Top Ten Tuesday

The Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I've Never Read

1. Pride and Prejudice :: Or really, classics in general. I love reading but I have such a hard time getting through this book and others like it. I'm under the impression I will have to audio book these classic novels someday, just so I can check them off my list.
2. 1984 :: I've started this numerous times, I've just never been able to get into it. One day....
3. The Hobbit + Lord of the Rings :: Again, these are books that I would consider a Must Read for anyone who loves literature. 
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy :: I've read the first chapter. It's amazing, or so I've been told, but I don't see it. 
5. The Vampire Chronicles :: These are books I've heard about for my entire life. I've read other work by Anne Rice and was able to get through it, but these books are just too difficult. Actually, it isn't the books that are difficult. Louis is difficult and I refuse to read the rest without reading the first. I'm currently working my way through Interview With a Vampire. Very slooowly.
6. Anything by Mark Twain :: I don't know how I've gone twenty-three years without encountering a novel, but I've somehow succeeded. Everyone else I know had to read at least something for school, but I somehow missed out on it.
7. The Fountainhead :: I include this only because I've been wanting to read a Ayn Rand book for a while now and just never had the chance. I found this one for $.50 at Goodwill once and bought it. Maybe one day I can knock this one of this list.
8. The Jungle Book :: I feel like this was something I should have read years ago. For someone who loves literature as much as I do, I've really missed out on a lot of things....
9. Memoirs of a Geisha :: I've owned this one for years. It just keeps getting moved from shelf to shelf as I move from place to place without ever being picked up.
10. Jane Eyre :: I've talked to a lot of people who do not necessarily enjoy "classics" but love this book. Maybe I should give it a shot instead of trying to jump headfirst into the classical genre.

Top Ten Tuesday

I'm part of the college students geared reading group on Good Reads and some of the members of the group have started a book review blog. This is a meme they've started and I hope to participate when I'm able to!

  Top Ten Books I'd Want On A Desert Island!

1. Water For Elephants by Gruen :: This is a rather recent read but I seriously love it. It's one of those that I cannot wait to read again. 
2. Flowers for Algernon by Keyes :: This book never ceases to amaze me (and make me cry). 
3. The Thirteenth Tale by Setterfield :: Again, I only read this book for the first time earlier this year but I immediately fell in love with it. It's one that I feel I need to put myself back into and get a good feel of the story and see what all I've missed.
4. The Lady and the Unicorn by Chevalier :: I've come to the conclusion that Chevalier is my favorite author. She is the only writer whose work I've read completely (her newest one is my upcoming book club pick and I'm incredibly excited to read it even though her last book didn't really impress me as much as I would like). There's just something about her writing style that sinks me in. This was my first book of hers and it's always remained my favorite.
5. Alice I Have Been by Benjamin :: I need at least one book I've yet to read on here, I think.
6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas :: This has been my favorite book since high school, though I've only read the abridged. I'm hoping to tackle the unabridged some time this year.
7. Shadow of the Wind by Zafon :: Again, another book I've only discovered this year but it's another that I really want to read again and feel out completely.
8. The Birth of Venus by Dunant :: A book I read in high school and loved. I'm really big on stories that have something to do with art and/or artists.
9. The Crimson Petal and the White by Faber :: It took me forever to finally sit down and tackle this book. But it was a wonderful experience and I would love to read it again some time.
10. The Entire Harry Potter Series by Rowling :: Cheating? Oh, darn. Then I'd randomly pick either the Half-Blood Prince or The Deathly Hallows