Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Shelf

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme by The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's topic is "Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging That You STILL Haven't Read Yet".

Frankly, this is rather embarrasing!



Dodger by Terry Pratchett
I pre-ordered this one in 2012, and have yet to read it.  I don't know why, but I just haven't!














The Secret of Abdu El Yezdi by Mark Hodder
This was, for me, a highly anticipated sequel in the Burton and Swinburne Adventures.  I started it, but felt like I needed to remind myself more about the first three before I could get into it.  I've never got back around to it--even though I own all the series now.  It's the second youngest of my list, though; I bought it in 2013.




The Rise of the Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt
I loved the two Hunt books I've read, but I just neglected to ever get to this one.  I need to add it to my to-be-read stack.  In my defense, I've only had it since 2009.



The Breaking Point by Daphne du Maurier
Du Marier is a top-ten favorite author, and yet I've had this for at least ten years and not read it.  It'a short stories, too, at which she excells!  As I said before: I don't know why!




The Sword of Honor Trilogy by Evelyn Waugh
Waugh is another top-ten favorite author.  Despite that, I've had these for over twenty years and just never got around to reading them.



An Elegant Madness: High Society in Regency England by Venetia Murray
I'm ashamed that I've yet to read this nonfiction, after I purchased it new in 1999.




The Last Duel by Eric Jager
This was gifted to me, maybe ten years ago, and I started it. It's a highly readable, very interesting nonfiction, and yet. ...  I sat it aside and never returned!





The Pinball Effect by James Burke
Burke's theories are so intriguing and enthralling.  So why have I not read this one ten years later?  I don't know!




Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill
After reading his book on the Irish, I bought this one in 2003, but. . . I've not yet read it.




Alva, That Vanderbilt-Belmont Woman by Margaret Hayden Rector
I purchased this biography in 1999 and intended to read it right away.  I didn't.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fully Loaded Gift Card

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme by The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is: what books would you buy if someone handed you a fully loaded gift card.

What would you buy?


My choices:

1.  There is no question that my first purchase would be a complete set of the Penguin Drop Caps collection.  I love these books so much, and dearly want to own at least a few!

2. This gorgeous set of Jane Austen:

3. & 4. These illustrated Harry Potter books:

5, This set of Harry Potter:

6.  The "Puffin in Bloom" collection:

7.  The Mortal Instruments complete collection:

8.  The Lemony Snicket set:

9. A complete set of the Charlie Bone series:

10.  The Annotated Alice in Wonderland:

Top Ten Tuesday: International Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme by The Broke and the Bookish.

The topic for this week is actually "top ten books set outside the US", because the meme creators stated that they mostly read books taking place inside the US.  Because I mostly read books taking place in the UK, I decided that I couldn't include any of these books as well, and have made the topic "non-US/UK books", or "international books" for a smoother topic.

These are not necessarily my TOP ten, but rather ten that I have given a 5 star review.


1. Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin (my review here)
This book was a joy and delight to read.  It takes place in Kigali, Rwanda and is serious and funny all at the same time.  I highly recommend it.

2. Chasing the Rose: an Adventure in the Venetian Countryside by Andrea Di Robilant

(my review here)

This beautiful book is Di Robilant's memoir of his search for a nearly extinct rose.  The story takes him through several countries, as well as into the history of roses.  It's an excellent read.

3.  The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman by Mamen Sánchez

(my review here)

I just recently read and reviewed this book about the lives of five ladies in Madrid, and the boss's son who comes to fire them.  It was thoroughly enjoyable.

4. Britt-Marie Was Here by Frederik Backman  (my review here)

This is another recent read, taking place in Sweden.  It's a feel good novel that kept me guessing till the end.

5. Geisha: a Life by Mineko Iwasaki (my review here)

This is the autobiography of the most successful geiko of her time.  I found it fascinating, and felt it was like talking to a good friend.

6.Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (my review here)
A truly passionate book about books.  All bibliophiles should read it.

7.  In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (my review here)
This is a nonfiction book about the US Ambassador to Hitler's Germany.  Larson is a stellar writer and this reads like a novel.

8.  King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (my review here)

This is my favorite adventure story.  It takes place in Africa, real and imagined.  While it is dated, it is still a great yarn.

9. Sky Burial by Xinran (my review here)
There has been some discussion over the years as to whether this is really based on a true story.  That doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned--it is a gorgeous story that made me long to visit Tibet.

10. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy (my review here)
This is a hilarious story of an American in Paris.  It had me laughing out loud often.