TTT: Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read

/ beckmank

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read

This is another tough top ten for me. I seem to gravitate towards hyped books sooner or later and read them. I guess I just want to know what all the fuss is about. I did resist Twilight for many years, but in the end it sucked me in. Most of the time I’m glad I’ve read [insert hyped book title here]. But every once in a while I am disappointed. Overall it’s hard for me to think of a hyped book I haven’t read. Or at least given a try.

I’m sure when I see everyone else’s lists I’ll think, why didn’t I include that book on my list?! Happens every week.

D'oh!

1. Any Book by Jane Austen

I’ve tried. I really have. I had to read Pride and Prejudice in school. Or was it Sense and Sensibility? Either way I got about halfway through the book. And that’s it. I don’t think I’ve ever read an entire Jane Austen book. I keep telling myself, one day I will read one of her books. One day. That day has not yet come.

2. Fifty Shades Trilogy

I guess now that there are four books it should be a series? I mentioned this one in a previous Top Ten list – ten books I would probably never read. Like Jane Austen, I gave Fifty Shades a try. (I should mention in fairness to Ms. Austen that I got much further in her book, whichever one it was.) I just couldn’t get into the characters or the story. Life is too short (and my to be read list too long!) to make yourself read a book that you don’t enjoy.

Ten_No

3. The Shack

I’ve heard some really great things about this book. I even have a copy of it on my bookshelf, courtesy of my mother-in-law. But reading the synopsis, it’s just not a book I want to start. It sounds so depressing.

4 – 6. Distopian Series

Distopian books seem to be all the rage, but they just don’t interest me. At all. So no, I haven’t read any of the following. And I have no plans to ever pick one up. Nothing against the books or the authors, it just isn’t my (reading) style.

4. The Hunger Games Trilogy

5. The Maze Runner Series

6. Divergent Trilogy

I'm a lover, not a fighter.

There are some hyped books I actually want to read. Really!

Okay, so there are a few hyped books that I’m probably never going to read. But never fear, there are some hyped books out there I haven’t picked up yet, but I want to.

7 & 8. Eleanor & Park and Fangirl

The fabulous Rainbow Rowell seems to make almost all of my top ten lists. You all know I loved Landline, and I can’t wait to read the rest of her novels. (Attachments, too!)

9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I have heard wonderful things about this book. It’s on my list. I swear!

10. All the Light We Cannot See

I’m torn on this one. Again, I’ve seen and heard wonderful things about this book. But it’s a WWII book, which I struggle with. I have trouble reading most books that are about (or take place during) WWII. However, it will help me with my 2015 Reading Challenge (Pulitzer Prize-Winning book), so I’ll probably end up reading it.

Sherlock_Fun

I want a do-over.

As a bonus, here’s one hyped series I wish I could read again for the first time…

Harry Potter.

I am so envious of those of you out there who still have the opportunity to experience this magical series for the first time!

Very-Little-HP-trio

What hyped books have you not read yet? Any hyped books you wish you hadn’t read? You want me to read The Hunger Games, don’t you?

Comment below and link up to your own Top Ten if you’ve got one!

38 thoughts on “TTT: Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read”

  1. I have the Fifty Shades books on my list too. I’ve read The Shack, but I’m not sure I would recommend it. It IS very depressing, and my daughter was the same age as the girl in the book when I read it. I had to keep stopping because it would upset me! 🙂

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    • I think I would be that way too! I have boys and they are younger, but still…as a parent I think it would be a difficult read. My husband read it and let me know he didn’t think I’d like it. We have different reading tastes, but he knows what I can’t handle! 🙂

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  2. I read the first Fifty Shades book and you’re not missing much. Writing is not great and the characters are just kind of boring. I’ve only read the first Hunger Games as well but while I did enjoy the book I don’t really have a desire to read any more of the series. I’m happy with the end of The Hunger Games being the end. I definitely want to read more Rowell. I read Attachments and enjoyed it and really want to read Landline. Great list!

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    • I am excited to read more by Rainbow Rowell. Landline was just so fantastic!! I know people love Eleanor & Park and Fangirl so that’s why I put them both on here. 🙂 And I don’t think you can get those Fifty Shades books off your shelf fast enough. LOL

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  4. I’m not alone with Jane Austen! I actually did get through Pride and Prejudice, but I want those hours of my life back. I kept waiting for it to blow me away – per everyone ever – and I’m still waiting, to be honest. And yes, I want you to read The Hunger Games. I didn’t think it was my kind of book when I read it, but it was an all-nighter for me. 🙂

    Kayla @ Bibliophilia, Please

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    • You are not alone! And your list is exactly what I was talking about at the beginning of my post. How could I forget The Notebook? Or The Book Thief? I also seriously thought about adding John Green to this list – I’ve only read TFIOS.

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    • I can’t wait to read more Rainbow Rowell. I’ve heard such great things about All the Light We Cannot See, I’m just going to have to suck it up and read it. 🙂

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  6. Regarding Jane Austen, for me it was the opposite of the guideline to read the book before the movie. I kind of needed to know the whole story of Pride and Prejudice and where it was going before I could enjoy the book. That happened once I had seen the movie – and the mini-series. I think I have mentioned how much I also then enjoyed the Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube for a very different way to put a modern twist on the story. I then saw the newish movie version of Jane Eyre and read that book afterward, too. I suppose I don’t have enough imagination without a little movie push.

    I cannot get into the Outlander series at all. I’ve tried twice and just get annoyed with the heroine and stop. Now, here’s another type of hyped book I’ve never read – the one I just don’t pick up and I’m not sure why! I read The Book Thief and loved it, but I’ve had I Am The Messenger (same author) on my nightstand for months now and just can’t get myself to crack it open.

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    • Looking at TT lists today I missed Outlander, Game of Thrones, The Book Thief, Life of Pi…those I will never ever read.

      I will try watching some films first and then give a Jane Austen book a shot. I did the opposite on Jane Eyre – man that was a boring book with some interesting chapters. But I liked the film. I’ve always wanted to read Emma because I loved Clueless. 🙂

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  7. I’d agree with Elizabeth on Jane Austen. If classics aren’t your thing, try the films first. The Colin Firth mini-series of P&P is divine, as is the Emma Thompson film of Sense & Sensibility.

    I’m a hardcore Hunger Games fan girl, so that one makes me sad, but if dystopian isn’t your thing you’re better off not reading it.

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    • Thanks for the film recommendations! I will give that a shot. I really want to like classics, but modern books are definitely more my thing.

      Sorry on Hunger Games. 🙂 My son loved it, and so did my husband. But at the same time he assures me it is definitely not a book I would enjoy. Maybe I’ll watch the movies there too.

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  8. At least you have the heart to try certain books–definitely earned some points for that. I definitely understand where you’re coming from regarding All The Light We Cannot See. I instabought that one because it sounded like something I think I’d really enjoy by the end of the experience but at the same time me and historical fiction aren’t best buds and I’d probably struggle through most of it.

    Cheers,
    Joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts.

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  10. I think rereading a series can be just as great and you should think about picking up HP and rereading it anyways. I adore Jane Austen, it might help to first watch a BBC adaptation before delving in for another try. Persuasion is pretty short, so you could start with that one.

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  11. I’m in the process of listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks and it really does give a whole new perspective to the series. Not quite like reading the books for the first time, but it brings back some of the initial magic. Jim Dale just does a superb job with the narration!

    I’ve never read a Jane Austen novel either, though I love ALL the movies. I read “Eleanor and Park” recently and thought it was pretty good, a solid 4-star book. “All the Light We Cannot See” is on my TTT list this week too! I’ve heard nothing but awesome things about it.

    Also, I love your Homer Simpson picture! Fits perfectly with how I always feel browsing other TTT lists — “How could I forget about this one? And that one?!”

    P.S. Maybe you should give “The Hunger Games” a try! 😉

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    • I love Jim Dale’s narration. I want to get my hands on a British version with Stephen Fry narrating too. I’ve heard he is excellent as well.

      Sorry about Hunger Games. I know most people love it. 🙂

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  18. The Shack was a weird read, and one that I didn’t understand what they hype was about. I tried Fifty Shades too, and couldn’t even force myself to get past page 50. Definitely not the book for me. I do hope you enjoy The Perks of Being a Wallflower, though. I adore that book.

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