Top Ten Tuesday: Favorites Outside My Typical Reading

Time again for Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by the Broke and Bookish).  This week’s question asks us to look at/recommend books that are outside our usual comfort reading comfort zone.  I may not make it to ten, but here are some of them I’ve picked up and enjoyed recently.

1.  A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor.  I enjoy sci-fi and fantasy short stories, but I’ve recently tried to broaden my short story horizons a bit.  And this is a great collection of short stories.
2. Mistletoe, Merriment and Murder by Sara Rossett.  I like a good mystery, but I’m not usually drawn to the cozy mysteries. But this holiday-themed entry in this on-going series caught my eye and was a lot of fun.  I may have to read more of this series that involves a military wife’s various run-ins with murder and mayhem.
3. Armor by John Steakley.   I enjoy a good sci-fi novel and while I do have a couple of favorites in the military sci-fi section, I’m not usually drawn there.  But this one was an interesting read and it has an interesting twist.
4. Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson.  I’ve read Samson’s novels in the past and really enjoyed them. But they’re not in my typical wheelhouse — though I’m not sure why.  Strong characters facing interesting challenges and life dilemmas.   I really should read more by her and not worry that they’re classified in the “women’s fiction” section.

That’s about it for now.  I’m curious to see what everyone else finds.