I recently saw the TBR Book Tag on CleopatraLovesBooks and thought it looked like fun so I’ve decided to have a go at answering the questions myself. I don’t know who originally started this tag but if anyone knows please tell me and I’ll amend this post to credit them.
I’m a bit nervous of joining in with this tag because I know how big my TBR but it’ll give you an insight into just how much of a bookaholic I really am! I know people define their TBR differently but for me, a TBR book is one I already own and doesn’t include wishlist books.
How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I started my Goodreads account many years ago and from the day I signed up I’ve always added every book that comes into my possession onto there. I make sure to keep it up to date as it’s great to have an accurate record of all the books I own and all the books I’ve read.
Is your TBR mostly print or ebooks?
These days it’s mainly ebooks. I used to own literally thousands of books (it was over six thousand at one point). Around five years ago my husband bought me my first Kindle. I had always been against ebooks, I was a purist and I was always going to keep my print books but the lure of having any book I wanted instantly began to appeal to me, and then when we went away not having to take a massive suitcase on a three day trip just so I could take some books with me was liberating. These days my disability means it’s much easier for me to hold a Kindle. I can read print books but it’s harder for me to do because my hands no longer work properly so having a kindle means I can still read. This year my husband surprised me with the new Kindle Voyage for my birthday and it’s brilliant, the front-lit screen means it’s perfect for reading during the night when I can’t sleep too.
How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
Before I was a blogger it was as case of whichever book caught my eye as I scrolled through my kindle. Since I started receiving ARCs I keep these separately from my other books and I always prioritise review books. I read them in order of publication date but if I receive them after the publication date then I read them in the order that I received them, or to a date agreed with the publisher or author. I always have 4 or 5 books on the go at once, all different genres, so I try to have a book I’ve bought in the mix too.
A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?
I’ve had The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver on my TBR for about a decade. Every time I have a clear out of my books I spot this one on my bookcase and I always keep it because I really want to read it… and yet it’s still a TBR! Maybe one day…
A book you recently added to your TBR?
The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern. She is one of my favourite authors so I couldn’t resist buying this on publication day on Thursday!
A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?
I’ve never bought a book strictly because of it’s cover. Having said that, now that I mainly read on Kindle, I find myself drawn to beautiful editions or special editions of books that I’ve read as an ebook and I do buy those for my bookcases. So it’s not strictly TBR books but it is still buying books for their beautiful covers. Fahrenheit 451 is my favourite book so I treasure my beautiful clothbound hardback edition that my husband bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago, it really is stunning. I also have some of the Penguin clothbound classics, my favourite of those is Tess of the D’Urbervilles as it’s another of my favourite books and this edition is gorgeous.
A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?
Ooh, that’s a tough question! I think in my last big clear out a year ago I got rid of all the books I knew I’d never read. Actually, having said that, I did keep just a few of my mum’s books after she died, purely because they were precious to her. They’re not really my taste though and I probably won’t ever read them, that’s not to say that I don’t treasure them.
An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited to read?
There are so many books I could mention but I think it has to be either The Widow by Fiona Barton, or Look at Me by Sarah Duguid.
A book on your TBR that everyone has read except you?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I love the sound of this book and I really do intend to read it one day but I’ve just yet to get around to it. It does seem to be a book that always pops up on lists and it’s one people still talk about so much and I really do feel like I must be in the minority of readers to not have read it yet.
A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?
A lot of people have told me to read The Accident Season recently and I love the sound of it, I just haven’t got around to reading it yet. It’s definitely one that I must try and bump up my TBR mountain soon though.
A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements, I received a copy in the post this week and I cannot wait to start reading it! I’ve loved all of Abby’s previous books and her Christmas novel Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is one of my favourite ever Christmas books; I try to read it every Christmas as it never fails to get me in the festive spirit! So I’m hoping this new one will become another favourite!
How many books are in your goodreads TBR shelf?
I divide my TBR into three sections:
audiobooks TBR (31)
ebooks TBR (4400),
So added together my TBR has 4522 books on it. I used to have a real fear of running out of books to read, I’m now at the stage of thinking I’m never going to be able to read all of the books that I want to!
Thank you for my mention – I agree that I have stockpiled books in part so that I’m never at risk of running out of books – your pile makes mine seem puny 😉
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