Thursday 8 June 2017

Why I don't believe in TBR lists...


Joining Twitter was a great writing move. I discovered a whole word of people like me, people who love to read and love to write and love to waste spend a lot of time talking about both. I also discovered the TBR.

To Be Read.

I do get it. Honestly, I do. I'm the first to agree that there are so many great books out there and hundreds that I'd love to read, preferably today. My monthly visit to the bookstore usually results in carrying splitting bags across town back to the car, and I won't even mention the kindle store. I try to slip the credit card bill into the trash before my husband sees it. So yeah, I have a lot of books to read.

But this life throws us constant demands. Every single day we're expected to do a whole host of things, and do them well. Brush your teeth. Get your kids to school on time. Don't get fired. Don't flunk high school. Concentrate on real conversations while running over scenes in your head.

And what about the even bigger worries in life? Am I getting 10k steps in every day? Do I floss enough to avoid horrible gum infections? Why are the recycling bins always overflowing? Did I 'like' every notification on Twitter?

Then you get the lists. Shopping lists. Lists of people to call. Workout lists. Lists of recipes to try. And the TBR list.

No.

I draw the line at a TBR list. Reading is my escape. My peaceful, beautiful, imaginative world of escapism. (Not to be confused with peaceful beautiful stories because most often they are conflict-ridden and dangerous, but that's another topic.)

I will not stress my reading life by creating more pressure for myself. I will read the book I feel like reading, when I want to, and at the speed I want. I will devour it like pizza or savour it like raspberry macaroons or pick at it like overcooked broccoli. If I want to, I'll spew it up and chew it all over again, or maybe just the bits I loved. And while I'm enjoying pizza, I won't be thinking of tacos. When I'm sipping on rum with clinky ice, I won't be worrying that I'm missing out on a milkshake.

There are many cities I will never get to visit. Many cars I'll never get to drive. Many shoes I'll never get to wear. Many, many, people I'll never get to meet, and many books I'll never read. I made my peace with that.

So, yeah, I have a lot of books to read. Will I list them on a piece of paper to make it all the more real? Will I put them in order, as if I could possibly foresee what I feel like reading in seventeen days time? Will I check them off when I've read them, one more thing to be smug about in this world of self-importance? No to all of that. I'll just read the book, live the magic, and reduce the stress. Then I can cross yoga off my to-do list. Win-win.

What about you, readers? Do you swear by TBRs? Let me know. Heck, try to change my mind! I'm nothing if not highly influenceable.

Then go get back to your power reading.







14 comments:

  1. I keep lists of books that look interesting, some on "suspended" library reserve. Then, when needing a read, I have a place to go. The hard part is quitting a book I have started but don't like. Getting better at that.

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    1. I also have a hard time giving up on a book even if I don't like it. It's like I'm programmed to finish what I start. It's a curse. *sigh*

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  2. I have a TBR list, but it's inaccurate and I don't read it in order. I agree we shouldn't stress about it. Reading should be fun! :)

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  3. I think you've set up a false dichotomy here: that you can *either* have a TBR list *or* read the books you want to, when you want to, in your own time.

    I do both. :) I only read when I want to, and I read whatever I feel like reading - I usually have 4-5 books on the go at once so I can pick according to my mood (something heavy, something light, some informative non-fiction, etc) and feel no pressure to finish one before I start another.

    All a TBR list means is that, when I fancy starting a new book, I have a list of pre-approved ones. Ones whose blurbs I've read and know are up my alley. Whenever I see a book that sounds good, I pop it on my Goodreads list and know I won't forget about it even if I don't buy it right away.

    Since Amazon is now a big slush pile, my list saves me a LOT of time. Browsing doesn't eat into my reading time like it used to. And because my Kindle is linked to my Goodreads, it takes a few clicks to buy something on my TBR list directly from my Kindle.

    I don't see a downside to a TBR, really. I agree more pressure is the last thing any of us needs these days, but a TBR list doesn't come with pressure unless you make it that way.

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    1. This is Anna Kaling by the way... it won't let me comment except as Anonymous. Grr.

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    2. Interesting come-back. So I suppose my list is more of a non-list that exists in my head, on my desk, on my e-reader, and in other various places of my life.

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  4. I don't have an official TBR list. When I say I'm adding something to my TBR list I mean one of several things: I put the book in the pile beside my bed; I put the book in the pile beside my couch; I bought the ebook on Amazon and forgot about it, meaning next time I turn on the wifi on my kindle the book will magically appear and I will consider reading it (or not); I found the book on Amazon and added it to my wish list (not all things I definitely want, just things I might want).

    I agree, feeling some obligation to read certain books at certain times feels way too pressury. I much prefer to go with the flow. :)

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    1. This sounds more like me! Love the magically-appearing books on your kindle.

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    2. Magically appearing books are the best. I just wish they opened to a blurb.

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  5. A TBR list is the only way I can keep track of stuff I want to read, else I'd forget books I'd want to read. THAT would be tragic!

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    1. Tragic indeed! I suppose my list is a non-list that floats around in my head. Maybe that's contributing to my sleepless nights :)

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  6. The great Mitch Hedberg said, "If you like to boat a lot you're known as a 'boating enthusiast.' I like to boat, but I just don't ever want to be referred to as a 'boating enthusiast.' I just want to be referred to as a guy who likes to boat."

    If your list is on paper or mental, checked or unchecked, ordered or unordered there is still a list. It's just a way to not forget about the books you are interested in reading. It's not something to be conquered or defeated. It's just something to enjoy.
    Call your TBR list by any name you need to in order to keep it fun.

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