Happy Tuesday! I hope you’re all having a lovely week so far. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is quite a challenging one: the Top Ten Books from Before Blogging that I Still Haven’t Read. I’ve been book blogging for years now, so long that I can hardly remember when I started (eighth grade? ninth grade?). I started out with a different blog using Blogger, and then I created this WordPress one a few years later. I know for sure that I’ve been book blogging for at least five years, so remembering what I wanted to read way back then that I still haven’t read is a little difficult. However, I’ve managed to piece together a list of books that generally fit the bill.
Let’s take a journey into the mind of fourteen-year-old Holly, shall we?
1. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
I was a devoted Sarah Dessen fan when I was younger, and I ended up reading the majority of her books. There are a few that I never got around to for some reason, and this is one of them. Her books were always my go-to summer reads, so I’m sure I’ll end up picking this one up at some point in the future.
2. The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
This is the sequel to Johnson’s book Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, which I read and enjoyed enough to want to read the sequel. However, because so much time has passed since reading the first book I really have no burning desire to read this sequel now. Unfortunately, this is a short series that I’ll most likely leave unfinished.
3. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
I loved the first book in this trilogy– Perfect Chemistry– and I always meant to read the other two books, but I never got around to it. (This will be a recurring theme in this post: me “not getting around” to reading books. Basically, there are so many books and so little time in which to read them all!)
4. Many Waters & An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L’Engle
These are the fourth and fifth books in the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet. I read the first three books and actually still own the entire series, but for some reason I have never read these last two installments. I feel like I would still really enjoy them, so I’ll have to put them back on my TBR!
5. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Again, this is another sequel that I have yet to read for no particular reason. I really enjoyed The Giver, especially considering it’s one of the early books in the YA dystopian trend that recently exploded with popularity. (And if you ask me, Lowry wrote it much better than many of the newer novels!) I’ll definitely have to continue on with this series eventually!
6. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
I’ve always pictured this book as being the quintessential YA summer novel, and because of this idealization I think I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to read it. However, at this point I think I just have to read it whenever I have the time and I’m in the mood. People seem to love this series, as well as the movie adaptation.
7. The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
Ever since I first discovered The Lover’s Dictionary I’ve been infatuated with its basic premise: the story of a romantic relationship told through dictionary entries. What could be better for us word-loving bibliophiles? Plus, David Levithan’s books are always a treat to read.
8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Back when I was in middle school, this was one of the more popular YA novels. However, after all of the initial hype settled I began to hear some mixed reviews, which is why I set it aside to read at a later date…. a later date that has apparently never arrived! Unfortunately, I don’t think this is one that I’ll be picking up any time soon.
9. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
I LOVE LORD OF THE RINGS. ❤ I’ve owned a copy of this book for years, but it has always sort of intimidated me. I don’t know much about the actual story itself, and I’m afraid that it’s going to be confusing at first. But I’m determined to read it at some point!
10. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
I adored these movies when I was younger, and I’ve always toyed with the idea of reading the entire book series. Part of me wants to save them for a rainy day when I could use a little cheer– I feel like these will instantly put a smile on my face, no matter how blue I’m feeling!
What are some unread books left on your TBR from your pre-blogging years? What do you think of the books on my list? Which ones should I read? Let me know in the comments section below!
Yours,
HOLLY
I liked the Blue Envelopes books. And I’ve read lots of Sarah Dessen–you’re right, she’s lots of fun. Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son are all really really good. Uglies is pretty typical now, but still good. Um, I’m still meaning to finish L.M. Mongomery’s Emily series, and I want to finish the Garth Nix days of the Week books (they’re called keys to the kingdom) but I’ve never really got around to it)
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I’ve never read any Garth Nix books, but I’ve heard great things about them. I’m always up for a good fantasy series! 🙂
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The Silmarillion can be hard to get into because the world and history is so complex. I love it, though. Out of the others, I’ve read Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants when it first came out and I went through a more girlie phase. I don’t know any of the others. Here’s my TTT.
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That’s exactly why I haven’t read The Silmarillion yet– I tried once, but you definitely have to be in the right mindset to understand Tolkien’s complex world. Hopefully I’ll read it soon, though! 🙂
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Oh that’s too bad you have no intention of picking up Uglies again. I found that it was a great book, and I loved the world the author created 🙂 I haven’t read the sequel of The Blue Envelopes either, and it’s been so long since I read the first book…I couldn’t remember a thing about it ahah. I really loved that book though. Great list 🙂
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That always happens to me with sequels, too: I wait so long to read the next book that by the time I do I’ve forgotten what the story is even about!
That’s good to hear about the Uglies, though, if I ever do decide to pick it up again 🙂
Thanks!
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I DESPERATELY need to read more David Levithan books, they’re awesome aren’t they? I read Every Day in a single afternoon- such a brilliant author :3
Emma @ Emma’s Bookery
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David Levithan is so great! Every Day was really good, and I love Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which he co-wrote with John Green. His books are fun, hilarious, and really easy to fly through! ❤
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I’ve always been interested in reading The Uglies, but just never have. I also want to read a book by David Levithan, because everyone praises everything he writes! I’m just so behind!
Great list 🙂
My TTT: https://libroliv.com/2016/08/23/top-ten-tuesday/
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Don’t worry– I’m so behind, too! 🙂 I really recommend any book by David Levithan, because they’re all fun and hilarious. Most of them are pretty short as well, so you can get through them pretty quickly. Hope you enjoy them! 🙂
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The only Lois Lowry book I’ve read so far is The Giver. I should read more from her (?) too.
See my list here https://runwright.net/2016/08/23/11364/
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I’m in the same boat! People seem to really love her other books, so I should definitely read more of them at some point.
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SO MANY GREAT BOOKS! Keeping the Moon was the first Sarah Dessen book I read (also the first YA book!), and it is absolutely my favorite. I hope you love it when you read it! 🙂
My #Shame TTT
Happy Reading! 🙂
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That’s so good to hear that you love Keeping the Moon! I’ll definitely have to check it out! Thanks 🙂
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I’ve never actually read any of these, or heard of a lot of them either. Ever since I read and loved Saint Anything last year, I’ve really been wanting to read more by her. Great list, and hopefully you’ll get to them eventually. 😉
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Thank you!! I would recommend practically all of Sarah Dessen’s books, but Along for the Ride, Lock and Key, What Happened to Goodbye, and The Moon and More are a few of my favorites. ❤
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You’ve got some good books on here. THE SISTERHOOD … is a fun one. GATHERING BLUE and UGLIES are both interesting, thought-provoking novels. I’d recommend them all 🙂
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That’s so good to hear that you’d recommend them! Thanks!! 🙂
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Traveling Pants is good in the beginning, but the latest novel was awful, so wouldn’t recommend the series. I like Uglies and Princess Diaries, and you can finish Lover’s Dictionary in one sitting. I just bought Silmarillion this year, because I’m also a huge LOTR fan!
My TTT: https://bookclubbabe.net/2016/08/23/top-ten-tuesday-classics-i-still-havent-read-yet-2/
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I love books that can be read in one sitting, so I’ll definitely have to check out the Lover’s Dictionary. And yay, another LOTR fan!! ❤
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Rules of attraction is good!! I have the trilogy but one of my friends has had the last two for three years now 😥 I don’t think I’ll ever get them back.
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haha that’s the worst when you know that you’re books have officially disappeared for good. I’m so glad you enjoyed Rules of Attraction! 🙂
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I really liked the Uglies series and The Last Little blue Envelope! I also need to read a Sarah Dessen book! And I love David Levithan
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That’s good to hear that you enjoyed the Uglies series! Maybe I will have to give it a chance after all… 🙂
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Ah, 14-year-old Holly had good taste! I hope you eventually get to these! 🙂
My TTT
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haha thanks!! 🙂
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The Princess Diaries and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants were probably my two favorite book series when I was a young teenager! You should definitely read them. They’re very entertaining. 🙂
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That’s so good to hear!! I’ll definitely have to check them out sometime 🙂
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I’ve read of your list Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants, The Princess Diaries and Uglies. The first two I liked when I was younger, I don’t know if I’d like them as much now and Uglies I read just a couple of years ago and really liked the first book but wasn’t keen on the rest of the series.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/top-ten-tuesday-71/
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I’ve heard that a lot as well, that the first Uglies book is good but the rest of the series is just okay. It’s sad, because I really enjoy some of Scott Westerfeld’s other books!
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Yeah, it is a shame really, the first book had so much potential!
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Fun TTT list! 🙂 From what I recall, Many Waters is fabulous and An Acceptable Time is forgettable. The Silmarillion is best read as quickly as possible, as there are many details to keep track of. (I failed at this! Haha.) Also, Sarah Dessen is so fun! I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of these soon!
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Thank you!! That’s really good advice about The Silmarillion. It seems like it’s really complex!
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It’s like reading a primary source! XD But it’s totally worth it, if you loved LOTR.
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I’ve been thinking about reading the Silmarillion for years now too, but I agree, it does seem a little intimidating. 🙂
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Let me know if you get around to reading it! I’d love to know your thoughts 🙂
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Great list. I really enjoyed the Princess Diaries, a little different fromt he film but really good.
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Thanks! 🙂
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