It's been awhile since I did a Top Ten Tuesday, but I love this week's topic, so here I am. If you want to join in with this fun weekly meme (and you totally should), click on over to The Broke and the Bookish and read up on how to participate.  Then, craft your own post, share it with the world, and get ready to find some great new book blogs and get lots of reading inspiration!  What are you waiting for?  Go.  Now.  Seriously.  Go!

This week's topic is Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book.  It was originally introduced back on April 30, 2013.  Reading over my TTT post from that day, I realize how little my reading tastes have changed over the last four years.  I still like what I like.  So, here are the top words/topics that will entice me to pick up a book pretty much every time, some of which will be repeats from my original post:

1.  Creepy old houses with mysterious pasts.  There's something about this topic that I just can't resist.  Favorite book(s) in this category: anything by Kate Morton

2.  Adoption.  Ever since we adopted our youngest child 8 1/2 years ago, I've read everything I can find about adoption.  Fiction, non-fiction, doesn't matter.  I find the topic endlessly fascinating.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery; How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr; A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierly 

3.  Racial Identity/books featuring biracial characters.  Since my adopted daughter is biracial, I also read everything I can find about racial identity.  I'm as white as I could possibly be, so this isn't a subject I know much about.  By exploring it, I hope I can help my daughter understand and celebrate her unique ethnic background.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda; Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson; Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

4.  Books about books.  What bibliophile could possibly resist this topic?  Favorite book(s) in this category:  The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak; The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee; The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

5.  "Psychological Thriller."  What can I say?  If a book is labeled as such, there's an excellent chance I'll snatch it right up.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan; The Hollow City by Dan Wells; anything by Sharon Bolton

6.  Coming home.  I'm a sucker for novels about damaged people coming home to heal.  They can be cheesy, sure, but those that are done well hit me right in the heart.  Favorite book(s) in this category: pretty much anything by Karen White or Kate Morton

7.  Family Secrets.  Oh, how I love a novel with some juicy skeletons hiding in the closet!  Favorite book(s) in this category:  Again, just about anything by Karen White or Kate Morton

8.  The Titanic.  I don't know why, but this is another subject that totally fascinates me.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf and The Midnight Watch by David Dyer

9.  Mormon/LDS.  As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Mormon pioneer ancestry, I have a natural interest in the history, culture, and legacy of my church.  I'm especially intrigued by books about Mormonism written by people who are not members.  There are a lot (a lot) of false ideas out there about us and it's intriguing to read about others' perceptions of us.  I'm also interested in LDS history, doctrine, contemporary novels, etc.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  At the Pulpit by Jennifer Reeder and Kate Holbrook (eds.) and Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison

10.  Pioneers/Oregon Trail/Old West.  Closely related to #9 is my fascination with pioneers, especially those who settled the American West.  You don't grow up Mormon without hearing an abundance of pioneer stories, through which you learn to appreciate all these people suffered and survived in the name of adventure, religious freedom, and Westward Expansion.  Favorite book(s) in this category:  The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder; These Is My Words and its sequels by Nancy E. Turner; The Gold Seer trilogy [Walk On Earth a Stranger; Like a River Glorious; Into the Bright Unknown] by Rae Carson   

So, what words or subjects always get you to pick up a book?  What do you think of mine?  Which favorite books do you have in the categories I listed?  Now that you know what I like, hit me up with some great reading recommendations!  If you comment, I'll be sure to return the favor.

Happy TTT!