Books Whose Intimidation I Stared Down in the Face
...and Lived to Tell The Tale
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte-- I was inspired a few years ago to read this book for Lord only knows what reason and it terrified me. It is long as hell, it's obviously old...and if I don't like it I'm forced to finish it because I can't NOT finish a book I start (yes, I've thus gotten over that but still). I fell in LOVE with this book. I absolutely devoured it and I can't get enough of Jane and Mr. Rochester. If you want to read a classic and are scared, I recommend this one because it's amazing!
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness-- Again, the size intimidated me...and if I didn't like it I would be forced to finish it...you guys! This has become one of my favorite books ever!! And also includes one of my favorite book boyfriends ever! I love all the paranormal elements and while it is long I just enjoy reading their story. I would read it if it were twice as long.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward--Yeeeeah, insert leg in mouth. I was nervous about these because they came to HIGHLY recommended and that always makes me nervous. Also, there's like 11 books in the series so THAT also freaked me out but as you can see from my Twitter and recent reviews these books have encompassed my life. I can't get enough. I'm almost caught up and it's breaking my heart because I don't want it to end...*tear*
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead--Again, everyone LOOOOOVES these books so not only was I nervous I wouldn't like them but also I don't do vampires really but these books changed my mind. I loved everything about them. The heroines, the plot, the lore, the boys...love it all!
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare-- This might come as a surprise but because I LOOOOVE the Moral Instruments so much I didn't think this prequel series would ever live up to that...oh it did...and so much more. From the realm of the Infernal Devices bred that which is Will Herondale...my ultimate book boyfriend. Again, leg in mouth. SO much better than TMI and while I'm a little (ok, a lot!) irked by the last few pages, I will always be in love with this series...and to be honest, I completely ignore those last few pages. I'm a reader, I control my experience, I choose to ignore. Sorry not sorry.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman--EVERYONE talked about how emotional this book is so I was all what if I don't get it?...but I got it...I so got it...a LOT!. This book gutted me and I just love it so much I want to cuddle it but it made me real nervous to start.
Books I Still Run Scared From...
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo--Yeeeeah, I'll be running from this for a while I feel. I want to read it...it is on the bucket list but I just want to read so many other books first, I can't focus on it. Also, I've tried reading more than one book at a time and it doesn't work for me. So if I read this, I'm gonna have to go balls to to wall and commit...and I'm a commitment phobe right now.
Golden by Jessi Kirby--Because EVERYONE seems to love this one I am so hesitant to read it. I know I will and I just hope I love it like everyone else does! Eep!
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard--Noooot really sure how I feel about the undead and all that jazz but Alexa got me a SIGNED copy at BEA AND the author is hilarious and so lovely that I know I'll read this but I'm reeeeally worried I won't love it like everyone else does...crossing my fingers...
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson--Again, everyone loves it. I will read it...I just need to fit in and emotionally prepare.
Heck yeah VA!!!
ReplyDeleteHeck yeah Black Dagger Brotherhood!!!
Heck yeah Infernal Devices!!
Heck yeah If I Stay!!
You stare em down girl--- show em who's boss!!
Loved Deborah Harkness's All Souls books & Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre--hope you get to them soon enough!
ReplyDeletelol, Les Mis also made it on my list this week. For the first time in a long time, I think the size might have something to do with it (but mostly because of Victor Hugo's writing).
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Oh I loved Jane Eyre! I have neutral opinions for the others, but I really really liked The Infernal Devices, though I was more for Jem than Will so that ending didn't bother me at all. Ha! But I agree-- Will is just such a sweetheart. I loved him to death in that series (WHY did it have to end). And If I Stay was the bomb diggity. I was so scared of not liking it the way others do at first, but I love it. I love Gayle Forman. Les Mis though, I am still really scared of. It's huge, has small font, and the story is tough. Haha! Great picks! :D
ReplyDeleteI have Les Miserables on my list this week too. It's just so long!
ReplyDeleteI still need to read The Sky Is Everywhere, too! I don't think I'd been avoiding it necessarily, but it has sat on the TBR for quite a while now. I wish I loved If I Stay as much as everyone else, but honestly it was just okay. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed VA, great books!
ReplyDeleteAs for Les Miserables: totally scary, not sure if I'll ever brave that one.
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My DESIGNS blog
GO READ GOLDEN!!! Seriously, it's one of those books that deserves all the hype!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I was kinda 'meh' about Something Strange and Deadly, so no help from me there... I really wanted to love it...
I also really need to read The Sky is Everywhere, it sounds so good!
Go you for overcoming your fears and reading some of those scary books :)
WOOH! I'm so happy to hear that you read VA and If I Stay and enjoyed them! Two of my favorite books. (: And then Golden and The Sky Is Everywhere! I can definitely see why you'd be intimidated by the two of them - everyone seems to always be talking about how great they are. I actually read The Sky is Everywhere a few months ago and didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I had expected to.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
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i couldn't finish A Discovery of Witches, though I read at least half of it. :( maybe i'll have to give it another shot. and I promise to read Black Dagger Brotherhood, but I'm stretched a little thin these days. :( ~daphne
ReplyDeleteI just finished Something Strange and Deadly this week (got my signed copy at BEA too!), and even though zombies aren't my thing, I really loved it.
ReplyDeleteA Discovery of Wtches, BDB, VA - AMAZING series. I love them all. Good for you for conquering your fears! ;)
TTT @ Krista's Dust Jacket
(I'm extremely intimidated by The Sky is Everywhere too. VERY MUCH SO.)
ReplyDeleteI still haven't started Vampire Academy, and I'm not sure if I'm intimidated by it or if I just hate to start a series of that length. BDB is that long, but I've followed along with it as it comes, so that isn't an issue. Those longer series are kind of daunting!
Something Strange and Deadly is very good! I was a little hesitant about it, but it totally works! I'm super intimidated by the books you've actually read though; yikes! But kudos to you on them!
ReplyDeleteI still have to read Les Miserables too... and Jane Eyre. And MANY, MANY other classics. hahaha I can't help it... Golden was very good. I am actually not a fan at all of contemporary and read it very rarely (so I'm still not sure how I came to pick this one up in the first place) but it's enjoyable. It's not mind-blowing and it's not the best book ever, but it is very well-done.
ReplyDeleteLes Miserables is on my list as well. I'll read it one day but I just don't know when that will be.
ReplyDeleteThe Sky is Everywhere and Golden are such great books. You should definitely check them out.
My TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-most-intimidating-books/
I should have included VA on my list. I haven't read them, but everyone raves about them. I'm scared though. Vampires freak me out. Plus I'm weary of series. I should give it a try though.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with The Sky Is Everywhere. There are just some books everyone loves, and I'm just afraid I won't like it. I really want to read Golden though! Great list!
ReplyDeleteI'm still intimidated by Jane Eyre! I definitely want to read it at some point though, so I'll have to run to you if I end up deciding to do it. Les Miserables is up on my list as well!
ReplyDeleteAs for Golden + Something Strange and Deadly, I really, really hope that you like those books when you do read them. They were two of my favorite reads this year!
Augh I really need to read Black Dagger Brotherhood. People seem to REALLY love it but yeah, it seems like a lot. I'm so glad you love it though! Hopefully I will too!
ReplyDeleteGolden was just ok for me. . .but The Sky is Everywhere? GREATNESS. I'm still struggling to start VA but I did pick up book one! ~Kristina
ReplyDelete