TBR Shelves Potential Hazard
This is my TBR (to be read) bookshelf. Yes, the shelves are double stacked front and back and there are about 25 or so more books in the living room I didn’t feel like transporting to the bedroom for this picture. There are historicals, contemporaries, paranormals and Eroticas. Some of these are autographed, some were won, and some were given to me by friends who just knew I would love them. And I’m sure I will…some day.
I realize this is not the biggest TBR shelf out there. By my calculations, I have between 250 and 275 books waiting for my attention. I’ve heard others say they are pushing 800 so I in no way am suggesting I am the worst off. But it’s still annoying.
I’ve been reading romance novels since the mid 80s if memory serves. (stop laughing) And in all that time, I never had a TBR pile. Had never even heard the term. I bought or borrowed a book, read it, then went and bought or borrowed another. At some point I found specific authors that hooked me enough to have me searching for their backlist, but even then, I was able to keep up with my purchases. Not anymore.
The way I see it, I have three choices to deal with this situation. 1) I could quit my job and school to devote all me time to reading. 2) I could decline from buying another book until I have read everything already in my possession. 3) I could say forget it and give, trade or sell all of these books so as to eliminate the problem all together.
Needless to say, none of these choices are attractive. Option 1 is impossible as I prefer NOT to be homeless and NOT to starve. Option 2 is impossible as terrific new books hit the shelves every month and must be added to the collection because SOMEDAY I’ll get around to reading them. And option 3 is simply impossible. If I have to explain why, I have to wonder what you’re doing at this blog.
So I vote for option 4. That is, everyone stop writing for a while. Take some time off, take that vacation you’ve been dreaming about but couldn’t find the time to go. Spend some time with the family, recharge your batteries, and give me time to catch up.
This is obviously the best solution going. It’s a win-win for everyone. The authors get time off, I get time to catch up, and by the time I’m done and books can be written again, the authors will have spent years creating the stories and they will be the best anyone has ever read. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation in the resolution of this situation and promise to notify the proper authorities when this bookshelf is empty.
Am I the only one carrying extra cargo that is weighing this ship down? Do you have a TBR shelf or room? If you have no books mounting up and staring at you with their sad little spines begging you for attention, lie. And since I’m glutton for punishment, what books are you drooling to get your hands on over the next few months?
June 9th, 2008 at 1:38 am
I have about 20 books on the floor next to my desk. Most friends have sent me; they include three library books. 3 books are in the towel basket in the bathroom. One is in my handbag. I’m not in your league, but I never feel comfortable unless I have at least 5 unread books waiting. Terri, I think it’s your duty as a pirate to share the booty and send a book to every commenter, a prize for just showing up here on the ship. Everybody will win, including the post office.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:49 am
I lurve my TBR… love it! Would it make you feel better knowing you are not alone? And let me tell you! my TBR is now in the hundreds… yes that’s hundreds plural! I won’t part with them… I’ll eventually get around to them. I like to look at it this way (since I used to only keep about an extra 10-15 books on hand….)
I have selection for any mood… it’s lame but it works.
And maggie.. everyone will win but the pocketbut! LOL
June 9th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Oh and I recommend starting with the fast reads…. I see a lovely stack of JQ
Start there… it’ll take a week–two–max. 
June 9th, 2008 at 6:34 am
I can go with option three and have before. I thin out the stack and keep the ones I simply cannot do without. The books that aren’t by some of my favorite authors, or I haven’t heard rave reviews about, I cart to the Paperback Exchange. This works for me because the excess books stacked every where drives my OCD over the edge:)
I look forward to Lisa Kleypas’ Seduce me at Sunrise due out in September, and Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn due out the first of August.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Oh, and presently I have about fifty books on my TBR shelf.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I do not have a huge TBR. Maybe 10 or so. Probably less. Though, if you include some of the classics I have on my shelf (which I don’t because it’s less like to be read and if must be read later) then I’m closer to 40.
I agree with Tiff though. Having more options isn’t a bad thing.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Maggie - don’t make me flag you as spam.
Tiff - I know you have more TBR books than I do. Do you keep them all in one place or do you spread them around? Maybe if I slipped these in with all the others in the living room, I won’t have the shelf of guilt staring at me all the time.
Lisa - There are two things stopping me from clearing these out. One is my cheap side. The idea that I’d have to buy these books all over again means I’ll never part with them until after I read them. The other is I really do want to read them. There are great authors in there. Some autobuys, some new to me but raved about, and some classics and hard to finds.
If only I were more fickle…
June 9th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Marn - 10? Really? Did you miss the part about lying? I could alway send you some of these with the deal that we could send them back and forth. Then I’d still have them but not really *have* them in the house. Hmmmmm……this could be option 5. LOL!
June 9th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I have 185. I counted. I thinned out my bookcase shelves and 100 of them are now in a Rubbermail container in the back bedroom waiting for me to have time to read them. Just when I start to whittle down the numbers I seem to go on a book winning streak or bring home several new books from a conference or spy a new-to-me author’s backlist at the paperback trade store. And, of course, we can’t forget all the new releases that I just *have* to buy because it’s all about instant gratification, isn’t it?
There are several books coming out over the summer that I’m looking forward to - Christina Dodd’s INTO THE SHADOW and INTO THE FLAME, SOME LIKE IT WICKED by Teresa Medeiros, Victoria Dahl’s A RAKE’S GUIDE TO PLEASURE, Susan Mallery’s SWEET TALK, HOT PROPERTY by Carly Phillips, and Joanna Bourne’s MY LORD AND SPYMASTER, just to name a few.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Hey Terri, you could start a lending library then use the overdue fines to buy *new* romance books!
June 9th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Sorry Ter. That might be an option, but it has to wait until HBG is done next month. Then I’ll take a month off and I can start reading more.
I should have put a disclaimer on my post. I haven’t got a huge TBR this year because I haven’t been able to go to the bookstore a lot (DS hates the bookstore. No, scratch that, DS hates his stroller). And I haven’t let myself buy a lot online because every time I think about it, I tell myself I should be writing. Naggy whiny voice.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:15 am
My books are sorted by author and genre… so they are all mixed in together… but I know if I’ve read them or not if I flip through them, doesn’t matter that I own close to 2000 books
At least I can say that more than half have been read 
June 9th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Wow, PJ. That’s a lot of books for someone who reads as quickly and as much as you do. See, I never had this many before partially because I had more time to read. Didn’t get behind so easily. When I was reading a book every week to ten days, it wasn’t near this bad.
But the biggest problem is finding this wonderful little romance community on the internet. As great as it is, it’s really hard on the TBR list.
That lending library has merit. Though I could never charge late fees. I could be like the Netflix of books. LOL! Subscribe today!
June 9th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Marn - we’ll have to revisit this option in a month or so then. Sorry to hear about the strong distaste for the stroller. Do you have one of those fancy ones? Those things are like Cadillacs these days!
Tiff - I’ve never counted all the ones in the living room. And though I thought I had kept all the books I’ve read, there are tons that I don’t have anymore. Some I borrowed and returned or lent out and never got back. I do know I’m eventually going to need more bookshelves. These are going to have to go somewhere once I finally get to them. I’ll just turn the living room into a library and be done with it.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I’m trying to catch up on my TBR pile. I’m down to about five left. I don’t like to keep a big TBR pile because I’m weird like that. So if I own them, I loan them out.
Funny how Hellion and I were talking about piles of books and loaning them out and forgetting about them. LOL My bookcase is overflowing and has starting making piles everywhere and I’ve got about 25 books out on loan to my sister. I have no idea where I’m going to put them when they come back.
I look forward to Louise Rennison’s “Stop in the name of pants!” Stephanie Meyer’s “Breaking Dawn” Lisa Kleypas’ “Seduce Me at Sunrise” Pamela Clare’s “Untamed”.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Yes but I keep track of all my books, in a nifty excel spreadsheet… cause I’m anal about my books.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Ter - we have a jogging stroller, the one that came with our Graco travel system, and an umbrella stroller. He does not discriminate in his distaste. LOL! He just doesn’t like to be tied down. I swear, “Don’t Fence Me In” must play in his head as his theme song.
Books I’m looking forward to…. I just bought Julia Quinn’s new one, so I’m about to dive into that.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Sin - do you keep the books you read or just special ones? I’m so weird in that I hate to part with them once I read them. But I’m not a re-reader. Though with my memory, someday I’ll be able to re-read them and it will be just like reading them for the first time.
Tiff - It’s obvious from this picture I do not have the most organized system. LOL! I applaud you for your anal tendencies. (That sounds wrong, doesn’t it?)
Marn - maybe we need to install a radio in the stroller to give him a new tune. LOL! Some kids are like that. Can’t say I blame them. Being strapped in when there is so much to explore is no fun at all!
I’ve heard wonderful things about Julia’s book. Happy reading.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:59 am
My TBR pile is an ever growing mountain. I never know when the pressure’s going to be too much and the mountain will explode like Mt. Vesuvius. LOL. Because I write historicals, I must research. If I sit down to read, something inside my head says “you should be doing research,” or “you should be writing your own book.” What’s a pirate to do? I’m actually quite impressed with your photo. I thought I was the only one with stacks spreading out onto the floor in front of my bookcases.
I’m looking forward to going to the beach and taking some books with me to read. But…I’m also talking about taking my laptop. Argh!
I loan my TBR selections out to #2 who reads them quicker than I can give them to her.
Haven’t figured out how I will get books home from San Fan. With airline rates the way they are, I’ll have to ship them, I suppose.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Kathy - I too fear these things will someday take over. Topple on top of me and no one will find me for days. Maybe weeks!
I have that same voice. Anytime I do anything other than homework, that voice says I should be writing. I mostly only read right before going to sleep at night. Unfortunately, I’m reading Blue Eyed Devil right now which means I can’t put the damn thing down!
I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do to get books home from San Fran. But I’m a good packer. So if I keep it compact on the way over, hopefully I can fit lots in the suitcase. And there’s always the laptop bag. I’m sure I can slide several in there. As you say, if all else fails, shipping will be necessary.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I have a TBR bookshelf that keeps growing. My mother-in-law is a librarian, so anytime their library has paperback books sales, she scoops up all the romance and romantic suspense for me. Once a month I get a huge box of books from her, and she always says “will this hold you over for a while?” and I’m thinking “I haven’t read the last four boxes!”
But I’m such a picky reader that many of them will end up being re-donated to our library. Now and then you can find an amazing book or great new author on the 10 cent rack, but most often the books I get are only so-so (is that terribly snobby to say?)
I’m super excited about Sandra Brown’s “Smoke Screen” in August. I’m #2 on the library waiting list! And I’m eagerly waiting the re-release of Pamela Clare’s first historical trilogy - I want to scoop them all up at once and read them one after another.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:35 am
An entire box once a month?! And I thought I was bad off. I have run into that where someone just knows you read romance and assume you’ll take anything in the genre or remotely close to it. I just smile and take them and then they go with me the next time I head out to the UBS. Which reminds me, I probably need to make a trip there sometime soon. I’m sure there’s something on this shelf that could go.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I go by date and how long I’ve had them in my pile. The ones on the bottom have been there the longest. If they haven’t migrated upwards (usually means I’ve taken them out and looked them over again) then I do my normal, look at the cover, read the back blurb, open to a random page in the middle of the book, and if it hooks me, I keep it. If I’m mildly bored with it, I put it in a bag to take to the trade-a-book. I have a running list of books I still want to get. I jumped over my list when I bought Stephanie Meyer’s books last Tuesday, but that’s okay. I’m obsessed now. I can’t take it back. LOL
I have books that I’ve randomly picked up that I’ve never read. Those are normally the ones that get the TBR axe. Usually, the ones I’ve read and loved, I keep.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Ter, If I happen to trade out a certain book I haven’t read I can always trade back for it at a later date when I have the urge to read something not on my TBR shelf. That is the beauty of the paperback trade system:)
June 9th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sin - I have books cut in line all the time. I’m fickle in some ways, I suppose. Like the Kleypas books I’m reading, Leslie Langtry’s books jumped line. Eloisa’s always get read right when they come out and I’ll probably read Christie Craig’s new one before going to the pile.
You see, this is why everyone needs to stop writing new ones to let me catch up. I really don’t see how that’s too much to ask.
Lisa - What system is that? At my used bookstore, I trade in books and get 50% of the price printed on the book. Then I use that credit toward other books but the trade is never even. I usually get about 10 books for $20 by time I leave the store.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:27 am
*bark of laughter* NICE TRY. Don’t think this gets you out of writing! Crap, I just remembered, I think I have 0 word count for last week…no, wait, I have that dreaded-awful synopsis I wrote. That was it. I need to stop reading. But then I’d just watch POTC. *LOL*
June 9th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Didn’t you notice how I managed to keep the subject of writing (well, my writing anyway) out of this one? I thought that was pretty inspired. Thanks for blowing my cover. LOL!
Someone should take away your DVD player. Though I shouldn’t talk since we have become addicted to the BBC series Robin Hood. I know it’s so hokey at times but I tell you, it’s addictive. Jonas Armstrong is such a cutey. He’s got that grin with the twinkle in his eye.
And then there’s Richard. In leather. ‘Nuff said.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I love Robin Hood the series. No need to disclaim on my account. Jonas is adorable; and Richard is a sex god. Hokey, yes, but then again, what isn’t?
If you take away my DVD player, I’d probably nap more.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I’m worried what we’ll do when we run out of DVDs. I think there are two left and the last one is just lots of bonus stuff. Not that I’m complaining. Disc 3 had the Guy of Gisborne profile on it. Is it just me or is Richard wearing eye liner? LOL!
And I’m struggling to ignore the fact Jonas is 10 years younger than I am. Still, he’s so cute.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I don’t have a very large TBR pile because I haven’t gotten around to actually leaving the house and going to the store in a long while. My TBB (to be bought) list is much longer though, and I’m just hoping to be able to buy them before they go out of print.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
J.K. - the bad news is, we prefer you stay in and write your own stories. The good news is, I’ll have all the books you’re looking for when you get around to reading time again. LOL!
June 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Robin Hood series? Note to self, must not keep forgetting this is on Saturday nights. Harumph!
June 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Oh, forgot to mention, Hellion. I have moments, many of them in fact, where I just want to sit down and watch POTC instead.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Kathy - Do you have BBC America? I don’t have it so I have to get the DVDs. Not sure when season 2 will be available. I need to look that up. It’s appointment watching for sure.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Terrio,
Once you get to National in SF, your TBR pile could easily DOUBLE! No, I’m not kidding. There are GREAT FREE books everywhere. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, since I have nowhere left to stack them at home) I am driving this year and will be able to bring back as many as my car will carry.
Some smart person (whose name escapes me) advises to pack one of those flat post office boxes (one shipping price regardless of weight) and some packing tape in your suitcase. Then load that baby up and mail them home to yourself.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hey there, AC,
I never remember those on price shipping boxes. I’ll have to get one. I keep hearing about all the free books. Really, it’s just mean for the airlines to start charging for extra baggage. Couldn’t they have done that AFTER the conference? LOL!
I bet your car is going to be dragging as you drive out of town. Good to know I’m not the only person running out of room.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I have around 50 right now on my TBR pile, that is for the books in English/American and about 5 for those in French. And about 50/70 more on my wish list at amazon, but I’ll try to be reasonable about it (yeah right) and read some before buying some…Like I could buy one, (okay let’s make it two..or three), for each book finish right? Sounds fair… The thing is I can’t always find the books I want here so when I see that they are available at amazon I can’t help it and hit the add to cart and process button….in case someone does it before I do and I end up waiting two months before getting it….
June 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I rarely buy from Amazon. Since I would only buy one or two books at a time, I hate the idea of paying shipping. Especially when I can stop while I’m out and usually find what it is I want.
And I don’t have a wish list on Amazon. That would be too scary to contemplate. Besides, I seem to have a ton of books I can’t get to now. Seeing more on a wish list might send me into guilt overload.
Thanks for stopping by, Stef.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I don’t pay for the shipping here( and I’m grinning like a loon while typing this) and amazon is one of the very few ways for me to get US/GB books…I worship amazon.
And I loved the blog…books and TBR and TBB…my idea of heaven..with rum and chocolate…
June 9th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I totally forgot you’re on the other side of the water. No shipping? Hmmm…now if I could just get over my frugality and be willing to pay full price for the things.
And I’m looking forward to a year from now when I finish college and I don’t have to feel guilty about reading all the time. I plan on putting a serious dent in this collection!
Though I’m trying not to think about how large it’s going to be by then. Heaven help me…
June 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
It’s funny that you blogged about TBR stacks today, Terri, because I have been staring at mine and wondering if the books in it should have an expiration date. At what point does TBR become PNR (Probably Never Read)?
I do reread and since I lost a lot of bookshelf spece with my recent move, I have to cull the TBRs in order to have room for my comfort reads and for the TBBs. I have to have space for EJ’s Duchess by Night, Nora’s Tribute, La Dodd’s Into the Shadows, Emilie Richards’s Sister’s Choice Luanne Rice’s Last Kiss, Joanna Bourne’s My Lord and Spymaster, and Susan Holloway Scott’s The King’s Favorite. These are just the titles at the top of my current TBB list.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I never group my TBR pile all in one place because then I’m pretty sure it would scare the crap out of me. By spreading things out I have the illusion of not falling further behind. ha ha ha ha
June 9th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Eileen - I would try this method but with my memory, I’d forget which books were which and then I’d never get around to reading anything. LOL!
June 9th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Janga - We have to have faith that we will get to all of these eventually. And this is exactly why I think they should all take a break. With that many good books coming out in the next six weeks or so, how can we be expected not to buy them?
June 9th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I delude myself into thinking my TBR pile is not so huge because I have it scattered throughout the house - in my laundry room, my nightstand and my car. I am never without a book close at hand. It does take me quite a few months to even get to any of those books in that pile and that doesn’t stop me from borrowing more, buying some off my TBB list or trotting over to my UBS to ‘trade’ one stack of books for another!
June 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
If we want to look at this a different way, we could be addicted to much worse things. So maybe I’ll stick with the book addiction and consider it healthier than the alternatives.
But I love that you even have some in your car. LOL!
June 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
TBR pile? Don’t you mean mountain??
I have 2 boxes, about 40 each & a pile of 30-40 in the bedroom. Which was added to bigtime after RT. And I have a list 2 pages long of books I want/need to get from all the stuff/junk/recommendations from RT.
Have you tried selling unwanted books on Half.com?
It is owned by Ebay, but does not go by Ebay rules. You can leave the books on sale practically forever.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
DJS - You were at RT? I was at the booksigning but not the actual conference. That room was so packed and many of the books on my shelf were purchased that day.
I’ve considered selling books on there (didn’t know about the rules thing) but I’d rather take them to my used bookstore where I get half price credit and I don’t have to deal with shipping anything.
And yes, mountain would be a better word.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
First time at RT. I live about 8 miles south-east.
Poppa dropped my sister & I off at the Hilton, then picked us up 5 days later. We went with 5 suitcases & came back with 11.
I do half.com because I don’t have just 7 days to get rid of them. I’ve had books on for 2 years now.
There is only 1 used bookstore within 10 miles of my house & I usually don’t see anything I want there. I’m a keeper. I have 6 bookcases in the bedroom. And I reread.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
DJS - I grew up 45 minutes outside PGH and my family is still there. I actually dragged my family all over that booksigning so if you saw the old pervy looking man and the 8 yr old little girl, that was my family. LOL!
June 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Yes, I did see them. I don’t think he looks that ‘Pervy’. (G)
We are near Kennywood. RT was a total blast. I hope it gets within driving distance soon.
June 17th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I have a substantial pile as well it’s due to compulsive book collecting! I have it in my head if i don’t get it when i see it , I may not find it later! Also I’m a mood reader, so i have to keep a assortment of read’s depending on my Mood. I have a collection of Pirate Romance reads, and i collect books with settings in coastal locations. I read various gentry’s but those stay of my keeper shelf. There’s a new Pirate read out with 4 different authors in it have to go back and look for the name saw it listed on authorisland and a new book called Pleasuring the Pirate by Emily Bryan those will be 2 i definately buy. I always have room on my pirate shelf if not, i’ll get another shelf!
June 17th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Hi there, Lori. Thanks for dropping by the pirate ship. Anyone who loves pirates is welcome around here. Obviously. LOL! It’s harder to find books with pirate heroes these days. That Emily Bryan book sounds interesting. I’ll have to check that out.
Glad you found us and hope you’ll visit again!