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 one to 1096 books. I finished a couple of books, DNF’d a couple more but then bought a few audiobooks.
This week’s books:
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond – KEEP. While this book is more than 20 years old, it’s still highly rated and the author won a Pulitzer for it so I’m willing to give it a try.
Doctor Who: Tales of Terror ed. by Jacqueline Rayner – KEEP. I’m going to try to get this book read in September when the #SciFiSummer and #RIP reading challenges overlap.
Skeleton Crew by Stephen King – KEEP. I don’t always love King’s short story collections, but one of these days, I’m going to read one that is as amazing as Nightmares and Dreamscapes.
The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett – KEEP. I feel skeptical about this one since it is related to literature; however, it seems to be more about a painting than about books. While that’s not a bad thing, I got the book thinking it was more about books.
Cursed ed. by Marie O’Regan – KEEP. I’m never sure I’ll love a short story anthology, but I do love fairytales, especially the darker ones, and this anthology includes stories by Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen, and Catriona Ward.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1096 books. I was right in my prediction that I wouldn’t get rid of any of this week’s books, and I’m predicting that I’ll let go of at least one in the next round of books I own.
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 one to 1099 books. I finished a couple of books but bought an audiobook.
This week’s books:
Holes by Louis Sachar – KEEP. I’m honestly not sure I will like this book, but I’m willing to try it.
The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow – GO. I’m tired of YA Dystopian Romance. Maybe Romance isn’t the right word, but why does there *always* have to be a male and female character on opposite sides who fall in love? I’ve already read Romeo and Juliet, thank you very much.
Spook by Mary Roach – GO. I only bought this book because I mistakenly thought this was written by the same author as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Caitlin Doughty). I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that Mary Roach wrote a different, but similar book, Stiff. On top of that, I’m not all that interested in reading a Non-Fiction Science book that was written nearly 20 years ago.
Murder by the Book by Claire Harman – KEEP. This is a non-fiction book about one of the earliest debates on whether or not a form of popular entertainment causes people to do bad things and it involves Charles Dickens. Yes, please.
Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust – KEEP. This is one of many Classics I’ve yet to tackle. Perhaps I’ll attempt it after I finish Oliver Twist.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1097 books. The next post will be more physical books I already own that I don’t think I’ll want to get rid of, but I thought the same about this week’s books. We’ll see.
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 to 1101 books. I added a book to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn – GO. I read that this book is amazing, but I’m just not interested, unfortunately.
Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab – KEEP. I thought I already owned this book, but after unpacking every book box I had and going through every book, I haven’t been able to find it. While I’ve removed it from my physical TBR shelf, I added it back to my wishlist.
Anne Sexton: A Biography by Diane Wood Middlebrook – KEEP. I’ve never been big into poetry, but Sexton is one of the few I will read, and that makes me interested in reading about her life.
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë – KEEP. At some point, I will finish all of the Brontë novels.
45 Mercy Street by Anne Sexton – KEEP. I first read most of Sexton’s poetry while I was a teenager, but somehow I missed this one.
My want-to-read shelf is back down to 1100 books. The next post will be yet another wide selection of genres of physical books I already own.
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 1102. I finished a couple of books this past week, but also added one to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
Sage Stone by Darcy Deming – GO. I would love to say that I’ll read this book someday since it was a gift, but I know I won’t. It’s better that I let it go so that it finds someone who will read it.
How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry – KEEP. This will probably not be my cup of tea, despite the bookshop setting, but I’m going to give it a try anyway.
Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day – KEEP. I suspect this book is more for creative or artistic people, but I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Day, so I’ll give it a chance.
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria – GO. *meh* I’m just not interested.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles – KEEP. Post-Civil War Historical Fiction set in Texas? Yes, please!
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple of books to 1100. The next post will be another varied selection of genres of physical books I own, but I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of them.
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 1105. I finished and started a couple of books this past week, but I also bought a few.
This week’s books:
House of Shadows by Darcy Coates – KEEP. I haven’t enjoyed everything by Coates, but I think this one will be right up my alley.
Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake – GO. I have no interest in YA Romance disguised as Fantasy.
The Black Company by Glen Cook – GO. I have no idea what this story is about after reading the synopsis on Goodreads, other than something having to do with good and evil.
Pastrix and Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber – KEEP. I met the author during a Wellness/Yoga convention and was immediately interested in her books. I still am, despite not remembering much about what she talked about at the convention.
Women Who Love Books Too Much by Brenda Knight – KEEP. I’ll probably get through this book in a lazy weekend afternoon at some point.
My want-to-read shelf is back down a couple of books to 1103. The next post will have even more of the physical books I own.
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 several books to 1105. I finished and started a few books this past week.
This week’s books:
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 by Diana Wynne Jones – KEEP. Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite Fantasy authors, and I just love books full of cats.
The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish – KEEP. I remember seeing this on Jenny Lawson’s bookshelves at some point and thought it sounded interesting.
The Gutsy Girl by Caroline Paul – GO. I’m not the intended audience of this book. While that has never stopped me from reading something I want to read, this book is truly written for young girls, and I’m going to let it go so that it hopefully finds its way into the hands of a girl who needs it.
Alice Takes Back Wonderland by David D. Hammons – GO. I have a gut feeling I won’t enjoy this book. Maybe someone else will.
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier – KEEP. This one sounds bizarre and I’m not sure I will enjoy it, but I’m willing to give it a chance.
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple more books to 1103. The next post will have yet more of the physical books I own.
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 several books to 1112. I finished and started a lot of books since my last post in December.
This week’s books:
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan – GO. The Boyfriend gave this to me after deciding he was no longer interested in reading it, and I’m no longer interested either.
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl – KEEP. I read The Dante Club well over a decade ago and greatly enjoyed it. That fact is the only reason I’m willing to give this one a chance after seeing such low ratings for it on Goodreads.
We Have No Idea by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson – GO. I want to be the kind of person who wants to read this book, but I’m accepting that I, at least not at this time, am not.
The Nirvana Threads by Rachel Tremblay – KEEP. I have a feeling I will either love this book and not be able to put it down or I will despise it and stop reading within a couple of pages.
The Many-Colored Land by Julian May – KEEP. I loved Jack the Bodiless and, based on that, the Boyfriend said I will probably enjoy this one as well, even though they’re very different stories but related in a weird wibbly wobbly timey wimey sort of way. Perhaps I’ll finally get around to reading it during this year’s #SciFiSummer reading challenge.
My want-to-read shelf is down a couple more books to 1110. The next post will have more of the physical books I own.
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 1118. I finished and started several books this week but added some to my wishlist.
This week’s books:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë – KEEP. It’s a goal of mine to read all of the books written by the Brontë sisters.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – KEEP. I will also read all of Dickens’ novels at some point since he is one of my all-time favorite authors.
Warcross by Marie Lu – KEEP. I’ve had this book for quite a while and have heard it’s one of the best YA Sci-Fi books out there. Perhaps I’ll finally pick it up during next year’s #SciFiSummer reading challenge.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab – KEEP. I have loved most everything Schwab has published, so I’m looking forward to getting around to this one before long.
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty – GO. This book sounds amazing, and that’s exactly what many reviews say; it sounds great but is extremely slow and they put it down to read other books. I don’t have time for that.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1117 books. The next post won’t be until after Christmas, but it will have more of the physical books I own.
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 to 1118 books. I finished and started several books this week.
This week’s books:
Dear Theo by Vincent Van Gogh – KEEP. Van Gogh is my favorite artist and this book contains his letters to his brother, which I think will be much more telling about his life than any biography.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune – KEEP. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for this book!
Tools for Slow Living by Agata Toromanoff – GO. This seems to be more of a design/style book than anything else and its overall rating on Goodreads is 2.73 with no written reviews. I bought it (along with the next two books) as an impulse during a trip to Half Price Books when stores were starting to open back up during the pandemic.
Stop Saying You’re Fine by Mel Robbins – GO. I got into Mel Robbins for a while after reading a later book of hers, The 5 Second Rule. This book seems to be all of the same information. I don’t need to reread about how not hitting the snooze button changed her life.
Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin – KEEP. While this book might not have any new insights than what I’ve gotten from other similar books, I’m willing to give it a chance.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1116 books and I’m now only 3 physical books away from my TBR goal for the year. That’s much more doable than 5 books with less than a month to go. The next post will have more of the physical books I own and likely be the last post for 2023.
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 to 1122 books. I finished and started several books over the past couple of weeks.
This week’s books:
Take a Look at the Five and Ten by Connie Willis – KEEP. I’ll be reading this ebook this month as a part of a reading challenge I’m participating in on Litsy.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman – KEEP. I have this one in both ebook and audiobook so I can read along to Gaiman’s narration.
The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling – KEEP. My Best Friend read this in one day and loved it, so I’m looking forward to reading it.
The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book by Kate Milford – KEEP. I love the “Greenglass House” series, of which this is the 5th and most recent book.
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff – KEEP. I bought this when I needed it, but never got around to reading it. I’m going to keep it for now, since Winter is a difficult time for me, especially around February.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1122 books. The next post will be mostly physical Non-Fiction books I already own.
