Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Meant to Read In 2020 but Didn’t Get To

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at Jana's blog That Artsy Reader Girl

I love to participate in readathons and reading challenges each year and each month.  I also really learned this past year that I am not good at setting a restrictive TBR for the month--I liked to have some flexibility when I am not on my award committees or studying for my classes. While I have both going at the moment, I am working on balancing a lower key award committee reading that fluctuates, CYBILS reading for my category I am category chair, as well as work for my graduate certificate program at Harvard. With my class beginning at the end of January (first assignments have opened up), I am sure that is going to be taking more time away from my reading time, but CYBILS will be winding down soon for this season. 

Both of these instances--participating in readathons/reading challenges as well as learning I do not like to have a restrictive TBR when not working on award committee/class reading lists--inevitably leaves me with titles I do not get finished each month. I stopped setting restrictive TBRs partway through 2020, but even with this, I still have some titles I wanted to read last year, but sadly did not get to read. Here are some of those titles below:

   

1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: I received this for Christmas 2020 and still have not read it yet. I have a coworker who keeps asking me about it--I think that is part of the reason why I have not yet. I am thinking about getting it read this month so I can answer her question at our next book group meeting in February. :)

2. 11/22/63 by Stephen King: I still have not picked up this tome toppler--I am debating on listening to it since I hear that the audio is fantastic. If you have read it, let me know. 

3. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson: I know this one gets mixed reviews, but I am intrigued by it--I am a librarian afterall.

4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: This was one of my favorite movies growing up and I have yet to read the novel that inspired. Again, I have been enjoying listening to classics so I will probably listen to this one as well at some point this year (maybe February).

   

5. Flatshare by Beth O'Leary: This has been on my TBR list for awhile now. I read The Switch this last year and liked it (I know I am in the minority it seems with that opinion) that I really do want to read this one even more so now.

6. The Girls by Abigail Pesta: This books has been on my radar since I read about it in the publisher's prepublication notice. I love watching gymnastics and have followed in horror the shocking Nassar cover up and trial. I watched the Netflix documentary Athlete A this summer and have wanted to pick up this book since.

7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer: Again, another that has been recommended as an audiobook to me but I did not make it a priority. I hope to fix that this year. 

8. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver: Another one that has gotten shifted to the bottom after the lackluster feedback, I want to read it as it was gifted to me and appreciate that they would send it to me from my wishlist.

 

9. The House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah Maas: Obviously a darling of last year, this is one that has been on my list as one to try. I do have a confession in that I did not really like Throne of Glass--I know, you probably dislike me now and will never come back. It just did not work for me. BUT I want to give this one a shot to see if I like this one more.

10. The Secret History by Donna Tartt: One last book that seems to be decisive either you love it or dislike it. Where do you sit with this one if you have read it? Also did you read it or listen to it? I am debating on listening to it. 

--Final Thoughts--
I went back and counted, five out of ten of these books I have plans to listen to this year as oppose to physically reading them. I hope that means I can knock these off this year. Of course I have plans to read 21 Books for 2021, along with making progress on 21 series as well. This year is shaping up to be a busy reading year!

I would love to know your opinions on any of the titles above you are familiar with--have you read and loved them or read and think they are not worth my reading/listening time? Please do let me know in the comments below. If you are participating please do also drop your link below so I can visit you this week. Have a great week!


20 comments:

  1. I haven't read Ninth House yet either.

    My post.

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  2. House of Earth and Blood was on my list this week too. I read Ninth House back in 2019, and I enjoyed it, though it was a bit slow. I really like the Guernsey film, so I'd definitely like to try the book at some point.
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/19/top-ten-tuesday-299/

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  3. Ninth House is a book I would like to read but I'm not really into the Genre. Maybe at somepoint. I've read a few of these and really loved them. Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2021/01/top-ten-tuesday-one-honorable-mention.html.

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    1. I think I am going to try the audio of it. :) I find it is a good entry that way.

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  4. Highly recommend 11/22/63 and The Flatshare. I read both on Kindle and loved the both. I will say (controversially) that I'm not a large fan of King's works, but 11/22/63 is hands-down my favorite. The Hulu mini series was pretty good too. I've also read The Ninth House and it's a really interesting and intriguing story.

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    1. I am hoping to read Flatshare this month and I will tackle 11/22/63 at some point!

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  5. #7 is a great read. It's super quick, too, so you could knock it off this list pretty easily.

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    1. I am going to do it as an audiobook as I hear it is a fantastic one.

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  6. BOOK WOMAN was one of my favorite reads from last year. It's a great book! I hope you love it and all the rest of your picks.

    Happy TTT!

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  7. Bookwoman, Flatshare, Gurnsey! Such good books!

    Lisa @ https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2021/01/19/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-meant-to-read-in-2020-but-didnt-get-to/

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    1. :) I hope to read Bookwoman and Flatshare this month. Guernsey I hope to do as an audiobook sometime this year.

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  8. Great list! I really wanted to read Sarah J. Maas' latest book too!

    Here’s my TTT!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  9. Sense and Sensibility is a must read! I love all things Jane Austen :) Enjoy! I hope you can stop by:

    https://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2021/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-meant-to-read.html

    Colletta

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  10. I loved 11/22/63!! It was my first Stephen King, it was not my last but is is my favorite of his.

    https://frominktopaper.com/2021/01/19/top-ten-2020-releases-i-was-excited-to-read-but-didnt-get-to/

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  11. I look forward to it though I am not a horror fan. I know this is a different book for him though so I look forward to trying it so I can at least experience his writing.

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Thank you for taking the time to write a comment! I read them all and respond to them as soon as I can.