Now, in addition to this, there are 7 books on my night stand, 1 at work, and a box of 10 sitting next to the bookshelf. Now, a few of these are rereads, but not many. In fact the only ones that I can think of that are rereads are Neil Gaiman's Good Omens, the LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit, and the Narnia books. The other hundred and something are all just books that have accumulated. And yet I continue to buy more and more books...have an Amazon wishlist that's six pages long, and I'm sure I'll be getting more books for Christmas. But hey, books make me happy! I'm sure many of you can relate!
Hopefully next year, I can clear a good chunk out of the shelf. I've signed up for a bunch of challenges using books from the shelf and I'm going to try my hardest to not buy so many books! We'll see how that goes.
So if any of you out there care to share, I thought that this would be fun. Feel free to post pictures of your TBR piles! You can leave a link to your post in the comments of this post if you want, that way people can come back and check for others' posts. Some of you may actually have a small pile, and some may have small libraries like me ;) I'm hoping that someone out there has a bigger shelf than me filled so that I don't look so bad ;)
31 comments:
This totally cracked me up! But as I'm sure you know, you are definitely not alone! I bet we'll be seeing some pretty hefty piles! I'll have to take a few pics tomorrow, but for now just let me tell you about the ridiculous thing I did a few days ago. I was cleaning Annie's room getting ready to decorate it for Christmas. Well, her room is like this mini-wonderland where books fill nearly every possible surface. I decided to write down every book of hers that I wanted to read (face it, that was A LOT more fun than dusting, right?). Anyway, that list totaled 105 books! And of course, that doesn't include all of my own books in the old TBR mountain.
I have no doubt you'll put a big dent in that bookcase next year...but I'm guessing you'll buy even more and by this time next year have an even bigger TBR pile ;)
Debi, I'm afraid that your prediction for next year is all too accurate. At the beginning of last year that shelf wasn't even half full! And I've read over 70 books this year! I don't know where they're going to go now...I'm literally out of space, lol!
Love that you're going through Annie's books now!! That cracks me up. I know the feeling though. Whenever I go to visit Megan, I go after her bookshelf and either try to borrow her books or read as many as I can while I'm there. Luckily, I don't live with any readers right now, or I'd really be in trouble. It's bad enough trying to get my own pile down. I don't need distractions!
Holy Sh.... ummm, holy cow Chris!!!
That made me crack up big time!!! I was really feeling bad about my tbr pile, because other than one or two (if I bought a trilogy) I've never had a tbr pile! So now,because I DO have one, I feel guilty!! I will post a pic of my pile tomorrow..sheesh
First I laughed at your photo.. I thought, "now that's funny!".. then I continued to read and got to the line that says, "and I'm going to try my hardest to not buy so many books! We'll see how that goes."... CHA! Get Real ! We already KNOW how that's going to go! hahahahahahahahahaha.. you are too cute!
Deslily, Now you know you were the first person that I thought of as I was typing this post, LOL! I knew you'd get a kick out of this post. Yeah, it's real bad! I'm telling you it's an addiction. But I guess it's a healthy addiction. Aside from being poor, I've never heard of anything bad happening from people having too many books. I can tell you now how successful I'm going to be at not buying any books next year....not very! But I'm really going to try! We'll see...If anything, it'll give you something to laugh at when I do buy books ;)
Your TBR pales in comparison to mine. I'm not kidding either. I think I have about 500 or 600 books in the TBR pile. Isn't that a great big scary number? True, a couple hundred are picture books waiting to be read and reviewed...but still. What's scarier than having that many new books to read??? Being inspired to reread books that I love for challenges--the Narnia, the LOTR, Beverly Cleary, Orson Scott Card, I could go on and on. Challenges may be my downfall yet. But they're just so darn fun and addictive. And there's a special joy from being book-crazed.
Becky, You make me feel so much better!! ;) I'm on my way to catch up with you though! Honestly though, I like having such a big TBR pile...it's like having a little library at home. There's something for every mood! There's really no hope of every getting the pile down, lol...every time I read a few I replace them with twice as many! And you're such a big reviewer, I can't imagine that! Where do you keep all your books?? You literally must have a library at home!
oh chris... it made me laugh, but then it made me cry... 'cause i also have a tbr shelf :( and i read so much slower than you do too... :(
but if you can laugh about it, I can laugh about it!! so :)
I have to say that you have great comedic timing with your writing Chris lol.. I hadn't finished laughing at the photo when I read that you were going to try not to buy so much and cracked up all over again... that was kinda like hearing a dentist say he wasn't going to brush his teeth anymore! LOL LOL
I'll post my photo today.
O.K. Chris--here's my picture. This is so fun...can't wait to everyone's piles!
Very fun Chris! I posted my pics and comments in the comments section of yesterday's review post of Doctor No if you're interested.
I'd post a picture of my TBR pile, but most of my books are back in Portugal. I did count, though, and I have 17 unread books that I bought since I got here. Well, considering all the great bookshops there are here, I guess that could be much worse :P
Anyway, don't feel bad about having a TBR shelf. Like you said, books make you happy, and that's what matters. Plus, there are much worse ways you could be spending your money!
Dang! I thought the box under my desk and the pile of books on top of the tv in my sons' room was bad.
I always thought I was a booklover -- surrounded with books in my dining room as I am-- but the more I look at the blogs of you reviewers/booklovers types, the more I question myself.
I was going to post a photo I took last year until I looked at it and realised it was seriously out of date - the pile is much bigger now! And the reason for that? Book blogs. Other people's that is. I think I may have the edge on you number-wise so don't feel too badly about it. And in my book (ho ho) there are worse addictions to have. I'll get another photo done soon.
I hope you're feeling a little happier now. :-)
Ya know, for I minute I thought you were talking about the single shelf in the bookcase...
I shoulda know better! I'll try to get a picture up today. Of course, that means I'll have to get them all in one place...
I just did a quick count and there are at least 100 books in my pile! And I've asked for more for Christmas!
Think we need to form a book buying version of AA?
Naw...
cjh
Mine looks the exact some way so don't feel bad!
I don't have a library, Chris. I have shelf capacity for about 10% of what I've got. You may think I'm joking, but I never would kid with that. Boxes, boxes, boxes, boxes, more boxes. I don't have much carpet showing these days. But on a positive note, I do like being surrounded by books. It doesn't make me nervous or freaked out or overwhelmed or anything.
Ummmm....no. I don't think I will post it!! The utter chaos of my bookshelves is crazy!! Besides, my TBR pile has seeped out throughout the house....onto my desk, my bedside, in boxes, in my dining room. It's all a bit much!!
Love the Tickle me Freud though!!
I am with you all the way, Becky. Being surrounded by books is a great thing. The one bookshelf in my pictures is in my bedroom, over the door as you come in. I am so tempted to build some more bookshelves in there just to have that 'surrounded by books'/library-ish feeling. It is very comforting to me and my wife since we are both avid readers.
I generally don't feel pressured by the amount of books to read, just occasionally saddened by how little reading I actually get done in a year's time. I do feel bad when a year passes and I haven't gotten to books people have given me as gifts, but I am such a whim reader that it often ends up that way.
JP, I've become a pretty slow reader myself these days. It takes me 2 weeks to read a book sometimes these days. There's just no time. That shelf is likely to last me 10 years at this rate! lol...Oh well, we'll never need to take a trip to the library, huh?
Deslily, Yeah...it's a hopeless cause. You see right through my pledge to not buy books, lol! You're stack of books may not look too bad right now, but just you wait!
Debi, Great pics! Isn't there something great about seeing people's bookshelves?? I could look at pictures of bookshelves all day!
Carl, Looks like we're in about the same boat. I'm guessing I'm around 150 on the TBR shelf, maybe a little bit more. That's at least 2 years of reading! Isn't that sad??? Yet we still buy more!
Nymeth, 17 in just a month or so, huh? You'll be swimming in them soon! :p It's great that you have such cool bookshops around you! We have a few great bookshops here, but I'm sure they're nothing like the one's over there. Totally agreed that there are far worse ways that money could be spent!
Carole, :D I'd say you're the ultimate booklover! You wrote one after all - and had it published! Wind Follower is next up on the pile on my nightstand :) Can't wait to get into it, I'm excited!
Cath, I'm feeling much happier as a result of the responses to this post, thank you :) Book blogs are DEFINITELY hugely responsible for my TBR shelf growing so large. I've bought so many books based on other people's recommendations. Glad to hear your number's bigger than mine :p
CJ, Hell no, we don't need an addiction group! That would mean that we would have to stop buying them ;) LOL! 100 isn't too bad of a number, lol...but like you said, it's sure to grow over the coming year! It's a hopeless cause, huh?
Ladytink, Good to hear :) Just imagine the combined number of books we all own! We could stock a few Barnes and Nobles'!
Becky, I like being surrounded by books too :) The more the merrier! I can't get over the books that you own!
Stephanie, Yeah, I have a few more books than what's pictured too ;) It's hard to keep them all in one place, huh? It's great to know that there's always something to read though!
Carl again, You should definitely build those shelves in your room! I think that's an awesome idea. I'd like to do something like that too. Me and Megan have always dreamed of having a real library in the house (if ever we were rich of course) You know the kind where all 4 walls were bookshelves with the ladder on wheels!
Yep, Chris, that is what I want too...shelves with the ladder on wheels!!!
I have moved recently and again have at least 5 boxes (big ones) full of unread books... I think MyGuy is getting slightly worried about where we will store them.
Hey Chris!
Oh, darn. I just read your previous post. I'm so sorry that you're losing that wonderful job and so many people will be left without the service provided by your program. What a suck deal. I'll send positive job-hunting vibes. I wonder if anyone has ever created a stick-the-politician voodoo doll. Seems like a good time to cause some LA politicians some pain. Hahaha.
I love your TBRs. And, I promise you that you only have a fraction of the number of books I have. I de-stress by buying books. So, I came home with quite a few (geez, all those lovely remainders - someone had to save them . . . and it was a pretty difficult trip). I can't unbox my purchases - you should see the mess my husband made. It's like living in a dusty, packed closet. I'm even wheezy (hack, hack). But, hey, it's home. LOL
I love your Tickle-Me Freud and all the poppets, as well as the lovely books. I had to zoom in and read the titles, of course. When I make enough space to unload, I'll photograph my purchases.
Carl, It's a great goal to work up to, huh?
Kucki, 5 big boxes! I love it! Truly, there is nothing I love more than going through a giant box of books. I don't know what it is about books in boxes, but it's just exciting. Something about the constant element of surprise of picking one up and seeing what's under it. Have fun reading them all!
Bookfool, Yay! So glad to have you back :) Yeah, the job thing really sucks. I may just have to go voodoo doll hunting this weekend ;) There's a little place in the quarter that I'm sure has some politician voodoo dolls! lol! I tend to buy books like crazy when I'm stressed out too! I'm surprised I haven't gone impulse buying yet with the job thing. But Christmas is coming up and mom might have bought me books already, so I don't want to double buy. Can't wait to see all of your new stacks :) I'm sure you did lots of stress buying while you were up there! How are things with your mom? I've been keeping y'all in my thoughts! Oh, and Tickle me Freud was a Christmas Present last year :) Isn't he great?
This post did make me smile until I realized my pile is MUCH BIGGER than this!!! lol
And I see that you have Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. It's my first and only Palahniuk to date. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I have some of his non-fiction on my TBR now, and I'm sure I'll be adding more of his fiction, too.
Andi, Well it makes me smile that your pile is bigger than mine ;) Funny thing about Palahniuk, I own nearly all of his books and have never read a single one! Isn't that weird?? I've always just assumed that I'd like them all, so I've picked them all up at bargain prices. Let's hope I enjoy them. I think I'm going to start with Choke when I finally read him.
Thanks, it's good to be back (and awful - honestly, this place is uncivilized; I couldn't even find green onions, just now!!!).
After I wrote that about the voodoo dolls, I realized that if there's anyplace you could find such a thing it has to be NO!
I still haven't been able to unpack my books - there's just no room!!! Ack! Hubby's having to level the floor in the den. Did I tell you he emptied the room when I left? It's absolutely terrifying, in here. I've been cleaning, but there's no place to put anything, with an entire room emptied and full of leveling gunk. I'll post them when I can, though. I did buy quite a few. I'm not even sure how many. Scary, but true. And, I left a few in Oklahoma.
My mom is doing okay. She's frail and wobbly, but she was starting to act more like herself till chemo started. When I left MS, she was in the CCU with a pleural effusion - fluid in her lung - and then she had three days of chemo just before I returned, so back to square one. I hated to leave, but thank goodness I did. This place is a fire hazard. I've got to fix that, before I go back!!!
Bookfool, I'm sorry to hear about your mom, but glad to hear she's doing "okay" at the same time. One of those things...you never want anyone to have to go through that, it's hell. Chemo can be so hard on the body...my aunt is in the middle of getting chemo treatments right now and she says sometimes she wonders if it's worth it....it's sad. But it sounds like she's a trooper!
Wow, I didn't know y'all emptied out a whole room of your house! No wonder you've got a mess!! Where do you fit a whole room's worth of stuff in other rooms? At least it's not a permanent thing...let's hope ;)
I'm behind in my blog reading, as usual, so I first wanted to say you have my deepest sympathies on the layoff. Having recently barely survived a big round of them at the library, there are many people in my life now who are going through this, and of all of them, I have the most faith that you'll find a way to help the people you want to help.
But enough of that sad topic because I'm also very mad at you. I read this post on a boring Thursday night with nothing to do, so now I'm going to rip apart all my bookshelves and put all my TBR books together, and the process will take me hours. Thanks.
(I'm kidding about being mad. I rearrange my books about once every 3 months. I love it.)
Too Hotty, I remember your posts about the library lay offs. That was horrible, but I'm glad to here you survived them! They definitely suck, but I suppose I can mope around for only so long...eventually I have to make my lazy ass look for a new job.
I like to randomly rearrange my bookshelves every now and then too :p Right now there are two seperate sets of shelves, both in alphebetical order, one set for books that are read and one TBR set. Sometimes they're all grouped together...sometimes they're arranged in order of favorites, And I saw someone's library was color coded which looked really cool! I may try that one next. It looked cool. Have fun :p
I love your TBR bookcase and the tickle me Freud and Jack. I have over 1000 books now that are TBR so don't feel bad. I plan to read a good chunk of them over the next couple of years and try to curb my buying (it's an addiction I swear!).
Rhinoa, Over 1000?!! Now I really don't feel so bad :p Indeed, it is an addiction though :) I really think I'm on a mission to have my own little private library here at home! It's fun to be able to pick whatever you're in the mood for right off the shelf, isn't it?
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