Top Ten Tuesday: Books which have the Longest Shelf-Life on my TBR

February 6, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme originated by The Broke and the Bookish now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is: This week the theme is: Books which have the longest shelf-life on my TBR

You know what I learned doing this TTT? I learned that I created my Goodreads account on April 22nd, 2012. Which, honestly, is much later in life that I thought I had created it. I feel like Goodreads has been around since the beginning of my use of the internet. But, the date makes sense. It’s after I moved to Madison and started reading heavily again. So, I’m not surprised with the date, it just feels like life could not have existed without Goodreads.

Due to this, and due to my horrible memory for details, the list you see below is a list of books I added on April 22nd, 2012. No, these are not necessarily the oldest books on my To Read list. But they are the most easily accessible list of amazing books I could come up with.

Now, without further ado…

All titles below are links to the book’s Goodreads page.


 

Top 10 Books which have the Longest Shelf-Life on my TBR

 

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Why haven’t I read it yet? I read The Diviners a few years ago for book club and I didn’t enjoy the experience at all. I am not quite yet willing to jump back into a world written by Libba Brey. Particularly another one which sounds just as dark…

 

 

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Why haven’t I read it yet? That’s a really good question. I actually didn’t hear about this book until I was an adult. I also only realized TODAY that while this is listed as a series, it’s really just a duology and I’ve been afraid of digging into a huge fantasy series accidentally. Hm. Maybe I should read this sooner rather than later?

 

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

Why haven’t I read it yet? I am intimidated by tomes. 639 pages is a LOT of text. I do love Arthurian legends, however. Maybe it would be easier to digest if I read each book individually instead of all smashed into a single tome? After all Book One, The Sword in the Stone is what the amazing Disney film is based upon.

 

 

Blankets by Craig Thompson

 

Why haven’t I read it yet? Tome-size. Seriously. I’ve checked this out from the library twice and never managed to even pick it up. Which is silly, because it’s a 592-page graphic novel set in Wisconsin! I really should read this based on the setting alone.

 

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Why haven’t I read it yet? Until recently, Bradbury’s works intimidated me. I didn’t think I would *get it*. I only read a Bradbury book for the first time last year. Fahrenheit 451 broke me of the fear that I just “wouldn’t get it”. And now I am less afraid to pick up this classic. Bring it on.

 

Hyperion by Dan Simmons 

Why haven’t I read it yet? I DON’T KNOW! This is more or less everything I am looking for in a book. Award winning from MANY prestigious awards, short stories, character study, science fiction– Why haven’t I picked this book up yet?! 

 

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Why haven’t I read it yet? I loved this film as a child. However, many of my friends have incredibly mixed reviews of this book. Sometimes they love it, sometimes they hate it, sometimes they only hate the ending. I don’t want to read this and dislike it; I don’t want to take off my rose-colored glasses! 

 

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Why haven’t I read it yet? It’s an author debut and was turned into a major motion picture. It should be amazing! But so many people I trust have totally disliked this novel. They couldn’t get past the unengaging prose, most of them. I feel like The Time Traveler’s Wife deserves for me to try this, but I’m not ready to take the plunge yet.

 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Why haven’t I read it yet? This is one of those books I know I’ll absolutely adore. I’m saving it for a rainy day. For a day when I really need to read something fun and fluffy and filled with joy. And you know what? That day might be here sooner than I think…

 

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis

Why haven’t I read it yet? I own a copy of this book, for one. When I have a physical copy sitting in my house I am less likely to read it as I know it’s not due back to the library anytime soon. Seriously! Plus, non-fiction. I have to be in the right mood for non-fiction, even if it is about the establishment of such an institution as Sesame Street

 

As I was typing out this list, I remember exactly where I was when I created this list. I was at my friend Katherine’s apartment. She was getting a masters in library science and I was asking for book recommendations. I was writing things on my phone and Katherine scoffed and introduced me to Goodreads. Thank goodness! I think 90% of these came from her on that day (Street Gang came from my amazing little brother). And I know I’ve read a TON of books based on her recommendations already.

Gosh, I miss her. Thank you, Katherine, for an amazing list of books.


What do you think?

  • Did you participate in Top Ten Tuesday? Share your links below!
  • Which books from this list have you read? What are your favorites? Which should I read immedately?
  • Which books should I remove entirely from my list above? Why?

46 Comments

  • Kelsey B February 6, 2018 at 11:59 am

    2012? Shocking!

    • Jackie B February 6, 2018 at 12:33 pm

      I know, right?! Why am I such a slacker?! When did you start your Goodreads account?

      • Kelsey Baubie February 7, 2018 at 8:01 am

        well…I accidentally had (have?) two goodreads accounts, so I think the real question is “What is wrong with you Kelsey” 😛

        • Jackie B February 7, 2018 at 10:42 am

          Haha. Or that’s amazing. How did you end up with two? And do you primarily only use one now?

          • Kelsey B February 7, 2018 at 10:52 am

            I tried to merge them once I realized I had two but was unsuccessful. I thought I only used one primarily but both have been active recently so I guess I am just a very confused person. Oh well!

            • Jackie B February 16, 2018 at 3:56 pm

              Haha. I don’t blame you. I blame Goodreads. They keep mucking with my old reviews; I lost all my comment and review for Slaughterhouse-Five, I noticed recently. I bet they are messing with you on purpose. 😉

  • Ann Marie February 6, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    I haven’t read a single one of these but The Time Traveler’s Wife has been sitting on my shelf for years…

    • Jackie B February 6, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      Haha! I’m glad I’m not alone in this! It sounds so compelling, but all those controversial reviews have me hesitating. That’s a shame, I know. But I can’t help it!

  • Laila@BigReadingLife February 6, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    I don’t even know what I did before Goodreads. I guess I just picked up whatever looked good that was in front of my face, ha ha! I think I started mine in 2007? Or 2008, one of the two. Anyway, I read A Great and Terrible Beauty (which is weird, because I don’t read a lot of YA generally) and I just gave it two stars, for what that’s worth. I wrote on Goodreads that if I were 13 or 14 I’d probably have liked it more.

    I LOVED The Time Traveler’s Wife when I read it in 2003 (I think) but I’d just come out of a bad breakup and I was kinda insane at the time, so I don’t know if I’d like it the same now. 🙂 I definitely think tastes change as we get older!

    • Jackie B February 6, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      Right?! Goodreads is magical. But you have your Book of Books, right? Did you start tracking in those books before Goodreads became a part of your life or after? And why did you separate this from Goodreads?

      Yeah, I worry that’s how I’ll feel about A Great and Terrible Beauty as well. I’m so glad that you loved The time Traveler’s Wife! That gives me hope. Yes, we all do change as readers over time, but they can’t change soooo much. I imagine you might still enjoy it, even if it isn’t a book you’re gushing about. Rarely do we go from one extreme to another with our tastes.

      Thanks for letting me know your thoughts! I’ll keep this in mind as I plan my future TBR.

      • Laila@BigReadingLife February 6, 2018 at 4:11 pm

        I started tracking in my Book of Books in 2001, so it was before Goodreads. It’s for the books I’ve already read, and Goodreads is so handy for the keeping of the TBR, which is the main reason I use it. When I’m trying to figure out what I’m in the mood to read next, I check my Goodreads Want-To-Read list and then just get it from the library, usually.

        • Jackie B February 11, 2018 at 12:31 am

          I really love the logic of your system. I do something similar when I am in the mood for a new book and I don’t know what to read– check my own TBR and see if the library has the book. I only recently starting tracking my reads outside of GR (as well as inside…) . This is something new with blogging. It helps me keep track of blog post reviews a bit better. It’s not a perfect system, though. Room for improvement everywhere, I guess!

  • Michael February 6, 2018 at 1:49 pm

    There are some great books on here. Hope you find time to enjoy them soon. (Especially the Martian Chronicles)

    • Jackie B February 6, 2018 at 4:06 pm

      Thank you so much, Michael! I cannot wait to dig into a few of these. The best part about TTT posts like this is that they often will bring old books back to the top of your pile. 😀

  • (Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea February 6, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    The Last Unicorn & The Neverending Story are planned rereads for me 🙂 The Time Traveler’s Wife is a favorite and I actually have the Once and Future King on my nightstand haha. Get to reading!

    • Jackie B February 11, 2018 at 12:28 am

      Wow! I love that we have so many overlapping books from this list! This isn’t something I see happen often from a TTT post. I love it! Particularly since so many of these are re-reads for you— If I could only read ONE of these books this year, which one would you push me towards reading first?

  • rantsandravesofabibliophile February 6, 2018 at 5:14 pm

    Oh, I liked A Great and Terrible Beauty. I liked the historical and feministic aspects of it a lot.

    • Jackie B February 10, 2018 at 11:44 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that! I don’t know anyone who has read this book, only people who have read The Diviners. Have you read The Diviners? Can you compare A Great and Terrible Beauty to that book? I am 100% about feminism… so this totally appeals to me. 😀

      Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Cassie! It’s great to hear from you.

      • rantsandravesofabibliophile February 14, 2018 at 2:11 pm

        Hmm…well I read A Great and Terrible Beauty more than 10 years ago, but I do remember it taking place in the late 1800s of England. The story dark and gothic, which I loved. While The Diviners takes place in the 20s, it’s also dark but it uses a lot of fun 1920s slang, which I liked.

        • Jackie B February 16, 2018 at 4:28 pm

          Thank you for comparing and contrasting these for me! That at least gives me a better idea of what I’d be getting into. 😀

  • Zezee February 6, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    The Once and Future King is one I’d like to reread. I read it back in highschool and thought it so boring then, but it was probably because I had to read it for a class. Hyperion is on my TBR too. I tried Dan Simmons’s Song of Kali couple years ago and really liked how he told the story, so I have high hopes for Hyperion.
    The Neverending Story was so good. I highly recommend it, however it’s been years since I last read it so I don’t know what I’d think of it now. And I also want to read Fried Green Tomatoes. The movie is a fav of mine.

    • Jackie B February 13, 2018 at 10:46 pm

      Oh, man, can I relate to boring books I read in high school! Wuthering Heights was basically the worst book ever written. 😉 But honestly, I’d probably like it as an adult. Particularly without someone telling me what to think or how to interpret the text.

      I’m glad that we share some TBR books, and that you loved The Neverending Story! This gives me hope I’ll love The Neverending Story as well.

      Also, I had no idea Fried Green Tomatoes was a film! Now I definitely need to prioritize reading this so I can compare it to the film. 😀

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Zezee! I really appreciate it. 🙂

      • Zezee February 14, 2018 at 11:14 pm

        totally agree about Wuthering Heights.

  • Greg Hill February 6, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    I love that cover of The Last Unicorn! There was an animated version I saw part of years ago, and it looked kind of amazing, and I didn’t even know then it was based on a book. I should read it…

    I’ve heard good things about the Time traveler’s Wife too.

    • Jackie B February 11, 2018 at 12:29 am

      I never saw the animated version of The Last Unicorn, but I know it was done by the same animation studio who made the animated The Hobbit. These are one of my best friend’s favorite films from her childhood and it always hurts her a bit I still haven’t seen them. 😉 I feel like I’m in good company if you haven’t read this yet either! XD

  • Krysta February 6, 2018 at 8:10 pm

    I absolutely love The Last Unicorn! But I didn’t know it was a duology. You could read the first book and have a satisfying ending.

    • Jackie B February 14, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      The second book is apparently just a novella available for free on Beagle’s website. So, I also learned something new today!

      I’m so glad to hear so many of my favorite bloggers love The Last Unicorn! That makes me want to read it even more. How did I let this pass me?!

      • Krysta February 14, 2018 at 7:37 pm

        Interesting! It’s nice that it’s so accessible!

        Yes, you should read it! 😉

  • Aj @ Read All The Things! February 6, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    I hope you get a chance to read these soon! I loved Blankets. Even though it’s long, it’s a quick read.

    • Jackie B February 16, 2018 at 8:30 am

      Graphic novels tend to be quick reads– particularly if the images aren’t overly complex. I find that sometimes I get so distacted by the artwork I move even more slowly through the story! That said, I still hope to read it soon– I’ve heard it’s a beautiful story.

  • Destiny @ Howling Libraries February 6, 2018 at 10:07 pm

    Great list! I love that you added WHY you haven’t read the books yet, too. Very cool addition to the list. 🙂 I think my GR TBR goes back to about 2012, as well!

    • Jackie B February 16, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you so much, Destiny! I always try to add something to the list of books. I dunno– a list of books all by themselves always feels a bit hopeless to me, so I add my own twist. I’m glad you like it!

  • Annemieke February 7, 2018 at 1:51 am

    I just clicked want to read for The Once and Future King on Goodreads. Oops. I’ve not read any Arthurian Legends but I do find them very interesting so I totally should.

    • Jackie B February 7, 2018 at 5:25 pm

      Haha– sorry to negatively infuence your To Be Read list. I love me some Arthurian legends! Some of my favorites include The Camulod Chronicles (more historical) and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (more fantasy). I just started reading Over Sea, Under Stone which is the first book in The Dark is Rising series. There are so many retellings. I love getting lost in the magic and the potential of them all.

  • Helen Murdoch February 7, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    I have only read Fried Green Tomatoes and Blankets from your list and both were good!

  • Toni February 7, 2018 at 9:30 pm

    I have had Time Travellers Wife on my shelf for a couple of years now so I have put it on my Popsugar list for this year. Fried Green Tomatoes is also on this list 🙂 Its one of my favourite movies of all time so I can’t wait to read it 🙂

  • Grab the Lapels February 8, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    I think you should boot most of these of your list. You don’t sound that interested in most of them! I almost read the Flag book. It was required for a book to film class I took in college, but we ran out of time and never got to it. *shrug*

  • sagecoveredhills2 February 8, 2018 at 3:38 pm

    You got to read “Once and Future King”!

    • Jackie B February 11, 2018 at 12:09 am

      Thanks for the recommendation! Have you read all the books in the collection? Which is your favorite?

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  • Cahleen @ The Alt Story February 9, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    Out of all these, I’ve only read The Time Traveler’s wife. I remember loving it, so I vote for that one!

    • Jackie B February 10, 2018 at 11:40 pm

      I’m so glad you remember loving it, Cahleen! Do you remember any details regarding what specifically you loved about The Time Traveler’s Wife? I am so glad that at least one of these books is familiar to you.

      Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

  • Katrina Southern February 11, 2018 at 7:11 am

    Oh there are some great looking books here! I read The Neverending Story when I was younger and LOVED it, I definitely recommend it! I also read A Great & Terrible Beauty though didn’t finish the series 🙁

    Good choices, feel free to check out my TTT list 🙂

  • Theresa @ TheCalicoBooks February 11, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    I definitely recommend giving A Great and Terrible Beauty a try sometime! It’s nothing like The Diviners. I read AGATB first, and really loved it, so I thought I’d like The Diviners, and while I thought it was ok, it was not nearly as engaging as A Great and Terrible Beauty, and I just didn’t care for it as much.

  • Amanda @Cover2CoverMom February 12, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t start utilizing Goodreads until 2016!!! It kills me to think about all the books I’ve read and never tracked that have slipped through the cracks. Anyways!! I read The Time Traveler’s Wife back in 2009 when the movie came out. I honestly cannot remember if I read the book or watched the movie first? I do remember enjoying the book…. but I may have been influenced by the movie… Either way the story destroyed me lol I should probably re-read it to see what I think now. I also have never read The Never Ending story but adored the movie as a child! I never picked up the book because I’m also nervous it will ruin the movie for me.

  • Evelina @ AvalinahsBooks February 14, 2018 at 11:30 am

    The. Martian. Chronicles. YESSS. It was amazing! So eerie, so colorful and imaginative. I don’t think it is one of those books you wouldn’t get though – it’s quite simple to get. Although I worry about the pictures-in-your-head thing, cause this novel was incredibly about that for me. It had really weird images that I couldn’t have imagined without Bradbury’s help… you know? So I’m super interested to hear what you think about it.

    And I’ve also never read The Neverending Story! I think I was only faintly aware of it being a book, as opposed to a movie. Should be an awesome book, I feel.

    Also, I have absolutely loved The Time Traveler’s Wife. So there. In those-people’s-you-trust face 😀 totally do read it. It was amazing.

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