I have a personal issue that I normally wouldn’t air in such a public forum, but I’m betting a number of you have this same exact issue, and really it’s time we all came clean.
My TBR pile is out of control.
Not only is it out of control, it has kind of taken on a life of its own. There are books living in there that are so not something I’ll read. I know, I know, if I won’t read them why are there? Easy answer–because they were either 1.) Free or 2.) Cheap. C’mon who turns down free/cheap books? Don’t lie to me—I know you have some too.
This issue had been nagging at me for some time, then last week I came across a blog post by another author (sorry I don’t remember who) who confessed to the same ailment. I thought “Okay, enough. I can do this.” And I took action. I started pulling books from the pile that I would never read and….I READ them. That’s right. I READ them.
My choices included a light mystery that at one time in my reading life I would have gobbled up, but at this stage just hasn’t had any appeal. A YA that I got from MIL who did not recommend it, but I took anyway because it was…free. And finally another mystery–hardback no less–also light, that I got at a conference at least FOUR years ago.
And what did I think? Well I finished the first two with no problems. This says a lot for me because I am picky and frequently just can’t force my way through things–especially if the voice doesn’t work for me. The second book I sped read a bit, glossing over parts that seemed unimportant to my enjoyment, but I also stayed up WAY too late reading it. It was a tad addictive. I might search out another by this author. And the third…I just started.
So, now it’s your turn. What is lurking in your TBR long forgotten? Why haven’t you read it?
Then be bold–pick three and read them! If I did it, you can too…
You are so right, my TBR pile needs a home of it’s own. I’ve gotten so overwhelmed with my reading list that last week I started re-reading a much beloved book because it was guaranteed that I would love it; no guess work or possible disappointment. But you’re right, I have a trillion books I must get to and many are written by authors that are new to me. It just so happens I picked out 4 last week and told myself “you will read these books next or you don’t get any supper”. So I started a new paranormal by an author that has written over 30 books but is new to me. First 3 pages I was hooked. So I’m enjoying myself and looking forward to reading the next 3.
by Marisa O'Neil September 26th, 2008 at 8:20 amWell, maybe if I had all the time in the world…
But I don’t
so
I concentrate on the pleasure reading
that gives me pleasure.
I’m getting better at walking away from
by Kimber Chin September 26th, 2008 at 8:27 amthe books I’m not interested in,
even if they are free.
I figure my time is worth something.
I can empathize about the TBR pile. Mine’s gotten so big I get a bit of anxiety every time I see it. I’ve actually got two piles now ~ one of books I’ll eventually get to, and one of books that I want to read soon.
The problem is, I keep adding to the piles. And then I get sidetracked and the books I was dying to read last week get buried under the books I discovered this week.
It’s a vicious cycle.
by Dev September 26th, 2008 at 8:49 amDev - That’s exactly my problem. It’s like getting distracted by the shiny things. I have my next TBR book picked out and suddenly, oh shiny thing!, another comes along and I read that instead. Sigh.
Let’s see, I have a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book in my TBR that I keep meaning to read but never seem to be in the mood for when it comes time. That’s just one of about, oh, a hundred
A few winters ago my husband tried to get me to burn part of my TBR pile to get the fire in the fireplace started
As if.
He never mentioned it again
by Sharon Cullen September 26th, 2008 at 9:13 amI don’t have a TBR PILE bigger than 5 or 6 books at any given time. I have a TBR LIST, but until I know I’m going to have time to read, I can’t afford the money or space. Or, I use my library, and those books have time limits.
I read fast, and I read a lot, but normally three books in the physical queue is plenty. I might have a few more lined up in my eBook reader, or if I get freebies at conferences. Or, like now, where I have 4 new books as a contest prize. Normally, these are books I probably wouldn’t have gone out of my way to read, but I’ll read them. I’m really slogging through a giveaway now, but I also finish what I start. I think maybe the whole thing is my mom’s fault. If we put food on our plate, we had to finish it. The ‘waste not’ ethic is too deeply ingrained to change.
by Terry Odell September 26th, 2008 at 9:22 amFunny you should mention this, since I’ve gotten a big itch to pull out some long neglected historical romances out of my TBR. I just know I’ve got some real gems collecting dust in there.
I “weed” my TBR on a semi-regular basis - mostly Harlequin series books. I love me some Harlequins, but dang, they tend to multiple like rabbits. Plus I’m fickle, and the plot device I loved 3 years ago, might not work so well for me today. Sort of like you and lighter mysteries (which I still enjoy, but I’ve been a bit more blood-thirsty of late and the “darker” stuff is shouting my name more loudly).
by Wendy September 26th, 2008 at 11:30 amThere’s a book store here that sells wounded books in lots. $10 per box, and you don’t know what’s in the box until you open it. May sound weird, but I get a cheap thrill from not knowing what’s in the box. I spend more on those boxes than most lotto addicts spend on scratchers, so I’m never short on things to read.
I have a program on my Mac that catalogs books. Whenever I want to read something at random, I can pull up random.org’s random integer generator, run it through my program, and voila. There’s a random unread book in need of reading.
I will admit, though, there are some books in my library I’ll never read. Like Lord of the Rings. I tried to read it when I was a kid, but couldn’t. I only keep it around now because it feels wrong not to.
by Liz September 26th, 2008 at 11:54 amI have both a TBR pile and a list. The pile is growing faster than I can get to it, in part because I no longer read things that don’t appeal to me, either for entertainment/information or for the opportunity to learn something about the writing craft.
The TBR list, well, I pare it back occasionally, deleting specific titles if I’ve had a chance to read something by the author and reading the book I listed no longer has strong appeal or if I can’t even remember the book or why I listed it in the first place.
Time is precious. But I do read things that I might not have picked up myself, by virtue of being a book reviewer and a mom (I read my children’s books too!). I love it when I discover an author or book that I absolutely love but otherwise would have missed.
by PatriciaW September 26th, 2008 at 11:57 amKen Follet’s PILLARS OF THE EARTH. I had a hardcover copy for, easily, 15 years and just dumped it as part of my move this past August figuring after 15 years, it was time to give up. Then I was in a thrift shop 2 weeks later and and found a paperback copy of it for $.99. Couldn’t resist. Now it’s back in my TBR pile. Maybe this time, I’ll actually read it!
by Kiersten September 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pmI am really enjoying everyone’s responses! I think we should have a prize for longest lived TBR book. As in the book left longest in a pile!
by Lori Devoti September 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pmI also love the wounded books.
Lori
I don’t have all that many books that I can look at and say, “I’ll never read that.” Sure, I have a few that were promotions or give-aways — I take no responsibility for books I didn’t choose.
But the ones I paid for are all books I’m pretty sure I’ll read some day. I might be wrong about some of them, ’cause there are always books with good blurbs and good excerpts that end up being like those movies that have all the good stuff inthe trailer, but for the most part I will get to them.
The problem is that once I have something, the urgency goes away. Whether it’s books or DVDs I now own, or TV shows I have on the DVR, there’s no rush, right? I have them, they’ll be there, I can read or watch them whenever.
I need to buy the book right now because if I wait it’ll probably go out of print. Amazon used books, and ABE and eBay have made this less of a problem than it was in the past, but some books are horribly expensive used; a paperback sequel to an SF novel by a couple of people I used to know was a couple hundred bucks last time I looked. O_O I think the publisher printed like four copies or something.
Once I’ve got it, though, all the pressure is off. I have a hard time working myself up to actually read a lot of the books I buy right away. I have a short list of authors or sometimes just particular series which I’ll dive right into, but half the time I’ll set aside a book of lesser urgency to do it. Who knows when I’ll pick it back up again? Or the other six in that pile, or the eleven in the pile next to it, or the fifty-twelve stacked against the wall, or…. [flail/laugh]
Angie
by Angie September 26th, 2008 at 12:51 pmI’ve been on a book diet since April, when I counted up my TBR and it numbered just over 50 books. It was overwhelming the space I have for it, so I decided I wouldn’t buy any books until I had read at least 45 of the 50+ books in the stack.
Like a food diet, I made room for cheating (when I’ve read 11 books in the TBR, I can buy one if I really want it), but for the most part, I’m quite happy reading these books, some of which have been there for years, and rediscovering why I bought them in the first place.
And Kiersten, one of them was Pillars of the Earth, which I thought was a fantastic book and so much more quick-moving than I had anticipated it would be. One of the advantages of its author being a writer of thrillers. I recommend sitting down with it when you’ve got some time to really concentrate on it, because it may take a chapter or two to get into it.
by Chicklet September 26th, 2008 at 3:47 pmThe oldest book in my TBR pile is literally probably going on five years old; for some reason, it just never makes it to the top of the stack. And I’m constantly reading the books in my TBR pile, but it also keeps growing. I wish I could just “make” myself read my TBR pile, but I’m too busy reading other things with what extra time I have. As a working editor AND a student (just finished undergrad and am now going into grad), most of time is either spent reading as-of-yet published texts or homework readings. Then again, I did just get in the habit of reading the news, but I think I’d rather keep my slow reading pace for my TBR pile than go back to being less informed.
by Nancy D'Inzillo September 26th, 2008 at 4:10 pmI also use a random number generator to pick books from my TBR spreadsheet. I thought I was the only one doing that…just goes to show you what a small world it is.
When I started buying ebooks, my TBR ‘pile’ really took off. It’s so easy to buy them, and they’re just so darn irresistible.
by Statch September 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pmI have about 5 of Asimov’s Foundation books in my TBR - bought them at the friends of the library sale a couple of years ago. They are in there bc I feel I *should* read this historical scifi series. However, I can’t seem to get over that initial hump (beyond owning them), and besides, I’m not sure I have the books in the proper series order, much less the first. Ug.
by Anna September 26th, 2008 at 6:38 pmFirst of all, Liz, I can’t believe you haven’t read ‘Lord of the Rings.’ I bought special editions copies for all four of my children because they were wearing out my copy. LOL. Just kidding. I know we all have different tastes. It’s a great story but the first part does drag. I can see it turning you off as a child. Most of those books lingering on my TBR pile are ones I picked up at booksignings I attended to support some of my fellow authors. I want to read them, but then I find something that I’ve been waiting and waiting for and I read it instead. I wish I had a place to buy boxes of wounded books. What a bounty!
by Susan Kelley September 26th, 2008 at 8:18 pmi started the summer wtih 286 books in my TBR piile,nw it’s autumn and it’s down to 127 books. I have heaed lots of people have more than 300 books in thirs. I’m hoping to read all of my books, and not buy anything new until my pile is a small one. I enjoyed it when CBS forty eigth hours once did a feature on romance novels and a lady who writes them, showed her home and closets which were filled with books she read. I can understand the big TBR pile. It’s so tough not to add to it.
by Teresa September 27th, 2008 at 2:40 amI have at least 300 books in my TBR pile, and like so many of you, I keep getting more. I just love reading!
by Anne September 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pmMy TBR pile is out of control. It started rather innocuously as books I called “Read and tosses” were added to the pile. These were usually second hand copies of book I’ve always meant to read. As a traveler, I would read them and leave them on various trips in hotel areas where readers accumulated books they had read and left them for other readers. Then, it expanded as my writing became more invasive and there was less time, I just kept collecting books; keeper books, curiosity books, reference books, travel books, all books that I was going to read and still will. Now the stack is rather overwhelming. Recently, I’ve become quite ruthless, there was a time I’d force my way to the end of a story. Now, if the author can’t hook me by 1/4 of the way in - I stop reading and donate the book. My TBR pile is shrinking, slowly, that’s partly because of my new philosophy and partially because I have greatly reduced the amount of library books I can take out. But that’s another story.
Ryshia Kennie
by Ryshia September 27th, 2008 at 10:29 pmLooks like I’m in good company.
My TBR mountain has been out of control for awhile. My problem is that I add to it with new releases and new authors faster than I read. I’ll read one book by a new author and if I like it I have to get their backlist. Then there’s the 30-40 books I have checked out from the library at any given time.
I’m going to try to take your advice and grab 3 from the pile.
by Leslie September 28th, 2008 at 2:07 am