TTT: Books on TBR Avoiding and Why

Yes I know, a Top Ten Tuesday post on a Thursday. What can I say? Show Us Your Books takes precedence, especially since I don't always link up to TTT! This one had me thinking though... why DO I avoid some of the books that are taking up space on my physical bookshelf? I did a count: not counting e-books (I have at least 20 more sitting on that shelf!), I own 61 books, of which 42 sit unread. But WHY? Here's an explanation for 10 of them, which I've further broken down by category. 

Size Matters! 

Shantaram- Gregory David Robert: I had originally borrowed this from a coworker turned friend back in 2008. And then I finally gave it back to her (unread, obviously) and grabbed my own copy. This book is 936 pages... that's a lot of weight to be carrying around, and I read quite a bit on my commute! (I just learned that there's a sequel, coming in at 912 pages... ugh!) Apparently Apple TV is making this into a mini-series though, and I love reading the book before the TV/movie adaption, so I need to get on this one! 

Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides: My cap is currently at about 400 pages, but it was closer to 300 when I originally added this one to my TBR back in 2009. In fact, the only book I even attempted to read that was over 500 was Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, which I read during my Christmas break last year (and surprisingly only took me 3 days to finish!).  I borrowed this one from Blue so it's not even counted in that 42/61 personally owned books, but again, 536 is a lot of weight to carry! The subject matter is pretty heavy as well (hermaphrodite born as a girl and eventually living as a man), so I've been putting this one off. 

Worth The Hype?

Burial Rites- Hannah Kent: Ok honestly, I think this one was hyped up but now I'm not so sure? I thought it was at the time, and bought at a library sale for 50 cents. Another one that's pretty heavy in subject matter as well (the final days of a young woman accused of murder in Iceland in 1829, based on a true story). 

Sadie- Courtney Summers: This is the second (unread) book I own by this author (The first being Some Girls Are), which I received as an arc. But of course I didn't read it before it actually published, and then everyone was like "OMGTHISISSOGOODREADITNOW!" so I didn't. 

Verity- Colleen Hoover: I've only read a few of Colleen Hoover's books, but I loved them. I'm worried that I won't feel the same about this one, especially since so many have raved about it.  Or maybe I'm saving it because I know it will be fantastic? Jury's still out on that one. (Available on Kindle Unlimited!)

'Tis... Not The Season

Little Women- Louise May Alcott: I'm not sure what it is about this book, but for some reason I imagine reading this when it's cold out. It just seems like the perfect book to snuggle up with under a thick blanket, candles, and tea or hot chocolate while it's snowing outside. 

One Day in December- Josie Silver: I love the premise of this one, but um, hello? It has "December" in the title. Obviously I can't read this until then! 

Summer Rental- Mary Kay Andrews: I admire people who can read about snow in July and hot, sun-kissed days in December, but I am not one of those people. It makes me physically uncomfortable to read about either of those situations when I'm not experiencing them firsthand at the same time, unless it has nothing to do with the story. And according to the title alone, it does. So this will be shelved until next summer! 

That's... Heavy, Man

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness- Austin Channing Brown: My mom strong-armed me into joining her at a church event, and it just happened to be an author talk and meet and greet.  Of course I went (because, books). Ms. Brown was an exceptional speaker, drawing me in to her story immediately. I purchased her book that same night, but still haven't read it. I think I'm nervous because a lot of her experiences hit scarily close to home for me, and I feel like I need to be in a certain mind space to read this one. 

Why Be Happy, When You Can Be Normal?- Jeanette Wintersons: I originally picked this up because I thought she was the same "Jeanette" of The Glass Castle, which would have been heavy in and of itself. Once I read the description though, I realized I wanted to read this as well... when I'm in the right frame of mind. 

Orphan Train- Christina Baker Cline: The synopsis of this one drew me in instantly, but once you think about the characters (a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask)- well, I gotta emotionally prepare myself first, and I just haven't been able to lately. 

What are some books on your TBR that you're avoiding? 

Linking up with Jana!