Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Ten Books We Almost Put Down But Didn't



To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or see the list of future topics click here


 Jamie's Picks:

1. Pride & Prejudice: YEP. One of my favorite books. I almost put this down because I was so not into it at first. I ended up pressing on because I didn't want to be the only girl in the world who didn't know who the swoonworthy Mr. Darcey was. Glad I kept going because I fell in love!

2. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman: I had bought this on a whim at a used book sale and read it many years ago because I had heard of the great Neil Gaiman and I wanted to give him a shot. It so wasn't my typical kind of read (especially at that point in time) and I almost put it down but I'm so glad I didn't. I need to read more Gaiman despite ending up enjoying it!

3. Eve & Adam by Katerine Applegate & Michael Grant: I wish I would have once I realized that this book was not at all what I thought it would be. Instead I kept going. It ended and I was like WHY DID I READ THIS.

Kimberly's Pick

4. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray:  I couldn't stand the narrative style at first. I want sure if I wanted to even try reading it. But since I had already bought I decided to read it. And I ended up loving it!

Bridget's Pick

5. The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling: It took me forever (aka about a month and 200 pages) to get into this book, but I'm so glad I pushed through and finished it! For those of you who weren't able to get into it, I totally understand--it took a while for it to all come together. But I would recommend giving it another try, I think it was worth it in the end.

Paula's Pick

6. The Town That Forgot How to Breathe by Kenneth Harvey - I pushed through this book but I wish I had the capability of putting books down because I would have my three weeks back...

 Jana's Picks

7. Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally - I kind of wish I had just stopped this one, because I really did not enjoy it. I've read another book by this author and didn't like it either, so I'm thinking this author might not be for me. 

8. Black City by Elizabeth Richards - Call it morbid curiosity if you'd like, but I honestly stayed with this one only because I was curious as to how on EARTH these people were going to pull themselves out of this situation. But the book was just way too dark and disturbing for me, and there's one part in particular that has scarred me for life. So... I should have quit! Haha.


What about you guys? Which books did you almost put down but then didn't? Is it normally a good or bad experience when this happens?



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19 comments:

  1. I had wanted to list down Pride and Prejudice too! I admit that I skipped certain parts, the conversations, because I thought they were too lengthy. *guilty look*

    Ah, A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of my favourites! I'm glad you didn't put it down, Kimberley. :)

    As for The Casual Vacancy, it's on my reading list! I like J.K. Rowling.

    Josette
    Books Love Me

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  2. I know what you mean about Eve & Adam, it was a little different from what I thought it would be but I enjoyed it.

    Here's my TTT post
    -Kimberly @ Turning the Pages

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  3. I feel you about Neverwhere. It turned out to be one of my fave books, but I almost put it down too.

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  4. It took me over ten years to read Pride and Prejudice. I found it boring and annoying at first. It does take a while to get into it and maybe I was a little too young to truly appreciate it when I first started. But now - I've read it many times and I really love it.

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  5. I'm glad you mentioned The Casual Vacancy. I think there are a lot of people who didn't get into it for a long time (myself included) but I'm glad I persisted. I ended up, well, not liking the book exactly, because that book wasn't terribly enjoyable, but I ended up seeing the value in it, and appreciating it. I'm glad I read it, though it did take me a while to get through.

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  6. I know what you mean with Pride & Prejudice. I still haven't finished it, but I finished Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. . .

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  7. I hadn't heard of several of these. There was a disturbing book that made my list too.

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  8. Neverwhere is a great book, I'm actually reading one of Gaiman's books, Anansi Boys, later this week :)

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  9. Jane Austen really is hard to get into, but her stories are so good once you actually get through them!

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  10. I'm with Bridget on The Casual Vacancy - except I still wish I'd put it down! I never got into it and probably only stuck with it b/c it was by J.K. Rowling and I was curious how she'd do adult fiction.

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  11. I think today's prompt should be called "Bottom Ten", at least that's what I called mine. LOL.

    Jane Austen is definitely not on my list because I really love her. But I can see that she's not for everyone.

    Marianne from Let's Read

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  12. Eve & Adam was one of those books which I didn't exactly like but I never actually thought of putting down... and I really have no idea why. all I know is that I didn't like Eve and her bestfriend all the way, but the ending I guess was kind of good, in my opinion..

    czai @ the Blacksheep Project

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  13. great list. I agree it's usually a good or bad experience when we push through a book we almost put down. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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  14. I'd never even heard of Eve and Adam but it does sound intriguing so I might have to check that one out!

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  15. Wicked. I put it down after a few chapters, but when I picked it up again I was SO glad I did.

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  16. Casual Vacancy made my list, too. I can see why people, especially people who picked it up because of the author, would have a hard time getting into it. It's a slow, complex, and big book.

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  17. Neverwhere was the first Gaiman book I ever read as well. It surprised me and I ultimately enjoyed it.

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  18. It's funny to see what other people struggle with at first, because I really loved A Great and Terrible Beauty from the beginning! From the summary on the book jacket even! I knew it was the right book for me, but I could see how others wouldn't be as hooked right away. I feel that way about Neil Gaiman's writing. I read The Graveyard Book and had to force myself to finish it (it was one of the state award books) so I could recommend it to students who might enjoy it.

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  19. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libbra Bray is definitely one of my favorite books, but I loved her style from the very beginning. The second book was probably my favorite of the three, and the last one was terrible! Way too long. Even Libba said that it should have been four books, but she couldn't since it was marketed as a trilogy from the beginning.

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