I know I’m not the only one with an unmanageable TBR (to-be-read) list. Sondy at Sonderbooks regularly terrifies me with her elaborate battle plans, and Melissa at Book Nut creates gravity-defying towers. My own list is a badly organized and ever-growing, and if I were to graph my current progress, it would look something like this:
Clearly this is not sustainable. When I first started blogging (and reading other blogs/The Horn Book Magazine etc.), I quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer number of book recommendations. Every time I finished a book, I’d find another 3 or 4 to add to the list.
But it no longer bothers me, because as soon as I start to worry, reading becomes a chore, and getting through the pile starts to feel like a to-do list instead of something to look forward to. Then I start doing stupid things like not making time to re-read my favorites. (I’m currently in the middle of my second Liar and Spy read, and it’s much more satisfying than some of the new books I’ve picked up). Which brings me to my next point: with so many enticing books on my TBR list, I no longer feel guilty about abandoning a book mid-read. If something fails to capture my attention after the first 20 pages, I stop and move onto the next one (unless there’s a very good reason to soldier on–as I’ve done once or twice to get through something for SLJ’s Battle of the Kids’ Books. Luckily, most BoB selections are outstanding).
What about you? All quirks and coping mechanisms for TBR books are welcome in the comments below.
I don’t have any useful suggestions, but I can definitely relate to your graph. One thing that has always helped for me is giving myself permission to stop reading a book that isn’t working for me. Otherwise, I find I don’t snatch every chance available to me to read, and my green line on your graph flattens out too much.
I love it! As you say, Perspective is the key!
And my elaborate battle plans are my little way of keeping myself from panicking and stressing about the TBR list. It helps me prioritize (I think about the next one of THAT type of book), and relax that I’ll get to the book I want to read eventually. Oh, and I like having a reread built in to the cycle. As you say, the books you already know you love are important.
Last week, I blew my whole Sunday afternoon on a Juliet Marillier adult book, so I purposely picked a book I didn’t think would hold my interest next. (Hokey Pokey. Yes, it was good, but, no, it was not absorbing.) Of course, then I blew it by dropping my plans when my hold on Days of Blood and Starlight came in — and then I blew this whole Sunday afternoon, too! But anyway, it was fun…
Oh, and my plans just started with alternating between a library book and a book I own. Because after I started working in a library, I stopped reading books I own, because they didn’t have a due date. That was a good switch. Especially since I only buy books that I’m pretty sure I’ll like.
Jen–yes, it’s quite liberating to stop in the middle of a boring book!
Sondy–I have the same problem with books I own. My solution is to only buy books I’ve already read and really like–books I know I’ll read again and again…