Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature from The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I’m Not Sure I Want To Read. According to the description, these are “books you may have bought but aren’t sure if you are into it anymore, books you wanted to read but heard mixed things about, hyped books you aren’t sure about — basically any book that has you going, “TO READ OR NOT TO READ?”
I like to think my tastes are kind of eclectic and that I’d be up to trying any kind of book. But, in practice my tastes lean more towards the Contemporary realm. I decided to look at a list of popular books released in 2014 and ask myself if I was ever going to read them.
I add lots of books to my Goodreads TBR with good intentions, but for whatever reason (too much hype, not in the mood, lost interest, distracted by other new shiny release, scared away by number of pages, not enough hours in the day, etc.) I can’t get to them all.
Here are ten popular books that I know I won’t read: (I chose from the Goodreads list of top 200 books released in 2014)
1. The One (The Selection series) by Kiera Cass – I haven’t read any of these books and don’t think they are for me. I’m not really into reality TV and from my understanding this series is like a dystopian version of The Bachelor. Not for me.
2. Hollow City (Miss Peregrine series) by Ransom Riggs – I’ve flipped through Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and may very well end up seeing the Tim Burton film. But until then I don’t see myself reading these books.
3. The Book of Life (All Souls trilogy) by Deborah Harkness – You know, I liked the first book in this series but I think I just lost interest. I admit I’m kind of curious about how the series ends though.
4. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King – I have endless respect for Mr. King and his books are part of the reason I am the reader I am today. And wow, he’s still such a prolific writer! But that said, I don’t think this thriller is up my alley.
5. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike series) by Robert Galbraith – No matter how famous the author, the synopsis just doesn’t appeal to me. I’m generally not drawn to gory crime thrillers, though I see this series has lots of fans.
6. Red Rising by Pierce Brown – I’ve had this book for over a year, and feel like it’s one that I SHOULD read. However, I see just as many 2-star ratings as 5-star ratings on my friend list and suspect this one won’t be my cup of tea.
7. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue – I liked Room a lot, but am not sure Donoghue’s latest is for me. It’s about an unsolved 1876 murder of a frog-hunting crossdresser. Just writing that makes me curious though!
8. Skin Game (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher – I’ve heard really good things about this series about Chicago’s only professional wizard, and the audiobooks in particular, but it’s up to fifteen books now and I don’t know that I’ll make the time to start this series now.
9. The Three by Sarah Lotz – The style of this book is compared to World War Z, and though the synopsis (“Four simultaneous plane crashes. Three child survivors. A religious fanatic who insists the three are harbingers of the apocalypse. What if he’s right?”) sounds intriguing I don’t think I could make it through this one.
10. Various New Adult series books – I seem to have jumped ship from a few NA series including Be With Me by J. Lynn, Too Far by Abbi Glines, Consumed by Emily Snow, and Twisted by Emma Chase. All of these series are on the “popular” list but it seems like I’m either pickier in general with NA or I’ve just lost interest in these stories. That may be why I’m reluctant to start new NA series books in general in favor of standalone.
So, have I been too hasty dismissing some of these titles? Which do you think I should give another look? What popular books won’t find room on your bookshelves?
I’m not too sure about the With Me series by J. Lynn. I tried to start it a few times, but I couldn’t. I’m not too sure about Abbi Glines either. Looks like all the the guys are sleeping with one particular character Nan. And I think there is infidelity too in some books. I’ve read Twisted by Emma Chase and didn’t like it at all. Here’s my TTT
I was really underwhelmed with the first With Me book too. Something needs to happen to shake up NA! I know there are some great stories out there!
A lot of new ones on this list for me, some I wasn’t into before and now am (thanks for that – *sarcasm* lol). Some of these I have no interest in reading either though – Skin Game and Red Rising to name two. I haven’t heard of Skin Game before, and the idea is interesting, but 15 books already? That’s half my year filled up!
R x
You should make time for The Dresden Files. They should be taken in slowly so don’t let the fact that there are so many stop you. They are excellent.
That’s what I hear! I think I have the first one in audio format and I hear James Marsters does a great job. Thanks for the rec 🙂
There are a few on your list that I have read and really think you can skip Mr. Mercedes. His bad guy was just too typical which kind of floored me since bad guys are what Mr. King usually does best. The other characters were all interesting and layered but I needed a good bad guy!
Anything NA won’t end up on my reading list. I recently gave another one a shot (everyone raved and raved and raved about) and yep it seems like they just fall in the crosshairs of everything I dislike about YA (Angst) and Adult Romance (not talking, to much over thinking).
Yeah, I usually just stick with my favorite NA authors. There are some gems out there but the category has a way to go.
Thanks for validating my Mr. Mercedes decision! 🙂
I won’t read most of those either but do plan to give Frog Music a try.
I will watch for your review, Kathy!
Emma Donoghue is a wonderful writer; I’d read anything she wrote. I’ve read three of her books, including Room, and they are all brilliant.
Here’s my list of Books I’m Not Sure I Want to Read.
I liked Room a lot too, and intended to read Frog Music at first but I’m not sure it’s for me. You are making me give it another look though, so who knows..
Although I am a big fan of some reality tv shows, I already knew that The Selection trilogy would not be a series that I would enjoy 🙁 I read a couple of pages into the book and I really wasn’t feeling it and from what I’ve heard from several reliable sources- I don’t think I’ll be liking the main protagonist either. -DNF’d this series-
Thanks for validating my decision! It does have a lot of fans but it’s not for me.
Most of these books don’t really call to me. I have read Be with Me, which I liked, and I think I will stick with that J. Lynn series, though.
I thought something was wrong with me since I did not respond to Wait for You at all, and so many book friends love it. Maybe I was just not in the right mood for it.
Yeah, I hear you. King is one of favorite writers but Mr. Mercedes just doesn’t sound interesting to me, like at all. I have read the two Miss Peregrine books and kinda sorta hated them (mostly because of personal reasons…) and while I have read&enjoyed the first two Selection books I won’t be reading The One (because of SHIP reasons)
As for the rest of your list – none of them are on my tbr/shelves either 🙂
Okay, I’m curious about your Miss Peregrine reaction! Interesting about the Selection ship too!
Well, I had more than one issues with Miss Peregrine and those oh-so-peculiar children of hers, but the thing I just couldn’t swallow was the portrayal of gypsies in Hollow City (to make it short: we, here in Europe, don’t have many positive associations with the word “gypsy” and seeing them being so… nice and noble and just so “ungypsy-like” bothered me. A lot.)
I wish I would’ve participated this week! Such a fun topic. I agree with the Kiera Cass one. I read The Selection and have no interest in continuing series.
Red Rising was incredible and I’ve been recommending it to everyone since I finished it. I’m really nervous to read The Book of Life. What if it sucks?
My TTT
Everyone that enjoyed Red Rising really loves it, so I’m worried I won’t enjoy it as much for some reason. End of series books make me really nervous too.
The Selection series by Kiera Cass isn’t that great. I’ve read the first book, and it was okay, but I couldn’t finish the second book. Trust me, you’re not missing out on much.
Thanks for validating my decision, Kelechi!
I had really low expectations for The Selection (and I’m like you, I can’t stand reality TV) but I ended up enjoying it. I thought The One was definitely the weakest of the series though.
Book of Life is one I haven’t read yet but I loved both the first and second books. Shadow of Night has a really different feel to it than A Discovery of Witches, more like historical fiction, which I was really dubious about at first but ended up loving!
I haven’t read any of the others on the list, but I admit I’ve got the first Robert Galbraith on my shelves and not yet picked it up…
I liked A Discovery of Witches but couldn’t really get into Shadow of Night. Good to hear it’s worth giving another chance though.
I can pretty much agree with not reading all of those! I would add the rest of the Outlander series and Divergent.
I read a lot lf mixed reviews about Mr. Mercedes before reading it myself, but ended up really liking it! I’m also currently reading The Silkworm and I’m loving it so far. If I had to pick one of the two to recommend giving a second try to though, I would go wih Robert Galbraith.
I read The Selection and taking into consideration what you’ve said here, I think you are doing the right choice by skipping this! It entertained me for a few hours, but honestly, it really was The Bachelor of the Future. I haven’t bothered reading further.
I might be with you on JK Rowling’s new series. I haven’t read any of her post-HP stuff, and while I do plan on reading The Casual Vacancy at some point, this new series just doesn’t seem to be my type of book.
The Dresden Files is difficult. I really enjoyed the first several books, and I’ve started listening to the audiobooks because my boyfriend loves them and wants me to read them, but the more I read, the more Dresden drives me crazy with his whole “women need to be protected” mentality and his refusal to accept that things aren’t always black and white. Marsters does a great job, but I’m not really sure the series is worth it.
I read the Selection and it just wasn’t for me..I really hated the characters, so good choice LOL
I was just eyeing my RED RISING copy last weekend, and thinking the same thing about it! It’s gotten so much attention I feel like I SHOULD read it, but I don’t know that I ever actually will.
I know how you feel about the Harkness, too–wanting to find out what happens to the characters even though you didn’t love the first book is the worst! I usually wait and then ask a friend to spoil the endings for me, hee hee.
I actually just finished A Discovery of Witches and liked it a ton. I started the second book this morning and am liking it even more. I’ve heard this is all around a great series, so I hope that carries through. I’ve been pleasantly impressed so far!
I feel the same way about the All Souls trilogy. I liked the first one well enough and am curious as to how it all ends but haven’t felt compelled to continue on yet.
I have Red Rising, too. I think we both got it from Comic Con. I def still want to read it but I can understand why you might not want to. I don’t know if I will ever get to the Selection either. Pretty covers but I’ve never felt a huge urge to read them. I read the first 3 Dresden books and finally quit. Love James Marsters narrating but Dresden is just too mopey for me. Fun topic!