What's Wrong With TBR Piles
One thing most avid readers have in common is a TBR pile (To Be Read pile). For some of us, it's a pile of books on the nightstand. For others it's a list on Amazon.com. For me and some friends, the pile encompasses whole bookshelves. And as proud of my TBR pile as I can be, I have also come to the conclusion that having such a large pile of books to read can actually be a drawback.
By having such a large stack of books ready and waiting to be read, I actually get bored of them more easily and can end up less likely to read a book from that pile. In fact, I have 3, yes, 3 TBR piles. One is full of the books I MOST want to read, series I follow, the books I have most anxiously waited for. The second one is the books I want to read second-best. The ones I have had for a long time, or that just don't fit in with my current reading mood, but I know I will want to read soon-ish. And then there is the third pile - the ones I have had for so long, I can't remember buying them and I can't remember for sure why I wanted to read them in the first place.
I get bored looking at the same books. I buy books for the mood I am in - so I have lots of books that show my interests at the time. I have lots of books that are paranormal, whole stacks of regencies and historicals, and an entire shelf dedicated to science books. I have books that are collections of short stories (modern and classic), and all kinds of biographies. And I am bored with 90% of them because I have been looking at them for so long.
I have tried moving them around. I have tried restacking them, re-prioritizing them. I have tried moving them out of my line of sight, but that just made me more anxious. I have tried buying the ones that have most recently intrigued me, but they just get added to the various piles. I like being surrounded by my books, both read and unread.
But there has to be a solution, a way to get interested in them again, a way to pare down the pile without missing out on the new ones, or the ones that go next in a series I am following. There has to be a way to have only one TBR pile, preferably one that works and doesn't just add to my stress and have books that, when read, would stretch into the next decade.
Nicole
By having such a large stack of books ready and waiting to be read, I actually get bored of them more easily and can end up less likely to read a book from that pile. In fact, I have 3, yes, 3 TBR piles. One is full of the books I MOST want to read, series I follow, the books I have most anxiously waited for. The second one is the books I want to read second-best. The ones I have had for a long time, or that just don't fit in with my current reading mood, but I know I will want to read soon-ish. And then there is the third pile - the ones I have had for so long, I can't remember buying them and I can't remember for sure why I wanted to read them in the first place.
I get bored looking at the same books. I buy books for the mood I am in - so I have lots of books that show my interests at the time. I have lots of books that are paranormal, whole stacks of regencies and historicals, and an entire shelf dedicated to science books. I have books that are collections of short stories (modern and classic), and all kinds of biographies. And I am bored with 90% of them because I have been looking at them for so long.
I have tried moving them around. I have tried restacking them, re-prioritizing them. I have tried moving them out of my line of sight, but that just made me more anxious. I have tried buying the ones that have most recently intrigued me, but they just get added to the various piles. I like being surrounded by my books, both read and unread.
But there has to be a solution, a way to get interested in them again, a way to pare down the pile without missing out on the new ones, or the ones that go next in a series I am following. There has to be a way to have only one TBR pile, preferably one that works and doesn't just add to my stress and have books that, when read, would stretch into the next decade.
Nicole
posted at 2:20 PM
2 Comments:
Never had a TBR pile. When I buy a book I read it straight away. Having said that I have a hard time finding authors I enjoy and tend to keep to my favorites and re-read a lot.
I do try new authors to me from time to time but I would rather re-read a favorite than trying to slog through a book I can't get into.
My advice get rid of your TBR piles and read books as you buy them. Or if you gotta have a TBR pile why not just make a list of books that catches the eye but don't buy any till you're ready to read them.
I have a HUGE TBR pile. It started back when I was working as an editor at a publisher, mostly because I was already reading several books for work. Then I was working on my own projects, which slows down my reading pace. Then add to that the books received at RWA Nationals annually...and you can see how the pile starts.
I'm trying to get through my pile slowly, but it really doesn't distress me to have a lot of books I haven't read. It just gives me something to look forward to. It also mean son the rare slow days, I know there are plenty of new stories I can pick up from my own book shelf and just sit back and enjoy.
Warm regards,
Michelle Laure|American Title V Finalist, www.michellelaurenbooks.com
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