 | The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Buy new: $14.27 / Used from: $2.99 Randy Pausch is a brave man. He is an amazing person with a scientist's brain and a kind performer's heart.
Everyone should own a copy of this book.
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 | Prose From A Grandson To A Senior Fellow by Derek McFadden
Buy new: $3.57 / Used from: $3.56 Even if you've never read a book of poetry before, you will LOVE this book. It's truthful, touching, the kind of book you can share with the whole family.
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 | Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Buy used from: $1.88 The first--and best--from Nicholas Sparks, he of the tear-jerker. His character development is amazing! You leave this book feeling like Allie and Noah are friends you've known for years!
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 | An Hour to Live, an Hour to Love: The True Story of the Best Gift Ever Given by Richard Carlson
Buy new: $9.95 / Used from: $0.75 Beautiful. Touching. This is a little book about two people who truly love each other and always will.
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 | The Gift: A Novel by Richard Paul Evans
Buy new: $14.36 / Used from: $0.01 Best-known for The Christmas Box, Evans has settled into writing love stories with morals. In my opinion, his best since The Christmas Box--is The Gift.
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 | A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Buy new: $10.07 / Used from: $3.92 Any list of books to read with the one you love would not be complete without this one. Another beautiful book from Sparks.
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 | The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $2.58 Truly one of the best books I have ever read. At its end, all I wanted to do was start all over again.
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 | Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
Buy used from: $10.06 A must-read for all Americans. This is not just an introduction to the Democratic nominee for president. It is much more. Its literary merit can not be denied. And it skillfully confronts questions America must ask.
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 | Big Russ and Me: Father and Son: Lessons of Life by Tim Russert
Buy new: $11.16 / Used from: $0.01 On this list, I try to spotlight books in which the younger generations honor their elders. Perhaps the best of this emerging "honoring genre is Russert's beautiful tribute to his father.
We'll miss you, little Russ. You made politics fun, easy to understand, and, perhaps most important, you showed us why it's important to care, not just about political matters but about anything.
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 | Picnics: A Novella by Derek McFadden
Buy new: $8.53 / Used from: $22.86 This is the book on the list that most of you will not have heard of yet. It is beautiful, with an imaginative plot and characters you will love.
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 | Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
Buy used from: $1.85 When I was told that James Patterson had written a romance/love story, I was skeptical. Wasn't he the guy who wrote the thrillers? But this book belongs on a shelf with the best tear-jerkers out there.
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 | Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01 The story Sparks wrote after The Notebook, it is one of his strongest.
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 | Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
Buy new: $10.04 / Used from: $0.01 John Grogan's great book! It's funny, touching, and I'm not afraid to say I teared up.
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 | Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other by Jim Nantz
Buy new: $15.06 / Used from: $0.01 Heartbreaking--and yet, in many ways, heartwarming, too. The relatives we lose can be right by our side when we need them. We just have to work a little harder to hear their voices.
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 | The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Buy new: $16.29 / Used from: $6.26 This book will soon find itself among great books like Life Of Pi and others. Such as a certain tome about a spider and a pig.
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 | The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
Buy new: $9.32 / Used from: $0.01 Perhaps The Christmas Box is not exactly the most "contemporary" title there is, being thir-teen or more years old, depending on the math you choose to use. But it inspired me. It showed me that, if an unknown writer with no connection in the publishing biz could make it big, anyone had a shot. I read it once a year, every year.
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 | The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Buy new: $16.49 / Used from: $0.59 This is the newest novel from Sparks. It is sure to be a best-seller. Let's hope it deserves that designation. Definitely worth reading to find out!
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 | Grace: A Novel by Richard Paul Evans
Buy new: $13.57 / Used from: $0.01 I never miss an Evans release. Sure, he's sentimental, but what's wrong with that--especially around the time he is published yearly--as we head toward the Christmas season?
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 | When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Buy new: $17.15 / Used from: $1.89 I've heard from readers I trust that this book is great. I plan on reading it soon, and we'll see. But I trust in Sedaris's talent, so I'm including it here.
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 | The Little Book by Selden Edwards
Buy new: $17.13 / Used from: $0.63 The author spent thirty years refining this, his opus of sorts. But don't worry. Just because he spent many tedious hours doesn't mean any of the hours you spend reading his book will be tedious.
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 | The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62) by David Wroblewski
Buy new: $17.13 / Used from: $1.00 Can't wait to read this one! I support any first-time author trying to break through.
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 | Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
Buy new: $10.79 / Used from: $2.93 This story is touching. It had me tearing up. Dewey was so cute. I wish I'd had the chance to know him, but the next best thing is to read this beautiful book!
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Listmania!
