Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Books On My TBR I’m Avoiding Reading and Why

I don't have to look far to find books (stacks of books, really) I have avoided reading. The table. A bookshelf. Under the bed.

Here are some I have avoided for too long.



It almost looks like this fellow is crying, doesn't it? I guess he is sad I haven't read A Little Life, though I've had this book for three years. A Little Life is just so big.


I won Strange the Dreamer in a contest a long time ago. The cover is beautiful. I love Laini Taylor. I've heard great things about this story. I'm waiting to be in the mood to read a fantasy.


I was prepared to do anything to get Artisan Sourdough at the library conference last year. Why, then, haven't I read it yet? I want to try out the techniques. It takes time to prepare and bake sourdough bread.


I brought home Breaking Bread: A Baker's Journey Home in 75 Recipes from the Texas Book Festival last year. I need time to try out the recipes.


I don't know why I haven't read The Parker Inheritance.


I love to read books about the sixties. But the Summer of '69 started with a scene of drug use, and that put me off it.


Here sits The Farm. Have I read too many dystopias?


Nonfiction that reads like fiction is one of my favorite genres. Why not The Boys in the Boat? Ugh. Sports.


Why never-have-I-ever read Never Have I Ever? It's easy...I'm a big scared-y cat.


I am a huge fan of the PBS series, The Great American Read. I couldn't wait to get a copy of The Book of Books based on the series. But it's unread. The book wasn't what I was expecting; it's a bit dry, I think.


I have Donna Tartt's first book, The Secret History, on every list of favorite books I ever make. Her second book, though, was a meh experience for me. I've backed away from The Goldfinch for years, afraid of more disappointment. Happily, I am reading it now.



I do solemnly swear to read these books. Soon. Very soon.







Thanks to Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea for this prompt idea.



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.

26 comments:

  1. I fully understand what you mean. I have a lot of interesting books on my TBR, so why don’t I grab them? I am a little bit of a moody reader so have to be in the mood for books which take a little bit of effort to read. I loved The Secret History and have had The Goldfinch on my iPad for quite some time. Maybe I should just dive into it.

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  2. Nice picks! Those are all new to me ones! Can't really comment on level of awesomeness! Lol. Hope you enjoy them all when you eventually get to them!

    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  3. If I can't pick up a book, then it's a good bet my students aren't going to pick it up, either. I have to say I did love Summer of '69, even though I didn't buy it for middle school. It was probably the most realistic account of that time period I've seen. Not pretty, but realistic! Good luck on your reading.

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  4. Summer of 69 has to be read, it had a VeeDub on the cover

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  5. I have many books I'm avoiding, too, but don't avoid The Boys in the Boat because of sports - that's not what the book is really about.

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  6. That Artisan Sourdough cookbook is making my mouth water. I really need to start baking bread, too. It's the perfect thing to make in the autumn and winter.

    My TTT.

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  7. The Secret History is a book that has always intrigued me but I have never read it, maybe I should pick it up sometime in the future.

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  8. I don't think you need to be very scared of Joshilyn Jackson's new book. It's on my list, but I've heard things. Now, me, I started listening to A Little Life many months ago. I had to stop because it became a little much for me. Will be interested in what you think. Very well written, I understand, but very, very....

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  9. I haven't even picked up A Little Life, I don't know if it's the length or the feels that I'll be confronted with that's keeping me from picking it up xD Interesting list!

    My TTT

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  10. That Goldfinch book I see everywhere! It's fairly popular, and I have been tempted to pick up a copy. But maybe I should do a little research before making such a commitment...??? What kind of writer is Tartt?

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    1. I’d call The Secret History a mystery. Of a sort. Fabulous story.

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  11. When A Little Life was released so many bloggers I know read it and loved it. I had no desire to read it because I'm a cover snob, and that cover turned me off so much, and still does.

    I want to read The Boys In The Boat.

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  12. I adore Strange the Dreamer, but I'm a fantasy fan in general. A Little Life--I always thought it was a woman on the cover!--scares me off for the same reasons: too big and too sad. The Parker Inheritance and Boys in the Boat have both been in my classroom for years, and I keep meaning to give them a try...and I once started the audiobook of Goldfinch, and the narrator just did not work for me. So, I'm 1 for 10 on your list!

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  13. Mmm sourdough bread. :) I'm with you though, I have books everywhere too. And I haven't tried Laini Taylor yet although I've been wanting to.

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  14. I've read two of the books on your list and very much enjoyed both. A Little Life is intimidating, but once I got going I was hooked and, um, the man on the cover is in the throws of ecstasy :-) And The Boys in the Boat is about so much more than rowing; it's so good.

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    1. Thank you for the recommendations, Helen. Wouldn't you know that I didn't recognize the throes of ecstasy, and thought he was crying.

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    2. I also didn't know; I read the description of the image at the end of the book :-)

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  15. I've been avoiding A Little Life for the exact same reason. I keep hoping my library will get it on audio so I can listen to it.

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  16. Okay, well now that you've solemnly sworn, you can't get out of it. You HAVE to read these. Right? (I mean, it totally works that way, we all know.)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Exactly. You know how we always read everything in our TBRs.

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  17. A Little Life will mess you you for sure but it's so beautifully written. There is a story behind the artwork used for that cover. Google it or go in cold.

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    1. I will have to read this one soon. I think I will go in cold.

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  18. The Goldfinch is honestly one of my favourite books of all time and I can never praise it enough. Funnily, I had a similar experience with her work in the past. I adore The Secret History but wasn't keen on her second book. So, I'm always excited to see someone reading it! As for the rest of these, I hope you enjoy them if/when you get to them/stop avoiding them. If you end up deciding they aren't for you, or that you don't want to read them in the end, I hope your next few reads are fantastic!

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  19. LOVE your photograph and your pledge! I have begun the Goldfinch and need to finish it by next Saturday, the 21st (today is Sunday, the 15th) b/c I am going with a friend's book club in Pearland to see the movie. It is a great bookclub that reads books then goes to see the movie and afterwards eats out and discusses the two. You might be interested. I loved Strange The Dreamer, but fantasy is one of my biggest pleasures. The Broken Earth Series (of which I have two down and the final (big) book to go is one of my favorites. P and I read the first book out loud together, but then he dropped out, and Iafter going solo on the second book, The Obelisk Gate (see PWR review), I put off the ending book because of intervening demands on my precious reading time. Therre are always library books to read first, book club selections to get to, and current exciting things like Where the Crawdads Sing that simply need my immediate attention. LOL

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