Top 10 Hyped Books I Haven’t Read…Yet & Tuesday Intro (Girl at War by Sara Novic)

Top Ten Tuesday
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is actually Top 10 Hyped Books I’ve Never Read. Well, there are a ton of hyped books that I’ve never read…I wouldn’t have any idea how to start making that list. Instead, I thought I’d share the hyped books that I haven’t gotten to yet, but that I’d like to read at some point.

Top 10 Hyped Books I Haven’t Read…Yet

Top 10 Hyped Books I've Never Read


American Sniper
by Chris Kyle
Ever since reading David Finkel’s Thank You For Your Service a few years ago, I’ve been interested in PTSD in soldiers returning from battle…

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
I’ve had this one on my TBR list for what seems like forever and so many people reading it for the Socratic Salon’s recent discussion got it back on my radar…

Dietland by Sarai Walker
Despite all the recent hype, the premise of this book just hasn’t grabbed me. But, I’m going to at least try it before the end of the year given all the rave reviews…

Girl at War by Sara Novic
This one has been at the top of my “must read before the end of the year” list…AND, I just started it yesterday!

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
I have the sample for this one sitting on my Kindle to jump on when I have some extra reading time this summer…

Quiet by Susan Cain
I’ve recently become interested in the behavior of introverts (maybe because I’ve realized that I am one!) and I hear this is a must read on that topic…

Ruby by Cynthia Bond
Another one that’s been on my TBR forever. I bypassed it awhile back in favor of An Untamed State (since they both deal with similar topics), but recently read some gorgeous quotes that got it back on my radar…

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
I shied away from this one because I’d read an earlier Hannah book that didn’t do it for me, but all the raves have convinced me to give it a shot before the end of the year…

The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg
I heard so many good things about this one during last year’s Nonfiction November…I think I’ll probably read it during this year’s event…

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
I loved Wild, but the advice column theme of this one turned me off. But, so many people love it that I should probably try it…

Tuesday Intro

First Chapter First Paragraph


Every Tuesday, fellow blogger Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where bloggers share the first paragraph of the book they are currently reading or thinking about reading soon.

Girl at War, Sara Novic

Plot Summary from Amazon (adapted for length)

For readers of The Tiger’s Wife and All the Light We Cannot See comes a powerful debut novel about a girl’s coming of age—and how her sense of family, friendship, love, and belonging is profoundly shaped by war.

Zagreb, 1991. Ana Jurić is a carefree ten-year-old, living with her family in a small apartment in Croatia’s capital. But that year, civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, splintering Ana’s idyllic childhood.

New York, 2001. Ana is now a college student in Manhattan. Though she’s tried to move on from her past, she can’t escape her memories of war—secrets she keeps even from those closest to her.

Here’s the first paragraph:

The war in Zagreb began over a pack of cigarettes. There had been tensions beforehand, rumors of disturbances in other towns whispered above my head, but no explosions, nothing outright. Caught between the mountains, Zagreb sweltered in the summer, and most people abandoned the city for the coast during the hottest months. For as long as I could remember my family had vacationed with my godparents in a fishing village down south. But the Serbs had blocked the roads to the sea, at least that’s what everyone was saying, so for the first time in my life we spent the summer inland.

Would you keep reading?


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44 Comments

  1. Diane wrote:

    I had been eyeing this one, and based on the intro, I’d read more. Hope you like it Sarah.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  2. I like that opener… sounds promising!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  3. Carmen wrote:

    I too have American Sniper on my Kindle to be read at some point in the relatively near future. I am intrigued by The Luckiest Girl Alive; it has been compared to Gone Girl, so it may be as good as they say.
    I would keep reading Girl at War based on that intro. The start of a war over a pack of cigarettes…? War have started for less.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  4. tea wrote:

    I like the jump from ’91 to 2001. Have a good week reading and…

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  5. I haven’t read any of the books on your list either, though the intro to Girl at War is intriguing. I’d keep reading!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  6. I have been interested in that part of the world since my eldest son started living there, first in Prague and then in Berlin, with numerous travels to adjacent countries.

    Of your Top Ten, I have read The Nightingale (and loved it), and Quiet…not so much.

    Here’s mine, from an author I haven’t yet read: “WATERMELON”

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oh wow, very cool that your son lives over there! I’m sure he’s been to some really interesting places. And, I’ve gotten a couple of not so great comments on this post about Quiet…will have to think that one over…

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  7. Ooooh you know how I loved The Underground Girls of Kabul… get on that one!! 🙂

    Here is my list this week: http://busybrunettesbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/07/top-ten-tuesday-hyped-books-ive-never.html

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I remember that! It’s tops on my list for Nonfiction November!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  8. Kym wrote:

    I haven’t read on of the book on your list either. Girl At War looks like a good one, although maybe a bit wrenching to read. Here’s my Teaser/First Paragraph for this week: http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/teaser-tuesdaysfirst-chapter-first.html

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m only 15% in, but am really enjoying it so far. It has an innocence from the 12 year old narrator.

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  9. I was totally not into the advice column idea of Tiny Beautiful Things, but it’s one of my favorites now.

    Hope Girl at War is working for you!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      That’s good to hear! And, I read in one of your posts that you go back to it often…maybe Nonfiction November! And, I’m only 14% in, but so far really enjoying Girl at War!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  10. Monica's Bookish Life wrote:

    I like the opening, so I’d keep reading.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  11. I LOVED Ruby, so definitely worth a read, especially if you’re into magical realism in books!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oooh – the magical realism actually scares me off a bit…I’m not normally into that! But, I do still plan to give it a shot.

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  12. Girl at War does sound good! I would definitely keep reading.

    I haven’t read any of the books on your list, but a few are books in my TBR collection I hope to get to someday. Especially Quiet and The Nightingale.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Ha! The incredibly growing TBR list! I have the same issue, as these books have lived on mine for awhile.

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  13. Nice choice. I’d definitely keep reading.

    My Tuesday intro: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/07/first-chapter-first-paragraph-111.html

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  14. Amanda wrote:

    I really want to get Girl at War soon! I think I’ll have to put Tiny Beautiful Things and The Underground Girls of Kabul on my November reading list. Dietland was a strange but excellent book. I hope you enjoy when you feel like reading it!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m really enjoying Girl at War so far! And, I’ve heard that about Dietland…I’m going to follow the raves and at least give it a shot.

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  15. Someone at my library is now 3 weeks overdue with returning Dietland. Arghh!! I really wanted to read it for the Socratic Salon. I am happy to see Quiet on your list, and The Underground Girls are waiting for me as well.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oh no! That’s so frustrating! I probably won’t get to it before TSS either 🙂

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  16. I totally forgot that you haven’t read Luckiest Girl Alive; it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s pretty entertaining. Also, I would love to know the first thoughts you have when you finish Dept. of Speculation; I can’t wait for the discussion. Girl at War sounds great; I think I would enjoy it. Hope your Tuesday is going well!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’ve loved the few quotes I’ve seen from Dept of Speculation, so I hope I like it! I downloaded the sample for Luckiest Girl Alive, but still haven’t gotten to it yet! I have a light review schedule for the rest of the summer, so hopefully will get to it!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  17. Vicki wrote:

    The war began over a pack of cigarettes? Wow!

    I like the sound of this and would keep reading, even though it’s not the type of book I usually pick to read.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Well, not exactly, but that’s when she first became aware of it. It’s kind of a good euphemism for the whole tone of the book, which I like!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  18. You have a lot of great reads on your “hyped but haven’t read” list! I forgot about Ruby, but that would have been one on my list, too. I have a copy, and have heard amazing things, just haven’t pulled it out yet.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I saw a couple gorgeous quotes from it recently and it reminded me I’d passed it over in favor of An Untamed State last year and should go back to it!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  19. Lynne wrote:

    Loved Luckiest Girl Alive! I was hoping you’d review it sometime! Just read The Truth and Other Lies per your suggestion and really liked it. Hope you and the fam are well!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I have the sample on my Kindle and just have to find the time! Glad you enjoyed The Truth And Other Lies…totally demented, right?! Hope ya’ll are well!

      Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  20. Donna wrote:

    This sounds like my type of book Girl Who Reads

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  21. I really want to read The Nightingale this summer, but summer is passing by quickly. I didn’t really like Dept of Speculation at all. I feel like I missed something that everyone else caught.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
  22. I Haven’t read Luckiest Girl Alive or Dietland yet either but they’re both pretty high in my list! Enjoy Girl at War! I’ve heard all great things about that.

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m really enjoying it so far…only 25% in, but plan on some more reading time later this week.

      Posted 7.8.15 Reply
  23. Oh you must get to Quiet! It’s such a fascinating read and will make you feel great about being introverted. I read it in small doses and still refer back to it.

    I can’t wait to hear what you think about Girl at War. I’m so glad the Yugoslavian War is finally getting some attention in the publishing world. I guess its finally been enough time that those involved have been able to put a bit of distance behind them. I’m anxious to get this one so I hope you find it to be really good!

    Posted 7.7.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I kind of want my husband to read Quiet too…as he’s an extrovert and sometimes does not get the whole “alone time” thing!

      I love reading about wars that I don’t know much about (I mean, I have vague memories about Bosnia and Sarajevo during the Clinton administration, but they are really vague…) and this is one of them. A few years ago, I read about the Armenian genocide and found that fascinating/heartbreaking as well.

      Posted 7.8.15 Reply
  24. I haven’t read any of these. I do want to read Nightingale. I heard that is different from her other books.

    As for what else I haven’t read….well…I have NEVER read a Harry Potter book. Nor have I read Girl on The Train or Gone Girl.

    ENJOY your reading week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    My Blog

    Posted 7.8.15 Reply
  25. Emily wrote:

    Ditto about Tiny Beautiful Things, but it’s an all time favorite now. I’d recommend the audiobook, listening to her read them is incredible.

    Posted 7.10.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Ooh – thanks for the tip! I’m not big on audiobooks (have trouble concentrating), but I think something like this could work for me.

      Posted 7.10.15 Reply
  26. AH! You must read Ruby because 1) Cynthia was a #30Authors contributor last year, and 2) It’s amazing. So is Underground Girls of Kabul. You will think about that book for weeks and months after reading it.

    Posted 7.12.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m definitely planning on reading The Underground Girls of Kabul for Nonfiction November and I hope to get to Ruby before too long!

      Posted 7.12.15 Reply
  27. helene cohen wrote:

    Would you please put me on your list and send me the books you are recommending
    Thanks

    Posted 10.19.15 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Hi Helene – you’re welcome to sign up for my weekly newsletter in the sign-up box on the right hand side of my blog – where it says “Get Weekly Email Updates”! Thanks for stopping by!

      Posted 10.19.15 Reply

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