Spotted on @imyril’s excellent blog, Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It’s all about books, lists and sharing the love we have of both with our bookish friends.
Their post was all about looking back at their seasonal TBRs to see what books they still haven’t read. As I don’t have a seasonal TBR, I thought I’d just cast an eye over the shelf for the top ten ‘been on my TBR for AGES’ books.
Grab yourself a refreshing beverage, we’re going back into the murky depths of Dave’s TBR pile…
[quick scan through my bookshelves later]
The Bone Shard Daughter – Andrea Stewart (2020)
Oh, I have so much guilt about this one. The proof copy looks gorgeous, and I meant to jump right into it, but got distracted and it got put on the shelf and then other books occurred and every time I go past it I think ‘I must read this soon’ and now book 2 is out and omg.
Notes From The Burning Age – Claire North (2021)
I adore Claire North’s writing. Absobloodylutely love it to bits. So why has this sat on the TBR pile since I got it? Can’t honestly say why. And now Claire’s new book has arrived and I am torn between reading the new book so I don’t end up in this situation again, or going back and reading this book superfast so I can catch up (though they’re not remotely related). Being a book blogger is harder than it looks, folks.
Iron Gold/Dark Age – Pierce Brown (2018/2019)
I read and adored the Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown when they came out. Super lucky to get an advanced copy of the first book, and got to meet the man himself (and some lovely bloggers) at the launch for book 3 where I got them all signed. Then there was a gap and book 5 and 6 came out, I duly bought them on publication day, excitedly brought them home and put them lovingly on the shelf next to the first trilogy and… they’re still there. They’re HUGE. I may even have bought kindle versions since. Still not read them. Heard mixed things, tbh, which is putting me off a bit.
Under the Pendulum Sun – Jeanette Ng (2017)
I bought this years ago on the recommendation of various bloggers. I even started it, but got distracted (this is becoming a theme) by other blog tour reviews that I needed to get done and somehow it migrated back to the shelf. I adored the start of it, and really really want to go back and finish it.
The Long Drop – Denise Mina (2017)
I won this in a competition many years ago, heard amazing things about it, and very much looked forward to reading it. See previous excuses re. distraction
The Rabbit Factor – Antti Tuomainen (2021)
Look, I bloody love Antti Tuomainen’s books. The Man Who Died is superb. Palm Beach Finland is hilarious, etc. And I’ve been excited about this book since I first heard about it. Look, it’s going in the holiday reading pile. See me put it there. I will read it. Honest.
The Jasmine Throne – Tasha Suri (2021)
This was (and is) a big, chunky, gorgeous book. I loved Tasha Suri’s Empire of Sand but haven’t got round to this one yet on account of the chonkiness of it. I will read it, Nazia, honest. Please don’t stop sending me books.
Gnomon – Nick Harkaway (2017)
Big fan of Nick Harkaway’s books. The Gone-Away World was delightfully weird and I was very much looking forward to reading Gnomon. I bought the hard cover which has lovely orange sprayed edges. It’s a beast of a book. Kindle version purchased too. Yes, I do this more often than I should.
Blacktop Wasteland – SA Cosby (2020)
Huge amounts of recommendations for this crime book. HUGE. So I picked up a copy when mooching through Waterstones (other bookstores are available) with the express intention of reading this next, honest guv’nor you can trust me I will definitely totally read this next. You can tell where this is going, can’t you?
Vine Street – Dom Nolan (2021)
Mooching through Waterstones (I sense a theme) I happened across this behemoth of a book in the half price hardback sale. I duly braced my core and hefted it into my basket before struggling to the counter under the sheer weight of words. I’ve since bought the kindle version cos it’s significantly lighter. Various people have suggested that this book is AMAZING. I will read it. One day.
Bitter Sun – Beth Lewis (2018)
Gods, Beth Lewis’s books are incredible. The Wolf Road is staggeringly good, and if you’ve not read it, stop now and go get yourself a copy. The Origins of Iris too, whilst you’re in the bookshop. So I’m not entirely sure why I still haven’t read Bitter Sun, the book that came between the two I have read (and loved). I appear to have misplaced my hard copy of this, but have it on kindle I think.
Kraken – China Mieville (2010)
Got a signed copy of this, and it’s got a glorious cephalopod on the cover. Mieville’s books are always an experience, and I’m sure I’ve read the first third, though remember little of what happened other than there’s a giant squid that disappears from a museum. Really ought to finish it off one day. Oldest book on this list by quite a bit.
The Shepherd’s Crown – Terry Pratchett (2015)
Last, but my no means least. I bought this book on publication seven years ago, but can’t quite bring myself to read it as it’s the last ever Pratchett. And if I don’t read it, there’ll always be a bit more of his work to go. YES I KNOW IT MAKES NO SENSE. I loved all of his books, even the ones with Moist von bloody Lipwig in them. One day I’ll pluck up the courage and read this last one.
One day. But not today.
Yes yes, there’s more than ten on there. Interestingly most of them I’ve bought myself, and only about a third are review copies. And there are dozens more that I could put my hands on that could also be on that list. And a couple of dozen newer releases that have been published in the last year or so. And it’s mostly ignoring the kindle TBR stack.
That’s my list. Have you read any of them? If you could pick one to start, which would it be?
espresso coco 