Getting Rid of Books?!

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do it. I’ve had books cluttering up my shelves that I pretend I’ll read some day, but really I have no intention of getting around to. I also have books I bought and didn’t like, which need to be cleared out so I can make room for new ones I might love.

I’ve had a bit of a clear-out and thought I would mention the books I’m getting rid of and why.

(I would do a giveaway but honestly don’t know the logistics of it! And there’s also a lot to post so it would be a bit expensive this end. I’ll be taking them to my local Oxfam bookshop instead.)

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How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne.

This was a spontaneous buy in the supermarket, because I liked how the main character was talking about throwing up on some kids on the first page. I enjoy a character who likes a drink. However, this just seems like it’s going to be a bit fluffy for me, and I HATE seeing that bright pink spine on my shelves, so it’s got to go.

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Cogheart by Peter Bunzl.

This looked like it was going to be so good, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. I wouldn’t say I disliked it, but I don’t think I’ll ever bother with it again. I think if it had been out when I was a kid, though, I would’ve thought it was brilliant.

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The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke.

We’ve already established that I found this a disappointing read, but I was actually tempted to keep it because I really like the cover. However, there’s no point me keeping a book that I don’t like. (Although I love the cover of Red Queen and I haven’t thrown that out despite thinking it’s crap, so I am a world of contradictions today.)

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The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.

I don’t even know why I bought this. I tried to read it ages ago using the Kindle lending
library but couldn’t get into it. I tried quite hard as well – I was nearly halfway in when I gave up. Then I saw it for a very low price in The Works and I bought it! For some reason I just really wanted to like it, but I’ve realised that I can’t force myself to enjoy something so it’s going.

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The Helmet of Horror by Victor Pelevin.

I was so excited for this book! I love Greek mythology and this is a retelling of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth. It’s also really easy to read, because it’s written in the form of an internet chatroom. However, I found the story absolutely baffling and I couldn’t keep track of what was going on, nor could I see what the author was trying to achieve. I got quite far through, and when I saw where my bookmark was I considered keeping it and quickly finishing it, but there’s really no point forcing my way through something I’m not enjoying. I could be reading something good instead!

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Look at Me by Jennifer Egan.

I had a little spate of reading books like this. I read Faceless and Wonder and loved them, and this appears to be in that vein so I bought it around the same time. However, Faceless and Wonder were outstanding and I just know this book will fall short. I’m never tempted to pick it up so bye-bye Look at Me.

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Lies Like Love by Louisa Reid.

I received this in my Willoughby Book Club subscription, which I took out for three months earlier this year. I was excited when I read the blurb as it sounds creepy and intriguing, but when I started to read it, it felt like it was going to focus too much on the romance. I wanted a more disturbing read, so I’m throwing it out.

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The Sleep Room by F. R. Tallis.

This book just wasn’t very good. The blurb promises a terrifying thriller, but I found the so-called ‘twist’ stupid and the characters were all unlikeable. I felt like the female characters were just there to fall for the main character, and although there was one gory scene that I liked (what does that say about me, eh?), most of it was tedious.

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I Was Here by Gayle Forman.

This was another Willoughby Book Club treat, which I was pleased to receive because I watched the film of If I Stay last Christmas, and I wanted to read some Gayle Forman books. I didn’t like how this book focused so much on the love interest, though, and therefore didn’t really enjoy it. I would still like to try If I Stay, though, just because I enjoyed the film.

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The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson.

I just wasn’t a fan of this. I love that it focuses on a transgender character but I felt the story itself fell a bit flat. Everyone kept talking about how wonderful it was, but the characters and the plot just didn’t interest me.

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Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess.

OK, so I haven’t really given this book a chance. But I bought it because I thought it was the book the film was based on, and it’s not – it’s the book of the film, and I find that a bit… embarrassing. I don’t know why. It’s one of my snobby bookish habits.

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Disclaimer by Renee Knight.

There were about three weeks when everyone was going mad over this book, and I left it too late to buy it. Once I bought it, the hype had died down, and nothing was pushing me to read it anymore. I had already been a bit dubious of the plot, and then someone in a shop told me it was crap, so I’m never in the mood to start it.

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The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp.

Another one that just wasn’t that good.It’s cleverly done, but the main character is an arsehole and I was also expecting to be scared, but there weren’t really any creepy moments. I think maybe that’s because of the style it’s written in – it’s supposed to be a gathering of Jack Sparks’ notes, as he has disappeared. If it had written more like a normal novel, I think I probably would have found it scarier and would have related to the characters more.

(It’s also not a particularly attractive cover.)

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So I’ve got rid of 13 books (ooh, spooky). I’m actually really pleased: my shelves are now rearranged and looking much neater. And they now have gaps to be filled with new books!

Thanks for stopping by!