Today, the guys in the Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday group had a great topic: Books I Don’t Plan on Reading (As of Right Now.) “Whether it’s from a series that you have outgrown or don’t wish to continue, or they are popular books that just don’t interest you, let us know what you don’t plan on reading.”
Hard topic for me personally. I tend to eventually get around to most speculative fiction authors at some point or another. I won’t like them all obviously, but the very idea of having a “Not To Be Read” shelf bothers me. However, I do have some books I don’t see myself ever wanting to read. At least, in the near future. Doesn’t mean I won’t at some point pick them up, but, at least, right now, it is not in my plans. So my list will be about those books.
5. AMERICAN GODS
This book basically represents all of Gaiman’s stuff: novels or comics. For whatever reason, I never have fallen in love with his Gaiman. Years ago I really, really tried to warm up to his writing in Sandman. I can’t tell you how many of those comics I bought and read, trying to understand why all my friends adored his stories so much. The love never kindled for me no matter how much I wanted it to though. So, now, I stay away from his stories. Even those everyone else seems to adore.
4. THE MAGICIANS
This is a series which doesn’t interest me for a lot of reasons.
One, many reviewers have labeled it “Harry Potter for adults.” Nothing wrong there, except I’m not really a Potter fan. So . . .
Two, other reviewers have described the book as a story which “depicts what would happen if regular people went to a college for wizards, complete with parties, sex, drugs, cursing, and making stupid choices.” Yet again, sounds like Harry Potter for adults. So . . .
3. THE DRESDEN FILES
Okay, I’ve read book one of this series. I enjoyed it. I’ve been told the series gets better after a few books. Yes, the urban fantasy setting was a nice change of pace for me. But I have to blame my lack of passion for Harry on growing up in the 1980s. During that decade, every other tv show on the air in the U.S. was about private investigators. I got tired of them. Hated them for many years. Now, I find a little private investigator goes a LONG way for me — even those who are also wizards. Not saying I won’t eventually come back to Harry, but right now I can’t find any strong desire to do so.
2. THE HUNGER GAMES
This is a case of I’ve-seen-the-movie-and-I-don’t-need/want-to-read-the-book. Not saying the film version is bad, but it let me know the subject matter just isn’t my thing. Totally see where others would love this book/series though. I probably would have when I was younger. At my current age and place in life, the love triangle and teen angst mixed into the deadly violence did not inspire me or interest me much. Can’t really see that changing in the years to come, since I’m only getting older.
1. HARRY POTTER
I realize by putting this iconic book/series at the top of my list I’m committing some form of bibliophile sacrilege. I really do. But before you burn me at the stake, let me at least say I’ve tried to read the first novel on three separate occasions. The first time was in 2001 around the time the initial movie was released. I wanted to join the Potter mania. It didn’t work for me though. I tried again in the late 2000s when my middle son and I read the book as a bedtime story. For whatever reason, he didn’t care for it, so it went back on the shelf unfinished. I attempted for the third time with my youngest son a few years ago. Same result. Guess my family just isn’t Potter Heads.
Agree? Disagree? Want to share your own pick? Need to scream at me in ALL CAPS? Now is your opportunity. 🙂
bookwraiths.com 
Harry Potter wasn’t bad. I also heard that there is a cool Russian translation that is better than the original. So maybe if you read in an language, you may like it better. ^_^
And screaming in CAPS is just rude.
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Interesting list… I’m never planning to read HP either… 🙂
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Thanks for joining the group. At least, now, I don’t feel quite so lonely. 🙂
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🙂 absolutely…
Yeah, I never tried to read HP but I never felt like reading it either so I’m not going to push myself.
I’ve seen some interesting posts today about the books that people don’t intend to read… I think your list has been the first that mentions a quite a different set of books.
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What a fun topic! I, myself, have tried to get into the Dresden Files and Hunger Games without success. It’s just not for me, I guess. I was a manager at a large-chain bookstore when it first came out and had no choice but to read Harry Potter.
One book I refuse to read (no matter how long it stays on the Best-Sellers list): Anything by George R. R. Martin
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I personally am a huge Harry Potter fan, but I totally respect that you don’t have the desire to read it and you aren’t going to let anyone make you feel like you should. If you don’t want to read tings, there’s absolutely no reason why you should. There are honestly few things that bother me more than when fans of a certain book or franchise become upset when they discover other people don’t want to or don’t like their favorite – it’s really okay to have different opinions, they make the world more interesting. 🙂
I’m also not interested in reading the Dresden Files, and I sort of wish I had never read The Hunger Games…
Really great list, I loved reading this!
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Wowww! What a list! I never finished reading Harry Potter and tried to re-read a few years ago, but couldnt get in to it. I think people have fond childhood memories of it. I’ve never thoufh about books I wouldn’t read, tthogh I have quite a list of books I wish I hadn’t read.
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I’m with you Gaiman. He’s an author who I really want to like and have read a few of his books (and a couple volumes of Sandman), but he’s just not doing anything for me. I had American Gods sitting on my bookshelves for a really long time and finally made myself let go of it. I think it’s time I admit defeat and realize I’ll never be a Gaiman fan.
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The Harry Potter books were never my thing either. I did end up watching and liking the movies. I guess that’s all the Harry Potter I need! 😉 Great Top 5! 😀 My T5W! 😀
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Thanks!
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
These are some interesting, well-known non-choices of from Bookwraiths from this part Wednesday. I can only say I’ve read Hunger Games and enjoyed it. The others have not interested me for probably the same reasons listed. Reblogging on Archer’s Aim.
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I love the Potter series but had to struggle through the first book for some reason. The Hunger Games doesn’t call me at all but I’ve read most of the others or they’re on my read list. I never thought of having a “not to read this.” Good concept for a post and for discussion.
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