Top Ten Tuesday – 2023 Spring TBR
Good evening and welcome to today’s Top Ten Tuesday post! In today’s post, I’m taking a look at a few books I’m hoping to read throughout spring. There is a diverse range of books on today’s list. The list is reflective of my aims to continue reading book series, as well as picking up more non-fiction.
Let’s take a look at the books on my Spring TBR!
Spring TBR
Starsight
I started the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson last year, and I’m looking to continue with reading these books.
Scarily, Starsight is one of the smaller fiction books that make up this Spring TBR. Given that these books are written for a slightly younger audience than most of Sanderson’s others, the narrative isn’t intimidating. It’s really easy to read, and our angsty and headstrong protagonist keeps things moving along nicely.
I’m looking forward to seeing where the story takes us in the second instalment.
The Waste Lands
I couldn’t tell you when I last picked up a novel from this series. It has been sat on my shelf for some time, and it’s about time I got back to it. Aside from reading The Green Mile, The Dark Tower is what got me into Stephen King in the first place. As a predominant fantasy reader, this overlap into the genre I’m familiar with was the gateway into trying some of his other books.
I’ll have to refresh myself on the events of the first couple of books before I pick this one up. That being said, I don’t anticipate that it will be difficult to get into in the slightest.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
I confess that I am a little bit intimidated by this read.
At just over 600 pages, this isn’t for the faint-hearted. I was inspired to add the book to my reading list after going to watch a local production last year. They did an excellent job of performing and I wanted to go back to the book that inspired it all.
It also feels apt to be picking up this book in spring, as the addition of the book I have is part of a spring collection.
I do have some small confidence in that I have picked up heftier classics like this one before. War and Peace – I’m looking at you.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is not my usual casual read. But, it’s one that I have been wanting to pick up for the last year or so. It’s finally time to bite the bullet.
A Clash of Kings
I have just started my re-read of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. This is ahead of the upcoming release of the sixth book in the series, The Winds of Winter. Inevitably, in order to make my way through the series before the release of the next book, I’m going to have to schedule in some time for A Clash of Kings in my Spring TBR.
Much like most of the books in the series of, this is not a slim volume. However, this book series is one of my favourites of all time. Although they are chunky and dense, they are books I could go back to again and again with ease.
Children of Dune
I have enjoyed the first two books of the Dune series by Frank Herbert. As it is quite a lengthy series, this is one I want to keep momentum with whilst I’ve still got the events of the previous book fresh in my mind.
Whilst this series does ‘suffer’ from showing its age (in its attitudes towards society and certain individuals in that society), it is still perfectly reasonable to read. Children of Dune and the rest of the series are very much classic science-fiction. Yet at the same time, they also balance plenty of action and political intrigue to keep the readers interest.
Eagle of Mercia
A little later into spring, I am taking part in a blog tour for Eagle of Mercia – the fourth book in the series by the same name. I have had the pleasure of taking part in the blog tours for the three books prior to this one. It is only fitting that I also take part and review this next book in the series.
What I really like about these books is the unique perspective they have. The main character is a young man who does not relish his role as a warrior. If given the choice, he would much rather heal than harm. Through a lot of the narrative, we see these two sides warring within him, and the emphasis of Icel working towards the greater good at all times is a refreshing perspective from which to view a turbulent and warlike part of history.
Thanks for Sharing
In the not too distant future, I am also taking part in the blog tour for Thanks For Sharing by Eleanor Tucker.
The book caught my eye as it offers an extreme perspective on going out of your way to avoid consumerism. There is no way I would have the dedication to go down this route myself. However, I think there are insights that this book could offer in terms of areas in which I could spend less and borrow more.
If nothing else, it’s not the sort of thing you read every day. I’m interested to see how the author went down this route for a whole year!
Ship of Destiny
A little later this month, I am hoping to start The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb. This is the second book in The Liveship Trader trilogy, and the fifth book of the wider series. This wider series is 16 books long. Needless to say, this is another series I want to keep up momentum with. There are a lot of elements going on in these books, and like other epic fantasy I like to pick up, they are chunky!
I wouldn’t quite go so far as to say I am intimidated by these books, but they are not to be underestimated. They often take me longer than I expect to read… if only because I want to make sure I read them properly and take everything in!
Surrounded by Idiots
If I ever have to explain reading this book in public, I’m going to go in with the premise of the book before the title!
Until I read the book, I can’t say if the title is particularly appropriate to the subject matter. From an outside perspective, I’m not 100% sure it fits right now. I’m sure it will tie in somehow. But, I need to make sure I don’t upset people.
If you are unaware, the book has its foundations in psychology, and how different types of people can better communicate with each other. This is one of my non-fiction reads that I’ve been recommended a few times now. It’s about time I picked it up and continued with my goal of reading more.
Stolen Focus
The next non-fiction book on my Spring TBR is Stolen Focus by Johann Hari.
I added this book to my reading list just over a year ago, having heard about it on a podcast. If some of the facts that come out of this book are really true, then we have no hope!
I know for myself that some days I can be quite easily distracted. I’m interested to see if our modern lifestyle has had an impact on our focus, and if there are ways in which I can improve mine, I’m going to work on it!
Those are the books coming up on my Spring TBR.
Have you read any of the books on this list? Have any of them caught your attention? Let me know in the comments.