See, I really loved Magonia, totally up my ally. It makes me a little sad that some people would comment saying that they wouldn't pick it up because one person didn't like it. I totally get it though, not everyone will like the same books as other people, but as a reader and former bookseller, it's discouraging that people won't bother with a book because one person couldn't connect with it. Throwing my two cents in here.
Exactly! All I'm saying is that people shouldn't dismiss a book because one person didn't like it. You could be surprised by a book someone didn't like.
+Christopher R. Alonso I know what you mean (I also loved Magonia!) and some of my favourite books have been ones that weren't very popular/highly rated. But, on the other hand, there are just so many books to read and so little time that sometimes we have to pick our reads based on what others tell us, especially if we tend to agree with them about other books. That's why I read reviews and watch these videos - because I don't have enough time to read every single book on the chance that I might feel different about it. My TBR is already too long :(
I see your point, and I understand not picking books up because there are so many other things to read. My only issue is the complete dismissal of a book because of one opinion. I like reading reviews, and I make my judgments on that, but I like take multiple opinions into consideration.
I understand that; sometimes I feel that way when I see someone automatically dismiss a book they'd previously wanted to read. The thing is, that book could be one in which their opinion completely diverges with that of their trusted reader friend. Of course, there are sooo many books to read... *sigh* It's a tough call.
People need to realise that this is not a 'waste of money'. The money has already been spent. The giving away of possessions to those that may enjoy them more or get actual use out of them is not a waste. This is something more people need to learn to do so that they are surrounded by things that they love and not by mountains of crap they don't love.
I love this! I work in a library, so, when I just HAD to buy a book but know I won't read it again, I donate it to the library I work at. It just warms my heart to see those books months later with obvious wear from a whole bunch of people getting to enjoy them. I keep books that I feel I will reread or feel my kid will want to read when she gets older, but, most of them go to the library where others can enjoy them.
I'm really sad to hear that you got rid of The Circle. The Engelsfors Trilogy is my favorite series of all time and it really deserves international recognition, it's a masterpiece. In my opinion it's one of those books that fly by very quickly despite being big. Then again, I've read it in Swedish so I don't know what the translation is like.
Yeah I found the translation to be preeeety bad. I still read the whole trilogy and loved it, but it had a strange style and some parts were really awkwardly translated, and I'm not a native speaker. it's really a shame
aluminij that's such a shame, yeah. that happens with books being translated to swedish from english a lot, which is why i've pretty much abandoned reading in my native language haha.
I still remember The Evolution of Mara Dyer being one of the most enjoyable YA books I've read. It definitely gets much better than book 1, but it depends how you read it I think. I read it in pretty much 1 sitting at the bookstore cause I didn't want to buy a copy, and omg it was so much fun and creepy and just fun. I haven't encountered anything like it since!
Sad to see that you unhauled the Circle. It's a really nice witchy trilogy, that still blends in to normal daily life so well and it just makes me believe that magic is real! I do see why you wouldn't get around to it though, since I myself have yet to read the last book in the trilogy, and the book is scaring me with it's over 800 pages...
Aw sad that you got rid of Magonia! It was one of my favorites of the year! The first few chapters do have that contemporary feel to it, but then it goes to a totally different direction! I agree that the first part was a bit of a struggle, though.
I've had THE CIRCLE forever but I'm still very much looking forward to reading it. The first few pages of MAGONIA weren't what I expected, but after adjusting my reader expectations, I'm looking forward to going back in.
Book Unhauling, helps with future Book Hauls. Love it. I'm with you on Magonia. I borrowed a copy from the library and I was really looking forward to it but I couldn't get into the writing, so I gave it back to the library after only reading 30 pages.
I've always had trouble getting rid of books so I really admire your ability to do it, enjoy it, and make it look so easy. I have recently come to the realization that there are dozens of places books can go to be adopted or loved on by others and am finally able to let more of them leave my house. Thanks for sharing your experiences so I'm reminded how gratifying it can be to think of others enjoying the books that I am not (or already have).
I feel the same way as you! I really love getting rid of old books particularly ones I've have since my childhood! I only have a tiny bedroom in my mums house so I have to recycle them, sell and move them around. I think it's good to pass books on and give them away to charity! :)
I read the first Mara Dyer book and I think "alright" is still more positive than what I thought of it. I thought it was like a jump, skip and hop behind alright and also never felt the need to keep reading the series. I got mine on Kindle, though, so I can erase it from my device and try to pretend I don't own it. I LOVE purging. I call myself the anti-hoarder because any time there is an opportunity to throw things away I'm like OOH OOH OOH CAN I? 😍
I really liked when she unhauled the circle, it's a Swedish book and I'm Swedish and she totally slaughtered their names haha! It is a really good series though.
I am torn between loving to get rid of clutter and being ultra-possessive of books and not wanting to let them go even if I have no plans to re-read them.
I HAD THE EXACT SAME THOUGHTS ABOUT MAGONIA I'M SO UP THERE WITH YOU. I think I've kept it for so long because of the cover, I never get tired if staring at it!
The circle is pretty cool, especially considering other book you've read and loved, I actually think you'd like it. I don't want to make you regret giving it up, but I assume you can pick it up from a library or borrow from a friend, just to see if you like it without committing to buying it.
After moving twice in four months last year, I've been perpetually purging my house. I got rid of somewhere between 20 and 25 books before I moved in April and I got rid of another 15-20 just last month. My new rule is that a book must receive a rating of at least 3 stars to stay on my shelf, and I think I'm gonna purging on the regular from here on out to make sure my shelves accurately reflect books I truly love and not just books I have for the "status" of it.
I am relatively new to booktube and decided to make my debut on RU-vid (which was a couple of months ago) with a 'Books I Regret Buying' video because I had never seen one. Little did I know that it's just called an unhaul! I love the video and am excited to see which books take their place. :)
I would love to do this mainly because I do not tend to re read books… but I just can't part with them! I am gonna need to soon though as books are slowing taking over my whole room :/
C'mon! The Assassin's Curse?! *sigh* Reagan, it's a good thing I really like you :3 Seriously though, I agreed with every other one, DOWN WITH MARA DYER (unless someone really likes it, in which case, great!) I love a good unhaul :)
I enjoy cleaning out my bookshelves as well ;) Maya Dyer started out so so good, and by the end of it, I hated it and never wanted to pick up a sequel.... It was removed from my shelves as well....
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA! How come I have never seen a book unhaul before. I have always heard of Mara Dyer but for some reason, i haven't picked it up yet.
I'm honestly not surprised about the Mara Dyer trilogy. I thought that the Evolution of Mara Dyer was the best out of the three. I was kind of considering on unhauling them, but the covers are just so pretty 🙊
Agree with you about Magonia! I seriously just DNF'd that book last week after getting 2/3rds of the way through it. I was really bummed out, because I was excited about it.
The second mara dyer book is amazing! Mara dyer is one of my favourite series I am really sad but oh well. The retribution of mara dyer is so amazing I don't know why people were disappointed by it. I thought it was amazing.
I totally agree with you about Magonia. The blurb and reviews made it seem totally different. I even tried to listen to the audio book (so I could actually get further with it, since I stopped reading it pretty quickly) but still no joy. I didn't finish the audio book and I don't think I'm going to either. I absolutely love Wondla, it should be more well known by now! Nobody I know has ever read it. Even though I'm always telling them to.
I recently finished reading the second book on the WondLa series on my ebook, and OMG it is soooo good!! I am about to start the 3rd one, can't wait for things to start going down!!
Thank you - the Mayer Dayer series, I thought I was the only one, I read the first one then I tried to read the second got a few chapters in and I just couldn't keep going, I did find the first a bit of a struggle as well. Magonia I've also tried, read the first couple of chapters or so and I was like 'Nah, I can't do it'. Plus like you say they all have beautiful covers.
Don't worry about getting rid of Blood Red Road, my best friend loved it, but I really didn't like it and she even said that the rest of series sucked, so no real loss there.
I might be in the minority here, but I don't like unhauls. I unhaul my own books when I've read them and determined that I'll probably never read them again. So it always hurts my heart when people unhaul books they haven't read because they've either heard bad reviews about it or it's just been on their shelf forever. Like the Under the Never Sky unhaul really made me sad, simply because the first book isn't the best book in the series, the books following it are awesome! I think book hauling is more fun because there is genuine excitement about the books that's not there in an unhaul. I mean, I'm not judging, to each their own. Most unhaul videos make me sad because some awesome books aren't being given a chance. Just my two cents.
Maybe I don't buy enough books but I can't get rid of them.. I can't sell them or give them away. I physically don't have any room for more books ... so there is a metre stack on my desk. Nbd. Getting rid of them is TOO painful
I just did a massive purge as well and man oh man, did it feel good! I went to Goodwill with two trash bags of clothes and probably about fifty books. The stuff was just sitting in my apartment taking up space and making me mad. It had to go.
I also love getting rid of books. I have a rule: if I don't feel like I would ever re-read the books they need to go. I feel like otherwise I would only clutter up my house with books that are gathering dust on my shelves.
I'm such a book hoarder. I could never get rid of my books, even the ones I didn't enjoy much or was disappointed by. I borrow out to friends a lot though and sometimes my friends like certain books more than I did so I'll keep them for that reason. I also like to think that one day my kids might read them and might prefer some books over others and I'd hate to get rid of a book that one day might be their favorite.
The only books I've unhauled are textbooks and I feel super guilty about it. This kind of inspires me to get rid of books that I really never wanted to buy in the first place. Nice to know that I'm not the only booklover who has books that they don't want.
I love unhauling books, but I hate it too, because I spent good money on them. thats the only downside. I obviously keep my favorite series/standalones, but its especially saddening when I unhaul a series I only read half of. Thats why I now tend to only buy one at a time!
Book purging does feel good! I feel like I can go buy new books after I purge, funny though how the purge to purchase ratio is a little one sided on the purchase side. Thanks for this video! I dont think its controversial, not everyone can like a certain book and life is too short to keep trying a book you cant get into.
Now you've inspired me to do an unhaul. And I don't even make videos! Good timing, too. I've got way too much crap and I'm moving in with the boyfriend next year, so I seriously need to hone my shit down. Some of my books are brand new and I haven't read them! That's got to be a sign.
It's so interesting to see what other people like and don't like. I'm all for book unhauls, mostly because books are spilling out everywhere in my room and it's a little ridiculous. Plus, someone will actually enjoying the book, versus me just sighing when I almost step on it again. The most controversial one I can think of that I got rid of was I am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak. I just didn't like, even though it is highly rated by most. (I loved loved loved The Book Thief)
I definitely understand the need for a good book purge now and again, but I don't think I could bring myself to part with so many books I'd never read lol. I'm pretty sure the only time I've ever done that was when they were books that I got when I was younger and I could tell just by looking at them that I'd completely outgrown them before getting the chance to read them
It's so funny that I actually just got the Evolution of Mara Dyer during October from my mom. She really liked it but said she didn't have the time or energy to read the other books in the series either. I've never actually heard of The Circle but the cover looks pretty cool haha. I really need to purge some books I have, oops.
I love book purging. It feels so good. I loved the first two books in the Mara dyer series but I didn't like the third one so I understand :). I'm so glad I am not the only one who didn't finish the Under the Never Sky series. I read the first one and was not a fan but I though I was the only one based on booktube who thought that.
I am so glad I bought Magonia for 2 dollars on kindle because I could not finish it. My main problem with it was the way the main character spoke and her thought process. It was all over the place and most of it made no sense.
The things we thought we loved at first were things we eventually would grow to unlove or share with others. Because what your comment of space issues, I agree you do not want too much of anything taking over your life because its unhealthy. If someone seldom rids themselves of any their possessions every 6-8 months, possessions they don't need but cling to because of its importance, it results to HOARDING and that's never healthy. It's not something everyone must follow, its just simple advice.
That's a really cute jumper. I wish I could unhaul books but I'm way too OCD. I can't do it lol. But I'm running out of space and only live in a small flat -_-
I love book purging. I have a very limited space, so I can only keep SO many books, and sometimes it saddens me to say good bye to them. T_T But oh well. Whatever. More space means more books I'm willing to actually read.
I've read The Circle and its sequels multiple times in swedish, but I have a hard time imagining that it would be as good in english since all the swedish names and things must be confusing. I hope the person who got the book enjoys it anyway, because it's a lovely story. :)
I agree with you about Under The Never Sky and also The Mara Dyer Trilogy. I liked the Mara Dyer trilogy, but I hated the third book and It just wasn't worth it.
I am not going to lie, I was so glad to see you tossing Dustlands away. I tried to read it and I hated it. I couldn't even finish it, and then I wrote a paper about how much I disliked it (which I got an excellent grade on). It was so hard to get into, the language was stupid, the characters were boring. Ugh. I also didn't like the Mara Dyer books either. This video made me feel much less guilty about it :)
I really like unhauling books, too. Because, let's be honest - bookshelf space is limited :D and why should I keep books I didn't like or have no interest in reading (anymore)? Yes, of course I love to have a big collection of books, but I'd rather have less and only the books I love or at least like than hundreds of books that were just okay or worse. Good decision! :)
The Circle is amazing! So sad that you are giving it away! It is one of the most popular fantasy/YA books here in Sweden (probably because it is swedish and we do not get a lot of good YA books here). I read it when it came out here and I loved it, and I love the whole trilogy, and even though they are huge, it is fairly fast paced. There is a movie that came out this year, I don't know if it is out in the states yet, but it was good to, check it out... If you, for some reason I don't know, want to watch Swedish fantasy... ;)
I agree, in my opinion, the Mara Dyer series just went downhill after the first book. I've also tried reading Magonia but can't get past the second chapter. idk.
The evolution is better than the unbecoming IMO. But I do think if you don't have a connection to the characters, then you won't really enjoy the story that much. It's one of those series where the characters are fully realised and multi-dimensional but the plot is a little floppy. That being said, I really did enjoy all three books because I'm a sucker for good characters.
