It's only been 16 days since I decided to wait 60, and I already have the urge to go book shopping. In an effort to stifle that urge, I'm hoping you can tell me what books you've read that are sitting on my TBR pile that you especially enjoyed.
6.16.2011
My TBR and why I don't need to buy books until August
After I went to the Memorial Day book sale at Half Price Books I decided I was going to try and go 60 days without buying any books. Lately I have been buying them faster than I can read them. While I know many of you have massive TBR piles of hundreds and hundreds of books (something I can't fathom) mine is growing a little too tall for comfort. I want to widdle away at my TBR for the next couple of weeks.
It's only been 16 days since I decided to wait 60, and I already have the urge to go book shopping. In an effort to stifle that urge, I'm hoping you can tell me what books you've read that are sitting on my TBR pile that you especially enjoyed.
It's only been 16 days since I decided to wait 60, and I already have the urge to go book shopping. In an effort to stifle that urge, I'm hoping you can tell me what books you've read that are sitting on my TBR pile that you especially enjoyed.
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I have 2 TBR piles - those I plan to read very soon (usually because I've committed to a review), and those I plan to read whenever the first pile gets a bit lower. Between the two, I never really *need* to buy books, but I find I still *want* to. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have an impressive TBR collection. I've read Oscar Wao and wasn't really into it, but I keep hearing so many people talk about how much they love it, I think I have to try again.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read either but I'd love to see your thoughts on East of Eden and On Beauty when you do get around to picking those up!
Isn't 60 days a little extreme?!? Actually, good for you for putting some boundaries in place. I'd be all twitchy by day 16...
ReplyDeleteI thought East of Eden was a pretty good book.
The Bell Jar and East of Eden are both wonderful! I have quite a few of these on my own TBR piles too, mind you- On Beauty and The Remains of the Day I'm probably most excited to read!
ReplyDeleteSally, That's a good idea to break them into two. Then it doesn't seem so daunting.
ReplyDeleteRed, I hope to read East of Eden this summer. I've heard great things. I am going to read Howards End before I read On Beauty. Greg told me it's better that way.
Two Bibliomaniacs, Is 60 days too extreme? I don't know, 2 months doesn't seem like that long to wait and buy books. I saw a couple bloggers who aimed for 6 months!
Laura, I think I'm going to make East of Eden a July read, after the classics challenge is over.
Book buying bans are so difficult! I think it's great that you made it to 16 days. You picked some great books! I recently picked up the same Joan Didion book and The Bell Jar. I've read several books that you bought--I especially like the Chuck Paluhniuk one, Zadie Smith, etc. You'll love the Junot Diaz--fascinating book, very different from any other book I've read.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection of books! The only one I've read is Heartbreaking Work . . . and although I loved it the first time I read it, I didn't like it so much the second time around. Razor's Edge and East of Eden are both on my TBR pile and supposed to be very good. Most of the others here I've heard of but don't know much about. It'll be fun to see how you make out!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Bell Jar and Zadie Smith is a great writer. Your TBR list has so many books I want to read!
ReplyDeleteSurfacing, The Razor's Edge, The Bell Jar, and One Hundred Years of Solitude are AWESOME. The first three are pretty quick reads. You could zoom through those in a day or two.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I think I'll put Junot Diaz near the top of my pile. I've heard good things about that one and lately I've been on a little Pulitzer kick.
ReplyDeleteTrish, I decided to read East of Eden in July.
Tiny Library, I feel like the last person to read The Bell Jar. I'll get on that one too.
Ingrid, Thanks for the suggestions!
I would vote for East of Eden, Remains of the Day or Heartbreaking Work. I think they all make good summer reads as well. Good luck with your 60 days.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved both The Bell Jar and East of Eden. Anything by Steinbeck makes me warm and happy inside (except maybe The Pearl). I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on all of these - many of them are on my TBR as well.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that I was just logging in to blogger to post about the exact same thing! You'll see. I am totally on the same page. It's really hard not to buy books, especially when you find them for really cheap. Good luck! We'll all be here to hold you accountable! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Bell Jar, East of Eden and One Hundred Years of Solitude are all truly excellent. A few other good books in the stacks, but those are "must reads", especially if you already have them.
ReplyDeleteLBC, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteL.L., The Bell Jar and East of Eden seem to be the most popular so far!
Beth, Nice! I look forward to your post. Great minds think alike :)
Biblibio, Great! Thanks for your input!
I am in the same boat as you. I need to try and curb my book buying because I have probably bought at least 30 books in the past 30 days, if not more! I keep reminding myself (or trying to) that I have more than enough books in my house that need to be read!
ReplyDeleteLoved The Bell Jar. Oscar Wao and The Remains of the Day are sitting in my pile right now.... and that Anne Frank looks like something I'm going to have to get my hands on.
ReplyDeleteI am also trying very hard not to buy any more books until I get at least halfway through my pile.... but then I impulse bought My Name Is Memory two nights ago. So now I'm trying really really hard again!
Oh wow! Those are two lovely looking piles! Really keen to see what you make of Dave Eggers - I've only just recently read AHWOSG and loved it!
ReplyDeleteToday I went out and bought 7 books in the sale... So yeah, haha! No more book buying for a while!
I have a TBR bookcase. Ugh. I got into the same habit of buying books much faster than I can read them. I have also slowed down a bit. There are SO many great books on your TBR pile. I'm excited for you to read them.
ReplyDeleteThat's a LOT of books. I thought there was was only one photo and I started laughing as I scrolled down. Let me help you and make some special requests:
ReplyDelete-Consider The Lobster
-On Beauty
-Oscar Wao
-The Shipping News
-Farewell Summer
Then you can say you dug a hole in your TBR list to calm the raging demand from your readers! :O)
Ooh, I love your TBR pile. I recently made the same vow -- to not buy any books the rest of the summer. We'll see how that goes...
ReplyDeleteI really loved the Bell Jar. You can't go wrong with Plath. But I couldn't finish Palahniuk's "Snuff." And not because of the graphic content. More because it seemed to be JUST graphic content, with no real point. But hopefully you'll have a better reading experience with it than I did!
Lola, Wow! Your book buying is on fire!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I've heard a lot of good things about the Bell Jar. That one has moved up the pile.
Bethany, I'm eager to read AHWOSG - so far Eggers is 1 for 1 - I loved Zeitoun but didn't enjoy What is the What all that much. We'll see what happens with AHWOSG.
Heather, I should probably start to invest in a TBR bookcase :)
Ben, I know! They are starting to overtake my room. Thanks for your recommendations - ever since Norwegian Wood I trust your suggestions wholeheartedly :)
Jessica, Snuff will only be my second Palahniuk. I know he started churning out books after the success of his first few, and I think this was one of is later ones that he threw together, so you may be right about that one.
It is virtually impossible for me to enter a bookstore without buying something :( And, virtually impossible for me to go anywhere near a bookstore without entering :(:( And, virtually impossible for me to read other people's blogs without adding to me TBR. It's like an addiction...but I still love it ;)
ReplyDeleteJunot Diaz
ReplyDeleteDavid Foster Wallace
Zadie Smith
Dave Eggers
Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez
That said, I only read Lobster. Which is good but requires a lot of focus. The others are books I am on the fence myself about reading.
ReplyDeletePeppermint, I hear you!
ReplyDeleteCharlie, Thanks :)
Ben, OK got it. Well I'll try to tackle those titles you mentioned, but I may wait until September to read Farewell Summer, for obvious reasons.
The Bell Jar! I really enjoyed that one!
ReplyDeleteShe, Thanks for the suggestion!
ReplyDeleteThe only two I've read are East of Eden and Razor's Edge. I liked both but East is probably the more interesting book.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm bargain book mad so I say don't worry about the TBR and don't pass up a great deal.
I see others have already posted this, but the Bell Jar is a gem! -- i have to admit i have over 80 books in my TBR pile, yours is quite tame! ;)
ReplyDelete(i do work in a bookstore though...)
"Morality for Beautiful Girls" is my favorite of the Ladies series, but my wholehearted vote goes to Howard's End and 100 years of Solitude.
ReplyDeleteAlso have 13 Rue Therese on my TBR, must read it before the Indie Awards end.
OMG...I feel better. I've over indulged in book buying here as well, and need to stop. Hope you have a lot of enjoyable reads this summer.
ReplyDeleteI challenged myself to not buy books the first three months of the year and failed miserably, then completely blew it the past couple of months -- between library sales, Paperback Swap, Half-Price books, and my birthday, I think I've added 50 new books to the shelves. Maybe I should just stay away from the bookstore, the internet, AND the libraries!!
ReplyDeleteBut some recommendations from your new stacks:
Loved The Shipping News and Howards End
Morality for Beautiful Girls is a nice light read
The Bell Jar and Native Son -- not difficult reads, but tough subjects
Remains of the Day -- good but slow
Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao -- a little difficult, but worth reading
East of Eden -- I have that exact edition on my TBR shelf, have been meaning to read it FOREVER. Will I ever get to it?
My problem with a big TBR pile is that it makes me feel like I shouldn't be browsing the library stacks for whatever catches my eye - which has resulted in some great reads for me. I don't think I'd mind having a smallish number of books to choose from, but my TBRs keeping holding steady at two whole shelves, and like you, I really want to whittle that down to something more manageable.
ReplyDeleteAs for your stacks...East of Eden is consistently in my top 5 favorite books ever, but I haven't read it since high school, so I keep feeling due for a reread. Care to partner up on it? I didn't like Oscar Wao, was blown away by Native Son when I first read it in college, but have grown tired of it after teaching it for a few semesters (it gets preachy), Sula is strong and beautiful, and I loved One Hundred Year of Solitude - LOVED. I am also very interested in Eggers' Wild Thing, so I'd love you to read that first and give us your thoughts. Oh, and the Proulx! This is almost worse than dealing with my own pile!
natalie, I think I'm going to make The Bell Jar my next read! Also, if I worked at a bookstore, my TBR would be out of control as well. Totally understandable.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra, I like reading the No. 1 Ladies Detective series when I am in the mood for something light and quick. Good for summertime. I think I'll move HOwards End up the list, so I can get to On Beauty before the summer is over. (I heard I had to read HE before OB)
Diane, Thanks!
Karen, Three months is a long time. I would fail for sure if I tried to make it three months. Thanks for the recommendations! I appreciate it :)
Sarah, I was thinking of reading East of Eden in July. I'd be down to partner up! Let me know if July works for you and when you would want to start.
Surfacing and The Bell Jar are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteApparently On Beauty is loosely based on / inspired by Howards End, which I didn't know until quite literally, 5 minutes ago. I read On Beauty without having read Howards End. It's fantastic regardless, and I think/hope you'll enjoy it :D
ReplyDeleteI can certainly relate to the urge to go books hopping, but at least you have some excellent books to keep you busy!
ReplyDeleteThat, my friend, is a beautiful To-Read list!!
ReplyDeleteThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is an amazing book. I highly recommend read it!
ReplyDeleteGreat selection! Definitely read Howards End before On Beauty. I'm trying to cut back on the buying of books as well. Too many sitting on my shelves which haven't been read yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm very late to this discussion but I've read The Bell Jar (which it appears you are reading now, yay!), One Hundred Years of Solitude, and The Razor's Edge, all of which I'd highly recommend. I have On Beauty on audio and have mean to read many others in your pile! Good luck and stay strong!
ReplyDelete