Category: TBR

Down the TBR Hole #75

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done one of these posts.  My TBR pile was down to 655 books, but between December of last year and now, it has gone up to 666.  If I remember correctly, my goal for last year was 650, which might have happened, but obviously isn’t the case now, despite having already read 33 books this year.

This week’s books:

Skeen’s Leap by Jo Clayton – KEEP.  The synopsis had me at “gritty space adventure.”  This book sounds like a perfect addition to my Sci-Fi Summer TBR.

The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent- KEEP. I’m going to give this one the 50 page test only because it is considered a classic of Feminist Science Fiction.

Unexpected Stories by Octavia Butler – KEEP.  This one will also get the 50 page test, but because it’s Octavia Butler.

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand – KEEP.  This one sounds like the kind of Horror that is right up my alley.

The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene – GO. This story sounds like nothing but a Romance that happens to take place in France during WWII.  No, thanks.

My TBR pile is down one to 665 books, and my next post will be mostly Cozy Mysteries.  If my TBR decreases at all over the next couple of weeks, it will be from finishing books.

Down the TBR Hole #74

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl
Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?
I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR. My TBR pile is down considerably to 656 books!  I’ve been reading a lot, and I discovered a few duplicates to delete.

This week’s books:

Lammas Night by Katherine Kurtz – GO.  The story takes place during WWII, but the synopsis uses the term “Wicca”, even though that term wasn’t used until the 1950’s (“Wica”, with the double ‘c’ not used until the 1960’s).  Maybe I’m being picky, but I’ve read enough Dan Brown books to be over the sloppy use of the Occult and Apocrypha in Fiction. Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler- KEEP. I’ve already read Parable of the Sower, and while I had no interest in the religious elements, the near-future world the characters are living in was scary and all too believable to put the book down. Path of Fate by Diana Pharoah Francis – KEEP.  I’m skeptical, but I’ll give it the 50 page test at some point. Saffron and Brimstone by Elizabeth Hand – KEEP.  I tend to love short story collections by Open Road Media, so I’ll try this one out. Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen – KEEP. I was going to pass this one up, but the synopsis mentions that the characters live in “a world without men”, and I want to know if that means they’re segregated for some reason or if something has happened to the men. My TBR pile is down one more to 655 books, and I’ve got 4 more Open Road Media books to look through for next week before I get into a Cozy Mystery binge I found myself indulging in during April of 2017.

Down the TBR Hole #73

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
Image: hjl
Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?
I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR. My TBR pile is up to 672 books, despite having read many books since my last “Down the TBR Hole” post.  Mostly, it’s due to coming across quite a few books that I added to my wish list.

This week’s books:

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit – KEEP.  This was the first book by Solnit that I had heard about, but it’s not the first I’ve read.  That would be Wanderlust, which was wonderful. Wild by Cheryl Strayed- KEEP. I might be one of the few American women in the world who hasn’t read this one yet.  My only reason is that I’m currently walking the virtual Appalachian Trail.  As soon as I’m finished, I will be starting the Pacific Crest Trail and this book. Black Light by Elizabeth Hand – KEEP.  This book was a part of a Open Road Media ebook Humble Bundle that I got several years ago.  The story sounds interesting, so as with pretty much every other book I’m not sure about, I’ll give it the 50 page test at some point. Camber of Culdi by Katherine Kurtz – KEEP.  This one is from the same Humble Bundle as above, and it will also get the 50 page test. Jaran by Kate Elliott – KEEP. Another book from the Open Road Media bundle, except I’ve read other work by Kate Elliott and loved it.  I’m saving this one for #SciFiSummer. My TBR pile is stuck at 672 books for now, and, with only a little more than a month left to the year, I’m pretty sure I won’t be meeting my goal of 625.

Down the TBR Hole #20

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  My TBR pile is down one to 721 books.  I recently started reading The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge.

This week’s five books:


Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – KEEP.  Every time I’m in a bookstore, I look for a copy of this book, but I always wind up putting it back in favor of getting another book (or several).  I don’t know why, but it will stay on my wish list for now.  Maybe I’ll see if it’s at the library since I don’t seem to want to buy it.

Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer – GO.  I don’t know why I was so interested in this book and searched for so long to find a copy.  I originally wanted to find it in audio format, since that’s how I prefer my cozy mysteries, but I eventually settled for the ebook.  However, after reading the synopsis, I have no interest in reading it now.  Maybe I misread the subtitle and thought it had to do with a teapot? Who knows, but bye-bye.

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi – KEEP.  This book sounds thoroughly creepy in a “The Others” sort of way, and I LOVE that kind of creepy.  I’m hoping to get a copy to read for the next R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril challenge.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman – KEEP.  This is supposed to be “Harry Potter” for adults, and now that there’s a show, I really need to get around to reading the book so I can watch it.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell – KEEP.  I read Slade House and loved it.  I have The Bone Clocks on my TBR, and this one is still on my wish list.  I’m hesitant to buy it or check it out from the library until I read The Bone Clocks, but I’ll keep it on my list for now.
My to-read shelf is down to 720 books.  See you next Saturday when I start with book #141.

Down the TBR Hole #18

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  My TBR has gone up, again, to 724 books thanks to my fave book blogs providing amazing reviews and recommendations.

This week’s five books:


So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane – KEEP.  I loved Duane’s The Book of Night with Moon and I already own this one.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks – KEEP.  If I’m ever going to get around to watching the TV adaptation, I need to read this classic Fantasy first.

The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand – KEEP. Gothic Middle Grade Fantasy?  Yes, please and thank you!

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde – KEEP.  I don’t remember why I initially added this one to my wish list, but I wouldn’t doubt it had something to do with the VW Bug on what is obviously part of a dragon.  How could this not be an awesome story with that cover?!  The synopsis backs up my theory, too, so I’m keeping this one on my wish list.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – KEEP.  Why have I not read this yet?! I have it on my “Readathon Maybes” list, so I’m going to move it to the top of the stack for the 24-Hour Readathon in April.
My to-read shelf is stuck at 724 books.  See you next Saturday when I start with book #131.

Down the TBR Hole #17

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • 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?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  My TBR is up to 720 books thanks to a small reading slump coupled with adding quite a few books to my wish list.

This week’s five books:


Wizards of Water and Wood by P.J. Owen – KEEP.  I’ve already read the first 2 books in this Middle Grade Fantasy series, and I really need to get around to reading this one since I already own it, and it’s only 104 pages.

Sages, Swordsmen, and Scoundrels by P.J. Owen – KEEP.  This one is on my wish list since I haven’t read the 3rd book yet.  I think it’s the final book in the series.

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky – KEEP.  This was written by a Ukrainian-born Jew prior to her death at Auschwitz.  She was also a well-known author in France.  There is no way I’m not going to give this book a chance.

The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom – KEEP.  I adore cozy mysteries set in libraries and bookstores or having to do with books.  I prefer them on audiobook, but I couldn’t find this one in that format so I settled for the ebook instead.

Voracious by Cara Nicoletti – GO.  Normally, I love to get my hands on any cookbook about food mentioned in books.  However, I’m often disappointed by the recipes which tend to be too difficult for my limited cooking skills, require too many strange ingredients or an entire kitchen’s worth of pots and pans, or sound like nothing I would ever want to eat (my “foodiness” is much more about comfort than exploration).  Adding all that up and considering that I already have two amazing book-related cookbooks with more than enough recipes for me to try (Outlander Kitchen and An Unexpected Cookbook), I’m taking this one off my wish list.
My to-read shelf is down to 719 books.  See you next Saturday when I start with book #126.