I’ve never been one to have a formal TBR stack or list or anything like that. I just had piles of books around me and sort of picked from them at random, grabbing whatever struck my reading fancy at the moment. However, things have gotten a little more complicated recently. There are books I’ve promised to read and review. There are books I need to read for research. There are books I want to read because I think they might be good candidates for a Forgotten Books post. And then there are books that I just plain want to read.
So I took the unusual step for me of going through the piles, making an actual TBR stack of ten books, and putting them in the order in which I thought I ought to read them. Then I made a list and saved it on the computer. (I’m big on making lists.) So then what happened, you ask?
It didn’t work out.
I started the first book on the stack and read on it for a couple of days without making much progress. So I said, “This is going to take too long, and I don’t really like this book that much anyway.” Back in the pile it went. Then I looked at the stack for a while and started rearranging it. Then the project for which I needed to read the research books got pushed back on my schedule, so I pulled them out and set them aside. Then I thought of some other books I really want to read soon that didn’t even make it into the stack the first time around. And then I did what I should have done to start with. I said, “Forget it.”
Now I’m back to my “piles of books that I’ll get around to one of these days” method. I like it that way.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
I have the "piles" of books too and try to remember which I want to read before a certain date, trouble is I get more books and they go on top...
This is my life. I can't tell you how many books I read 20 pages of and then discard. Not forever but just back in the pile.
There is no reasoning behind my reading. I have books in bookcases and I pick and choose as I want. Exception to the rules are brand new books. They fall through the letterbox, I pick them up and I start reading. And when I don't have a new book then I still have the choice. But then I enjoy re-reading the good books as well.
I hear you--I'm reading four books for review, due in two weeks. Then I made the mistake of visiting a local used-book shop a couple of hours ago. I scored a box full of ERBs, plus a few others (Donald Hamilton, Spillane, E. Queen). And they all need to be read right now. What to do....
Cheers,
Matt
I'm with you. Any sort of formal listing usually results in disaster. I have a rack beside my bed. a rack beside that, a pile beside that that.
My family when they come over has learned to just go with the flow and not say anything.
I consider my entire apartment my TBR pile. There is a small stack on my desk, a crate full of them across the room from the desk, then a ton on the bookshelves in the living room and... Yeah, I couldn't organize this ever. I like to be spontaneous when I pick what I'm going to read. I browse through all of them, pick up a few, then pick and just dive in impulsively.
Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I agree that every book I have is part of the TBR, because I intend to read them all eventually. I won't, of course . . . but I intend to!
I'm almost always a spur of the moment reader myself. Especially for fiction.
I have a TBR garage. I've just given up on the whole idea.
I too have a TBR pile that is so big Stephen Hawkins has a theory about it.
My study is filled with literally hundreds of books TBR. Shelves packed full. Stacks, some of which are as tall as I am, piled in the corners and leaning against the bookcases.
I love it.
One of the finest experiences I have as a reading-addict is finishing a book, then walking into my study to decide what I'll read next. So much choice!
This is vastly more satisfying than making, then trying to follow, a TBR list.
I am guilty making more than one TBR list, though. Made a ridiculously long one once that paired works of history with works of historical fiction, the aim being that I would teach myself a lot about history while entertaining myself and comparing genuine takes on history with fictional ones. Great idea. Didn't work for beans. Got two books in and tossed it.
John Hocking
I am constantly re-arranging the stacks. And I mean stacks! Towers of books.
Still sample a few pages here and there, put them back into the stacks when I have to read for reviews and stuff.
TBR lists don´t work. they don´t count the human element. :-)
Too many books, too little time.
Being organized his vastly overrated.
Post a Comment