Book Guilt: Books I Haven't Read

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

If I try to take 'Books You Must Read Before You Die' list, I would probably fail. I've finally come to terms though that I will just never be able to read all the books I want to read in my lifetime, and I think that's truly okay. However, there are some specific books that I haven't read and still feel embarrassed that I haven't. For today, I will just name a few out of a handful. 


1. Lolita byVladimir Nabokov
This is in my immediate tbr list. I have always wanted to read this one, and I really think 2014 is the year for this.

2. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I have owned a copy of this book for years now, but never picked it up.

3. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
I have read a few of John Steinbeck's books, and loved them. I also want to visit his house in Salinas, CA since I don't live that far. Sadly, I've never read this classic.

4. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
I am actually currently reading this one, so I am slowly trying to fix not having read anything from Jon Krakauer. I am thinking Into Thin Air is next.

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Thanks to Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon, I finally read this one. For the longest time though, I've always been so embarrassed that I've never read this classic. Oh but now that I finally have... I can definitely say how happy I am that I finally went for it. It was a lovely read, and might do an actual review on it soon.

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So there we go! I have to say, it feels strangely satisfying to admit my book guilt. I might just make this a regular thing on the blog, where I will be talking about books I haven't read, but know that I should have already. Let me know what books you are most ashamed of that you haven't read, or if you ever feel book guilt at all!

8 comments:

  1. I used to feel guilt over not reading any classics because I honestly haven't read any of them - unless I was forced to read them in school. I just have no interest and if I tried, I would be bored to tears. Maybe as I get older and my tastes change, I'll be able to try more of them. Right now I just focus on books that I know will keep my attention because my reading time is so limited. :)

    I'm glad you were able to cross one off of your list!

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  2. Love this post. I have lots of book guilt as well. I've never read Twilight!

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  3. I think we all have guilt lists like this! Lolita is a very good book, if I can say that without coming across as weird....

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  4. Read the audio version of Lolita read by Jeremy Irons, just incredible! I've never read Leaves of Grass either, but it's high on my list!

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  5. I've never read Lolita, either. Or A Christmas Carol by Dickens...but that one I feel like I've read because I've seen so many versions of it. As for guilt? I don't let it bother me. If I haven't read a book it's probably because I just don't want to; and why feel guilty about that?

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  6. I think I feel guilt about classics, if at all, whether they be literary classics, or fantasy classics, or sci-fi classics. Right off the bat, the first book that comes to mind is War and Peace, which I have staring at me from shelf and which I was supposed to start this spring. I really liked Lolita and Dorian Gray, but especially Grapes of Wrath - such a good book.

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  7. +JMJ+

    I feel book guilt only when I've owned a book for a long time and haven't read it. I'm more likely to feel book shame for putting off even buying or borrowing a classic for many years! LOL!

    Congratulations for getting to scratch one classic off your list at last! =)

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  8. I don't have book guilt and feel I have a good 'expectation goal' but this can always change. I have considered Lolita, but the others are not on my radar to try. Good luck and I hope you enjoy them when you get to them.

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