Why haven’t I read this yet?

This week’s Weekly Geeks challenge asks: tell us about a book (or books) you have been meaning to read. What is it? How long have you wanted to read it? And, why haven’t you read it yet?

Top of the list is….

Redemption Falls by Joseph O’ Connor

I bought this over a year ago having loved Star of the Sea, but it is still sitting pristinely on the shelf. I started it a few months back and then just sort of forgot I was reading it and started something else (this doesn’t mean I thought it was rubbish – far from it,  I just got distracted.) I’m working up to starting it again quite soon.

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by G. H. Dahlquist

This must have been on the TBR pile for over a year too. I picked it up in a charity shop because of the attractive cover and the fun premise, but many Amazon reviews are uncomplimentary about the writing and while I don’t mind functional prose when there’s an exciting plot, one of the criticisms levelled at this is that it’s tedious and repetitive.  As it’s quite a chunky book, I keep putting off investing the time in it in case it’s as trashy as some people say. Then again, plenty of reviewers like it too, so there’s only one way to find out.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday

I borrowed this from a friend and I’m not sure why. I mean… fish. Woo. I’m sure someone will tell me it’s not all about fish and is really a witty exploration of the dichotomy of pathos and humour that characterises the human condition, or something. But if no one persuades me to start it within the next couple of weeks, I might just give it back to its owner.

Accordion Crimes and The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

More from the South Bucks Hospice Shop  (which I have to say has way better book stock than the local second-hand bookshop). I bought these because I loved Proulx’s short fiction collection, Close Range. Why haven’t I read them? I think it’s something to do with Proulx’s style being perfectly suited to the medium of the short story. I’m not confident of my brain’s ability to process such startlingly clever imagery for a whole novel.

Then there are two historical biggies that I really should read but haven’t bought/borrowed yet – Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel and The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt. I have been avoiding both because they are no doubt so outstanding that they would make me too depressed ever to write another word!