We again welcome a new week (the second in September!), and of course, this means another edition of the book blogging meme favorite Top Ten Tuesday. Today we discuss books to avoid, or more specifically books we seem to avoid reading.
That Artsy Reader Girl | September 10: Books On My TBR I’m Avoiding Reading and Why (maybe you’re scared of it, worried it won’t live up to the hype, etc.) (submitted by Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea)
The “why” of this prompt is the million dollar question. At least it is to me. I ask myself all the time why I haven’t read book x, y or z. Is there something in my bookworm mind telling me I won’t care for it? Or is it something different altogether? Maybe it’s a review I read that sticks in the back of my mind? Or is it more basic and it’s the hype? For me, it may also be that I’m learning (more and more each year) to read the books that best suit my reading tastes. As someone who doesn’t speed read, I think this is so important. There are just too many books (that I might enjoy) to waste time on those that just don’t grip me.
Today we’ll look at a few of the books I’m “avoiding,” and together try to figure out why I’m doing so.
Top Ten Tuesday September 10: Good Books I Seem to be Avoiding the Question is: WHY?
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1: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I can’t say there’s any good reason for avoidance of this one. If there were to be one, it’d simply be that it’s a genre I don’t often read from. Still, everyone raves about this one, so I kind of feel as if it’s still a must read. The only question that remains is the “when.” Amazon | Goodreads
2: A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden
Camden is one of the historical fiction authors who writes historical fiction that easily captures me. Alas, it’s been too long since I read one of her books including A Dangerous Legacy. Amazon | Goodreads
3: The One by Kiera Cass
I don’t know that I can say I’m “avoiding” this one because I really do quite like this series. But for some reason, I haven’t picked up the third novel in the original ‘Selection’ trilogy. Amazon | Goodreads
4: Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason
It mystifies me why I haven’t made time for this one. I adore books one – three, so reading this fourth novel is something I must remedy asap. They’re such good mysteries! Amazon | Goodreads
5: The Opal Crown by Jenny Lundquist
Unsure why I haven’t read this one yet, especially since I remember really enjoying book one. It’s the royals-swap-places trope, and as I remember, there’s plenty of sweet romance! Amazon | Goodreads
6: Diamonds are Forever by Michelle Madow
Read books one and two years ago in this glossy (almost Gossip Girl-esque) Las Vegas series. It’s not a favorite (I remember I simply could not get on board with one – or more? – of the romances), but as it’s about a group of sisters, I do want to read this final book, and see how their stories end. Amazon | Goodreads
7: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Pretty sure this one’s downfall is a combination of its genre and length. I’m not much of a fantasy-fiction reader, and we all know I’m bookworm scared of lengthy books. Still, so many tell me how good this one is, it makes me thing I really should give it a fighting chance. Amazon | Goodreads
8: When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin
Yes, I know, I feature novels by Sarah a lot. What can I say that I haven’t already? Needless to say, reading this one should be high on my priority list, especially given how much I like books one and two! Amazon | Goodreads
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Good Books I Seem to be Avoiding the Question is: WHY? Here's books I'm avoiding but WHY? Let's chat about the books we aren't #reading! Click To TweetIs there any books you avoid? Do you avoid specific (genre, author, etc.) books in general? If so, why? Do you know the answer (clearly I don’t seem to!) and secret? Have you read any of these, and should I? Comment down below with all of your thoughts. If you have a blog or joined in the Top Ten Tuesday meme, leave your links below. It may take me an entire week, but I’d love to come by and visit your bookish spaces.
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44 Comments
This IS the million dollar question! I often wonder why I do or don’t read a book- especially if it’s one I’ve been interested in but then it comes out and I put off reading it. lol Or a series I’m in the middle of and for some reason I put off reading the next one?
Six of Crows I started a while back and it didn’t really click with me. I meant to go back to it and now I put it off based on that prior experience. Maybe one of these days… :)
I don’t read “new” books often, at least not those that are SUPER hyped, but it’s not because I think I won’t like it, it’s more because I have other reading obligations or I just don’t have the time at its release. Still, someday I’d actually like to read SOME of the hype books I’m interested in at the time of their release – because then I could feel like I was in the “cool” crowd. :D
I having a feeling I may not like “Six of Crows” as much as I want to, but I’m still willing to give it a chance. We’ll see!
Thanks for visiting, Greg!
I mostly avoid books because of hype. I have had so much bad luck with hyped books that I take it with a grain of salt or just flat out avoid them.
I will buy a book that has all the hype, but since I’m a slow reader or I have other obligations at the time of its release, I often don’t read it until the book is no longer cool. So while that can make an impact on the “why” of my reasoning, it’s usually not the typical reason I avoid books. But if it were a problem, I agree with you, it’s better to avoid them altogether. :) Thanks for visiting, Leah!
A Dangerous Legacy and Chasing Secrets are also on my tbr BUT I finally have the whole series from Lynettte so now I can read them all! When Tides Turn is on my favorites shelf and I’m dying to read the final book in her current series with those swoony Paxton brothers!!! Texans in the military serving in and around England, how will she top that?!
YAY for binge-reading a series by Lynette Eason. That’s THE best. :) I cannot wait to meet the brothers in Sarah’s new books, AND read this novel, too. Even more excited now I’ve read your thoughts. Thanks so much for visiting, Beth Erin.
Cinder is so good– and I never read Fantasy or Sci-Fi. I read the first book really fast because it was one of those books that doesn’t take 30 pages to really start (like some books that bore the hell out of me before they get going). It’s interesting and fun from page 1.
I like the sound of this, Michelle; a fantasy that pulls us in from page 1? I’m in! :) Thanks so much for visiting.
I was surprised how much I liked CINDER. It breaks down a familiar story and stands it on its head. My TBR books I’m avoiding
Sounds fabulous! I love it when we have the familiar but also unique on its own. Those are the best kind of re-tellings. :) Thanks for visiting, Anne.
Funny you should have Six of Crows on your list because it would be on mine but I’m finally doing it this month LOL I’ve been saying I will for a couple years now, fingers crossed I get it done !
Awesome!! I hope you enjoy “Six of Crows,” Melanie; let me know what you think if you finish it. :) Appreciate your visit.
great post! good luck reading them.
My TTT
Thanks! :)
I hope you get the read the final book in the Diamonds Are Forever trilogy soon.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Me too – and thanks! Appreciate your visit. :)
Yeah, I tend to shy away from very long books as well.
My TTT.
Apparently, lengthy books “scare” me! ;) Thanks so much for visiting, Lydia.
I loved Cinder and really the whole series; the books are so long, but they go so fast! I finally read Six of Crows after years of seeing the hype, and I didn’t care for it, unfortunately.
That’s what I hear! Book friends tell me that the Lunar books have a quick pace, so that will hopefully prompt me to give them a fair chance. :) Thanks so much for the visit, Angela.
Six of Crows is sliiiiightly overrated in my opinion! I liked it, but not to the level that other people seem to!
Nothing wrong with that. This is why it’s so fun that so many authors exist to write varying different kinds of stories in different genres. :) Thanks so much for visiting, Amber.
That’s the right question, isn’t it?! Haha I’m glad to know though that I’m not alone in avoiding the books that I so excitedly add to my actual shelves ? Do I avoid these books because I’m chasing the ‘high’ of purchasing them and when they’re actually there, the excitement wears away? Maybe sometimes (if I’m being honest lol). Most of the time though I feel like it’s just my mood! Haha this is a great list, Rissi! The Lunar Chronicles is one of my fave series and I also really enjoyed SoC! I hope you enjoy them when you eventually get to ’em ?
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You aren’t alone at all, Dini. And it’s kinda a bookish problem, right!? ;) Glad to know “Cinder” is good. I’ve been told time and again I’d like them, but I just haven’t started down that long journey. Hopefully… someday. Thanks, as always, for visiting!
You haven’t read Cinder yet? For some reason I thought you did! lol. But I know what you mean, I tend to avoid books that have a lot of positive buzz/people loved a lot just because there’s a likelihood I might not like it, lol. Interesting list!
My TTT
Right?!! Like why haven’t I read it!??! :) Hopefully I’ll remedy this… soon(ish). SO many tell me I’d enjoy, so we’ll see. Thanks, as always, for visiting, Lianne!! Hope you’re doing well.
Great list! Honestly I don’t see why you should read Six of Crows if you’re not interested in it – I finally read it last year and I loved it, but if you don’t think it’s for you then don’t force yourself through it when you could be reading something you love. :)
Very true, Jess. I’ve come to this conclusion with all of the Sarah J. Maas novels I owned, and as a result, they’re in an “unhaul” box. I think I am still interested in “Six of Crows,” it’s just that it’s a genre I don’t read much from. Still, the premise sounds fun, so I might still give it a chance…! :) Thanks so much for visiting.
I review a lot of new releases. Not a chunk of time to read those “must reads of my absolute favorite authors “ unless I’m also on their influencer team. I wish I could clone myself! I too need to read the latest from Sarah Sundin and have only read book 1 in that series by Lynette Eason. I seriously need to catch up!
I’m so glad I’m not alone in being terrible about reading books by Lynette or Sarah. Here’s hoping we both catch up soon, Paula. :) Thanks so much for the visit.
Six of Crows is really good. It has a lot of hype, though, so I could see why it might be avoided more often than not.
Glad to know “Six of Crows” is good, Deanna! I think I’d still like to read it, so I’m hopeful I too will enjoy it. :) Thanks for visiting!
I can’t express how much you need Six of Crows and Cinder in your life! I hope you enjoy these when you get to them. :)
Right!? I feel like I’m missing SO much by not *finally* read them. Thanks, Lauren – I need all the bookworm nudges. :) Appreciate your visit.
I loved The One so much when I read it! That’s such a wonderful, fluffy series! Cinder is a really great series also! It’s definitely worth digging into!
I agree! ‘The Selection’ is a fluffy series. I need to read The One, and do wonder if I’ll like it as well as I do (or did) book one, but I think I will just because, as you say, it’s a bit of escapism. Good to know all the positive things about the Lunar books, too. :) Thanks for visiting, Tracy.
Sometimes I don’t read the last book in a series because I don’t want it to end. Totally irrational. ;)
Nothing wrong with that, Heidi. :) Appreciate your visit!
I am also avoiding Six of Crows in general.
Glad I’m not the only reader who hasn’t read it… yet. Here’s hoping if you read it, Dana, you enjoy. Thanks for visiting. :)
I own both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, but I haven’t read either. One of these days… (I would chime in and recommend Cinder, by the way.)
I own ‘Crows,’ but not its sequel. I’ve been tempted to purchase it a time or two, but decided I should read book one first. ;) YAY! So glad to read all the positive thoughts on Cinder. Glad to know it’s so loved. Thanks for the visit, Nicole.
I don’t really avoid anything in specific. Unless it’s known that it includes something (a trope, or something that makes my skin crawl re: general issues) I don’t like, I tend to just give things that seem appealing a fair shot. That being said, I really enjoyed Six of Crows, Cinder and The One!
I think that since you enjoyed the original trilogy to The Selection, you’d like The One. It’s a fairly good conclusion that is still romantic, stylish and a little bit enthralling (there are some twists towards the end of the book that I remember threw me off at the time, but I won’t say any spoilers and also the details are a bit hazy because, come to think of it, it was a while back) and I definitely hope you get to it/enjoy it when you do!
I avoid movies and books if there’s a specific thing I cannot tolerate or it’s a story that goes against every conviction I have. Beyond that, I’ll give books a chance, even though I’ll 100% admit I’m swayed by a “pretty face” when it comes to cover art. ;)
I’m so glad! I remember loving ‘The Selection,’ so I’m hopeful that will follow through with The One. Thanks for sharing, Jessica – and the visit!