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I have 823 on my shelf! LOL-it is senseless for me to really think I am going trim it to any great degree. I actually don't mind, as I do a few challenges, the SRC for one, where I need a large number of books to search through in order to find the right fit, and even then I do not always find what I am looking for. A lot of the books I have on my 36 list have been there a while, and so I am feeling good about finally reading them.
I like having a lot of options to choose from. That way if a tag comes up that is not something I usually read, I can always find something on my wishlist. I have 647 books on my wishlist (TBR books that I don't own) but the big number is I have 1610 books that I own and have not read (1300 of those are kindle books). I do not stress about about finishing them, but since I am a mood reader I know I will always have something I want on hand.
Joanne, that number shocks me! Deeply concerned and fascinated all at once. I have had around 445 for awhile, or a little over 440. My desire this year was to get rid of 25 books total. Even knowing that I was going to add some, to really see if I could despite the additions get down to 425. At my height at the top of the year I had reached 448. Still trying to get down to 425. What we have now here, is that the actual number is 440 or 439, maybe 438 soon. And I expect that to go far lower by the end of the month. But I have like 10 or 15 books just waiting to be added. So I’m playing games with myself. But it’s really not all that devastating. I was just hoping that this is the year I could actually see a real trim of just at least a teeny little bit. But I’m happy with over 400. Lots of range of different areas, so when the tags come up I’ve got something. There are many things that just stay on there because I know they be good if something unusual arises. Those are my thoughts on this obviously preoccupying issue.
Cora, how do you manage that? How do you decide what to read?
Cora, wow! That's a lot of tbr! I added a shelf for "tbr" and maintain "what to read."
TBR are books I actually bought and own and those, ideally, I want to read first or prioritize them at least. There are only about 150 or so, so not terribly unmanageable.
"What to read" just means I want to remember that I saw it on a list or heard about it and was interested for the future.
If I buy a book on my "what to read" it will be moved to "tbr."
Someone in this group started a thread about reviewing books in our lists so I did a few months ago.
I think I would like to look at the "what to read" regularly to cull books I am no longer interested in or don't think will get higher on the priority list.
I have 257 books I have listed to read and have not read yet. Looking over it, some of the books do not seem as appealing as when I added them to my list. I know I will probably never finish all 257 and it does add a bit of stress but I've come to accept it. At 200 book I decided to try and keep my list around 200. As you see, its not working.
Since I switched to an e-reader, I don't worry about my TBR at all. It's a "virtual" TBR here on Goodreads.I used to have a couple hundred physical books, and a real desire to read them and move them on.
I moved last year, and donated most of those physical books. I don't miss them (100% of them were used and acquired cheap or free) and so I don't feel guilty "re-homing" them without reading them.
Reading is relaxing for me, and I don't want it to feel like a chore.
I mostly jumped into the Trim the TBR challenge as a way to participate in discussions more.
Amy wrote: "Cora, how do you manage that? How do you decide what to read?"Every month I go through the kindle books and move anything that fits the tag and challenges to my reads for this month folder on my kindle. Then when I finish a book I browse that folder until something strikes my fancy. I can not plan reads in advance, it feels too much like homework and ruins any chance of liking the book.
Cora wrote: "I like having a lot of options to choose from. That way if a tag comes up that is not something I usually read, I can always find something on my wishlist. I have 647 books on my wishlist (TBR book..."I want to visit that library! I am hoping it is on a device though, even though I read hard copy
Once my Want-to-read shelf crossed 1000, I figured it was a moot point how many more went on it, particularly when I would trim 3 off it and add a dozen more within the week. I am working on adding sub-shelves so it's more navigable, though, since it was pretty unsearchable before.
My goodreads TBR doesn't bother me. I honestly had no clue how many I had until I just looked... 357. I cleaned it up last year sometime and took a bunch off. I think I may keep doing that. Once a year, do a little spring cleaning and cull the ones that no longer interest me. It's my IRL TBR that stresses me out sometimes. I started with one bookshelf and got overwhelmed when I started overflowing it... so I picked up another small bookshelf and now I'm overflowing both of them. I'm trying to depend on the library more now and not buy as many but when you can get 5 books that you've been looking for for $4... it's hard to pass up buying them. At some point soon, I'm just going to have to buy another bookshelf.
Joanne wrote: "Cora wrote: "I like having a lot of options to choose from. That way if a tag comes up that is not something I usually read, I can always find something on my wishlist. I have 647 books on my wishl..."Most are on my kindle. I do have about 300 unread paper books, but I am working on getting those on kindle so I can rehome the paper books. I have a kindle wishlist and check every day to see if any of the kindle books on it are 1.99 or less.
What we have now here, is that the actual number is 440 or 439, maybe 438 soonAmy, does this include that secret phone list? Ah-I thought not!
I am like Cora, I like choices-obviously lots and lots of them! And, in my defense, the SRC challenge is a "real challenge" to find books for at times
Karin wrote: "For so long I've thought about how to reduce my tbr, and we've had many great challenges (like this year, so I am NOT trying to dissuade you from trimming yours!) to reduce them, but I am reconside..."Karin-I want to thank you for continuing to allow me not to get back to tax returns😉😉
The TBR on here doesn’t bother me - I add to it merrily. It’s not a ‘to do’ list, just a reminder of things I think I’d like. I’m working on arranging it a bit better though so it’s easier to locate things that I might be in the mood for. Like Charlotte, it’s the books that I own and haven’t read that bug me more. Both physical and electronic. So my Trim list is all things I own and I really want to cut through a lot of them
I don't care how long my GR TBR is because that's as much about keeping track of a book that piqued my interest than anything else. I have a separate wish list shelf for books I absolutely plan to obtain and read some day, and I've been known to make temporary shelves for books I'm reading for a specific purpose, such as 'Monthly' to keep track of books being read this month for challenges, or "Yellowstone" to keep track of possible reads connected to my vacation there. Those temporary shelves are removed once I don't need them any longer. If there is still a book or two on those that I might want to read, I put it on a different shelf.Then there is my NYPL wishlist and holds ...which only have about 20 or so books on it.
It's my actual owned libraries, print and ebook, of TBR that I want to trim! Most of my owned libraries of unread books are not even on the TBR. With most challenges I do, I make every effort to read books I already own, and as a result, about 75% of my reading each year are books I already own. Exceptions are library books (which are usually recently published or just something I really don't want to own), books that the challenge requires be purchased or borrowed, and books borrowed from friends.
Of course, I still buy books that seduce me or are 'next by' favorite author or in a series. But since taking on reading challenges of different kinds, I've managed to reduce my owned books TBR by about 100 books a year.
I don't mind how long it is as part of the reason I joined Goodreads was to expand my reading. I joined PBT as a fun way to do that. So for about every one book I take off, I probably add 5 to my list.
I just took a picture of my blanket chest(thank goodness it is empty), and I would post the picture if someone tells me how to do that-I cannot figure it out. I need a few new books shelves too. I have the same problem as Charlotte-visiting too many library sales, and also I volunteer at my library sorting books all year round for our 3 used books sales.....never come home empty handed. My husband does not even roll his eyes anymore.
And off topic here, but is it just my eyes or do Cora and Charlotte look like they could be sisters?
My 'want to read' shelf (1380) on here consists of books I own, whereas the 'to get' shelf (735) are ones I want to read at some point but don't own at the moment.
Joanne, my secret phone TBR is only about 15 books. I'm just obsessed with trying to cut out 25 this year, so I am simply unable to move them to Goodreads. Or at least I want to take a few off first before the transfer happens. Its just that the list on the phone has all these different features, and they include books for the month, fall flurries lists and some other things. What's next up and out from the library. It helps me keep organized. When the tags come, i know just want to do and how to reorganize. Trouble is, my short list as a whole is about 80 books of the 440. But its my fun keep things on track way of shifting things around. Now you know all my secrets, including my favorite cookie. Fun thread, Karin.
I have four different excel spreadsheets for my tbr. One is devoted to series and books by "favorite authors" (two separate sheets). The other three are divided into sheets for General Fiction, Mysteries, General Non-fiction, Bio/Autobio. The only reason there are three of these spreadsheets is that the first one got too long and I started a "new one" in 2011. And when THAT one got too long, I started a new one in 2017. I haven't counted them up, but there must be thousands of books on those lists. For each book I list the title, author, brief description (incl location and if a debut), date first published, and whether it's available as audio in my library system.
I go through every month and delete any books I've read in that month. I also do a more extensive purge once a year deleting any books that no longer interest me. (For example, when my niece and nephew were little, I'd add middle-grade or YA books I wanted to check out before buying for them. Now that they're all in college I don't need those books any more and out they go.)
So I can keep track of how many books I read (vs the purge), I make a note of the last line on the sheet as of first thing in the morning on Jan 1; then I subtract what the last line # is on Dec 31 and that tells many how many books off that TBR list I read in the year. I note that number, then I purge the list of books I'm no longer interested in.
Sounds complicated and like a lot of work, but I've been doing it this way long before Shelfari or Goodreads, so I'm used to it and it works for me.
The only problem with not keeping this VERY long list on Goodreads is that if I'm looking for a book "with a green cover" I have no way of knowing which of those many books I've expressed interest in will fit that challenge.
Book Concierge wrote: "I have four different excel spreadsheets for my tbr. One is devoted to series and books by "favorite authors" (two separate sheets). The other three are divided into sheets for General Fiction, Mys..."I tag my TBR list on Goodreads so I can find them for challenges. I have tags for the cover colors (cover-green) among other common challenge characteristics.
Joanne wrote: "And off topic here, but is it just my eyes or do Cora and Charlotte look like they could be sisters?..."Ha! There are definitely similarities in some of our features I think.
Book Concierge wrote: "I have four different excel spreadsheets for my tbr. One is devoted to series and books by "favorite authors" (two separate sheets). The other three are divided into sheets for General Fiction, Mys..."I have also gone the spreadsheet route for the series and for the 100 books to read before you die Amazon list. I also use excel to keep track of what I have on my kindle although I've been moving to goodreads tags to keep track of what I own since I generally always have my phone with me and I have accidentally purchased two of the same book.
I don't care at all how long my virtual list becomes. When I add titles that interest me I try to add the most popular tags. They pop up when I sort for monthly tags or challenges. Keeping the long virtual list is very useful for me. It prevents me from buying as many actual books that I 'might' want to read someday. I do most of my browsing online rather than in the bookstore. It leads to less impulse buying.
Given that I'm in the process of emptying my physical bookshelves so my waterlogged floors can be repaired. My greatest need is to eliminate the number of DT books that I own.
Cora and Charlotte are both extremely beautiful! I have expressed more than once that the new (to us) Lauren Keller freakishly resembles me. But I think she doesn’t see it - either the thread or the resemblance.
I stopped keeping track long ago. I'm much happier just reading as my whim suits me! I know I've forgotten about books I meant to read and am probably missing out, but really there are so many books and so little time, that I don't care anymore, as long as I'm enjoying my reading.
Cora wrote: "I like having a lot of options to choose from. That way if a tag comes up that is not something I usually read, I can always find something on my wishlist. I have 647 books on my wishlist (TBR book..."I'm right there with you. I have a large wishlist I maintain on Amazon. I have a large number of books on kindle.
My massive number of DTB, is where I would like to whittle it down, but I just about have to force myself to read them anymore.
I'm trying to figure out how to eliminate some.
My TBR is a hodge-podge right now: some are books I actively want to read, some I put in there to come back and decide on later, some are just there because I want to remember the book exists for some reason.My 'real' TBR is my short list, which I try to keep under 10 but usually stays under 20. Those are the books I'm burning to read.
Karin wrote: "For so long I've thought about how to reduce my tbr, and we've had many great challenges (like this year, so I am NOT trying to dissuade you from trimming yours!) to reduce them, but I am reconside..."I have over 600 and I am ok with that. Every time I get close to the next hundred, I keep thinking - oh, I hope it doesn't go above, but once I'm there, it doesn't really bother me.
When I have multiple books that fit a theme, I (usually, though not always) try to go for one of the ones that has been on my tbr longer.
Joanne wrote: "I have 823 on my shelf! LOL-it is senseless for me to really think I am going trim it to any great degree. I actually don't mind, as I do a few challenges, the SRC for one, where I need a large num..."And yes. This. A large TBR means I will almost always find something that fits each challenge. Occasionally (Horizons is one I'm having trouble with), I have a harder time, but not often.
LibraryCin wrote: And yes. This. A large TBR means I will almost always find something that fits each challenge. Occasionally (Horizons is one I'm having trouble with), I have a harder time, but not often. .."ROFL! So true! I am the same!
WooHoo! If I'm not the winner, then I'm awfully close. I have nearly 1400 on my To Read list, and that doesn't count all the books in my kindle library, physical bookshelves, or boxes. I've been active on goodreads for two years, and the books I acquired before that are still in boxes. Dubious Achievement, I know! If I were somehow able to maintain my current reading pace for 10 years, I'd get pretty close.
Since joining PBT (a few months ago) I've added at least 600 new titles, and eliminated at least 200. Every time we get a new tag or culture country, my list gets inflated with those books. Right now I'm clicking on every international book that sounds interesting, just in case that country comes up. I can easily pare down the international shelf at the end of the year (or each month). I also sign up for a lot of giveaways. Many will be duds, but some will be big winners. You never know! I pare down the oldest ones periodically.
So, no, I don't mind having books that I know I won't read. I have plenty of ways to prioritize the lists, and it's fun. The strength of my list benefits from multiple recommendations. If I get a recommendation for a book, I might discover that I already had it on the list, so I can just bump up the number, or tag it in a way that will make it easier to find later.
I have working lists, short lists, etc that help me a lot. The Trim the TBR exercise at the beginning of the year helped me to prioritize the titles on my list, which is just as good as reducing it.
Charlotte wrote: "My goodreads TBR doesn't bother me. I honestly had no clue how many I had until I just looked... 357. I cleaned it up last year sometime and took a bunch off. I think I may keep doing that. Once a ...""LIBRARY CARD, not CREDIT CARD" was a New Year's resolution for me a few years ago, and it's made a huge difference. Like you I do add a few books from library book sales ($1.00 is a real bargain!), and I sometimes buy .99 kindles. But now that my eyes are going, I need to give away many of my regular print books anyway.
I have 1450 books on my TBR. I just throw anything that sounds good to me from all of your reviews so I remember them when a tag comes up to match. I don't own many books at all, very little in fiction. The only books I buy are reference / how-to books. I borrow everything else from the library.It doesn't really bother me that my TBR is so big except that, when I first started, I put all the books in a series in the TBR. Now I put one in and perhaps #2, when I finish #2, I add #3 if I'm still interested. I still have some of those to clear out.
I find it real easy to choose a book for a tag with a list that huge!
Love my library because it keeps my TBR from becoming a huge pile of books. I have shelves and shelves of books and they are all located off-site at the local library!
Joanne wrote: "Karin-I want to thank you for continuing to allow me not to get back to tax returns😉😉 ."You are very welcome. I had to change my schedule today, so chose to skip them since I couldn't work on them in the morning. I am doing them for the entire family and started early, so am not worried about finishing in time, although my kids want their returns. My husband and I are in NO hurry to pay our next quarterly estimated taxes, though.
Book Concierge wrote: "I have four different excel spreadsheets for my tbr. One is devoted to series and books by "favorite authors" (two separate sheets). The other three are divided into sheets for General Fiction, Mys..."You are always so very organized! I have ditched all of my tbr's in favour of the want to read list here. I am trying to find ways to make this less work, even though I think your spreadsheet idea is BRILLIANT.
So, basically all I have is my want to read shelf here and then a sort of mental list of series I will probably finish even if I haven't marked them all as want to read yet.
I do what BnB does, and have an amazon wishlist. I joke that my TBR pile is a mountain, but I try to keep everything organized, and I cull it fairly often. As far as planning what to read: I only plan to read for book groups that have set reads. Everything else is up to whims, for the most part. I do try to read books on prize longlist/shortlists, but have no qualms about DNFing them if they don’t appeal.
SO my question for you is--how many people here don't mind having long tbr's that they will probably never finish?