We all have them, those books that we are planning to be read…sometime. If you’re like me that list is never ending and always growing.
As a reader, my To-Be-Read list contains books from favorite authors and new-to-me authors that come highly recommended (usually with multiple books in a series).
As an author, my list contains many books on craft, marketing, and the business of writing. I also have the privilege of reading some of my author friends’ work-in-progress stories, but those usually happen right away and don’t sit on my list.
As a Mom/Christian/Homeschooler/Wife/Homemaker/Person, my list is filled with non-fiction books on parenting, education, ministry, home management and more.
So how do I handle all the books?
For a long time, I’ve had a very bad system…if you can call it that at all. It went something this:
- See a recommendation for a book that sounds interesting.
- Check to see if my library has it. If so, request it immediately. If not look for the ebook or decide if I should purchase a paperback copy.
- Get the book from the library, let it sit on my table for two weeks until it’s due back while I read a different book, then take it back. Or buy it and put it on my shelf to read later.
- Forget all about it.
- Repeat
Ugh. That definitely wasn’t working. I knew I would request or order the book right away because I knew I would never remember the book later in life, and I was just sure I needed to read it because it would change my life.
Too bad all these life-changing books were just passing through my life without being read anyway.
My next idea was to keep a written list of books that I wanted to read. As the queen of notebooks this seemed like a great idea! Except that I almost never had my notebook with me when I heard of a new book, and also because I have so many notebooks, I had trouble remembering which one had the list.
I decided I would start a note on my iPhone and keep the list there. And honestly, that was fine. I almost always have my phone with me and can jot down the title of a book. Then if I’m at the library or looking for the next book to read I always have the list available.
Finally one day I decided it was time to investigate Goodreads. I knew what it was, but had never used it much. Let me just say, I love it! (And they’re not paying me to say that!)
Now I have my “To-Be-Read List” organized and easily within reach on my Goodreads App! I love that I can create different shelves for my “reading personality” (author/reader/mom/homeschooler). Then I can decide which book I want to read in a certain category. I typically read a fiction book and a non-fiction book or two at the same time, but the app helps me to remember that I’m already reading a book in that category.
Here’s the thing, I’m a really great starter. I love to start things: projects, books, plans, ideas. But I’m not always great at finishing. I hate to admit it, but I’ve started a lot of books in my life that I haven’t finished. However, I LOVE checking off a box. Sometimes knowing that when I finish a book I get to mark it as “Read” on my app is the motivation I need to stick with one book instead of moving to another one. (I’m mostly talking about non-fiction books. If I start a story I have to know how it ends!)
Goodreads has a lot of other functions that I’m not making great use of YET. There are goals you can set and challenges you can do, but I haven’t dived into that. I basically use it as my Digital To-Be-Read list.
I’m constantly adding to it, but it helps me keep track!
Here are some of my current To-Be-Read books:
What’s on your list??
How do you organize your TBR Pile??
You can click here to see a list of my books on Goodreads and add them to your own To-Be-Read Pile or list!
Hannah Jo Abbott is a wife, a mom of four, a homeschool teacher, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. She loves writing stories about life, love, and the grace of God. She finds inspiration and encouragement from reading the stories others share. Hannah lives with her husband and children in Sweet Home Alabama.
I can relate. I’m much better at starting than finishing things, too!
Thanks for the tip about using Goodreads to organise my TBR pile. I noticed that Bookbub has now started prompting me to keep track of which books I own and which ones I’ve actually read. It’s a stark reminder of how many books I’m sitting on but haven’t yet got around to reading!
Hi Hannah. I can also relate about starting projects and never finishing – especially when life intervenes. I use Goodreads to record by yearly reading. I set a yearly reading challenge and like to be ahead in my reading. May need to look into some of the other options Goodreads offers. Thanks. Enjoy your weekend.
I keep a list of books that I have read , when I started them and when i finished reading them. I also record that I have reviewed them. I have quite a few books on my TBR list of which I am looking forward to reading. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
How do you organize your TBR Pile?? Is there a way to organize it??? I have no idea how LOL
When I look at it – I feel like I need 72 hours in a day….no….more like 172…sigh
You can add shelves :) And then organize them according to however you want. You can add shelves either on your phone or computer. Here is my list if you want an idea: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/54384321-cindy-davis–cindy-s-book-corner
I LOVE Goodreads! I have started the process of adding the books on my Kindle under the section of “Kindle TBR.” I will check out your Goodreads shelves (but can’t add any to mine because I am doing a no-add July) and I will post my link if you want to see how I organize (this is one of my love languages, I LOVE organizing). I also love checking off boxes, as you do :) Thanks for sharing.
Here is the link that I didn’t post in the other comment: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/54384321-cindy-davis–cindy-s-book-corner
My TRB piles/lists are ok lets say I have books unread but no real list.
I use Goodreads to keep up with what I have read and try to put up a review. I have lots of to be read there which I have no idea how they were added. (I think when I use to try to win a book it put it on the tbr list).
I just read whatever I feel like at the time.
I really do not have a process. I have a stack of books close to me that I want to read next. I have stacks on shelves as well as stacks on a counter. New books keep coming out that are added to the pile. God bless you all.
God bless you. I really do not have a process. I have a stack of books close to me that I want to read next. I have stacks on shelves as well as stacks on a counter. New books keep coming out that are added to the pile. God bless you all.
First of all let me say….I will NEVER get through my TBR pile, lol! Because I keep ADDING to it :-) Now that’s not to say I don’t read any of the books I have on there, because I do….it’s like shiny objects to a cat, I see a brand new upcoming book and I gravitate to it. Ever have that happen? Yep, me too!
As far as organizing my TBR….I have several lists on various electronic & non-electronic devices. First, like you, I see if my library has either the ebook or physical book to borrow. If not, I request it. Then I go to Amazon to see if it’s available (or will be available) through Kindle Unlimited. Or if it’s on a super good sale, I’d buy it or pre-order. Goodreads is my main way of organizing my books, I do a yearly challenge where I say I want to read 100 books in a year. I normally exceed that, but since I know I can easily achieve that goal that’s the magic number for me. Also, I utilize Amazon lists, which I just recently discovered. I have a “Reading list” for all the books I want to read and a “Wish list” for books I want to own (someday). Then on my phone I have several lists; one for my TBR pile for the books I am reading immediatly, one for those I want to borrow, one for the ones to request my library purchase, and one for review books. Books for review always get read right away & don’t languish on my list :-)
Like you, I LOVE lists! They help me keep organized and on track for anything, and not just reading :-)
My tbr pile is based on physical books, eARCS, and other things with deadlines for reviews.
Let’s say I usually write down in a notebook: If the author is Christian or writes Christian fiction, I write down the author and that reminds me that I want to read his books if the author writes many different things (clean romance and not so clean or Christian romance and science fiction without romance) I will write down only the names of the books.
I go to goodreads to read reviews that helps me to know if the book is for me or not, as I use “commonsense media” for secular books. Once I know that I want to read I will buy the ones they have in my library, then I will look in legal pages to read free books (I am always looking for new pages) and if not I just hope to save until I can have that book …
For a long time, for Kindle ebook fiction, I kept track using two collections within my Kindle apps. I had one for yet-to-read and one for already-read. Now, I use the little indicator in my Kindle library display that says what percentage of a book has been read. I scroll back through the list until I find a book that doesn’t have a percentage listed and that intrigues me. It also works for box sets because I will not usually read a set straight through. I take a break and go read something different. The percent indicator on a box set shows me that I have more stories waiting for me.
When I see a bike turn corners, leaning almost to the ground, it scares me so much! I could never imagine trusting the driver that much lol. Like Marilyn, I’m sure I would lean the opposite way subconsciously. Thankfully I haven’t known anyone who rides. Love your story idea!