Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Today, I want to talk about books that I changed my opinion about. There are books that I used to like but don't anymore, and vice versa. It doesn't happen often, just enough times to make a top ten list.
Today, I want to talk about books that I changed my opinion about. There are books that I used to like but don't anymore, and vice versa. It doesn't happen often, just enough times to make a top ten list.
1. Fledgling, by Octavia E. Butler
I read this book about a year ago. I don't know if I was honest with being myself when I gave it four stars. I liked the re-imagining of the vampire genre and the subject of race and identity. But other than that, the story didn't strike me as anything special, and the dialogue was quite awkward at times. Now I'd give it three stars.
I read this book about a year ago. I don't know if I was honest with being myself when I gave it four stars. I liked the re-imagining of the vampire genre and the subject of race and identity. But other than that, the story didn't strike me as anything special, and the dialogue was quite awkward at times. Now I'd give it three stars.
2. Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
This book started my obsession with all things Asimov, but I hated it the first time around. It was just so slow. This book is 99% dialogue and it bored me out of my mind. But at the same time, I wanted to know how the story ended.
It got a lot better with the second reading. After having read the rest of the original trilogy, I was able to enjoy this book more and pick up little fun details I missed the first time. It's one of those books that get better with each re-read.
This book started my obsession with all things Asimov, but I hated it the first time around. It was just so slow. This book is 99% dialogue and it bored me out of my mind. But at the same time, I wanted to know how the story ended.
It got a lot better with the second reading. After having read the rest of the original trilogy, I was able to enjoy this book more and pick up little fun details I missed the first time. It's one of those books that get better with each re-read.
Is it safe to say that I initially gave it two stars out of five? It's true. Two thirds into the story, I was so sick of Whatney's wise-cracking that I wanted him to die in the cold Martian desert. But I fell in love with the movie adaptation. It really highlighted the best parts of the book, and it made me see Whatney in a new light, and appreciate his character more. And then I gave the book two more stars.
4. The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
I used to love this book when I was a "tween" (even though that term hadn't been coined yet). Romance, adventure and beautiful dresses, right? Now this book just seems stupid. Childish and immature. Certainly entertaining, but nothing more.
I used to love this book when I was a "tween" (even though that term hadn't been coined yet). Romance, adventure and beautiful dresses, right? Now this book just seems stupid. Childish and immature. Certainly entertaining, but nothing more.
5. The Best of All Possible Worlds, by Karen Lord
I only reviewed this book a couple of months ago and already I'm changing my opinion? I'm standing by my original three star rating, but now that the air of novelty has worn off, the story doesn't seem as smart anymore. I still love the relationship between the main characters, but everything outside that storyline is so scatter-brained and incoherent.
I only reviewed this book a couple of months ago and already I'm changing my opinion? I'm standing by my original three star rating, but now that the air of novelty has worn off, the story doesn't seem as smart anymore. I still love the relationship between the main characters, but everything outside that storyline is so scatter-brained and incoherent.
6. A Graveyard for Lunatics, by Ray Bradbury
I didn't finish this book. Abandoned it halfway through. Didn't dig the story, and the language just seemed weird. But I think I was wrong and that this may be a very unusual whodunnit crime story as well as an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the world of old Hollywood.
I didn't finish this book. Abandoned it halfway through. Didn't dig the story, and the language just seemed weird. But I think I was wrong and that this may be a very unusual whodunnit crime story as well as an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the world of old Hollywood.
7. The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown
Remember the hype? Remember the madness? I do. Back then. Iwasn't exactly an avid reader, so I blame my ignorance for liking this literary equivalence of clickbait.
8. Mrs, Dalloway, by Virginia Wolf
Had to read this one in high school. Somebody should have told Madam Wolf about breaking your book into different chapters. Boy, did it feel like an eternity to finish this book. Now, I would like to re-read it. With so many books behind me, and some of them really slow, I think I will able to appreciate the story more.
Had to read this one in high school. Somebody should have told Madam Wolf about breaking your book into different chapters. Boy, did it feel like an eternity to finish this book. Now, I would like to re-read it. With so many books behind me, and some of them really slow, I think I will able to appreciate the story more.
9. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
This SF classic was quite a disappointing read. It wasn't scary. It wasn't shocking, and Victor came off as a big crybaby. But as with the case of Mrs. Dalloway, I've come to value this book as more than just a classic. Once you put the book in its historical and cultural context it suddenly becomes so much better.
10. The Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling
I used to be somewhat of a potterhead too. I read the first book at the right moment in my life, and I loved it. Four books later, I was just tired of the whole thing. And with the risk of getting the whole reading world against me, I have to say that these books are a little overrated.
I used to be somewhat of a potterhead too. I read the first book at the right moment in my life, and I loved it. Four books later, I was just tired of the whole thing. And with the risk of getting the whole reading world against me, I have to say that these books are a little overrated.
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