Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.
The rules are simple:
- Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
- Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
- Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
- Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books I Read/Avoided Because of the Hype. I’m interpreting “hype” as extensive publicity for a particular title by the publishers, social media influencers, in newspapers or on TV. The books you see piled up on a table in a bookshop, displayed in vast numbers in their windows, shown on billboards or all over TikTok.
I don’t think I’m influenced by “hype” but being part of a book club does mean I read books I may not otherwise have chosen. So, let’s call that “book club hype”. Here are the ten most recent books chosen by my bookclubs with an indication of what I thought of them – good, just okay, or not so good. Links from each title will take you to my full review.
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke ⇑
- Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent ⇓
- The Housekeepers by Alex Hay ⇓
- The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis ⇑
- The Wager by David Grann ⇑
- Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf ⇑
- His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet ⇑
- The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan ⇑
- Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes ⇔
- Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough ⇔
Does “hype” turn you on or off when it comes to choosing books?
What Cathy Read Next... 
Hype doesn’t turn me off but sometimes I worry I might not like a book as much as everyone else seems to!
I agree that book groups make you read books you might not otherwise pick up, sometimes with varying results! I’m just about to start Confessions of a Justified Sinner for mine. I read it years ago but can’t remember much about it. Have to say I’m not desperately keen to read it but maybe it will surprise me! 😄
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Wow, that’s quite a bold choice for a book club. The one I go to is run by Waterstones so tends to be more recent fiction. I’m going to try to push for a classic, although I’m not sure that will be a popular choice.
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There was a lot about the book at the Edinburgh Book Festival this year as it’s 200 years since it was published so I think that’s why it’s been picked. I’m almost finished and I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it! 😬
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Oh dear 😦
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It looks like you’ve had more good experiences than you have bad ones with over-hyped books. I liked Piranesi, and it’s a book I was afraid would disappoint me.
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Me too. I was quite trepidatious about it but I’m glad I did read it and it was great to hear the author talk about it.
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How long have you been with your book club? I’ve tried joining a few in the past, but I’ve never found one I quite jelled with.
Here is my <a href=”https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-read-because-of-the-hype/“>Top Ten Tuesday.</a>
Lydia
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The main one, that’s run by my local Waterstones bookshop,for about two years. I do miss months from time to time because of clashes with other things. It has some very regular members, others who turn up from time to time. There have been some who’ve not even read the book. To be cynical, the shop are hoping they’ll buy a copy of the book afterwards anyway!
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Your book club seems fabulous! Piranesi is one of my all-time favorites ❤
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Yes, it was a book I thought wouldn’t be for me but I did enjoy it. Shows you should venture out of your bookish comfort zone sometimes.
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Glad you liked Our Souls at Night which I loved and Piranesi
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I wanted to love The Housekeepers, but sadly, it was a DNF for me.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/lets-hype-these-books-ten-books-deserving-more-hype/
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I probably would have DNF as well if it hadn’t been a book club pick. I just got a bit bored…
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I loved Piranesi and I’m glad you did too!
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It’s been interesting seeing people’s lists, and noticing how many of the book from their lists that I’ve read were because of my book clubs (granted I’m in 8 of them right now). I like your twist on the topic and hope you have a wonderful week.
Here’s my TTT if you wish to visit – https://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2024/09/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-bought-because.html
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Eight book clubs – wow! I don’t know how you keep up with them all.
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I love how you defined hype and book club hype! I’ve not read or even heard of these but I’m finding that’s the case with most of the lists.
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I generally try to avoid hype if possible, or at least wait until it has settled before I decide to read the book. Here is our <a href=”https://www.longandshortreviews.com/miscellaneous-musings/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-avoided-because-of-the-hype/“>Top Ten Tuesday.</a> Thank you!
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I have an aversion to “celebrity” authors but chose not to display that! I don’t like the way they receive so much attention when they may not have actually written the books themselves.
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I like your take on the prompt! I definitely read books I wouldn’t normally because of book club and that’s usually a good thing. I haven’t read any of the ones on your list, although THE WAGER is one I’ve been meaning to check out (even though it’s received a ton of hype).
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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