Tag: TBR pile

The 2026 #ShelfLove Challenge!

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment

I’ll being doing the #ShelfLove reading challenge again next year, as a part of my Low-Buy year.

Goal: Abstain from buying books or set a book buying limit – and focus on clearing your physical and virtual TBR bookshelves for the entire year.

Challenge Dates: January 1st – December 31st, 2026

THE GUIDELINES:

  • Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year or set a book buying limit (whether that’s monetary or the number of books you may buy).
  • Gift cards are OK as well as any Audible or Libro.FM credits you already have.
  • Encourage other challenge participants via blog comments and social media.
  • Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is only for books you already own.
  • Netgalley, Edelweiss, or other ARC books you acquired prior to 2026 count for this challenge because you have the book, so you might as well read it (and write those reviews!).
  • Read books that are in your personal library that were obtained before January 1, 2026.

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 1: SELECT YOUR GOAL

  • 1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves
  • 11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back
  • 21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug
  • 31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves
  • 41-50 books: your shelves are now your BFF
  • 51+ books: your shelves and you are going steady – I’m choosing this goal again because my reading goal will be more than 50 books. While I am allowing myself to buy used books with money I get from selling back the books I no longer want, I won’t be buying any brand-new physical books. The only exceptions to this are that I am allowed to buy myself one new book for my Birthday and as a Christmas present to myself. I’m also not buying any ebooks this year, but I have a lot of credits for audiobooks, so I’ll only be limiting those to the credits I already have.

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 2: Link-Up

  • Create a sign-up post that includes your chosen goal on your blog or any social media platform (Facebook, X, Goodreads, StoryGraph, Litsy, etc.).
  • Don’t forget to use the challenge hashtag #ShelfLove.
  • Comment on this post with a link to your sign-up post!

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 3: READ THOSE BOOKS!

  • Feel free to post updates on how the challenge is going and what books you’ve been reading. I’ll be providing an update every week in my “Building the Book Fort” posts, and you can comment on those posts if you would like, but updates aren’t mandatory.

I can’t wait to read y’all’s sign-up posts and show my bookshelves some love!

The 2025 #ShelfLove Challenge!

Published on by Rachelle5 Comments

I’m bringing back the #ShelfLove reading challenge in 2025 in an attempt to reduce the amount of money I spend on books and the number of books on my TBR.

Goal: Abstain from buying books or set a book buying limit – and focus on clearing your physical and virtual TBR bookshelves for the entire year.

Challenge Dates: January 1st – December 31st, 2025

THE GUIDELINES:

  • Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year or set a book buying limit (whether that’s monetary or the number of books you may buy).
  • Gift cards are OK as well as any Audible credits you already have in your account.
  • Encourage other challenge participants via blog comments and social media.
  • Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is only for books you already own.
  • Netgalley, Edelweiss, or other ARC books can count for this because you have the book, so read it!
  • Read books that are in your personal library that were obtained before January 1, 2025.

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 1: SELECT YOUR GOAL

  • 1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves
  • 11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back
  • 21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug
  • 31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves
  • 41-50 books: your shelves are now your BFF
  • 51+ books: your shelves and you are going steady – I’m choosing this goal because my reading goal for 2025 will be more than 50 books.  I’m a member of the Nightmares from Nowhere book club, so I am allowing myself to continue my subscription. These books, plus whatever books I check out from the library should be more than enough, but the key is to stay away from the book stores!

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 2: Link-Up

  • Create a sign-up post that includes your chosen goal on your blog or any social media platform (Facebook, X, Goodreads, Litsy, etc.).
  • Don’t forget to use the challenge hashtag #ShelfLove.
  • Comment on this post with a link to your sign-up post!

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 3: READ THOSE BOOKS!

  • Feel free to post updates on how the challenge is going and what books you’ve been reading. I’ll be providing an update every week in my “Building the Book Fort” posts, and you can comment on those posts if you would like, but updates aren’t mandatory.

I can’t wait to read all y’all’s sign-up posts and show my bookshelves some love!

Down the TBR Hole #92

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?
My TBR pile decreased a bit to 1094, thanks to finishing several books over the past couple of weeks since my last post.

This week’s books:

On Beauty by Zadie Smith – GO.  I remember getting this book years ago in one of the first subscription boxes I ever signed up for, but I don’t remember what it was called.  I do know that I cancelled that subscription not too long into it because all of the books were Literary Fiction.  I’ve rarely ever enjoyed that genre, and as much as I would love to be the kind of person who reads Zadie Smith and discuss it intelligently, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am just not that person.

 

Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower by Stephen King – KEEP.  Considering it is my goal to eventually (finally) finish this series, there is no way I will be getting rid of these books until they’ve been read.

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey – KEEP.  This is a “must read” series for lovers of Fantasy, so I will at the very least read the first book to see if it’s a series I want to continue.

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller- KEEP. This is yet another book I got for free from a friend getting rid of a bunch of his old books.  The synopsis is a little vague, but I’m going to give it a try.

The Diviners by Libba Bray – KEEP.  I’ve enjoyed Bray’s “Gemma Doyle” series so far, so I picked this book up several years back when I was at the Texas Book Festival.  It’s a 1920’s New York Supernatural Murder Mystery and that appeals to me.
My TBR pile is down one to 1093 books. The next post will be yet more physical books I own, but there’s a random ebook in there, so we’ll see if anything shakes loose.

Down the TBR Hole #91

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?
My TBR pile went up a few books to 1101, thanks to finding a couple of books I own that somehow never got added to Goodreads.  I also added a couple of books to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

All the Other Things I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek: The Next Generation by Dave Marinaccio – KEEP.  This is yet another book I got from a friend who was getting rid of a bunch of books and let me dig through them.

Tompkin’s School for the Extraordinarily Talented by Tabi Slick – GO.  This book was given to me as a random gift, but I’m really not interested in reading it.

Ralph: Coffee, Jazz & Poetry by Ralph Alfonso – KEEP.  I don’t remember where I found this one, but I got it because I used to be obsessed with anything related to the Beatniks.  I’m not obsessed anymore, but I’m still interested.

To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him by Gwendolyn Zepeda- GO. The synopsis doesn’t match up with what I thought this book was.  I was expecting Fiction, maybe short stories, and definitely humor, but it’s more like a mix of personal essays and poetry with some bits of short fiction thrown in.

Memory Mambo by Achy Obejas – GO.  I used to read anything and everything I could find about what it’s like growing up as a Cuban-American, since I’m part Cuban; however, it wasn’t long before I figured out that none of those books ever came close to my experience and just made me feel even more like an outsider than the characters often feel.
My TBR pile is down to 1098 books. The next post will be more physical books I own, and if I get rid of any of them, I’ll be surprised.

Down the TBR Hole #90

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?
My TBR pile dropped to 1099, thanks to finsihing several books during #BoutofBooks and this past week.  I also removed a few books from my wishlist that I was no longer interested in reading.

This week’s books:

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale – GO.  I don’t remember where or when I got this book, or even why I bought it.  Perhaps it came in one of the subscription boxes I used to get.  Regardless, I’m not interested in reading it.

Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery – KEEP.  I grouped these three together as one since they’re the remaining books in the “Anne of Green Gables” series, which I’ve been slowly re-reading over the past few years.  They will be moved into my permanent collection once I’ve finished them, along with the rest of the books in the series.

Arms from the Sea by Rich Shapero – GO.  I picked this one up for free at the Texas Book Festival so many years ago, back when I didn’t bother with reading the blurb to see if I even wanted to read it as long as it was a free book.  I’m glad I don’t do that anymore.  There’s no need to have books I never plan on reading on my shelves.

Borne by Jeff Vandermeer – KEEP. I didn’t love Annhilation, and didn’t bother getting the second book in the “Southern Reach” series for that reason, but I got this book in a book swap meetup before I had read Annhilation. Though I’m hesitant, I’m going to give this one the 50 page test.

The Metaphysics of Star Trek by Richard Hanley – KEEP.  I got this one for free from a friend who was getting rid of a bunch of books.  It’s a bit old, having been published in the late 90’s, but well after “Star Trek: The Next Generation” so I’m willing to see what the author has to say, if only for the reminisence of one of my all-time favorite Sci-Fi series.
My TBR pile is down a couple of books at 1096 books. The next few posts will be more of the physical books I own, and though I had predicted not getting rid of any of them in the last post, I’m now not so sure about that after getting rid of 2 books this week.  There just might be a few more that get tossed.

Down the TBR Hole #89

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?
My TBR pile went up a couple of books to 1117, despite me finishing several books since my last “Down the TBR Hole” post.  Of course, I keep finding more books to add to my wishlist.

This week’s books:

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse – KEEP.  I came across this book in a Half Price Books store when I was still living in Austin.  I’m a sucker for stories taking place in France, especially when they involve mythology, so I bought it without any clue as to whether or not it would be any good.

Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran – KEEP.  I love Moran and everything I’ve read of hers so far, so  buying this was a no-brainer.

The Hunger Games and Philosophy ed. by George A. Dunn and Nicolas Michaud, – KEEP.  “The Hunger Games” is one of my all-time favorite trilogies, and the 3rd book, especially, helped me process a lot of my experiences in the Army.  I don’t know if this book will do the same, but I am interested to read about the books from a philosophical perspective.

The Essential World of Darkness ed. by Stewart Wieck and Anna Branscome – KEEP. I took this book out of a box of books a friend was getting rid of, but had no idea it was an anthology of stories set in the world of a popular RPG series I have never played.  The Boyfriend says I’ll probably still enjoy it, so I’m going to give it a shot.

Revenge of the Star Survivors by Michael Mershel – KEEP.  I picked this up at the Texas Book Festival several years ago after attending one of the panel events that the author was on.  It sounded like the perfect Middle-Grade-beginning-of-the-school-year book for me.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1117 books. After scrolling down the list a bit, I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of any of my books in the next few posts, but who knows, maybe there’s a surprise waiting for all of us somewhere in there.

Down the TBR Hole #88

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?
My TBR pile shot up to 1115 books.  I added a large series to my wishlist so that I don’t have to keep looking up what the next book is as I finish them.

This week’s books:

Road Trips, Head Trips, and Other Car-Crazed Writings ed. by Jean Lindamood Jennings – KEEP.  I love road trips and books about them.

An Introduction to Women’s Writing ed. by Marion Shaw – KEEP.  Goodreads doesn’t have a synopsis, there are no other editions listed, and no reviews.  However, I remember finding this at a campus booksale for a $1, and I’m still interested in reading it.

Through Time by Andrew Cartmel – KEEP.  This was another “Doctor Who” book I got in a giveaway.

Wonder Woman Psychology ed. by Travis Langley – KEEP. I usually get the “[Insert fandom here] and Philosophy” books, but I didn’t see one for “Wonder Woman.”  Instead, I found this on the shelf at the bookstore, and I’m interested to see my favorite DC comic book character through the lens of psychology.

Dinosaur Highway by Laurie E. Jasinski – KEEP.  I LOVE Dinosaurs, and one of the biggest events every semester during my time in the Texas State University Geology Club was to go to a very small Natural History museum to help clean their portion of the dinosaur tracks and the surrounding area of debris.  The tracks we worked on were only viewable to regular visitors from a boardwalk, so it felt extra special to be able to get up close and personal with the tracks without having to be someone with letters after my name.  I bought this book in the museum’s gift shop during one of those trips so that I could learn more about the tracks and the history of the area.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1115 books. I don’t know if it’s easier to get rid of ebooks than the physical books I own or if I’m just choosier about the physical books I buy, but I don’t seem to be willing to part with my physical books like I have the ebooks in previous posts.

Down the TBR Hole #87

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?
My TBR pile went down to 1092 books.  I noticed that my individual TBR and Wishlist shelves weren’t adding up to the total that my to-read shelf was saying, and I spent far too much of my time figuring out why.

This week’s books:

Science Fiction Short Stories ed. by Laura Bulbeck – KEEP.  This was a gift from the Boyfriend.  I’m not sure what makes these stories “Gothic,” other than the cover, which is beautifully dark in my opinion, but I’m willing to find out.

Truth or Dare by Starhawk – KEEP.  This book is technically a re-read for me since I read it when I was in high school, but that was so long ago (gasp!) that I’ve kept it on my TBR as unread.

The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister – KEEP.  The synopsis opens with, “Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus…”, two books I greatly enjoyed.  The story itself sounds interesting as well.

Penny Dreadfuls ed. by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz – KEEP. I have so many “Penny Dreadful” books, but, while there is some overlap, they all have different stories.

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne – KEEP.  This book came in a book subscription box I had signed up for years ago (2017) and I remember there being quite a bit of talk about it being amazing.  It has an average of 4.05 stars on Goodreads, with well over 4 thousand reviews, which lends credence to the hype.  I’m pretty sure the only reason I haven’t read it yet is because it is HEAVY and over 600 pages.  It will definitely have to be a nightstand book.
My TBR pile is holding steady at 1092 books. The next post will be loaded with more of the physical books I own.

Down the TBR Hole #86

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?
My TBR pile shot up to 1098 books.  I finished the first book in a series, Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor, and added the rest of the series to my wishlist. This week’s books:

Hemingway Didn’t Say That by Garson O’Toole – KEEP.  This was a freebie, as many of my ebooks are, and I’m going to keep it because it sounds interesting, though it might end up being a dud as a lot of free and/or clearance Non-Fiction books tend to be. Extracted by R.R. Haywood – GO.  Time-Travel books are usually in my wheelhouse, but I’m just not feelin’ this one. Enemy by K. Eason – GO.  I’m not feelin’ this Fantasy novel, either. Golden Age by James Maxwell – GO. The synopsis for this book sounds like this is a Fantasy world ripped off from Ancient cultures. While a lot of Fantasy borrows elements from the real world, both past and present, this one sounds wholly unoriginal. Fan Phenomena: Doctor Who ed. by Paul Booth – KEEP.  I won a physical copy of this book, along with another one I’ll be taking a look at in the next post, from a blog giveaway years ago.  I’m still very much interested in reading it, and it will probably inspire me to re-watch “Doctor Who” for the third time.
My TBR pile is down a smidge to 1095 books. In the next post, I’ll start getting into a lot of the physical books I own that I had finally added to Goodreads after several years of saying I would get around to it eventually.

Down the TBR Hole #85

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?
My TBR pile went up again to 1070 books. This week’s books:

Lost in Arcadia by Sean Gandert – GO.  This story seems to be an exaggeration of current events set in the near future, and I’m tired of the real world as it is.  I’ll pass on this one. The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King – GO.  An orphan who is constantly ill is picked by a tyrant to be one of his courtesans or wives if she wins in battle against his current courtesans and wives?!  Is it just me, or does that not make any sense at all?! Hannah: The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes – KEEP.  I’m skeptical, but it is a Middle-Grade Fantasy, and I LOVE a good Middle-Grade Fantasy.  I’ll give it a shot. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan – KEEP. I’ve never read a WWII story from the perspective of an Italian. This one also happens to be based on a true story and isn’t just Historical Fiction. Scar Tissue by Scott Wiener – GO.  This literally has one review on Goodreads, and it’s only a star rating at that.  It is also self-published.  I’m not going to waste my time with a book that has been out in the world since 2017 and no one has been willing to review it.
My TBR pile is down to 1067 books. The next post will be made up of more Science Fiction and Fantasy ebooks that I got for free.