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?
Anna's reading list 
You have a couple on your list that I feel the same way about; The Snow Child and Little Friend, so I can’t help you with the reticence I’m afraid.
I can assist with a different two! I read Room so easily. I had no idea what it was about when I went into it so I wasn’t at all apprehensive. It’s not so awful and in your face violence though it can get pretty raw at times. I’m definitely glad I read it though. It stayed with me for ages afterwards. Inheritance is not that much different from Brisingr, I loved them both, but neither had the same appeal as the firs two. If you struggled with that one, you may find the next the same – and there isn’t that “I’m going to find out all the secrets” drive either. You don’t find out shit.
Thanks for the advice. Maybe I’ll just read the last couple of pages of Inheritance to find out if Arya and Eragorn finally get together.
Oh yes, please read Room. So. Good. You really view every moment through the characters’ eyes.
Room is stunning. Really, read it. I am one of the few fans of The Little Friend it seems, it’s nothing like The Secret History but I enjoyed it very much.
Definitely sounds like I should read Room. Thanks.
I was always a bit intrigued by the Harold Fry book, it’s just been everywhere. But if the first part is dull I know I won’t have the patience to go through with it! Thanks for the review 🙂 The rest of your books sound great but like they would require a lot of reading energy!
One of my friends read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and hated it. I trust her opinion pretty highly, so I doubt I’ll be checking this one out.
I’ve had The Snow Child on my TBR for a while. Maybe it’ll pick up? It’s not high on my list though to check out.
My TTT
I don’t continue with a book when the first few pages is boring, either. Eragon was always a no-no for me. I’ve never really been interested in it and so I’m just leaving it before even starting.
I read Room and thought it was great, but there’s no denying its heavy subject matter. I routinely read such books, but if you don’t usually do so then I don’t know if Room would be enjoyable to you. You would definitely need to be in the right mood or frame of mind for it. I find that heavier subject matter is more easily tolerated when I’m reading a lighter book at the same time. I do recommend the book regularly though.
I actually have three of the Inheritance books (back when my sister and I thought it’d stay on as a trilogy or something…), but I’ve only actually gotten through Eragon. My sister said Eldest was really good, but that Brisingr turned her off, and we hadn’t even bothered with Inheritance for that matter, lol. I might have to re-try the trilogy again with new eyes at some point.
I’ve read No. 1, 4 and 10. Out of the three I would say I enjoyed Snow Child the most. It starts off harsh and gloomy but changes.
Lynn 😀
Great list. I’m also on the fence regarding the pilgrimage of Harold Fry and no amount of enthusiasm for the snow child from my friend persuaded me!
Eragon was okay, but Eldest was a slog for me, so much so that I’ve never felt an inclination to continue with the series. I haven’t read any of the other books on the list.
I’ve read (& loved) two books on your list: Room and The Snow Child. I’d advise you to try to read both. They are really different, but really good. Room is a revelation and though the subject matter is grim, it is not the downer you might expect. (Room makes you think — which is always a good thing — and you may look at things a little differently after you’ve finished it.)
The Snow Child is a fairy tale for adults and a wonderful little fantasy. Stick with it and you will be rewarded.
You should for sure give Room a try. It isn’t the world’s happiest book but it’s not supposed to be. It’s raw, emotional and realistic for the situation. I also really like the interesting perspective of a child.
I absolutely love (and share) your aversion to reading books with ugly covers! Also, I read Snow Child and while I liked it well enough, I didn’t like it enough to recommend it.
The “Unlikely Pilgrimage…” Was one of my fave books over the last year or so I’d say give this a chance! However the SnownChild not so much…. I wanted to love it as I liked the writing style but the story was a bit naff in the end.
If you haven’t read it yet, the audiobook version of Room is excellent. I know you own the physical book, but if you can’t get into it, the audiobook is a good option. It’s read from a child’s perspective, so it ups the innocence. I don’t know that I loved the book, but I loved the way it was read.