The Last 10 Books Tag…

I got this via Simon (see his answers here) but it originated with Rick at Another Book Vlog. I couldn’t resist…

  1. The last book I gave up on

There are a few books that I never really got started with, like Iris Murdoch’s The Nice and the Good, but the last one I read a decent chunk of before giving up was The Testament of Loki by Joanne M Harris. This book was the sequel to The Gospel of Loki which I loved (see here), but it suddenly went all YA on me when Loki and Odin are able to leap from Chaos into a teenager’s computer game. The Murdoch remains on the shelf, the Loki sequel went to another good home!

2. The last book I re-read

I’ve just re-read two books for Book Group. Last month A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, which has still has the power to shock, and this month We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson which was wonderful.  Reviews to come soon.

3. The last book I bought

I was in my favourite local bookshop Mostly Books the day before yesterday, and this little tome caught my eye.  One in a series of small semi-hardback books of film criticism. I half-thought it would be a good stocking filler for my daughter, but looking inside most of the films discussed are much older – so it’s mine!  (find out more here – affiliate link)

4. The last book I said I read but actually didn’t

I may have bragged about books I’ve more skimmed than read through fully but can’t remember any specific titles. However, I don’t recall ever having said I’d read a book but actually didn’t…

5. The last book I wrote in the margins of

I can’t!  I won’t!  I’m an inveterate post-it tabber.  I don’t write in margins, highlight or underline bits, turn corners down, or break spines deliberately.  Having said that, I rather enjoy other people’s marginalia though.

6. The last book I had signed

That was the rather marvelous Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth at the PFD Sunday Times Young Writer Award blogger’s event.  We talked briefly about other riverine books set in Alaska – Eowyn Ivey’s To the Bright Edge of the World  and The Revenant by Michael Punke (which the film was based on).

7. The last book I lost

I’ve never, knowingly, lost a book that I can remember. Now misplacing them is another matter – mainly a case of moving them to a different bookcase and forgetting the new location. I usually find them in the end though.

8. The last book I had to replace

A couple of years ago, just a week after I’d donated it to a charity shop, my book group chose Sarah Dunant’s The Birth of Venus which I really enjoyed – so I had to buy another copy. I did pop down to the charity shop to see if I could buy back my original copy, but it had sold!

9. The last book I argued over

I’d say spirited discussion rather than argument.  Although I enjoyed it, I found the effulgent praise in our staff room for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a bit OTT and slightly scoffed about it.  I had a harder time supporting my choice of The Explorer by James Smythe at book group though – I was the only one who loved it. Although that was several years ago, it sticks in my mind!

10. The last book you couldn’t find

See no 7 above.  Books just hide from you sometimes, especially if they live in my non-alphabetised shelves. They can’t hide forever though.


Feel free to have a go at this yourselves. It’s fun.

20 thoughts on “The Last 10 Books Tag…

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      It was just the wrong time for that particular IM – but I’ve kept it, and hope to read it one day.

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      When IS Smythe going to publish the next volumes! Wasn’t it meant to be a quadrilogy? EO was certainly over-hyped, but I didn’t hate it, just didn’t love it the way nearly everyone else did. 🙂

      • Laura says:

        I know, I keep on checking to see if he’s written the next one. I’m not sure if it’s an abandoned series as obviously he’s published other stuff since The Echo 🙁

  1. Calmgrove says:

    I loved this tag and the commentary you added! I’m going to have to do my own post now … but perhaps for after Christmas. Had to laugh at some of your responses, they were so me!

  2. Simon T says:

    I’m very impressed that you have never lost a book! And my book group will be reading Eleanor Oliphant in a few months, so I’m intrigued to see what I think of it…

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      Once they come into the house, they don’t leave (except for one in my handbag) until I get rid of them one way or another!

  3. Lory says:

    In college I pretended I had read all of Madame Bovary in French for French class, but I cheated and read part of it in English translation. I’ve felt guilty ever since. I can’t remember other times I’ve said I read a book when I didn’t – why would I? (Except that sometimes I’ve forgotten whether I read it or not, but then I would just say that.)

    I write in nonfiction books sometimes, to help me remember or organize the important points. I wouldn’t write in a fiction book though. I guess I feel those need to retain their integrity as a work of art. But I also can find others’ comments enjoyable, so that’s not very consistent of me.

  4. imyril says:

    OH HOORAY someone else who liked The Explorer 😀 I am following back the Last 10 Books Tag and I’m delighted to have found you 🙂

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      Hi Imyril, Loved that book and the sequel. I wish he’d hurry up and bring out the third part now!

      • imyril says:

        Oh hell yes. Every time I see he has a book coming out and it’s not the Anomaly, my heart sinks. Although I’m looking forward to reading I Still Dream!

        • AnnaBookBel says:

          I gather I Still Dream is excellent by the way. It’s on my shelf – but I haven’t got round to reading it yet!

Leave a Reply