Due to years of browsing overstock stores, used book stores, library sales, and yard sales I’ve acquired more books than any person needs. I also didn’t really read anything outside of school for two years. The backlog is real and I really want to get through them but sometimes I just don’t know what to pick next. I often use a random number generator to choose but I’m curious if there are any books you guys can give me any thoughts about.
In order to do this, once or twice a month I want to make a post where I feature five books on my backlog and see if you guys suggest I prioritize some or warn me about others – anything! I read from a ton of genres and will just be working across my shelves to gather some thoughts. Last month, a lot of people had thoughts about Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews and I’ve added it to my weird/spooky/creepy list to read in either October or November so I hope you guys have some thoughts about this next round of books.
First, I have A Paper Son by Jason Buchholz. I got this from an overstock store for a few dollars and all I know is that it is about a writer who is writing about a family of Chinese immigrants and then there is a mystery about a missing son. I think there is a magical realism element to the story and I am not always a big fan of that so that’s why I’ve been putting it off. I know I’ll eventually get to it but as of right now, it’s near the bottom of my priority list.
The rest of the books I have on my backlog are classics that I just haven’t encountered for school yet. Among them is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I only need to look at my friends’ reviews on Goodreads to see that so many people I know have read it and for the most part, enjoyed it. I am sure that I’ll like it but I also know that it can take me a while to get through classics and this one is chunky! I’m not intimidated but I am maybe a little nervous to pick it up.
I also haven’t read Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I have read all of her other major novels but I just haven’t gotten around to picking this one up. Like with Jane Eyre, I’m sure I’ll enjoy this. I’ve heard it’s really different from her other novels but I still think it will be an interesting read. It’s also relatively short and I have two copies of it so it’s honestly pretty ridiculous that I haven’t read it yet.
The last two books I want to talk about this time are classics for children. First, I have Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. I’d started listening to this one on audio last month but quickly realized that I needed to be able to physically read this one so I can follow the plot. I know the basic story but I kept feeling like I was missing a lot while listening to it.
Last, I have The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. There are a lot of film adaptations for this book; there was one in 2017 AND apparently in 2020. I used to really enjoy the 1993 version but I’ve never read the book. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the plot because it’s been so long since I’ve seen the movie but I do remember that it was incredibly magical and beautiful. I hope the book has that same feeling.
So, there’s a few books that are on my backlog. Have you read any of these and enjoyed them? Did you read and hate any of these? Are there any that you’re interested in but want me to read so I can report back? Let me know in the comments!!
Dear Bookshelves 
I never read The Secret Garden as a child, but did so after working in a video store (remember those?) when the 1993 movie came out. The book, as is often the case, is better than the movie, and I thought the movie was pretty darn good!
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I used to go to BlockBuster to rent videogames and sometimes movies. But then they said we lost a movie that we definitely returned so we couldn’t go back anymore.
That makes me so excited to read it because I really remember having fun watching that movie as a child.
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I hope you like Jane Eyre! It’s one of my favorite classics. I haven’t read Northanger Abbey yet but I’ve heard it’s good if you like classics like Jane Eyre. Happy reading!
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I LOVE Jane Eyre!! It’s one of the classics I’ve reread most 😊 And it also has those Gothic vibes that are the perfect fit for October 😉
I’ve also read The Secret Garden (which I liked, but think I would have loved even more as a kid) and Peter Pan (which I didn’t think was all that great – but my expectations might have been very high due to an adaptation I loved as a kid, even though I no longer remembered anything that had happened in it 😅).
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I think I’ll definitely be adding Jane Eyre to my spooky jar that I’m planning to draw from from once I finish my September TBR through November!
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I reread The Secret Garden last year (after not having touched it for a good twenty-odd years or so) and completely fell in love with it all over again. It’s obviously a quick read, but just so… nice, you know?
I also enjoyed Peter Pan when I reread it, although it’s MUCH darker than I remembered!
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I just might have to put The Secret Garden on my December TBR so that I can have some escapism and magic this winter. That’s usually when I like to read quick, nice reads.
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