Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Books "Forced" Upon Me

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

When I saw the topic for this week, my mind instantly searched for all the awful books that I had to read for school and, yes, during middle school when Shae would "recommend' some to me. However, this is TOP Ten Tuesday, so here are some books that were better than the rest, which some turned about to be my favorite reads!

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy
Forced by: School

If you didn't already know, I was/am homeschooled. I'm full-time dual enrolling now, but back in the day, my mom would assign me reading materials. God bless her, I was super picky about what I read in middle school. She got this suggestion from my sister since this was in the same time period that I was learning about in history. Turns out, this book became one of my favorites. Who doesn't love a girl disguised as a boy? 


The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Forced by: sister

Believe me, this was extremely forced. My sister is the ultimate fan of this series and she even bribed me to read it. I did and ended up really liking it.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Forced by: sister

Although this wasn't as forced as The Thief—it was more of a really big suggestion—I added this on here because this was not a book I wanted to read. At all. Back then, when I was in the process of starting my blog, I hated the cover and thought it was totally out of my reach. I hated the slow beginning and was going to DNF it, but my sister made me stick through it. So yes, once again, this is thanks to my sister. 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Forced by: sister

Another book that was out of my realm (although I loved The Hunger Games) with a slow beginning and I was barely holding on. However, after a "oh my gosh, it's so good" face from my sister, I kept on at it.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Forced by: sister

My sister is probably too smug for her own good right now. But, unlike the other ones, I actually did want to read this one. I just didn't have the motivation to do so. I was a bit wary of it, but I loved the cover and the synopsis. Not until she was practically threatening me to read it did I do so. 

Forced by: school

I love the movie. Always have, always will. But I didn't read the book until after, when I had to read it for school. Back then, I liked it a little bit, but I really wasn't used to reading that kind language (old timey British), only watching it. I'm planning on reading it again to see if that like turns into love.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Forced by: school

While the other school books were forced in middle school, this was in high school days. Sure, there were pages that I skimmed over, but in all, I enjoyed it more than any other school book I had to read during my school days. Let's not even talk about the movie in which I was horribly disappointed and my butt was screaming after ten bajillion hours.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Forced by: school

Anne-girl! The movie is one of my favorites and I did want to read the book, but didn't actually finish it until school forced me. 

And to finish off the top ten here are two books that I'm being pressured to read, but haven't yet.

Forced by: everyone

I still haven't read this one, but I want to, I swear! Everyone in the whole blogosphere seems to have read this one and I'm feeling the pressure. I will. I'll get to it and then be angry that I waited too long. 

Forced by: sister

I may have liked the first book, The Thief, but that doesn't mean that my sister is having an easy time in getting me to read this one. I do want to, but I never seem to have any time. I see it in my very near future though...partly because I want to and partly to make her stop nagging. 

What are some books that people have pressured/forced you to read? Do you listen?

26 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, you actually read and FINISHED Les Mis?! That's awesome. I kind of want to read it, but have been really put off by the size of it. I'm not sure I'm up for the challenge yet, haha.

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    1. I DID! I mean, hey, I skipped a few paragraphs and skimmed pages a few times, but I did finish it. Ha, believe me, I wouldn't have if it wasn't for school.

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  2. SO MANY BOOKS THAT I WANNA READ =D I've really enjoyed Under the Never Sky, and Grave Mercy, Seraphina, The Thief, Les Mis and Code Name Verity are all going to get bumped up the TBR! Um, kudos to your sis...? xD

    Alicia @ Summer Next Top Story

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    1. Ha, pretty much. Although, I'll never outright admit it to her!

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  3. Yay for sisters :) You've been "forced" to read some awesome books! I admit I've felt pressured to read some of the books on your list like CNV, Seraphina, and Grave Mercy.

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  4. Jeez, Under the Never Sky rocked socks! Seriously. But the others (every single other, even future forced reads)... I haven't read. I'm such a terrible [unforced] person. ;) Great list, Sunny! I'm glad that you enjoyed most of your forced reads! ;)

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    1. Ha, yes it did! SO glad I stuck with it. I don't read anything I don't want to read if I'm not in the mood. It took me FOREVER to read the ones pressured by my sister because I wasn't in the mood, you know?

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  5. Interesting Top Ten, I sure as heck have my share of books forced upon me too. I was forced to read Code Name by everyone, even my coblogger, so I feel you. I HATED that book so much. I hope you enjoy it a bit more than I did if you ever get around to reading it. WOW I can not imagine reading Les Mis is SCHOOL. That is insane because it's crazy long. We never read books over 300 pages even in high school. I felt the same about Seraphina! Great list, Sunny.

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    1. Oh wow, you did?! Tell me more! I haven't heard of anybody who hated it so much. Haha, thank you!

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  6. I've never heard of the first book on your list, it sounds interesting! I may have to look into that one! The Thief is a book that I feel like everyone is trying to force me to read! I actually just got it from the library, I'm going to see if I have time to read it right now. I haven't read Pride and Prejudice, though I have watched the 2005 movie and really enjoyed it! I really need to read the book. I was actually reading Anne of Green Gables and really liking it...until we moved and I lost it. And have been to lazy to get a new copy of it. Everyone keeps telling me I need to read Code Name Verity, but I've heard it's a tearjerker and I just don't really like reading books that make me sob uncontrollable tears. :'( Great list, Sunny!

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    1. 2005 is my favorite...although I haven't even tried the longer, older version (which my friend Gillian would be appalled at).

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  7. READ THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA. Seriously.

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  8. Les Mis!!! I remember when I first read the book, I was so shocked at how different it was from the musical, especially Eponine!

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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  9. I really need to read Les Mis, the size of it is what puts me off. The only one on this that I have read is Code Name Verity and I feel like I am the only person in the whole universe who did not like that book, in fact I kind of hated it! Don't kill me blogoverse! My TTT

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    1. Wow, actually, another comment above also hated it! So you're not alone :)

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  10. So many of these I LOVE so much! You have a good sister to "force" you to read these books. The Thief would have made my list too. I don't think I'd ever have come across that one if it weren't for this blogging community. For that I am tremendously thankful. It is a magical series that only gets better. I actually never fully warmed up to Seraphina, but I am interested in seeing where the sequel goes. ANNE will always always be a favorite too!

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    1. Shhh, don't tell her that ;) So happy we have many in common!

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  11. People keep forcing the Megan Whaley Turner books and Seraphina on me, too--I swear, I will read them, just not right this minute! I am really glad someone forced you to read Anne, though. I'm sad for the people who don't have her loveliness in their lives.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  12. Haha...sounds like your sister is the same way I am with mine. I still need to pick up the Megan Whalen Turner books, but I've read most of the others and I'm glad you enjoyed them, too, even if you were "forced" to read them. :P

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  13. I need to get some book forcing tips from your sister.

    It's surprising how often you end up enjoying books that school forces you to read. Maybe it's just me and my love of discussing literature, but writing and talking about a book always makes me appreciate it more. I love Anne of Green Gables too, and I need to read Pride and Prejudice (partly so I can watch LBD and see what everyone is raving about).

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  14. Grave Mercy and Under the Never Sky are two of my faves! <3 I attempted to pick up Seraphina at one point, but I was confused so I put it down. I am SO glad I picked it back up, though, as I needed up really enjoying it!

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