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Shelf-Discipline: How to Read More Before Your Next Book Spree
At Goodreads, we always encourage our members to read more. But sometimes, the number of books still waiting on your Want to Read shelf can feel a little daunting…
(GIF credit: Black Books)
So we asked avid readers on Facebook and Twitter if they’ve ever tried a book-buying hiatus: a temporary (and we stress temporary), self-imposed ban from buying more books until they finish the current ones on their to-read list.
Needless to say, some reactions were (understandably) strong...
But overall, there was sound advice from fellow bibliophiles who have survived, thrived, and ultimately enjoyed more stories as a result. Below is a list of some the most popular tips and tricks. Let us know which ones speak to you in the comments.
Happy reading!
1. "I tell myself that I need to read at least three books that I’ve bought and haven’t read yet," says Jimmy.
2. "If I find a book interesting, I take a picture of the cover to add to my to-read list. That way, I can put the book back without truly losing it," says Samantha.
3. "I work across the street from my favorite bookstore, so I park as far away in the opposite direction as possible," says Hannah.
4. "The best way to conquer [a book-buying ban] is by revisiting a library or joining a new library. Also, keeping a record of how much you're saving by USING the library leads to a pretty good high," says Lauren.
5. "I make a list of the books I want to buy and give myself a certain timeframe. If I finish my book buying ban, I start checking them off one by one as a reward," says Josie.
6. "I have a lot of physical books (it’s my preference), but I was still buying and borrowing from the library. So I took little, easy-to-peel-off stickers and put them on unread books, then I ascribed an amount: $2 for each book I read. Now I have a reward system that has me reading the books I own, but still lets me buy new books,'" says Ashley.
7. "Put all the books you own and haven’t read in a stack or [on an] eye-level shelf where they glare at you every time you walk out your door. Visualize it when you’re tempted to buy a book," says Kim.
8. "Can't buy anything when you have no money," says Clay.
9."Tips for sticking with it are to do the ban with a friend or two. It helps keep you accountable. Also, library, library, library," says Elena.
Have you ever tried a book-buying hiatus? Share your experience with us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Big Books of Fall
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
The Creators of 'Saga' Recommend Books for Their Fans
Check out more recent blogs:
The Big Books of Fall
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
The Creators of 'Saga' Recommend Books for Their Fans
Comments Showing 201-250 of 253 (253 new)
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Bluetiful Hadeel
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Sep 02, 2018 04:51AM
I have never tried hiatus but I need to desperately. I have piles of unread books :/
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I have a LOT of books that I own, but haven't read yet. I love going to the library and getting books, so what I do is after I've read 4 or 5 library books I have to read 10 of my own before I go to the library again. It's been working well! I also tend to go on a book buying hiatus from September to January because my birthday and Christmas are in that time frame and I get lots of books as gifts!
Jennifer wrote: "I put my unread books backwards so I only see the pages and when I finished a book I turn it around so I see the spine. It's a nice way because you see your tbr shrinking very much with each read!"That is such a cool idea! I may have to try this!
Carrie wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I don't need a book-BUYING hiatus so much as a library-borrowing one. I try, every time I see a book on the shelf I have to borrow immediately, to at the same time take home the o..."Yes. This is me.
This is extremely hard for me but beneficial at the same time!I use my Reading Challenge as a way for me to get through the year. I challenge myself to read at least 30 to the average amount listed on the challenge. This helps me to reach my goal and go ahead and buy books ahead of time (at the beginning of the year) so I'm already set.
However, going to the library in my hometown is a challenge all in itself because once you walk in they have 2 rows of books on display by the door anywhere from $.25-$1 a piece (BARGAIN!)
Therefore, my trick is to look through and see if any of them are on the next 30 To-Read books on the list. If not, keep walking.
Genine wrote: "I commented to my therapist one day that I was addicted to reading. She asked if I wanted to "work on that". Appalled, I screamed 'Oh, God, no!""
OMG, I laughed so hard I fell out of the chair! What kind of question is that?! It's like asking if you want to be on an episode of Hoarders or Obsession. Haha!
Myrtha wrote: "A few days ago looking at the books half finished or not yet started while adding a new one, I was wondering if I was a book horder. I just can't help it if a new book strikes my current mood. I st..."You must not have seen the T-shirt that explains "It's not hoarding if it's books!"
Timothy wrote: "I like the idea of reading at least two books before I buy another, or maybe I should up that to three considering all the books I have. I'm thinking of going back to physical books because I don't..."I love my Kindle, but I have the same issue. And I'm a mood reader and a very visual person, so it is often covers that call to me - which doesn't help much with a Kindle. So I "shop" my Kindle collection on the Kindle app on my phone or my iPad, to experience the covers in their full glory, and then search for it on my Kindle. I also keep track of my Kindle purchases/library via a Goodreads shelf, which can be used in the same manner. Maybe this technique would help you? It has made a huge difference in getting me reading my Kindle books. :)
The public library really saved me! Found many of my to read books so I don't have to buy them, and saved me a lot of space at home... On the other hand I have to keep up with the return dates and that helps me to stick with the borrowed books and finish them. I read per year more than I used to...
#10 - start a book review blog and get plugged into NetGalley and/or Edelweiss. You'll start getting new releases in advance of release dates, and as long as you review most of them, you'll get more and more. You buy a lot less books when you're getting so many for "free". Another interesting side effect is, if you find yourself really dedicated to reading all your galleys, you'll start pining for your own collection. I actually read more of my own books now that I get galleys frequently. Of course, I still purchase Kindle books if they are on sale...;)
Shelf control is easy when you live far from book retailers.We have a huge used book sale coming up in a couple of weeks, I've set aside some cash for that. Some years I have amazing hauls, other years, not so much. I usually go the first day and the last day. I like the last day of the sale because all the popular stuff has already been picked over, making the obscure stuff I'm searching for much easier to find.
My other source is from booksellers on Amazon. I place book orders 2 or 3 times a year for books on my 'to read' list that I can't find elsewhere.
KStar wrote: "Ok... so I am currently looking at piles of books I need to read at home... I have a 3 paged typed sheet of books I want to buy... my library card is maxed out... and I have a list of want to read ..."I can relate! I keep a folded up piece of paper listed of all of the books I have won from Giveaways and etc. I add them to my shelf on GoodReads and after I have read them I transfer the book over to the Read shelf and review them as a reminder for myself about how I got that book and why I rated it that many stars and cross it off the list.
I can honestly, say I have an addiction to Giveaways. When I am at work (receptionist) I read my Kindle to pass time during the week and when I am at home (mainly on the weekends) I read a printed book. This helps me knock down my Want To Read list and watching my Read list pile up. It is so satisfying but having to rearrange the house because of so many books, bookshelves, boxes, etc. it's a bit overwhelming but it is just like I told my husband, "I would rather be a crazy book lady than a woman without any knowledge and imagination for adventure"
I might have a problem but the way I see it this is just a great way to engage our daughter to read more (seeing how we don't have television) she is kind of limited on entertainment and I hope that one day she will thank me for her imagination to the wonderful world of books.
Doing this now. The only books I can buy have to be from my "want to read" list but first I need to check my local library or other book lovers to save money (and space) on my actual bookshelves. It's worked so far. Just have to be disciplined.
Library!! Cannot stress it enough to use your local library if you're on a self-imposed book ban or you can't afford books, go to the library!! And Overdrive!
I just feel happy knowing people out there are like me :) even though I’m no good at hiatus’..Try moving on with another bibliophile, which automatically increases your to read pile by at least 200 😳
Shellie wrote: "LIBRARY LIBRARY LIBRARY. My opinion on this subject might be biased because I work at a library but seriously...LIBRARIES! Your taxes already pay for them so you might as well use them. Especially ..."I live where there are no libraries closer than an hour drive away and that one is not free. I buy all my books used as cheap as possible and I loan out to several friends, they consider me their librarian because now I know what they like. Libraries don't work for me unfortunately. I'm happy that some of my tax money supports them though.
I love reading all this, glad to know I'm not alone in my addiction, I feel better already. I think I'll go reward myself at Thriftbooks.com :-) I was considering a book buying hiatus for 2019 but after reading the comments you have convinced me it won't work. Thanks! Maybe I'll give up sugar instead.....nah!
"I live where there are no libraries closer than an hour drive away and that one is not free."Where do you live that a tax-supported library isn't free?
The other Sandy wrote: ""I live where there are no libraries closer than an hour drive away and that one is not free."Where do you live that a tax-supported library isn't free?"
Near Astoria Oregon. Outside of the city limits. Residents have free library. For me it would be $60.00 a year.
8. "Can't buy anything when you have no money," says Clay.Yeah, but there's still the library! While I don't keep buying books even though I have a long TBR list, I keep borrowing and reading more books without reading the books on my TBR list.
My read list keeps growing, but my TBR list never seems to shrink -- I just keep adding more and more books to it.
Japes wrote: "Library Library #Library"Yes, yes, yes! Although this does not help with my to be read list! I love how no matter how poor you are, you can always read books.
The other Sandy wrote: ""I live where there are no libraries closer than an hour drive away and that one is not free."Where do you live that a tax-supported library isn't free?"
There are many states where libraries don't have a shared state system, but instead it's funded by the county or even the city. I grew up in California, where as a resident, you can have a free library card at any California library, and I always thought that was how it was for everyone. Now I live in Maine, and my small town does have a small library with a free library account for all town residents, and they share with some of the other local libraries so you can request materials. But if you wanted to be a member of the library two towns over, you'd have to pay an annual fee. Not every town has a library because so many of them are teeny tiny and rural, and I don't know for certain that they all have access to free library services.
I don't feel the need for book bans. I have no problems with physical book space because I only read on my Kindle, so I don't buy physical books.
And reading on Kindle, I only buy a book the moment I want to start it, it's so convenient to have it instantly... (Only exceptions is the free books Amazon 'throws' at me, but as they don't cost money and don't take up space, I don't see a problem with that).
The expenses for buying the kindle books (instead of the free borrowing from the library I used to do before) come from what I save from having quit smoking (I have a little spreadsheet calculating how much I saved, and whenever I want to buy myself a treat it is 'taken' from that budget. This mostly includes books, games and music I would probably not have spent my money on before. It is a super motivation for not going back to the nicotine habit :)
Yes, my TBR is growing steadily, but I don't mind. I often let the randomizer on the GR list choose my next read and it helps me broaden my horizon.
Kim wrote: "I don't feel the need for book bans. I have no problems with physical book space because I only read on my Kindle, so I don't buy physical books.
And reading on Kindle, I only buy a book the mome..."
There is a randomizer?
I buy books from a used bookstore and library sales, so the most I pay is $2. I haven't bought a book full-price at a bookstore like Books a Million in a long time. I also check books out at the library. This is mostly due to #8. hahaMy to-read shelf is insane. I have no hope of reading all of them; it would take years and years. I've also bought dozens and dozens of books that I need to work through before I buy more!
I love #1, because you'll be reading through books you've bought, and you can still buy books and check ones out from the library, but at least you'll be working through ones at time at the same time.
I need to set up a plan like that and be more disciplined with myself so that I'm not stockpiling books at home(which I'm doing now!) Or I could ban myself from buying any or going to the library until I've read through a certain number.
Good blog!
I'm also a big library book borrower. I have a separate shelf "and-next" which are the library books in my possession so I immediately go there to pick the next book. There is currently 15 on that list of which two of them have to be returned after 3 weeks - popular and no renewal allowed at this time.
As for the purchasing, the library branch I use accepts books and DVD's practically year round. There is the couple of bookcases which I can browse for purchases - mostly large print for my mom who is sight impaired - but later this month is the Annual Book Sale Down Under. It takes over their entire underground garage and Sunday, the last day is the Bag Sale. Fill a brown grocery bag (or more) at $5 a bag. Been saving up for that.
Jan2bratt wrote: "There is a randomizer?"You can sort your 'want to read' shelf in a random order. So I just do that and read the book that comes on the n°1 spot.
I love this blog post, it makes me feel normal!
reading in a language that's not popular in my country helps me buying books i don't read because there's not a lot of options to get from and you end up buying a book in like a month or two
I'm largely forced into a book buying ban on 2 points - no room in the bookshelves and no money in the wallet. I also reached a point a few years ago where I realized that most of the books I bought I only read once, and that seemed like a waste of both money and space.I've started reading a LOT more recently, so I've rediscovered my library. Though Kindle is cheaper than purchasing physical books, I still don't want to spend the money, but I've discovered that a lot of the very old classics (which I'm drawn to) can be found for free on Kindle. And I just learned how to check out ebooks from my library, so I'm going to explore that too.
(And one of these days, I need to purge my physical bookshelves)
Tip number 6 sounds like a great idea!! Very good incentive as well!
I got a Kindle at the end of last year and only bought one book for it (for a class), because I promised myself to read all the physical books I own first. I created a month-by-month list for a full year (one fiction and one non-fiction per month). When I finish a book and I know I won't re-read it, I put it in the Little Neighbourhood Library, and try really hard not to take anything out.
Let me see if I understand this...people are talking about NOT buying books!!!???!!! It's like I stepped into some parallel universe where poor lonely books are left to languish on bookstore shelves!!! Now I feel an obligation to buy more books!!! I'm not sure if you all know this, but the library makes you give the books back!!!! I need to sit down, I feel faint!!!!
Maria wrote: "Let me see if I understand this...people are talking about NOT buying books!!!???!!! It's like I stepped into some parallel universe where poor lonely books are left to languish on bookstore shelve..."LOL I agree with you! I always felt bad when I read a book and had to take it back to the library. I chose to buy all the books!
The problem with libraries now is that they don't have all of the books I want to read. They usually have best-sellers or really popular books which I don't necessarily read. Even the university libraries won't have what I want to read. Example of what I couldn't find in any library is A Brief History of Stonehenge. So I purchased and am waiting for its arrival. I am a hopeless case when it comes to book buying! BUT I do sometimes wait for when discounts are offered!
My book buying strategy is bizarre and quite backwards. I actually prefer to read books for free from the library first (physical, ebook and audiobook are all available. lots of people still don't know this).I only buy a book after I've read it and and am in love with it. It's weird because you end up with copies of books that you haven't physically read, but I love lending them out to friends and my fav's are beautifully on display in my home library and easily available when I do want to re-read or reference <3
as for my virtual to-read shelf, that is completely undisciplined and out of control :D
For Lent this past spring, I gave up bringing home new books. Of course, I had a few exceptions - things for my job as a librarian that had to be read before being cataloged - but otherwise, I was very good about it. It really did help me get through a few that I had been putting off for months.
I have recently read an article about book-buying... That we shouldn't worry about our book-buying habits, nor should we worry about our large collections of books... It makes us more intelligent, apparently! 😱😍 YESSS! This article is cancelled! Lol 😂😜
I read from my stacks. If I read it and love it, I keep it. If I hate it, I donate it to the library.
It frees up space and makes me feel better too.
I tell myself this as I buy more books....LOL
✰☽❤✰ Unsolved Mystery ✰❤☾✰ wrote: "I read from my stacks. If I read it and love it, I keep it. If I hate it, I donate it to the library.
It frees up space and makes me feel better too.
I tell myself this as I buy more books....LOL"
LOL
I have done this many times. I don't allow myself to buy any new books unless they are finishing a series I already own. The other thing I do is sign up for giveaways here. I get the joy of getting new books and keep money in my pocket. My friends and I have created a book group as we all borrow from each other which makes it so we have access to the books we own, their libraries, and the local public library.
I've tried it, I've accomplished it and then failed miserably... Once I managed to stop buying books at the bookstore (avoiding stores, places and everything where I could swipe an innocent credit card to get a new one) I somehow lost control with my Kindle and gathered a bunch of digital no space in my bookshelf type of books. So now my to read list is endless...
No matter how much I read, my want to read list does not get any smaller. I love knowing I always have books waiting for me. THANK YOU to all the people who said use a library, as a librarian I can say that it won't help your list go down but it may save your bank account.
I don't care really. I love reading and I love a great deal of other things. I don't mind my tbr bring sooooo big. And I don't mind not reading at times. I wanna read a million books but there is only so much I can read at a time so if my Huge TBR says anything, it's that I have my eye out for many books. On the other hand, I do read quite often and getting more days on my Read Shelf everyday :)It's a hobby and it's soothing but it doesn't have to be an obsession :)
I'm presently on a book buying hiatus and it's going rather well. It was tough in the beginning and I was resenting the hell out of it though.I finally settled into it and realized I have so many books on my shelves and on my Kindle to read, along with the library for new books.
It's definitely hard to do this though but I've got to make a dent in that TBR list!!
In my case my TBR list is not a list of books I have. It's a list of books that caught my eye for some reason and they have a potential to be interesting. It's not a promise I will read all, it's more like... a curated list of possible contenders so I don't have to face the whole entirety of all the books every published when I'm trying to find a new read. To be honest, I will never read all of them. Not happening. From time to time I even delete books from there that I put on years and years ago that I realised I wasn't interested in anymore.
Derpa wrote: "In my case my TBR list is not a list of books I have. It's a list of books that caught my eye for some reason and they have a potential to be interesting. It's not a promise I will read all, it's m..."I do the same. I have both kinda books though.
Aqsa wrote: "Derpa wrote: "In my case my TBR list is not a list of books I have. It's a list of books that caught my eye for some reason and they have a potential to be interesting. It's not a promise I will re..."Sure, I do own some of my TBR list as well. Mostly the next few I really really want to read now (like the first Mortal Engines movies is about to come, so I need to read that).
But I don't really go out and get all of them on my list. To be fair, I started using Goodreads to have a way to remember interesting-looking books. I suck at remembering that thing my best friend mentioned or the other series by that author I love.
Yeah, I have to “kill” books off my TBR list sometimes, but I always feel a little pang of regret. 😉 Recently I made a TBR-Dying to Read list; books that I absolutely MUST read. This helped cut down on TBRs because I was really picky when I created that list.
