Wednesday, February 1, 2012

What Books? Books You Can't Believe You Haven't Read

What Books? Books You Can't Believe You Haven't Read

It's time to get back to my "What Books?" feature. It's been quite awhile since I've had one of these posts. I should get back into the habit.

What is the "What Books?" feature?

I have so many book memories from my childhood. Different books touched me in different ways and had came to me at important times. I plan on running this feature every other week and featuring books that I love(d) for different reasons.

A lot of the topics and books that come to mind feature books that I liked when I was in elementary and middle school more than books I liked in high school and later. So there is more of a middle-grade focus. But this particular post will feature books that I loved as a child and that I love now.

See prior editions of What Books? here:

Movie Is Better Than The Book
Favorite Not-Super-Popular Book Series
Favorite Ghost/Scary Stories
Favorite Obscure Childhood Book
Favorite Books To Re-Read
Favorite Books That You Didn't Love At First
Favorite Cry Your Eyes Out Books
Books That Totally Freaked You Out

Books You Can't Believe You Haven't Read

I think my ideal job would be one where I could just sit and read all day long. I suppose that would be called "retirement". As much as I do read, there are still tons of series and books that I want to read but haven't yet gotten to. Some of them it feels like I'm the only person who hasn't read them.


Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan


Anything by John Green (I've only read Will Grayson, Will Grayson)


The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien (I've read the first two books)


The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (I've only read 2 of the books)


Anything by Tamora Pierce

The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials #2 and #3) by Phillip Pullman (I've read the first book)



Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher


House of Night by P.C. Cast


Vampire Diaries by  L.J. Smith


Evernight by Claudia Gray


Jessica Darling by Megan McCafferty (I read Sloppy Firsts years ago but no others)



The Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner



Anything by Robin McKinley (I've read Sunshine but that's it)



Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard



Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini




The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky



That's a brief list of the books I haven't yet read. It doesn't even touch the adult fiction and non-fiction realm (other than Tolkien) or the classic children's literature I missed (other than Narnia and Percy Jackson). I'm sure I'll think of tons more after I post this.


What Books Can You Not Believe That You Haven't Read?

34 comments:

  1. I have to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky . . . especially with the film and all.

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  2. There is lots on that list that I have been meaning to read too. I did read and love the Percy Jackson series thou :)

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  3. I haven't read a lot of those.

    Top of my list though, is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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  4. To be completely honest, you are not missing anything by not reading the House of Night series. Seriously, I wish I could get my wasted hours in reading the series.

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  5. *get my wasted hours back. I haven't read any Tamora Pierce either and hope to get to her Alanna series this year.

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  6. I too can't believe I haven't read anything by John Green or Jay Asher, and really I've had the Jessica Darling series on my Kindle forever, and I still haven't read it! What's wrong with me? And I'm so ashamed that I haven't read The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I guess I'll have to settle for watching the movie.

    Fun feature, but now I feel really guilty for being full of fail.

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  7. You should definitely read Percy Jackson. That is like, my fvorite series after Harry Potter. Probably because i've always loved Greek Mythology:)

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  8. Um. The Hunger Games. But I am going to get to it soon!

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  9. I haven't read a lot on that list either.

    Beth ^_^
    http://sweetbooksnstuff.blogspot.com/

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  10. I bought the Lightning Thief 2 months ago, and have not read it yet! and I have not read anything of your list either, except for about a 1/4 of Narnia - I just can't get into it, even though I did like the movies.
    Hmmm, email me about Vampire Diaries, please ;)
    Thanks! (TheBumbleGirl at Rocketmail dot com)

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  11. I haven't read anything by John Green either. Apparently that is a huge mistake! I also haven't read the Lightning Thief though I did see the movie, does that count? Probably not:) I'm such a big mythology fan though, so it's a series I hope to get to eventually:)

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  12. Alison,

    I haven't read a lot of the series you listed either. I work at a book company, and I always feel like a loser because my co-workers have read all of these series, and I haven't. I will even admit I haven't finished "Breaking Dawn" because I don't want it to be over. Also I haven't read "The Hunger Games" series either..but I plan on reading the 1st one by the time the movie comes out.

    Oh how I wish there was more time to read! =)

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    1. Thanks for commenting Kristin! I noticed you don't have a blog linked to your profile. How funny that you haven't finished BD. I get the feeling :-)

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    2. Hi Alison!

      I am actually in the process of starting up a blog with a mish-mash of book reviews, etc. I will definitely let you know when I am 'official'. By the way..just wanted to say that I miss seeing you at the MN author events. I know you live out of state now, but Andrea Cremer events just aren't the same without you. =)

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  13. I've actually read two of the books on your list! It makes me feel good, lol.

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  14. OUCH!!!!! You list actually causes me PAIN! The Narnia books are SUCH fast reads and you probably never got to my fav if you only read two. And how can you only have read Sunshine by Robin McKinley?!?! If you're not in the mood for YA, at least pick up Fire or Water. The Thief is soooooo fun, it's intelligent and fun - kinda rare. I feel like reading now.

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  15. I haven't read anything by John Green either. There are multiple books/series that I feel like everyone else has read and I feel so behind sometimes.

    I guess my big series that I haven't read would be the Pretty Little Liars series or the Vampire Diaries series. I feel like everyone has read these but me. So I'm glad to see there are others out there who haven't read them either.

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  16. Percy Jackson is SO good!! Absolutely worth the read. I can't believe you haven't read Narnia either!! Or Eragon!! I don't rate the House of Night or Evernight series much at all...and I'm glad I'm the only one to not have read much John Green!!

    The Cait Files

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  17. I am currently reading through Percy Jackson series (finally) and I am finding them simply delightful.

    But, like you, I have only read 2 out of the Chronicles of Narnia, I haven't read Eragon (though that is on my 2012 list too) or the Golden Compass. And I cannot for the life of me make it through The Two Towers just to get to Return of the King lol. But I am determined!

    Probably my most "OMG you haven't read that?!" book on my TBR pile is Little house on the Prairie. Never read them during childhood. Don't know why lol.

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  18. Hahaha there are just so much I haven't read *goes to cry in a corner* The books I can't believe I haven't read yet would be... The Hunger Games, mostly. But also Harry Potter, Divergent, Across the Universe, etc. The list is so long! :P

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  19. I haven't read all of Percy Jackson just the first book. And I haven't read all of the Harry Potter books, again just the first two.

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  20. Yes to Percy Jackson, anything by John Green, Tamora Pierce, Megan McAfferty, and The Queen's Thief Series! I have read all of His Dark Materials though, and highly recommend them! Brilliance. I also can't believe I've never read anything by Libba Bray, Holly Black, Sarah Dessen, and Meg Cabot. I actually feel a little ashamed admitting to that, haha. I'll have to fix this...

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  21. I am in love with this post, Alison! Ready for a novel-sized comment? :P

    Percy Jackson- I only just read them last year, so I was pretty behind, too. :) I liked them, but I think I would have liked them a lot more if I hadn't heard them described over and over as "THE NEXT HARRY POTTER!!!" They're not even close. But they're fun for what they are.

    John Green- I read the first few pages of Looking for Alaska and I don't think his style is for me. At least, assuming those pages were representative of his style. But his plots don't grab me either.

    The Return of the King- Hey, you're a bit ahead of me! I've read the first book and half of the second. Someday I'll finish it. They're just so dry, and book Aragorn isn't nearly as attractive as movie Aragorn (and, yes, I'm shallow like that).

    Chronicles of Narnia- I'm right there with you. I've only read two, but I really don't have any interest in reading more.

    Anything Tamora Pierce, Megan Whalen Turner, and Robin McKinley- Yay! I thought I was the only one on the planet who hasn't read their books yet! :P I know, I should. They're all on my TBR. These are my biggest "I can't believe I haven't read them" books.

    His Dark Materials trilogy- finish it! I love these books. I hate Mrs. Coulter's evil monkey. Did you even get to meet Will? Oh he is great!

    Thirteen Reasons Why- *sob* Please read this!

    House of Night- I tried reading the first book but they're a little too R rated for my taste.

    Vampire Diaries- Have you read Nightworld or The Secret Circle? MUCH better, I think. :)

    Evernight- I haven't read this series yet either!

    Pretty Little Liars- So embarrassingly, horribly, addictive! They're one of my guiltiest pleasures. Every book ends on a pull-your-hair-out cliffhanger.

    Eragon- I wish Murtagh were the main character instead (and not ONLY because I picture him like he looks in the movie).

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  22. I'm going to be very honest with you. The HON ( House of Night series) got turned into a cash cow after like the fifth book. You might love it though so don't judge it by my opinion. I'm just warning you.

    I used to love Evernight. Then the series just died for me. I don't know why this happens sometimes.

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  23. Oh my goodness, this is nearly like my list of books I haven't read that I can't believe I haven't. But, mine's worse than this, really. I, too, need to read The Lightning Thief, The Blue Sword, Evernight, The Vampire Diaries, Thirteen Reasons Why, The Chronicles of Narnia... yikes. I tried reading Eragon, but couldn't get into it. I might try again someday.

    This is a fun list. I love stuff like this!

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  24. Great feature! I read HON through book 10 and was so disgusted by book 10 that I stopped reading. Evernight is great, and 13 Reasons Why is haunting. You'll love it!

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  25. There are loads of books I can't believe I haven't read yet. Like the Percy Jackson series, the Eragon series, the Narnia series. I can't believe it's taken me so long to pick up the Hunger Games! I finished the first book. LOVED IT! So why haven't I finished the series yet. I'm such a slacker. I'm also surprised I haven't read any book by Cassandra Clare. I feel every book blogger has. I own one of her books, but I haven't started it yet.

    - Jackie

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  26. I haven't read a lot of those.i have not read harry pottr yet/ don't hurt me

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  27. Oh my! You have to read Percy Jackson and The Perks of Being A Wallflower. They're both very good. But I've yet to read The Lord of the Rings. I tried but I can't get past p. 50 for some reasons even I cannot explain. I haven't read any books from the Chronicles of Narnia yet as well. I loved the movies and I am required to read them for our Literature class so I'll probably be able to all the books this year. I also haven't read anything from John Green too! I bought a copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson 3 weeks ago but I still haven't got around to reading it. About the HoN though, it's better if you don't read 'em. The characters only gets worst every installment. ;)

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  28. I haven't read the third Lord of the Rings book,too although I read the first two:D You should continue with the Narnia books, but don't start the House of Night series. I've read 8 books so far and it really starts to annoy me, because there is so few progess in only one book.

    I can't believe that I haven't read the 7th Harry Potter book yet!

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  29. I havent read a lot of those books on your list either. The only oned I have read are Looking for Alaska and The Vampire Diaries (I didnt really like VD. It was too strange for my taste, although I love the TV show)I need to read most of these too though.

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