Down the TBR Hole was originally created over at Lost in a Story, and I found it over at Howling Libraries. It looked like a fun and productive way to finally make a dent in that Goodreads TBR. I went through my want-to-read shelf a little while ago but I think I was still to kind on a lot of books. Let’s see what I’ll make of it this time around. I decided to go with 15 books at a time so lets get started!
It works like this:
- Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 or 15 or 20, if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
- Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week!
Current “to-read” shelf: 1.017
Books #1-5
Birthmarked – Caragh O’Brien
When I started with Goodreads I also just discovered bookblogs. I got a ton of recommendations for The Hunger Games lovers and this was one of them. I honestly don’t see myself reading this anytime soon.
Decision: Remove
The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman
I’ve had this one in my hands a couple of times and one of these days I won’t be putting it back but will actually buy it haha. So yes, this decision was easy.
Decision: Keep
The Sociopath Next Door – Martha Stout
I hardly ever read non-fiction books and still need to read/finish the ones I already own so while this one sounds interesting I probably won’t be getting it any time soon.
Decision: Remove
The Giver – Lois Lowry
This is pretty much a classic and at some point I will be reading this.Not super interested in it at the moment, but it’s one of those books I want to have read (not necessarily read, if you know what I mean haha).
Decision: Keep
Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater
I really love Maggie Stiefvater but this one sounds like it’s written for a younger audience. I also have a feeling I already read it, but that might just be a similar book… Don’t think I’ll be picking this up anytime soon.
Decision: Remove
Books #6-10
Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell
I absolutely love the Rainbow Rowell books I’ve read so far but I did start this one a while ago and wasn’t too impressed with the pages I did read. I heard a lot of mixed reviews and since contemporary isn’t really my genre to start with anyways I’ll remove this one.
Decision: Remove
Gone – Michael Grant
This is another book that came highly recommended by a ton of people but I don’t think I’m really interested in it to be honest. Also seems to be written for a younger YA audience, which is somehow completely different than MG books, and those I enjoy immensely.
Decision: Remove
The Casual Vacancy – J.K. Rowling
Well what can I say? It’s JK! Can’t pass that up. I really enjoy the books she wrote as Robert Galbraith and I don’t think I need to tell you about my HP obsession so yeah at some point I will be reading this. Might actually have the Dutch version at home come to think of it!
Decision: Keep
Don’t Tell – Karen Rose
I’ve read 3 Karen Rose books and they were very thrilling and actually quite scary. I did buy another one but haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll remove this for now, if I ever end up reading the one I have I might put this one back on here haha.
Decision: Remove
The Eye of Minds – James Dashner
I’ve read and enjoyed the Maze Runner trilogy but with the recent news that came out and me not having showed any interest in this since adding it to my TBR I don’t think I’ll ever pick this up.
Decision: Remove
Books #11-15
Frostbite – Richelle Mead
This is the second book in the Vampire Academy series. I seem to be one of the few people that liked the movie haha, I read the book afterwards and wasn’t too impressed to be honest. I don’t think I’ll ever pick this one up…
Decision: Remove
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I actually own this one and have been wanting to read it FOREVER! And at some point I will haha, just need to be in the right mood 😉
Decision: Keep
Dark Witch – Nora Roberts
My mom reads a lot of Nora Roberts and I think I only added this one because I recognized the author and liked the title. However, I haven’t thought of the book ever since so that probably says enough…
Decision: Remove
Horns – Joe Hill
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this one and at one point I WILL read it haha. Not much more to say about it. I’m interested and excited to read a Joe Hill book!
Decision: Keep
Storm – Brigid Kemmerer
I own Letters to the Lost by this author I didn’t realize she also wrote this series! It sounds like a paranormal romance series and that’s not really something I ever pick up so, yeah, not going to keep this one haha. Hope to read Letters to the Lost soon though!
Decision: Remove
Removal perentage this week: 66,66%
This was a great start of cleaning up that TBR! Removed 10 out of 15 of these, I’m already excited for the next round haha! Did you read any of these books? Should I not have removed / kept some of these? Let me know in the comments!
Vampire Academy is the type of series that picks up like maybe at the second (or third book, to be honest). Hopefully you’ll give it a chance someday (it’s one of my favorite series), but I do get why you’d remove it based on just the first book. And I do love The Shadow of the Wind so I’m glad you kept it!
Haha this is why this article was so hard!! I’m pretty easily swayed to be honest. At the same time, at this point I know I won’t get to it anytime soon. But maybe I’ll be craving some vampire books in the future and when that craving hits, this series will be the first on my mind!
That’s totally fine, at some point I had to tell myself not to stress too much and let go of books when I don’t feel like reading it, and that if it’s time, it’s time. (True enough, a book that I thought was boring at one time became one of my favorites the next time I tried and actually finished reading it.) But I do hope you do get to pick up this series someday! 🙂
That’s so true! You just have to be in the right mood. And there are already so many books that I’m actually interested in! So many books, so little time haha
I’ve only read “The Casual Vacancy” by J.K and I have to say you did a great choice for keeping it. It’s really great and strange at the same time because there’s no magic involved. But I liked it a lot! And great job for keeping only 5 of these books! 🙂
That’s good to hear!! Haha I was pretty proud myself, hope to keep going like that!
I haven’t read any of those books, So I don’t disagree with ya! I really ought to start doing this as my tbr is starting to get out of control!
It’s a fun way to go through that TBR! I added so many books that I hardly recognise haha
Great first post on this meme! 🙂 I’m so glad you kept The Golden Compass (which I adored as a kid) and Horns (which I adore as an adult).
Haha good to hear I made some good choices 😉
Glad you’re keeping The Golden Compass! I still have to read that one too, and people keep telling me how great it is. Also yeah I didn’t know there were mixed reviews for Eleanor & Park until like late last month. But I own a copy of that one, so I’m just gonna read it. I have Dark Witch on my TBR too! I read a LOT of Nora Roberts when I was in high school and my early uni years. I haven’t read her since then, but I will likely pick up Dark Witch sometime this year 🙂
I really liked the giver it was a good book!