I don’t need to go to a doctor to know that I’m sick. What do I have, might you ask? (Hint: it’s not the flu.) Here’s the answer: I suffer from Tsundoku Syndrome. Tsundoku (積ん読) is a beautiful Japanese word that fills me with both love and guilt; love because it reminds me of why I adore this language as much as Gilbert Blythe adores Anne Shirley, and guilt because it feels too much like a personal attack on my honor. Roughly translated, tsundoku means, “Buying books and not reading them” (@ me next time why don’t you?). Even as I write this post, I can practically feel all my unread books staring me down from the next room as they slowly gather dust. I can picture them raising their eyebrows accusingly and tapping their feet impatiently (not that books can do either, but the judgment is palpable, folks). So today, in a desperate bid to escape my increasingly heavy conscience, I’m going to share with you five of the many books I should read, but haven’t yet.
(Also, this is quite possibly the most terrifying GIF I’ve ever seen).
Books I Should Read (But Haven’t)
1. The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
I have literally no excuse for not having read this book yet. No. Dang. Excuse. Honestly, if the purpose of this article was to make me drown in a dark pool of eternal guilt and torment (spoiler: it’s not), then it would be doing its job quite nicely already. The Beast Player is an English translation of a Japanese book about water serpents, warring kingdoms, deadly plots, and a girl who can talk to animals. Plus, it has an mouth-wateringly beautiful cover that makes me drool every time I see it. (I’m not weird at all, I swear!)
2. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
If we’re talking about books I should read, this one takes the cake. I’ve read Harry Potter precisely 9.8 million times, but in a shocking turn of events, I’ve started and never finished the iconic Lord of the Rings series. (How can I even call myself a fan of the fantasy genre? It’s shameful.) My husband, an avid LOTR fan, tells me I should read this book at least once a week. He somehow manages to slip it very naturally into our regular conversations (“The weather’s nice today, isn’t it? Speaking of the weather, WHY HAVE YOU NOT READ LOTR?”). But despite this, The Two Towers continues to sit there on my shelf – sad and lonely and unread – like a paperback version of the sword in the stone. It’s just waiting for the fateful day when somebody (AKA: me) will finally pull it out. Finally read it.
3. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
I initially read the first book of this series, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, back in 2013, and for some unknown reason, thought it was the best thing since frozen waffles. Upon rereading it with my husband, I discovered that it was…less stellar than I remembered. But the Book Fairy must have paid me a visit one night, because somehow its sequel magically appeared on my shelves. Since I am a firm believer that both people and books always deserve a second chance, I will definitely get to it. Tomorrow. #procrastinatorsunite.
RELATED POST: Is ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ better as a book or a movie?
4. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is sage, Gandalf-worthy advice that I repeatedly fail to follow (perhaps it has something to do with what I said about LOTR earlier). Here’s the proof; I bought Wildwood largely (I hesitate to say “entirely,” although that’s probably the case) due to its cover. Not only is it as beautiful as Cinderella’s gown in the 2015 live-action remake, but it is also FILLED. WITH. ILLUSTRATIONS. Just thinking about that makes me want to purchase it all over again (but apparently not to actually read it??? This is me calling myself out).
5. Ignite the Stars by Maura Mila
This book should not be anywhere within a five mile radius of this list, let alone on it. But here we are, and I’m in the pit of despair (if you didn’t read those words in a horrible imitation of that guy from the Princess Bride, then do not pass Go! Do not collect 200 dollars!) But in all seriousness, this book comes to me highly recommended by some of my blogging faves and so I’m doubly ashamed that I’ve been too distracted by all the shiny, new releases to pick it up. Plus, it’s SET. IN. SPACEEEEEEEE. 💫⭐☄️🌕🚀This factor alone tells me I should read it.
RELATED POST: In which I talk about my love for spacey Sci-Fi books
Welp, now that I’ve finished writing this post, I better get going to the bookstore! *insert collective moan from the audience here*
Do you also suffer from tsundoku syndrome?
What are some books that you should read but haven’t yet?
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
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Oh yes! :D I remember buying Circe because of its beauty and the hype on Insta. But because of that hype only I didn’t read it till late last year. And there are definitely close to or more than a hundred unread books on my shelves. Hee Hee!
I’m glad that I’m not the only person who suffers from this syndrome haha! And wow, a hundred unread books on your shelves? That’s amazing! I hope you’ll be able to read them all one day :)
(Also, fun side note, I totally misspelled “unread books” as “undead books” at first and that would’ve completely changed the meaning of this whole comment haha)
Haha! But if they had been vampires, and not zombies, I would have gladly kept them. :D
Wow, tsunduko is such a beautiful word! I definitely feel attacked by it though 😂 I’ve had More Happy Than Not on my shelf for sooo long and never read it, despite adoring all of Adam Silvera’s other books. I’m also partway through the Chaos Walking trilogy and constantly feel the last two books staring down at me from the top of my shelf. I’m planning to read them one day, honest!
Haha I agree – it’s beautiful, but it hits a little too close to home. I hope that you are able to read More Happy Than Not and the rest of the Chaos Walking trilogy one day! I’m completely terrible at finishing series, so I completely understand haha.
*Reads about tsundoku*
*looks nervously at my bookshelf* !! haha my books are doing what yours are!!
The beast player does look like an amazing book– the concept and the cover!! Wow, I hope you enjoy it!!
Haha I love that your husband constantly tells you to read LOTR haha, it actually reminds of me and my sister because I’m always asking her whether she has read the books I’ve gave her (she hasn’t, haha). I haven’t read any LOTR either and I feel like I should as a fantasy lover as well!!
Great post and I hope you get to read and love all these books soon!! I need to pick up You Asked for Perfect and Clockwork Angel on my shelves haha!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Sophie!!! 💛And I’m glad that I’m not the only one who suffers from Tsundoku Syndrome haha (stop giving us the side eye, unread books!)
I hope that one day you’re able to pick up You Asked for Perfect and Clockwork Angel from your shelves and love them! 💛
I added The beast Players to my list last year and i have started The lord of the rings but i still haven’t finished it so you and me both. Yes The Tsundoku syndrome is strong with this one here i have a friggin pile of books in boxes on my nightstand (literally everywhere) and they are judging me. An Ember in ashes, Six of crows and The gilded wolves. I haven’t started any of them lord help me
I’m glad that I’m not the only person on the planet who hasn’t finished reading LOTR! It sometimes feels that way, haha. But yes, so many books to read, so little time. It’s a problem haha. I hope one day you’ll be able to finish them all! 💛💛
I hope you enjoy all of these when you get to them! Especially Hollow city, I really enjoy that series!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Thanks so much, Evelyn! 💛💛
Oh my, I have read all three Miss Peregrine books (although there are more now, I think??) and … I did not like them? I don’t even know how I made it through all three books, I just remember wanting to have the bad guy thingies as pets? I have weird memories about that one, but I hope you enjoy it more if and when you decide to continue with Hollow City!
I honestly feel the same as you! I reread the first book in the series last year and…it was just meh??? I like, should probably give the second book a go, just in case it gets better….but it’s hard to motivate myself to do so when there are so many new releases and other books on my tbr. (I get easily distracted by shiny and new things haha.) Anyways, thanks for the lovely comment, Kat 💛
I completely understand the “new releases are shiny and distracting” predicament. I always try to work on my backlisted books, but then I just can’t resist getting something new. If you already have the book, it won’t hurt trying it at some point, but I honestly so understand that it’s not a priority 😂
HI!! I’ve never (somehow) come on your blog, but I was linked here by Paper Procrastinator’s latest post. It’s ADORABLE and needless to say, I am here!
That word suits me PERFECTLY, haha! I have SO MANY BOOKS that I own but haven’t read yet, and I think I’m pretty good at not impulse buying already! I haven’t read any of the books you mention, but my biggest book (both on my TBR and physically, haha) is Illuminae by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff.
Hanne
Oh gosh, Hanne! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kind words and for taking the time to stop by my little spot of the interwebs 💛💛💛 It means so much to me!
And I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one suffering from Tsundoku Syndrome haha. I hope you end up enjoying Illuminae when you finally get around to reading it! 💛
I only have like 20 unread on my shelf.. but erm, still – ahaha, that doesn’t stop me from wanting to buy more xD Now that I have a bigger EMPTY SHELVES, I need to fill it, right?! 😇
The beast player’s cover is SO GORGEOUS !! 😍 However, even if it sounds pretty great, I don’t think I’ll have the mental capacity for reading “high” fantasy ..
ahahaah Quite funny from your husband! (I’d be one to do something like that xd)
Haha I actually don’t really suffer from Tsundoku Syndrome?? I buy books I’ve already read/love like, 90% of the time, but that doesn’t stop me from checking out piles from the library. 😆😆
It’s totally amazing that you don’t suffer from this like I do! PLEASE TEACH ME YOUR WAYS hahaa. But I totally understand what you mean about the library. When I lived close to one in America, I literally had no self restraint and would always come away with more books than I could physically carry haha.
Haha girl that’s me! Even if I’m not going to the library for books, just to return something, I always come back with an armful 😆😆
Wow this is totally a mood I can relate to haha
Wildwood is easily as excellent inside as it is outside, and the illustrations inside are just to die for. The whole series is full of gorgeous covers & artwork, and the actual story itself is just a delight. Easily one of my favorite middle grades!
I’m so glad to hear that Wildwood isn’t just a pretty face haha. My husband recently discovered the book on our shelves and decided to give it a shot. He says it was delightful too! Now I’m definitely going to have to bump this one up on my TBR! Thanks for the lovely comment 💛
Ah this is such a lovely word I didn’t know! I haven’t read any of the books on your list, but I’m very curious about Ignite the Stars: I’ve heard SO much about it from other bloggers, as well! :)
I hope you get a chance to read some of these books and will love them! :)
Thanks so much, Marie! Isn’t it so much fun learning beautiful new words in other languages? I honestly wish I had more time to study; I’ve always thought it would be fun to try learning Korean or maybe even a romance language such as French.
But anyways, thanks for such a lovely comment! 💛💛 I hope that we both enjoy Ignite the Stars if we ever get around to reading it haha.
ignite the stars is also on my list of books that i should have read by now!! i’ve read so little sci-fi so i think it might be time to change that with ignite the stars haha. and wow, the cover for the beast player is so gorgeous! i hope you get around to all of these books and enjoy them, kat!! 💖
I totally understand what you mean about sci-fi books – I don’t naturally gravitate towards them (I’m a fantasy gal all the way), but whenever I end up reading one, I love it! I really should read more of them haha.
Anyways, thanks so much for such a wonderful comment, May! I hope you have a great day 💛
i love love love the fact that there’s a specific WORD for ‘buying books and not reading them’ like whoever came up with that KNEW we were out here smh, what a call out. freaking rude.
the BOOK EYE GIF IS GOING TO HAUNT MY NIGHTMARES FJKLDJFLAJL
i want to read lord of the rings SO BADLY too because how dare we say we like fantasy if we don’t read the originals but……the thought of doing that is like…..ugh so much work, maybe next month lol I HOPE YOU GET TO IT ONE DAY
Wildwood is so beautiful 🥺🥺 can i just stare at that cover all day long??? books set in space are just 😭❤️😍🥺😭😍🥺
i hope you get to read these books soon and that you love them all bc they all sound incredible!! ❤️❤️
ISN’T THAT GIF LIKE THE CREEPIEST THING YOU’VE EVER SEEN???? Obviously I had to share it with the world haha.
And I’m so glad that there’s another Fantasy lover out there who hasn’t read LOTR yet! I feel validated! But seriously like….they are so long it feels overwhelming (says the girl who can read the entire HP series in less than a month hahahahasobs).
Anyways, thanks so much for such a wonderful comment, May! You are a gem 💛💛💛
Hoohoo!
I really, really hope you’ll pick up Ignite the Stars soon because IT’S SO GOOD! I read the sequel recently (why did I wait so long????) and my love for this duology was rekindled. I love these books I love the characters and I will forever shout this love to anyone who’s listening :D so yeah, I hope you’ll pick it up and love it as much as I do :D
Okay, so now I am totally bumping this book up on my TBR. You’ve convinced me that I need to read this ASAP haha. 💛
I love your blog!
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