Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week, Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl has handed the reins to Nicole from BookWyrm Knits for this week’s topic. And what does Nicole want us to share? She’s asking us to share the oldest books on our TBRāthe oldest by publication date. While I’m not one to pick up classics, I have a few old books on my TBR. As someone who loves an author who started publishing 100 years ago, I will stick to sharing the oldest books on my physical TBR.
Agatha Christie is the author I love reading, and she started publishing 100 years ago. While I have read many of her books, there are many others I haven’t gotten to yet. I have several on my physical TBR. If I were to add all her books to the post this week, eight of the ten books I list would be hers. Ian Fleming is another author I enjoy reading. He started publishing books in the 1950s, and I have several of his books on my TBR. As such, I will limit my list to one book per author this week.
The covers are representative of the ones I own. All titles link to Goodreads.
Now, let’s look at the ten oldest books on my physical TBR!
King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard
- Genre: Classic, Adventure
- Publication Date: September 1885
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
- Genre: Mystery
- Publication Date: March 1924
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
- Genre: Mystery
- Publication Date: January 1930
Doctor No by Ian Fleming
- Genre: Thriller
- Publication Date: January 1958
License Renewed by John Gardner
- Genre: Thriller
- Publication Date: April 1981
The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
- Genre: Nonfiction, Travel
- Publication Date: August 1989
Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King
- Genre: Canadian Literature, Indigenous
- Publication Date: March 1993
The Ghost Road by Pat Barker
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Publication Date: January 1995
Except the Dying by Maureen Jennings
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
- Publication Date: January 1997
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
- Genre: Mystery
- Release Date: January 1998
That is the ten oldest books on my physical TBR. I honestly could have done a list of just Agatha Christie novels. As it is, there is one character on the list more than once. Do you know which one? Have you read any of these? What are the oldest books on your TBR?
Looking for some more books to read? Check out my otherĀ bookish lists,Ā book reviews,Ā andĀ monthly reading wrap-ups.
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I love the No. 1 Ladies’s Detective Agency series. So heartwarming and fun.
Great list! I’ve included an Agatha Christie book in my list too. The No.1 Ladies’s Detective Agency sounds amazing though, so I’ll have to look into it š Thanks for visiting my blog earlier!
I love Agatha Christie! Bill Bryson is also a great author. I hope you enjoy these!
Here is my TTT: https://thissideofstoryland.blogspot.com/2024/11/top-ten-tuesday-classics-that-have-been.html
Have you heard of First line friday?
I keep saying this, but don’t actually pick up an Agatha Christie novel… and yet I should. I watch the movies adapting her stories and enjoyed them. I also, for some reason, always forget that Bond is a book character, too. Probably because I grew up in the era of all the movies. š Thanks so much for visiting my list today!
The Lost Continent sounds interesting.
Nice topic. My friends and I were outraged when someone else was allowed to continue writing Bond lol. I think we’ve adjusted since then. We were in college at the time.
I want to get to more Agatha Christie soon. Here is my post https://paigesofnovels.com/2024/11/19/top-ten-eleven-tuesday-authors-im-thankful-for/.
Huh… I don’t actually know which character is on your list more than once. That’s really neat, though! And I know what you meanāI could do a list of 10 Agatha Christie books I still want to read, too. (Though my favorite Ian Flemming book is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, not any of the Bond books.)
I was surprised to learn that one of my favorite childhood movies was an adaptation of a book my Fleming.
Pam
Oh, and James Bond is on the list twice. Once in an Ian Fleming book, and another time in a James Bond book written my a different author.
LOL. It even says “JAMES BOND” there in bright white text, but I missed it. š¤¦š»āāļø
The No. 1 Ladiesā Detective Agency is a good series, i read one or two books every year
The only two books I’ve read on your list are the Maltese Falcon. Good. And The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency which started me on an Alexander McCall Smith craze that last several years. I liked it a lot.
I definitely need to try some Agatha Christie!
Test Test. Not sure my comments are going through.
I loved The Lost Continent. Bill Bryson’s travel writing is excellent!
Have you heard of First line friday? It where you share the first paragraph of a book you are reading. I think you will like it.
Here is a link to the one I did last week in case you want to do it this friday š
https://musicaladvicewithheidi.wordpress.com/2024/11/15/9th-weekfirst-line-friday/
I could have done a list with mostly Agatha Christie, I think I have 8 or so here. I think I put 2 on my list and moved on. Have a great week!
I have read Alexander McCall Smith on your list! I still need to read Agatha Christie!
I love your comment at the beginning of the post about limiting yourself to one each Christie and Fleming! I think I’ve read the Bill Bryson – I love all of his – and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, which was years ago so I don’t remember much, but I haven’t kept up with the series. I’d definitely recommend anything by Bryson, he always cracks me up (and teaches me things)!
Isn’t it great to laugh and learn at the same time?
Pam
The only one I’ve read is the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency and I really liked that series! I’ve fallen off of reading it though.
I’m not familiar with any of these books, but it did strike me how many of these books were made into movies. And it was a surprise to see a Pat Barker book that wasn’t in the Women of Troy series, but thinking about how great of an author she is, I really shouldn’t be surprised.
I haven’t read any of these, I don’t think I realized that the bond books were that old!
I’ve been reading Agatha Christie’s backlist lately, albeit very slowly. I read DUMB WITNESS last month and loved it. What’s your favorite of hers?
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I think I’d have to say I have a few favorites: And Then There Were None (I read is three times before I realized it was the same book because it had different titles); Murder on the Orient Express, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
Pam
Fab list. I’ve got Agatha Christie on my list as well. James Bond appears twice on your list, right?
Yup!
Pam
A great looking list. I have so many Agatha Christie books that I would have filled the list with those too.
I have actually asked for The Number One Ladies Detective Agency for Christmas this year!
Have a great week!
I loved the simplicity of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. One of my favorites. However, my favorite reading buddy hates it. So who knows?!
I enjoy Bill Bryson’s books, and I have read the No 1. Ladies Detective Agency, which was really good. My TTT: https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2024/11/19/top-ten-tuesday-the-oldest-titles-on-my-tbr/
I’m back wondering why I wasn’t published. Just another test.
Can you let me know if my comments have gone through. I’ve left you several from another browser and now I am wondering if this browser will actually allow by blog to be approved so my comments will show up. I make comments every week and this week I checked and was surprised that my comment wasn’t published. Eek! So much effort to make blog friends for nothing….
I think I will keep this idea (oldest books in my bookshelf) for another time (when i maybe make a note of pub year for all of them somewhere!).. i am still one of those who has not read the no 1. detective agency series and hope i get to them soon
My post is here
I used Goodreads to help sort my books by publication date. While I know it’s not 100% accurate, it’s pretty close.
Pam
Great list, I used to read Agatha Christie all the time.
Checking, again.
Hi Anne!! It worked.
Pam
Great list, Pam! I hope you enjoy them when you get the chance to read them! Have a good weekend!
Great list. Green Grass, Running Water is such a good book. I hope you can read it one day soon.
I hope I can get around to it. I’ve read one book by King and really enjoyed it. I have a couple of his other ones on my TBR as well.
Pam
Other than Agatha Christie, Iām not familiar with these books and authors. I always learn some much about different books outside of my little corner from these posts. Thanks for sharing some new to me books!
Hope you enjoy the Christie. š In answer to your question on my post: partly you just missed that there was indeed some Christie on the list, and also I just don’t think she’s that great compared to others like E.C.R. Lorac.
Oh Murdoch Mysteries is based on a book as well? I never knew.
I adore the show! I think I enjoy watching it so much because several areas around the city I live in have been used for filming. It’s always fun seeing local sites on TV.
Pam
I like that we had a similar approach to this prompt. I hope you have a great week.