Top Ten Books That Have Been On My Shelf For The Longest But I’ve Never Read
So, I know that you guys can’t actually see me, but trust me right now: I’m cowering in a corner in mild fear of your disbelief and disdain. This is because–gulp–I have a particularly large pile of really well-known, popular (mostly) YA books that I haven’t read yet, and it just so happens that this week’s Top Ten Tuesday meme addresses this very issue! Don’t misinterpret that exclamation point, though: It’s an embarrassing pile, it’s way bigger than ten books, and I’m not proud of it. I keep it off to the side to further prevent my tripping over it and thus renewing my shame. But listen! I have a really good reason for this pile, and in my defense, it’s not that I haven’t tried to tackle these books before. It’s just that something always comes up, whether that’s life or just another book. Because I trust you guys, though, I’m going to share the ten most egregious items in my shame pile in the hopes that we can talk about it and move forward. Be gentle, though, ok? Ohmygod, I’m sooooo nervous.
Ten Selections from Amy’s PILE OF SHAME (in no particular order):
1. Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta. I don’t feel so tremendously bad about this one because I feel like this is on a lot of people’s shelves. It’s near the front, though, so I see it every day and remind myself that I MUST READ THIS SOON. I’ve tried to read it before and had a hard time getting into it, but I shall prevail! Eventually.
2. The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak. This book is literally right next to Jellicoe Road on my shelf. It’s happening. Soon. *fingers crossed*
3. An Echo In the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon. Not a YA book. But it’s the 7th book in one of my very favorite series, the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I DEVOURED the first 6 books, but this one’s release coincided with my major transition to YA reading, and I’m having a hard time getting back into it (oh, for shame!).
4. Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. These next two are illustrative of the bulk of my pile of shame: good, slightly older, popular but maybe a little random books that I have because the thought of reading them excited me, but I just never got around to them, sadly.
5. Rampant, by Diana Peterfreund. Again with the slipping-through-the-crack book. The number of books I have to read like this one is crazy.
6. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein. This one makes the least sense to me, honestly. I don’t have a good reason for not reading it yet. It’s fantasy; I LOVE fantasy. It’s the prequel to Lord of the Rings; I LOVE Lord of the Rings, which I read in college. I’ve had all four books since then. For some reason, The Hobbit has been perpetually just off my radar even though I know I would love it. Strange.
7. The King of Attolia and The Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner. Books 3 and 4 in The Queen’s Thief series. I read the first two, liked them well enough, but have stalled on reading the next two. Here’s my dirty little secret, though: While I certainly liked the first two books, I didn’t love them like most people love them, and I’m having a hard time motivating myself.
8. The Golden Compass, by Phillip Pulman. First book in the His Dark Materials trilogy. So, I’m noticing that maybe this list DOES have an order: I’m saving the books I’m most embarrassed about for the end because I like to pretend for as long as possible that I don’t have to put them on here. This is another one that I’ve had for years, heard nothing but amazing things about (one of my best bookish friends collects sets of this trilogy, she loves it so much), and tried to read once, but put it down. Please don’t judge me.
9. The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Also the first in a series and another non-YA title, but it’s pretty egregious for me. I’ve owned it forever because there is not one thing about it that doesn’t scream my name: fantasy, magic, Arthurian legend, romance, betrayal, feuding siblings…I’m drooling just writing this, it sounds so awesome to me! And yet, it remains unread.
10. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. (Ohmygod, my stomach is clenching right now). This is double, extra shameful. I have had this book on my shelf since 1991, when my mom gave it to me for my 10th birthday. It was her favorite book as a young girl, and she gave it to me, with a lovely inscription, in the hopes that I would read it and love it like she did (eek). My name is Amy; there’s a character named Amy in Little Women. This is not an accident. I have not read completely the book from which my mother got my name. My namesake. Embarrassing. I’ve seen the movie, though! (Ugh. I just made it worse.)
I feel guilty I haven’t read Jellicoe Road and The Body Thief too. Don’t feel too bad about Little Women. Maybe you’ll read it with your child someday or another young family member. I wonder how it holds up these days actually. Rampant is OK, it’s certainly unique with the killer unicorns. Hope you enjoy these when you get the chance to read them.
Don’t feel bad about not reading Little Women – it seems your mom gave you a love of reading and that means a lot, too 🙂 The Book Thief is really really good!
You’ve got a great list there, I’ve read about half of them . . . enjoy. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
I love that you call it your pile of shame! I can’t believe I forgot to add Little Women to my list. I was named for a character (Meg) and I still haven’t read it! I struggled with reading The Book Thief, but found the audio absolutely riveting. Its a great book, I hope you get to it sometime. Here is my big ole pile of shame: http://wp.me/pzUn5-FU
I haven’t read The Book Thief yet, and I need to get a copy of Little Women with the whole story in it (turns out I read an ancient edition as a child with only half of it in). Do pick up The Golden Compass again, and The Mists of Avalon is definitely worth reading.
Whew! You guys are making me feel so much better!
@Lucy, I feel like there are so many people who haven’t read Jellicoe Road yet! I’m going to make it happen soon. I HOPE that Little Women still holds up a little bit, but I’m sure that it’s gotten a tad past its prime. There’s no cell phones in it, after all ;-).
@Trish, you are so right! Between my mom and I, our house has piles of books in every room.
@Kaye, thanks! I wish I had read half of them!
@Megan, first of all, hello, fellow Little Women namesaker! (if that’s even correct grammar). I have to call it my pile of shame because it’s the truth. I’ve been looking forward to The Book Thief for awhile. One of these days, you’re going to see a flood of reviews for these books. Hopefully.
@Julianne, The Golden Compass really kills me. I wish so much that I had read it already. Same with Mists of Avalon. So much reading to do!
Just talking to someone about me needing to read The Hobbit. Going to give it a try at Christmas.
Little Women is lovely but sad.
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday post. 🙂
I got Little Women in 4th grade for Xmas & it had the SAME cover as your pic. That was cool to see.
I loved it. I should read it again.
I have the Book Thief too. All of them. I hear they are great. I hate having so many options. I can never pick and something always gets pushed to the bottom..
BOOKS & BEYOND
Fran, I deliberately found that cover image because it’s MY cover too! Yay!
I agree with what others have said: don’t feel bad about ‘Little Women’! I think I read it when I was 12(ish?), but I don’t remember it blowing my mind or anything special. Christian Bale as Laurie in the 1993 adaptation made a much bigger impression.
‘The Golden Compass,’ though…it was THE formative book for me when I first read it in ’97, and waiting for ‘The Amber Spyglass’ to be released however many years later was one of the most difficult experiences of my bookish life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a must read for everyone and anyone.
Ok. The Golden Compass. It’s happening. Before the end of the year. I promise promise. I just can’t handle the shame of it any longer!