Hello!
So I thought it would be interesting to write a post on the popular books I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about but have decided, for one reason or another, not to buy or read it (at least for now! Who knows?)
As a person who reads around 30 books a year and with over 90 books on my TBR (I know, not that much for a blogger, but quite so among other groups), I tend to be quite ruthless when deciding if a book stays on my TBR or not. So the books below aren’t necessarily bad (I haven’t read them, how would I know?), they just didn’t make the cut. Let me know if you’ve read any of them and if you think I should add them to my TBR.
The Bronze Horseman
by Paullina Simons
This book tells the story of a forbidden love between Tatiana and Alexander, a soldier for the Red Army. It’s set in Leningrad during WWII, which is what initially drew me to it, and I have been meaning to add more romance books on my list, but this just didn’t make it. It sounds so incredibly cheesy and eye roll-worthy. From the reviews I read, it seems that although the theme of the book is so heavy and interesting, it isn’t executed too well and the characters have cringeworthy personalities.
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne & J.K. Rowling
This one has dividing opinions on the bookish community – some people loved it so much, others think it ruined the whole series (we HP fans can be quite dramatic). I am unconvinced about reading it, knowing that it’s a play. I would absolutely watch the play, but I don’t think I would read the book. I’ve also heard there’s many problems with the plot not totally following the book series so well.
Paper Towns
by John Green
I just cannot get into the story. I know it’s recently become a movie and all, but the story just sounds boring. I have read The Fault in our Stars, Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines, and I absolutely loved the first one. But the last two got me a little bored as I started to figure out his books seem to have a sort of formula of quirkiness, adventure, why-doesn’t-she-love-me and sassy dialogues. I just cannot get myself to read Paper Towns too, and will probably not read any other John Green book for a while.
The Time Traveller’s Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
I cannot get interested in the story of this book for the life of me. I had actually added it to my TBR because I thought it deserved at least a chance, but took it out not that long after. It’s about two people who fall in love, but the guy travels through time with no control over when and where to. From the disparate reviews I read from this, I think it’s not the kind of book for me: too much romance and too many sex scenes just for the sake of it. I might watch the movie though, and maybe it changes my mind.
Fallen
by Lauren Kate
This one I just can’t. I tried reading it twice in the past few years, and both times I was absolutely thrown off by the writing style and disliked the main character very much. The plot seems very interesting, but the execution is lacking to me. The last time I made it to thirty pages before giving up.
The Selection
by Kiera Cass
This book was wildly popular a few years ago and it seemed to me back then that everyone in this entire world had read it and loved it. I just cannot get interested in the plot at all. The characters’ names sound silly, the story seems to be some sort of contest for a guy, complete with a love triangle and all. It just doesn’t speak to me.
Other Anti-TBRs:
I think it is a good choice to skip The Cursed Child! Paper Towns was not my favourite book either. I actually found it more boring than Looking for Alaska so I don’t think you would enjoy it!
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Good to know! Thank you for commenting 🙂
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I won’t read these either. Though I did read Paper Towns and The Cursed Child and they were a gigantic waste of time – especially Paper Towns. Margo is hands down the biggest A-hole character ever!
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I’m with you on this list. The only one that kind of interests me is Cursed Child. And even then, it’s a mild interest. I’ve read scripts before, but they’re not fun to read the way a book is.
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This is such a fun, interesting post!! I might want to come up with mine 😊
I’ve read The Fault in Our Stars last year but I didn’t love it that much – it just didn’t blow me away. I do have Paper Towns, but I’m also hesitant to pick it up too.
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I’d love to read your version of this! I know it’s easy to decide to put a book in the TBR, but I wonder what makes people decide against it.
I think maybe J. Green’s books are aimed at a younger group than us… at least I sometimes feel I am too old for some YAs…
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Very interesting post! It is interesting to see opinions going against the popular ones. I may have to do a post similar to this soon! I am one that will never read 50 Shades of Grey or watch Game of Thrones.
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Yes, do it! I’d love to read that! 🙂
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I will work on it soon! 🙂
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Great! No pressure though, write when you want! I giggled at your comment before, I have read 50 shades (terrible choice) and I’m watching GoT right now. Hahahah
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I have never been big on graphic sex in books, TV, or movies. Just my weird, quirky personal opinion, lol. I don’t know why. I guess I like having more left to the imagination, plus, even though I am 29, I still would feel weird reading 50 Shades knowing my mom enjoyed it, haha!
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Yes, I am not a fan of that either… to be honest, I was conquered by curiosity, and I regret reading it. The story telling is bad and the romance unconvincing… I skipped the sex scenes for most of the time. Were boring.
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I just feel like a story shouldn’t need to rely on the sex to sell it. Sounds like I made a good choice not to read it.
I was also told about a very graphic rape scene in GOT that really turned me away from having any curiosity in the show.
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You’re right about that.
Yeah, my boyfriend knows which those are so he skips them for me… I hate those.
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That is nice to have someone to help you skip over the unwanted scenes. I would maybe consider giving it a chance if I had someone who could skip over those parts for me.
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Ugh hated Paper Towns. You won’t be missing much by skipping it. Also The Cursed Child wasn’t the greatest. I say watch the play and skip the book.
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It’s good to know! Did you watch the Paper Town movie?
Oh, I think the play would be wonderful. I don’t particularly like reading them, but seeing is quite different.
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I have seen the movie and liked it much better than the book. And I would love to see the play!
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I think you should read The Bronze Horseman as I loved the book and you might like it, too!
Another book I think you should read is fallen. If you watched the movie, I must tell you that it was different from the first book and it was poorly acted 8opinions based on my own thoughts).
I hope you will consider reading them!
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Hi! Thanks for your opinion, it’s nice to know from someone who actually read the books! I think I might give The Bronze Horseman a try, the plot does sound interesting. I guess Fallen isn’t for me though, I have tried reading it twice…
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I’m very sad you didn’t like Fallen, but everyone has his own tastes 😉
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True! I am glad you like it. It’s quite sad to start a book and find out it’s not for you although the plot sounds so cool. Maybe I will try again another time!
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Paper Towns wasn’t my favourite John Green book, but the Selection series are my guilty pleasure books, they’re soooo addicting! I read the entire series in like a week!
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That’s nice, I think it’s great that people have different tastes. My guilty pleasure is the Remnant series…
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I’m not reading the Cursed Child either, and Paper Towns wasn’t my favorite John Green read. I read the Selection series a longggg time ago, but I don’t have any plans of rereading it. Awesome post!
I’m new to blogging and book reviewing, and I was wondering if you had any tips for newbie bloggers and book reviewers.
If you have the time, please check out my blog @breenysbooks. I’d love any feedback. Have a wonderful day.
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Hello Breeny, thank you so much for your comment! I am quite new to the blogging world too, but I saw this post the other day which might be helpful to you!
https://readingthroughthenights.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/tips-for-new-bloggers/
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Thanks so much! I’ll definitely check out the source. I appreciate the recommendation. Have a great week!
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The Selection drove me insane…the names made me want to knock myself out and the store was basically the equivalent of bad junk food.
The Cursed Child is a love it or leave it addition to the HP universe. I liked it…BUT, it does have its issues and I think a lot of those have to do with the fact that they had to make a story that covered all the basics quickly while telling a complete story for the stage. I’ve heard it’s amazing to watch, even by those who were not blown away by the script itself. Plus it is a script and those don’t come with world building or any extra passages to really explain things.
I DNFed Fallen years ago…I don’t blame you for wanting to skip that series.
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Thank you for your comment, Michelle! I was quite happy to read it!
I am glad to not have picked up The Selection then…
Yes, I think The Cursed Child would be amazing to watch, but like you said, the script would lack story-telling characteristics a bit too much for me.
Phew, I am glad to read that! Most people who read this really love this book, I was starting to think I was the only one!
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I’ve read The Time Traveler’s Wife, and I wish I didn’t. It was an interesting concept but there is about 50 pages in the middle where they just talk about if they have too much sex. If you really want a good book by her, I liked her second book Her Fearful Symmetry much better. That one is about twin sisters who inherit their aunt’s flat in London outside Highgate Cemetery.
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That sounds cool! I have a weakness on stories about sisters. I didn’t even know about this book. Thank you for your suggestion!
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It’s one of my favorites! Lots of people who like Time Traveler don’t seem to be a fan! But I really do think it’s twice as good! Plus the first chapter gave me one of my favorite quotes and snarky comebacks of all time!
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Cool! I’ll check it out!
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This is a great idea for a blog post! When time permits I’d like to go through my Goodreads TBR and see if there are any titles I’ve since decided to NOT read. One title that is not on my TBR and never will be is “Fifty shades of Grey”.
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I’d love to read it!!
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I saw Paper Towns on tv last week… it was ok but I’m happy I didn’t read the novel really… there aren’t any big surprises in that one and I expected a bit more from the ending… I would like to read The Bronze Horseman however, I’ve heard so many amazing things about it, I think it’ll be a real experience 🙂
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If you read it The Bronze Horseman, I’d love to hear what you think about it! The theme is so interesting I was very tempted…
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