‘Tis true, I have yet to read a single book from this pile.
So many books, so little time! It doesn’t help when the list of books we intend to read are out of control. That TBR list is supposed to help us keep track of books we definitely want to read, so that we don’t lose track. Once it has grown out of proportion though, that list no longer helps us stay on task. In order to combat this problem, I have put together a list that serves as a handy guide to managing TBR piles.
1. Acknowledge your problem
As long as you’re in denial, you won’t care about managing your TBR pile in the first place. You need to accept that you cannot possibly read everything. Even if you were to spend every minute of the rest of your life reading, books are infinite compared to you. This is why you need to reduce your list to a reasonable size.
2. Be realistic
How many books are you able to read in a year? A hundred, two hundred, a dozen or fifty? Don’t allow your TBR pile to exceed double that number. Triple only iff you’re certain you’ll have more time to read in the upcoming months. During that time your aim will be to make a sizeable dent in your TBR pile. A two-year projection isn’t as overwhelming because you’re not wondering if you’ll ever be able to read all those books in your lifetime.
3. Cull your list of books to read
Be merciless. A TBR list of a thousand books is so overwhelmingly redundant. That list is supposed to help you pick up books you’re looking forward to reading. This means it needs to be manageable enough that you’re very likely able to read a book within two years of adding it to the list.
4. Be picky
After you’ve culled your list, don’t use this as an excuse to add every single book that catches your fancy. Scrutinising the synopsis, the author, the ratings and reviews should give you a clear enough idea of whether or not you’re truly interested in a book.
4. Set up pile for books to consider
Sometimes you might be so taken in by cover reveals, you let down your guard. You want to add all your new discoveries but don’t have the time yet to sort through those new titles. Bookmark them by adding them to a list of books to consider. Then sort through when time permits. Add only those books you think you definitely want to read to your TBR list.
When you’re done, don’t look back. Don’t wonder, “what if?” Lot’s wife looked back when escaping Sodom & Gomorrah—she turned into a pillar of salt.
6. Resist adding 10 books for every 1 book you read
I mean it. This is the surest way for your TBR pile to spiral out of control again. You’ve come this far, don’t let your efforts come to nought.
7. Review your TBR list every other month
Reading tastes change. Maybe you’ve binge-read so many mystery books, you never want to see them again. Remove them from your TBR list. Seeing those books on your list might deter you from picking a book you do want to read.
8. Remember to check off the books
After all, the point is to read those books. This is also the most satisfying way to reduce your TBR pile because you’re not forced to sacrifice a book.
Is your TBR pile in or out of control? What other tips do you have for managing TBR piles?
Confab ˈkän-ˌfab, kən-ˈ noun an informal discussion, often about a particular topic
Discussion posts are some of my favourite posts to read. New ideas get shared that way, or old ideas are revisited and given a new spin. And of course, I get to be my opinionated self as I hoist my views upon others, while pretending to be objective. Or maybe not. I do welcome alternate views and I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Yes the list is out of control because I leave all the books I buy on the TBR. I do however keep a spreadsheet of all the “review” books I receive and those always take priority which in a way is kind of unfortunate. I’m going to try harder this year to read more of the books I already own. But you know how it is those new releases are just so SHINY!
My TBR consists of many piles. First and foremost are the books from the library. These must be read within 3 weeks (or renewed). Sometimes there is as many as twenty books in this pile. Then there is the pile of books I bought or got as gifts — some of these migrate to book shelves. Then there is the pile of books that my sister bought and thinks I should read. There is a smaller subset of this pile of books that I may actually read. Some are shelved in piles and some of them have been a tbr pile for DECADES.
My TBR list is totally out of control. Totally. All of this is really good advice, but the hardest part for me is pruning the list. It means making decisions on which books go and which ones stay, and that means letting go of the possibility of reading this or that book someday. Sometimes I’m tempted just to wipe the whole list and start over from scratch!
Letting go is definitely hard! But I figured that pruning the list ensures that we definitely get round to reading the books that are the most important to us. If there’re a thousand “maybe”s on the list, the “must-read”s inevitably drown in a sea of books we’ll never get to read anyway.
If this is really your TBR pile, then wow. Just plain wow. It makes a really pretty picture and I envy your photography skills? But if it isn’t, then just change the question mark into a period and italicize everything.
And I really agree with this list! I never expected that I would have a TBR pile, but lo and behold, I do, and I need to finish everything because I am having the urge to buy books these days. It does not bode well for my bookshelf.
It’s not my entire pile. Haha. Maybe 3/4 of my English fiction pile? I’ve still got non-fiction books and German books as well. Heh. But I collected all those over the years, so I should really tackle these books since I was excited about getting each and everyone of these books.
And thank you :) I do take most of the photos I post. If I didn’t take a photo myself, I make sure to credit the photographer. I’ve actively been messing around with photography since the beginning of last year, trying to learn anything I can, so I’m happy to hear whenever someone likes a photo of mine :D
Bookshelves are meant to be fed ;)
Oh yes, my TBR pile is out of control and a complete mess. The problem is, I went through a time where I only read adult books and in Dutch. About 2.5 years ago I completely switched to English YA, so most of my TBR pile is something I don’t read very often anymore. I don’t want to give it away, because I still love it, but now I’m buying more books I do read and those other piles stay the same :p
So this means you own a whole pile of Dutch adult books that you don’t plan to read in the foreseeable future?
I don’t know if I’d be able to part with a whole pile of books, so I only buy this that I know I definitely will read and for those I’m unsure about, I’ll only fork out the money if they’re on sale or something. Makes it a lot less painful since striking off books from a TBR list is easier when I’m not actually in a possession of books titles I’m culling.
My TBR is an out-of-control plant. Its spread like wildfire. “Acknowledge your problem”– I laughed so hard. That really is the best step forward, isn’t it.
I tend to tackle my TBR according to importance and factor in a “me” read in between frustration and elation.
On a side note, after seeing this image on your instagram last night, it was ingrained in me when I headed out today. I reached for two books, remembered my untamed TBR and put on out. That’s true resistance right there hahaha
Yes, right of a self-help book ;) But an extremely pertinent step that must not be overlooked. Haha.
Ooh. You found me via Instagram? Cool! I’m so glad my photo has impacted you so much you actually resisted! :D
Excellent advice! :) I have a huge list of “books I’d like to read someday” and a separate pile of actual books that I already have, but have not read. Together, it’s a pretty long list. My “advice” for helping manage it is that if the book’s not working for you, move on to the next.
I have such a big problem with DNFing books because I’m always hopeful that the book will turn out okay even after being bad for the first half or so. But since I’ve been more busy with non-bookish things lately, I decided that I just don’t have time for books that don’t really appeal to me. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
I break down my TBR list too, according to what I own, what I intend to borrow, and what I don’t own. Makes it a lot easier to maintain an overview and also reminds me that I should get down to reading the books I already own. Heh.
As for DNF-ing, I’m still not on the bandwagon. I can be a rather masochistic reader, wanting to know what exactly it is about some books that I utterly dislike. Kind of a weird quirk, since I don’t actually write fiction myself. The last time I did was for an English assignment. Lol.
I know what you mean. I hardly ever DNF books. So far, I have two that I’ve actively decided not to finish. The first one was last year, and that was because the love interest’s behaviour was so problematic and just distressed me personally that I had to stop the book. His attitude was being romanticised even though he obviously had issues with boundaries, and I couldn’t have that.
The second one was a few days ago. It was so-so, and I had a lot more awesome books left in my library haul to read. :P
I think I’ve managed to keep my TBR under control by employing a strict set of rules very similar to what you’ve outlined here. I can read about 300 books in a year, but I never ever allow my TBR shelf to exceed 100 titles (I start freaking out once it hits about 80). I definitely go through frequent cullings also, just to keep up with my current interest, since I usually add books to the TBR late at night when my judgment might be kind of…suspect, haha.
But anyway, it’s a very practical system you’ve outlined in this post, Joséphine! Thanks for sharing!
HAHAHA! I can totally relate. I’ve added books at 3 a.m. so many times before and then questioned my book choices the following week. And I’m very impressed by how low you keep your TBR list is relative to the amount of books you read!
My TBR list is definitely out of control. It almost gives me anxiety to look at my shelves because there are so many I really want to read and so little time. And sometimes I have the urge to re-read some favorites, but I don’t because there are so many I have never read yet.
Thanks to this post, however, I am now inspired to clear out my list. I am taking your advice and removing all those that I don’t see myself reading within the next two years or all of those that don’t yell “read me right now!”.
If you’re at the point of anxiety, it definitely is a good idea to rid yourself of books you’re very unlikely to read, especially if they’re of little sentimental value. All the best with sorting through your shelves, Kelley! :)
Excellent advice here. My TBR list is very long. But it actually never stresses me out. for me, it’s more of a list of books that I might want to read someday. Some I want to read more than others, of course, but I keep them all together because I am such a huge mood reader. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a certain book, and other times I have no interest in reading that book.
But I definitely think it’s a good thing to remove items every once in awhile. As you said, our tastes change.
As a mood reader, I’m in complete agreement with you that a TBR list needs to be wide enough to be able to cater to all our whims and fancies. Haha. Though even as a mood reader, I think the range of books that call out to me are constantly shifting.