This week I’ve decided to take part in ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl again. So, the topic we’ve been given is ‘books too good to review properly’, and I did something very similar to this concept in 2020, which you can read here. However, I certainly have read books since that I loved and don’t even know where to begin with reviewing.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
How could I ever hope to review such a classic like this? This was as incredible as everyone always says it is, but I find that kind of brilliance very difficult to encapsulate myself, I’m not sure I’m a good enough writer, especially on a blog like this. The only thing I can really do is swear it’s as good as everyone promises it is, and I hope I can guilt you into reading it, there is nothing else I can say that would be even somewhat coherent.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
I mean, I don’t think I need to explain why this is on the list. We all know it’s incredible, and if you haven’t read it yet you need to make it a priority. But, I can’t write a review for it as the dominant thought in my brain when I see this is something along the lines of ‘AHHHHHH’, and ‘AHHHHHH’ repeated over and over again would make quite a shit review.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
This is a really fun and exciting urban fantasy book for me. I really enjoyed the world and how different it felt from every other world I’ve ever visited before, it was strange and kooky, and I kind of refuse to review those types of books, because that don’t’ need reviews; they just need someone enthusiastically pointing out the book to you and demanding you read it (that’s what I’m doing right now).
Running by Natalia Sylvester
Everytime I sat down to write a review after listening to this audiobook I found myself struggling to convey how it made me feel in words, and so I never did write one for it. This is nothing short of excellent however, and captures the struggles in discovering our parents, and heroes, are not everything we think they are, but also examines the complexities of privilege and politics in America in a deft and courageous manner. I just want to shout about it, but I don’t have the words.
Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into The Sea by Sara Pinsker
This is an absolutely incredible collection of short stories I had the luck to read last year, and I unfortunately have no idea how to write a review for it. It takes a while to pick up, but when it does it is everything you could want and more from short stories: it’s immersive, grabbing and unforgettable. I can only urge you to pick this up with the promise there is no disappointment to be found and Pinsker is one to watch.
The Bone Season Series by Samantha Shannon
In my opinion, The Priory of the Orange Tree pales in comparison to my favourite book series of all time. It’s a crime I’ve never written any reviews for these books but I just can’t, I can’t complete a coherent thought when it comes to these book, I just love them too much. It’s just so good with so many twists and turns, and a slow burn romance and proper PTSD representation and I just can’t. Please someone else read it so I can gush about it with them.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
This book sparked a bit of a need to read more of Gaiman’s work for me – also a desire to read Pratchett’s but unfortunately I haven’t achieved this yet – and it’s one of my favourite reads of all time. It’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s mine, and undeniably it’s a cult classic now. There’s nothing for me to say about this that hasn’t already been said, and truly I’m not arrogant enough to think I have anything new to add.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
I mean, come on, what am I meant to say about this book you guys don’t already know? It’s fun and mysterious and intriguing, and I was unable to put it down after I picked it up because what else was I meant to do? Writing a review for this seems like far too much work, as I’m not even sure where I would begin to capture the feelings contained in this, plus what can be said that hasn’t already been yelled out by the book community at large?
I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
Zusak is undeniably hard to write about, as all of his books seem to capture human emotions and feeling other author’s struggle to; plus, sometimes they’re so weird it’s hard to explain what really happened without making it sound dreadful, and this one is so far from dreadful. I love it so much, yet I find it so hard to talk about it in any kind of way.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
There’s a sense of whimsy and magic to this that is impossible to capture in a measly, little book review. This is pure enchantment with characters who have certainly left their mark (I am so in love with Rita and Daunt, and the slutty queer in me could never chose one over the other), and this book will never leave me.
Moonlit Books 
Ooh, Beloved is a wonderful pick! I’d struggle to review that one, too.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-too-good-to-review-properly/
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Running was such a good contemporary novel for our times. I really appreciated that it featured a fifteen-year-old MC which we don’t see often enough in YA.
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I have Girl, Woman, Other and I definitely need to bump it up on my priorities!
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Evelyn is so good! It made my list too. I plan to read The Bone Season this year, I hope! Great list.
My Top Ten
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I’ve read both The Bone Season series (well almost all of it anyway, I still need to finish The Mask Falling) and Good Omens and did review them, but I do get your reasoning as to why you didn’t!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/02/15/top-ten-tuesday-355/
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Great list! I had Neverwhere on my TTT this week as well—I absolutely adored the book (it was my first Gaiman book) but I have no idea where to start reviewing it cos I enjoyed it so much 😂 I also looked back on my Evelyn Hugo and it’s just a bunch of gush, haha!
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Once Upon a River is a great choice for this week! I had a hard time putting words down for such a magical book.
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