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Lately, I've felt inspired to take that perpetual TBR list of mine a bit more seriously. After all, I'm not getting younger LOL, so it felt like it was about time to think about some books that I've been putting off reading for years but ones that I really want to read and think I would enjoy.
I narrowed down a list of several hundred and came up with these (25) books as top priority - what do you think - are any of these ones you have enjoyed? In all cases, I've never read any of these books nor have I seen the movie - if there was one. BTW - I currently own all of these either in print, eBook or audio format. (Note: (4) of these titles will also work well for this years RIP challenge.)
- The Bonfire of the Vanities; Tom Wolfe
- Boy's Life; Robert McCammon
- The World According to Garp; John Irving
- Mystery and Manners; Flannery O'Connor
- Flannery: A Life; Brad Gooch
- Stoner; John Williams
- The Summer Book; Tove Jannson
- Shuggie Bain; Douglas Stuart
- Hotel; Arthur Hailey
- The Hotel New Hampshire; John Irving
- A Room with a View; E.M. Forster
- The Lacuna; Barbara Kingsolver
- The Haunted Hotel; Wilkie Collins
- The Making of a Marchioness; Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Price of Salt; Patricia Highsmith
- The Jewish Husband; Lia Levi
- My Brother Michael; Mary Stewart
- Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life; Ruth Franklin
- A History of Loneliness; John Boyne
The Custom of the Country; Edith Wharton - 4.5/5 stars - completed (8/16/2022)- Dreamcatcher; Stephen King
- Appointment in Samarra; John O'Hara
- Post-Office Girl; Stefan Zweig
Quartet in Autumn; Barbara Pym - 4/5 stars (completed - October 2022)- The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Victor Hugo
That's quite the impressive list! I have read some of them but not many.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Jackie and we shall see how well that I do with this list.
DeleteBoy's Life by Robert McCammon was recommended to me way back in 2002. I didn't write much of a review (Here it is, in its entirety: "Fabulous roller coaster of a book. Don't miss this one.") but I remember loving it.
ReplyDeleteI read The Summer book in 2014, and it's another book that really wowed me. My review for it is here, if you are interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1008392737
Custom of the Country is a great portrait of a rather shallow woman, I thought. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4448883751
I'd like to read Quartet in Autumn and Stoner. Pym's Excellent Women was a marvelous read.
I think it's a marvelous idea to make a list of books from the past you'd like to read. This is a very good list.
Deb, I'm impressed you have read several from this list and glad u enjoyed them as well. The Edith Wharton one is one I'm really curious about and, I love any book that has anything to do with hotels LOL
DeleteHi there Diane! I do love this idea a lot. I was searching for a book on my TBR just this morning and I was actually contemplating deleting all of them and just start afresh! Not that mine is the worst I've seen, I'm at 475 now.
ReplyDeleteHotel has been on my list for ages!! I don't think I have a copy though.
Have a good week and I hope you can get through your list in no time at all.
Elza Reads
My TBR list used to be much longer as well but, then I realized that it was a lot of thrillers and mysteries and, we all know there is an over abundance of those and, bottom line, none of them are all that memorable once the final page has been turned. Needless to say, I deleted a lot of those.
DeleteI see you're thinking along the same lines as me about not getting any younger. Judith Durham died yesterday (female lead singer of 1960s Aussie folk/pop group,The Seekers, if you've not heard of her) aged 79 and I thought, 'That's only 10 years'. I mean it's silly, who knows how much longer any of us have, but it still brings you up short. And I think I need a list like this! I've read a Room with a View which I liked, and Quartet in Autumn which I thought was very depressing. I'm not a Barbara Pym expert but have been told I started with the wrong book when I read that first. I've not read any more by her since which is probably a shame. I think I've also read The Haunted Hotel and probably liked it as I always like Wilkie Collins's books. And speaking of RIP I haven't done that in years so perhaps I will this year.
ReplyDeleteHi Cath, I had heard of The Seekers but hadn't heard about Durham's death. I think I need to how they say -- "read the best books first" and, since I've put the ones on this list off for some time and they all have pretty good reviews - the time has come. Even if I just read (1-2) a month I will be happy.
DeleteI need to look at my TBR shelves. This year I wanted to get through them but have failed miserably. Still always next year!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and I hope you get through some of these!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/08/07/sunday-salon-15/
I know what you mean Emily, we all have good intentions but, it is so asy to become distracted by other books.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I went through your list and have only read a couple of them. A Room With A View, may I honestly say that I don't remember much about the story, but I know I liked it. I've also read My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart. That was many, many years ago. I loved Mary Stewart's books, but I will say that this was one that I haven't been tempted to revisit. Others of hers I have read several times. I've read other books by several of the authors (like Stephen King), but not the ones you mentioned. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteKay, thanks for the feedback on Mary Stewart and liking A Room with a View. I actually own several Mary Stewart eBooks.
DeleteThis is a great list, Diane, and I've often thought about doing something similar. With such extensive tbr lists, it's probably a good idea to prioritize. My 2 cents on your selections:
ReplyDeleteREAD (*loved) - 1*(dated now?), 3, 6*, 10, 11* (Howards End even better), 20* (my favorite Wharton), 24 (much darker than other Pym novels)
DNF - 2, 22
TBR - 7, 8, 12, 19 (planning for November)
Good luck!!
JoAnn - what great feedback; thank you. I loved how many of these you've read. Howard's End is another eBook I own so perhaps that will be (2) E.M. Forster books. Someone else mentioned this Pym book is dark but, I do like darker stories.
DeleteWOW, that's some list, but a good one!
ReplyDeleteYes, lot's of possibilities here.
DeleteThere's lots of classics on your list! I didn't love The World According to Garp, but I'm just not a John Irving fan. A Room With a View, on the other hand, is one of my all-time favorite books. I also liked the Barbara Pym and Edith Wharton books on your list. Happy reading all of these! :D
ReplyDeleteLark, thanks for the feedback - A Room with a View has been on my list a very long time so I'm glad you liked it.
DeleteI dare not make a bucket list. It would be hard to pare down to 25. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough job but, done ---as long as I don't rethink it.
ReplyDeleteI've read #3 and #10 (I think).
ReplyDelete#6 has been highly recommended to me so it's on my list.
#25 is one of the three physical TBR books left on my shelf for this year!
Jinger - glad you liked Stoner, it seems like one many have enjoyed and yes, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one we should read :)
DeleteThat's a great TBR list. I've actually read eight that you have on the list, all of them several years ago. You have others on there that I hope to read some day.
ReplyDeleteEight is impressive Dorothy. I'm looking forward to staying on point with this bucket list of books.
DeleteThat is a great list. I don't think I've read any of them. Very curious about the Shirley Jackson book. Good luck with the list!
ReplyDeleteI do love Shirley Jackson and I bet her bio is fascinating.
DeleteI read and enjoyed The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire. And, I loved the movie of Room with a View. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteExcellent - glad thos 2 worked for you Helen - looking forward to all.
DeleteThe only book I've read on your list is Room With a View which I remember loving and there was a film adaptation that was gorgeous but it's been years since I've seen/read the story. The Wilkie Collins book sounds interesting and I loved The Woman in White so that is one I definitely want to try. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I can't believe I haven't read Room with a View before now. Isn't that how time has a way of getting away from us?
DeleteIt is such an interesting mix. I've read just four of them.
ReplyDeleteOh great - I hoped you liked the ones that you read from the this list.
DeleteI remember The Jewish Husband! And I loved Stoner too. What a great list!
ReplyDeleteOh Good - see I thought it was you who recommended that one. Stoner seems quite popular as well.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great variety of books you've there, Diane! I've to admit I haven't read many of these books but I'm definitely intrigued by A Room with a View. I've this on my pile so hopefully I'll get to it at some point.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that E M Forster has written quite a few books - A Passage to India leave me curious as well.
DeleteNice list, I agree quite a variety. Stoner and Bonfire of the Vanities were good when I read them but it's been a long while. I need to read Shuggie Bain and would like to try the bio of Shirley Jackson. You've given me reading ideas ...
ReplyDeleteThis Bucket List makes me happy and I'm determined to make a dent. I just finished Edith Wharton's The Custom of the Country (no review yet) which I enjoyed from this list.
DeleteBonfire of the Vanities is dated I bet but, I still want to try it. I loved and autobiography of Shirley Jackson so I think I would love this as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since I first read Robert McCammon's novel Boy's Life, but I loved it and it's on my keeper shelf for a reread. I don't remember much about it other than that it wasn't as scary as Swan Song (which I also loved). Stoner is also on my list. I think Bellezza and JoAnne both loved it, so I got the audio from Amazon a few weeks ago. Free! Can't beat that. Dreamcatcher is very good (reviewed here), but pretty scary (and gory). King is such a great storyteller! Good luck. I should make a list like this, too.
ReplyDeleteThere is another book called This Boy's Life which I got this one confused with. - it was a book and a movie and I liked both but, it was darker. This one showed up in my Kindle so I must have ordered it sometime back. That is what I hate about Kindle - too easy to click BUY and then forget about the book as opposed to the ones that sit on our shelves.
DeleteDiane I'm sorry I missed your original post about your TBR bucket list! Great idea. I highly recommend The Post Office Girl and A Room with a View. Excellent reads.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Post Office Girl and A Room With a View.
DeleteThis Book Bucket List decision was a good one as I keep looking at it, put it on my sidebar and am more apt to try to achieve what I set out to do.
ReplyDelete