Or rather, books I bought, but didn’t read. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic makes me sad, because that list is always longer than I’d like it to be. Here we go with ten random picks:
1. The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman – The second installment in the sequel-trilogy to His Dark Materials. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t read this year – dying to!

2. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston – This is about the origin of the ebolavirus. It came highly recommended by at least two different people. As fascinating as the blurb makes it sound – science fiction thriller, mystery, horror combined but TRUE – it just hits too close to home!
3. Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch – This book is all about what the internet has done to language – the history of it, the science, the magic! I’m a little sad about this one because it’s been sitting half-read on the shelf for no reason.
4. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel – Speaking of sequels and trilogies, this is the third book in the Thomas Cromwell saga that started with the oh-so-brilliant Wolf Hall all the way back in 2009. I’ve been admiring this beautiful cover on my shelf for months now, but too scared to pick up the tome.

5. A Promised Land by Barack Obama – I absolutely fell in love with Dreams From My Father, which I read a few years ago, but which was written over twenty years ago, when Obama had been elected as the first black president of… the Harvard Law Review. I expect this won’t be anything like that but would certainly like to read it.
6. The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry – I found this at a book sale early last year. This a little guide to writing poetry, with tasks and exercises and advice from the inimitable Stephen Fry. Just haven’t had the time to read it!
7. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – This book was recommended to me by a friend, I gifted it to two people who both absolutely loved it and I still somehow haven’t got around to it. It will happen soon!

8. The rest of the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski – One of the highlights of last year was starting this series. I love it, love it, love it. Maybe this is my gateway back to fantasy series after many years!
9. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – Another book I was SO excited to read! I adore Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. But with Piranesi, the first ten pages were very different from my expectation. I was curious but worried it would be letdown, so I put it aside. Should I pick it back up?
10. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – The image of this gorgeous book has been haunting me for all of 2020. I left it in another city and was then stuck somewhere else for the rest of the year! We shall meet again.

What about you? Any unfinished business, books left on the shelves last year?
I’m reading (and loving!) A Gentleman in Moscow right now.
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Can’t wait to get to it! Thanks for stopping by.
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Oof, I totally forgot that I wanted to read A Gentleman in Moscow last year… Lol I also want to read A Promised Land this year and hope it’ll happen. Also, I totally relate about these lists making you sad–they also make me question what I read last year since I have so many I didn’t end up reading 😂 I hope you get around to these and enjoy them. Happy reading!
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I’m happy that I made more time for reading last year, but it’s just never enough, is it? Good to know I’m not the only one!!
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A Promised Land was on my list, too.
My post.
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Seems to be on many lists!
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I really enjoyed Priory! I got A Promised Land for Christmas (it was also on my list this week) so I’m hoping I will get to it at some point soon 🙂
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/19/top-ten-tuesday-299/
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Oops you made me notice my ‘Priori’ typo 😀
Hope you get around to reading A Promised Land soon!
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So do I!
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A Gentleman In Moscow is on my tbr for next month! Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2021/01/top-ten-tuesday-one-honorable-mention.html.
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Hope you enjoy it!
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I’m hoping to listen to Obama’s book soon. I just need my library hold to come in! I hope we both love it.
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Thanks, I think we will!
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I had exactly the same reaction to Piranesi – I started reading and thought “Oh. Okay… not what I expected… maybe later”. I should get back to it! These are some of the other books I didn’t get around to last year!
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Glad to know I’m not alone with that thought. I have seen many people who loved it though. So there’s hope there!
Thanks for stopping by.
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