Ten Oldest Books On My TBR

Happy Tuesday y’all! It’s the first Tuesday of February, that’s so strange to say. Then again, the weather around here lately has been a reminder that it is still winter! Friday was -15C (5F) before the windchill was added. Yikes! Anyway, on to this week’s TTT! Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl is asking us to share debut authors we’re looking forward to in 2023. The thing is, I don’t pay attention to who is a debut author until I’ve read the book. PlusI shared anticipated books for two weeks in January, and I’m sure there are several debuts on those lists. Instead, I will share the ten oldest books on my TBR.

To determine the oldest books on my TBR, I am using my Goodreads TBR sorted by Publication Date. Of course, there are several books on my list with no date. Some are new releases that have been announced, but the details are not finalized. Others have been out for a while, but their publication date was never added to their Goodreads listing. Books will be listed according to the release date.

All titles link to Goodreads.

Now, let’s look at the ten oldest books on my TBR!

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Beautiful, flirtatious, and recently widowed, Lady Susan Vernon seeks an advantageous second marriage for herself while attempting to push her daughter into a dismal match. A magnificently crafted novel of Regency manners and mores that will delight Austen enthusiasts with its wit and elegant expression.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde’s most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her ‘cousin,’ Alec, proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future.

White Fang by Jack London

Born in the wilds of the freezing cold Yukon, White Fang – half-dog, half-wolf – is the only animal in the litter to survive. He soon learns the harsh laws of nature, yet buried deep inside him are the distant memories of affection and love. Will this fiercely independent creature of the wild learn to trust man again?

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie

What do a movie star, an archaeologist, a French maid, a prime minister, a wealthy dowager, and an Italian count have in common? Half of them have fallen victim to a terrible crime. The others have fallen under suspicion. Leave the deductions to Hercule Poirot.

Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

Tommy and Tuppence Beresford are restless for adventure, so when they are asked to take over Blunt’s International Detective Agency, they leap at the chance.

Their first case is a success—the triumphant recovery of a pink pearl. Other cases soon follow—a stabbing on Sunningdale golf course, cryptic messages in the personal columns of newspapers, and even a box of poisoned chocolates. But can they live up to their slogan of “Any case solved in 24 hours”?

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

When the beautiful and intriguing Miss Wonderly hires PI Sam Spade to tail a fellow named Floyd Thursby, who ran off with her baby sister, Sam puts his partner, Miles Archer, on the case. But Miss Wonderly is not quite what she seems. And when both Thursby and Archer turn up dead, Spade knows he’s dealing with a troublesome dame.

As the case deepens, Sam receives a visit from the fragrant Joel Cairo. He has his own special interest in Thursby and his link to a missing bird statuette worth millions – the Maltese Falcon. Soon, Spade finds himself both hunter and hunted as he tracks down this jewel-encrusted treasure that people are willing to kill for.

Giant’s Bread by Mary Westmacott

Vernon Deyre is a sensitive and brilliant musician, even a genius, tormented and driven by forces even he didn’t understand. His sheltered childhood in the home he loves has not prepared Vernon for the harsh reality of his adult years, and in order to write the great masterpiece of his life, he has to make a crucial decision with no time left to count the cost. But there is a high price to be paid for his talent, especially by his family and the two women in his life – the one he loves and the one who loves him.

Young Nell Vereker had always loved Vernon, loved him with a consuming passion that was alien to the proper social world in which she lived. But when Vernon sought solace in the arms of Jane Harding, a stranger and enigmatically beautiful older woman, Nell felt she could endure no greater pain. But Fate had only begun to work its dark mischief on this curious romantic triangle — for before their destinies were sealed, one would live, one would die, and one would return from the grave to be damned.

The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie

A conjurer of skill with an instinct for detection, Mr. Harley Quin has an almost magical flair for appearing at the scene of the most remarkable crimes. But is it just a trick of light that haunts his shadow with a ghostly apparition? Is it fate that invites him to a New Year’s murder? And what forces are at work when his car breaks down outside Royalston Hall, an isolated estate with a deadly history?

The Sittaford Mystery (aka Murder at Hazelmoor) by Agatha Christie

M-U-R-D-E-R. It began as an innocent parlor game intended to while away the hours on a bitter winter night. But the message that appeared before the amateur occultists snowbound at the Sittaford House was spelled out as loud and clear as a scream. Of course, the notion that they had foretold doom was pure bunk. Wasn’t it? And the discovery of a corpse was pure coincidence. Wasn’t it? If they’re to discover the answer to this baffling murder, perhaps they should play again. But a journey into the spirit world could prove terribly dangerous—especially when the killer is lurking in this one.

That is the ten oldest books on my TBR. I honestly could have done a list of just Agatha Christie novels instead of just half, like this week. Have you read any of these? What are the oldest books on your TBR?

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.