Do you know the likelihood of me picking up a book randomly without knowing ANYTHING about it beforehand??? CHANCES DWINDLING TO ABOUT 3%, FOLKS. Book blogging has introduced me to 9384 gazillion book recommendations. And I love that. Bookworms shriek their love = I get curious = I sneak across the globe devouring all.
I am, basically, a super adorable book eating monster.
Do I wish I was more of a spontaneous reader???
Eh. There are positives to picking books on a whim. It is awesome to “discover” a book and be THAT annoying bookworm who gets to scream “I found this book fiiiiiiirst and it’s divine”. #hipstermoment Also there’s the whole Loki feeling of “I DO WHAT I WANT AND READ WHAT YOU DON’T TELL ME TO READ” which is as satisfying as having evil fabulous hair.
But but but my time is precious. I need to write a half a thousand books AND also be an evil overlord AND pet my dog. I want to read books I know I’ll like. Ergo, reviews and recommendations are good.
(Also, not even gonna lie, it’s super lonely to read a book NO ONE TALKS ABOUT. I mean, what do you expect me to do once I finish it????? Discuss it with my dog???? He is cultured swine and only cares about sandwiches.)
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is “Ten Books I Picked Up On A Whim“ and I REALLY STRUGGLED, PEOPLES. Look at me struggling here like a demented fiendish artichoke.
- THE BEAR: I read this back in 2013…and I requested the ARC because I’m 100% keen for freaktastic bear stories. This goes back to the time when I was about 8 years old and my mother read aloud a story about some photographers out to capture a photo of a blue bear…AND THEY ALL GOT MURDERED AND EATEN. (Thanks, Mum.) This story IS a different one, of course, but I’ve never heard the blogosphere talk about it…ever????? ARE YOU IGNORING THIS BOOK’S EXISTENCE, VARIOUS PINEAPPLES?
- SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE: This is possibly cheating. I believe I was searching for books about blind people — and voila. But it’s still SORTA whimmy, because I’ve never seen the blogosphere talking about it. (Also it’s genius.)
- HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME: Dudes, I read this in 2013. THAT IS AGES AGO. I don’t even remember why I picked it up in the library???? Probably the “crime” thing??? Because, you know, evil overlord in training. I know things. Beware.
- BLOOD RED ROAD: How many times am I going to mention this book? UM, HOW ABOUT FOREVER???? I think I picked it up because of the “dystopian craze” but I ended up sending it back (unread) to the library TWICE. Unacceptable. How dare a book best me. Ergo last year I finally read it and — SWEET DUSTY DUMPLINGS IT WAS SO GOOD THAT I MENTION IT AT LEAST EVERY SECOND WEEK AROUND HERE. Time for a THANKFUL FLAIL that I stuck to it.
- ONE THOUSAND HILLS: This was another spontaneous library decisions because I saw the words “AFRICA!!” and though, “Gawsh, Cait, you do not read enough books set in Africa. In fact, you don’t read any! SHAME.” So I borrowed it. I 10000000% regret it. Not that it was a bad book, but it was actually about the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and spiked my anxiety to flood about nine galaxies. Definitely “spontaneous” FAIL.
- IRON KING SERIES: This is sooo totally a whim purchase and I haven’t read them yet. But to be fair A) they were only 20cents each and B) the covers are pretty, and C) I really love psychotic fairies so WE’LL GIVE IT A GO.
- THE ICE DRAGON: I was at the library last Thursday (I go every Thursday and this is 100% the reason why my TBR is ALWAYS UNMANAGEABLE) and looking through the kids books for something for my 5yo nephew who can read like a little fiendish genius. And then — I found a George RR Martin book. WHAT EVEN???? HE WRITES FOR KIDS????
Least to say I borrowed it specifically to see how this is possible. Also dragons. It’s like 100-pages long but IT WAS STILL A SPONTANEOUS DECISION.
- RECKLESS: “Why did you pick this up on a whim, Cait?” you ask. BECAUSE IT WAS 20 CENTS AT A LIBRARY SALE AND IT’S A HARDCOVER AND I HAVE AN ADDICTION. I don’t even know what it’s about…ahem.
- THE ART OF NOT BREATHING: Tooooootally spontaneous ARC-click on Netgalley. I hadn’t heard ANYONE talk about it. But it was “read now” and you know those 394839 books on my TBR? HAHAHAH WHAT DO THEY MATTER? (Spoiler: I’m about to be crushed and die.) Also I ending up liking this book! Lots of sadness. Lots of drowning. Lots of oceans. It’s all very soggy.
- RELAX, I’M A NINJA: I”m 99% sure this is cheating too but HEY I DO WHAT I WANT. And also, now you see exactly how few books I acquire spontaneously. Ahem. Anyway. There was a kindle $0.99 sale and I like Natalie Whipple’s previous books so. (Although I haven’t read it yet. Because, unfortunately, “spontaneous” reads are rarely a priority either.)
how often do you spontaneously pick up a book (especially one you’ve heard zlich about it beforehand)??? do you wish you were less recommendation-orientated or are you okay with however you are? have you read any of the books on my list? OH. and like me to your TTT posts of course!
I’m kinda like you? I rarely pick up a book % spontaneous because I have soooo many books that people tell me to read (yell/scream/would murder me if I didn’t…) and also all the ARC’s & stuffs so. I think that moment when I’m ahead of my review copies and pick a random book from my priority-backlist-tbr is the closest thing I come to a spontaneous read. XD
Bee @ Quite the Novel Idea recently posted…{Bee’s Reviews} The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson ~ Cute, Sweet & So Important!
Omg much emphasis on the yell/scream/would murder if we don’t read them. 😂 Being a bookworm IS A PERILOUS EXISTENCE. But no regrets. hehe.
I used to pick up books spontaneously just by browsing my school’s library shelves, and then I discovered the joys of Goodreads and book blogging. Now I hardly ever pick up a book unless I’ve seen it given good reviews, because there are so many books I need to read! I blame the internet for giving me too many choices. 😀 I swear I add books I found online to my TBR everyday. Fabulous post, as usual! 🙂
Melissa @ Quill Pen Writer recently posted…Should Books Have Other Languages in Them?
THIS IS ME EXACTLY TOO. *nods* Before-blogging I was pretty brave with just choosing whatever. And now? I go for rec’s first. 😂 YES LET’S BLAME THE INTERNET. THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.
Most of the time I pick up a book because someone’s recommended it to me or I’ve seen it around on Twitter, but sometimes I just want to read something not everyone is reading so that’s when I’m spontaneous, but otherwise. eh. not so much. My tbr pile is way too big with recced books, to always be a spontaneous reader.
SAME. I usually only find out about books from other people on the internet, and I have no regrets about that. 😂 Although finding something spontaneously is kind of an adventure I suppose.
Omg I hear ya with the TBR problems. 😂 *prays TBR doesn’t fall and squash me flat*
I understand your dilemma! There are so many books yet so little time. Of course we want to make sure that our time spent reading is worth it, hence the good words from book recommendations as a reassurance.
I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned, but The Iron Fey series is on my TBR list.
AGH YES. We need time turners, amirite?!? Or immortality… 😂 I JUST WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS! Then I’d have time to be spontaneous!
Goodreads keeps recommending the Iron King to me. I think it’s trying to tell me something. Anyway, She Is Not Invisible sounds interesting. I’ve thought about how different a book would be if the main character is blind, but I’ve not actually read one. Definitely going to give this a try.
Jamie @ Watch Game Read recently posted…Ten Books I Picked Up On a Whim
ooh, Goodreads knows what’s up. 😉 (I actually have NO idea if they’re good or not…but I’m keen to find out!)
And YES. She is Not Invisible is AMAZING and it was a really epic story <3 Have you heard of Not If I See You First? That's about a blind heroine too!
OKAY YOUR PUPPY IS ADORABLE. I’d like my cake now please.
Good job, you! That is an insane amount of spontaneity! Blogging and Goodreads have made me a lot worse at picking up books spontaneously. I tend to be on the lookout for the 1k+ books on my TBR instead… Okay, okay, I need to read Blood Red Road! And a few others from your list. Except the Rwanda one. Probs not the Rwanda one, 🙁
MAYBE next time I go to the bookshop I’ll be spontaneous? I’ll send you a pic if that actually happens 😛 I think I’m only spontaneous on Netgalley now that I think about it. I’ll request things I’ve never heard about based on the synopsis or a really pretty cover…. WHICH IS WHY I READ JANE STEELE SO OBVIOUSLY A GOOD DECISION!
*gives you cake* THANKYOU FOR VOTING. <3
Omg but just remember most of these books stretch back to like 2013. 😂 I'M HOPELESS THESE DAYS HAHAAH. *dies* Ahem. But my TBR is so unruly at the moment, I don't dare spontaneously get books OR ELSE I WILL DROWN in PAGES. (And omg Blood Red Road is 1000% worth it. READ IT. FEEL THE FEELS. <3) Libraries are easier to be spontaneous in, though, because you don't have to risk money. 😂
OMG I WANT TO READ JANE STEELE.
I have not read ANY OF THESE BOOKS WHATSOEVER.
also i tend to pick up books spontaneously when i’m at the library. i walk in for one thing, walk out with three others. or on one memorable occasion, about 10 (i had to borrow my mom’s library card too…). it’s a problem I still have. (I REGRET NOTHING, CAIT.)
OMG, ARA, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE. (I’m just kidding omg. 😂These are a bit of an obscure collection, aren’t they?!)
And definitely agreed: library’s are GRAND for spontaneous picks. There’s no risk, right?! If you don’t like it, send it back and no money wasted. 😂 DEFINITELY REGRET NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO BOOKS AND LIBRARIES, ARA. EMBRACE THE ADDICTION.
(lmao they really are. but don’t worry, I have a relatively obscure collection too!)
LIBRARIES ARE MY FAVOURITE THINGS, HOME AWAY FROM HOME, LOVE FOREVER seriously if the library near my place closes down I will cry forever.
Ara @ Open Pages recently posted…top ten; books i picked up on a whim
So, I struggled with this week’s topic because I haven’t picked up a book on a whim in SO LONG! But, when I first started really voraciously reading again 2 years ago, I did grab things that looked interesting. I didn’t know book bloggers existed, and I rarely checked amazon for reviews. So, I had to think back to pre-book blogger Samantha and remember the books I chose then. I found it a really cool topic because it reminded me of the books that I devoured and wanted to shout about!
Samantha recently posted…Cover Love: Books I picked because I loved the cover!
Saaaaame. Quite a few of mine are like very-very-early-blogging-days (and I also confess I’m usually pick books I own so I can have photos 😂 hence I cheated a bit) BUT AH. Blogging has definitely changed my reading habits!
I read The Bear and loved it!! I also had the opportunity to meet the author, and she is really down to earth and easy to talk to. I was interested to find out how she wrote in a child’s voice so convincingly, and she explained that her son was very young when she was writing it and never stopped chattering away. So, she just patterned it after him :).
OMG YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON I’VE EVER MET WHO HAS READ THE BEAR!! *flails about you wildly* Wasn’t it creepy!??! I LOVED how she captured the 6yo voice though. (I think the narrator was 6? Or 5?) Either way, omg AMAZING.
It was creepy as hell! My friend read it while at her cottage. Now that’s what I call brave :). Have you read Bird Box by Josh Malerman? If not, you have to!!!
I HAVE NOT!! I’ll look it up on goodreads immediately. 😉
OMG, you have to read it!!!!! I have recommended it to so many people, and they all loved it. It is one of my favourite creepy books ever and really leaves you thinking :).
Blood Red Road was amazing! I can’t for the life of me remember what made me pick it up, though…
Alexandria recently posted…Top Ten Bookish Events in a Bookworm’s* Life
AHHHH WASN’T IT JUST??!! *flails* It’s also awesome to meet another fan *hi fives* Did you finish the series? I think BRR is the best one and the other two go downhill a bit. eeek.
I did indeed finish the series. I can’t remember liking any book more or less than the others, I think because the first was so unusual I needed the other books in order to get used to the setting and the language. But the whole series is such an interesting idea!
Alexandria recently posted…Top Ten Bookish Events in a Bookworm’s* Life
I’m a mixture of spontaneous and non-spontaneous. And in one way or another it has worked so far. I do tend to at least look up the genre or a synopsis at least on goodreads these days, but don’t lean heavily on ratings or other reviews (unless it’s a 2 star or less… But I’ve yet to come across one that bad). It’s usually a hit or miss… When I don’t get into a book after the first 50 pages or so, I just give up. That is also the reason why you’ll see that moat of my reviews tend to be at least a 4 star one…. Hehe.. Because that’s why I finished the book in the first place! Oh well…
Maliha recently posted…Book Review: The Face of Another by Kobo Abe
I mostly rely on my friends’ opinions? Because Goodreads is HARD. Sometimes it’ll just be split evenly between good vs bad ratings AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO?!?! *flaps around in a panic* 😂 The bookworm life is hard. Let no one say differently omg.
(But that’s awesome that you quit on books you don’t like! I’M TERRIBLE. I have to finish them all. Probably a good reason why my goodreads star average is so low… 😂)
My friends don’t read the kind of books I read 🙁
I’m a pleasure reader (pleased with depressing books… Life is hard indeed), so the moment a book stops being pleasing, I quit! :p
Maliha recently posted…Book Review: The Face of Another by Kobo Abe
I’m a VERY spontaneous reader. Perhaps a little less so than I was before I discovered book blogging, but still, very spontaneous. I like picking up random books – sometimes it’s nice to go into something with no idea what to expect. 🙂
Rain @ Ivyclad Ideas recently posted…Ten Books That I Picked Up On A Whim
Ooh, that is awesome, though!! YAY FOR YOU. 😂 I honestly was a LOT better at just picking random books off the library shelves pre-blogging. But omg, I have so many books to read already ggahhhhh.
Voted. Good Luck! {cute doggie.}
AHHH THANK YOU!!! 😂 It’s a bit of an older photo (my puppy is getting so big omg) but HE IS SO CUTE. <3
lmao, bonus points for the Cece gif 😛
Great list of books you picked up on a whim! I totally understand about picking up books and reading what you know you’ll like; it’s one of the perils of picking up books on a whim (and I’ve been burned before where I pick up a book that I thought I would like, only to read it and then not like it at all 🙁 ). But then there’s the flip side where you pick up a book randomly and it ends up being one of your favourite books 😀
Lianne @ eclectictales.com recently posted…Top Ten Tuesdays
Agh, YES. Picking up books on a whim definitely have huge pros and cons. I totally like unexpected good surprises?! But also wasting your time horrifically IS SO VERY FRUSTRATING AGHHHHH. *collapses in a puddle*
I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be able to find 5 let alone 10 books to put on this list. Haha hahaha. Okay I’ll stop.
Maybe waaay back when I knew nada about the book community. But let’s be honest hear, back them I read way less than I read now.
IT WAS SERIOUSLY HARD OMG. I actually had to rewrite it several times because I kept remembering that I HAD been recommended a book and then gahhhhh. *brain combusts* CLEARLY THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH PROMPT THIS WEEK. 😂 (And omg I read so very little before blogging too. 😂)
Ou I keep seeing the GRRM book everywhere and have yet to pick it up! I’m glad to hear that it was just as fantastic as I imagined it to be. Great list!! 🙂
My TTT
I definitely think his Game of Thrones books are better…but this little dragon story WAS STILL CUTE. And surprisingly not gory. 😂
Gah, I need to read the Iron king series. I own the books, I just haven’t started them yet.
ME TOO. 😂 Well, I don’t own the first book, so that is posing a small problem…but I plan to start them this year!
O. M. Goodness. Cait, reading your blog is always SUCH a delight! I’ve been secretly reading your crazy-hilarious posts but I decided to comment today. You are an amazing Evil Over Lord.
AHHH THANK YOU, ASI. *flails wildly* This is the nicest thing of ever to hear, omg. <3
Okay but have you read Reckless yet? Because I really recommend it if you haven’t. I love Cornelia Funk and once I grew out of the Inkheart series Reckless was a great read. It’s so much darker and adulty-er and I just love it. There are monsters that cut your flesh off with large scissor hands, and dark fairies, and men made of jade. Also, fun fact, it’s in the same world as the Inkheart books. The Mirror world.
Okay, officially done talking about it. Just sayn, if you haven’t read it, read it. 🙂
NO I HAVEN’T READ IT. I AM THE SHAME. I reeeeally like the sound of these monsters and dark fairies though, omg. Like I had no idea what it was about until you said all that AND NOW I’M SOLD. Well. I already bought it, so….doubly sold? I’ll buy it off myself and devour it this year. I PROMISE. (Should I finish Inkheart first though?!??! I think I only read the first book…#shame)
Nope, there’s no need to read the Inkheart trilogy. In fact, I didn’t even know they shared a world until one of my friends told me. The tone is so different.
They’re actually coming out with new editions in October and they have the original name (some stupid publisher changed the name to reckless.) It’s called The Petrified Flesh. And I think the cover is lovely. <3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29563550-the-petrified-flesh
OMGGGG LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT NEW COVER IS AND THAT BETTER TITLE AHHHHHHH. Okay but having a book titled The Petrified Flesh is genius and #goals. Someone give me book titling lessons omg.
All of her books have amazing titles. She defiantly needs to teach a class for us lesser humans. XD
I haven’t read any of these! The Iron King series sounds great. I don’t pick up books on a whim much either. I have so many books on my TBR, my time is precious! Heck, my list only had 5 books on it lol.
SAME. My TBR is basically bearing down on me ready to squash me flat.😂 So it’s hard to find time to pick up on-the-whim reads, right!?
Everytime I come back onto your blog I fall in love with the writing style again.
I love how your mum told you that story about a bear, I’m sure that wasn’t the cause of any nightmares at all haha.
The Art of Not Breathing sounds brilliant in all its sadness and soggyness. I’d probably enjoy it a lot. I want to ask if you’ve read My Heart and Other Black Holes but if you haven’t then I feel I’d just be adding to your gigantic pile of books that have been suggested to you to read, and quite frankly I don’t know how I’d cope with the responsibility associated with it.
I know what you mean though. I love the idea of picking a completely spontaneous book to read, but what if it’s awful??? What if I can’t brag about being the first to read it????? What if I’ve wasted a whole four hours that could have been spent reading something super hyped and commercialised, but also much better???
-Amy
littlemoonelephant.blogspot.co.uk
(I’M ON MY PHONE AND I CAN’T PASTE THE ACTIVE HTML LINK I USUALLY DO IM SO SORRY)
OMG AMY-ANNE. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU JUST BASICALLY MADE MY DAY. <333
And omg of course NOT. No nightmares there. Grand parenting decision for sure. 😂
I actually haven't read My Heart And Other Black Holes...but I want to?!? Like I've heard of it a bit and, pfft, my TBR is already going to fall on me and crush me someday SO I MIGHT AS WELL JUST FIGHT BACK BY ADDING MORE BOOKS. (Shh, this logic works. It does.)
And dude, I totally concur with the fears of spontaneous reading. *nods* Plus life is short?? And wasting time on books just is INFURIATING, I find. Although I KNOW there are hidden gems out there, but gahhh, sometimes you have to wade through meh books to get to them and it can be disheartening.
I am really great at spontaneously buying or borrowing books but I am TERRIBLE at reading them so yeah I entirely get you Cait!
PS I own SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE but I’ve never read it… ’tis good, yes? I’ll have to bump it up and read it over the summer (I AM GOING TO DROWN IN MY SUMMER TBR HELP ME)!
My TTT!: https://hannahbanana98.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/top-ten-books-i-picked-up-on-a-whim/
YES SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE IS AMAZING. YOU MUST READ IT SOMEDAY SOON!! *flails* It’s really unique, too, and the writing is SUPER clever. :’)
I tend to pick up books without knowing anything about them quite a bit, usually when my library has nothing new in, so I go and find a random book I know nada about. I don’t really have a problem with it, except for the fact that I’m wasting my time reading books that aren’t on my TBR(but you know, some of my favorite books are the ones that I picked up on a whim)
I haven’t read any of the books on your list, except for Blood Red Road, which I adored!
Mironiel Blokzyl recently posted…Ten Books I Decided To Eat On A Whim | Top Ten Tuesday
Ooh, you are MARVELLOUS then.😂 I used to do that in my long ago wayward youth. (Aka 3 years ago.) But not my TBR rules my life with an iron fist and I don’t even have time to grab random books. AHHHHHH.
I haven’t read much on your list, unfortunately. >.< I HAVE read and really enjoyed The Iron Fey series, my favorite charrie of which was Grimalkin. =3 I'm about like you when it comes to picking up books on a whim. My time is valuable, and I like to talk about what I read too much, thus when no one has heard of the books, I feel so lonely. TT^TT
But I DO love reading the unheard of gem, recommend it to EVERYONE, then grin when they see for themselves how much they love it. =)
Brittany
Brittany Jackson (@BrittanyLeighJ) recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Picked Up on a Whim
It’s actually a pretty obscure conglomeration of books I have this week, right?!?😂 BUT AHHH I CANNOT WAIT TO START THE IRON FEY SERIES!! I’m so late to this party but eeeep, better late than neer right?!?
I had to look really, really hard to find books I picked up spontaneously…so no, I rarely read something without ever having heard about it before.^^’ Although I love being surprised postively! Ergo, every few months I say to myself “Ah come on, just read [insert book title]! Maybe you’ll love it!” Sadly, I mostly hate the ones I pick up on a whim… #fail
I therefore steer some kind of middle course: if a book I know nothing about is given a high rating by someone I trust I read it. The result: a (often) very happy me. 😀
Btw I read the first two (or three? I can’t remember^^’) books in the Iron Fey series and they were amazing! 😉
Positive surprises are INSANELY WONDERFUL. But I’m with you….I’m not always a fan of whim books.😂 ALTHOUGH…sometimes it is nice to go in with zero ideas or expectations??? Because it’s less likely to disappoint?!?
Omg I’m glad you liked the Iron Fey books then!! I SO want to try and devour them all this year!!
I think the only times I pick up books on a whim is when is it have internet access on my phone. If I’m at the shops and see this purdy cover with a crap synopsis and can’t scan the book to see it on Goodreads, quite often I but it anyway because we all know pretty covers always mean fantastical storylines. Your library must be incredible if they’re the books they’re getting rid of. I can.imagine my library would be shit like Doris and her wonderful world of knitting, or how to carve a lamb in 208 easy steps.
PS. I didn’t know you could vote for more than one photo. I’ve voted for my furbaby and now Atticus too <3
Kelly recently posted…The Unexpected Everything
Pretty covers are the downfall of bookworms ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE. We’d probably all be hugely richer if books weren’t so SUFFOCATINGLY GORGEOUS. *stamps foot*
But omg, I know right?!? They get rid of AMAZING books and it makes me cry because … what if other people want to read these things?!??! I hope they’re just getting rid of doubles though…
I VOTED FOR YOU. <3 I hope you win😂 (I mean, I hope I win, but I hope YOU win if I can't. ahhah. THAT MAKES SENSE I SWEAR IT DOES.)
CAIT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN’T READ THE IRON FEY SERIES? Guuuuuurrrl. Please amend this right away. Thank you.
(No but seriously, Ash is life. Faeries are life. The pecking order is dragons, then faeries *throws potatoes*).
I’m actually terrible for picking up books on a whim. Like, it’s the reason I have so many damn books. When I’m buying online, it’s fine. I think things through, I have my wishlists, I find the right prices. But in bookstores and book fares? HAR HAR HAR. Nope. I see a shiny thing which is probably going to be the same price as all the other books and I run home with it because who needs to make premeditated book buying decisions. PAH. However, a lot of these books I’ve also yet to read. So maybe that’s saying something.
I do think it’s a lot easier to make these spontaneously, serendipitous decisions in bookstores though because the books are just THERE and looking all beautiful. So you just have to pick them up. This is why I refrain from walking into bookstore I see, else I’d just buy everything and anything.
I KNOW, KIRSTIE. WHERE ARE MY GOOD LIFE DECISIONS? I HAVE NONE. *cries* And plus I love and adore the Talon series (I just ordered Soldier! afjdkslad) so I need to read all the Kagawa. *nods* It shall be done.
The shiny things are at fault here though. NOT US. Imagine if books just weren’t so darn shiny??? It would make life so much easier and we’d all be much richer. *nods* Also SADDER. BECAUSE SHINY BOOK LOVE. *SHRIEKS*
I never go into bookstores…so that’s probably why I’m so not-spontaneous too.😂 I mean, if I had money I might???? But I only spend book vouchers I win/earn basically. And when I go into bookstores I look at the princes and go “BUT THAT’S SO MUCH CHEAPER ONLINE.” Yes I am a Scrooge how can you tell.
Great Top Ten!
Sadly, I didn’t enjoy The Art of Not Breathing so much. It was kind of lacking in my opinion. But I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😀
P.S: CC BABCOCK!!!! 😀
My TTT!
I kinda think The Art of Not Breathing was lacking too😂 I was a 3-star for me, really? But I mean I LIKED IT, but I didn’t love it. I think the protagonist (whose name I’ve forgotten #mybad) was a bit dense at times. Ahem.
Okay, I’m definitely adding The Bear to my tbr! 🙂
I’m pretty sure I picked up How to Lead a Life of Crime for the same reason – although I haven’t read it yet. I also found it at an bargain outlet for like 0.99 cents….
Blood Red Road was a book I read on a whim too – I stumbled upon it on layaway and immediately fell in love with it. The audio book production is so good! I still need to continue the series, but I’m half afraid that the rest won’t live up to it….
I’m pretty sure I reshelved Reckless at the library the other day…it certainly looked interesting. Maybe I will have to give it a try! 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog earlier!
YAYYY READ THE BEAR! JOIN IN THE FEAR WITH ME!! 😂 And I hope you try How To Lead A Life of Crime someday! I’m the same…I got my copy for like $1 at a library sale. It’s cover is torn though *pouts* so I kind of try only to look at the spine. Ahem. Ohhhh I really wish I’d done the Blood Red Road audio. I can imagine that would’ve made it DOUBLY AMAZING. But *whispers* please save yourself. Don’t read the rest. Just pretend it’s a standalone.😂
GOSH. I DID read spontaneously once–once upon a time, eons and eons ago–but then college happened, and Life got crazy, and . . . that all went out the window. Right now, I hardly ever just pick up a book on a whim just cause I don’t have TIME. But someday, I’ll have time to start doing that again. Hopefully. 🙂
So yeah, for me it’s mostly a question of time–do I have time to read spontaneously, or don’t I? If I do, I do; and if I don’t, I don’t. I’ve discovered some of my favorite books that way, though, so . . .
WHY DOES LIFE GET SO CRAZY AND DESTROY ALL OUR SPONTANEOUS PLANS? *stamps foot* Pre-blogging I was much more spontaneous.😂
I just snort laughed at The Art of Not Breathing blurb – God, how many times have I done that with the “read now” button on Netgalley (and then regretted it. *cringe*). I’ve been reading your blog for awhile, Cait (and stalking your GR reviews, they always come up first in my feed, yay!), Thanks for stopping by mine and leaving a comment so I had no choice but to actually stop lurking. =p Seriously, I appreciate it. And now I can actually click that subscribe button.
I think out of all of these, the only one I picked up on a whim was How to Lead a Life of Crime, which I think I found on Netgalley and loved because who doesn’t love a school for criminals?
I still have not read Blood Red Road (I know, I know), and I totally feel you on the hipster moment – I get really excited when I’m that person, but man, it happens so much less often now.
The Read Now button is EVIL AND IT WANTS OUR SOULS. 😂 Ahem. But I mean, I didn’t mind the Art of Not Breathing!! It wasn’t perfect (a 3star for me?) but I did enjoy it mostly. hehe.
Awww, HELLO STALKER!! *shares cake with you* It’s always seriously great to make new bookish friends!! HUZZAH!!
And Ikr?! Schools for criminals cannot go wrong. :’) I really want to reread though because I’ve forgotten so many details and that books is AMAZING.
I literally never pick up a book spontaneously. I don’t do anything spontaneously though so that’s not surprising. Does that make me a boring person? I don’t know. Probably. But I can live with that.
I’ll have to look up some of these books! Or maybe I shouldn’t look them up. I should just read them and be spontaneous. But if you recommended them, does that make it not spontaneous? I DON’T KNOW I’M JUST GOING TO GO EAT CHOCOLATE AND HAVE AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS.
I am not a spontaneous fish either.😂In fact, I’m so so opposite to that I actually LOATHE the word. I can plan to be spontaneous though. #winning
EAT THE CHOCOLATE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE BEST PLAN HERE.
Okay, so I’ve been maaybe overcommenting on your blog, but LIKE WHY DO YOU ALWAYS READ THE BOOKS NO ONE ELSE READS??!!
THE BEAR! OMG that book was terrifying! I had nightmares after reading it for days and now I’m never going camping ever again! DO YOU REMEMBER THAT LINE??!!! Goes something like “a piece of meat with daddy’s shoe on it”??!!! I was like NOPE, NOPE SHE’S ONLY 5. I was traumatized by just reading the book, just imagine what the little girl was going through afterwards??
Also, the book is based off of a real event that took place at a provincial park near where I live, SO I’M DOOMED BECAUSE NOW I CAN’T EVER VISIT!
Okay, I’m done. Please tell me you had nightmares too! 😱🙈
I READ ALL THE BOOKS OF EVER. IT IS MY #1 GOAL IN LIFE. *nods* Someday I will devour my entire library tbh and it will be glorious heheheh.
AHH BUT YOU READ THE BEAR?!? *flings confetti in the air* I AM NOT ALONE. And omg…the descriptions…it was terrifying. And like SHE DIDN’T GET IT but we’re sitting there screaming. And I actually lost my brain when she didn’t even care that the 3yo ran off. And it’s SO realistic because little kids are heartless beasts but I’m just SCREAMING BECAUSE THE BABY GO FIND THE BABY. *Cries*
I almost never pick up a book based on a whim anymore. I always want to research it and read plenty of reviews before buying anything. And even then I’m still picky about books – I need to make sure I will absolutely love them because otherwise I will not buy them. And even when I’m sure, I don’t always end up loving them anyway.
So I agree with you 100% – so many books, so little time and picking books up when you’re not sure you’ll love them could possibly be disappointing and time-consuming! Time that could have been spent on so many other GREAT books.
But sometimes I do miss picking books up on a whim. I picked up Throne of Glass on a whim a few years ago and that turned out to become one of my all-time favorite series. So it’s a risk that can be worth taking 🙂
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Read Because of Massive Hype and Glowing Reviews
SAME! Time is precious right?? I want to read books I know I’ll like….and the TBR is HUGE as is.😂 Maybe one day it’ll get low enough to pick up more whim books? Buuuut probably not. heeheh.
And SAME! I read Throne of Glass before the blogosphere was rabid about it. 😛 And I was a huge fan for the first two books, hehe. Not so much now…but it was good at the time!
I rarely pick up books on a whim anymore. Well, let me amend that. I pick up books on a whim… but I don’t always read them.
The only whimmy book I can really recall reading at the moment is Twilight. It was way back when it first came out, and I was drawn in by the cover when I saw it at the library (the whole craze hadn’t yet hit… which is probably why it was just sitting on the shelf and didn’t have a waiting list a mile long).
As it turns out, The Bear is on my want-to-read list. I vaguely remember putting it there, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.
Ohh, I hope you read The Bear so I won’t be entirely alone in my love for it.😂 I mean, I read it about 3 years ago?? I wonder if I’d still love it…eeep. BUT WHATEVER. IT WAS SUPER GOOD AT THE TIME. Also the use of “whimmy” is spectacular and I vote we make it a word.
And yay you being before-the-Twilight-craze! I was before The Hunger Game craze! Although my sister technically recommended it to me and I sought it out specifically, so I didn’t think it counted. XD
Firstly – those pens (in the first picture)! I LOVE THOSE PENS! WHAT BRAND ARE THEY AND WHERE DID YOU GET THEM?
I always end up with a number of books that I’ll probably never read once I’ve gone in to a library sale. It’s just impossible to pass up a book that looks even a LITTLE interesting for less than a dollar.
I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll buy ridiculous numbers of books then come home and put them in pile, where they’ll stay for a few days. I’ll check on them every now and again, feel them out. Then, eventually I’ll go back through them and decide which ones are ACTUALLY staying. I have a book buying obsession but not enough shelves for them. So I have to be picky after the fact. *DRAMATIC SIGH* Someday I will demand built in bookshelves!
The top picture with the text on it? or the next picture? 😂 ehhe, sorry. But the thin-ish-coloured-pens are staedtler and I got them off ebay from Germany! And the thicker pens in like ombre colours are just Bic Markers! I got them in just a big chain store in Australia. I assume they’d be on ebay or something, right?! They’re like Sharpie knock-offs because SOME OF US CAN’T AFFORD THE KING THAT IS SHARPIE.😂 (Yes I spend all my money on books how can you tell.😂😂)
And YES. Library sales are the death of me. I always grab a ton of books because CHEAP! and they need adopting!
My parentals keep telling me I need to cull books. BUT HEY. LIFE IS SHORT. WE SHOULD HAVE COLLECTIONS.
This is sooooo interesting! First off: how on earth do you get your Instagram posts looking so delicious? (Okay, specific question: what old books have you been ripping paper off? I’m freakishly curious about this).
And I used to wish I wasn’t so recommendation orientated. Whenever I’m at a book-anything I always gravitate towards the books I’ve heard are “great reads”. It’s not even about the buzz at this point, it’s that someone tells me in typical bookworm fashion DUDE YOU HAVE TO READ THIS and I promise them I’LL KEEP MY EYES PEELED whatever the heck that means and so I end up looking for those books instead of just picking one up for the bants.
It doesn’t happen!
But nowadays I’m glad I do that. I’ve stopped TBR-ing on Goodreads for practical reasons (a virtual TBR does not equal a physical TBR. Heck a physical TBR doesn’t mean all those books are going to get read), so my only point of reference for “good books” is if my body just starts edging towards it all of a sudden.
Very mystical, I know.
BUT LIBRARIES. Libraries are going to be the death of me! I’ll pick up any book in the library just give me them all.
AHHH THANK YOU.😂 Okay and dooon’t be angry with me…but yes, I do book art? So I often buy super old books and rip them up. I KNOW IT’S A BOOKWORM TABOO but the aesthetics are pleasing, okay?! And I have no shame.😂 (I think that one was a really old Robin Hood, actaully. I also ripped up a very very old falling-apart version of 1000 Leagues Under the Sea, and: random weird story — I was making Valentine Things with it? and ended up making a heart with the word “cannibal” in the center.😂 SO MUCH FAIL.) Ahem.
I digress.
(The phrase “I’ll keep my eyes peeled” is super weird, right?!)
That is a mystical and very awesome way to do it. I APPROVE MONSTROUSLY. I am a fan of TBRs because I like goals and aiming for things. I’d be lost without my TBR even though I complain about it so much. heeh.
Libraries are GREAT for spontaneous reads! no risk!
well, my TBR list just got bigger. 🙂
specifically, The Bear, She is not Invisible, Blood Red Road, The Art of Not Breathing (<< that one looks amazing), The Ice Dragon, and Relax, I'm a Ninja.
will i ever read them?
let me put it this way.
they will bury me with my TBR list.
"here lies Sami, with all the books she didn't read" <that's what my tombstone will say. seriously.
YOUR TBR IS WELCOME. We can drown in books together. :’) And maybe be buried with our books??? In case we are ghosts and then at least maybe we can catch up then????
Thanks for sharing! I do like randomly finding a book and giving it a chance. This tends to happen a bit more if I’m at the library, as opposed to randomly buying a novel.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Edge of Wild by D. K. Stone
The library is glorious for this! No risk, right?!? I’m really cautious about what I spend actual money eeep.😂
YAY! It is my favourite time. That time where I have been neglectful blogger for so long that I now have a bunch of your posts to catch up and comment on. BRING IT ON!!! I read Blood Red Road on a whim too. It was a new book that came in at my work and I was adding it into stock when I decided I was going to have to borrow it, so glad I did. It was awesome! Still need to finish that series, although I have heard so many bad things about book three that I don’t really want to finish it now.
OMG CHARNELL YOU MAKE ME SMILE SO MUCH. <3 At least you have less posts to catch up on these days because I've been a slack blogger, hehehehh. Ahem.😂 AHHH I'M REALLY GLAD YOU LOVED BLOOD RED ROAD. But I'm gonna say something I never ever say….just don’t worry about the rest of the series.😂 I mean, I still loved bk 2? But I’m just going to pretend BRR is a standalone….
I just can’t pick up books on a whim. I wish I could. But I need to know something about it and I have to see the reviews to see if it’s worth it. I know I shouldn’t do that, but my TBR is AWFUL. I can’t pick them up unless I know someone has read and loved it before. Oy
Cynthia @ Bingeing On Booksa recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Favorite Impulse Reads
My TBR is awful too *cries* I used to be really free with my library borrowing…I mean, zero risk when it’s a library book right?! BUT NOW MY TBR RULES MY LIFE WITH AN IRON FIST. (No, no I’m not dramatic at all.)
I haven’t read any of these books, but I believe I have The Art of Not Breathing coming!
I’m a mix of both books recommended and books I discover myself. But I guess I kind of cheat? Some of the books I discover by myself I discover through being a bookseller. My head of department is happy for us to look through press releases/AIs left by the reps she sees, and then I’m all “OH MY GOD, THAT SOUNDS SO GOOD!” And then I either email the rep of my publicity contact for the publisher if I have one. Otherwise, I hear about books from the publicists themselves, and decide then. Everything else is pretty much recommended to me, or heard about on Twitter/people’s blogs (read: Cait’s blog – I still look longingly at Challenger Deep. I read Made You Up because of you, and I’m sure there have been others. But yeah, your blog is pretty much the only book blog I read now >.> I have specific review tastes, and most people write reviews that are either too short, not detailed enough, or both. I like yours!)
(Also, apropos of nothing, really, I’ve been watching Game of Throne from the very beginning these past few weeks and I am SO tempted to read the books because the programme is SO good and because of your reviews. But I’m worried. I am worried. But if you enjoyed these adult fantasy books, I think I’ll love them too! But they’re going to make me so dehydrated from crying at the deaths, I think. Haha!)
YAYYYY. I can’t wait to see what you think of The Art of Not Breathing! I’ve only seen one other blogger talk about it.😂 I mean, it wasn’t perfect, but I still enjoyed it overall. 😉
I think it sounds like you have a fantastic job. 😂
OMG AND I’M THE ONLY BOOK BLOG YOU READ?!? *flails* I AM SO HONOURED, JO. <3 And I'm also glad you like my recommendations.😂 I used to write short reviews but omg I just go on and on these days. #noregrets Ahem. But I really appreciate that compliment. YOU ARE SO KIND.
(I think Game of Thrones is BEST on audio, if you like audio??? Otherwise I'm 99% sure I would've skimmed too much.😂 He does tend to waffle on. And, I mean, I'm going to state the cliche...THE BOOKS ARE BETTER.😂 Everything is so much more detailed and complex in the books!! I'm REALLY annoyed that the series has gone ahead now because I wanted to read Winds of Winter first and NOW I CAN'T AND I'M SEEING SPOILERS EVERYWHERE AND HELP ME JO I'M GOING TO CRY.)
I don’t randomly pick up books often. If I heard about a book and it’s not interesting enough o go out and find I wait until it comes to me. Like if I see it in the library I’ll give it a try but I won’t go out of my way to put it on hold. I have been pleasantly surprised by about half of the books I do this with. I have not read any of the books on your list but I might now. (P.S. I voted for you:)
THANK YOU FOR VOTING. <3 You precious bean.
Ahem.
SO YES. I spontaneously library a lot? Although not even so much anymore because my TBR is just wildly out of control and I'm being crushed beneath it.😂 But it's nice when one takes a risk and it pays off right?!
Technically, I pick up a lot of books spontaneously, but it doesn’t feel that way. I always read tons of reviews and do research on the author and a bunch of other things so I can make sure it is a good book. My most recent “spontaneous” read was Ms. Marvel, and it was really a departure for me, as I usually read 500-page behemoths, not comic books. It was good, but it only took me a half hour to read. I think spontaneous reads are good, as long as you are certain it is a good book.
But if you do tons of research, isn’t that NOT spontaneous?! 😂 I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA. How do we even classify spontaneous?!? I spontaneously got a book out from the library the other day but I HAD heard good things about it. SO IDEK. 😂 It’s a hard thing to classify. Ohhhh I’m glad Ms. Marvel was good!! I really want to read that someday!
I know, it’s not really spontaneous. I guess I mean it like I just randomly clicked on it on Amazon? But I do tons of research to make sure it’s a good book, because if it is not, it’s not worth my time.
WHY HAVE I NOT READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS? your choices are like gospel.
I LOVE finding books on a whim, it’s a certain magic in it, don’t you think? Not even expecting to like it because it isn’t hyped but then BOOM it’s awesome.
Our TTT is here – http://twobookthieves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/ten-books-picked-up-on-whim.html
Gospel? BAHAHAH I’M HONOURED. <3 *gives you cake*😂 And omg I totally agree that there's definite magic in picking up books and knowing nothing about them and then loooooving them.
I don’t pick up spontaneous books often; I did it WAY more before I got into twitter and blogging. But still, maybe I’m at the library to pick something up and I’m browsing and I see something that grabs my interest. I’ll usually look it up right there and if it sounds awesome, I’ll try it. I’ve found a few favorites this way! I also count books that were 0% on my radar before and all of a sudden everyone is talking about them. That’s led to a few spontaneous purchases haha.
Also THE ICE DRAGON IS REALLY GOOD!!!! Plus it makes me think about ice dragons. Living under Walls. and Crypts. And stuff. Ummmm. WHERE IS THE WINDS OF WINTER GEORGE?!?!?!?! *huffs impatiently*
Morgan @ Gone with the Words recently posted…Review: The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
SAME. Pre-blogging was so much easier to be spontaneous.😂 Now we’re all drowning in recommendations. *whispers* but no regrets😂
AND I SO LOVED ICE DRAGON!! But I’m concerned that GRRM was procrastinating by writing that??? Hmmmmmm. (Also some people say it’s secret in Westeros, but it can’t be?!? Because the winter only lasted a year and not 935839 years like it does in the ASOIAF books???)
hahaha right right! I think ICE DRAGON came out in the 80s actually and the repackaged it to get the show audience. But I’m sure he’s procrastinating on something else LOL.
Ohhhh THAT makes sense. *nods* But yeah, I’m with you…he must be procrastinating on SOMETHING ELSE.😩😭
I usually never know anything about a book I’m going to read. I’m more like 75% spontaneous 25% book stalker. Or someone will just say it’s good and I don’t know why. I have a crazy ass list of things people have recommended or just other works by authors I’ve liked. But by the time I actually find the book or request it from the library after picking randomly from the list I have no clue what the plot is.
I totally relate to that last sentence there.😂 That’s ENTIRELY me with book recommendations omg. I get them from the library and then read them and then have NO IDEA who to say “hey I read that book you recommended” *facepalm* My memory is awful.😂
I just voted for you (of course!) and yes, that is an adorable picture. 🙂
A book about a blind girl sounds interesting. I have a friend who’s blind and although we’ve never met in person we email a lot and it surprises me how very wrong my impressions about blind people were. It makes me want to read books with blind MCs and see how realistic they are.
Aww, thank you for the vote!! 😀 I really want to win and…buy books hahhahaha. (That was a surprise, amirite?!)
Oh that is cool that you have an awesome email friend! I am always on the lookout for books about disabilities because I feel like they’re very stereotyped and misunderstood…and I really want to understand. *nods* Although I read Reign of Shadows this week and it has a blind protagonist and 100% WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. It had no idea how to represent blindness and was reeeeeeally bad. 🙁
I haven’t read any of these but I have been dying to read the Iron King series for years!! I don’t know why I still haven’t gotten around to it… The Art of Not Breathing sounds interesting too! Great list! 😀
Tracy @ Cornerfolds recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #96: Books on a whim
YES!! IRON FEY!!! I really want to believe I’ll get to it this year….but omg my TBR might not allow me.😂
Now I have to read Blood Red Road, I have it on my TBR but can’t seem to get around to it. Such is the state of TBR lists.
I think it would be great if as book bloggers we like once a month decided to read a book we know nothing about. I mean, it would just be a great way to highlight lesser known books and authors, and it would keep things from getting oversaturated by the same books over and over. But then it’s hard to be motivated to read a book when you aren’t as crazy excited about it as you would with a more popular book. I agree with you on wanting to read books I feel confident I’ll like.
Liselle @ Lunch-Time Librarian recently posted…Books I Picked Up on a Whim – Top Ten Tuesday
YOU HAVE TO READ BLOOD RED ROAD IMMEDIATELY. (But pretend the sequels don’t exist. Trust me.😂) And omg TBR’s are out for blood these days, I’m sure of it. *dies a little* Mine has just reached ridiculous state and I’m ignoring it and hoping it doesn’t eat me in the night. Ahem.
And I do think that’s a nice idea! I mean, I’m 100% for just reading whatever you want…so if that’s popular or nonpopular than people should GO FOR IT! *nods* I do, sadly, only review ARCs on my blog though. 🙁 So even though I do sometimes read obscure books you guys don’t hear about them. (Well, except on Goodreads.) WAHHHHHH. I need 3309 more hours in my life to blog.
I’ve never heard of any of these, but I clicked on almost all of them because the covers are pretty and you make me want to read everything!! I had no idea George R.R. Martin wrote a children’s book!
~Sara
It is a total surprise about GRRM, right?!😂 I thought everything he wrote must be flooded with blood and guts. AHEM. XD But the book was surprisingly simple and nice! (I mean, tons of people died by dragons, but it was just sort of hinted at in the background.😂)
To be honest most of the books I pick up on a whim are because of you Cait. 😉 If I see you rate a book 4 or 5 stars I pretty much automatically request it from the library. 😉
And Blood Red Road was one of those books I picked up because of you. And (surprise, surprise) I loved it too. And the Iron Fey series is fantastic. I picked that one up knowing it was about fairies, but that’s pretty much all I knew about it.
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous post! ♥
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…A Little in Love
Well it’s not a whim then right? IT IS MEEEEE BEING YOUR BOOKISH MIND TWIN AND BASICALLY ASSURING YOU WHICH BOOKS YOU’LL LOVE IN LIFE.😂 And tbh, I absolutely pick up books just because you liked them!! I got Damage Done out from the library like 2 days after you reviewed it. #noregrets
OMG YOU LIKE THE IRON FEY SERIES!??!!? *dies in relief* Well then I’m confident I’ll adore it. 😀 I just need to get my clammy paws on the first book.
OH. And I forgot to say: maybe next month we can do that bookish twin post??!
Sounds like a plan! Just let me know when you’re free. 🙂 I’m looking forward to it!
And I guess it just depends on how you define “whim.” For me, that means picking up a book without reading the summary or knowing anything about it. I can see how that might not be the same for everyone.
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…A Little in Love
The only times I actually spontaneously pick up a book is when I go to the library. I have a tendency to go and check out every book that I can possibly hold (resulting in me returning half of the books unread). Even with NetGally! It’s hard to not to spontaneously request a book there, with just the cover and synopsis. I don’t know how many books I requested that I still haven’t read. I had no idea that George RR Martin wrote kids books! I feel like now I have to look for them! And it’s illustrated! Now I definitely have to find it! 🙂
Anna @ Adventures with a Book Nerd recently posted…Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Gilt by Geneva Lee
SAME. Libraries make spontaneous reading quite safe though, right?!😂 Also netgalley, omg. Sometimes the impulsive click struggle is REAL.
Oh oh the dragon illustrations in the GRRM book are gorgeous. Like I seriously would have those illustrations ON MY WALL TO GAZE UPON FOR ETERNITY. <3
DID YOU SAY CAKE?!? *VOTES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE* I’ll vote yah!😉
THANK YOU KAT, YOU WONDERFUL THING. *gives you cake*
Ugg, I almost never pick up a book spontaneously. I don’t have enough reading time as it is (dang kids. Then there’s trying to write my own books…life really cuts into reading time.) so I want to be reasonably sure I’ll like anything I pick up.
If I ever DO pick up something on a whim, it is 100% based on cover art. I’m going to pretend it’s rebellious instead of shallow, since ‘they’ keep telling us we can’t judge a book by its cover.
Oh, and I did read Martin’s book last year, too, for the exact same reason as you. He writes for kids? I liked it.
JA Andrews recently posted…Nefarious
DUDE, I HEAR YA. I’m really struggling to balance editing right now and keeping on top of the reading goals. :O WHY ARE THERE NOT MORE HOURS IN THE DAY. *sobs* I feel like I could plan out my reading for the rest of THE YEAR.
(Also I really did like the GRRM book!😂 Even if everyone still died in it…at least it was still good hehe.)
I wish I was way more spontaneous with my reading. Sometimes (if I don’t have a hoard of books to pick up from the library from late night ordering) I’ll pick up books that catch my eye. The other day I saw the third book in Ingrid Law’s series so of course I gasped, dropped everything and picked it up. It’s great to sometimes look around in a library.
Your mom must be a very interesting person to read you that bear book. I’m assuming she’s a reader, unique books usually come from readers (:
IT IS GOOD TO LOOK AROUND THE LIBRARY!! I grabbed Way Down Dark randomly last week because I remembered people talking about it on twitter…and I Thought, “eh, my TBR is never going to be under control…I’LL GET THIS ANYWAY”.😂
YES! My mum is a reader! I don’t actually think she knew what the book was about before reading it to us though, ahhaha. I think she also skipped parts…
I pretty much almost never spontaneously picked up a book, also what is the definition of that? Because I did end up reading Stolen Songbird just out of the blue, but I didn’t necessarily pick it out on my own (like buying it).
The last time I truly spontaneously picked something up on my own, was at the library. I picked up The Machine of Death and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. And I literally recommend it to EVERYONE, but because it is an adult anthology, no one ends up reading it! Same thing happens with the Quiet book by Susan Cain, which is nonfiction 🙁
I DON’T EVEN KNOW. Like I thought the definition was like spontaneously picking it up without knowing anything about it…but idek.😂 Like the other day I spontaneously grabbed a library book because I’d seen people talking about it, but I DIDN’T PLAN TO??? SO ISN’T THAT SPONTANEOUS TOO. These deep questions.
Okay I’m going to go look up this Machine of Death. THE TITLE ALONE = YESSSSS.
I read book son a whim quite often, especially if I read good review/recommendaiton, I often cannot resist and start the book in quesiton right away. That is what happened to me after reading your review of Blood Red Road last year 🙂 I read it right away and loved it!
Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing recently posted…EARLY REVIEW: THE GEEK’S GUIDE TO UNREQUITED LOVE
YAYY I AM SO GLAD YOU LOVED BLOOD RED ROAD *flails* Although my definition of ‘on a whim’ is having heard nothing about it before reading. 😂 hehe. But your definition works too!! I just borrowed out Way Down Dark from the library because I heard someone raving about it and just grabbed it randomly! IT IS EXCITING TO DO THIS. 😀
There is certainly something rewarding to reading a book you picked on a whim and loving it. But I get what you mean with having no one to talk about it with. I have this with Indigo Springs. I have love for that book, but I don’t know anyone who has read that book. 🙁
SO TRUE! It’s like being a discoverer or something, right?!
I LOVED The Iron Fey series!! I seriously hope you love it.
I’m not totally spontaneous with book buying, but I’ve definitely have had my moments…and then there are times where I don’t pick up the book on a whim, and then I spend the next year regretting not buying it and completely unable to find it anywhere…that’s happened way too many times.
Cassie recently posted…TTT: Books I picked up on a whim
I so hope I like it too!! I’m constantly on faerie-book-withdrawal so it should be exciting right?!?? And omg I’M NEVER spontaneous with book buying. I don’t have the money. *weeps* Library borrowing though…too tempting.
I HAVE WAY TOO MANY BOOKS! Ugh. I subscribe to all the discount book emails (it’s research, I swear) and I’m often downloading free books or 99¢ books. I wish I could stop myself but I JUST CANNOT. So I then run into the problem of I HAVE TOO MANY CHOICES and then I flail and have a hard time picking something. Lol. Happens every time.
S. J. Pajonas recently posted…Quotes From FACE TIME… And Why I Chose Them
OMG I HEAR YA!😂 Everytime an online bookstore is like “SALE!” I’m like “omg let me jsut go see BUT I DON’T NEED TO BUY ANYTHING” 😂 #fail I spend a loooot of time picking these days too, omg. #bookwormproblems
I can’t remember the last time I read a book spontaneously because of my packed & strict reading schedule, but I enjoy looking at other people’s lists! XD I haven’t read any of the books on your list, so I’ll definitely check them out given your great taste in books ;D Thanks for sharing! ^_^
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I soooo know how you feel. *melts into a puddle* These days I feel like I barely even get to read the books I buy because SO MUCH READING COMMITTMENTS. *shrieks* (Though I’m not really complaining because = I <3 books.😂)
I had She Is Not Invisible on my list this week too, though I haven’t read it yet. Glad to see you enjoyed it.
JJ recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #57
IT IS SO VERY GOOD. *nods sagely*
I’m the opposite. I gave over 2000 books in my TBR and I still go to the library and pick up something randomly. 😛 I fail lol. I’m trying to get myself to to pick up books off of my list again. 😀
Sometimes it’s less daunting to go for library books and ignore the TBR, right?!😂
TRUTH! 😀
“(Also, not even gonna lie, it’s super lonely to read a book NO ONE TALKS ABOUT. I mean, what do you expect me to do once I finish it????? Discuss it with my dog???? He is cultured swine and only cares about sandwiches.)”
YES!!! I’m a total hipster, so I actually tend to read books that no one talks about, but it does get very lonely.
Great list! Am going to have to check out some of these books!! I had a harder time coming up with my list this week too. Since joining the reading community, I do a lot less whim purchasing. But I do find that browsing through NetGalley can be kind of whim-like, b/c otherwise I find I just don’t browse as much anymore. But since if I get accepted by the publisher on NetGalley, it’s free, I feel like I haven’t lost anything by taking a chance (except maybe time).
My TTT.
Which is why I probably read soooo many popular books.😂 I want to know what everyone is yammering about and have people yammer back to me. haha. But GOOD ON YOU for reading the less-talked-about books! They need the love too.
And agreed: netgalley clicks totally count. (AND ARE DANGEROUS OMG. I tend to never get approved, or everything gets approved…lending to requesting to much stuff when the latter happens.)
Yeah, I’m the ultimate reading hipster, my husband makes fun of me all the time. Basically if everyone’s talking about it, I probably haven’t read it. 😛
I tend to only click on the NetGalley books I feel like I have a chance of getting, so I’m not used to the rejection, and it stings when it happens. But I also have anxiety over finishing my NetGalley books, so I can’t request too many or I get too overwhelmed trying to get them done in time.
LOL First of all, I just found your site and I LOVE IT! Second of all, I’m still relatively new to this bookish community so I still sort of pick up books on a whim (but the other half I’m still trying to catch up on all the amazing series and books I’m missing out on!)
AHHHH HELLO STEPHANIE AND WELCOME! *flails* *gives you welcome cake* And also it’s super awesome to pick up books spontaneously. XD Although when I started blogging I was all in “omg I need to catch up” mode too.😂
I hardly pick up books spur of the moment. Uh… well, not often. I think. I’m in denial. I do, and I never get to them, because all of the talked about books grab my attention. I tend to read those books when I have nothing else to read. Which is never.
Tiffany @ I Was Angelized_1st recently posted…Book Review: The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo) by Rick Riordan
Omg I completely relate to this.😂 The talked-about books ALWAYS get my attention too…so the whim book has to be soooo super interesting to me in order to squeeze onto my reader schedule. Which, let’s face it, happens very rarely. 😛
I still haven’t read Blood Red Road but it’s been on my rader for years and just haven’t picked it up. I do however pick up a lot of books in a whim, Vampire Academy, Fallen, Hush Hush, I could go on haha.
Thanks for the post.
Angel @Angel Reads recently posted…Book Review: The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub
I think Blood Red Road was on my radar for 2 years before I actually SAT DOWN AND READ IT.😂 So ridiculous of me because it was sooooo gooooood and I’m 100% obsessed. :’) I picked up Hush Hush on a whim too actually! Although, like, I’d vaguely heard about it, but I remember deciding to read it because I found an audio at the library and was like “LET’S DO THIS.”
OMG ATTICUS BEEEEAN. <3 What a freaking cutie. GAH. Hmm you're a brave pineapple, Cait. x) I NEVER READ A BOOK THAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD A MILLION GOOD THINGS ABOUT UGH. I'm very adventurous. (not.) BUT AH WELL. I very much value your book recommendations. *hugs dem all* OMG yes I saw your review for One Thousand Hills on Goodreads and was like, “DUDE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A HEAVY BOOK.” But that’s cool that it’s sort of historical fic (like omg i just said 94 was history that’s when my sister was born wut even.) I remember reading about the Rwandan Genocide and whoa it’s sosososo horrible.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE, THE ICE DRAGON’S COVER IS SURPRISINGLY EPIC-ALLY SCARY FOR A KID’S BOOK OMG. xD like it would probably scare me. And I think dragons are life. <3 oki done YOU ROCK. *votes for your adorable puppy*
Pineapple Abbie recently posted…I Want To Find Narnia
Awww, I’m so honoured you like my recommendations! *FLAILS* I ONLY READ THE BEST. Ahem. Actually I read the worst a lot, but I only recommend the best. ahahaha. AHEM.
I didn’t even know the Rwandan Genocide existed. 0_0 Which, I mean, I feel like it’s really sad that a lot of African history ISN’T really talked about much? (I WAS BORN IN 1994 TOO.) But yeah, it just super shocked me because the book did NOT say it was going to be anything like that. I feel like blurbs should at least hint at war or something. Gah.
The Ice Dragon cover is WONDERFUL. Shush now.😂 I should’ve showed it to my 5yo nephew and asked his opinion though. He’s very opinionated about my “scary books”. He actually goes into the library and finds random “scary books” he thinks I might like. -_-
I have been devoured by a science/maths assignment for university, so this is your brainless I AM STILL YOUR PINEAPPLE comment, Cait!
Nikki recently posted…Review – The Sin Eater’s Daughter
HELLO NIKKI. DON’T LET UNI EAT ALL YOUR BRAINS. JUST MABYE 87%.
HELLO CAIT! *waves* It’s been a while since I’ve commented but your blog but with the truck load of comments you get you probably haven’t noticed BUT I MISS COMMENTING AND CHATTING WITH YOU (because you are obviously the perfect person to chat endlessly in the comments with) SO HERE I AM. *bows*
I absolutely ADORE “She Is Not Invisible” I actually picked it up because you had recommended it on your post titled “x amount of books that have no romance” or something of the sort. NEEDLESS TO SAY…I LOVED IT. Laureth has such a real voice and she was really fun to read about and just THANK YOU SO MUCH for the book rec.
I wish I picked books up spontaneously but…phase one is, I have to see the reviews from my most trusted reviewers (you included 😉 ) to see if it’s even worth giving it a try and after I read all the spoiler free reviews I then move on to phase TWO. I look around to see if there’s any iffy content because I personally like squishable romances in books with MUCH SHIPPING AND FLAILING but I don’t really like anything beyond kissing because I’m a fragile flower and a 8 year old at heart. SO IF YOU KNOW OF ANY BOOK RECS THAT FIT LET ME KNOW AND I’LL HAVE THEM DEVOURED BY THE NEXT FULL MOON.
I LOVE AND NOTICE ALL COMMENTS, IZEL. <3 (I just sometimes am a little slow replying these days. aggghhh. BLAME EDITING.😂) Ahem. BUT HELLO AND WELCOME BACK!! I'll come visit your blog directly after this too!!
And omg She is Not Invisible is AMAZING and I'm so so glad you liked it! *shrieks*
*awards myself cake for excellent recc'ing skills*
Aww, but I'm honoured I'm on your Trusted Reviewer List. 😀 THAT MAKES ME HAPPY.😂 And I'm always more than happy to give more recommendations! Do you have a preferred genre? I just read Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman WHICH IS AMAZING AND AFJDSLKAFD. It's a wild west story and there IS romance, but I don't think it was very heavy? And it only comes in towards the end of the book. And if you like high epic fantasy, The Orphan Queen is quite fun with minimal romance. It's kind of got a vigilante/batman thing going on with a fantasy world and evil shadows and queens pretending to not be queens. FUN TIMES.
But of course! You’re reviews are always incredibly helpful and fun to read because you shriek about all the good things even if it wasn’t all that great. (you positive blogger, you 😉 )
Ohh Thank you! BOTH those books sound really good and I’ll have to go read them IMMEDIATELY. I really like all genres, but lately i’ve been leaning more towards Dystopian/Apocalyptic/Sci-fi and Fairy Tale Retellings, got any recs’ for those genres? 😀
Izel @ A Bookish Flower recently posted…Are we loosing ourselves in ARCS? {Part 1}
OH OH have you tried Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis?? It’s apocalyptic and I think it has very minimal (if any?) romance. I read it like 3 years ago so the details are fuzzy BUT I LOVED IT HALF TO DEATH. Also I 10000% recommend This Savage Song by VE Schwab. It comes out in July, I think, and IT IS SO GOOD ALSO ZERO ROMANCE. (I mean, I know you said you do like some romance. haha. But that one is so super good. It’s a Romeo Juliet retelling…without romance. Yup. It works.) and Rebel of the Sands has a really quite sweetly cute romance and it’s a sort of…omg, I don’t even know. It IS fantasy? But it has guns too. So it sort of feels apocalyptic, perhaps.
OKAY I’M RAMBLING.😂
I rarely, if ever, spontaneously pick up books. Most of the times I’ve randomly selected books without reading reviews, recommendations, etc., I’ve ended up hating the book. I don’t know if I just have a thing for accidentally choosing books I don’t like or what? Honestly, I’m more comfortable looking for books online and then picking them up from the library or the bookstore. Sometimes I wish I could be more spontaneous, but from experience I’ve learned to be careful.
Also, my TBR is huge already (and still growing!). Not as big as yours or other friends I know, but I’d like to think that randomly selecting a book from there is spontaneous enough.
Hey, I’ve actually read some of those books! I checked out Blood Red Road and Reckless from the library a couple summers ago. I think I gave them each 3 stars. Great post, by the way!
Azelyn Klein recently posted…Last of the Memory Keepers Series Announcement
Omg I DO BOOKS ONLINE TOO. I mostly reserve things I want to read and just pick them up.😂 I used to be VERY spontaneous, and it was okay?? But the level of “good book” has been set sooo high these days that I want to research my books and make sure they’re going to hopefully be up to scratch. 😛
AHHHHH. TBRS ARE SCARY MOUNTAINS.😂 And yes, omg, mine has gotten so large that it can be rather spontaneous selecting one because I don’t even remember why I got it. *facepalm* (Although to be fair, I won a huge stack of books this year, so I still consider those spontaneous reads. :P)
Oooh library book sales are my downfall. Also 2nd hand bookshops where all the books are literally for pennies. I don’t really take bok recommendations as I am book vain and think that I know what I want to read, thanks very much (and that generally doesn’t involve romance or fictional stuff set in the ‘real world’). My aunt keeps trying to tell me about all these things she’s reading that she thinks I’ll like and it’s awkward.
Aunt: I like this, you should read it
Me: No.
Aunt: But it’s about this young woman from—
Me: No.
Aunt: Alright, but I think you’d—
Me: thanks but I’ve still got to read this book on antarctic exploration and then my one on interesting words and then that 1811 History of Scotland two volume set….
Aunt: ….
Me: ….
But OCCASIONALLY after someone says I should read a book, I’ll quietly go find it, and devour it and actually think it was ok, but shhhhhhh don’t tell.
*bok = book. Obviously. Gah, this is why I should read my comments before I post them. Ugh. I fail.
AND HOW CAN WE NOT ADOPT THEM WHEN THEY ARE CHEAP AND CALLING TO US NICELY???
Bahhaaha to that conversation between you and your aunt!😂 At least you have relatives who read?!?!? None of mine do. *weeps*
I always pick books up on a whim. I work at the public library and just peruse the new shelf for most of my reads. Not to say that I’m not frequently reading book reviews, but I have a love/hate relationship knowing what others think about a book because then I feel like I am expected to feel the same way even if that person/persons will never know.
Ohhh, I do understand that pressure. Like the expectations CAN be a bit daunting. *nods* I never feel pressured to like the book, per se, but I sometimes think I might be influenced a certain direction if I’ve read too many reviews before hand???? WHICH CAN BE BAD.🙈🙊
Interesting thoughts! I used to be more of a spontaneous reader, especially before blogging, and only a little while after. I think I started getting to know my preferences more, finding favorite authors, and reading reviews that piqued my interest. It’s actually almost scary to me to go into a bookstore and buy a book I know nothing about now xD Especially knowing I could have spent my money on a book I KNOW I liked. I guess I’m okay with not being a spontaneous reader because I know I’m *probably* not missing out on too many great reads, although some of my favorites have really low averages on Goodreads. AM I missing out?!
Alise recently posted…5 Things About The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Oh oh I totally concur with this!! ME TOO. I used to be a massive spontaneous-library-borrower. But that’s so true, also, about the more you read the more you know what kind of books you’ll enjoy. *nods* And I am TERRIFIED of spending money on a book I won’t like.🙈🙊
I usually pick up books spontaneously. I roam the library like a lost dog and when I see an interesting title or cover, I nab it up. Depending on how compelling the title/cover is, I might read the blurb or I might just take it home. Other times, I’ll spot a book I remember seeing on insta or remember reading a review. And usually, I’ll only remember vague details like “guns and murder” or “Sherlock retelling” or “Emily said I ought to read that” or “Cait said it had stabby stabbings” therefore it must be good. XD But really, I like to be surprised when I open up a book. (Not always a good thing. . .) I’m realizing that it’s an oddity in the book blogger world to shelter yourself from reviews and blurbs.
Blood Red Road was a spontaneous find for me too! And it turned out so good! *throws confetti*
Omg I’m laughing at “Cait said it had stabby stabbings”…😂😂 Aren’t my recommendations SO VERY ELOQUENT THOUGH?!?!? #winning Ahem. But that’s so awesome that you’re a really spontaneous reader! I used to be a lot more pre-blogging. 😛 BUt I feel like I plan things out SO MUCH now just in order to try and read everything. 😛
*throws more confetti and also cake because you loved Blood Red Road*
Honestly, I don’t usually spontaneously buy books because a) I’m afraid I won’t like it which means b) I just wasted money on a book that I really don’t like which I guess is a pet peeve of mine since that money could’ve been used to buy a book that I REALLY WANT. So what I do whenever I feel like “trying” a book I’m not really sure of, is downloading an ebook. And if I end up liking it, then that’s the time I buy a physical copy. c) That’s why I find recommendations really helpful in choosing which books are my “jam” and which ones I wanna buy. That way I can save money, which is a BIG DEAL for me because books in our country are SUPER EXPENSIVE! *gasps then faints*. Plus, it’s an added bonus if the people who recommend books to me have the same bookish tastes as mine. 😀
THIS IS WHY ARCS ARE A GOOD THING. YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ARCS. Sadly, we don’t have ARCs here in our country that I know of. *sniffs* 🙁