Tag: Down the TBR Hole

Down the TBR Hole #78

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

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 went up again to 842.  Not only did I not read a single page out of a book this week, but I added more books to my wish list and discovered a couple of books on my shelves that I never added to Goodreads.

 

This week’s books:

Press Start to Play ed. by Daniel H. Wilson – KEEP.  I started reading this anthology during one of my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenges, but never finished it.  I’m hoping to get back to it this Summer.

The Proverbs of Middle Earth by David Rowe – KEEP.  This has been on my wish list for a while, but I don’t want the ebook; I would rather have a physical copy of it.  However, it’s not a book I’ve ever found a copy of in any bookstore, and I don’t often remember to order physical books online before I’ve spent all of my money at the bookstore.

Bitch Planet: President Bitch by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Taki Soma, and Valentine De Landro – KEEP.  I enjoyed the first volume of Bitch Planet, and I already own the paperback of this second volume.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs – KEEP.  I’m not usually interested in Paranormal Romance, but the synopsis doesn’t mention anything about Romance.  I’m hoping it will be light on the Romance and mostly about the Paranormal.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill – KEEP.  A story about a witch who saves children and has a swamp monster and a tiny dragon as friends?  YES, PLEASE!

My TBR pile remains at 842 books. I don’t know that I’ll finish any books by next weekend, so I don’t think it will be changing until the next post, which will consist mostly of free audiobooks I got during Audiobook SYNC.

Down the TBR Hole #77

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

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 went back up a little to 836.  I hauled 5 boxes of books to sell at Half Price Bookstore and used some of the money to buy a few books while I was there.  Some of them were already on my wish list, and therefore on my overall To-Read shelf, but I found a couple of books that weren’t as well.  I also added a couple of books to my wish list.

This week’s books:

 

Penny Dreadful Multipack Volumes 1 – 7 – KEEP.  I picked up the Kindle editions of all 7 volumes for a few dollars, and I will eventually read them.

Star Trek: The Next Generation series – KEEP.   I’ve read the first one in the series, and I have books 2 through 5 in paperback.  The remaining books are on my wish list.  From my count, there are 55 books in the series, and that doesn’t count all of the other one-offs and mini-series that feature the Next Generation crew.  I will probably read all of those, too, someday. TNG is my fave “Star Trek” series, after all.

The Legends of River Song by various authors – KEEP.  I love “Doctor Who”, and I love River Song even more, especially portrayed by Alex Kingston.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – KEEP.  Apparently, this week’s post is all about the Science Fiction.  I’m ok with that.  After Fantasy, it’s one of my favorite genres.

Dust by Hugh Howey – KEEP. This is the last book in the “Silo” trilogy, which I absolutely LOVE.  Howey has become one of my auto-buy authors.  I’m looking forward to reading this during the Summer.

My TBR pile remains at 836 books, and unless I finish a book by next weekend, I don’t think it will be changing.  I became much more selective about the books I added to my TBR by this point in time (2017), and had already participated in the original #ShelfLove challenge for a couple of years.

Down the TBR Hole #76

Published on by Rachelle
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 a long time since I’ve done one of these posts.  My TBR pile went from 665 to 831!  My goal for this year is to reduce that to 740, which shouldn’t be an issue since I’m hosting the 2021 #ShelfLove challenge.  Since I didn’t do a post last week to start off the new year, I’m going to go through 10 books this week.

This week’s books:

 

Title Wave and A Just Clause by Lorna Barrett – KEEP.  I love this Cozy Mystery series.  I finished A Fatal Chapter not too long ago, and it’s only a matter of time before I start Title Wave.

 

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova – KEEP. The Historian made it into my personal library-in-the-making, and I’ve been wanting to read this for quite some time.

 

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle – KEEP.  The only reason I haven’t read this one yet is that I’m in the middle of several other book-related Cozy Mystery series and I don’t want to get confused.

 

The Plastic Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg – KEEP.  Yet another series I love!  I still need to read The Master Magician before I get to this one, and I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet. Perhaps because it’s an ebook and I’ve been preoccupied with trying to clear my physical TBR.

 

Wonder Woman: War Bringer by Leigh Bardugo – KEEP. Wonder Woman is my fave DC comics character and Leigh Bardugo has been well-reviewed.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner – KEEP. I love “Beauty and the Beast” retellings.  It’s my favorite fairytale, and this one sounds like it will be different from the usual retellings.

City of Strife by Claudie Arseneault – GO.  I have completely lost interest in this book.  I’m pretty sure the only reason I got it was because the cover looks so interesting.  I don’t even remember ever reading the synopsis.

Disconnected by Nick M. Lloyd – GO.  Meh.  I’m pretty sure this was a freebie from somewhere.

Harry Potter’s Bookshelf by John Granger – KEEP.  While I don’t think this is an “official” book, I am interested in reading about the books and stories that inspired the “Harry Potter” series.

My TBR pile is down two to 829 books, and my next post will be mostly made up of books from series.  I will probably bundle them like I did with the “Booktown Mysteries” books at the beginning of this post.  Even if I do that, my TBR likely won’t decrease at all over the next couple of weeks unless I finish reading some books.

Down the TBR Hole #75

Published on by Rachelle
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 Rachelle
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 Rachelle
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 #72

Published on by Rachelle
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 666 books, which seems very fitting for being in the middle of RIP XIV.

This week’s books:

Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl – KEEP.  Black Widow is my fave Marvel character, and I loved the first book, Forever Red, so there’s no way I would get rid of this one.

In the Shadow of Lakecrest by Elizabeth Blackwell- KEEP. I don’t think I’ll enjoy this book, since it’s far from my usual reading choices, but I’ll give it the 50 page test.  I might find myself pleasantly surprised.

The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who by Simon Guerrier and Dr. Marek Kukula – KEEP.  The real science behind “Doctor Who”?!  I was so excited when I saw this in a bookstore that I paid the full hardback price without a blink.

The Diary of River Song: Series One by Jenny T. Colgan and Series Two by Guy Adams – KEEP.  These have been on my wish list forever because I can’t find them anywhere for a reasonable price.  Besides the Doctor, River Song is my favorite character in the Doctor Who universe, and I love Alex Kingston.

Do Not Sell at Any Price by Amanda Petrusich – KEEP. I love music and records, and I enjoy reading non-fiction about both.

My TBR pile is stuck at 666 books for now, and I’m not sure it will be decreasing within the next week.  I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, but hopefully I can pull myself out of it to finish at least one book before the next post.

Down the TBR Hole #71

Published on by Rachelle1 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 to 665 books, thanks to all the reading I’ve been doing for RIP XIV.

This week’s books:

 

Rise of the Retics by T.J. Lantz – KEEP.  The synopsis mentions “sword-fighting squirrels” and an “emotionally imbalanced fairy.” Sounds fun!

Pale Queen Rising by A.R. Kahler- KEEP. No red flags went up while I read the synopsis, so this might end up being a solid Fantasy read.  I’ll give it a try.

Gateway to Fourline by Pam Brondos – GO.  The synopsis is a bit generic, and the reviews are not good.  I’m not going to waste my time with this one.

The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler – GO.  I just don’t want to read this one, and that’s OK.

Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer – GO. This one comes off as absolutely ridiculous.  No thanks.

My TBR pile is down to 662 books. I know that it will be at least one book lower by next weekend, since I’m nearly done with Day Shift by Charlaine Harris.

Down the TBR Hole #70

Published on by Rachelle
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 to 670 books, thanks to all the reading I accomplished during Bout of Books!

This week’s books:

At Odds with Destiny by Various Authors – GO.  This is an ebook of books, but it’s mislabeled as book one of a trilogy. I already own one of the books, The Luck of the Weissensteiners by Christoph Fischer, and most of the others don’t sound interesting.

Spirited Away by Maggie Plummer- GO. I try not to judge books by their cover, but what is going on with this one?! Is it a man holding a pregnant woman’s stomach, a woman holding her own pregnant stomach, or something else entirely? Then there’s the synopsis, which is also a confusing mess.  I stopped reading it after the poorly written review that was supposedly from “Publisher’s Weekly.”

The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung – KEEP.  I’m always skeptical of self-published books.  However, this one won a Fantasy blog-off against 267 other self-published books and it has really good reviews.  I’m still skeptical, but I’m willing to give it the 50 page test. The Unwilling Adventurer by Heidi Willard – GO.  The synopsis seemed too good to be true, so I checked some of the reviews, and sure enough, the majority of them are 3 stars and below. I don’t have time in my life for books that are only so-so.

Anais of Brightshire by Jamie Wilson – KEEP. I was initially drawn to this freebie by the title.  The synopsis gives me the impression that the book will have a 50/50 chance of being great or a total dud.  I’m willing to try it.

My TBR pile is down to 667 books. I’ll probably be getting rid of more next week, and since this is a 3-day weekend, I might even be starting the post out with fewer books on the pile.

Down the TBR Hole #69

Published on by Rachelle
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 675 books.  A couple of my favorite authors have recently come out with new books, and I couldn’t resist adding them.

This week’s books:

Secrets of the Stonechaser by Nicholas Andrews – GO.  Whoa, that cover is super busy, and the synopsis is, too.  No thanks.

Rise of the Dragons by Morgan Rice- GO. Oh lovely, yet another “sweeping saga” about a teenage girl with a “mysterious inner power” who is the center of a prophecy and is destined to change her world forever. *yawn*

Scarlet and the Dragon’s Burden by Brandon Charles West – KEEP.  This is the 2nd book in the “Scarlet Hopewell” series, and the first book has already made it through one of these posts to stay on my TBR.  Since I already own both of them, I’ll keep this one, too, at least until I read Scarlet and the Keepers of Light. The Book of Deacon by Joseph R. Lallo – KEEP.  I’m skeptical about this one.  I have a feeling it will be very generic Fantasy, but the synopsis is just vague enough to make me think it might be worth my time to read.  We’ll see.

The Arch of Avooblis by Charles Streams – GO. What the heck is an Avooblis?!  The story seems to be fairly serious, but everyone goes to an academy to learn how to fulfill quests, which makes the story come off as a parody of classic Fantasy tropes.  I don’t care enough to find out.

My TBR pile is down to 672 books. Next week’s books will also have a 50/50 chance of being kept or tossed off the mountain.