Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Kicking things off with another classic! I have to admit, growing up on Disney films, Peter Pan was one of my least favorite of all of them. And yet I’m still intrigued by the story. Perhaps the source material will prove to be more interesting to me? Who knows, but I’m willing to find out!

Verdict: Keep

America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart

Here’s a little fact about me: I absolutely loved The Daily Show when Jon Stewart was the host. I used to watch it religiously! So I’ve been wanting to read this book for awhile. I find Jon Stewart’s brand of humor matches mine quite well and it makes topics I typically find kind of boring become interesting. Which means this one gets to stay until I eventually get it read.

Verdict: Keep

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

This is another one of those books that I added to my TBR because I loved the movie so much. I’m talking about the older Dolittle movie, way before Eddie Murphy and the more recent one. A story about a man that can talk to animals seems like it would be right up my alley! I can’t tell you how many times little Kerri wished she could talk to all her pets, lol. I’m honestly not sure what to expect from this book as it was originally published in the 1920s, but I’m interested enough to find out.

Verdict: Keep

Psycho by Robert Bloch

Look. I love thrillers and I love Hitchcock films. This seems like a no-brainer! Though Psycho isn’t one of my favorite films, I still think the story is fascinating. I’m curious if the story explores Norman Bates’ mental illness or how it’s overall portrayed. And I’m curious how closely the movie followed the book. I liked to be freaked out and I’m sure this one will do the trick!

Verdict: Keep

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Coming across this book on my TBR, I have to admit that I don’t remember what it’s about at all, lol. Having now re-read the synopsis, I don’t feel a pull towards it in the slightest. It’s a dystopian, which can be pretty hit or miss with me. The plot sounds kind of intriguing, but it’s nothing I’m chomping at the bit to pick up. I don’t really know how I feel about Patrick Ness as an author, either. I’d much rather start with A Monster Calls, if I’m being honest. So… never say never, but for now, I think it’s time to part ways.

Verdict: Remove

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

I distinctly remember writing a paper in middle school about how animals communicate with people and other animals. I found the subject absolutely fascinating and ended up reading quite a few books on the subject. That branched into a love for books about animal behavior. So a book about a man who studied a pack of wolves an entire summer seemed like it would be a perfect fit! After doing some research, however, I found out that Farley Mowat’s account is partially, if not entirely, false. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Verdict: Remove

The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of my Father by Jim Wight

James Herriot wrote some of my favorite books from when I was a kid. I mean… they weren’t necessarily for kids, but I absolutely adored them. They were all about his time as a veterinarian. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the stories were a bit embellished and that ‘James Herriot’ wasn’t even the author’s real name! Either way, I still loved the books, but I have to admit I’m curious about the man. This biography, written by Herriot’s son, seems like something I would genuinely enjoy!

Verdict: Keep

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

I legit just bought this book, so you know it’s staying 😂 Seriously, though, I adored this movie as a kid and I’ve recently become curious about the source material. I don’t many people who have actually read the book (or at least I haven’t heard them talk about it) and I want to see how closely it resembles the movie. Plus, I found a super floppy and cute paperback at Barnes & Noble and I couldn’t resist!

Verdict: Keep

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Yeah… no.

Don’t get me wrong! I find the legend of Robin Hood fascinating! But this is a case where I think I’m okay with sticking to movie versions and not exploring the original work. I don’t know… maybe one day. I’m just not feeling it right now and my TBR is cluttered enough as it is.

Verdict: Remove

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

This one is a tough choice. Though I tend to enjoy Neil Gaiman books, I’m not a huge fan of short stories. Usually I find at least one or two that I wish were full novels! Still, a book filled with Neil Gaiman short stories seems like the best way to get me to enjoy a short story collection, lol. And the synopsis definitely has me intrigued. Looks like I’m still in for this one.

Verdict: Keep