Mar 25, 2012

TBR of Shame: My Big Three

stack of books from Microsoft clip art
Hi friends!  I only received one book this week, so I figured instead of doing an IMM, I'd save it for next time and share with you my TBR of Shame.  In the last few weeks, Holly over at Book Harbinger, and Chachic at Chachic's Book Nook made some lovely lists inspired by Flannery's list over on The Readventurer.  Not only did these lovely ladies get me to start reading The Readventurer (which is a pretty sweet blog if you don't read it yet), they kinda got me itching to make my own such list.  You can check out Holly's here, Chachic's here, and Flannery's here.


I'm going to try to keep my list realistic for me for this year...because let's face it, long term goals are a problem for future Heidi.  I call this my 'TBR of Shame' because these here are the books and authors I'm most ashamed of myself for not having picked up yet:


My Big Three: Authors

So the authors on this list are all ones that I've read nothing by, but want to read all of the books!  Seriously.  Pretty much every book in each of their backlogs is on my TBR, and I solemnly swear to read at least ONE thing by each of them this year:

Melina Marchetta

Book cover of Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
It's pretty hard to hang out in the YA blogosphere and not hear all about Melina Marchetta.  She's probably the best known Aussie YA author this side of either ocean.  Chachic, bookevangelist pro, is celebrating Marchetta Madness which has done a lot to solidify my shame and guarentee I will be picking up Saving Francesca in my next digital library haul.  Why am I starting here?  Well, for one, it's available through Overdrive, and two, I've heard comparisons between Thomas Mackee and my latest mad crush, Marcus Flutie, making Saving Francesca and The Piper's Son an easy priority.

Marcus Sedgwick

Book cover of Midwintersblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Marcus Sedgwick is another one of those authors where I pretty much only hear good things about his books.  Especially from Ana of The Book Smugglers.  Ever since becoming intrigued by last year's Midwinterblood, I've been meaning to pick something of his up.  Particularly when every time I run across a new book of his, I just add it to my TBR.

Juliet Marillier

Book cover of Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Ah...Juliet Marillier...I really have no excuse for this one slipping under.  She writes exactly the type of books I adore, and yet, I've failed to ever pick one up.  Well, this year I have sworn up and down that I will at least start the Sevenwaters series.  Mostly so that Alyssa doesn't stop being my friend. :P

My Big Three: Series

Song of the Lioness

Book cover of Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Somehow I got through a childhood parked in the Fantasy section of my library without ever picking up this series.  I'm going to go ahead and blame my slight Mercedes Lackey obsession.  But the time for excuses has ended, this year I want to at least start this series.  It's classic girl in boys clothing, and how can I resist that?  That's right, I can't.

Tomorrow

Book cover of Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Okay not having read this one isn't so incredibly shameful.  It's a series that Aussies grew up with, but never got the notoriety it probably deserved in the U.S.  Well, ever since hearing about it I've been dying to read it, especially after seeing a trailer for the movie over at Inkcrush.  Instantly added the movie to my Netflix queue, and I'll be reading the books asap to prepare.

Five Hundred Kingdoms

Book cover of Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey
Ahem.  Remember two minutes ago when I declared my Mercedes Lackey obsession?  Well, I lied.  It's more of a Valdemar obsession.  I've shamefully never read any of one of my favorite author's works outside of the Valdemar universe.  I particularly want to read this series, as it's all fairy tale retellings.  In fact, I am so ashamed I haven't read this series, I can barely say it publicly.  I love Mercedes Lackey and I love retellings.  From my understanding, each is more or less a stand alone novel taking place in the same universe, so I think I can read them in whatever order I please, but someone correct me if I'm wrong. 

My Big Three: Books

So there are books I'm probably more ashamed of not having read.  When I was in college, my History of the Book class was full of bibliophiles, and we'd sit around playing "What's the most famous book you've never read?"  And there's a lot I could name, but these three are books that I feel like I'm the last person to read, and have wanted to read for ages.  They're books I actually really want to read, not just to fill in gaps or because I think I should, because I genuinely want to pick them up and think I'll love them!

The Phantom Tollbooth

Book cover of The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
You might find this hard to believe, but I didn't even hear of this book until I was in college and found out it was my good friend's childhood favorite.  I'm sad for childhood me every time I see this book.  I've actually checked it out from the library at least three times, and never read it before returning it.  How shameful is that?

The Book Thief

Book cover of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one's fairly recent, but I have little doubt that it's on its way to being called a classic.  I've been meaning to pick it up since it came out, but never feel quite in the mood for it.  It always takes something out of me to knowingly read WWII stories.  Still, I've heard good things about the audio, and will probably listen to this one fairly soonish.  I hope.  Maybe.

The Last Unicorn

Book cover of The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
The Last Unicorn was, without a doubt, my favorite movie as a child.  I made my parents rent it constantly.  And get this--I honestly believed it was magic.  Somehow, every time I watched it I would fall asleep (hey, I was a kid!), but every time I would fall asleep just a few minutes later than the time before.  I didn't know I was falling asleep, I honest to God thought that the movie would get a little longer every time I watched it.  To me, it was magic.  It's my strongest memory of really having that belief as a child, and I can't believe I haven't read the book yet.  I mean, I own the VHS, I own the DVD, I name my Rock Band bands 'Last of the Red Hot Swamis'.  Of course I'll love it, but something inside of me is afraid to disappoint.

So that's it--my TBR of shame.  Fewer books than other lists, but probably more wordy.  Let me know if you've read any of these books, what you've thought, or who and what is on your own TBR of shame!

11 comments:

  1. I LOVE THE COVER OF 'THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH'! I have also never read it but would really like to!

    I did a review of 'The Book Thief' on my blog recently if you are interested in it!: http://pocketfulofbooksblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/review-book-thief-by-markus-zusak.html

    x

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  2. Dude, be super ashamed of having never read The Phantom Tollbooth. I love that book with ALL MY HEART. Like it's one of my favorite books of all time and one I can go to whenever I am having a crap day and feel comfort.

    I am bizarrely proud of having read all three books in the bottom part. Like, The Book Thief is shatter your soul good. The Last Unicorn is quite whimsical but a bit melancholy too.

    I just lost my Marchetta v-card last month, but you know this and read the post. It's never too late to try her out.

    Haven't read Marcus Sedgewick or Mercedes Lackey or The Tomorrow series yet. Hope to do that someday too!

    Hope you become 'unashamed' soon!! :-D

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  3. Ahem. DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST and ALANNA.

    STAT!

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  4. So, all of this. We're practically twins in our book-shame. I haven't read ANY Melina Marchetta either, although I want to get on Jellicoe Road like nobody's business. I just read my first Marillier last year (Wildwood Dancing; it was excellent. I want to start the Sevenwaters books soon). I haven't read The Phantom Tollbooth OR The Book Thief either. I have read the Alanna books and they were GREAT, but I need to read more Tamora. Alanna and Beka Cooper are the only series of her I've read and they were both fantastic. I think you'll love them! And TRY and tell me that Midwinterblood DOESN'T sound awesome, right?! I need to get into some Mercedes Lackey, though. I've been meaning to read something of hers for years and I just haven't gotten to it. So many books to read! AHHH! LET'S DO THIS.

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  5. I've heard amazing things on both Saving Francesca and Book Thief. I really have to get to those too soon! Awesome haul!!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  6. I can't believe you hadn't heard of The Phantom Tollbooth before college! I read it in 5th grade and really loved it :]
    I have to say that I've never read The Book Thief either and despite all the raving madness (this works, right? :P) that surrounds it, I don't really plan on reading it either. It just doesn't really seem like my type of book and I wouldn't want to serve it an injustice by that.

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  7. Melina Marchetta AND Juliet Marillier! You have got to read both authors soon. Start with Marillier's Daughter of the Forest because I love her Sevenwaters series (Angie was actually the one who convinced me to read that :P). And I haven't read The Book Thief or The Phantom Tollbooth either. I have copies of both so I hope I can read them within the year.

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  8. First, THIS IS THE COOLEST IDEA FOR A POST EVER AND I AM DOING IT NOW. Second, I haven't read most of these books either...umm oops. Finally, YESSSS!!! Juliet Marillier is amaaazing and I think since you loved Grave Mercy you will definitely love her. Slow burning romances all around! I will be reading her Sevenwaters series over again before Flame comes out and I think I've said before, Daughter of the Forest was actually my least favorite so give it at least until after you read Son of Shadows to decide if you love her or not! :]

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    1. Also? The three books you are most ashamed of not reading? I never read either. Let's hear it for book twins!!

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  9. I didn't see this post when you first did it. I'm ashamed I've never read The Phantom Tollbooth either--I aim to do it soon. It's easy to knockout juvenile fiction. This week I'm reading a ton of Beverly Cleary books with Wendy from Midnight Garden this week and I'm excited to cross a bunch off of my TBR list. I am always surprised when I see someone who hasn't read any of Melina Marchetta's books but I also get very excited for you at how much you have left. The Book Thief took me several restarts until I finished it but it was a 5-star book when all was said and done. I listened to and loved the Lioness books. Your other picks are some of my TBRs as well: Juliet Marillier, the Tomorrow series, Mercedes Lackey, and Marcus Sedgwick. I hope you can make a dent this year!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Flannery! I'm working on it. I love that you and Wendy are reading some Beverly Cleary! Juvenile books are the best for feeling accomplished. I hope you make a dent in your list as well. =)

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