It’s time to lighten things up a bit on this blog. I have been tagged by Eva @ The Paperback Princess to participate in the TBR Book Tag. Since my blog is mostly reviews, it’s fun to branch off sometimes when I get a chance. It’s always interesting to hear what other people/bloggers have on their TBR pile.
The only rules are to answer the questions, then tag some more people (if you want). Pretty easy.
1. How do you keep track of your TBR Pile? I have a big pile of books that I want to read next, and a big pile of books that I want to read soon-ish. Because I’m a mood reader, these are often interchangeable, and sometimes I ignore them completely for library books. I also keep track of books I want to read in a notebook – I have many, many pages filled with titles I want to read someday. Sigh.
2. Is your TBR mostly print or e-book? It is all print!
3. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next? Whichever one I feel like reading next. Sometimes I know exactly what I want next, but sometimes I spend time reading the backs and flipping through them before I can decide. If I have a book due back at the library, that one usually gets priority over the books I own. I also try to put review books ahead of my own, but if I’m really not in the mood for one at the time, I let myself wait a bit. In the long run, it pays off to wait until I’m in the right mood for the right book.
4. A book that’s been on your TBR the longest? My piles get changed around so much that I have no idea which one’s been there the longest, but one of the longest might be Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.
5. A book you recently added to your TBR? I recently added The Nymph and the Lamp to my pile, because I thought it was time for a re-read.
6. A TBR on your list strictly because of it’s beautiful cover? Judge a book by its cover? Never!
7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading? I plan to read them all!
8. An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for? A Measure of Light by Beth Powning, coming out in March. I loved The Sea Captain’s Wife, and I’m hoping this will be just as good.
9. A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read but you? Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
10. A book on your TBR list that everyone recommends to you? Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child.
11. A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read? All of them! That’s not a fair answer, I know, but my mood changes so much that the answer I give you today might not be my answer tomorrow.
12. How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf? 220, but that doesn’t include all the books I have written down in my little notebook; 51 pages @ 16 lines per page = I think I’m in trouble.
Whoever feels like having a little fun and answering these questions, I tag you!
Consumed by Ink 
OK, I’m game.
Good! 🙂
I’ll take the list of questions home tonight and look at my pile!
Yay! You did it! I haven’t read Never Let Me Go either if it makes you feel any better! I think an advantage to having all the books in print is that you can go through and look at the books, read a couple of pages here and there before committing. If we completed our TBR lists, what would the point of anything even be?
You’re right – for all we complain about our huge lists, what would be the fun without them? I love looking back on my list, and re-discovering a book I wanted to read but had forgotten all about!
I haven’t read Never Let Me Go either, but I do recommend The Snow Child. Is that picture of the books to read next or to read soon-ish? (I have A Constellation of Vital Phenomena line up, too. Maybe in April…)
The pile on the left is soon-ish, and the pile on the right is next. Supposedly. 🙂
Fun to read your answers! There are a couple of books we share in our stacks: The Golden Mean, Gil Courtemanche’s, and Joseph Boyden’s. If you decide to head in any of those directions in the next little bit, I’d happily tag along. For various reasons, I’ve avoided all three for years. Well, as you say, there are always others in the wings, and I am a moody reader too!
I have no idea why I haven’t read Boyden’s book yet. I loved both Three day Road and The Orenda, so it doesn’t make any sense. If I remember ahead of time, I will let you know if I decide to get to any of those three!
I’ll try to do the same! (At least you’ve read Three Day Road; that feels like a gigantic gap in my stack. It has recently “graduated” to the soonish stack, but even that doesn’t guarantee I’ll get to it anytime “soon-ish”, not really.)
Oh, Three Day Road is so good! I loved it enough to want to read it again before reading Through Black Spruce. You should bump it up, the next time you’re in the mood for something good and sad.
I don’t usually follow book review blogs but I love yours and 101 Books. Even though both of you review books, I also get some insights into your lives, how you think and what you think about. And I think that is important. To me, a good review is not just about the book. It is a way to broaden my view of the world. And both of you certainly do that.
Thank you so much for saying so, Don. You’ve made my day. 🙂
If you have any kind of a TBR pile, feel free to play along – I’d love to hear about what you’re planning to read in the near future!
I have so many books to read it is ridiculous. Right now I am reading a lot about Hamlet and Shakespeare for the blog. It seems that I don’t do much reading for pleasure anymore. But I definitely want to reread “The Old Capital”, William Trevor and Alice Munro stories, and Graham Greene’s The Heart of the Matter. Haven’t read Greene’s novel since college.
Graham Greene is on my list of authors I haven’t read yet, but would like to. Is that one the one to read?
You should post about all these books. It’s nice to hear where writers get their inspiration!
Great idea.
And yes. That is my favorite Greene book. But anything he wrote was great. His thrillers and spy novels like Our Man in Havana and The Third Man have had huge influence on writers such as John Le Carre.
I know exactly where I can get my hands on a couple of used Graham Greene books, too. I saw them last time I was at the book store.
English Passengers is a really interesting one; I’d be curious to hear what you think of that! Let the Great World Spin has been on my shelf for a long time, too. 🙂
I had never heard of English Passengers before someone recommended it to me. You’re the second person I know now who has read it. Too many good possibilities of what to read next!
For my TBR I count only those books I already have. That comes to about four years worth of reading. But like you I also have a very long long wish list.
Those are the ones I count as TBR, as well. The books I want to read that I don’t own are on my to-read list. I also own more books that I haven’t read yet (not in these piles), which I sometimes end up reading before the ones in the piles. The piles just help me narrow down my next read, they are definitely not set in stone. Now I’m wondering – how many books is 4 years worth?
220!!! Plus a notebook!!! Love it.
Ha! It should keep me busy. Now, if only people would stop writing more good books…
Naomi, just wanted you to know that I have now created a page of writers and books that have inspired me over the years. https://unclebardie.wordpress.com/writer-talk/writers-book-that-inspired-me/
That was fast! I’m off to check it out!
I enjoyed reading your responses and finding out a little more about your TBR pile. I can wholeheartedly recommend All Quiet on the Western Front. I only got around to reading it last year, but it’s such a moving, powerful and universal story I wish I’d read it much sooner.
Thanks for the recommendation, Jacqui! I have been meaning to read it for ages (obviously). I feel like that one will require me to be in just the right mood.
How fun! I may do this too, as I have clearly been in a writing rut and need a jump start…
I need to find you on Goodreads!
I also have to read Never Let Me Go…
I admire you for being so organized with your lists! I find myself getting more and more books to read when I really should try to go through my existing TBR pile at home.
You’re not alone – I add way more to my pile than I read. I do have to write everything down, though. It makes me feel better. 🙂
Yes, you should do this, too. I want to see what you’ve got! And, it was fun.
I’ll look for you on GR next time I’m there!
Oh Never Let Me Go. Love it. Good movie, too. Move it to the top of your TBR, cheers.
I hadn’t even thought of the movie. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂