Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
This week’s topic is “Ten Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed.” There are many books I could add to my list this week. Some I’m embarrassed to say that I ever read and enjoyed. Others I hated the first time I read and now love. Below is a list of the top ten books I feel differently about now that I’ve had time to reflect on them. As always, my list is in no particular order and covers link to Amazon (affiliate).
10 Books I Feel Differently About Now
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – When I first read the Twilight series in 2008, I fell in love. I loved Edward and Bella and the sparkly vampires. I binged the entire series over the course of one week. When I was finished, I immediately reread them. Basically I spent the whole of one month reading and reveling in Twilight. Now my theory for this is, I had just crossed out of my dark years, aka college. I had not read for pleasure in 4 years (aside from my midnight waiting in line for the last Harry Potter book, but that doesn’t count). I was just happy to be reading and enjoying reading again. I recently tried to read Twilight. I’m sad to say it held no appeal for me. I blame the movies. They were awful!!!
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey – I finally picked this book up from the library in January, wanting to read it before the movie came out. I was so not impressed with this book. I had heard so many wonderful things and was expecting greatness. It failed in my eyes. BUT it’s been almost 5 months since I read it and I’m thinking my review was pretty harsh. Seriously, I read 10-20 books a month and I still remember details from this one five months later. Obviously I liked it more than I thought at the time. Getting ready to start The Infinite Sea in honor of The Last Star‘s release.
Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch – I was really unkind in my initial review of this book. I had such high hopes for it after reading Snow Like Ashes. This one suffers second-book syndrome, BUT was still really enjoyable. I read it in less than 24 hours and fell in love with Mather (like I needed to do this). I think I was more upset about View Spoiler » when I wrote my review. If I went back, I believe I would raise it to at least 4‘s.
An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet – This book stood no chance. It was the first book I read after my grandfather passed away unexpectedly last year. My heart wasn’t into the reading and I found the story boring. In reality I think I was still grieving my Papaw. Thinking back on the book, I can remember most of the details, the plot and found the premise quite enjoyable. I’d raise my rating from a 2 to at least a 4.
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich – I originally purchased this book when it was brand new in 2009 when I was between Stephanie Plum books and needed one similar. The problem though was that my kindle was also brand new and I had just purchased all the Plum books to date and binge read them. Poor Lizzy stood no chance in my Stephanie addled brain. Last year however I received the last two books from the publisher for review. So I decided to go back and give Lizzy another chance. I loved it!!! Went from a DNF to 4‘s!
Rebel Wing by Tracy Banghart – Like An Inheritance of Ashes, I attempted to read this one about a month after my miscarriage last year. I didn’t give it the opportunity it deserved. I love dystopians and throw some interesting sci-fi into the mix and I’m usually sold. I DNF’ed this book during the Clean Sweep ARC challenge in May last year. I believe it’s time to give it another go, don’t you?
Chosen Thief by Scarlett Dawn – I love this author and when I was given the opportunity to read this book I was ecstatic. I knew it was a continuation of her Forever Evermore series, but was told that it was set at a later date and could be read without having read the previous books. SO I dived into it. I really was lost. I felt like I was dumped into the middle of a story. Since writing my review, I’ve had a chance to read the first three in the series and thinking back in Caro and this book I would raise my 3 to 5‘s.
Cress by Marissa Meyer – As much as I loved the Lunar Chronicles as a whole, I never cared for Cress. I thought she was naive and hated her with Thorne. I only gave the book a 3 rating. In March, I read Stars Above which is a collection of shorts from the series. One short in particular is about Cress and how she found herself on the satellite. My heart bled for this little girl! I fell in love with her. Thinking back on the book now knowing what I know about her past makes it a much more enjoyable read. I’d raise it to 4‘s at least!
Maximus by Richard L. Black – I have a soft spot for historical fiction and was excited to read this one as it told the story of Christ from the POV of two Roman soldiers. I was curious to say the least but felt the book fell flat. There was a lot of head-hopping which was hard to follow. However looking back at the book over a year later I still find myself drawn to the story. It didn’t deserve the 3‘s I gave it. I would raise that rating now.
Divergent by Veronica Roth – I read this book after I fell down the rabbit hole of dystopian fiction with The Hunger Games and I loved it! While I didn’t care for Tris’s character, I enjoyed the entire world that Roth created. However looking back at the series now, I’m not sure I can pinpoint the exact reason I loved it so much. Maybe I’m being influenced by the awful movie adaptations but I just didn’t enjoy these as much as I originally thought I did.
Your Turn! What books have you read that with reflection you feel differently about? Comment below
You know, when it comes to Divergent, I’m the same. I read it in one day, and I never usually do it. It is a rare this for me.
I guess that the main reason is the writing style and fast pacing. It just make you flew trough the book.
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Great list and I love your reasons. I can definitely relate to a book not working because you binged on the Stephanie Plum series. So often I end up putting down a book because it doesn’t work for me right now. I’m curious about Cress. I’m in the middle of Scarlet at the moment and am looking forward to continuing the series. I can see where Cress would seem extra naive after spending so much time with Scarlet and Cinder who are both so street wise and resourceful.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed
I never liked Twilight and I am a opposite of you as I enjoyed the movies more than the book…well at least three of the movies, not a total fan of the first movie. (I think it’s cause I liked the guy who played Edwards “dad”….lol.) I haven’t read Cress yet as I have heard so many people not like her and I am worried but I need to get to it soon…lol. The other books on your list I don’t know much about. 🙂 I can’t think of any books off hand that I would change my rating after it’s been a while.
See, I haven’t reread Twilight since I first read it (though I thoroughly enjoyed it), but I enjoyed the movies (well, with certain reservations), so I’m not sure how I would feel going into it now. If I didn’t have so many other delicious books on my plate, I would give it another go. But I just don’t see that happening. I enjoyed them, but was not as obsessed as some people were.
I don’t think I have any books that I can just *think* about them after time and have a different opinion…apparently my thoughts always go the same way. But I can see how things happening in your life can affect a read…especially such tragedies. 🙁
Fabulous list of books. Funny how our mood and time can change our perspective.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT
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Divergent was on my list this week too.
JJ recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #58
I think a lot of people’s opinions of Divergent have been affected by the movies and/or the ending of Allegiant. I haven’t read the last book, but the ending was spoiled for me, so I think that’s why I’ve lost some love for the series. And looking back I can’t really remember why I loved it so much. I was also obsessed with Twilight in middle school, but I never finished Breaking Dawn. The terrible movies and the events of that book made me never want to touch it again. I loved Cress, so to see that you liked it more after reading her short story makes me happy. It really helps with understanding her. Great list!
Lizzie @ Big Books and Grande Lattes recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #56: Ten Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed
Seeing Divergent a lot today! Though I found I still enjoyed this series from start to finish! I still need to read Ice Like Fire, but I’ve been prewarned on certain things about it, so I might just wait to read that with the final book later this year. Or more likely early next year! Or just next year! LOL!
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I did the Twlight binge too (who didn’t) but have never re-read them. I have a feeling I would be disappointed.
I think it just goes to show that we are really influenced in what else is going on in our lives when we read… Thank you for a really honest reappraisal of some of your reading decisions:)