Top Ten Tuesday – 3. Books I Thought I Would Like MORE/LESS

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish (click on the picture to visit their blog). A new Top Ten list is posted every week for fellow bloggers to participate in.
_________________________________________________

In no particular order, I have listed first; the books that I thought I would like more than I did, and have ended with the books that thought I would like less than I did (I wanted to end on a positive note!)

Thought I Would Like MORE;

1. The Attolia Series – Megan Whalen Turner

I read this series because Melina has mentioned it many times and names it as one of her favourite series, so I thought I would absolutely love it.  I hate to say it, but I did not.  I liked it…but that’s about as far as it goes.

2. Just One Day – Gayle Forman

This one really really REALLY pains me to say it, but I liked it less than I thought I would.  Mostly because (and I hope this doesn’t ruin anyone else’s experience of it) I picked up on a bunch of editing errors and it really bugged me.  I couldn’t get into the story as much as I wanted to because of it.  In saying this, it doesn’t mean I didn’t love it, I just didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

3. A Spot Of Bother – Mark Haddon

I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in high school and really enjoyed it, so I bought A Spot of Bother.  Unfortunately I did not enjoy it in the slightest.  Even more unfortunately, it has made me reluctant to re-read The Curious Incident because I’m scared that it’s not as good as I remember and I don’t want to taint my current perception of it.

4. The Casual Vacancy – J.K. Rowling

Let me start by saying that I absolutely did not read this thinking that it would be anything like Harry Potter.  I knew it would be different, I was prepared for that.  What’s the nicest way I can put this…? I. Did. Not. Like. It.  While I knew I wouldn’t like it as much as Harry Potter (because really…Harry Potter…) I still expected to like it much more than I actually did.  I was very disappointed.

5.  The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

I am sure I am about to commit reading blasphemy, but I read The Book Thief because there were so many good reviews.  I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.  In fact, I didn’t really like it much at all.  But I am aware that I am in the minority here so we’ll just leave it at that.

Thought I Would Like LESS;

6. Graffiti Moon – Cath Crowley

I read this book a couple of years ago when I had a ticket to Reading Matters and Cath Crowley was a guest.  I hadn’t heard much about the book so I went in without expectations and I was very pleasantly surprised.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, being my first Cath Crowley read, it inspired me to buy more of her books.

7. The Dressmaker – Rosalie Ham

I read this book for the first time about 6 years ago after my better half had to read it for school.  I am generally very sceptical about books chosen in the English/Literature syllabus, so it was unexpected when I liked this book more than I thought I would.  I’ve read it twice more since then.

8. Saving June – Hannah Harrington

This was a ‘Rachel-impulse-buy-force-Annette-to-read-it’ book.  Rachel and I have pretty similar taste in books, so if Rachel gives me something to read it’s usually a safe assumption that I will enjoy it.  But with Saving June I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.

9. Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher

This book was recommended to me by several people, and not necessarily people who are big readers.  I didn’t have super high expectations but I gave it a shot anyway and am very glad I did.  If I created a ‘Top Ten books you read in 2012’ this would be on it.

10. Me Before You – JoJo Moyes

Another Rachel Recommendation.  Thanks Rach.  I was actually about 2 chapters off finishing when I went to the movies to see ‘The Intouchables’.  I came home and finished this book.  It was an incredibly emotional day.  So this book had an even bigger impact on me than it probably would have if my viewing of The Intouchables wasn’t so perfectly timed.  (If you haven’t seen it, please do!  Don’t be put off by the sub-titles).

I have to admit… I am a little bit scared to post this…

– Annette