Happy Tune from The King and I

-Under the Bamboo Tree from Meet Me In St. Louis

-The Man That Got Away from A Star Is Born

-America from West Side Story

Okay, so let's hear it. What did I leave out? What would your Top 10 be? Are you a fan of musicals? Have you seen any of my favs? What are your favorites?