I always expect to at least enjoy the books that I have on my to-be-read pile. But for some of the books which are awaiting to finally be read I have even higher expectations and assume that I will love them and, thus, award them a five-star rating. Inspired by Mercedes at Mercys Bookish Musings on YouTube, I decided to share the unread books I have on my shelves that I believe I will love.
I don’t rate many books with 5 stars, as I can’t fault them on anything in order to do so (you can read my post on why I rate books with 5 stars here). But when I do I rarely change my mind afterwards.
Whenever I’m debating whether to buy a certain book or not, a possible rating doesn’t usually spring to mind, that is something I only consider while or after reading it. So, I see this exercise as a new and exciting challenge. I’ve chosen four books among my unread ones that I plan to read before the end of the year. When I finally read all of them, I will write a wrap up post discussing my actual ratings.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
“Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose is delighted to make Philip is heir, safe in the knowledge that he will treasure his beautiful Cornish estate. But Philip’s world is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries – and then dies suddenly in suspicious circumstances. Before long, the new widow – Philip’s cousin Rachel – arrives in England. Despite himself, his drawn to his beautiful, mysterious woman. But could she have caused Ambrose’s death?”
I’ve read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier a few months ago and loved it. As I’ve mostly heard good things about My Cousin Rachel, some people finding it even better than the first, I’m expecting it to also be a five-star read, featuring compelling characters and an intriguing mystery.
Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira (Blindness) by José Saramago
“A city is hit by an epidemic of ‘white blindness’ that spares no one. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital, but there the criminal element holds everyone captive, stealing food rations and assaulting women. There is one eyewitness to this nightmare who guides her charges – among them a boy with no mother, a girl with dark glasses, a dog of tears – through the barren streets, and their procession becomes as uncanny as the surroundings are harrowing.”
I’ve read three books by José Saramago so far and liked all of them. O Ano da Morte de Ricardo Reis (The Year of the Death of Ricard Reis) is even one of my favourite books by a Portuguese Author. I’ve also already seen the film adaptation Blindness and really liked it. So, I’m expecting the book to be even better.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
“For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future that draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth.”
I always have high expectations for books set during the Second World War and this one is no exception. I’m really hoping to be moved by the stories of Marie-Laure and Werner.
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
This is the second book in the The Memoirs of Lady Trent series. In order to avoid spoilers, I’m not giving you a synopsis. I really liked A Natural History of Dragons about Isabella’s first adventure, but had some problems with the pacing of the story. I’m not expecting to encounter the same faults in this book and, thus, love it.
Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts about them? Tell me in the comments!
Also, please watch both Mercedes’s original video and her wrap up on her YouTube channel, if you haven’t yet!
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