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Weekly Geeks: Why Haven’t I Read This Yet?

My TBR pile is currently standing at around 500 books, so there are a lot which I would love to read. There are a few which stand out as being long overdue though.

Here are the ones I am most looking forward to reading:



The Wind – Up Bird Chronicle – Haruki Murakami

I love Murakami, but for some strange reason I haven’t read his most famous book yet. I plan to read it in the next few months (but I have been saying that for about a year now!)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson

I have had a copy sitting on my shelves for about 6 months now – I really want to read it – especially when I see everyone has now moved on to the rest of the trilogy.

Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

I have no idea how this book avoided my radar for so long. It only entered my TBR pile a few months ago, but the main question should be why it failed to get there sooner.

Twilight – Stephanie Meyer
I don’t think I’ll love this book, but I hate being the only one who hasn’t read it. I’ve somehow ended up owning three copies – I should really make the time to read it soon!



The Virgin Suicides – Jeffery Eugenides

This book has been on my shelves for years. I loved Middlesex, so I really should have got round to this ages ago. I think I’ll save it until 2010 though – it is always good to have a favourite waiting to be read – I’d hate to have nothing to look forward to!

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Have you read all these books?
Which was your favourite?


Have a look what the other weekly geeks haven’t got round to reading yet.

68 replies on “Weekly Geeks: Why Haven’t I Read This Yet?”

I loved Rebecca. And I’ve read Twilight but Twilight makes me angry.
Um … The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Virgin Suicides are on my ‘mean-to’ radar as well.
Happy Weekly Geeks 🙂

I hope Twilight doesn’t make me angry – I am so intrigued by it now – perhaps I’ll get it out next month.

I bought Girl with Dragon Tattoo about 8 month ago and read it last week (review not up yet). Haven’t read Wind-up but I do own it. Loved Rebecca (read it about [mumbles] years ago). Twilight was fun! I liked it. It’s just that the series goes slowly downhill from there. Middlesex was one of all-time favorites. I really need to get to Virgin Suicides.

I look forward to reading your GWTDT review. I hope you enjoyed it.

Everyone seems to have read Rebecca years ago – I can’t understand why I didn’t even know it existed!

I have read 4/5 (I haven’t read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and doubt that I will).

2 belong to my list of favourite books -Rebecca (number 1) and The Virgin Suicides- so of course I recommend those.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was my first Murakami and I didn’t turn back!

I read Twilight (and its follow-ups) like they were oxygen. They are what they are and I recommend going in expecting nothing but a compelling read. The cult of Twilight annoys me but I enjoyed the vacuous addiction.

Sounds like I have a good selection of books to look forward to.

Why aren’t you interested in reading TGWTDT? I don’t remember seeing many crime novels on your blog. Do you enjoy reading them? Perhaps I can write a review to change your mind!

Perhaps you will! No, I don’t read many crime novels; I read In the Woods by Tana French a couple of months ago and didn’t fare too well with it (I finished it but it annoyed me).

I love a good crime novel, but struggle to find them. I often get annoyed by them, but when I find a good one they amaze me. I’ve got my fingers crossed for this one.

I have a few more Murakami’s in the TBR pile too, but this one is the priority. I don’t like to read his books too close together – I can only cope with so much weirdness in one year!

Your TBR is as long as my TBR pile…which makes me happy. 🙂 Rebecca is on my TBR pile as well, and like you, I wondered why it took so long for my sights to set on it as a possible read. It’s strange how one day you pick up a book, and you are wondering how in the world it took your brain so long to figure out you should read it.

Thank you for commenting on my blog for the first time!

Since Rebecca first came to my knowledge I have seen it mentioned everywhere. I guess I just tend to ignore some things if they don’t ring a bell, but once I am aware of them I pay much more attention.

I second the motion to finish Rebecca – it is a lovely book. I haven’t read Twilight, but I dunno… it seems like life is too short… I do like some of the old vampire books though, Dracula is fun, and Carmilla is one of my all time faves :).

With the exception of Twilight (which I’ve already read… unfortunately! 😛 ), I want to read all of these books too! I read Eugenides’s Middlesex earlier this year, and while it didn’t make it onto my list of all-time favorites, I did enjoy it a good deal, and have a copy of Suicides sitting on my shelf waiting! And based on all the good things I’ve heard in the blogging world, I really want to try Rebecca, which sounds just like the kind of book I would like… I’ve never read any Murakami, but I really want to! His books are just really hard to come by in the used bookstore… I wonder why… 😉

I have been lucky enough to find 5 Murakami’s second hand, but I do go in a lot! I’ve never found a Saramago though, so I think we both need to keep looking – they are out there somewhere!

I absolutely LOVED Rebecca; so much so that I plan to teach it this year!

I didn’t mind Twilight, but certainly did not love it. I did not find it as offensive as some; I am just not a fan of romance novels.

I have also had the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo on my TBR for months.

Good luck making a dent in those 500 books 🙂

I don’t think I’m ever going to make a dent in those books – they are slowly growing in number!

I’ve the same thoughts about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. It was the first Murakami I wanted to read, but when the library didn’t have it I ended up with Kafka on the Shore, which I don’t regret, by the way. I plan to read Wind-Up soon, too, but then I’ve been known to do the same as you, say that for months but never get to it, lol.

As for Rebecca, I found a copy around 3 years ago, and found the first lines so compelling that I bought it (for a dollar). But as I really wanted to get a better copy (knowing that I’ll love it), I put my book up in bookmooch and am waiting to get a better copy. However, I haven’t gotten around to it as everytime I make a new purchase I get distracted by something else (that has a better, more attractive cover. I know it’s silly but I’m so drawn to aesthetics.)

Anyway, good luck with Twilight. I don’t ever plan on reading them as I’m afraid I would be too critical of the writing. Also, I’m just not interested. So, no, you’re not the last person on earth who hasn’t read them. 😀

I bought my copy really cheaply too. It isn’t in the best condition, but I don’t really mind. I hope you find the copy you are after soon and look forward to comparing notes.

Kafka on the Shore was the first one I read too – I don’t think it has done any harm. In fact I like saving up the best one for later!

I guess I need to get my act together and read some Murakami! Seems to be a popular author and one that isn’t even on my tbr radar!
You must read Rebecca! I loved it.
To quote a much used saying: “Too many books, so little time.”!
My post is up this week.
*smiles*
Kim

Murakami is amazing! His writing is very weird, but he somehow makes it work. I hope you like him if you do decide to give it a go.

I just answered the same question over at Frances’ blog. Time Traveler’s Wife. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (which is at least on my iPod, if I can ever get through The Fiery Cross!), anything DuMaurier, and anything Atwood. I’m reading all the darned time, but I have to wonder what exactly, when there are so many wonderful books I haven’t touched!

Books lose appeal the longer they sit on my shelf – I tend to read books straight away or they sit for a long time. Lets try to read Dragon Tattoo soon!

You’re the first person I know who has read all three. I’m pleased to hear they are good and look forward to reading them.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is utterly utterly magical. The May Kasahara passages, and Malta and Creta Kano sections are beyond exquisite. It’s not my favourite Murakami by a long chalk, but it’s wonderful nonetheless. And the passages at the bottom of the well were clarified by a talk I went to on Kyoto School philosophy earlier this year – it’s to do with finding the absolute in the specific.

I haven’t heard of Kyoto school philosophy before – I’ll try to look out for that section and then have a little search on the Internet to see what I can find out about it. I’m really looking forward to reading it.

Hmm actually, it’s somewhat surreal that you have picked these titles. For me, the question is more like: Why have I not read Haruki Murakami and Jeffery Eugenides? The Japanese author is probably the best-selling one in the history of Japan; and Middlesex has become a modern classics under Penguins. At least I’ve got Rebecca on the way. 🙂

Murakami should have made my list because I have sadly read nothing by him. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo did make it though and I have no idea why I have not read it yet. Rebecca you will love but I think you already intuit that Twilight may be a big disappointment. The writing makes me cringe. And like Matthew, have not touched on Eugenides either. Think I need to quit work to just read.

I think that even if you quit work you wouldn’t be able to fit in all the books you’d like to read! I hope you manage to read a Murakami soon – he is amazing!

I will join with others in my love for Rebecca (I am also a big fan of the movie). I will be looking out for your review on Twilight to see what you think – I found it a painful read to say the least!!

I didn’t know that there was a film of Rebecca – shows how great my ignorance of this book is! I’ll try to find a copy after I’ve read it.

Doesn’t Twilight appeal to men as well? I don’t know much about it, but I though men might like the vampire bit. Perhaps one day you’ll read it to your son….may be not!

I liked Rebecca a lot. The girl with the Dragon tattoo is on my wishlist, but I never got around to getting it yet. Twilight? Not sure, I read the four books, I devoured Twilight, from then on it went downhill. Read it, just so you can say you know it.

I have the first 3 books in the Twilight series here, so I could read them all very quickly. I only want to read them so I can join in the discussions. One day I’ll get round to it!

Rebecca is an old fave. Loved it.
Murakami and The Girl with the Dragon Tatt are on my wish list.
Twilight isn’t my thing and I’ve heard that girls are depicted a bit gushy and weak, so that would just annoy me.

I’m not a fan of weak female characters – I am looking forward to finding out what it is all about though. Thanks for the warning.

Nice list. A lot of my book club friends read The girl with the Tattoo. I have not.
I too was very angry by Twilight, I have nothing nice to say about it. I am amazed at how many grown women see nothing wrong with Bella’s inability to take care of herself and low self esteem issues.
The Virgin Suicides is a tough book to read but I am really glad I did.

Happy reading!

I’m surprised that you say The Virgin Suicides is a difficult read – do you mean the subject matter as opposed to the writing style? I am looking forward to reading it. It is very short, so I could read it quite quickly – not sure why I haven’t.

I read Virgin Suicides a couple of months back, but not Middlesex. I quite enjoyed Virgin Suicides, but, I don’t know – there was something missing that prevented me from loving it.

GWTDT intrigues me, and I reckon it’s one of those books I’ll read – just don’t know when!

Hope to read Rebecca soon, and I haven’t read Wind Up Bird Chronicle either, with, Kafka On The Shore taking preference for reasons I don’t know. Am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Wind Up Bird Chronicle though.

I haven’t read Twilight, and don’t intend to either.

Kafka on the Shore is so much better than Wind-up Bird. I think Wind-up Bird deals with bigger questions (being and nothingness, basically), but does so in a really disparate way (as the structure suggests), whereas Kafka is really just about transitional times in one’s life (albeit many different kinds from coming of age to handling gender dysphoria), and takes us through in about as linear fashion as Murakami ever manages. It feels tighter

I think you’ll love Middlesex, so it is probably worth giving that a go.

I loved Kafka on the Shore, although cat lovers will find it a difficult read. I look forwaard to hearing your thoughts on his books if you get round to them.

I’m currently making my way through the Twilight series and while I kind of hang my head in shame, I’m actually having fun with them (especially blogging about them!). I have Wind-up Bird and Rebecca in my immediate TBR as well. Wind-up Bird is a little long, though, and thus intimidating to me.

Don’t hang yor head in shame – there is nothing wrong with reading them! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on WUBC and Rebecca.

Almost all of them were bought cheaply second hand, or discovered in a batch of books I bought for my business. I would have a lot less normally. I am probably going to do a cull soon – I won’t get round to reading all of them.

Rebecca – awesome, quick read

Twilight – BARF. But I’m with you…I had to read it too, just bc everyone else had. I did not enjoy.

Virgin Suicides – one of my all-time favorites. Not a difficult read but told from a unique, collective voice. I went to a reading with Eugenides when they re-released this in paperback recently, and it’s great to hear him talk about it. You’re lucky you get the good cover of the book…I bought the same one when I studied in London, and when they just re-released the paperback in the US, the cover is inspired by the UK cover. 🙂

You’re planning books to read in 2010?? Wow, that’s quite a schedule.

I don’t think I have the good cover of The Virgin Suicides. My cover (the pink one) wasn’t available on Amazon, so I had to settle on that one. Luckily I’m not too bothered about covers. I’m sure it will be just as good!

The only reason I am planning to read books in 2010 is that I don’t have time to fit them in in 2009!! I’m making no guarantees though – I could read them any time – I change my mind all the time!

Rebecca is one of my all-time favourites. It’s the kind of book that you can read at any age, at any stage of life and still be able to connect. I’d recommend it highly.

I’ve read Girl With A Dragon Tattoo and the second in the series (Girl Who Played With Fire) and I enjoyed them both. They’re both very chunky and personally I feel they could have done with some editing, but that’s a very small criticism. Overall it is very fast-paced, unexpected and original. The female protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is one of my favourite literary characters.

The Virgin Suicides is on my TBR list if I ever gain control over my toppling bookshelves!

I love unexpected and original! I am really looking forward to reading GWTDT. I think I’m going to read it straight after the Bookers.

I enjoyed reading The Book Theif, but don’t rate it as one of my favourites. We all have different taste in books, so don’t feel ashamed about it.

I want to get to the Larsson as well!

I wasn’t that impressed with Rebecca though and found it to be a book best read when you are in your teens – when you are “young and impressionable”!

I really enjoyed both of the Larssen books! Can’t wait for the third one to come out!

I have a du Maurier on my list as well. Really liked Rebecca when I read it a few years ago.

Loved Middlesex when I read it, but haven’t really been inspired to pick up any of his other books yet. Liked Twilight a lot. Meyer has the ability to make keep the pages turning!

Ooh, I’ve read all of those except the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. My husband tried reading it and abandoned it pretty quickly which is why I too have avoided it.

My favourite of the lot is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Love Murakami.

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