Now this is a contentious post for any avid book reader – owning up to books they won’t read. Now, I know there are too many books and not enough lifetime to read them in, but all the same, it doesn’t feel good owning up to it. As this is a part of a regular book related Tuesday Meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish I am going to choose 10 books that I don’t think I will ever get around to reading simply because they don’t appeal to me and yes, there are books in here that many of you will gasp at, that you will think I should have read or should at least be planning on reading. The books are probably on some list or other than announces they should be read in your lifetime. A MUST. But here we have it, my Top 10 books I will probably never read and judge me all you want to….. reading is about enjoyment and personal choice not doing it because you should be doing it, so here we have it.
There is a different Top Ten every Week. You love books, why not join in?
What books don’t you think, or don’t you want to read in your lifetime? And do you think I’m missing out by not reading any of these??
Annalisa Crawford says
I had to read Romeo and Juliet for GCSE – I thought the ending was a bit silly, but 16th century audiences must have loved it.
My sister read War and Peace, but wouldn’t do it again; and I read the first page of Ulysses – that was enough.
I won’t read Twilight, or any of the new vampire genre – I like my vampires to be written by Anne Rice or Bram Stoker 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh (@AlexJCavanaugh) says
I’ll never read several of those. Yes, I know the Harry Potter books are great, but I’ve seen all eight movies and that didn’t take as much time as it would to read all seven books.
MarinaSofia says
Gasps of horror all round…. but life is too short to struggle through books you really don’t get much out of. Mind you, I think Great Expectations is one of my favourite Dickens novels – a much easier read than many of his others. And Romeo and Juliet starts a little drearily with a silly banter and a brawl, but it improves after that.
crimeworm says
I agree, Great Expectations isn’t too tough for Dickens. And I prefer Merchant Of Venice to Romeo and Juliet, but it’s not bad. Having said that, if I hadn’t done it at school, I possibly wouldn’t bother, although my daughter and I have some favourite quotes from it. I’d rather like to read War and Peace, just to say I’ve done it. I’ve never ever read a Harry Potter, apart from snippets to get the children to sleep. They preferred Lemony Snicket, unusually. And I will never read a Harry Potter again!
Steph says
The only one I would read if I hadn’t,out of your list is It. I’m not a huge classics fan, probably because of the ones that I read in school. I wouldn’t read Fifty Shades and probably never read a classic, unless I picked up again the one that we never finished in school – The Woman in White.
Jacqui Murray says
I think you have to appreciate Russian authors to enjoy War and Peace. They’re fairly dark and depressing otherwise–IMO. I’ve read a lot of them because that was my major in college. And, I spent some time in Russia. I haven’t gotten into any of the new Russian authors, just the old ones.
crimeworm says
Would love to go to Russia! A girl I’m vaguely friendly with, Sarah, went to St Petersburg for a 21st (flash or what? The guy’s dad owns Stagecoach buses) Anyway I asked her, excitedly, about the Hermitage Museum, and she said, “We didn’t really go anywhere – we just stayed in the hotel…”! What a waste! They could have just sent them to, I don’t know, Luton for the weekend. In fact, maybe they did…!
Margot Kinberg says
I love your take on this, Rebecca! I can see a few in there that I’ll never read, myself. I think we all do have our list…
JackieP says
There are a few that I will never read and don’t care to. I hate to read books just because it’s the ‘trendy’ thing to do. It usually never lives up to the hype.
suzigun says
There are a few on your list that I would agree with and having read Great Expectations I couldn’t recommend it. But then the other half I’ve read and loved. Of course which books fall into which category is the question 😉
FictionFan says
I agree we should only read books that appeal but… The Lord of the Rings!!! How could you miss out on that one?!? But having struggled through War and Peace I think you’re wise to give that one a miss… it took me over two months and I’d forgotten the beginning before I got to the end. 😉
Emma says
Fifty Shades I’m with you on and Fellowship of the Rings (though living in the Black Country I always feel guilty about that).
Kay says
I think what this particular topic has shown is that we are all different and our ‘sphere’ of reading is our very own. It has been interesting seeing what different people have shared. I’ve read some of the ones you listed and loved them. And some I’ve not read, nor am I likely to. And I say, yay for all of us. We read the books that speak to us – individually. Isn’t it lovely that there are so many choices for us?
icewineanne says
My collection of books that I own & have not read, exceeds 2500. Sadly I have come to realize that I will never be able to read all of them. So now I’m in the process of weeding out the books that I absolutely will never get around to reading. It’s a sad & difficult process.
From your list, I have Great Expectations & loved it. I think if you begin reading the first couple of chapters, you’ll be hooked.
I also loved War & Peace. The names take a bit of getting used to, but once you have mastered that it’s a wonderful story.
With the rest of your choices, I agree 🙂
Happy reading!
crimeworm says
Thanks for disclosing your TBR number! I feel a bit better now. Mine are still in three figures (omitting the Kindle…!)
Christine says
Yay for massive TBR lists!!!
Martin Peltz says
Reblogged this on sweatingthewriting.
readingwritingandriesling says
Rebecca I must say I too am not interested in reading any of those listed here 🙂
iloveheartlandx says
It makes me sad to see Harry Potter on so many people’s lists but I get that they’re not for everyone and once you get to the fourth book they are quite long. Fifty Shades was on my list too, in fact aside from Harry Potter which I’ve read, I don’t think I’d read anything on your list either. I think Shakespeare is meant to be seen and not read, after all they are plays, and the ones I’ve seen I’ve really enjoyed but I never enjoyed studying him in English.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/05/top-ten-tuesday-3/
kendraolson says
Great post, I’m totally with you on never reading Harry Potter, or Lord of the Rings!
Terri Nixon says
You might enjoy IT if you give it a go – good characters 🙂
icewineanne says
I read IT, way back when………a pleasant diversion but would not place it on any “must read” lists.
Christine says
I’m with you regarding the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings books. Not even tempted. I know people rave about them. Funny how we can’t bring ourselves to read some things. But then I did read the Twilight books *vomit* and Fifty Shades to see what the fuss was about.
Nigel says
I am on my third reading of War and Peace. An excellent book. I tried to get the wife to drive with me on Napoleon’s route to Moscow and back for the 200th anniversary. No luck, but she agreed that we could drive to Crimea so I got to see Tolstoy’s bastion at Sevastopol. A big read indeed.