Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that was created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish but is now managed by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic:
Books That Have Been on My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read
Okay, I know Tuesday is long gone so there’s no need for me to invoke in on Friday, but all the posts I saw for this week’s TTT topic made me want to participate. I just didn’t get a chance to complete the post until now (Thursday night).
I went to Goodreads to look up the books to include in this post but while doing so, I realized that I no longer want to read some of them, so I decided to combine this TTT post with the Down the TBR Hole meme created by Lia at Lost in a Story where we decide whether to keep or remove books on our TBR.
Sure, I could just make this a Down the TBR Hole post only and call it that but dammit, I started creating this post on Tuesday night and I intend to do a TTT post this week no matter what, even if it’s delayed to Friday.
The rules for Down the TBR Hole:
- Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
I went overboard (yeah, I’m just all over the place this week); so instead of 10 books, I have here 20 books that have been on my TBR for a long time. I’ll decide whether to Keep them or Kick them off my list.
Batch #1
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A “boy meets girl” story with a twist: one of them can jump through time.
This was a popular novel on the lists I saw for this Top Ten Tuesday. However, I’m not a fan of time travel and though I was curious about this book for the great writing, I’ve since lost interest in wanting to read it. So that means —
Kick Off
The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I…don’t know what this is about, actually. It’s a sci-fi novel that I assume is about traveling the galaxy…?
I like that I don’t know much about this, but it’s such a popular book and it’s mentioned so often that I’m curious about it still.
Keep
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Early YA fantasy about a boy described as a criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy.
I go back and forth on this one. I’m curious about it because I’ve heard it mentioned often, but it’s been on my TBR for so long and I’ve yet to read it that I think I should kick it off.
Kick Off
— though I keep changing my mind.
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
The classic novel by Victor Hugo about the hunchback Quasimodo and Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer.
I’ve always wanted to read the book because I liked the Disney adaptation of it. I think I liked the songs…it’s been years since I’ve seen it.
Keep
The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
The first in the Sisters Grimm middle-grade fantasy series about two girls who’re sent to live with their grandmother after their parents mysteriously disappear and are told that they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm. The girls then become fairy tale detectives.
Another book that I’ve lost interest in reading.
Kick Off
Batch #2
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The first in the Ranger’s Apprentice middle-grade fantasy series about a boy who becomes a ranger’s apprentice and learns that rangers protect the kingdom and fight its battles.
Eh…I don’t know man, I don’t know. The full synopsis on Goodreads makes it sound like the sort of story I’d enjoy, but it’s been on my TBR for so long, I really don’t know if I’ll get to it. Umm…
Keep
— I guess…?
Donald Writes No More by Eddie Stone
A biography of Donald Goines, a writer of Black urban fiction back in the 1970s.
I’ve read a few of Goines’s books and they made me curious about him. I consider him a forerunner of Black urban fiction and have always wanted to read his biography by Eddie Stone so —
Keep
Hunger by Erica Simone Turnipseed
A follow-up to A Love Noire, a romance novel about Noire, an African American woman seeking her Ph.D., and Innocent, an investment banker from Côte d’Ivoire, who fall in love
I really enjoyed reading A Love Noire and considered it a favorite. I’d like to continue the story with Hunger, but the synopsis gives me the impression that there will be a whole lotta drama in it and I’m not for that at the moment.
Kick Off
Midnight by Sister Souljah
This is a spin-off novel that follows a character from Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, a Black urban novel and a favorite.
I placed this on my TBR years ago because of nostalgia. Midnight was my favorite character from The Coldest Winter Ever. I had a huge crush on him when I read the novel back in high school, but now I’m no longer as interested in urban fiction as I once was, so for now —
Kick Off
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Seems to be a sci-fi/fantasy YA classic about a girl trying to find her father who mysteriously disappeared when he experimented with fifth dimension time travel.
Eh, time travel. I really don’t like it. I’m debating whether or not to read this now because it is a classic and the movie is gonna come out in March and Oprah is in, but eh…really don’t like time travel.
Kick Off
Batch #3
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
A fantasy series about dragonriders.
This series has been mentioned so much by fantasy fans that I’m curious about them. The concept makes me think of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle and wonder if Paolini was influenced by McCaffrey’s books. He probably was.
Keep
Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
The first in a fantasy series about a magician’s apprentice.
This is another staple of fantasy that I don’t know much about but have heard mentioned often by fantasy fans. I’m just so curious about this since everyone seems to like Feist’s books, plus it seems to be a “chosen one” story and I’m a sucker for those.
Keep
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
A historical novel about Black women working in southern White households in the 1960s.
So I haven’t seen the movie and only placed the book on my TBR because of how much my aunt liked it and, I guess, identified with the Black women in the book, which made me really want to read it. I even have her copy of the book. But… I’m no longer feeling this one.
Kick Off
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
A fantasy novel about a ghul hunter and his assistant who team up with friends to fight a dark sorcerer. The story is said to contain lots of allusions to Middle Eastern folklore and culture —
— which is probably why I placed it on my TBR. Umm, I can’t decide whether or not to keep it. I’d like to keep it because now that I reread the synopsis it sounds interesting, but I’m no longer excited about it and I’d forgotten that it was even on my TBR.
Kick Off
How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer
A nonfiction book about how we make decisions.
It’s going.
Kick Off
Batch #4
On the Outside Looking Indian: How My Second Childhood Changed My Life by Rupinder Gill
Gill’s memoir about doing things at age 30 that she was prevented from doing as child because of her strict upbringing in an Indian household.
I…forgot what made me want to read this book and have obviously forgotten about it since placing it on my TBR. So…
Kick Off
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
A middle-grade historical fantasy about a girl who disappears after inviting a master puppeter and his orphaned assistants to her home.
This still sounds like it might be a sweet read and rereading the synopsis now has renewed my interest in it.
Keep
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce
A picture book described as an “allegory about the curative powers of story.”
I think I saw the short animated movie when it was released back in 2012. I probably liked it so much that I placed the book on my TBR.
Keep
Vlad by Carlos Fuentes
This seems to be a retelling of Bram Stocker’s classic Dracula but set in Mexico City.
It still sounds awesome. I really want to read it. Maybe I’ll reread Dracula and then read this.
Keep
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
A horror novel about how a man became a vampire.
When I saw this book while making this list, I immediately thought to kick it off because it’s one I should have read by now. But reading that synopsis stayed my click so —
Keep
Well, that was fun. I completed several goals with this post: finally did a Down the TBR Hole post, FINALLY completed this TTT post I’ve been working on since Tuesday, and culled about 10 books from my TBR. That’s good. (Pats self on back.)
Just a reminder that I have a GIVEAWAY going. You have until next week Friday to enter for a Book Depository purchase of up to $30USD. To enter —
Zezee with Books 
I just reread Wrinkle in Time and it was just as good as I remembered from childhood. It’s really not about time travel, if that helps, more about travel to different worlds. I haven’t read the two sequels. If you don’t like time travel, ditch Time Travellers Wife. I’d keep Hitchhikers Guide, it’s a classic.
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Oh that’s good to know it’s not about time travel. Hmm… I might see the movie and then decide to read it.
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hehe Tuesday or not, I think this is a good thing to do 😉 Yeah I’ve no will to read Time Traveller’s Wife either. I’d better read Hitchhiker’s Guide at some point too! Artemis Fowl was fun- but I dunno if I’d want to read it as an adult. Definitely want to read Hunchback (yes cos of the movie 😉 ) I think Anne Rice has a very striking writing style, so definitely worth checking it out for that!
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A striking writing style…I love the sound of that. Yea, now I want to check out Artemis Fowl again since so many peeps liked it as a kid. I don’t mind such books.
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Awesome- then I do recommend it- I heard a rumour from a friend it’s gonna be a movie soon too… though I need to confirm that 😉
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This is actually a really interesting idea. I am positive there are books on my TBR in Goodreads that I could admit to myself that I’ll never actually get around to reading, but removing them? It just sounds more painful than leaving them there 🙂 I didn’t really like Artemis Fowl, but I often don’t do well with books aimed at a younger audience.
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Lol that’s how I feel about books on my physical bookshelves that I know I probably won’t read. It’s hard to get rid of them.
You’re the first to say you’re not a fan of Artemis Fowl. I’ll see how it goes tho. I like kids books n such n because so many commenters said they enjoyed it, I’m again curious about it.
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I’ll put in a good word for Artemis Fowl. I DID read this as an adult (the books didn’t exist when I was kid). And I love this series. I’ve actually started a re-read of it this year. It’s as good as I remember! (Just finished book 5.)
I do find that while the first book is good, this is one of those series where the later books are BETTER. Once you get to know the characters. (Except for the last book. You have my permission to skip the last book. I’m not even sure I can bring myself to re-read that one. I fluctuate from denial of its existence to trying to process what Colfer did in that book.)
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Lol about the last book.
Okay, Artemis Fowl is definitely going back on the tbr then. Thanks! 🤣
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Wow! That’s a lot of books!! Though mine is just as big I reckon. Definitely keep Feist, Magician is fantastic! 😀 Artemis Fowl was also one of my favourite series as a kid / young teen – it was full of adventure and humour, I just loved it! Hitchhiker’s Guide is actually still on my list too…. I’d completely forgotten about it! Adding it back to the pile……
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Yeahie! Well if you say to keep Feist, I will. It really sounds like my kinda book. Lots of peeps saying they liked Artemis Fowl back in the day so I’m adding it back. I’m still curious about it.
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I was so keen to read beyond that trilogy with Feist but never got around to it! And hopefully my ten year old perspective wasn’t completely warped wih Artemis Fowl!! I guess you’ll find out if you keep It!!!
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Artemis Fowl!!! That was one of my favourite series when I was a teenager. It’s a great transition between children’s books and sort of young adult, when the genre wasn’t really established. It’s more leaning towards adult though, and it’s a combination of funny, exciting, and overall very well written. I’m not sure if someone older would enjoy it as much as teenagers will, though… so I understand if you never get to it in the end 😀
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Aww man. I might end up readding it to my tbr now. Age don’t matter much to me when deciding what to read, so I might like this.
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I think you will enjoy ‘Magician’ by Feist, if you like the ‘Chosen One’ trope 🙂 I tried it, but it wasn’t for me, as I am not a big fan of it. But I can see why it gets so much love!
I am the same with Artemis Fowl!! I want to read it but then I don’t and I go back and forth with it.This has been going on for years now haha. I think there’s talk about a movie or tv show coming soon so maybe I will finally get to it.. Or not 😀
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Great! 🤣 Looking forward to the Feist book then.
Lol! I’m still going back n forth on the Artemis Fowl book too, even now.
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I loved the Artemis Fowl series when it first came out. I’m actually hoping to start my reread this month (Cuz I never finished the series lol). Sweetbeeps loves the Flannagan series too. And the spinoffs
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Aww man. Now I want to read it. Even now I’m going back n forth on it still. It must be really good then.
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Well I haven’t read it since high school. But Sweetbeeps flew through the whole series like a year or two ago. He loved it
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I liked Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but it took me a while to get through it.
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Lots of peeps seem to like it, so I hope I will too.
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I think if I’d read A Wrinkle In Time as a kid I would have liked it more. But somehow I didn’t. (Too busy reading Babysitters Club, ha ha!) As an adult, it was just an okay read for me. But I would like to see the movie!
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Lol!
That’s how I felt about the Phantom Tollbooth when I read it.
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Oh… oh… almost too many books! *lol* I haven’t read any of them, but I do have Dragonflight in my TBR pile somewhere. And I’d like to check out A Wrinkle in Time and The Time Traveler’s Wife at some point, though neither are big priorities at the moment.
I’m seriously thinking of doing my own post on this topic at some point. After reading your post and the same TTT by two other blogger friends today, it’s very tempting… 🙂
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Lol! I agree. I was wondering if it was too much, but I couldn’t stop going.
Yea, you should do one too. It really got me thinking about those books I have on Goodreads because I have so many on my To Read list.
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I think I will. 😉 But I think I’ll “break” the Goodreads rule and go more by which books I’ve had unread on my shelves or in my TBR pile the longest. I own a few that I’ve had for yeeeeearrrrrssss and just haven’t made them a priority. *lol*
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Lol! That’s a good idea so you get to weed out books on your physical shelves.
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Definitely read Interview with the Vampire, it’s amazing!
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Awesome! Thanks for the rec. The synopsis made it sound really good.
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