Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Post header background: Designed by Dashu83 / Freepik
Welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday!
Today Top Ten Tuesday is being twisted a liiitle bit to fit into my life right now. And well, because I need help! As you may know from my monthly wrap-up, my husband and I have recently bought a house and we’ll be moving in the fall. Now, I’ve collected quite a few physical books over the years (especially since I started blogging), and I urgently need to unhaul. Like, before we move, so I don’t need to unnecessarily move all these books I’m not gonna keep and don’t have room for anyway.
For the ones I’ve read, it’s a relatively easy decision: if I loved it and think I’ll re-read it some day, it’s a keeper. If I didn’t, it’s a goner. But unfortunately, I’ve also collected a lot of books I haven’t even read yet. (OH THE SHAME) So the choice is even harder for these ones, because who knows what lovely gems I could be unhauling?
So I need your help! Below are the ten books I’m in conflict over the most. Please give me your opinions if you see any books that you read and LOVED or HATED/STRONGLY DISLIKED so I can take this into account. My indecisive self will be very thankful 🙂
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
THAT’S WHAT I CALL STARTING THIS POST WITH A BANG!
But seriously, I’ve read so many RAVE reviews about this series by book bloggers and vloggers I trust. I started the first 100 pages or so and enjoyed it even though it did not blew my mind yet either. But then I hit a reading slump and I never picked it up again. It’s been lying on my nightstand for months and I just have no desire to continue reading. So what should I do? Try again anyway or just give up and call this series a ‘not my cup of tea’?
Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
I got this book in a Fairyloot box but I don’t know if it’s for me. Russian folklore sounds nice, but this book also just sounds really weird so I don’t know…
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
I watched the movie. I liked it. I already cried my heart out. Do I really want to relive that in book format?
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
I’m torn because it’s Rainbow Rowell and I love all other books I’ve read by her so far. But 1) I’ve had this book on my shelf for years with no desire to pick it up and 2) I heard it’s kind of problematic?
Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven holds a special place in my (broken because of this book) heart, so naturally I got her second book as soon as it came out… and then never read it. My interest has since kind of dwindled… Should I still give it a chance?
Assassin’s Heart by Sarah Ahiers
I like assassins and revenge stories, so this story got my attention. But it’s been on my shelf for about 2 years now and I read some bad reviews that made my interest lessen.
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
I know, I know, this is such a recent release, why am I even thinking of unhauling it already? Well, I got it in a Fairyloot box, but truthfully the plot never really intrigued me enough and I’m just not sure I’ll ever read it.
Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
I still like the idea of this book, but I don’t have any inclination to pick it up. Should I still keep it for a time when I may be in the mood for it, or just give up already?
The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry
When this book came out, I NEEDED to get it. It was when I first started blogging and the hype was there so I got it. And I’ve never read it since and don’t really remember why I wanted to read it so badly.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
Ahh this one kills me because I love Lauren Graham and I want to try her writing, but I’ve had this book for yeeaaars and haven’t picked it up. Should I just forget about it?
I remember reading Before I Fall and enjoying it, but I feel like movie adaptations always turn me off reading a book right away. I don’t know why… I always enjoy the books more, but I feel like people judge me and think, “Oh, she’s only reading that because they’re making a movie,” and I could have had the book for YEARS. I know I shouldn’t care what people think/say, but ugh.
Eleanor & Park is the only Rainbow Rowell book I’ve read and it was meh. I had no love or hate for the book. I hope that helps! Those are the only two books I’ve read from your list. Good luck moving! I end up going through my books once we get to a new place and I’m re-shelving everything. Doing it before is too stressful, lol.
L @ Do You Dog-ear?
I totally understand what you’re saying! It’s like people would judge us for only being interested in a book because of the movie, when one) we could have already been interested in it for a long time and just haven’t had the chance yet and two) so what if the movie adaptation made us want to read the book? There’s never a bad reason to want to read something 🙂
Thanks so much!
Congrats on your exciting news, Lindsey! Best of luck with the move.
I haven’t seen the Before I Fall adaptation (yet – but I REALLY do want to), however the book?? It just wasn’t working for me. I think the repetitive nature was what hindered the story the most. Pus the book is super long for a YA contemporary, whereas I feel like a film’s pace will be better.
Happy Top Ten Tuesday!! 🙂
Than ks so much Rissi!
I’m sorry you didn’t like the Before I Fall book, though I completely understand what you’re saying! I did like the movie, so maybe it’s just one of those books that’s better in movie format.
I don’t think Red Rising is as special as people make it out to be and I won’t continue with the series personally.
Unhaul Eleanor and Park. The writing is terrible and afterwards I realized how problematic it was too.
Well, I’m glad to hear someone else wasn’t that into Red Rising! I may still keep it and give it a try again when my mood is more right for it, but honestly, I don’t think it’s for me.
I’m still mixed about Eleanor & Park since I do love Rainbow Rowell’s other books, but if the book’s been on my shelf for so long and I still haven’t read it, it’s probably not going to happen anyway.
I haven’t read any of these so I don’t think I’m much of a help but I still plan on reading Daughter of the Burning City because it’s still one of my most anticipated books I got from Fairyloot.
Thanks, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Daughter of the Burning City!
A big yes from me for E & P. I’m a huge fan of odd couples and odd people who find something in the other’s oddness to save them, so this is a perfect book for me. Of course not everyone likes the odd.
That does sound nice, I do like the odd too 🙂
I loved most of these books but Assassin’s Hear was really slow for me!
Before I Fall is great, but you will sob if you sobbed at the movie (I remember crying when I read the book eons ago and crying at the movie a few weeks ago). Would recommend Eleanor and Park as well ?
Jade @ Ink Scratchers
Thanks! I’ll probably unhaul Assassin’s Heart.
Before I Fall, I couldn’t even finish, but if you liked the movie, then you would probably enjoy the book, though for me, most of the time if I see the movie before I read the book, I never actually read the book because I already know the story-which I know sounds weird because I’ll watch movies when I’ve read the book and I know the story there too, but I prefer being surprised by books, I don’t really care with movies. I really liked Daughter of The Burning City, but if you’re not feeling it then you’re not feeling it. The Hazel Wood, I got kinda bored by, so I’d say it’s not really worth it.
Yes I feel the same! If I watch the movie first, my interest for the book already automatically lessens. It’s indeed a bit weird, but it’s true 🙂
I’ll probably get rid of The Hazel Wood, it just doesn’t intrigue me at all. Still debating about Daughter of the Burning City.
I LOVED Before I Fall – it was one of my favorite books from last year! I definitely did not enjoy Red Rising as much as the rest of the world seems to. I just couldn’t seem to get fully into the book, and the world made no sense to me.
Oh, that’s some high praise for Before I Fall! Did you see the movie too?
Yes I feel the same about Red Rising – I want to love it, but if I’m almost halfway and still not invested I think it might not be for me… at least not right now.
My mom read Someday, Someday Maybe and said that although it was kind of slow at some parts, it was a great read. I still haven’t had the opportunity to read it but I love her as well. Maybe you’ll get to it eventually, who knows haha! Great twist on the topic!
My TTT: https://rockyreads.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/top-ten-tuesday-13/
Thanks! Yeah maybe I do need to keep it and give it a try someday, if only because I do love Lauren Graham 🙂
I’ve heard AMAZING things about Red Rising!! I think you should keep that ~ Vassa in the Night is a book I’ve heard overall mixed things about. Some people have loved it and others just didn’t like it at all. I LOVED Eleanor & Park when I read it back in 2015, I think? But then people pointed out how problematic and just plain racist it is and I don’t really recommend it to people anymore. It is a cute book though. The Love That Split the World I think has problematic Native American rep and I believe most people didn’t like it anyways. Good luck with moving!!! It can be so stressful but I bet you are going to love the new place once you’re settled in ?
Yeah I feel really conflicted about Red Rising because so many people ADORE it. So I think I’ll keep it to try again when I’m in the right mood for it 🙂
I have really mixed feelings about Eleanor & Park, but in the end I think it’s been on my book shelf for over 2 years and I still haven’t read it so I’ll probably just let it go.
Thanks! Moving is quite the hassle indeed but I’m already looking forward to the ‘being newly moved in’ part 🙂
I’m useless because I haven’t read ANY of these! Haha. But I’ve heard Eleanor & Park is really good.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Haha no worries, thanks for stopping by anyway 🙂
I haven’t read any of those, but congratulations on your new house! I hate moving.
Thanks so much! Yeah, moving is quite the hassle.
Congrats on your new house! Looking at your list, I thought that Eleanor & Park was a good read, although I know there have been a lot of mixed reviews on it. I also really enjoyed Niven’s book. The Hazel Wood was just an average read for me, although I know a lot of people loved it. I lost interest in a couple of these, Vassa in the Night and Assassin’s Heart, after seeing a lot of mixed reviews.
Thanks! Yeah, the mixed reviews also made me lose my interest in Vassa in the Night, Assassin’s Heart, The Hazel Wood and Eleanor & Park so not sure if I want to still give them a try.