November 6, 2012

Freebie! (Top Ten Hyped Up Books I Have No Desire to Read)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the bloggers of The Broke and the Bookish. This is a freebie week, so I decided to showcase my more cynical side here. There are so many books that seem to get really hyped up in the blogosphere, and many times I find myself wondering what makes those books receive so much attention. They're usually books I couldn't imagine wanting to read to begin with, so this divide between myself and what seems like the majority of bloggers interests me. While I do sometimes find myself forming strong negative opinions over hyped-up books, usually there are other factors at play as to why I think that I wouldn't like the books. Here are my top ten hyped up books that I will not be reading. I do not apologize for the tons of snark below.

Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout I've heard the first book referred to as Twilight with aliens. I know there are tons of glowing reviews, that apparently the series gets better over time. But I just can't make myself go through with it. Not interested in teen drama or the perils of a relationship with a paranormal "bad boy."
Summer series by Jenny Han I mean, maybe I'll consider it. But having your protagonist go by the name "Belly" is not something that's going to pique my interest. And another love triangle? Probably my biggest turnoff is that I fail to see what the series is about. I mean, other than the summer and the love triangle that forms.
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry The general idea of two lost teens finding themselves and self-confidence and support through each other is fine, but not something I'm interested in reading, and the extreme hype turned me away from it even more. And, really, what kind of teenage guy refers to a girl as his nymph or siren? Humbert Humbert much?
Such a Rush by Jennifer Echolls Another YA contemporary whose plot seems to circle around the dreaded love triangle. Not only that - but apparently the protagonist's well-being and/or happiness is at stake due to manipulation within the triangle? I've read many positive reviews, but also many not-so-glowing ones. And I know that many people think the cover is gorgeous, but I'm not one of them.
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kinneally I have a feeling that this book and I would not mesh well. Not only does it seem like an incredibly issues-driven book, but it also plays the religion card quite a bit. I don't have anything against religion within books, but in this specific context I don't think that I'd enjoy the religious aspect of it. Also, a relationship between a minor and her coach? Ew. No thanks.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas This book is about an assassin who doesn't assassinate anyone or act even remotely like an assassin? And there's a love triangle with a prince and a captain of the guard? Not only can she not fall for anyone slightly lower-ranking, but she picks those who would likely be most affected by her assassin tendencies?
Fifty Shades trilogy by E.L. James I hope that I don't need to explain myself here. The subject matter doesn't interest me at all and I know that it's terribly written. Not even sheer curiosity will change my thoughts on this. Honestly, I am just kind of baffled by the amount of attention it's received.
Elemental series by Bridget Kemmerer My issue with these books lies mainly with the covers. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pick up a series whose covers appear to feature male Abercrombie models. How exactly is that related to the book? And somehow the idea of brothers being able to control different elements just doesn't sound that interesting or novel. If you want to see how the elements should be manipulated, watch "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (TV show, not movie).
Ten by Gretchen McNeil Now, I love classics and originals of stories. But I do love retellings, so this is not a hard line for me. And it's possible that this could potentially add even more to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. But for me it wouldn't be worth figuring it out. Ideally I do think that people reading this book should also read Christie's classic. It's being rewritten for a reason.
Stories "written" by celebrities (ex: books by Lauren Conrad and Hilary Duff) Maybe I am in fact going to miss out on a good book or two, but there's absolutely no way that I'm going to believe that celebrities actually wrote these books. I'm supposed to buy they had this secret talent and passion buried away for years? More likely these stories are written by ghostwriters, and I hate not giving credit where credit's due. (On this note, I've resolved not to read anything by James Patterson, who is well-known to simply come up with basic ideas and employ ghostwriters to actually bring the ideas to fruition).


Honorable mentions: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, Easy by Tammara Webber, Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick, Fallen series by Lauren Kate

Now that I've revealed what books make me angry, baffled, and depressed, let me know some of your hyped up books, or link me to your Top Ten Tuesday freebie!
  
Edit: I just wanted to add that while I personally don't want to read these books, I would never try to tell others what to read or not read. This list is very specific to me and my interests.
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Amanda

Amanda loves few things better than sitting down with a cup of tea and a book. She frequently stays up far too late, telling herself she just needs to finish one more page. When she's not wrapped up in the stories of others, Amanda works as a children's librarian in a public library.

19 comments:

  1. Great idea for a list topic & great choices! I am SO with you for 50 Shades! And same goes for The Summer I turned pretty, Ten and Stealing Parker. Oh and a big fat YES to celebs writing books, instant NO to that for me as well. Thanks for sharing, :) Old follower, here's my TTT this week.

    Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows

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    1. Thank you, Micheline! It's good to know that other people feel similarly about these books!

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  2. Haha I love your cynical side. I agree with all of the above. Except the Lux series since I already read it.

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    1. My cynical side was going to come out at some point haha. Glad you approve of it!

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  3. Whoa, you aren't kidding about the snark. I am sometimes hesitant with hyped up books, but I try not to not read it simply because it is hyped up. Sometimes things can surprise you. For example, I didn't think I would like Pushing the Limits, but it became one of my favorite books that I've read this year.

    Not that everyone will love a hyped up book, but sometimes there is something in those books that really are amazing.

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    1. Yeah, I think a lot of that snark has been pent-up for a while now. And I agree - usually it being hyped up is not the only reason I refuse to read something. I do read reviews and synopses of hyped up books as well, and these ones listed are ones I have other problems with (even if those other problems may be kind of silly, still something that doesn't jibe with me). And I have heard so many good things about Pushing the Limits. I have such a hard time believing it, though so many people love it. Maybe I'll cross paths with it one day...we'll see. And I agree! Some hyped up books definitely deserve to be so. I loved Seraphina and Shadow and Bone, both of which were hyped up. As well as Daughter of Smoke and Bone. These ones in particular just rankle me. But of course I understand that not everything will work for everyone. Thank you for the thoughtful response, Quinn! I really enjoyed reading it!

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  4. I'm not tempted for The Lux series, because I hate the cover :')
    Summers series.. mwa, I'm not sure.
    Pushing the limits; everybody keeps saying it's so good, but I never got the feeling that I want to read it. I'm glad that I'm not the only one!
    Such a rush; not my thing.

    Throne of glass is AWESOME. It's really, really good. There isn't a love triangle like you know. She just becomes befriended with them and she is snarky and sarcastic. The conversations are so good. She is going to be an assassin in part two :) Now, she is doing assassins stuff and it's (L)

    Fifty shades; disgusting. I will never pick them up.
    But I do want to read Ten :)

    TTT@thedailyprophecy

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    1. I have heard good things about Throne of Glass. And I do love a character with snark. Once again, I heard conflicted things and for some reason gravitated towards the negative reviews. I'm not sure if it's something I'd like, but I understand that lots of people do like it.

      Glad to know we're mostly in agreement on this list! :)

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  5. I actually enjoyed Storm, Pushing the Limits, and The Lux Series (after the second one), but I can see why you'd want to avoid them. Such a Rush was...not good. Neither was Stealing Parker, Throne of Glass, Fifty Shades, or Ten IMO, so wise decision on those. I have so many books I avoid too, so I totally understand your decisions, Amanda! Great list! :)

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    1. I'm glad you were able to understand why I am reluctant to read these books, Keertana! I know a lot of them are blogosphere darlings, but I just don't think I'd mesh with them personally.

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  6. Great post!
    I've read Pushing the Limits, Obsidian and Storm, and they were ...okay. :) As for Ten...I liked reading it, but yeah it was a total rip-off.
    All the others on your list are books that I have no desire to read either :)

    My TTT

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    1. haha I know that others will like what I don't and vice-versa. But I'm glad we agree about some of the same books! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. I agree with some, and disagree with some.

    I LOVED Throne of Glass, Pushing the Limits, and Stealing Parker. I don't have any plans to read Ten but I've heard Storm is good, I just hate the covers too. I have a love/hate relationship with the Lux series, so it's likely one you wouldn't like too much. It WAS pretty annoying. But yet I found it strangely compelling. I still felt like I should hate it though.
    I've had Elixer for ages but haven't had a strong urge to pick it up since I got it. Maybe one of these days...
    50 Shades, no thank you, not my thing.

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    1. Most people are saying that haha. No author can please anyone. But I like discussing different interpretations and seeing how others view things. :) And you make Lux sound like the epitome of a guilty pleasure novel. Which perhaps it is.

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  8. Ehh yeah, I can definitely see where you're coming from with most of these books, and I feel the same way as your reasonings. I've been trying more recently to have more of an open mind when approaching books and reading outside my comfort zone on the chance that I might really find something that I love - it's tough though because I don't want to force myself to read something that I don't think is for me, so it's a delicate balance.

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    1. I would like to be open as well in my reading choices. The problem is that there are SO many books out there; there's no way I can possibly read everything I'm vaguely interested in, and I don't want to spend the time on something that I only have lukewarm feelings on when that time could be better spent on something I know I have a much better chance of truly enjoying. I'm not going by purely covers or blurbs here, since I am trying to give credence to reviews as well. It is an issue that I've recently been made aware of though.

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  9. I'm a fan of Erotica but the whole Fifty Shades thing just was a little weird for me like, really a whole chapter dedicated to a contract list?! What? But I ended up reading it and while it was interesting enough to keep reading, I can't say I'll ever finish the series.

    I tried reading the Elemental Series and I don't know... again it was just strange lol!

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    1. I did not know that. haha the literary book snob in me is also being a tad elitist perhaps (for a number of my choices). But it is interesting to compare what others like to what I like/dislike for sure.

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