Top Ten Tuesday - Hanna's Winter TBR

This technically a Top Ten Tuesday freebie, but since I've already done a Spring TBR, a Summer TBR and an Autumn TBR, I figured I may as well complete the set.

I know this is right on the heels of my November TBR (take a shot every time I say those initials, people!) but in my defence, these lists are more of a 'Hey, these are books I might read at somepoint in the near future' than a definitive obsessive list and this one is slightly longer ranging than the other.

Oh shush. I like lists, okay?

1) Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

I adored the original Percy Jackson series but somehow never really connected with the newer Heroes of Olympus books. I know they're pretty much the same thing with a main character who is almost identical to Percy, but I've always preferred Greek mythology over Roman and I just couldn't connect to the characters as much.

I've heard that Percy reappears from this book onwards though and I recently bought the next installment, so I really should get on with reading this. Plus it'll be a much needed addition to my TBR Challenge!

2) Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Why Shutter Island? Well why not?

I bought it in a charity shop on a whim because I have it on reliable authority that the film is brilliant. It's been eyeing me up from my TBR shelf lately and I'm in the mood for a clever thriller. Hey, maybe I can finally get round to watching the movie afterwards.

3) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

This was actually on my Summer TBR, but I never actually got round to reading it, despite how tiny it is. Unfortunately Law School Happened and uhh... I died inside. Still, I think I've settled in a little bit now as I'm reading more so I'm finally ready to attack this one!

It's actually #100 on my Fill in the Gaps list and as I've already read #1 (Slaughterhouse Five) my obsessive need for symmetry is nudging me to get this one finished too!

4) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This was a birthday gift way back in August from Hannah at Once Upon A Time, bless her. Her constant raving made me want it desperately and so she obliged, being the lovely thing that she is.

I'm in the mood for YA fantasy at the minute, as I kind of want to read something light but exciting and I don't think I've read a single bad thing about this one.

5) Life of Pi by Yann Martel

So there's a couple of reasons for this one. Firstly, it's another of those pesky Fill in the Gaps list books, #27. Secondly, there is a film coming out, in case you haven't noticed.

I don't want to be one of Those People who read certain books only when there's going to be a movie, but in my defence it's been on my TBR for quite a long time and now seems as good a time as ever. I'm not really sure how they've managed to turn it into a film as I know the basic gist and it seems distinctly Bookish but I'm looking forward to it nevertheless. I've just rewatched the trailer and it looks beyond amazing.

6) Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

This was also present on previous TBRs, but hey ho. I'm not normally a fan of spin-offs based on classic books but I've flicked through this one a few times and it actually does look great. And you know, one of the most annoying characters dies according to the blurb, so it can't be all bad...

Actually, the main reason this appeals to me is that it looks like P.D. James actually managed to stick the the 'tone' of Pride and Prejudice. I've read too many books where Elizabeth Bennett says 'cool, guys!' to not be a tad suspicious.

7) The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas

I was originally slightly apprehensive about this one - I'd heard mixed reviews about it being a little too science-y and babbly to really be accessible. Having said that, I recently read and loved Our Tragic Universe and although that has more of a literary angle than a scientific one, I can't see them being too dissimilar.

I also have Bright Young Things and PopCo to read, but The End of Mr. Y is both more well-known and earlier on my chronologically-ordered TBR shelf, so up it comes!

8) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

I'm a little late to the party on this one. I haven't even possessed a copy of the book that long either - only two months or so. It just didn't appeal to me when it was first released, despite the gorgeous red cover. Now it does and I fancy getting stuck into a weighty book having just finished the amazing 22.11.63 by Stephen King. I know a long story doesn't necessarily equal a good story, but I have high hopes for this one.

Shame I have the murky green cover though...

9) The Selection by Keira Cass

This is another one with mixed reviews. It puts me off that the main character is called America Singer (and I remembered that for all the wrong reasons) and I've read some posts complaining about how shallow it is.

Still, since I'm hardly expecting War & Peace here, I'm more than willing to deal with a few silly plot points if I get to sit back and be entertained about Princes and dystopian-Bachelorette.

10) The Pirates! in an Adventure with Napoleon by Gideon Defoe

This is the Pirates! book that I've been looking forward to the most, but I refused to read them out of order. Communists wasn't quite as good as the others (although I've yet to review it), but I've heard that Napoleon picks back up again and I can't wait.

I love Napoleon as a historical character and I'm beyond excited about the combination of him and The Pirate Captain!

 

What's on your TBR list this Winter?