I am sad to say that there are some books I have had on my shelf for the longest time and completely neglected. I have mentioned before now that I am almost unable to bypass a good book deal, and my literature related whims can be impossible to control. It’s the one area of my life I allow myself to splurge on, everyone needs an outlet and reading is mine! But the problem with books is you have to invest the time, something which can be tough to do in 2013, a world of endless information, social networking, TV channels and music. Not to mention all our responsibilities, from family and friends to education and work.
Possibly my worst bookworm trait is that I get distracted by my current book purchases and so some of my older ones occasionally slip through the cracks and get left on my shelf to collect dust for years! So, allow me to direct you to the realm of my forgotten books. 🙂
First up is a hoard of Dan Brown. This one book is representative of all the novels of his I own, Digital Fortress, Deception Point, Angels & Demons and finally The Da Vinci Code. I invested in the Da Vinci Code five or six years ago now when I came across it super cheap and second hand. I wanted to know what the fuss was about so I grabbed my own copy, oblivious that it was a part of the series. I had heard from many people that you didn’t need to read the books in order, but one of the weird traits I have is that I refuse to read series out of chronological order, even if they don’t connect. So, I bought all the other books above in various second hand shops, not realising that Digital Fortress and Deception Point weren’t actually a part of the series, whoops!
Dan Brown doesn’t write a genre I would usually go for and all the criticism that follows him around has probably put me off a bit. The combinations of the two is probably why all his books have been stuck on the ‘to read’ pile for so long!
Next up is Free Lunch by Nancy Sparling. This novel doesn’t even seem to be on the map anymore, it’s photo-less on Goodreads and only stocked by users on Amazon, I’m not even sure it’s in print anymore. This book was a completely random, spur of the moment buy and I picked it up at the same time I found The Da Vinci Code. Do you ever get into one of those moods where you just feel like buying a book for the sake of buying a book? I think I was in one of those and I was a lot younger at the time, I hadn’t ever heard of a tbr pile and I certainly didn’t have a blog!
I never normally go for books like this, but something about the design caught my eye and I liked the concept. The story is supposed to be about a guy that poses as the best friend/brother/son of famous actors and actresses to get freebies. It sounded like a lot of fun so I took a chance on it. Unfortunately, it had gotten so hidden away behind other books I had almost forgotten I owned it, and not even it’s desperate screams of ‘readddd meeee’ could be heard from it’s place behind a stack on books.
Now we have Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, the first two books in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I have owned these for a little longer than the previous books above, but not much. I think I probably got them for my fifteenth of sixteenth birthday courtesy of a friend. While I loved the covers and was curious to try them, I was also very wary of the werewolf craze and reading about it never overly appealed to me. Then I attempted Kelley Armstrong and fell in love with the way she crafted her werewolf characters and became adamant that no one could do werewolves better than her! So I decided to give this series some distance. Next thing I knew Angels were in, then immortals and the next thing you know I had forgotten all about Maggie and her werewolves and moved on to other things. I’m hoping now that time has passed that I might even appreciate them more, an oversaturated market is never a good thing. 🙂
Lastly but far from least is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. After reading Wuthering Heights and discovering it was Emily’s only novel I was hugely disappointed. So when I found out she had two sisters and that the writer of the famous Jane Eyre was one of them, my fourteen/fifteen year old self rushed out to buy it. (I actually have two copies now!) I think I can blame GCSEs for neglecting this one, but I was also concerned that it would pale in comparison to my beloved Wuthering Heights, so similarly to Kelley vs Stiefvater I wanted to put some distance between the two. Distance turned into a year, and then two years and then oh gosh, FIVE YEARS. I’m a bad bookworm! The problem is, after so much time I have almost built up the hype in my head, especially after viewing a few adaptations and now I’m once again worried the novel won’t live up to the picture I have of it in my head. I know curiosity will get the better of me soon though, I feel it calling as I’m writing this!
Which books have been on your ‘to read’ list the longest? If anyone has read any of the books above and enjoyed them please let me know, it could be the much needed motivation I need to pick them up! 🙂
P.S. I’m way behind on replying to comments at the moment, but I’m looking forward to answering them and reading all the great things you guys have to say! Just so you know I haven’t forgotten! 😉
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I had exactly the same issue with Jane Eyre as you do. I felt so familiar with the story having seen so many different adaptations that I had no desire to actually read the book. But then I picked up the same version you have photographed at a bargain price and decided to give it a go – I loved it! It is quite an easy read, Jane is a wonderful character and the endless TV adaptations didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book at all.
So happy to know it’s not just me that has done the weird dance around Jane Eyre! But it’s so comforting to know that you were still able to enjoy the novel even having seem so many adaptations. 🙂 I’m always pleased to hear when someone mentions a classic as an easy read because there are some real tough ones out there! I will keep my fingers crossed that I will like Jane Eyre as much as you.
Thanks for reading and commenting blankpages!
I’m just like you! I can not read books out of order not matter what. Well, that is if I know a book is in a series. I remember that I bought Ghost Town oblivious that it was a part of a series. And then I searched the book up online and kicked myself for not seeing the obvious. I then bought all the books all at ounce and read them.
One of the books that have been on my TBR list for a long time is Brave Story. I am avoiding the book because of its length. I mean, it’s over 800 pages long! Just imagine how many books I could read in the time I can read that one book!
Oh, and I just found out about your blog! Lindsey showed it to me via her blog 😀
Phew! So glad it’s not just me, Lottie because I know a few people find that trait odd. A few times I have read a book from the middle of a series without realising and ohh my gosh, I was horrified! I almost wanted to go back in time and not read it because I hate that feeling of missing some vital information the first book/s may have given. I would have done the exact same thing as you and rectified my mistake buy getting hold of all the previous books. 🙂
Ohh wow, that is long! I think big books definitely tend to sit on our shelves longer, not necessarily because we’re scared of their length but because of the commitment as you’ve said. I always want to be sure I will have the time to read it first.
Ohh that’s great, I love Lindsey’s blog. Thank you for taking the time to pop over and comment, Lottie! 😀
The only long-standing books on my shelves are ones that I got for a Christmas/birthday, but I don’t think they really count. They can be like those awful Christmas jumpers that your nan gets you, and you have to wear it that one time she comes round to visit six months later.
To be honest, I had no idea that The Da Vinci Code was part of a series until now. The things one learns, eh?
Hahaa ohh no! Relatives with bad book taste eh? Don’t they know about your WW2 obsession? Surely they couldn’t go wrong with that massive area to choose from! 🙂 I still think they count for this question because I got two of the books I mentioned for a birthday, granted I wanted them at the time but ohh well. 😛 Luckily my nan has good taste so I don’t have to worry about random jumpers!
Haha I didn’t realise until quite a few years later, they have the same main characters who is trying to crack codes and myths etc, possibly a few other characters overlap but the stories don’t – I don’t think. Indeed, the internet is useful. 🙂
I checked my TBR on Goodreads, and the oldest one on there is “The Scorch Trials” by James Dashner. January 2012, wow.
It’s part two of The Maze Runner series – the first one has the main character waking in a strange maze with no memory of how he got there (what a great premise!) – and neither do the other characters he meets. I added it before I finished the first, and never got back to it.
Haha, you think 2012 is bad, some of mine were from five or six years ago, disgraceful!
I didn’t realise that The Maze Runner was a series, I figured it was just the one book because it’s the only one I ever hear about. How interesting. Oooh that sounds like a great premise indeed. 🙂 I’ve been seeing The Maze Runner all over Goodreads lately but I’m not sure if I will ever get the time to pick it up. :S It looks great though!
Not sure why I never picked the second one up…it might have been because I realised it was a series and was waiting for it to finish – I hate waiting for books!
Agh yeah that always really annoys me too! In fact, that probably is why you left it because I have been guilty of doing that so many times, even with books I really enjoyed. When you have to wait so long for the next book to come out you forget details of the first or have moved on to other things. 🙂
Oh my gosh! Yes, Jane Eyre has been in my TBR pile since GCSEs as well so about 7 years now! Also in that pile:
Atlas Shrugged & The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand
Madame Bovary
Anna Karenina
The Bourne Identity – Robert Ludlum
…so many more! I know what you mean, I recently discovered a place that sells overstocked books at a deep discount and instead of continuing to read the fifth game of thrones book like I had planned, I’m now derailed onto a new Mary Higgins Clark mystery. *Sigh* problems of book lovers :).
E..
PS. I’m really enjoying this post series of yours!
Hahaa maybe there’s something mysterious about Jane Eyre that makes people buy it but not read it. I think seven years even beats me!
I’ve heard mixed things about Atlas Shugged so I would be interested to see what you think of that. 🙂 Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina look amazing, I want to read them myself one day and I would be curious to see what Bourne would be like as a book. Maybe you should get to Jane Eyre first though, hehee.
Ohh the woes of being a bookworm, so much to read, so little time. 🙂 I know exactly what you mean, I am known for making wide detours when I’m in the middle of a series, I can sometimes forget them for years before I return.
Ohh wow,that sounds fantastic! I don’t suppose it’s any kind of chain I might have the hope of finding over here? :S What’s it called?
I hope you enjoy all your lovely books and thank you for reading and commenting! So glad you are enjoying the 30 Day Book Challenge. 🙂
The chain is called “Ollie’s”. I will definitely let you know what I think of the books…just as soon as I get to them hehe :). I know what you mean… there’s always so many books and never enough time.
Thanks! Good luck with the rest of your challenge!
Awh shame, I just looked it up and it seems to be a purely American thing right now. Fingers crossed I can come across something similar here eventually! Ohh well. 🙂
Ha, I do this all the time! I’ll go into a bookshop and buy 4 or 5 books that I’m really excited to read and then I’ll read a few of them, but then I’ll go into another shop and buy a few more and then they take over, or continuations of series’ that I’ve read have been released and I’ve just had to buy and read them straight away! so some do get left, I’ll get round to them eventually though 🙂 I even stopped myself going into ‘stones or ‘smiths for a while!
I’ve read and reviewed The Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I loved it! There’s some really unexpected things across the series and I thought it was pretty great 🙂 Can’t wait to hear your opinions on it when you finally get around to reading them 😉
I’ve just bought The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones after seeing the film yesterday! They were on my to be read list for ages but because there were quite a few of them I kept putting it off, I wanted to get through all the books I had! but then the film came out and I didn’t want to miss out on seeing it, so I thought I’d do what I did with Twilight: go see it, read it, then go see it again. I found that way I was able to appreciate both for what they were rather than going in with preconceived notions, because as soon as I’d read all the other Twilight books, when the films came out all I could do was compare them
have you read/seen City Of Bones yet?
That is EXACTLY what I do, so good to know I’m not alone! My problem is I just get so caught up in whichever book is my latest purchase, and even though I still really want to read the other one the new books will be in the forefront of my mind. Ah, what’s a bookworm to do? Yes, you are spot on about the continuation of series, that always catches me out! I start too many and then I can’t keep up or forget to buy the next book. It’s really a habit I should sort out. 😛 Hehe I put a book ban on myself for a while so I feel your pain!
Ohh that’s a great sign, thanks for the encouragement. I’m sure once I get round to them I will enjoy the books, but there are so many others that keep taking priority over them, so I think I just need to convince myself to pick them up. 🙂
I have City of Bones too, I won it in the readathon and I’m really excited to read it. Good to hear you enjoyed the film. I understand putting off long series because I have been doing the same thing. For the most part at the moment I am forcing myself to try and finish off some of the ones I have started, but I have a feeling that idea may go out of the window when I get to uni because I will simply read what I feel like. That’s a fab idea of treating a book to film adaptation!
Yeah you’re definitely not alone! It’s because they’re all new and haven’t lost their initial excitement yet, and I know what you mean about falling behind on series catch ups, there have been a few I ended leaving just because I got distracted by other books and never went back to the next one. I feel like if I do that with a series though it may’ve not been as engaging because there have been certain ones where I just have to get the next ones as soon as they’re released.
No worries! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
I know what you mean about trying to finish series’, I’m doing the same thing, after I’ve finished The Sinners On Tour series and The Mortal Instruments I’m going to try and get caught up with all my other series’ before I start buying more! I was trying to catch up first but I really really wanted to read those two series’ and I think if I’d tried to catch up and not read them first it might’ve felt like a chore, so I know what you mean about reading what you feel like 🙂 and thanks! x
Definitely, I think we are all guilty of doing it, whether it’s books, TV, video games or new clothes. Ohh I have the terrible habit of doing it even when I love a series dearly, the books get lost in the pile, I’m very bad at doing that. There are many series that I love yet for some reason don’t seem to be able to get round to for some reason, I hope I can fix that soon. 🙂
Haha I feel your pain! It’s all well and good saying it but sticking to it is far harder. 😛
I have so many books in my to read pile! I’m slowly working my way through but get carried away in cheap bookshops and continuously add to the pile. I’m reading my 11th book of the year. I’m currently going through a bit of a historical romance phase books about the lives of old queens I.e. The White Queen.
The book that has been on my to read pile the longest I think is probably Moll Flanders, brought in a selection of classics years ago and sat in the pile ever since!
I read anything, I pick books mostly by the cover and sometimes because I have enjoyed something by the author previously or seen that Movie/ TV show and want t read the book. Sometimes I even read the book before seeing the movie!
I brought a leather bound illustrated A3 size copy of the complete works of Jane Austen as I fell in love with it and had t have it. In reality the book is too big to read unless rested on a table and just sits and stares at me from the shelf. I promised myself that one day I would read it cover to cover and I’m sure I will.
Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite books, I have been reading it on and off for the second time on my IPad this year. I love the idea you can love someone enough that you lose your mind when they leave you. It remains the only book i Have ever tried to read twice! With all the books in the world it’s hard to find time to read them let alone re-read ones I already have!
Me too, Charlie, me too! These are a minuscule selection and since writing this I have already discovered three more books that really should have been mentioned in this post, I may have even owned them longer than six years. :S Cheap books shops are the WORST (and by worst I mean the best) for bringing home tons of books to make your tbr pile topple. I’m extremely guilty of that. I’ve never dabbled much with historical romance but I would like to in the future. 🙂
I think classics are the easiest to leave around on your shelf by far, you have to concentrate on them more so it is totally understandable. That and books you buy because of hype! I tend to read anything too (except crime), I always think it’s good to read different genre’s because you learn a lot more! I’m definitely loyal to authors too, if I find one I like I buy all their books.
Ohh wow, the Austen book sounds like a dream! Phaa, who cares about the practicalities when you have a beautiful book like that? 😀
Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favourite books too, I would love the chance to reread it at some point. Good luck rereading, I hope you enjoy it as much the second time.
Thanks!
I have a couple Karen Kingsbury books I was given for Christmas…around 8-9 years ago! I really need to read them-but I did start one last week, “A Promise for Ellie” that I got 9 years ago. I’ve always wanted to read Jane Austens books, but never have gotten around to it too. Someday!
Nine years ago, wow! Although in all truth I can see a lot of mine reaching that target in the very near future. 😛 It’s great that you finally decided to pick it up, I hope you enjoy it. I am an ignore of books given as presents sometimes too, even when they are great ones. I think sometimes the act of buying a book yourself gets you more excited about it and so your read it quicker!
I hope you get to your Austen one day. 🙂
Once again, we are totally alike :). I get so excited about my new purchases that I forget about all the other books waiting to be read on my shelf (and other shelf and floor LOL). I would have to say that the first one that comes to mind for this question is The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel. It stays unread on my shelf month after month because it is part of a series, and I keep thinking that I should go back and read the other books in the series because I don’t remember what happened, but these books are all huge and this is the 6th in the series, so that would definitely take a while :).
Hehee, we do have a problem don’t we? But it’s a very good problem. 😀 I get so enthusiastic about new purchases, my older books and even ones I have already read that I find it impossible to choose which books to read next! I think I would be even worse with the Kindle, I would keep buying and buying and forget about all the ones I had because I wouldn’t be reminded by a bookshelf, LOL. I’m actually piling books on top of my bookshelf now!
Oooh it has a cool title. 🙂 I am definitely guilty of doing that too, and it is one of the main reasons that books can stay unread on my shelf for such a long time I think! I could give several examples of it off the top of my head it’s that bad.
I will be interesting to see which decision you make about this series!
Now I have an even bigger problem!! The International Festival of Authors starts next week in Toronto, and there are quite a few I would love to go and see. However, a lot of them are during the week at night, and it’s almost 2 hours away! You realize that when I go to see authors I have to buy at least one of their books ahead of time so that I have something for them to autograph right? LOL Would you believe that Stephen King is going to be there? Too bad all those tickets are sold out already – gee I wonder why :). I am definitely going to see Guy Gavriel Kay on October 26th. I haven’t read any of his books but I have heard really good things about a fantasy series he wrote called The Fionava Tapestry. Have you heard of it?
Whoa, what a name, sounds epic! Ohh the dilemmas of being a working adult with responsibilities. I say go for it though! Or, just pick the ones you reallllllllllyyyy want to go to. 🙂 Hahaa no I didn’t! Although I guess it makes sense, if everyone was buying the authors books there it would take twice the time and twice the chaos. I kind of just assumed you bought the book there – I think the second Harry Potter film gave me that idea, LOL.
Wow Stephen King! I didn’t realise he still bothered to do signing like that because he is so popular now. I guess that is a silly thought because he owes it all to his fans, it’s just you don’t hear of bigger authors doing as many signings – but again maybe that is because I live in the UK!
Nope I’ve never heard of The Fionava Tapestry but if it’s any kind of fantasy I’m sure it will be right up my ally!
I’m not sure if he will actually be signing books, but he is speaking at the opening benefit with his son, Owen King, who is an author as well. He has another son who writes under the name Joe Hill, I guess because he wants to be successful without his dad’s’ name. What a talented family!
I had no idea his sons were authors as well! Wow, that’s no fair, too much talent in one family, share it around, I need some of it, LOL. 😛
Me too, me too 🙂
Oh Lordy lord, I have a ridiculous amount. I’ve come back from my sister’s with 17 new books. No joke. 17. My ‘classic’ reading list is pretty damn long and there’s tons of others that I can’t even bear to think about.
Wow, that is one awesome book haul Charl! Super jealous. 😛 (Not like I have enough of my own books to worry about, LOL) I hope you had a good time and that you enjoy your new lovely books. 🙂
I know what you mean, when you stop to think about all the books you have to read or want to read it can get overwhelming!
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I read Da Vinci Code, Deception point and Angels and Demons but all in a weird order. They each seemed like different books to me. I always thought books in a series had to follow in sequence according to storyline. Oh well, nevertheless, no matter how much criticism it got, I still stand by Da Vinci Code. It’s a brilliant novel. 🙂
That kind of goes in accordance with what I have heard from others as well so you are not alone! Yet even knowing this I know for a fact I will read them in order. It’s just one of those weird things. 😛
That’s great to hear because I’m hoping I’ll like them! If you like them that is a good sign to me. 😀
I read Jane Eyre recently because I loved Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair which messes with it. 🙂 Dan Brown’s books are fun to mix in to your reading schedule, they are super easy to read and suck you right in with short chapters, you feel like a reading rock star. I think my favorite was Deception Point though. I tried Digital Fortress a long time ago and couldn’t get into it, might have to try again. The other ones, Da Vinci and stuff I read out of order as well. it really doesn’t matter as the only similarities are the one main character. My fav was Angel’s and Demons though.
Some fun books! I buy books just to buy one too 🙂
Oooh that’s great, I always find in interesting how one book can inspire you to pick up a subsequent book because it mentions it or draws from it. I always find that awesome, it shows the power of books. 🙂
That sounds great, especially since I will be heading back to uni in a matter of days, ‘easy’ and ‘short’ rings positive bells in my ears. Reading rock star, love it! So many people have told me you don’t have to read them in order that I am sure you are right, but that little niggle in my brain is going to force me to read them chronologically anyway. LOL.
Thanks Elisa! Good to know it’s not only me that does that. 😉
Yet again, running in last and wayyy behind in comments, haha, but I don’t want to pass up any of your blogs because I love reading them! Also want to congratulate you for so wonderfully keeping up with the 30 Day Book Challenge, my gawd, kudos, girl!
Now, onto business. I’ve only read Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I think the hype is unworthy but I will admit that they were suspenseful for sure. Very suspenseful.
Never heard of Free Lunch either! Hmmm. Sounds interesting!
I absolutely LOOOVE the covers for Shiver, Linger, and Jane Eyre!!!!!!!! Sorry metaphor people, judging books by their covers is kinda inevitable sometimes, and these look luscious. Ya know my thoughts on Jane Eyre. I haven’t read Shiver or Linger BUT since I’ve observed all this talk about Maggie Stuffenstiffer or whatever-her-name-is circulating on WordPress, I decided to buy this really cheap version of one of her books, actually forget what it’s called, but looking forward to reading it! Gonna do a book haul blog and mention it.
Putting books off on the TBR shelf is totally understandable – no one who really loves books could turn down good deals! I try to look at it this way… in the event of a media collapse, we’ll be set for months (perhaps years, in some cases!) of entertainment! XD
Great blog!
Hehe no worries because I am running way behind on comments too! Awwh I’m so glad you feel that way thank you, I feel lucky to have such a dedicated reader. 😀 Thanks, it was touch and go for a while there but somehow it worked out, I really don’t know how I managed it but I got there somehow. :S
Hmm I’m not sure whether that is a good or bad thing. To be honest I don’t have very high expectations so hopefully it can only go up from there. Suspenseful can be good, I can work with suspenseful!
By the looks of its availability I don’t think anyone has heard of Free Lunch, lol. No need to apologize, we all fall in cover lust, it’s one of the most fun parts of being a bookworm! I love the front covers too and I hope the stories can live up to them. 🙂 She does seem to keep popping up lately doesn’t she? I hope you enjoy the book of hers you bough, you’ll have to let me know.
Haha thanks for thinking so, it makes me feel less like a hoarder of books. 😉 I totally agree!