Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read (But Didn’t)

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week we’re talking about books from 2014 that we really wanted to read… but didn’t. Some of these I actually own; some are just books that I thought sounded great, but then never actually pursued. Oh well, there’s always 2015!

My top 10:

1) Locke & Key, volume 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill: I was DYING for this one, the final volume in the awesomely creepy and brilliant Locke & Key series. And then when I got a copy, I realized I should re-read volumes 1 – 5 to get the maximum enjoyment out of the series wrap-up. But somehow, I still haven’t made it happen.

2) Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King: I practically jump up and down whenever Stephen King publishes new books and read them immediately — except for this one. I still intend to… eventually.

3) Frog Music by Emma Donoghue: Loved the sound of Frog Music, and I hope to read it in the next month or so.

4) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd: I was hoping that my book group would choose this book, so I held off. It hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll probably end up going for it on my own.

5) The One-Hundred Year House by Rebecca Makkai: Another one that sounds great, and I just haven’t found the right time.

6) The Vacationers by Emma Straub: I read a review of The Vacationers when it was released and made a mental note to borrow a copy from the library, and then completely forgot about it.

7) Lock In by John Scalzi: I had this one on preorder and everything — then decided it wasn’t urgent and that I didn’t need another hardcover on my bookshelf. Now I’m waiting for the paperback release this coming summer.

8) Euphoria by Lily King: I didn’t pay attention to Euphoria at first, but after seeing it pop up on so many “best of 2014” lists, I have a renewed interest in reading it. Another great possibility for my book group, I think.

9) Hollow City by Ransom Riggs: I can’t believe it’s been about a year since this book came out, and I still haven’t read it. The question is, am I still interested at this point?

10) The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey: This should probably be up at the top of my list, as it’s the one I intend to read ASAP. I bought a copy when it came out last year, then decided I should re-read The 5th Wave first. I got side-tracked, big time… and finally finished the audiobook version of The 5th Wave last week. So, hurray! I’m ready for The Infinite Sea!

Have you read any of the books on my list? Which do you think should be my top priority? And what books from 2014 do you still need to read?

Share your thoughts! And leave me your links, please, so I can come check out your top 10.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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Do you host a book blog meme? Do you participate in a meme that you really, really love? I’m building a Book Blog Meme Directory, and need your help! If you know of a great meme to include — or if you host one yourself — please drop me a note on my Contact page and I’ll be sure to add your info!

29Dec2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2015

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2015.

I’m going to try to keep it simple this year, and aim for things I have some chance of achieving:

1) Read on a whim! I wrote a whole blog post about this a few days ago (click here if you want to see it) — basically, I’m making it a priority to read according to my moods and fancies and not because of obligations or deadlines.

2) Read outside the box: This seems to be a yearly goal — I need to force myself to read a bit more non-fiction, including history, essays, and armchair travel. I have books already on my shelf that sound amazing, but I always reach for the fiction instead of pushing myself to spend time on non-fiction.

3) Catch up on the books I already own: Yeah, I know, we all have this problem. If I stick to my resolution to read on a whim, I’m pretty sure I’ll get through a lot more of the books I have waiting for me.

4) Request/accept fewer ARCs: This relates to #1 and #3 above. I have to train myself to resist clicking that tempting “request” button on NetGalley every time something catches my eye! Having a backlog of review copies is what makes me feel tense and frustrated when it comes to picking out my next read and feeling like I need to keep to a schedule.

5) Hang out with Buffy: I’m now a full season behind on my Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novels, and have Angel & Faith, Spike, and Willow volumes to read as well. I need to do some serious catching up!

6) Reorganize my bookshelves: I say this every year, but my shelves are overcrowded and don’t seem to make any sense at this point. All sorts of books are smushed into random places, either because of physical size or because I was in a hurry (or for ridiculous reasons, like “oh, I love this author, so I’ll put her book next to this other author I love!”). I’m not a stickler or anything, and have no desire to alphabetize or color-code, but it would be nice to have all my sci-fi in one place, and to keep my non-fiction from fraternizing with my YA novels, for example.

7) Donate, sell, upgrade: Related to organizing my bookshelves, it’s time to slim down and weed out some of the books that I either never read and never will, or read once but don’t feel the need to keep. I plan to donate a few bags/boxes for our next big library sale. I have a small stack of books that are new or pretty close to new but that I don’t want to keep for a variety of reasons, and those I’ll try to trade-in at the used bookstore. And for at least one of my graphic novel collections, I’d like to sell the paperbacks that I own and then invest a few more dollars to get the nice hardcover editions.

8) Organize my computer files: I need to spend a few good hours resorting all the various blog-related files on my drive, including photos I’ve taken, book cover images, graphics, headers, etc. I’m going to try to reorganize all of these into an archive that makes sense and is searchable. It shouldn’t be too hard, but I just need some dedicated time to make it happen.

9) Refresh the blog: I’ve had the same theme and layout for a while now, and it may be time for some sprucing up. I’m not sure that I’ll actually change anything significant, but I want to play around a bit with formatting, organization, and widgets and see what happens. I often think I missed out on the artistic gene, so figuring out visuals can be a big challenge for me, but I at least want to try and explore some options.

10) Volunteer: I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and it’s about time to take action! I’d like to do something to share my love of reading while doing good, so I’ve started looking into local volunteer opportunities that relate to literacy, libraries, reading buddies, etc. I haven’t decided yet what I’ll end up pursuing, but I really want to make this happen this year.

I’m sure I could go on and on with things I need to improve or change, but this feels like a pretty reasonable starting place!

What are your top goals for 2015? Wishing you all a wonderful year!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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22Dec2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Love To Get As Gifts (New & Improved for 2014!)

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Note from your friendly Bookshelf Fantasies host: When I looked back at my 2013 post for this topic, I realized that about 80% of it still holds true a year later! So, with a few minor changes and updates, here’s my list from last year — since I still want ’em all!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Me.

Sadly, my house is not on Santa’s route (and I promise, it’s not because I’ve been naughty this year!) Still, if some magical bearer of gifts happened to drop by, these are the books I’d be hoping for! As I did last year when this topic came up, I’m filling up my list with books that I’d love to receive, but for whatever reason — high price, feeling like too big an indulgence, a “nice to have” but not really a necessary book — I just most likely wouldn’t buy these for myself. (Ahem, secret gift givers — are you paying attention??)

1) Firefly: A Celebration by Joss Whedon

Description: Titan’s three bestselling Firefly titles collected together at last, just in time for the 10th anniversary of Joss Whedon’s beloved series. This huge, 544 page full colour volume is simply one of the most lavish books ever produced for a TV show, and is presented in a foil-stamped leather-effect binding. Plus, as an exclusive bonus for this edition, a pocket at the back of the book contains 9 frameable photo prints of the cast, featuring rare and previously unseen images, and a facsimile of one of the prop banknotes used in the show.

2)Bone: Full Color One Volume Edition by Jeff Smith

Bone is one of my very favorite things ever. I love the artwork, the story, and the ridiculous stupid rat creatures. We have the 9 individual books, but I’m sure lusting after this all-in-one version. However… at about $100, this isn’t an edition I’m likely to buy unless I’m suddenly discovered by some long-lost wealthy relative… I can dream, can’t I?

3) Harry Potter stuff:

This gorgeous Harry Potter collection:

Do I need another set of Harry Potter in my house? Well, no. But I’m so enchanted by the cover artwork by Kazu Kibuishi… and this boxed set would look so pretty on my shelf…

I’d also be happy with some cool HP memorabilia like, oh, a deluminator or something… or if someone really wants to splurge, there’s also this amazing movie collector’s set:

4) The Hobbit: Illustrated Edition by J. R. R. Tolkien; Illustrated by Jemima Catlin

Have you seen the images from this illustrated edition of The Hobbit? Just gorgeous. This may be one book that I’ll end up treating myself to. Want, want, want.

5) I would be tickled pink to receive pretty much any book from the Barnes and Noble Collectible Editions library. Here are few that I especially covet… but really, I’d take ’em all if I could:

Dracula and Other Horror Classics (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) The Bronte Sisters: Three Novels (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) Anne of Green Gables (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)

And now, new for 2014:

6 & 7) My comic fixations:

Image via http://www.billwillingham.com

I have the trade paperback editions of all Fables volumes published so far — but now I wish I had the deluxe edition hardcovers. And those Fables bookends are pretty sweet too…

Image via pinterest; source unknown.

And while I’m on the subject of deluxe editions of my favorite graphic novels series, the same goes for Y: The Last Man. I have all of the volumes in paper, but those deluxe edition hardcovers look amazing.

8) I can’t see buying this for myself, but I think a great gift would be The World of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin:

Aegon_on_Black_Dread_J.Gonzalez-1024x683

Image from The World of Ice and Fire, via http://www.georgerrmartin.com

9, 10, and a bit more) There are a whole bunch of books that I’ve read over the years, borrowed from friends or from the library or read on my Kindle. that I’d really like to have my very own hard copy of on my bookshelves. I can’t quite justify paying full price for these, but if a holiday elf wanted to drop one off, I’d be grateful!
Life The Snow Child Wonderstruck

And a bonus pick:

This isn’t a book, but it’s certainly bookish. Two years ago, I used a holiday gift card to treat myself to My Ideal Bookshelf by Thessaly La Force and Jane Mount. It’s an absolutely beautiful book, and I’ve had so much fun leafing through it and picking out all of my favorites. But now, what I really covet is one of the prints available through the Ideal Bookshelf website. My only difficulty is in picking just one: Do I want:

Ideal Bookshelf 660: Girl Stars

or perhaps:

Ideal Bookshelf 629: Fantasy

If I had unlimited dollars and unlimited wall space, I think I’d want them all! Or maybe totally splurge, and get a custom painting! (Check out the options here.)

So that’s my little holiday cheer list for whatever extra-special pixies are circling my house bearing gifts!

What are you hoping to find under your tree, in your stocking, or in the UPS driver’s hands this year? Whatever you’re wishing for, I wish you good health, good friends, lots of laughter, and amazing reading!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out my regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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15Dec2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read in 2014

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books I Read in 2014. I read so many great books this past year, and I’ve already raved about quite a few of them. In no particular order, here are the best of the bunch:

Note: If you want to know more about any of the books mentioned here, click on the links to see my reviews.

1) I Shall Be Near To You by Erin Lindsay McCabe

IShallBeNear

2) The Martian by Andy Weir

3) Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon

4) The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

5) Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

6) Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

7) We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

8) The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey

9) Archetype and Prototype by M. D. Waters

10) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

What were you favorite books from 2014? Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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8Dec2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014. What fun! I “met” so many authors this year for the first time. Here are the best of the bunch:

Note: If you want to know more about any of the books mentioned here, click on the links to see my reviews.

1) Erin Lindsay McCabe: One of my very favorite books of 2014 was Erin Lindsay McCabe’s debut novel I Shall Be Near To You. A simply stunning love story set during the Civil War, written with power, grace, and true emotion.

2) Liane Moriarty: I’m thrilled to have discovered this talented Australian writer. In 2014, I read The Husband’s Secret and Big Little Lies, and absolutely want to read more.

3) Jamie Ford: I finally read Jamie Ford’s break-out bestseller, The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and loved it. I’m really looking forward to reading Songs of Willow Frost in the coming months.

4) Andy Weir: The Martian was one of my biggest surprises this year! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.

5) M. R. Carey: Just when I thought the topic of zombies was completely played out, along came The Girl With All The Gifts!

6) Patricia C. Wrede: Thanks to reading with my son, I finally caught up with this children’s author who excels at magical world-building! I enjoyed her Frontier Magic trilogy, and I’m currently 3/4 of the way through her Enchanted Forest Chronicles. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author, especially Sorcery & Cecilia, which people have been recommending to me for years.

7) Mur Lafferty: If you like your paranormal fiction on the light and snarky side, then check out Mur Lafferty’s two very funny books, The Shambling Guide to New York City and The Ghost Train to New Orleans. The conceit wears a tiny bit thin by the second book, but I still had a lot of fun with both.

8) Andrew Smith: Grasshopper Jungle was one of the weirdest books I read in 2014 — and I loved it. I haven’t read anything else by this author yet, but I intend to.

9) Alexander McCall Smith: Okay, here I’m extremely late to the party — but I finally read The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and thought it was terrific! I picked up a stack of books from the series at a used book sale this fall, and I look forward to reading these on and off during the coming year.

10) Nomi Eve: Henna House is moving and lovely, and I’m looking forward to reading it again when my book club reads it in 2015.

I can’t wait to see who I’ll meet in 2015!

Which authors did you discover in 2014?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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1Dec2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading in 2015

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

What am I looking forward to reading in 2015? Let’s see…

For this week’s list, I’m going to stick to books that I haven’t already drooled over in recent TTT posts. Keeping that in mind, here are ten books I’m excited about for next year, including brand new releases plus a few new paperback editions scheduled for 2015:

1) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

2) Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen

3) Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe

4) The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

5) I Was Here by Gayle Forman

6) The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

7) Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder

8) Vicious by V. E. Schwab
(paperback to be released January 2015)

9) Lock In by John Scalzi
(paperback to be released August 2015)

10) All I Love and Know by Judith Frank
(paperback to be released April 2015)

What books are you dying to read in 2015?

Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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24Nov2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Winter TBR List

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is about reading plans for this winter. What’s on my to-be-read list? Ha, what isn’t? Not that I ever end up sticking to a plan — but as of now, here are the top 10 books I’m looking forward to reading during the next few months.

1) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
It’s about time that I finally read this, right?

2) Noggin by John Corey Whaley

3) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

4) The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

5) The Hundred Year House by Rebecca Makkai

6) Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

7) The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

8) Washington’s Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger (because it’s about time that I venture outside my little world of fiction and read some history, yo)

9) Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (need to re-read volumes 1 & 2, then go on to read volumes 3 & 4)

10) The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue

boy who drew

What books will be keeping you warm this winter?

Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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17Nov2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Sequels I Can’t Wait to Read

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is about hotly awaited sequels… the ones that keep us jumping and down in crazy anticipation.

My choices fall into two general categories:

Sequels coming soon… and we already know when:

By release date:

1) Symbiont by Mira Grant (sequel to Parasite… ick!) – to be released 11/25/2014

2) The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (sequel to The Rosie Project) – to be released 12/30/2014

3) Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega series, #4) by Patricia Briggs – to be released 3/3/2015

4) Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell (sequel to Doc) – to be released 3/3/2015

5a) Fables, volume 21 by Bill Willingham – to be released 3/3/2015

and

5b) Fables, volume 22 (6/2015) … which I’m not really eager for because IT’S THE LAST IN THE SERIES! I’m seriously upset about Fables coming to an end.

not the actual cover…

6) Prudence by Gail Carriger – to be released 3/17/2015 (I know, I know: Technically, this isn’t a sequel — it’s the start of a brand-new series — The Custard Protocol — but since it follows The Parasol Protectorate series, I’m saying it counts!)

7) Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (sequel to The Diviners) – to be released 4/1/2015… although at this point, it’s been so long since I’ve read The Diviners, I’m not sure how much I really care about continuing with the series.

Since I’m not convinced that I actually want to read Lair of Dreams, I’m including an alternate #7:

7) Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley (sequel to The Rook) – to be released 7/1/2015

Sequels coming eventually… but no actual date has been announced:

8) Peace Talks by Jim Butcher (#16 in the Dresden Files series).

9) The Winds of Winter by George R. R. Martin (#6 in A Song of Ice and Fire)

And last, but not least — and certainly the book that I want to read more than any others on this list (but too bad it’s not written yet!):

10) Untitled 9th book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

OK, yes, my top 10 list has 12 books on it… but the more the merrier!

Did any of mine make your list? What sequels are you most eager to read?

Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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10Nov2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Characters Who Deserve Their Own Books

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is about characters we love so much that we’d love to see them star in their own books.

My top 10 are:

1) Young Ian (Ian Murray, Jr.) from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon: Ian doesn’t appear until book #3, Voyager, but he instantly makes every scene he’s in simply awesomesauce. Ian is funny and fierce, and one of the big delights of the series is watching Ian grow from gawky teen to… well, I won’t say (spoilers!), but he’s just the best, and I’d happily read a whole book from his point of view.

2) Sirius Black (Harry Potter): I’m not sure what else there is to say about Sirius, but his brief time in the series always broke my my heart, and he remains one of my favorite (and most tragic) book boyfriends.

3) Likewise from Harry Potter, I could never get enough of the Weasley twins or older brothers Bill and Charlie. So how about a story about the Weasley brothers (well, those who remain) after the battle for Hogwarts?

4) Bran Cornick (Mercy Thompson series): Bran is the Marrock, the most powerful werewolf in North America, and I find him to be one of the most fascinating characters in the Mercy-verse. He’s always off to the side, pulling strings, and even though we see much more of him in the Alpha & Omega books, an entire novel centered on Bran would make me very happy indeed.

5) Thomas Raith (Dresden Files): Harry Dresden’s vampire half-brother Thomas brightens up every scene he’s in, and usually my only complaint after finishing a Dresden book is “not enough Thomas”. So let’s get Thomas his own book (Backup, at 70 pages, doesn’t really count) — or better yet, his own series of books.

6) Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games): Okay, I’m not entirely sure I’d want to read a whole book about Finnick — but I do want more of Finnick and Annie’s story than we got in the Hunger Games books.

7) Kate and Elliot (50 Shades): Yes, I read the books! (hiding under rock…) While I thought the books were mostly ridiculous, I did actually like the characters of Kate and Elliot and wouldn’t have minded seeing more of them. As people. Not more of them as in without clothes. Oh, you know what I mean.

8) Aragorn (LOTR): I have a hard time separating book Aragorn from movie Aragorn… but all Aragorn is good Aragorn, right? I’d happily read nothing but Aragorn stories for a week or two. He’s my king!

9) Reagan (Fangirl): I love Cath’s prickly roommate and would love to hear more about her life.

10) Gallowglass, Ysabeau, Philippe, Hamish… and more (All Soul’s Trilogy): One of the things that makes this trilogy so phenomenal is how deeply developed all of the supporting cast is. I’d feel like there’s so much more to know about the rest of the characters, and really hope that Deborah Harkness decides to revisit this world in future novels.

What characters would you like to see taking the lead in their own books?

Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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3Nov2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’d Love to Re-Read

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic focuses on books that we’ve read already… but that are calling out for a re-read!

Here are my top picks for books I’d like to revisit:

1) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: I read this during high school, and that was a really long time ago! I feel so derelict for not having re-read it sooner, but at least I have a copy now. I’m going to try to make time for a re-read during the next few months.

2) Lord of the Flies by William Golding: Another one from ye olde school days that I should probably revisit.

3) Either Emma or Persuasion (or both!) by Jane Austen. I really love both of these, and it’s been far too many years since I’ve picked up either book.

4) Any of the Vonnegut books I’ve known and loved — top contenders being Cat’s Cradle or Galapagos.

5) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I kept waiting to re-read this one, thinking perhaps that I’d convince my son to read it with me. He’s consistently turned me down, so it’s probably time for me to just read it on my own, and then maybe read the other books in the series too.

6) The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny: I never did finish this series. Of the 10 Amber books, I think I read only the first five, but it’s been a really, really long time. I should read the entire series, start to finish — and I’d really love to spend more time in this world, thinking about the labyrinth.

7) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: It hasn’t been that many years since I first read this one, but I’ve only read it once and feel like I’d enjoy absorbing more of the story and the atmosphere during a 2nd go-round.

8) Some older Stephen King: Could be any of his earlier works, but I’m leaning toward re-reading The Stand or The Eyes of the Dragon.

9) Anything by Louisa May Alcott, other than Little Women: I’ve read Little Women probably a dozen times, but there are quite a few books by Louisa May Alcott which I read once and barely remember now, such as Little Men, Jo’s Boys, Rose in Bloom, and Eight Cousins.

10) His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman: I re-read The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife back when The Amber Spyglass was about to be released, but that’s already a long time ago. I think it might be fun to read all three books straight through, even though I’m dreading the heartbreak that certain parts will inevitably bring me.

What books are are you itching to re-read?

Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider following Bookshelf Fantasies! And don’t forget to check out our regular weekly feature, Thursday Quotables. Happy reading!

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