Being a bookworm is basically synonymous with having a ginormous “to-be-read” pile. Mine got severely worse when I started book blogging. Before book-blogging, I’d trawl the libraries and snabble a few books that caught my eye. Now? WELL HELLO TBR THAT IS TALLER THAN THE EFFIEL TOWER. I have over 1,000 books marked “to-read” on Goodreads (although I don’t own them) and I have sticky note lists on my walls and I have a hefty stack of unreads on my bookshelf.
There are just so many books to read, okay? And I still have the totally logical plan to read them all in my lifetime. Don’t doubt this. No one likes a doubter.
But can this get a bit excessive? When your TBR pile is 30 books? Or 50 books? Or an entire BOOKSHELF?
Can our eyes be bigger than our belly? I’ve come home from the library with a stack of books so tall I’ve had to enlist my small nephew to carry some for me. And sometimes publishers send me stacks of review copies (some requested, but most unsolicited) so they all stack up too. And let’s not forget ebooks and Netgalley and kindle sales. ALL with due-dates. Either “hello-get-me-back-to-the-library-on-time-or-the-resident-library-vampires-will-suck-away-all-my-money-in-fines” or “review-this-book-on-time-or-the-publishers-will-think-you’re-an-ungrateful-little-squid”.
HELP ME. I’VE FALLEN DOWN BEING OVERWHELMED AND I CAN’T GET UP.
I struggled with a gargantuan TBR in 2014. I put a lot of pressure on myself to read all my books at the correct times. It wasn’t awful. But I hated that I never read a certain book because I felt like reading it. What if I want to nine thousand books about dragons?
“NO!” my TBR would scream. “WE MUST BE READ FIRST OR WE WILL CONSUME YOUR SOUL.”
In 2015? Quavering, I decided to change a few things. Exit Netgalley (I prefer physical books anyway and with the rise of my love of photography, pfft, ebooks are less attractive to photograph). Exit ridiculous amounts of library books. Two per week is pretty sensible, actually. Less publisher requests. They send so many surprises anyway.
You know what? My TBR is manageable. Right now, I have 10 books in line to be read. I miss out on a lot of books, I DO, and this saddens me slightly. But I prefer sanity and the realisation that if my TBR fell on me, it would only give me a concussion, not a funeral.
So does this mean that collecting books wildly could be a bad thing?
HA HA. COLLECTING BOOKS IS AWESOME. People collect so much weird stuff, and collecting books? Gosh. It’s not even that odd. It’s not even useless. You could be collecting antique peanut shells or something.
Books are knowledge. Books are art. Buying books stops artists starving. Books are pretty. Books stack nicely in a shelf. If you collected pumpkin replicas just think how hard it’d be to stack them.
I definitely think the size of one’s TBR depends on them. You shouldn’t feel ashamed for having a bookshelf of unread books IF THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE. If not. Well then. You know what to do.
But seriously now, can your TBR be too big?
Can we bookworms be accused of being gluttonous?? Or are just passionately excited about words and stories? IS THERE A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER HERE??
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OPINION TIME! HUZZAH! this is a very subjective discussion! how big is your TBR? but more importantly: are you comfortable or overwhelmed by it? do you think bookworms can buy/borrow/collect too many books and have it become ridiculous? is it even possible to have too many unread books in your life?! LET US TALK.
YES YES YES TO THIS. I’ve started banning myself from the library of late because I’ll come out with ten shiny library books when I already have ten sitting at home on the verge of being so overdue the librarians are planning my death AND THEN I also have a ton of review copies howling my name! DOES IT EVER END??!!
LIBRARY BANS ARE SUCH EVIL PUNISHMENT BUT SO NECESSARY. *sobs* I broke my 3-week ban to get 5 books yesterday and I’m monstrously excited about them!! DRAGONS AND THINGS. *eats books*
So glad I never got NetGalley – that would be even more insane! I currently have, erm, three shelves of unread books *gulps*. Probably about 50 in all. But I don’t borrow much from the library anymore. I have so many review copies and things that I don’t need to! So I only borrow a couple of books a month. And that works for me. I’ve been less worried about unsolicited copies this year, making more time for solicited copies and books I’ve bought myself 🙂 So that’s a nice step up from 2014.
Netgalley is…gah TEMPTING AND DANGEROUS. Although I kind of did find it hard to ever get approved for things. -_- Which is prooobably just as well. 😉 These Aussie publishers sure keep us stocked up on review books, though, right?! THEY ARE GREAT.
“Too big” is a classification that changes depending on the person, how much they read, how much time they have, etc. Personally my TBR pile is very overwhelming and has been for years. I was addicted to book buying, which leads to large numbers of unread books. Even before I was buying books I was maxing out my library card every time I went, as well as my sister’s (there’s a 20 hold limit per card). I was borrowing way more than I could read. Then blogging happened so you can only imagine what happened next!
This year not having money and being incredibly overwhelmed is why I put myself on a year long buying ban. It’s also supposed to be a requesting ban but that hasn’t worked… Currently my TBR is 139 books (according to the Goodreads shelf I had to make to keep track of them all). It was 148 at the start of the year.
EXACTLY! It’s totally subjective! 10 for me is good (I’d like a physical TBR of only 7 books though xD HA. As if that’ll happen) but a lot of people have commented and said they dont’ mind having a whole bookcase of unread books! SO YAY SUBJECIVENESS. (Is that even a word? Omg. It is now.) hehe. AnYWAY. Library cards are life, also.
Mine is definitely too big. I know this and I am overwhelmed by it. But I also don’t care. I have the hope that I will live long enough to retire and can just sit around all day reading books. That is my hope. I have my fingers crossed for that. Plus I do love buying books. I think it might be an addiction but I can’t stop myself. I wish I lived up the road from you, as I would happily invite you to my own library and know you’d probably get through way more books in a year than I could manage.
I’m doing the bookshelf tag again soon because I have acquired so many new books that I need to completely reorganise. I think it’s like 40+ in the last few weeks…. OOOOOPS!!!
I WOULD TOTALLY JUST LIVE IN YOUR LIBRARY BECAUSE YOUR LIBRARY IS INCREDIBLE. Seriously your collection…omg. #goals :’) At least if the apocolypse happens you can just barricade yourself in your library and never come out and OUTLIVE EVERYONE BECAUSE YOU’RE JUST READING THROUGH THE APOCALYPSE, AMIRITE?
I usually don’t really fret over my TBR list. My To-read shelf on Goodreads only boasts about seventy books. My kindle with over a thousand unread books is another story, but that’s mostly stuff I picked up for free and free books don’t quite count.
I did sit down this summer and decide that I wanted to make sure that I’ve read all of the PHYSICAL books that I own by the end of the year (not sure that’s going to happen, especially since Les Miz is on my shelf, and there’s now way I’m going to get through that this year. It would kill me), but that’s mostly because I collect physical books for bragging purposes, and I can brag better if I’ve read them.
It’s good that your TBR doesn’t make you panic! YAY FOR YOU. I need to be like that. XD Actually, I’m not too bad right now. Like I have a system and it’s under control, but I do wish I could reach the end of my TBR one day just so I could collapse in a heap of noodles and maybe reread some favourite books.
Les Mis is like a BRICK, isn’t it?!
*crawls from the giant black hole that is year 12* why hello there Cait! I have to say, at the moment, my physical TBR pile of 10 is too big for me. (stupid year 12 whhhhyyyyyyy must you take my tiiiiiiiiimeeeee???) I do agree though, and also there are books that I really want to read, and books that have been recommended by me and that’s also what builds up my TBR pile and list on goodreads, but think it’s important that if there’s a series or certain book that you love or are waiting for the next book or love the author, then they should be a priority on your TBR shelf or otherwise you can get sick of reading. I, to be very honest, do get a bit tired of reading if it’s prescribed reading or it’s just something that I’ve been told I should read, and also if I read a book knowing that I’m going to review it. Sometimes I just like to read a book because I have picked it up, it’s interesting or I have wanted to read it for a long time, because then I’m more interested and engaged with the book. Then again what would make me pick up the book in the first place. It’s an interesting psychology. 😀
Thanks for sharing Cait and keep up the good work blogging! (even if I hardly have time to internet these days! Oh, woe for me)
HELLO RENEE!! YOU ARE ALIVE. THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS. But yus, yuuuus, my sister is doing year 12 and dying so I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT MUST BE. (Okay, I totally don’t because I homeschooled, hehe, but I’m seeing her flap around and never read, so it’s not just you.) WE MUST HAVE AN ADVENTURE AND STEAL TIME AND THEN USE TIME TO READ ALL THE BOOKS. < -- excellent life plan
My Goodreads is list pretty long but that is of ones I don’t own for the most part – just ones I go back to remember I want to read them. I do own entirely too many ebooks I haven’t read. I am trying to squeeze in this summer. I have started only borrowing audiobooks from the library for a while to catch up on stuff I already have. I am currently trying to work my way through a bunch of ARCs so I am caught up. BUT it gets overwhelming because, well, I want to read ALL.THE.BOOKS. One day – maybe.
YAY FOR TRYING TO BE CAUGHT UP. That is my dream. xD Actually I’m not horrendously behind atm, but I do have quite a few books I’ve won or libraried that need insta-attention. heh
I have the problem of being not a very fast reader. And sometimes I get distracted from reading by that extremely inconsiderate thing called life. SO, while I am very selective about the books I request/approve/buy, my TBR pile IS a bookcase. (Possibly more or less. I mentioned my new bookcases – there are read books amongst the stacks (not yet shelved, but piled on shelves), BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNREAD ONES!) I couldn’t easily or quickly count the number of books I have to read.
Do I think this is a bad thing? No. It might seem odd, but I prefer having more unread books than read, because I have more choice. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I don’t read to a deadline. I did for a long while before, and I just hated it. I was never reading books I wanted to read in that moment, and was enjoying the books I was reading less because I didn’t fancy them right then. Now I read what I want when I fancy it. Does that mean I can have books waiting for weeks/months/years to be read? Yes. But I’m not going to force myself to read something I’m not currently in the mood for. I will be in the mood for it at some point, because OMG IT SOUNDS SO GOOD, but I might be in a fantasy mood and not contemporary, for example, and so I won’t want a contemporary.
So when it comes to picking out a new book, I have a lot of choice, and will have something for whatever I’m in the mood for. It works for me.
This does mean I have review copies waiting for me to read that have been there for a long time. When I decided to change the way I did things, I updated my review policy and I let all publicists know this was how I was doing things from now on. As one publicist said to me, they’re fine with it, because they know I will review at some point. (Which, as we were discusssing, is better than newbie bloggers feeling entitled to all the books, demanding them, and not reading them ever.) This also keeps my blog content fresh, and, for the publicist/author, rehighlights a book after publication and may introduce new readers to it. Win win.
So yeah, I have a HUMUNGOUS TBR pile, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s not pressure, it’s choice.
WELL SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. I SHALL COME VISIT YOU AND READ ALL YOUR BOOKS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT. I’m quite low maintenance to have around. I like cake and dragons.
But I agree the choice is nice! I’ve never really fallen to mood reading, like I WANT to because sometimse if you read a book you totally aren’t in the mood for, it can be such a chore. But in a few weeks? I might like that one a billion percent. SO HATS OFF TO MOOD READERS. THEY KNOW WHAT’S WHAT.
Omg, but yes, it makes me kind of frustrated when the ARCs get used up on people who don’t intend to read them. That’s not really fair. 🙁
Physical TBR or Goodreads one? The physical, I’d say I have about 70 unread books but I’m quite comfortable with it as I have more read ones. I know that I want to read them, and they aren’t wasting shelf space. The goodreads one is at about 750! And you’d think that would stress me out, but it really doesn’t. I’m only 20 years old (at least until September) so I have plenty of time to read ALL the gorgeous books!
To be honest, it’s quite comforting to me. To know that I won’t ever run out of books I want to read. Because how scary would the world be if there weren’t any books to read anymore??
HA. Your goodreads one is adorable. *glares at mine of 1117* BUT I JUST WANT TO READ SO MANY BOOKS I CAN’T HELPE IT. But that’s good that your work isn’t stressful! YAY! I don’t want to run out of books, although I do like the idea of finishing my TBR so maybe I could go back and reread? heh.
*hides collection of antique peanut shells and pumpkin replicas* Of course I only collect normal things like books. What else would I do with my life? But seriously, though, my TBR at this moment is pretty much every single book in my personal library, plus a few hundred others from around the house because I am going on a re-reading rampage. And I don’t think a TBR pile can ever be too big, as long as there’s no mad rush. Like, if I had a hundred books that I needed to read TOMORROW, that would be a problem, but if there’s no due date I’m cool with that. But I keep my Goodreads TBR small because it’s one thing to have a physical stack of books–it’s much more maddening to keep a list of books I need to buy/borrow.
I SEE YOU AND YOUR NERDY PUMPKIN REPLICA COLLECTION. OMG. YOU CAN’T HIDE THESE THINGS FROM ME. But yes yes *nods* the made rush is what sucks the joy out of reading, I think.
I have 80+ books on my TBR. I don’t know how can I read those T.T
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, MY FRIEND.
I think if I would make a complete list of all the books I still want to read I would go completely INSANE. That’s probably why my TBR on Goodreads is teeny tiny and a bit of a mess. I don’t want to be confronted with the reality of ALL THE BOOKS. Instead, I just stick my head in the sand and take it one book at a time. 😀 Works quite well, actually. Probably because I don’t have publishers sending me books (yet). Although I should get a bit more organised with my NetGalley ARCs…
Oh well. BOOKS ARE FUN. And that’s the most important thing 😀
Sounds like a plan. XD And here I am, needing to read ALL THE BOOKS OF EVER. *adds 876 more books to Goodreads tbr* I have a problem. But at least they’re only wishlists and hot actually barricading me in my room needing to be read, right? < -- though I see no downside
There can never bee too many books on someone’s TBR. As bookworms, we have no other choice but to want to read ALL the books. However, person cannot be ruled by his/her own TBR pile. That is my motto.
I have over 500 books on my to-read shelf on Goodreads and another 100 of unread fanfic stories on fanfiction.net. I just do not have high hopes of reading them all in year or two, (I know that is impossible to manage if I want to keep my job and friends LOL). Fortunatelly, most of my to-read books are not purchased yet. Usually, I purchase books only right before I intend to start the book (no risk of getting killed in case my TBR falls on me 🙂 )
THAT IS A GOOD MOTTO. I think if a hobby is making us stressed/anxious/overwhelmed then we got ourselves a problem.
Oh gosh, I can’t imagine adding fanfic into my TBR!! 0_0 I’m in awe of you then, hehe. I don’t even get around to self-published books because there are just SO MANY THAT ARE CALLING MY NAAAAME.
You have a very wise anti-death plan for your tbr.
YES. YES. YES! I’m having this problem sooo much at the moment. I have ridiculous amounts of books to read and it just isn’t working. I’ve decided to stop publisher requests too and library visits – well, maybe just cut down on library visits. *sheepish grin* I think there is such a thing as too much TBR and this post has really inspired me to try and REALLY cut back down on mine from now on. 🙂
I’ve totally cut down on library visits and reservations too. IT IS HARD. IT IS PAIN. *gnashes teeth and wails* Although after 3 weeks with-no-library, I did break and borrow 5 yesterday, but I’m so uber excited about them all!
Oh my God, it really is! I’m trying to cut down my loans to just sequels now, the ones I really need to read. I think if I stop starting too many new series it will help cut down my TBR. Or that’s the plan at least. *fingers crossed* I can sort something out.
I have a gigantic TBR pile as well… I’ve got over 100 books that I physically own that I need to read. That’s including review copies, but they probably make up less than half of that list, and some I just never got around to reading so they’re not really current anymore. (Eep, am I an ungrateful little squid? A bunch I won in giveaways, so I didn’t actually *request* them…) I also don’t buy books because I am poor. (Aren’t most of us?) I am certain that if I had money to buy books I’d be dying under a far bigger TBR pile, so I’m kinda grateful I’m limited to what I own and have/want to read that way.
I also have a library borrowing problem and it’s really bad, although I’ve managed to get it slightly more under control the past few months. I’ll now take out, like, a dozen books at once, but then I won’t take out more until I make my way through most of those current borrows (I’m a pro at renewing books online, mwahaha).
I’ve also gotten awesome at staying off NetGalley, where I used to click on everything that looked interesting. Now I probably only look for books on there once or twice a month, and it’s amazing because I’m finally at a 70% review rate! Additionally, I’m getting annoyed at reading on my tiny phone screen, and I’m really preferring physical books when it comes to review copies. (Although I don’t get sent unsolicited books, nor am I yet brave enough to cold-email publishers with requests. I actually don’t know if I even want to reach that point; I’ve got enough to read without getting sent boxes of books all the time, as lovely as that is.)
To end this incredibly long comment which is more like a post in itself, TBR piles suck in a way. I certainly feel pressure to make a dent in it before rereading books (I’m an avid re-reader, or, I was…), and all the review copies I have to read stress me out. I have found that I dislike reading on deadline, especially when I’ve got, like, a dozen review copies to read in a month… I’ve gotten SO much better at controlling my TBR pile since first starting to book blog, though, which I’m very proud of. Now I’m like, Does this book REALLY interest me? Because if no, get the heck off the internet and be productive and read a freaking book!
OMG I HAVE THE SAME WITH GIVEAWAYS. Last year for some reason I won soooo much stuff. (This year is a completely different story.) But I like winnning giveaways because I feel un-pressured to read them on time. I can just read them when I want. YAY. So pfft, we aren’t ungrateful squids in that regard.
I AM POOR TOO. Book vouchers and libraries and review-copies are how I read. heeh. Oh, but ya know, kindle sales can also be tempting and I might crack and just buy ooooone little one.
I’m getting better at the library too! I ONLY CAME HOME WITH 5 BOOKS YESTERDAY. Big improvement, trust me. XD
But yus, agreed. TBRs can kind of suck. I think if they’re destroying the love of reading by being too overwhelming then there’s a problem.
I have over a 100 on my tbr, and though I would like this pile to go down, I’m okay with it for the most part. I did create a netgalley account last year, but I haven’t actually used it yet. And I don’t go to the library. I have so many books on my shelves to read it doesn’t make sense to me personally to also go to the library. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. It’s not the amount of books, but the pressure on myself to read them that makes it overwhelming.
YES. I feel overwhelmed by reading too sometimes, which is a big reason I’m limiting myself at the library (I’m such a library girl at heart xD) and not requesting as many. I want to pick up a book because I feel like it!! Not because I’m freaked by the 99 behind it!!
Haha! Cudos to your mom, she sounds awesome! =)
But AARRRGGGHHH…. this is so difficult!!! I’ve noticed that the biggest problem for me is actually choosing what book to read of all the books I have. So I try to have as few new books at home as possible. It’s like to much choice make my brain freeze and nothing gets read.
When it comes to TBR:s online, like on goodreads or the online bookstore, I don’t mind having a huge pile of books to choose from when I want to buy or borrow some more books.
I have to agree tho, since I started follow bookpeople on blogs and youtube my TBR is enormous. So many awesome books out there!
SHE IS AWESOME. SHE IS THE AWESOMEST. Choosing books to read is super uber hard. I AGREE. Right now I’m kind of just reading comics because I can’t even decide on a novel. XD hehe
I have a huge physical TBR and it’s DROWNING ME but I don’t know what to do. I have review copies I really want to read, but I hate being time restricted, you know, it sucks all the fun out of reading. I have physical review copies that I’m just not feeling but have to read now you know, and just ugh. I have big plans to CUT BACK on e-ARC’s, because holy shoot, that’s just too much pressure. I will learn the hard way, but still, my TBR pile is waaaaaay too big. Great post Cait! 😀
If reading isn’t fun THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM. That’s what I figured this year when I know last year I felt stretched too thin trying to manage all the release dates for ARCs and then library dates. Omg. TOO MUCH. I only have one arc from Netgalley at a time now. Well. Right now I have ZERO, ’cause I’m good. *flips hair*
I think there are people who collect books and don’t pla. On reading them. I don’t get down with that though. If I buy a book or request through netgalley or Kindle deal (my weakness) I plan on reading it. My TBR at the moment is a little much because I went to BEA and because I went on spree at Netgalley. I fully intend to read them all, but I just pick which to do as I please. I should worry about dates more, but I like books by my mood. Otherwise it feels like homework!
YES. ME TOO. I don’t want books I’ll never read. (But then I’m a weird little capsicum and want to read everything really, hehe) AH, everyone is saying their BEA TBRs are a bit crazy. XD But that’s completely understandable right? THOSE BOOKS NEEDED TO BE ADOPTED.
I always feel slightly betrayed when I see someone’s profile on Goodreads and it says they’ve got like 2,000 books on their shelves and then I click through and see that 1,900 of those are on their TBR shelf and they’ve only got 100 on their actual shelves. Because that just seems insane to me.
But then I’m a weirdo who very rarely adds things to her TBR shelf. It’s currently at about 75, and I think the highest it’s been was about 90?? I basically use it as a way to remind myself of when books I’m indescribably excited about but which aren’t necessarily going to get a ton of hype come out so that I remember to read them. I could probably go through it and get rid of at least 15 things that I’m not that interested in reading any more, but that takes effort. And plus, my shelved books is sitting at a very satisfying 1,000 at the moment, and removing books from my TBR shelf would totally mess with that!
This comment is probably nonsensical because I should have gone to bed half an hour ago OH WELL.
Okay, that does seem a little insane. But then, if they’ve JUST started on goodreads or in the bookworm world, maybe they’re just planning for the future? (I know I add a lot of books that aren’t going to be available for, like, 9 million years) onto Goodreads. -_- I CAN’T HELP IT.
Omg, 1000 is a lovely number. DON’T READ OR ADD ANYTHING EVER AGAIN.
This is a great idea for a post! I have an entire (overflowing) shelf of my bookcase devoted to my TBRs, and it is a tad overwhelming. Especially considering there are even more of them at my parents’ house (sadly, when I moved over a year ago, books didn’t make top priority in our tiny little car). I enjoy buying books (the cheap ones at library book sales and used bookshops), and the fewer TBRs I have, the better I feel about buying more. I also really enjoy going to the library, which I try to avoid when I have a ton of books to read at home. So I guess if the size of your TBR pile makes you sad, it is too large.
You have inspired me to start chipping away at my TBR pile again with renewed vigor. (Usually it’s more of a “oh, I suppose I should read something I already own for a change…) Especially since I have a book shopping spree planned for early next month (hooray for gift cards!). 🙂
I love adopting books second hand. They’re just so lonely and cheap and need hugs and a nice bookshelf. IT’S IRRESITABLE. heheh But yes! If a hobby that you love makes you sad, then you know there’s a problem.
There are eight books on my TBR (+1 I’m currently reading). This is too many. This is way WAY too many. My Goodreads TBR is essentially a reminder shelf for books I would like to read but, you know, life. The last time I went to the library, the person I was with wanted to know WHY I needed to borrow more books and suggested that I had an addiction. I do not! I can quit any time!
*Goes into withdrawal because she didn’t get any books out of the library to prove it*
YEAH IT’S AN ADDICTION LIKE BREATHING IS AN ADDICTION. Sheesh, some people. *sniffs* I really wish I had just 7 books on my TBR at one time. I would feel really comfortable about that. One for every day of the week. :’) And it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t finish a book a day because the TBR isn’t astronomically high. bUT YEAH LIKE THAT’LL EVER HAPPEN.
Hah, well, I think *my* TBR can be too big, though I would never tell someone else their TBR was too big, because like you said, it’s all subjective! My thing is that I own SO MANY unread books. Part of this is because I used to live in a place that had big library book sales(twice a year), and they books were SO cheap that I basically stocked up, plus the local used bookstore will often have sale days about 4x a year where all used books are 2.99, which feels like nothing compared to sticker price! So I own a lot of books. I actually have a spreadsheet of books I own but haven’t read, and right now it’s sitting pretty at (wait for this) 153 books. A HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE BOOKS. Now, someone else might be able to manage that fine, but for me if I think about it too long it’s a cause of stress–which I NEVER want reading to be, ever.
Anyway, once I realized how long my TBR was, I’ve really been trying to whittle it down(with some success! I keep a total of the net gain I’ve made on my spreadsheet, and when I started it I actually had 186 books, so progress). I’d really like to see it at under 100 books. Luckily, 153 books is still a LOT, so I can still be a mood reader whenever I peruse my shelves(or kindle).
Subjective! EVERYTHING about books is pretty subjective, right?! I need to have a tbr that’s manageable and controlled (hehe, I’m a mini bookish control freak sometimes). I HATE being overwhelmed by the hobby I love. Sales are the death of me though. BECAUSE YOU CAN’t GO BY A SALE LIKE THAT. But yes, *nods* sounds like you have some book eating to do. 😉 I’ve had like 20 library books out at once and that was way too much. I mean, gosh, they all have due dates. IT IS NOT OKAY. So I’ve been working on always keeping things low-key. It’s not like I’m going to run out of books. Gawsh. If I did I could actually rEREAD some of my old favourites.
I don’t think it can be too big at all! But that’s just because I use the TBR as a way to figure out what to read next. The more books, the more likely I’ll get one I’m really in the mood for. Maybe someday I’ll buckle down and try to read a ton on my TBR, but the thing about is it that I don’t WANT it to be smaller. I wouldn’t mind it bigger.
OH. WELL GO YOU THEN!. XD I love smaller manageable ones. Although it’s been, omg, how many years since I’ve seen the bottom of my TBR?? YUP. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
I haven’t seen the bottom of mine since I started it. I don’t think I ever will, either. Huzzah for that! I hope you get to see yours, though, if that’s what you want
My TBR list is huge. But it’s not exactly a list, per say. It’s more like pictures on my phone from when I wander Barnes and Noble and my Goodreads account and just books that I remember I want to read. So it’s pretty darn big, but I don’t actually have it written down anywhere, so it’s perfectly okay if I ignore it for a little while and instead go crazy reading every sci-fi retelling of Red Riding Hood I can get my hands on.
Now, if I was either A) rich, B) owned a bookstore, or C) worked in a bookstore, this list would be a whole lot longer, and I would have a library with a bed in it instead of a bedroom. But that would still be kind of awesome.
I want to be rich AND own a bookstore AND work it in. Someone let this happen to me. (Although me? Working in a bookstore? I would probably hide under a shelf and sneakily read books.)
I don’t think the list of books you want to read can ever be too long but the list of books you plan on reading in the not too distant future can be. I’m terrible for the library but try to stick to three there and three from the rest of my life.
Three is a good amount for a library trip. *glares at pile of 5 from last library trip* hehe. BUT. I did borrow comics so not too bad. I really like to have 2 books from the library a week. It’s comfortable and I can fit them around ARCs and things. But, gah, so many books just begging to be fostered briefly. LIBRARIES ARE MY DOWNFALL.
I definitely think that a TBR can be too long, especially if a TBR is something you constantly add to without maintaining. I know that rather than collecting books, I have a list in a spreadsheets of books I plan to read at some point, but that is kind of all it is—a list. I don’t often select from it when I’m looking for something to read, and so I kind of think that in that regard, my TBR list IS too long because I don’t attend to it or make it something smaller over time… It’s kind of hard.
You have to be attentive, and that is the facts.
If it’s not a physical TBR than I think it’s okay, becuase it’s almost like just the Ultimate Bookish Wishlist, right?! AND I DO LIKE THAT. My goodreads (with 1117 books, omg) is proof of that. Gah. But then again, on Goodreads I have like books added to-read in series that don’t even have titles or covers yet I JUST LOVE THE AUTHOR TOO MUCH. XD
I think my TBR is relatively manageable, especially since I tend to be a “read what you feel like reading” type of person. The pressure really comes in with all my unfinished series (usually ones fully published and over with). I like time between the reading of another book in a series, and I just CANNOT marathon a series. It’s too large a dose of one world at a time and I prefer to visit multiple worlds within a month or so. But knowing that I have series started and yet to be finished GIVES ME ANXIETY. So. TBRS are the worst, in a way.
OMG I CNANOT MARRATHON SERIES EITHER!!! *hi fives* I just never have. The most I’ve done is 3 books in the space of 2 weeks (with other books in between) but then they all merged in my head and I still have no idea which plot belongs to which book. -_-
EXACTLY! I don’t get how people do it. I have the attentions span of a goldfish with alzheimer’s, so I cannot marathon books. Or run a marathon, because running=torture.
Great post. I have this problem sometimes, even though the only way I get ARCs is through NetGalley (and sometimes Edelweiss). I had to promise myself to cut back on the requests. But that is not working so well. My problem is that I only need to request books I am super excited about. I have been requesting books that are just okay. Not good.
Ohh, TROUBLE. x) hehe, but I totally understand the lure! It’s easy to request books and you never know what you might stumble on a gem, right? I have to only ever request ONE egalley at a time to try and keep calm about it. xD
I have a pretty ridiculous TBR pile… but it’s mainly in e-book format, so it doesn’t take up any physical space. Since getting into reading e-books, the pile has definitely grown. But it’s not quite the same thing as having a bunch of physical books sitting in a pile somewhere, giving you the stink-eye because you haven’t read them yet. (Oh, and can I just say that e-books from the library are kind of one of the coolest things for a person like me who once had her library card suspended because she owed too many overdue fines? When the book’s due, it automatically gets returned and you don’t have to worry about having to sell your firstborn child to get your library card back! Of course, this also means that your book might go back to the library when you’re in the middle of it, so time management is important.)
I’m not concerned about reading all the books. If I end up reading many that I enjoy, that’s all that really matters. (I mean, over a million books get published every year in the U.S. alone. Nobody would ever be able to read them all, even if they wanted to!)
OH oh agreed. Actually my kindle can be a problem because I often forget how many books are on there. XDXD OMG YOU HAD YOUR CARD SUSPENDED?? CAN I EVEN TALK TO YOU. hehe. Actually, you know what? I had my card stolen. WHO STEALS LIBRARY CARDS??????? But seriously they did steal my card and were using it and I freaked out so much. We had to cancel my card and track down the person and everything. But who. steals. library. cards.
Omg, don’t break my heart. I’m trying to learn to read two books simultaneously. *nods* Then I’ll catch up! HUZZAH.
I’m envious of everyone who go to libraries and come back out with ten thousands books and go to the local bookstore and come out with a five thousand more. It makes me want to steal their cake and pout. Where I live, finding copies of books I want to read are like finding flying jellyfish with peanut butts. I just..*breaks down a little* BUT IT COULD BE WORSE. So I’m thankful.
Back to topic, my TBR should be pretty manageable since I SHOULD get time to tackle it before my order arrives and so. But alas, in the end, I’m still a bookworm. I end up buying 50938 ebooks that I’ll probably take two centuries to read and then order another bajillion books (and wait ten agonizing days for my babies to arrive). But yes…most of them do end up on the huge “Books I’m going to read ASAP – give me a sec!” pile also known as “The Pile That Keeps Growing” aka the “TBR pile”.
BUT WE CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS. READ OR UNREAD. *nods* I mean, when the apocalypse hits, you can just #yolo and barricade yourself into your home and tackle your TBR pile and let the world go cray-cray as you do your thing. The bookworms with overflowing TBRs will probably be the lone survivors of the apocalypse. How to survive the apocalypse 101. Yup.
HEH. I’m envious of the ones who go into bookstores and do that, too. xD LIBRARIES = FREE. I can do that. hehe. But then I’m always sad if I loved the book and have to return it. boo. BUUUT. Yes. I really can’t ever complain because my library is wonderful and I’m super lucky.
YES. That’s my life plan for the apocalypse. And, like, if people attack me I’ll just brian them with a hardcover, because that’s a serious weapon. It is. I’ll also never be bored. OH. We can start a black market apocalyptic book trading scheme and end up ruling the underworld. MWHAHAHAA. #apocalypseplansFTW
I used to go to the library weekly but that was when I could finish a book in 2 days max whereas now, I probably need at least 5 days (4 for a particular good one) JUST BECAUSE I HAVE NO TIME (darn you, Life!)
I recently got Netgalley and so far, I only have one e-book so I’m not complaining much.
Sigh. I feel like screaming at you “NO, TBR PILES ARE NEVER TOO BIG. YOU CRAZY, WOMAN?” but at the same time, yes. They can. Especially when you’re on a deadline and books. always. keep. getting. published. and they all promise dragons, wonderful character development, flawless plots and beautiful writing. Oh, and cake. They also promise cake.
LIFE CAN BE SO MEAN LIKE THAT. OMG. *steals time and uses it all to read books*
It is kind of a hard question, right?! Because DEFINITELY YES, but also OF COURSE NO. I love these kind of questions that just send us loopy. :’) OH oh! But YES. If publishers just sat quiet for a little while and let us catch up, dangit.
You KNOW I have no self-control if a book promises cake.
I think your TBR can be far too big, especially when it comes to e-arcs / physically arcs given by publishers. At one point I felt complete overwhelmed and so I did a massive cull, emailing to say why I was no longer interested in reviewing that particular book, although may at some point go back to it in the future. And doing that took a lot of the stress and tension I’d been feeling over the books off. Not to mention that my TBR pile is now technically half the size, which is a bit of relief to be honest.
Oh oh I totally understand that. I did that a bit with netgalley. I really don’t like reading ebooks. I JUST DON’T. But every time I get on netgalley I want to read those books because boooooks. So I used to request, and then just have books mouldering around on my kindle. 🙁 IT WAS A PROBLEM. Now I only ever request one at a time and I have to really really realllllly super want to read it. I like more manageable TBRs, too. *hi fives*
I DO think you can have too many unread books. I was doing really well with not requesting books until I went to BEA and now I have at no of books from there, but I’ve also started getting more publisher/author offers and so many of them just sound great! I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but I think it will settle down soon. I’ doing pretty well AND I’ve read some great books. 🙂
-Lauren
http://www.letsgetbeyondtolerance.blogspot.com
(come check out my newly vamped LGBT entertainment blog)
HA. If I went to BEA I think I would have zero self-control either. HELLO. THOSE BOOKS NEED GOOD HOMES, AMIRITIE?
Yes! I had to have a huge clean out of mine because as soon as I actually had time to read what I wanted I had lost my excitement over the books I had listed because I added them so long ago! But this being said we added them for a reason, I tend to follow the pattern new-old-new-old etc and this is working for me!!
YES. I hate losing excitement over books!! It’s such a problem and doesn’t help keep that TBR under control. 🙁 Ohh, I like your pattern!!
YAY FOR YOUR MUM. I love this post. So much. (Um, it’s a post by Cait. Of course I love it.)
SNABBLE. I LIKE THIS WORD. I must start using it.
I’m one of the entire-bookshelf TBR people. *shifty eyes* Or… over a bookshelf since I stack things and some of the shelves are two-deep and there are some others… And those are just the ones I OWN and there are gadjillions of library books I want to read and ebooks and still a bunch that I-can’t-get-my-hands-on-darn-it-I-need-more-money-for-books! Honestly, my TBR does daunt me somewhat. But I wouldn’t have it any other way because BOOOOOKS. <3
Also I only get one to three books from the library at a time. I read slooow and more than that would kill me. XD
BUT COLLECTING BOOKS IS THE BESSST.
USE IT. Everyone should use excellent words like snabble. The trick is working them into conversations, but, bah, if you can’t, just let out a howl and say “BUT SNABBLE” and get it out of your system anyway. < -- great method. Totally try it. EXACTLY. THIS IS MEEEEE. Although I don't have an entire bookshelf. I do have a LOT of unread books on my bookshelf, but most of them I don't intend to read, or at least not imminently. Last year I won a loooot of books but when they arrived IW as like "Meh" and I didn't feel beholden to read them like ARCs, hehe, so they just get to merge into the bookshelf. When the apocalypse comes and there is no Internet, I SHALL BE OKAY AND HAVE PLENTY TO READ.
I think it all depends on the person: if you like having a ginormous TBR, have a ginormous TBR. If not, don’t.
Personally, I don’t mind the TBR I have now. I will probably not read a lot of them, but I make sure to read the ones that I actually want to read. I am on Netgalley, but I don’t get very many from there because deadlines and if I don’t like the book, I feel like I still have to finish it (I’m one of those people who normally stops if she’s not enjoying herself). So yeah, I probably have more books than I will ever read, but as I am currently indulging in some Fullmetal Alchemist manga, I’m currently pleased with my TBR.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
Verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com
EXACTLY. It’s subjective and individualised. *nods* for me it was too overwhelming, but for someone else it might be their THING, yes?! I do sneak on Netgalley occasionally because there are some books I’m desperate for and if Australia isn’t publishing them and my library doesn’t have it there’s only like 4% chance I’ll read it. SO NETGALLEY OFTEN SAVES LIVES THERE.
A shout out to Mrs smushy.
My TBR usually sits at around 200 books. I add them, I remove them and try to keep it around that figure from getting out of control. If I added a book two years ago that I haven’t bothered to purchase, never mind read, chances are I won’t every get around to it. So I delete it. There’s so many new releases that it just ends up too overwhelming. I hardly request at all now. Once in a blue moon. I find that unsolicited copies keep me in books, and there’s the bundles I buy myself as well. I think there IS such a thing as being too big, anything that’s out of control or more books than you’d have a chance to read in a lifetime and might be time to start deleting a few.
MRS SMUSHY IS FABULOUS.
You are so controlled though, omg, I am in awe of your control in this, Kelly. Every time Epic Reads lists new releases, I like add them all MOSTLY BASED ON COVER LOVE ALONE. I have problems. But they’re glorious problems.
I don’t think there is such a thing! I have over 1000 books on my TBR shelf on goodreads and I’m totally ok with that. I know I have too many books at home – review copies or purchased – and I try to whittle down what I won’t read and pass it on as soon as I can. Otherwise I’ll change my mind and hoard ALL THE BOOKS for all time. I definitely do need to put a library borrowing limit on myself though, otherwise I end up with more than I care to admit in fines!
1000 books, too?! WE ARE GOODREADS TWINS IN THIS. I’m totally okay with it on Goodreads, because that’s more like my vague collection fo stuff-I-want-to-read-but-won’t-die-about. I put the books-that-will-kill-me-if-I-don’t-read-them on an actual physical list on my wall. xD
Goodreads and book blogging has made my TBR list go straight through the roof. My reading is so much more methodical and yet so much more crazy now. One on hand, I love having a huge TBR because, um…BOOKS LOTS OF BOOKS DID I FORGET TO SAY BOOKS.
But on the other hand, it can get a bit stressful at times. Sometimes I steer away from rereading books or reading really thick books because I want to push right through my TBR, and that is not good. I should be reading books purely because I want to.
Ultimately, though, BOOKS BOOKS AND MORE GLORIOUS BOOKS prevail. One can never have a TBR too big!
The struggle is REAL. I love it because there is so much to look forward to…but sometimes I do despair a little and it gets overwhelming and I just hide in my bed and rewatch The Help instead of doing anything useful, like, um, reading. -_-
I know what you mean! I go through phases of getting a ton of books out at the library and ONLY reading them ( and I mean ONLY), or banning myself from setting foot in the library in order to tackle the never ending pile of unread books. Right now I’m overwhelmed by both because even though I’m concentrating on reading library books right now, I can still feel the eyes of all the dusty unread books glaring at me in disgust 😛 My pile is scattered and I haven’t taken the time to count them lately, but there are enough to make me feel guilty about getting out library books. Sometimes I’m not so sure it’s worth all this stress! And the fines! I’ve already gotten 3 fines this year (that’s a lot for me) and I used to have such a clean slate :'( So maybe for me at least, it is possible to have too many unread books…
I’m still kind of on a semi-library ban BUT I HAVEN’T LIBRARIED PROPERLY IN LIKE A MONTH AND I’M ON WITHDRAWAL. So tomorrow will break my no-library vows. heeh. But yesss…library books always get my attention first, no matter what, because I’m terrified of fines.
That GIF, I say that to my parents everytime they moan at me about my books! XD And they then realize the error of their ways and buy me more books. HA. I WISH. I actually just got off Goodreads and culled lots of books off my TBR list from 100 and something to 376, I’m very proud of myself! *eats cake* But my physical books TBR is so high but it’s books and books are awesome! There is no such thing as a to big TBR pile though!! 😀
It is the PERFECT gif, right?! I’ve started taking that up when my mum eyes my bookmail. IT COULD BE WORSE. hehe You totally deserve cake. I do not. I can’t cull…they all just look sooooo gooooood.
If I let myself think about the amount of books in the world that I want to read (whether I know they exist or not), it’s easy to fall into the “AHHHH I WILL NEVER READ ALL THE BOOKS” pit of despair. However, a much, MUCH scarier thought is the idea of NO to-read list. Can you even imagine the idea of not having another book to read? I would always pick too many books over not enough, and I think that’s one thing every bookworm can actually agree on.
And that “AHHH I WILL NEVER READ ALL THE BOOKS” pit of despair is just horrifying and omg, don’t make me think of that or I’ll collapse in a pudding of tears. But YES. THAT IS EVEN WORSE. I can’t imagine not being a reader, or just reading, like, 5 books a year. Ugh. And I also can’t imagine reaching the bottom of my TBR and literally having NOTHING to read next. :O WHAT WOULD THAT BE LIKE?
Death.
I’m gonna have to agree.
Very interesting topic, Cait. I don’t think your TBR can be too big but realistically I think you have to be aware and conscious and ACCEPT the fact that you probably aren’t going to be able to read all the books on it. For me, I like marking any book I am interested in on the list that way I’ll never forget about it because of my awful memory.
I used to do what you did and come home with massive amounts of library books (42 one time, help me) and now I do what you do and try and do everything in moderation. I’m not too much of a mood reader so if I know a deadline is coming up I’ll read the book and get it over with-with review copies at least. Library books feel like they have less pressure.
My almost 700 list of TBR books doesn’t bother me too much, like it doesn’t hang over my shoulder but yeah, I wish it were smaller and more manageable like under 50 or so because I imagine that would feel pretty great, aha. But on the opposite end, someone who probably reads two books a year probably feels the same about their 50 book TBR as we do about our 1000 book TBR.
WHAT?! WHAT DID YOU SAY? I COULDN’T HEAR YOU PROPERLY OVER THE SOUND OF ME DECIDING TO READ ALL THE BOOKS OF EVER.
hahaha.
But yes. You speak truth. *cries quietly* Prioritising is hard, but must be done. Gosh. I need 9 lifetimes. I do not ask much, just this.
omg, 42 is a lot! I think my library only let’s me get out 12!! XD And tbh, I think that’s probably been my most-at-one-time? And I got way too overwhelmed and sent half of them back and just started again. XD My Goodreads TBR doesn’t bother me at all. Mine is more for keeping a track of what looks interesting. xD
My initial reaction would be to say no way! haha. I guess I have different levels on my TBR pile. I have a few that I actually have planned to read in the next few weeks, a few in the next months/year, and my to-read-before-i-die pile that is harder to get to. Anyways, perhaps our TBR piles just give us some direction with our book reading. Better to want to read too many books than not to read at all, right? 🙂
Loved your post!
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I would rather live life with a TBR as tall as me than have no TBR at all. XD
This is a interesting question. I have a very large TBR pile but I don’t feel beholden to read those books if first if I find a completely new book that I want to read first. My Goodreads TBR list is more there as a reminder that the books even exist in the first place. I’ll be happy to read a third of them in my life XD Until recently, I almost never bought books without previously reading them so that’s never been an issue. 🙂 I am scared of putting so much money into books and not reading them all though. 🙁
YES! That’s how I use Goodreads too! Like even if it’s just vaguely interesting, I add it so I don’t forget it exists. XD I basically don’t buy books either unless it’s in a seires I love or I’m SURE I’ll like them…so I almost always read the books I buy straight away because it’s such an odd phenomenon.
I definitely have too many books on my TBR! My Goodreads number is so massive between series I have already started and the ones I want.
I find eBooks have been a bit of a Kryptonite for me. I’ve stopped buying physical books, relying solely on the library for any physical books, but I did have quite the addiction to buying eBooks. I’ve worked on that a lot over the last few months, telling myself it’s OK not to read every book I want to and that has really helped me to manage my library holds and read more of the books I have bought over the last two months.
Ebooks are so convenient. THEY TRULY ARE. If I actually had a kindle and not just an ereader, I think I’d be waaay more addicted to ebooks. xD I’ve seriously had to just stop myself reserving books unless I really REALLY want to read them. >_<
The struggle is so real trying to NOT press that download button…daily battle with myself
I’m one of those people who has never really struggled with a huge TBR, but I guess I’m in the minority. I only put unpublished books that I really, really, really want on my TBR. Otherwise, if it’s already published and sounds appealing I put it on hold at the library immediately. Thanks for sharing this post Cait – really insightful! ♥
I just find too many books I think. xD SOMEONE BAN ME FROM EPIC READS. Omg, Epic Reads is like the death of my book-wanting-needs. Ahhhhh. xD
I have about fifteen or twenty books that I OWN that I haven’t read… and don’t even get me started on library books. It is all a bit overwhelming, so I try to keep it at a minimum. If you want a huge-normous TBR, go you! Unfortunately, a) I like a clean room so books all over the place is out of the question. (Oops kinda too late!) But I DO TRY to keep my shelves nice and orderly… I try, b) if I put off a book for too long I either start to lose interest, or go crazy wanting to read it! I want to read a book WHEN I want to read a book! … and I DO have 50 books on my TBR list on Goodreads. Not NEARLY as much as your thousand, Cait, but you’re just an over-achiever anyway, you. 😉
LIBRARIES ARE JUST SO TEMPTING. It’s partially because omg, so many books I want to read them…but also aww they look lonely on the shelf let’s adopt it for no good reason. So I do have slight problems. Yes.
I hate being an ungrateful little squid, and I hate being thought of one even more. Like yes, a publisher may be kind enough to send us a book to read and we may just forget to read it, or not get to it on time, or have our ereaders stolen, or any number of things. I think seeing as we do a mammoth load of free advertising for publishers (every time I post a photo of one of their books, I am advertising it), they can forgive us the occasional unread ARC.
That is totally true. And tbh, I’ve not ever been roasted for not reading an ARC, so I don’t know why I sometimes feel this tremendous burning pressure to get them all read. *trembles* For the first time EVER, I’ve actually shelved a few unsolicited ARCs that I just so don’t want to read. They’re like later books in a series I haven’t even heard of or adult books I just don’t wanna read (I AM A CHILD AT HEART DARNIT). So I’m proud of me for this. XD
So let’s rebuff anyone who calls us ungrateful squids. *nods*
*Squints* Do YOU have an antique peanut shell collection?
I think you do.
BUT YOU ARENT ALONE. I collect antique walnut shells. Just a side hobby of mine. Its not weird at all. Im going to make nutshell collecting a thing.
My TBR pile is nevah to big! I’m really picky about what books HAVE THE PRIVILEGE of making it into my TBR pile. My TBR is at 100 books right now. Decent enough. BUT I HAVE NO MONEY FOR BOOKS.
Need books for my blog.
Need money for books.
Need job for money.
Need to be 18 for job.
WHO DESIGNED THIS SYSTEM.
Sorry for my rant. But sometimes, a girls’ just gotta let it all out.
PFFT. OF COURSE NOT.
*hides collection*
But *whispers* I was thinking of making a peanut shell igloo and, well, living it it. Or a peanut boat and sailing across the ocean to the Land of Endless Books. DON’T TELL ME IT DOESN’T EXIST. I BELIEVE IT DOES.
I NEED MONEY TOO. OMG. I’D SAY LET’S ROB A BANK TOGETHER, BUT THAT’S BAD. SO LET’S JUST HAVE PUPPY DOG EYES AND BEG PEOPLE TO GIVE US BOOKS OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS, < -- excellent plan
My Goodreads TBR is only 338 books. Most of them are classics I wished I had read and hope to, books in older series like Dune that have been written years after the initial books (some are MGish horse books from continuing old series I read as a younster and I will probably never read, but you never know), and a lot of them are Children’s books I have stumbled upon that I want to read to my someday grandchildren. I prefer eARCs so Netgalley and Edelweiss are my friends, and unlike last year at this time, I am ahead of schedule in getting my ARCs read! What I do, is if I love a book I have gotten an eARC of, or bought the series in ebooks, I buy them in hardcover, but only the ones I really adored. Hence, I really have no stack. I think DNFing bad books early on helps me kerp the stacks low, but I know you hate to do that. You are such a trooper. My hat is off to you!
Aww, thank you. xD I just have the “eyes are bigger than my belly” syndrome though because ALL THE BOOKS LOOK SO GOOD I WANT TO TRY THEM. *gobbles books all over the place* Your method sounds quite organised and calm, though, so go you!!
I completely feel you. My Goodreads TBR is dangerously close to 1000 books, and considering I only add the first book of series I haven’t read, it’s probably closer to like… 3000 or something (*gulps*) Logical me tells me this doesn’t make sense because I’m a pretty slow reader and the rate I read books is astronomically slower than my rate of clicking green buttons on Goodreads… but I’ve sort of grown to not care? Like, I know I can’t possibly read all these books, yet I just kind of refuse to accept this.
Getting to the bulk of the issue – There’s nothing wrong, in my opinion, with having a long list of books you /want/ to read. The problems come once we feel pressured to read, pressured to just check books off of the list like they’re chores instead of treating them as wonderful jewels of unicorn cupcake magic (which is the way we should always treat books, yes? ;D) And I feel like this pressure is almost exclusively felt by big bloggers who are constantly receiving books and galleys from publishers. Not saying that book blogging isn’t fantastic, that’s just one of the things that makes it not-totally-perfect.
I almost use Goodreads as just a list of books I think sounds good and want to read maybe someday. Then my lists of books I’M DYING for are on my bedroom wall. xD But omg, there’s just so many pretty books out there THAT LOOK SO ENDLESSLY GOOD IT’S SUFFOCATING. *hyperventilates* The pressure is a problem…and losing joy of reading just makes me think WHAT’S THE POINT?! Why do something as a “hobby” that you dread, right? And yes *nods* I think this is more an issue for bloggers.
Definitely very overwhelmed with mine, Alyssa from Books Take You Places mentioned culling and cleaning up her Goodreads TBR pile and I really think that that’s a good start. I’ve got thousands on my TBR, a whole bookshelf double stacked filled with unread books and then I still purchase new releases for my ebook reader AND borrow from the library, yes definitely glutinous, but I think it’s like any addiction, ours just happen to be with books LOL
I’m also deleting tour requests if it’s something that I’m not 100% wanting to read PRIOR to seeing it on tour. Just for a few months anyway till I catch up 😀
THESE ARE EXCELLENT MEASURES TO TAKE. *nods* I clean out my goodreads shelf occasionally, but gah, I’m so addicted to books that every time I think “Aw I don’t really want to read that….” it’s quickly followed by “BUT I KINDA DO”. -_- Good thing I’m a very sparse book-buyer. hehe.
My ‘to read’ shelf at goodreads stands at 538 at the moment and I own each and every one of them, most in paperback! (I have a seperate wishlist shelf for the books I want to get at some point.) This is why since summer last year when I was getting close to 1000 tbrs I decided to do something about it! I’ve deleted books I’m not desperate to read, tackled all the short stories and short novellas, and now I’m onto larger print books and childrens books which are shorter. This let me cut the pile quickly. So yes, it can get excessive if you’re not careful!
It totally can! And I find if it gets too overwhelming I don’t even feel like reading. >_<
My TBR is completely overwhelming. I have hundreds of books on it that I own and thousands more I’m just interested in. I’m a book hoarder what can I say. Like you said, it isn’t the worst thing we can be.
At least we’re hoarding KNOWLEDGE, amirite?! It could be useless dinosaur bones or something.
I have 900+ books on my tbr shelf, around a 100 on my up next (although that shelf is not as relevant as it used to be), another hundred on to be published and around 300 on my maybe-read shelf. SO. I GUESS I DO HAVE A PROBLEM.
I think I have too many books on my tbr but at the moment, I am not super overwhelmed just because most of what I read aren’t review books. I always make sure I am reading books that aren’t review copies because if I were, I’d have to take a break.
Also to answer the question of can one have too many books…. maybe? I mean if you own 500 books and you’ve only read 50 of those… maybe you may want to go back and read some of the ones you own instead of buying more? ITS SO COMPLICATED because even as I say that, I feel like even having 500 books wouldn’t be enough for me. I dream of an adult life where I have an entire room for a library that I can just stack up with books and books and books. FOREVER AND EVER.
JUST A SMALL PROBLEM. But, if you like, just invite me over and I’ll be a small mouse in the corner and eat all your books and then tell you about them and all your problems will be over. THere really is no downside. I love books.
*eats them all*
I WANT A WHOLE ROOM OF BOOKS. I want a life filled with books and I want them colour coded and I want to have ladders and comfy chairs and delicious mugs of coffee….
HANG ON. I THINK I’M DESCRIBING HEAVEN.
I have 40 unread books that I own. My Goodreads TBR though…..that one has over 2000 on it. Enough to last me a lifetime i guess hehe 😀 I go through phases. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed, other times I’m ok with it/ Dunno….Also, it’s my 2 year blogiversary today and i saying my thanks to you for being an inspiration!
https://ireadboooks.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/i-read-books-turns-2/
A LIFE TIME OR TOO. heeh. The REAL problem is, people keep publishing new books, so how can we catch up on the old ones AND eat the new shiny? IT IS A QUANDARY.
Omg, really?! *tackle hugs you* I SHALL GO READ IT DIRECTLY.
“… if my TBR fell on me, it would only give me a concussion, not a funeral.” LOL, I really did giggle at this (at work! oops).
I kind of think there are 2 types of TBR piles. Type 1: I really am intending to read this in the near future! (Often an actual physical pile of books.) Type 2: I want to read this someday and need a list of all the cool titles I don’t want to forget about. The type 1 TBR *can* be too big, but I don’t think type 2 ever can be.
Omg, THAT IS THE BEST. Making people laugh makes my day. IT MAKES ME WHOLE WEEK. Oh oh but I agree. The type 2 TBR can never be too big. My goodreads also believes in that since it has like 9 million books on it. I REFUSE TO BE ASHAMED. XD
I have around 180 unread books (purchased + review copies) on my shelves, 1300+ “to-read” books on GR, and around 20 eARCs to read… Whoops. o_o But I definitely DON’T believe my TBR pile is too big. I’m personally one of those readers who don’t stress themselves out with reading schedules, or those who push themselves to finish every single book. Since I’m chill about what I read, I’ve kind of accepted that I’ll never read all the books. And that’s totally fine with me. 🙂 So yes–collect all the books as long as you don’t let your TBR take control of your life. ;D (I feel like this entire comment didn’t make any sense ._.)
AHHH YAY. Ahem. It’s just that I have 1117 books on goodreads and everyone else here is like “I have 300” and I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LOT. But seriously I do want to read them all. I do. I NEED ANOTHER MILLION LIVES.
TBR size is totally subjective and I think, like you said, the important thing is to not stress about it. Just do what you want. CHANNEL YOUR INNER LOKI.
I think being a bookworm is a way of life. It’s not sonething you can cure, control, or try to understand. It just is. My family and me have gone through a zillion moves. Each time we seem to accumulate more and more books. We can start off with an empty house and then, somehow, books just start to appear in every nook and cranny. They’re coming out of our ears. At first it was like, OMG but what about the whole minimalist lifestyle blah blah blah. But then you learn not to fight it, there’s no point. Yes, your TBR pile may be three foot high, but there ARE worse things to be collecting, and to be addicted to. Don’t fight it, Cait, embrace it 🙂
♥.•*¨ Amanda Says ¨*•.♥
Books GROW books, I’m sure of it. Or else they just multiply with the help of tiny house elves or boggarts or something. Seriously, I might not even leave my house and KA BOOM my TBR still grows. Wizardry.
I COULD BE COLLECTING PINECONES.
So yes. There is really no downside to collecting books.
I read the title and was like, “Uh, no. No, never. I will not admit defeat!”
*cough* But of course, I read the post. And now I don’t necessarily think that we can have TBRs that are too large. Just that we put too much pressure on ourselves to read ALL THE BOOKS! I’m very guilty of this. But I kind of need to realize that they are just books. It is not life and death if I don’t read them.
inner bookworm: YES IT IS! THE WORLD IS AT STAKE HERE! READ THEM ALL!
Quiet, inner bookworm. We are trying to speak calmly and rationally here.
inner bookworm: I don’t want to be rational. Tis books we are talking about! BOOOKS!
*rolls eyes* Ignore her.
The drug addict gif. *snickers* I love it! So true.
“Buying books stops artists starving.”- *nods vigorously* Yes, yes it does. See, we are helping the economy here. It is a completely rational thing to do. In fact, it fulfills our duty as responsible citizens.There needs to be a sign outside every bookstore, “Support your favorite artist- Buy books!” I like this argument. I’m going to use it when someone complains about my inner bookworm.
BUT I NEEEED TO READ ALL THE BOOKS. I CANNOT EXIST UNLESS THIS IS MY LIFE GOAL. *hyperventilates quietly in the background* Your inner bookworm speaks truth, tbh. We neeeeeedto read them all or THE WORLD WILL FALL.
I want to buy books and therefore feed artists chocolate and cake (we all know that’s what they buy with their money) so one day when I’m rich and famous I WILL DO THIS.
I think I have 200 books ish in my TBR pile on good reads. XD I’m not sure if I’ll ever get through them, but hey I always will have new books to read. I let my personal collection build up so my goal for this year is to finish all of those then work on some new ones my friends have been harping me to read. XD
Too true! Too many books is better than no books at all, right?! RIGHT. I’m trying to avoid the library and read more books that I’ve won. xD
I’d like to think that my TBR pile is…. “moderately okay”…ish.
I don’t really keep track of how many books there are, because I’m not fussed. There’s about 15-20 right now, Then there are some other books, which I don’t count because I’ll read those when I’m ready (classics like Wuthering Heights & The Hound of the Baskervilles etc).
I’m comfortable with this amount because last Summer I conquered the TBR, but then found myself with literally no books to read – so found myself in this vicious cycle of reading, then buying reading, buying. I’d rather always have books ahead of me, then be at the end of the road with no money to get me anywhere.
Moderately okay…ish? HEHE. YOU ARE GREAT. I have literally never had “no books” on my TBR, and I kind of want to know what it’d feel like. But seriously, my books grow books. I don’t even know where they come from sometimes. THERE ARE JUST BOOKS EVERYWHERE.
I have 525 books amrked as to-read on Goodreads, although there area lot of books on that list that I don’t own. Maybe 150 or so books that I actually own and haven’t read yet or maybe 200. And a lot of those are ebooks. I actually buy less physical copies nowadays as they are mroe expensive, I usually only buy physical copies of books by my favourite authors.I don’t think often about how many books I still want to read, but it sure can be overhwelming sometimes. There are so many great books out there and so little time. With netgalley I often ignore the deadline to get some pressure off, although I do feel bad about it. I do read those books, but not always in time for the release date. So in general I am okay with not letting my big to-be-read list get to me, but sometimes it really can be overhwelming.
Omg, kyou have like HALF as many unread on Goodreads as me. >_< I HAVE A PROBLEM. But I just really really want to try all the boooooks. *collapses wailing with longing* I wish I could get more into ebooks because it'd definitely save space, but I love physical books way too much.
I’m not big on buying books (or anything, really — I hate spending money), so my TBR is never HUGE. However, I do have way more sitting around recently than I used to. Book blogging made me aware of many more sales, and it’s really difficult to resist those when I know I will want to read them eventually! My weakness is when an entire series will go on sale and the ebooks are only like $3 a piece … I very rarely pass by those, and I think I have three (?) sitting on my ereader, all unread, right now.
And I actually LOVE the idea of having a whole bookshelf of unread books. But considering my small piles already make me a bit stressed out, I’m not sure it’s for me.
Omg *whispers* I rarely spend money either. Like I’ve started freelance blogging and am being paid in book sand that is LIFE because I haaate spending money. It makes me nervous. hehe. BUT YES. Book blogging has probably got me a little more comfortable with buying books, and I cry over books aaall the time. Especially if my library doesn’t have them. I JUST WANT TO READ ALL THE THINGS, YES. I have a million unread books on my kindle. But I won them so feel very little urge to read. >_> My bad.
Review copies are AWESOME because new books are soo expensive! I can never seem to win giveaways though, so most of mine I caught for free in iBooks/Amazon, or paid for haha
Ohhh, they totally are. And hardbacks are particularly expensive. GAH. Why are they so expensive?! It’s like I need to sell my firstborn child just to get ONE hardcover book. -_- *whispers* I don’t win many giveaways either.
I mostly read ebooks so the prices of hardcover books sometimes leave me shocked, LOL. Luckily I don’t pay full price often, I usually find sales, but some books I need RIGHT AWAY, which means buying it brand new.
I’ve won one giveaway, but it was for like multiple books? They had two copies of each and by the time I got the email, the ones I wanted were gone, so I settled and then never read it.
Oh yes, I have this problem too, I have so many book I want to read and don’t know where to start! And I keep buying them…. second hand of course, but I have shelves I books I need to read…!
I love buying second hand. xD I have a few second hand piles that really should be attempted. But at least they look pretty, if unread, on the shelf, right?!
I have two giant storage boxes FULL of books and almost an entire bookshelf of TBR books so I feel you. I keep telling myself no more buying but my library has a bookstore where the books are usually a quarter to seventy-five cents at the most and HOW CAN I PASS UP SUCH A GREAT DEAL???
YOU CAN’T. IT WOULD BE CRIMINAL NOT TO ADOPT THE HOMELESS BOOKS, AMIRITE?! My library throws books out for about that much, and omg, sometimes they have perfectly beautiful hardbacks and I MUST RESCUE THEM.
*looks at Goodreads TBR pile*
*sees the number 576*
*closes internet and throws laptop out of the window and becomes a unicorn*
Haha but luckily I’m a mood reader and I pick literally anything from the books I have because I’m awesome. Riiiight. That only happens after I agonize over which book to read first. That’s why I prefer to have an “immediate TBR” which mostly consists of new release if I’m being honest. Borrowing books is temporarily banned from my life too :/ I’m still overwhelmed by the amount of books I need/want to read and I will probably feel like that for as long as I live but at least now I can pretend I have some order in what I want to read next 😀
PFFT. ONLY 576? YOU’RE ADORABLE. I HAVE 1117 AND IT’S A PROBLEM, OKAY? But I go through to delete books and end up thinking, “Aw, but I still kinda want to knooow.” -_- I will never be on top of this. NEVER.
My TBR pile is out of control. Sometimes I love it, sometimes it’s stressing me out. That is why I decided:
1. I’m going to get rid of books I have no longer interest in. I can keep them on my pile forever, but if I’ll not read it, what’s the use?
2. Book buying bans and ONLY buying THE books I truly NEED in my life.
I CONCUR WTIH #2!! I can’t seem to get rid of books….I just…gah. I barely even can lend them to my sister whether I liked them or not. -_- But bans from libraries and from requesting is so the only way sometimes.
Why thankyou Cait. And a very good post you wrote too.
I get inspiration from the best.
“But I prefer sanity and the realisation that if my TBR fell on me, it would only give me a concussion, not a funeral.” GOSH, Awesome-Cait. You’re giving me a funeral of my own! But onto the topic! I have a ginormous “imaginary” TBR pile, meaning they’re mostly on Goodreads. I don’t think a TBR can be too large. Then again, like you said, this is highly subjective. Last year, I went to a warehouse book sale and bought 10 titles on a whim. So I put them in a bag and placed it near my bed. Did I ever get around to reading them? OF COURSE NO. I only read 1 and went to buy other books. Book I’m EXCITED to devour. This weighed on me for MONTHS, until one day I decided to let them go. Yes, goodbye 9 books I’ll probably never read anyway.
Okay. I may have digressed a bit. Bottom line: so long as your TBR doesn’t weigh you down, build your own Leaning Tower of Pisa!
EXACTLY! It’s so subjective! I think it totally depends on how having unread books makes you feel. xD I get way too guilty and then up reading and not enjoying them anyway AND IT BECOMES A MASSIVE QUANDARY. OMG. x) But yes. The threat of death-by-book is real. 0_0
I think TBR piles can definitely get too big and a bit overwhelming.
I’ve resorted to having multiple TBR list, haha. There’s my “ARCs/need to review” pile, my “I really really want to read you” pile and my “one day book, I shall get to you …maybe” pile. My first two piles are pretty manageable! It’s my last one that isn’t, but that’s okay me (:
I love collecting pretty books. They look so nice the bookshelf.
I like collecting too. :’) Having rows of pretty shiny books is about the best thing in the universe and GAH. One day we will get on top of our TBRs…oooone daaaay.
My Goodreads TBR list has about 350 books, which for me isn’t that overwhelming because I read over 100 books a year, some of which are book club reads but otherwise they’re off my TBR list. So as long as my list contains a number of books I could reasonably get through in the next five years, that’s OK with me. I’ve added a lot fewer books this year than when I was doing my diversity project last year.
I try not to check out more than two physical books from the library at a time because I get too anxious about finishing them before they’re due back. I mostly check out ebooks from the library one at a time, although I might have a short backlog (2-3) if a lot of holds come through at once.
I own probably a dozen books I haven’t read yet, all of which are on my TBR list. One of my reading goals for next year will be to prioritize these books — I have a different set of goals this year.
Yay for reading goals and prioritising!! I’m so sucky at that. XD I just read what I want and if library books get too overwhelming I throw them back at the library and start again. I brought home 5 books this week but WELL. I’ve been on library ban for sooo loooong. xD And one is a comic so it hardly counts as a book, right?! 😀
I only have two bookshelves but to people who only read for school, that’s going to seem A LOT to them, but for book addicts like us, that’s probably a few. I think I’m a bit overwhelmed with my tbr pile because half of the books on my shelves are unread (yikes) and more than half of the ARCs I have on my Kindle are unread (double yikes). I wish I could just fly through those books D:
It’s soooo easy to let kindle books pile up too, right?! Because you can’t exactly see them piling up so it doesn’t look as bad. xD When I first go on Netgalley I went a bit crazy. hehe.
Mine is personally WAY too big. *hangs head in shame*
Yup, this sounds familiar…I haven’t visited Netgalley this year so far and I’m proud of it! And yes, I get lots of surprises mainly from publishers, I only request what I REALLY want to. Wow, you only have 10 books?!! YOU ARE A QUEEN CAIT.
My TBR is pretty huge…but I think it always will be – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. On goodreads I’ll add books that look interesting, though the amount on there I have ‘to read’ is probably never going to actually end up being ‘read’ – I guess I like having a reference point to go to when I’m in a position where I *really* have nothing to read and don’t know what to go to next. On my physical bookshelves, it is more manageable since I can see them there, and while there are some books which I know have been sitting there for a while, I know I’ll get to them eventually. “So many books, so little time” is something I guess we all face at one point or another, and for many bookworms it’s a fact of life!
OMG yes. Sooooo much worse since blogging! Half the time, I don’t get to read my own purchased books b/c review books!!
And on the one hand, yes, it’s crazy and obsessive. But on the other hand, they’re things I really want and I want to go back and re-read so many of these books…but atm, I have too many to read for the first time. UGH!
In my most humble of opinions, there’s no limit to the TBR. There is also no limit to the amount of books a book lover can own, be they read or unread. We love books, and they give us this intense feeling of happiness whenever we buy them, or look at them sitting pretty on our shelves. I don’t think that bowing down to social norms of “hoarding is bad blah blah blah” is worth giving away that special, bookworm type of happiness.
I struggle, though. Like you, I feel like I should review publisher books first and foremost, and have the review scheduled on release date, to assure the publishers that they are sending books to the right person. But then I also miss out on reading books that I really want to read. Books that I have bought.
It’s very hard to choose between what I feel is right (reviewing the publisher books on time, even if unsolicited), and reading books that I’ve wanted to read for AGES. I think there can be a bit of a balance. I can usually stick to a system of one publisher book, one me book. But not this month. For some reason July has been MASSIVELY full of publisher books, and I can hardly remember the last me book that I read. *wails*
THE STRUGGLE IS SO REAL. Like I could totally be taken off the ARC list for publishers, but I want to read their books. AND my books. AND library books. Omg. The balance is difficult. And too true, gah, June/July has been crazy for ARCS for me, but I’m nearly seeing the bottom of my ARC stack now. *dances* Finding space to review them however. *gulps*
This looks like a good article, but the grey text is so hard on my eyes. I just gave up. (Yes, there are ways around that, but … ) But unreadable though it is, it looks like you have good things to say. Keep it up.
Your eyes must be very sensitive? Dark grey text vs black text has barely any differences. All the best with your eyes.
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