Another week, another Top Ten Tuesday, a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The topic was “Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging That You STILL Haven’t Read Yet”, but since I just started 3 months ago I decided to take it a little further and go for books I’ve had on my TBR since the beginning of time. Some of this books have been on my TBR for more than 10 years, others for just a year or so. Compiling this list was sort of terrible. I felt ashamed of leaving these poor books on my TBR for so long, but the time has not been right for them! Let’s check them out.
1.THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Ever since the films came out, I’ve been meaning to read this trilogy, but then I heard the movies were better than the books and it put me off. I’ve heard how tedious Tolkien’s descriptions can be and I’m a little apprehensive to read them because of that.
2. JANE EYRE BY CHARLOTTE BRONTË
It’s very strange, but the first time I ever heard about this book was in a Friends episode in which Rachel and Phoebe attend a literature class. Rachel doesn’t read the book and Phoebe tricks her into believing it’s about a cyborg, which I thought was hilarious (her’s a clip). Later on, I learned it was one of the most well-known classics in literature and I’ve wanted to read it ever since.
3. POISON STUDY BY MARIA V. SNYDER
This is the first one in a trilogy. I’ve not had it on my TBR for as long as the others, but it is one of the first ones I added on Goodreads. I keep hearing great things about it and I hope I can get to it before this year is over!
4. SCOTT PILGRIM & THE INFINITE SADNESS BY BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY
I became obsessed with Scott Pilgrim when the film came out. It was silly, funny and it translated so well from graphic novel to movie that I wanted to read the whole series. Sadly, I only got the first two installments and never got to buy the rest. Whenever I went to a bookstore, the third installment was always out of stock. As time went by, my excitement for it dwindled and I stopped looking for it in bookstores. I still want to finish reading it though, so hopefully I’ll find it one day
5. LITTLE WOMEN BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
I owned this book when I was a kid and I even started reading it, but one day it disappeared from my house with a bunch of other old books. My mom gave them away without telling me and I was heartbroken. I never bought another copy and somehow I keep putting it off. Weirdly, this book also reminds me of Friends because one episode spoiled something major from the book that I never forgot!
6. DIVERGENT BY VERONICA ROTH
This is almost embarrassing because even most of the movie adaptations have come out. I haven’t even watched those! I keep telling myself I will read the books and then watch the films, but the thing is… I’m not the biggest fan of dystopia anymore. I used to love reading that genre, but the patterns and tropes got too repetitive for me. I still want to read this series because many people have recommended it to me and I would love to discuss it with them.
7. ROMEO AND JULIET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
The classic of classics! I’m 100% ashamed to admit that I haven’t read any of Shakespeare’s work. Sure, I know his work and I’ve seen adaptations, I’ve read excerpts and quotes, but I haven’t read any of his plays. I even bought a copy of Much Ado About Nothing almost 4 years ago and it is still sitting unread on my shelf.
8. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS
This has been on my TBR for 14 years. It sounds ridiculous, but I was able to check the exact number of years by looking at the release date of the film. I was 10 years old when it came out and I remember watching it time and time again. Then I realized it was a book and wanted to read it, but I saw it was 1400+ pages long and it scared me. It still intimidates me, which is why I haven’t picked it up yet.
Chapter Adventures 
OMG READ POISON STUDY! It’s one of my favorite books of all time. Favorite fantasy series and favorite series ever. It’s just so good! But like don’t tell me if you don’t like it because I’d cry
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I’m SO excited about it 😀 I don’t see how I wouldn’t like it though, Yelena sounds like a badass character ❤
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She is though she has her faults. But she’s one of my favorite characters of all time and I think the first book is my favorite. The first time I read it was in 8th grade when I borrowed it from a friend. I spent years thinking about it and remembering different details until I finally reread it last year. It was amazing ❤️
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Yess, badass with faults = well thought-out character ❤
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I haven’t read any of these either. I have 2 and 6 books in my TBR. And I also thinking of putting the Lord of the rings, but I’m not sure about the story.
I have seen Romeo and Juliet movie in the school actually and I didn’t liked it. Maybe the book is better, but the concept of the story is just weird for me..
Great TTT!!
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What scares me from Shakespeare is the language itself. English is not my mother tongue and I’ve never approached old English in literature before, so I don’t know if I’m going to understand it!
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Yeees, seconding Sara there for Poison Study! Though I haven’t read the rest of the series yet for various reasons (mostly laziness and other books), I really liked Poison Study. Yelena is such an amazing character, and I love the whole poison theme of it. ❤
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So that settles it, I have to read this one as soon as I finish my current reads 😀
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I agree with Sara and Reg. Poison Study is amazing.
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OMG I have to get it immediately! I’m so glad I’m getting all this encouragement to read it haha
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More than 10 years?
*gasps*
10 years ago I was 8. I literally just started reading books then ‘^^
Poison study!
I very much enjoyed this trilogy.
I marathoned it last year and it was great 😀
Highly recommended, if you’re ever in the mood for it!
You haven’t read Divergent?
This is… Interesting.
While I do recommend it, I won’t exactly say: “read it right now”, so… (:
I get what you mean about dystopian being predictable lately.
I don’t read much dystopian myself (not on purpose, though), but every now and then there are the truly Epic ones you do not want to miss 😀
*Putting a hand on your shoulder*
Don’t worry. I haven’t read Romeo and Juliette (the classic of all classics) either.
You are not alone.
The Lord of the rings… I have to admit, I almost dozed off 10 minutes into the movie.
I just could not watch it.
And the books… No, there is huge and then there is Loed of the rings.
No way I can possibily read this ‘^^
Good luck on you TBR, Esther.
We readers at united on this front.
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I feel really old. I’m almost 6 years older than you… God, that’s so strange. I feel like I was 18 yesterday hahah
I also started reading around that age! I was 7 when my school sent Harry Potter as required reading (best decision they ever made!).
I looooved the Lord of the Rings films, so I the books don’t seem so daunting to me 😛
Thank you Zoey 😀 I’m definitely picking up Poison Study next week!
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The only true shame comes from not being a book reader- having books on our TBR shows how much we love them! But it’s impossible not to feel bad for all the titles I really want to read but for some reason I still haven’t gotten to. SO many good books on your list- I know you’ll get to them!
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That’s such a nice way to see it <3:) Thank you!
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I read only 2 books from this list: Divergent and Poison Study. Liked them both, never continued with the Study seres though (and I own book 2 & 3 for years now, still from the time when it was still a triology).
But don’t feel bad, even if you don’t get to read those books, you alwas read something so there’s no shame in reading!
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You’re right 🙂 I’m glad you liked them both! You, as well as others, have push me to finally reach for Poison Study with your comments so I won’t feel bad at all 😀
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The Study series in general is SO LOVE. But Poison Study holds that special place in my book heart. Loooove Yelena!
And gasp! I thought I’d been super late in jumping on the Divergent bandwagon (I started and finished the series last year, lol). It’s understandable avoiding dystopias, though, after a time they just start sounding the same. Divergent was pretty good, though like The Hunger Games, I thought the last book was okay.
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I’m SUPER late to the Divergent bandwagon lol. But I really want to know what it’s all about, no matter how bad or mediocre the ending was.
I’m so glad Poison Study is so loved, I can’t wait 😀
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Divergent was REALLY good. Insurgent wasn’t quite as good, but I still enjoyed it. I pre-ordered Allegiant, but never read it due to the mixed reviews. I’m currently reading it as part of a challenge to finish a series I started before this year. I’m about 50% in and so far so good. I hope you enjoy all of these when you get to them.
My TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2016/08/top-ten-tuesday-books-on-my-tbr-list.html
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That’s what’s making me a little hesitant to reach for that trilogy, I know it’s not consistent. But I can’t be disappointed if I expect the worse, right? lol
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I read Divergent and after the ending was spoiled for me, I decided not to finish the series…Thankfully I didn’t by the whole trilogy at once. That would have sucked! My Top Ten Tuesday!
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Oh that sucks! It’s been a miracle that I haven’t been spoiled yet :O
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I’m not a dystopian fan, but I actually liked reading Divergent more than The Hunger Games. But I would probably have been good stopping after it. The sequels were no where near as good.
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That’s interesting! I enjoyed the first two of The Hunger Games a lot, so at least I know one book in Divergent is going to be good haha 😛
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Jane Eyre and Little Women are so good- even if Friends did reveal that major plot point (same thing happened to me)- it didn’t stop me loving it though. And Count of Monte Cristo is wonderful- it goes really fast despite the length, I promise! And Shakespeare’s amazing!
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Oooh, I’m so glad to hear all those nice things about them. Especially that of the Count of Monte Cristo. It was scared it was going to be tedious!
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Nah- it’s not at all! It’s really exciting!
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Some very good books on here – definitely enjoyed Jane Eyre and Poison Study – and a few of the others too!
Lynn 😀
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Yaay, I’m happy that great books are waiting for me 😀
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You’ve GOT to read JANE EYRE, LITTLE WOMEN, and LOTR! I almost put POISON STUDY on my list, but technically, it came out after I started blogging. I’ve been at this for a long time 🙂 It looks like a great series. Hopefully, we both get around to reading it sometime soon-ish!
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Yesss, I’m so glad everyone has been telling me most of the books are great. It really motivates me to actually pick them up. I’m reading Poison Study next week if I can get it 😀
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I’m really looking forward to Poison Study, too! Of all the books I’ve read on your list I would recommend LOTR the most! It’s really not as intimidating as you have been told; the descriptions aren’t, in my opinion, overdone. The book is written so much like a legend that you really get the sense of Middle Earth being a historical period and LOTR (and Tolkien’s other writing — he was very prolific, despite that he is so strongly associated with the trilogy alone!) being a myth from that era. The Hobbit, as well! Highly, highly recommended!
And while I definitely think Romeo and Juliet is worth reading, it’s startlingly racy and crude — not what you’d expect from a classic, especially one about 12/13-year-olds! It took me several readings before I got all the jokes. I can’t imagine how scandalous Shakespeare must have seemed to audiences in his day!
Happy reading!
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That’s so reassuring to hear about LOTR. I read The Hobbit and thought the writing was nice 🙂 And I can’t believe that’s how Romeo and Juliet is hahah, I actually know so little of Shakespeare and his work :O I didn’t even know they were 12-13 years old!!
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Yeah, it’s pretty crazy! An English teacher I had in high school thought Romeo and Juliet was the most depressing story he’d ever read because what happens at the end happens to two children. 😦 Still, it’s definitely worth the read.
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Oh wow, he’s right 😦
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I had to read a ton of Shakespeare in high school and Romeo and Juliet is definitely a must read! I also adored Little Women! I hope you love all the books on your list! Happy reading! 😀
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Thank you! I think I will, they all come highly recommend it 😀
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I love LotR! I’ve been meaning to reread the series. Tolkien writes BEAUTIFULLY although it can be a bit wordy at times. I love all the background information we get about the characters that isn’t said in the movies (though if you’ve watched the extended editions, there’s a bit more info).
I FREAKIN’ LOVE JANE EYRE. Forbidden romance tropes are my FAVORITE.
I also have Poison Study (and its’ sequel) on my shelves… Haven’t gotten to it yet… XD
I’ve read “Little Women” and it’s so cute! The movie with Christian Bale is super cute too!
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I’ve watched the extended ones and loved them, so I’m pretty sure I will enjoy the LOTR books then 😀 I love getting to really know the characters.
And I didn’t even know Jane Eyre was about forbidden romance, I’m the worst lmao. I think I enjoy that trope too, but it depends on how it’s written. Can’t wait to read all these books after all the awesome recommendations.
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If you love getting to know the characters, you’ll definitely enjoy LotR!
Totally a forbidden romance! Between Jane, the main character, and her employer, Mr. Rochester. She’s a governess and because he was her employer, any love relationship between them was a big no-no, especially during the time period they lived in (Victorian England). Quite scandalous! XD
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Oooh, that’s awesome, I do like that kind of forbidden romance :o<3 hahah
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You absolutely should read the count of Monte Cristo – it’s one of my all time favorites. Jane Eyre, Romeo and Juliet and Little Woman are definitely on my want-to-read as well 🙂
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I’m honestly thrilled to hear so many people saying the Count of Monte Cristo is SO good, because even though I knew it, I thought maybe people were being like: “Yesss, so good” but hadn’t read it hahah
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