Howdy, fellow bookworms. I hope you’re well because today we have a fun task ahead of ourselves. I’m very pleased with myself for getting a Top Ten Tuesday post out because that makes my week feel organised. Nothing like having a win lined up for a Tuesday.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and this week’s prompt is:
Books on My TBR I’m Avoiding Reading
So the fun task ahead of us is criticality assessing my reading procrastinations. Because I’m damn good at that. But when I read only 4 or so books a month, my TBR expands wildly because I sure as hell accumulate more books than that most months. And so, the books that NEVER get read, have been collecting dust for a scary amount of time on my shelves. So TODAY, we are going to look at the most neglected books on my TBR and work out why they haven’t been read. I’m going to openly shame myself by also including how many years I have owned the book for.
1. The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
Years on MY TBR: 5
Wow, one of the biggest victims of my procrastination. Do you know just how many people have told me to read this? SO MANY. But I can tell you now, I will end up reading Miller’s next book, Circe, before I get to this. I have no idea why I haven’t picked this up yet. I guess I just can’t forsee why it’s apparently so good? Who knows?!
2. Paper Towns
by John Green
Years on My TBR: 4
To my credit (not really, but whatever), I have read The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska. And two books by one author isn’t bad going for me. However, despite the movie having come out and the general excitement over this story, I’ve never really wanted to pick it up. So I’ve left it stewing on my shelf. The excitement that surrounded it when I first bought it has fizzled out and I’m simply not convinced that this will be any better or that different to what I’ve already read?
3. Kingdom of Ash
by Sarah J. Maas
Years on My TBR: 1
This has only been on my TBR for one year but gee, the guilt of not having read it yet weighs so heavily on me. Mostly because my good friend Sarah likes to bully me into getting on with me re-read of the whole series (mwah) WHICH WILL HAPPEN. But lord knows time is a slippery thing. Tower of Dawn has also been on my TBR since it came out, but I feel guiltier about Kingdom of Ash.
4. Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline
Years on My TBR: 4
I am keen as a bean to read this, yet I never want to pick it up. I’ve even seen the movie now and really enjoyed that. I know that this will be fun and quick and yet here we are. It’s just not on my priority list and I almost feel that because I know it will be good, the fun of reading it has been lost.
5. Ranger’s Apprentice: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja
by John Flanagan
Years on My TBR: 3
I’ve been meaning to read this FOR SO FREAKING LONG. It may have been only three years but I read the first book in 2013. So YIKES. I just always forget to read this series. It’s not even really deliberate procrastination. I just forget and get more excited by other books even though I so want to read this! And now, I honestly don’t remember what happened in the previous book so I’ll need to refresh myself before picking up book ten.
6. Rebel of the Sands
by Alwyn Hamilton
Years on My TBR: 3
I adore the cover of this book so much and I honestly think that’s the main reason I have it. I couldn’t tell you what the plot was about or whether I bought this for myself or it was a gift. I don’t remember. I have every intention of reading this but I don’t actually see this talked about a lot so my excitement to read it has faded a little. HYPE ME UP.
7. The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion
Years on My TBR: 3
Apparently, I bought a lot of books in 2016 that have really gotten stuck on my TBR. The good thing about this is that I think I’ll be reading it soon. It was recently part of Audible’s editor’s pick promotion and free as an audiobook, so I downloaded it. Which means I should get to it this year! This book I’ve not been super excited for because I mostly got it for the hype and because I found a cheap 2nd hand copy. But I’m excited again at the prospect of listening to it via audiobook!
8. A Clash of Kings
by George R. R. Martin
Years on My TBR: 4
Well, we all know what this one hasn’t been picked up. With its tiny font and scary trade paperback format I have, this book clocks in at over 900 pages. It’s big, it’s hard to read compared to all those nice fluffy contemporaries on my shelf and thus, it has not been picked up. Funnily, book one is one of my all time favourite books but jesus, this series is just a HUGE commitment.
9. Tigana
by Guy Gavriel Kay
Years on My TBR: 6
I’ve always been intrigued about the plot of this book but I really don’t know what made me buy and why I thought it would get picked up. It’s just shy of 800 pages with small font. I’ve never been particularly motivated to pick it up and I truly don’t know when will feel like the right time. I will likely just have to DO IT one day. I’m sure I’ll like it, it’s a fantasy story but I’m terrified of getting bogged down in it.
10. Terrier
by Tamora Pierce
Years on My TBR: 10
This book is the embodiment of my guilt about reading procrastination. I’ve got it recorded as added in 2013 when I joined Goodreads but I know for a fact that this is one of the first books I owned post-childhood when I moved onto reading proper books. I honestly blame the fact that 13 year old me (if not younger) was given a book over 500 pages and the title is a dog species and I’m not a dog person. However, my good friend Sarha (the one I insulted just a few paragraphs a go, yes) sent me another of Pierce’s books and convinced me that I love her writing. So I will read this one day. I just don’t know when.
That’s a wrap!
What book have you been putting off reading?
~~ Kirstie ~~
Upside-Down Books 
Song of Achilles is one I haven’t gotten to yet either and keep putting off and I have no idea why because I know I’m probably going to love it 😂
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haha relatable!! Why is it so hard!
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Is it any comfort that I also have Song of Achilles and Paper Towns in my TBR? I loved Circe, so what is the problem? It’s odd.
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Haha snap! We can be confused by our procrastination together 😂
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Great list! Honestly The Song of Achilles is the kind of novel you’re only going to like if you get to it in your own time. I do love it and I would recommend it, but it can be really frustrating when people are recommending a book to you that you’re not in the mood for, so pick it up when you’re in the mood for it and you’ll enjoy it so much more. 😀
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That’s good advice! I shall remember it because I so want to love it. Thanks!!
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I haven’t read The Song of Achilles yet either.
My TTT.
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I’m impressed at how many of us there are out there who are all feeling the pressure to get onto this book 😂
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I struggled to get through Paper Towns for some reason!
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Oh man I don’t think I could put how many years a book has been on my TBR. I’d be calling myself out so badly! But I’m so glad you did that because it kind of puts things into perspective on why it’s been on there for so long, and really what is the hesitation on reading it. I may have to do that next time.
I read Circe and liked it, but I ended up returning The Song of Achilles to the library because I didn’t want to read it anymore. I don’t get it, but I think we may be in a similar boat for that one! Great list 🙂
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Haha when you’ve got a book that’s been around for ten years you really do question yourself 😂
Interesting! I’m hearing some different advice and opinions on the Song of Achilles lately so that’s good to know it’s not a given. Thanks!
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PLEASE PLEASE pick The Song of Achilles! When I first finished the book, I cried for appropriate amount of time because wow…this book is amazing…wow, I can’t believe now I have to go back to my routine.
It’s sooo good I guarantee you.
I also have been avoiding Rebel of the Sands. I don’t know, my friends on Goodreads keep saying it’s not a good book and it barely represents Middle-Eastern cultures and people? I want to see it myself but I’m scared.
My TTT: https://readlogy.wordpress.com/2019/09/10/top-ten-tuesday-10-books-i-avoid-to-read/
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Eeee okay okay – I’m getting excited with so many people telling me (AGAIN) how amazing this book is. Maybe I should wrangle it into a TBR for Oct or Nov and finally READ IT.
Ooh hmm I hadn’t heard much at all on that one so that’s a shame to read that. Thought that being said, someone else has commented hyping it up. Now I’m in two minds about it!! I guess reading it is the only way we’ll find out!
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Let me know what you think about once you finish it!! I’m really excited for you!
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Well if you reread the whole TOG series before reading kingdom of ash, I can see why you put it off haha!
I keep putting of continuing with the stormlight archives!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Haha yes it was a slightly ambitious task I gave myself – but I’m so fuzzy on the series I really need it!
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I’m here to hype you up for Rebel of the Sands! It’s an AMAZING fantasy series about djinn, set in the desert, and it has some wonderful relationships. I’d obviously highly recommend it!
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It does sound so exciting!! I only hope I enjoy it as much as you have! Thanks 🙂
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I will definitely hype you up for Rebel of the Sands because I loved it—but I’ll also have to confess that I haven’t read the rest of the series because … reasons. Reasons that are unknown to me, but I’m sure my subconscious brain has reasons. 🙂
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Haha oh don’t worry, I can so relate to not continuing a series for no reason other than it just didn’t happen 😂 so good to hear heaps of people loved Rebel of the Sands!
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Paper Towns is honestly my favourite John Green novel. That being said, it’s been years since I’ve read it and my biased attitude towards it might be misplaced/changed if I were to reread it. Since you haven’t really enjoyed his prior works, I feel like you probably (absolutely) won’t like Paper Towns. Also, oh my gooooooosh you are SO right about ASOIAF/Game of Thrones being a huge commitment. It’s taken me so long to read the books. LITERALLY YEARS. Granted, I stopped and started quite a lot in that time but daaaaaaang it takes time. Totally worth it though!
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Ooh that’s good to hear! Oh no, I mustn’t have been clear, I looooved the Fault in Our Stars and I thought Looking for Alaska was brilliant! I only hope all of his works can live up to that standard!
I do just need to commit to GoT but ach, I can’t see myself ever being that committed 😂
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