Disclosure: some of the titles within ’10 Books on my TBR that I’m ‘Saving’ for No Good Reason and Should Just Read Already’ were previously sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I’m an affiliate for Blackwell’s so this post contains affiliate links to their sites. If you buy a book via my links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you – thank you!
I know I’m not the only one who does this. Gets excited about a book (or ten) on my TBR but then leave them unread for months or even years because I’m ‘saving them’. For what, exactly? An impending apocalypse? Retirement? I think I’m just waiting for the ‘right time’ to read these, but I should know by now that the right time does not exist.
All of these books really excite me and I should stop denying myself and just read them already. So that’s why I’m writing this post. Purely selfish reasons. Hopefully writing it will inspire me (and maybe you!) to just pick up these books I’ve been looking forward to for an overly long time now.
Maybe I’ll do another post in six months checking in with how many of these I’ve actually read…
Counternarratives by John Keene
I came across John Keene last year when I was looking into diversity in translation (very lacking, in case you were wondering). I read a great essay by him and then saw that he had a book with one of my favourite publishers, Fitzcarraldo Editions! So as soon as Counternarratives came back in stock I ordered a copy and… have yet to read it. I think it intimidates me because this short story collection is supposed to be genre-bending, genre-defying etc. and I’m concerned I won’t ‘get’ it. But there’s only one way to find out!
Buy Counternarratives at Blackwell’s
The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier
I LOVE Daphne du Maurier. Like, love love her. As well as being an obvious queer icon, she’s just a brilliant writer. Rebecca is one of my all-time faves and I’ve read and loved around eight more of her books too. I’ve collected in total around 15. So why haven’t I read the one I’m most excited for? A twisty tale following three siblings and plenty of family secrets? You tell me. This could actually be said for any of my unread du Mauriers. I don’t think I’ve read one in over a year now – shocking!
Buy The Parasites at Blackwell’s
Lote by Shola von Reinhold
This was the first book from the Jacaranda Twenty in 2020 collection that really drew my attention. Yet I’ve since read around seven from the collection but NOT this one. Why do I do this? Lote sounds fantastic, looking into the erasure of Black figures from history, art, and even secret societies. It’s also a great one for Pride Month and it just won the Republic of Consciousness Prize! Get on it, me (and you).
The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
Okay, I actually do know why I’ve been putting this one off. I’m still processing A Brief History of Seven Killings from last June! If The Book of Night Women is any bit as brutal as Seven Killings, I need to be prepared before I go in. Seven Killings ended up being one of my favourites from 2020, so The Book of Night Women has big shoes to fill.
Buy The Book of Night Women at Blackwell’s
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
This book is set in the North. That’s literally all the information I need to know I’ll love it. Yet it’s been sitting gathering dust on my TBR since I found a copy in the charity shops more than two years ago. It also deals with father-son and sibling relationships which I always love. Am I just self-sabotaging at this point by not reading it? Probably.
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Detailing the horrific story of Jean McConville’s abduction during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Say Nothing is meant to be a powerful and insightful true crime/history book. My pal Johann gifted me this one for my birthday in 2020, after absolutely loving it herself. I totally trust her recommendations, especially when it comes to true crime and Northern Ireland, so I kick myself every time I pass over it. I need to get over my fear of non-fiction in print and just read the damn book.
Buy Say Nothing at Blackwell’s
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
This one arrived at my door from the publisher without any knowledge or input from me. Initially I was confused but once I read the blurb I didn’t care anymore. It sounds amazing and it’s been a while since I lost myself in a good fantasy novel. But I am fussy with fantasy, in that I need to be in exactly the right mood to get used to the magic system, new politics and the like. Maybe I should just try reading it regardless… I can always put it down for later if it turns out mood really is important for getting into fantasy!
Buy The Unbroken at Blackwell’s
How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee
I went through a phase (or several phases really) of reading really good but really bleak historical fiction. It’s super important to remind ourselves of these events and periods in history, and to learn about ones we were ignorant of, but I did get a little burnt out. Several books on my TBR have been languishing because of this, including How We Disappeared. But I have been getting back into a good few historical fiction novels lately (like An Act of Defiance and Island of a Thousand Mirrors), so I sense that How We Disappeared’s time is coming!
Buy How We Disappeared at Blackwell’s
The Parisian by Isabella Hammad
I’m using the same excuse for this one as for How We Disappeared – plus the fact it’s nearly 600 pages long and my attention span has been WEAK lately. But now more than ever we need to be reading and amplifying Palestinian voices and stories, so I’ll not be making excuses for this one much longer! Summer always seems like a good time to tackle those chunky books anyway.
Buy The Parisian at Blackwell’s
Peace Has Come by Parismita Singh
This short story collection came recommended by three people I follow on Instagram whose reviews I love: @bankrupt_bookworm, @aishathebibliophile and @ns510reads. I also got my copy for an absolute steal, it was literally £4 for a hardback. This book was in my weekly TBR about a month ago but then my biggest reading slump to date hit. I couldn’t focus on anything except Netflix and I’m still feeling the dregs of it now! But I do want to read this collection soon as I’ve been wanting to read more Indian authors for a while now.
Buy Peace Has Come at Blackwell’s
Writing this really did help me feel more motivated to read again and reminded me why I bought these books in the first place! I might make a series of it! Let me know if you enjoyed it and if you have any books you’ve been putting off for no reason too!