Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is down two books to 1130. I finished a couple of books and went to the library instead of a bookstore.
This week’s books:
Real Change by Sharon Salzberg – GO. I’ve read several of Salzberg’s books and they’re all pretty much the same.
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw – KEEP. This is another book picked for the Fantastic Strangelings book club, and I’m very much looking forward to reading it.
How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety by Zachary Auburn – KEEP. Comedic satire involving cats? I’ll gladly give this one a try.
The First Free Women by Matty Weingast- GO. I thought this was a book of poetry by women inspired by the work of early Buddhist nuns, but it’s a book by one male author. That’s not bad in itself, but the title and the subtitle are a bit misleading. Since I’ve never been a big fan of poetry, I’m no longer interested.
Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia – KEEP. I’ve read nothing but amazing reviews about this book and the author’s other work, and since this is another story involving a part of WWII history that I haven’t read much about, I will be reading this one at some point.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1128 books. I was surprised again by my decision to let go of a couple of books, but I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any in the next post.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is up a few books to 1133. While I finished several books this week, I also bought a couple of books and added a couple more to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
Bold Spirit by Linda Lawrence Hunt – KEEP. Not only do I want to read about Helga Estby’s trek across the United States, I want to know why her story was almost lost.
Book Towns by Alex Johnson – GO. I wouldn’t usually decide to remove a book about books (or in this case, a book about book towns) from my To Be Read list, but this one has been sitting on my wish list for several years, and I still haven’t bothered to buy it or even to see if the library has it.
Still Life by Sarah Winman – KEEP. This was the book picked for the Fantastic Strangelings book club for November 2021. That’s the only reason I’m keeping it. I have faith in Jenny Lawson’s choice of books.
The Book Lovers’ Anthology ed. by Bodleian Library- KEEP. This is a book about books written by a wide variety of authors. Of course, I want to read it!
The Resurrectionist by E.B. Hudspeth – KEEP. This book was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for 2013 in the category of Horror. I love the cover, and the book itself is full of illustrations, so I’m looking forward to taking my time with it at some point.
My want-to-read shelf is down one book to 1132. I was a little surprised by my decisions for this week’s books. I might be surprised again in the next post.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is down a couple of books to 1130. I finished a couple of books this past week.
This week’s books:
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward – KEEP. I don’t know if I’ll get to this one this year, but I’m intrigued by the mention of a cat who reads the Bible.
Melmoth by Sarah Perry – KEEP. I enjoyed The Essex Serpent and wouldn’t be surprised if this book is even better.
Sistersong by Lucy Holland – KEEP. This is the next book picked for the Fantastic Strangelings book club after Mrs. March by Virginia Feito, which I finished a couple of weeks ago. I plan to read it in November.
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder- KEEP. I recently checked this one out from my local public library and it’s due back at the end of the month. I hope to finish it before then, but I might need to renew it.
The Madman’s Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching – KEEP. A book about books that has a lot to do with the history of literature? Yes, please, and thank you!
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1130 books for now. While I was sure I wouldn’t be letting go of any books in this post, I’m not certain about a couple of the books in the next post.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is up a couple of books to 1132. I finished several books but added several to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
Forever Autumn by Mark Morris – KEEP. I hope I’ll finally get to this one this year for #RIP.
The Sundial by Shirley Jackson – KEEP. I’m pretty sure this was the read-along pick for #RIP several years ago, and though I thought I would get to it, I never did. Maybe I’ll change that this year.
The Ghostkeeper’s Journal by Japhet Asher – KEEP. This interactive book requires an app, and I need to read it this year, assuming the app is still available.
Classic Horror Tales ed. by Editors of Canterbury Classics- KEEP. I bought this from the bargain section of Barnes and Noble because I’m a sucker for old short story anthologies and the cover has a lovely velvet feel to it.
Strange Tricks by Syd Moore – KEEP. This is the sixth book in the “Essex Witch Museum Mystery” series, and there’s only one book left for me to read after it. I wish the author had written more, and I hope these last books bring Rosie Strange’s story to a good conclusion. I have questions, damn it, and I want them answered!
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1132 books for now. Once again I knew I wouldn’t be letting go of any books. I probably won’t get rid of any in the next post either.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is back up by one book to 1130. I finished several books last week but bought a few and added a couple to my wishlist. While I’ll probably still buy a couple of books here and there through the rest of this year, I will rely more and more on my local public library. That probably won’t mean much for the number of books on my want-to-read shelf, but I will also be shopping my own shelves more and more, which should start decreasing that number.
This week’s books:
The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig – KEEP. I recently bought 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann, and this was the first title mentioned.
Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus – KEEP. I watched the authors’ documentary on Netflix several years ago, so when this book came out not long after, I bought the ebook hoping it would inspire me even more on my decluttering journey. Now I hope it will help me as I drastically cut my spending in preparation for leaving my job.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman – KEEP. This is a short story set in the world of Neverwhere, one of my favorite books by Gaiman.
Billy Summers by Stephen King – KEEP. King was the first adult Horror author I read. I was too young to be reading them, but I think I turned out OK… At the very least, his books introduced me to the world of the macabre in a way that Goosebumps couldn’t do, and I don’t think I would’ve tried out and fallen in love with Gothic Fiction without that introduction.
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen – KEEP. The only reason I have this book is because the synopsis mentions “a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them.”
My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1130 books for now. I knew I wouldn’t be letting go of any books, and I don’t think I’ll get rid of any in the next post either.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is up a couple of books to 1130. I finished several books this past week, but I also bought a few books.
This week’s books:
Dodge & Twist by Tony Lee – GO. I think I got this audiobook for free, and after reading the synopsis, I can’t see myself enjoying it.
The Essential Dogen ed. by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt – KEEP. Eihei Dogen wrote several volumes and this book is made up of selections from those much more lengthy writings as an introduction to him.
The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith – KEEP. I’m skeptical about this one, only because I don’t understand why unfinished books would go to a library in Hell of all places. Why? I hope there’s a good explanation for this in the story.
Trouble on the Books by Essie Lang – KEEP. As all of you probably already know, I love cozy mysteries about libraries or bookstores. This one involves a bookstore. There are only three books in this series, and the most recent one came out in 2021, so I’m not sure if there will be any more, but I’m still going to give this one a shot.
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig – KEEP. I’ve got this book in my “Bad Day” box which is full of stuff to help me deal with days when my back is keeping me stuck in bed. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’m hoping it will help me when I do.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1129 books. I was wrong again about not getting rid of any books. I sincerely doubt I will be letting go of any books in the next post, though.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is down a book to 1128. I finished several books for #BoutofBooks, but I also bought a few books.
This week’s books:
Books for Living by Will Schwalbe – GO. I can’t believe I’m saying this about a book about books, but I’m no longer interested in reading this one.
A Pleasure to Burn by Ray Bradbury – KEEP. This is a collection of short stories all taking place in the world of Fahrenheit 451, probably my favorite Bradbury novel, though Something Wicked This Way Comes is a close second.
Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor – KEEP. I love “The Chronicles of St. Mary’s” series, and I’m looking forward to reading this short story during the holidays this year.
By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates – KEEP. I love cozy mysteries about libraries or bookstores, and this one involves a library. It’s also the first in a series with the 11th book having come out this year, so I know it’s popular. Yes, I know that’s not a guarantee that I’ll love it, but it does raise the chances quite a bit.
Watership Down by Richard Adams – KEEP. I’ve been told that this book is traumatizing, or at least it was to anyone expecting a cute story about bunnies. Since I already know it’s not that kind of book, I think I’ll be alright.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1127 books. I didn’t think I would get rid of any books, and I was wrong. I wonder if I’ll be wrong about the books in the next post as well.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is still holding steady at 1129 books. I bought a couple of ebooks and an audiobook.
This week’s books:
The Search for the Red Dragon by James A. Owen – KEEP. I loved the first book in the “Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica” series, Here, There Be Dragons, so I’m keeping and reading this one.
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi – KEEP. I bought this one a while ago, and let my boyfriend read it, despite not having read it myself. He really enjoyed it, so I’m keeping it and will hopefully read it during next year’s #SciFiSummer reading challenge.
Andrea Vernon and the Superhero Industrial Complex by Alexander C. Kane – KEEP. I’ll get around to this one eventually since I enjoyed the first book in the “Andrea Vernon” series enough to buy this one.
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Betrayal by Lydia Sherrer – KEEP. I love this series!
Among Others by Jo Walton – KEEP. For some reason, I keep thinking this is literary fiction when it’s Fantasy. Perhaps it’s the cover. Regardless, I mostly want to read this book because the main character escapes her troubled life by reading SciFi and Fantasy.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1129 books. I’m nearly halfway through 2021, when I became much more discerning about the books I bought, mostly because I had little spending money for much of that year. It will likely be several posts before I get rid of any books.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is holding steady at 1129 books. I was pretty busy this past week and didn’t finish any books.
This week’s books:
The Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton – KEEP. The zombie apocalypse from the perspective of a “foul-mouthed” crow? Yes, please, and thank you!
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas – KEEP. This appears to be a “Peter Pan” retelling of sorts, but darker, and that sounds interesting to me.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – KEEP. This story involves libraries full of books about sorcery and one of the characters has a demonic servant of some kind. It sounds like it might be adjacent to the “dark academia” subgenre, and I’m down for that.
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville – KEEP. I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time. I have a feeling it’s going to be nothing like I’ve read before.
The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay – KEEP. I’m highly skeptical about this one thanks to not enjoying The Brontë Plot. I will give it a chance, but I will ditch it in a heartbeat if it starts veering in the same direction.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1129 books. I knew I wasn’t likely to get rid of any of this week’s books, but I’m not sure about the next ones.
Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is up quite a few books to 1129. I discovered a bunch of Horror books missing from my TBR when I was rearranging my physical bookshelves and planning for #RIP.
This week’s books:
The Mighty Manligator by Patrick E. McLean – KEEP. So far, I have loved everything that McLean has written.
The Book by Keith Houston – KEEP. This has been on my wishlist for a very long time. The problem is that I have so many books about books that I haven’t read yet. Eventually, I will buy this book, add it to my collection, and hopefully read it, too.
The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser – KEEP. Stories about being able to enter books are in my wheelhouse, and I will buy them automatically.
John Winchester’s Journal by Alex Irvine – KEEP. I’m glad “Supernatural” got a real ending, but that doesn’t mean I want it to be over. I hope to pick this one up during this year’s #RIP.
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix – KEEP. Hendrix is an auto-buy author to me, and there’s no way I’m not reading this one.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1129 books. I was right that I wouldn’t let go of any of this week’s books. I don’t think I’ll get rid of any of the books in the next post, either.
