This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is Books I Can't Believe I've Read. Now I went back and forth on this for awhile because there really aren't all that many books that I can't believe I've read. I mean there were a few required reads in high school and a few that I read when my girls were teenagers because they were reading them but other than that there aren't that many surprises. So I'm doing books that I can't believe I HAVEN"T read. The only problem with that one is that it was hard to narrow that down to 10!
1. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - I wanted to read this one since right after it came out and then I wanted to see the movie when that came out yet I have done neither.
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - I know this is horrible but I've only read up to book 4 in the Harry Potter series and I've never gone any further.
3. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - I think I've had this on my TBR since I was about 16 (and we're going to pretend that wasn't 20+ years ago) and considering how short this is there's really no reason not to read this but somehow it just never makes it to the top of the stack.
4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - People have been telling me to read this one for decades and I know a number of people who swear this is their favorite book. Not to mention the fact I have my grandmother's copy that was given to her by her mother in l946. I need to read this book.
5. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain - Another one that went on my TBR as soon as I heard about it. I'm an introvert who can make small talk and my husband and father are both serious introverts so I'm really curious to see what insight this book has to offer.
6. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdian - Really the only reason I haven't read this is because my library doesn't' have it on audio I listened to his book Medium Raw and really enjoyed it. I don't always like him but I like his voice if that makes sense. Plus, I love foodie books - especially behind the scenes style foodie books.
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - I read and loved Hunger Games but I was kind of good with just letting the world stay where it was at the end of that one. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue and considering it's been years I apparently really didn't want to continue!
8. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - I've read a decent stack of the Mrs. Pollifax books and stand alone mysteries from Gilman but somehow I never read Mrs. Pollifax's premiere mystery. I'd really like to read it and reread the rest of the series as well.
9. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase - This is one of those historical romances that I've heard about forever and I've heard several discussions about how great it is and lots of people I trust have read it and loved it. AND I actually own a copy but have I read it? Nope.
10. The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor - historical fiction about the Titanic? I've been fascinated by this since the wreck was discovered back in the 80s. How have I not read this yet?
What books can you not believe you haven't read?
Catching Fire I just read recently as I read the whole series and I thought it was good- but I also liked the second movie better so there's that. :) And Quiet is a book I wanted to read when it came out, but just haven't yet!
ReplyDeleteAnthony Bourdain is one of those chefs you love or hate, and he's not very friendly to his fellow chefs.(lol) Still, there's something to be said for a guy who's not afraid to speak his mind. I've been wanting to check out The Book Thief too. Happy Tuesday! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteOh you should finish HP!! Try the audios. They were so good!! I just The Bell Jar to reread!!
ReplyDeleteI love 'the book thief', I was hesitant because of the subject matter but it turn out pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI have heard tons of people who still haven't read Harry Potter and I don't think it's a big deal. I read the series in a week but I think my interest came from seeing the movies first.
I thought 'the bell jar' is a bit depressing just like 'a tree grows in brooklyn' but I think some people actually think quite the opposite. but I really didn't like either books.
have a lovely day.
I love how you interpreted this week's prompt! (you inspired me to write a post too! I had been struggling with the prompt)
ReplyDeleteThis was a good way to 'tweak' the topic. I didn't have a lot of books that I couldn't believe I read either. I've never been one to continue reading a book I wasn't enjoying. Now, your list - well, Harry Potter - yes, maybe on audio? And you need to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I think you'll like it a lot. And definitely read the first Mrs. Pollifax. If you've read the safari Mrs. Pollifax, you'll learn where she met some people initially. Hunger Games - well, as you see fit. I've read all 3, but I didn't like the last one as well. I haven't read any of the others, but I have Quiet as an audiobook. One day.
ReplyDeleteI like your twist on this one, I too haven't read Catching Fire (mostly because I didn't like The Hunger Games and much preferred the movie). To me it didn't seem to warrant a trilogy. I'm surprised you haven't finished up the Harry Potter series (My favourite) and I haven't read any of the others you mentioned but I do have Kitchen Confidential on my list to listen to. I completely get what you mean about Bourdain being a love or hate him kind of guy but as monotone as I find his voice on TV I can listen to his books read by him no problem.
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I liked The Book Thief - quite different but good, I always like to get the German background. I did read the whole Hunger Games trilogy - mainly because I was still teaching at that point. The Bell Jar - no doesn't attract, maybe you'll read it and persuade me to! I loved Lord of Scoundrels when I read it.
ReplyDeleteHope you manage to read all of these soon, especially The Book Thief, that's one of my favourites :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/top-ten-tuesday-144/
Same for me about Lord of Scoundrels. I own a copy too. But you know, I don't know if I want to read it. Because I find these days I have NO tolerance for jerk heroes. But I do think you would really like Quiet. And HARRY POTTER!!
ReplyDeleteNow this is a twist on the topic I would have been able to manage. Like you, narrowing it down would have been hard. A few of yours could make my list too. The Bell Jar, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and The Girl Who Came Home.
ReplyDeleteSome really good books on your list!
ReplyDeleteLots yet to read. Hard to fit in with my writing and the books I read as a research project. I have managed 4 on your list though.
ReplyDeleteThe only one of these I've read is The Book Thief. It was good.
ReplyDeleteI love The Book Thief, but I haven't found the strength to reread it, but I do want to some day.
ReplyDeleteI read The Bell Jar a long time ago - hs or college, not sure. There are so many good books I haven't read yet.
ReplyDeleteMy truth about Harry Potter: I read book one when it first came out. Then I stopped. It was only after I was a school librarian that my students shamed me into reading the rest of the books. That was when the last book came out.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that I have read any of the Harry Potter books. On your list, I have read The Book Thief which I liked and I actually liked Catching Fire more than The Hunger Games.
ReplyDeleteI think you are good with the Hunger Games because in my opinion and my son's opinion the books went downhill afterwards. I have not read The Book Thief yet, either, and although A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favorite movies I still need to read it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same situation with The Book Thief! And personally, I found The Bell Jar quite disappointing unfortunately. Ooh, Quiet by Susan Cain! I watched her TED Talk and really loved it. Any objections if I borrow your idea for this TTT?
ReplyDeleteA Tree Grows in Brooklyn, especially since I’m from Bklyn, NY; and The Book Thief since I actually have a copy of that one on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot, definitely The Girl Who Came Home. I’m so disappointed that I let that one slip by when it first came out.
ReplyDeleteOooh I just read Quiet in December and it was fantastic! I also haven't read The Bell Jar and really need to... it's one of those books that has been on my radar for so long but I just haven't gotten around to quite yet. Great list! :)
ReplyDeleteYou really must read The Book Thief as it is a book that you won't forget about. So good! The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax is so good! I've reread it a couple of times because I just love it - it's funny because I don't even know at this point why I love it so much but I do :)
ReplyDeleteI love your take this week. I haven't read any of these either. My husband read The Book Thief and told me how good it was. It's easy to let books slip you mean to read, there are always so many new books added to the growing pile!
ReplyDeleteThe kids killin' kids in Hunger Games bothered me so I stopped reading after book one. I debate once in a while whether I should give it another go...
ReplyDeleteMy teenager is finally reading the Harry Potter series!!! YAY!!! She's on book four, The Goblet of Fire. One of her girlfriends is an HP fan so now she had someone to chit chat about it as it seems the rest of their friends aren't big readers.
I have read Catching Fire, but I didn't read the last book. Like you, after these years I'm not sure I want to. I also can't believe I still haven't read The Book Thief or The Help, which I talked about reading years ago.
ReplyDelete