Over a year ago I wrote a post about a few of the books that I hadn’t read but it seemed as if everyone else had. I thought it might be fun to write an updated post talking about whether or not I have read them yet or if I still plan to in the future. Let’s just jump right in to it!
Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This was the book that inspired my initial post, and I am happy to say that I have since read it and loved it. It is one of the most atmospheric novels that I have ever read- I could actually feel the cold setting in my bones. I will admit that I haven’t continued on with the series (I am so bad at finishing series!) but I plan to!
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a book that I never truly wanted to read but it is just so hyped and everyone talks about it- I felt like I was missing out on something. I have gotten better at not being tempted by hype and have since removed this one from my TBR. I do think I will ever read a Sarah J. Maas novel- they just are not my thing!
The Giver
The Giver is one of those books that most people read as a kid, but for some reason I never did. I did finally pick it up last summer and, while I enjoyed it, I wish it was something I had read when I was much younger. I think I would have appreciated it more and saw it in a different way.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Lord of the Flies is another book I missed out on reading when I was younger and now I just do not think that I will ever get to it. I rarely read classics but there are so many that I want to get to and Lord of the Flies is just not a priority. I think I know enough about the plot to understand any of the references that may come up in other forms of media.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I have watched the first season of the television show and I liked it but subsequent seasons fell apart for me. There are too many books in this series and they are enormous. I was not captivated enough the premise to want to commit myself to that much time and energy.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I wanted to finally read A Wrinkle in Time because of the movie, which I still haven’t seen. I have since read the book, though! For some reason I did not connect with it and it was a struggle for me at times. This is another case where I think if I had found it when I was younger I would have connected with it more.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Why was I even contemplating reading Thirteen Reasons Why?! No thank you! It has since been removed from my TBR and I have no plans to read it or to watch the TV show.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I am happy to say that I did read Six of Crows and I really enjoyed it. I completely understand why this series is so hyped and it has a great cast of characters. I still have to read the sequel, which I have heard is even better than the first one.
Four out of eight book isn’t too bad! The other four books I no longer have plans on reading. It is interesting to look back on this list because the only two books I was truly excited to read were The Bear and the Nightingale and Six of Crows, which ended up being my favourites!
Yay!!!! So of course now the question is are you going to read Crooked Kingdom? Lol
Haha definitely! I need the closure and I know I’m going to love it. I just keep getting distracted by other books.
I can tell you that if you are an audible person that after having read the books I got the audibles and I listen to them nonstop. They are about impeccable. So if that helps you get to Crooked kingdom… it is incredible on audible lol. And welcome to the cult of the seventh crows… the line forms to the left….
I am a huge audible person! I don’t know why I never considered getting them on audiobook. Now I’m tempted to listen to the first one first. Thanks for the tip!
I can gift them to you, cant I?
Susan! That is so nice of you to offer! I have a bunch of unused credits that I have been debating what to spend on and just got both of the books. Thank you though. Can’t wait to tell you what I think!
No problem. I’ve never had a chance to gift anything and it doesnt cost anything. Not sure how Amazon affords to let people do that lol… and cant think of two better books to gift someone.
I haven’t looked in to how gifting audiobooks works. It could be fun to create a little group where we gift each other audible books. There must be so rules around it though. I’ll have to look in to it!
That is a great idea! I know you can only do it once per title.
Yes! Please tell me and yes listening to them even after reading them… oh it is just… it is something.
I’ve read a whole TWO of these! Lord of the flies has been on my list forever but tbh I dont think I’ll ever touch Maas.
Agreed. I’ve heard so many mixed things and there are just too many books now I’ll never catch up.
Don’t feel bad, I’ve only read one of these and that was because I had to.
Haha which one? I’m going to guess Lord od the Flies. I feel like most people had to read it in school.
Lol, you got me.
I love Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom! I really need to read The Bear and the Nightingale too! 😊
The Bear and the Nightingale is beautiful!
I’m really glad you enjoyed Six of Crows, and yes, the sequel is even better! 😍
That is great to hear!
You’re so lucky you didn’t have to read Lord Of The Flies in school!
That is what I am beginning to realize!
Confession, I’ve not read any of these! But I would be interested in reading The Bear and the Nightingale and Six of Crows!
Both such amazing books! I hope you get to them soon but I understand there are so many books and so little time!
Literally! I was watching a Youtube video the other day by Max Joseph about Bookstores and how to read more and in it he goes around the world’s best bookstores (you should check it out they’re all so beautiful) but it made me really existential about how I won’t have enough time to read all the books I want to read! hahaha very deep but I don’t want to run out of time hahaha
That video sounds amazing. I am going to look it up! I think about that all of the time. I found a website that tells you how long it will take to read all of the books on your TBR and I think mine was something like seven years… and I keep adding to it every day!
I have to tell you the weirded thing. I have never watched Max’s channel before and didn’t even know he had a channel. I just opened my YouTube app and the first video they recommend is that bookstore video you talked about. I swear they are watching us!!
omg no way!! That’s so weird! They’re listening for realllll😂
The second book in the Winternight Trilogy is my favorite! Vasya is such a badass in that one! Six of Crows has fantastic characters and is such a fun heist story! I did enjoy this one a bit more than the sequel though. For me, Outlander was meh and way too long. If I had known ahead of time, I would’ve skipped it.
That is so great to hear! I adore Vasya and can not wait to see her become even more of a badass.
That is interesting to hear you enjoyed Six of Crows more!
Glad to hear that I am not missing anything by skipping Outlander.
I thin I enjoyed Six of Crows more because of the novelty factor. They might be my favorite group of characters. It’s really hard to have a large number of well-developed and relatable characters and Bardugo did an excellent job here. 🙂
I’m glad you read The Bear and the Nightingale and liked it! Atmospheric is the perfect word to describe it. For me the next book in the series is even better, hope you get to it soon.
I hope so as well! Everyone seems to love the second book the best so that makes me very excited!
I also still want to read lord of the flies, but as you said, I’m not sure you will enjoy it the same if your not a kid..
(www.evelynreads.com)
There is part of me that wants to read it just because everyone else has but I just don’t think I will every get to it!
Understandable hahah!
Ahh you did quite great with this list! I still have to read The Bear and the Nightingale, I’ve heard so much about this beautiful book 🙂 I hope you’ll get to read Crooked Kingdom soon as well, I loved it! 🙂
Thank you! I really think you will love The Bear and the Nightingale!
BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE BECAUSE IT IS SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!
The first time I read A Wrinkle in Time (I was an adult) and I had the same feelings as you. The second time around I had a better experience. But I completely understand.
Team Kaz all the way!
That is interesting! I would be curious to revisit it one day. Maybe I will appreciate it more now that I know what to expect.
I think that it might just turn out that way.
The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time are the only ones on this list I HAVE read haha
Haha did you read them when you were younger? I really wish that I had!
Yes and then reread them as an adult. I’ve actually read Wrinkle a LOT because we also used it as a book study with my middle school reading classes. I really love both titles!
I haven’t read any of these yet either, but I’m currently reading Six of Crows and loving it! I can’t believe I waited this long to read it.
I also don’t think I’ll ever read anything by SJM either, they’re just not really my thing
I am so glad that you are loving Six of Crows!
SJM isn’t my thing either and there are just too many books now!
So I’ve read “The Giver”, “The Lord of the Flies”, and “Six of Crows” from your list 🙂 I know I’ll never read Outlander … but I haven’t decided on Maas’ books just yet. The ones I have read though were phenomenal and I highly recommend them! The Lord of the Flies is pretty messed up BTW 😉
Haha now you’re piquing my interest in The Lord of the Flies!
It’s like SERIOUSLY messed up — BUT SO GOOOOOOOOOOD!
I’ve only read Outlander so you’re not alone!
Good to hear! Would you recommend it?
Most definitely! A good reading friend kept pestering me to read it and I downloaded it when Amazon offered it for free years ago. So, I finally decided to read it to get her off my back and I was blown away. FYI, the TV series is spectacularly good, too. Highly recommend both.
I’m right there with you on most of these! The only ones I’ve read are The Giver and Lord of the Flies .. though Flies was required in class.
I don’t know why I was never assigned Lord of the Flies!
I remember it being very interesting. I might it find even more so now though.
I’ve never read Sarah J. Maas either, and probably never will! Just not my thing, either. I really enjoyed Outlander, though!
A few people have said they loved Outlander.. now I am reconsidering my choice! Maybe I will try the audiobook some time.
Love this update post! I’d say if you were going to be excited about two book on that list, you liked the two I would have recommended most! I LOVE Bear and the Nightingale, and I just finished my own first read through of both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom and found them to be a lot of fun.
Thank you!
Those were the two I definitely am most happy that I have read. I really need to continue on with the next books!
The majority of these was required reading in school and the others I read before they became insanely hyped (to my knowledge anyway!)… But I still haven’t read The Bear and the Nightingale 🙈
Ah The Bear and the Nightingale is my favourite of the ones I have read!
This is great!! Now we need 8 new books from you so you can do another check in next year!!
I was thinking that same thing! Expect that post soon! 🙂
(I may have stolen your post idea. But I gave you full credit!!)
Awesome! Excited to read it!
I am hoping to listen to the Bear and the Nightingale audiobook soon. It seems like everyone loves it. I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses, but I couldn’t stand the sequel. I don’t think I will be finishing with the series. I didn’t think Thirteen Reasons Why was that great when I read it.
The Bear and the Nightingale is fantastic!
That series has such mixed reviews!
I only read 2 books from your list – «The Bear and the Nightingale» 😍 and «Court of Thorns and Roses» 👎
Hahah good to know I’m not missing anything by skipping ACOTAR
I was so late on the Bear and Nightingale train as well, and read it a couple of months ago, so I feel you!
I don’t know how you haven’t read or seen any ACOTAR or Crooked Kingdom spoilers yet, because oh my god, they are everywhere😅.
I probably have seen them but they haven’t really registered with me… Thank goodness!
I’ve read exactly… 0 books of this! XD But I have Outlander and Six of crows on my TBR, so maybe one day!
Haha reader problems! So many books, so little time!
Lord of the Flies is interesting, but, oh my, the prose is excruciating at times… The Society (Netflix) does a wonderful retelling (mixed with Lost elements) – although I don’t know it it’s a conscious decision on the shows part. Hope you get to read Crooked Kingdom – the ending will have you in tears.
Part of me is curious about Lord of the Flies but everyone says to skip it! I have heard so many good tjinnggs about The Society. I need to get to it!