Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is ‘Top ten books I’m not sure I want to read’ (books you have bought but aren’t sure if you want to read them anymore).
This was a pretty easy list to compile as I am a book buying addict and I have loads of books which I intend to read but haven’t yet!
1. Room by Emma Donoghue
I’ve had this book on my shelves for a couple of years. I have heard rave reviews of this book, and I’m sure it is probably brilliant but I am put off by the subject manner. I’m not sure I want to read about a woman and her child who have been kept locked up for years and suffered abuse. It does not sound like a happy book.
2. More Than It Hurts You by Darin Strauss
I bought this a few years ago after hearing a great podcast interview with the author. Again I’m a little put off by the ‘heavy’ subject matter, in this case Munchausen by Proxy. The book also has vey low rating on GoodReads, which doesn’t bode well.
3. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
I’ve read the other books in this series and I feel like I should read this one, just so I have finished the series. However, ‘Brisingr’ was a real struggle and I haven’t manged to pick this one up yet, even though I got a copy as soon as it came out in paperback.
4. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
This look like a book I would love. The cover is beautiful and feels lovely and soft, the author has a lovely Welsh name, it has a wintery setting, it has great reviews; it all looks so promising. However, I read the first couple of chapters and it was so DULL and I haven’t bothered to pick it up again since.
5. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Just like the book above, this book has great ratings and loads of buzz about it, but I was bored stiff by the first few pages and couldn’t bring myself to continue with it.
6. Mutiny on the Bounty by John Boyne
I bought this ages ago because I’m fascinated by the story of the Bounty. However, I have never felt inclined to pick it up, even though I thought The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by the same author was pretty good.
7. Vicky Had One Eye Open by Darryl Samaraweera
I bought this book in a period when I was reading lots of books by Sri Lankan authors (my father was part Sri Lankan), after hearing it well reviewed on a podcast. However, the cover is so ugly I can’t bring myself to read it!
8. The Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Hearn
This was another book I bought because I had read the rest of the series and felt duty bound to read another addition to the series. However, I think I’ve left it too long between reading these books and don’t feel familiar enough with the previous books to be compelled to read this one.
9. The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
I really enjoyed The Brutal Art by the same author, but this one has nowhere near as good online reviews, so I’m reticent to read it in case it spoils my opinion of the author.
10. The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
I absolutely loved The Secret History and I have been meaning to read this book for 10 years! But the cover is so so ugly and creepy that I just can’t make myself pick it up when there are so many beautiful books alternative to choose from.
Have you read any of these books? Are there any which I should definitely overcome my reticence and read?