I have to confess something to you: I have a problem. You’ve heard of a TBR (to be read), right? Well, my problem is related. It happens when a TBR grows and grows until it becomes T-TBR (Toppling-TBR).
Symptoms include:
1) Your bookshelves are so full that you have to arrange the books two rows deep and place more books flat on top of those…and use non-bookshelf surfaces and the floor for the overflow books.
2) Your Kindle or other ereader has a list of books so long it would take you days just to scroll through them all.
3) You carry at least part of your TBR with you wherever you go.
4) You pack more books from your TBR for vacation than clothes.
If these symptoms sound familiar, you may have T-TBR as well. If you’re not sure, perhaps this handy little diagnostic tool will help.
If I count all the books my family owns (including shelves and shelves of children’s books), I’d estimate well over 1,000…and we moved them all the way from Wisconsin to Texas last year.
*If you use a Kindle/Kindle app: Go to your library, and where it says filter, you can add up all the books in the different categories. Or log in to your Amazon account and go to the Content & Devices menu; under the little book icon, it will show you how many ebooks you have. Other ereaders should have similar abilities.
According to Amazon, I have 1,070 ebooks, but it appears that number also includes my husband’s ebooks since we have a family library (I’m not going to lie though…probably at least 90% of those are mine).
Technically, yes, because I almost always have my phone on me. But if I have a few moments in the school pickup line, I’m more likely to be checking emails than to get out my book (maybe there’s hope for me and my T-TBR yet).
We just got back from vacation, and I limited myself to one paperback (plus the giant binder of the book I’m currently writing). Oh, and my ereader…
Diagnosis: After careful calculations, I’ve determined that you too have T-TBR. Fortunately, there’s a cure: JUST KIDDING! Why would you want to cure yourself of T-TBR? It’s not a problem, it’s a blessing! So many books to choose from! My best recommendation is that you grab one right now and enjoy some time reading. Oh, but before you go, just one more question: How do you decide which book on your TBR to read next? Do books by your favorite authors get bumped to the top? Do you read in the order you purchased books? Do you choose something based on your mood? Or is it some other method entirely? Let me know in the comments!
PS If you enjoy surveys like this, I think you might enjoy my weekly newsletter. I’ve become rather famous (ha! famous might be stretching it, but my readers seem to enjoy them, anyway) for my Questions of the Week, which often involve a survey or a quick response question. Did I mention there’s always a giveaway involved as well? :) If you don’t already subscribe, you can sign up here.
PPS I may also be famous (again, a bit of a stretch) for my habit of writing multiple post-scripts. Consider this fair warning. :) Hope to see you there!
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
Great Survey. I’m maxed out on books but keep getting more.
I read according to what is next to be released because I read for reviews. And depending on when the mailman brings the next book! Then I sneak ebooks in for challenges. I nearly always have 2-3 going at once.
I love this survey. I will have to find out how many ebooks I have on my kindle. It hasn’t reached its max yet. When it does, I buy a new kindle with more storage!
I read according to my scheduled reviews, plus try to sneak in a few fave authors or some of my backlist in between. Plus I’m now adding children’s books to my list as I’m a Mimi now.
welcome today. that was fun. yes I have way too many books (so my husband says) but to be honest he as a lot also, mostly technical and teaching. HA my reading usually depends on my mood and how I am feeling that day.
I definitely choose books based on my mood and favorite authors often get pushed to the top.
As my oldest sister told me years ago, she and I are not happy if we don’t books waiting for us to read!!! So, I’ll happily keep my TBR stack growing!! Honestly, I have no method for what book I read next. Whatever is on top of the stack, where all of my ARC’s reside!
Being maxed out on books is no reason to stop getting more, lol! I love that you tackle your TBR with more than one book at a time. :)
Glad you enjoyed the survey! I agree with you–if the Kindle gets full, just get a new one with more storage. :) Sounds like you have a great system for reading new books plus fitting in some older ones. And children’s books–they’re so fun!
Lol! A good portion of our household’s books are my husband’s, so he can’t say too much about having too many books. :) I definitely choose what to read by my mood as well.
Yes! This is usually my method too. :)
Exactly! Can you imagine how sad it would be if your TBR ever ran empty–and the best way to prevent that is by constantly adding to it. :)
I went on vacation with paperbacks and my phone and eReader. It rained a lotand we discovered a free library in the complex we were staying at. You could take, give, or keep books and puzzles. So we all loaded up and I read those books and kept one I hadn’t quite finished. It was nice knowing that you could keep one you were still reading. If we go again, I’ll bring donations!
That’s awesome! Books and puzzles are the best way to spend rainy days. :)
I’m super glad for my review schedule because it picks my next TBR for me. When I have to pick myself I get anxiety. Lol!
When we lived overseas (missionaries), I was always worried I’d run out of books to read… that’s carried over even though we’re now retired and I have an unlimited source with libraries, Kindle, and all my favorite books in our upstairs loft filled with bookshelves. There are times when I read my latest purchase, sometimes it’s a book I need to read for a review, and sometimes I’m just in the mood for something different. I’ve got a few favorites waiting on Hoopla, but I’m afraid to start in for fear I’ll get sucked in and not do anything productive for the next week :-)
Lol! That’s one benefit of reading to review–your next book is picked for you. :)
Oh, I never thought about that–I’m sure it was much harder to get your hands on books as a missionary overseas. It’s a blessing to have such an endless supply of them now! I know what you mean about the danger of getting sucked in though. :)
Hi Val! Yeah, you do like your post scripts. But I will say you do that far more in your newsletters than personal emails. But hey, you just have lots of good tidbits to add! Living in a mobile home means I’ve had to let go of most of my physical books but always used the church library regularly. Now most of my books are on my various digital formats. The last time I added there were well over 6,000. I will never be able to get through them all-no matter how long I live, yet I can’t stop adding to them. Serious addict! I don’t read in order I get them. I can’t remember which order they were added where I only squeeze pleasure books between the ARC and others I work on. I do try to read a series in order though. I loved this survey & the ones in your newsletters! Have a great week!
Hi, yes, I do have alot of books on my TBR, I usually read which ever book catches my fancy at the time, alot of times it is hard to pick which one I want to read first. I loved this survey, thank you so much, it is so very interesting. Have a great day and a great week.
Hi Deb! Yes, so many tidbits to share, lol! 6,000 ebooks! Wow! I should have made my survey go a lot higher than 1,000+! :) It doesn’t matter to me how long I’ve had a book either…I just scroll through and wait for one to grab me based on my mood. So glad you love my surveys!
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who has a hard time deciding what to read next! I spend a lot of time scrolling through my Kindle to see which book might grab me. :)
Hi Valerie,
I do have many books on my e-reader. I usually read a book first from my favorite author. Thanks for the post!
I never want there to be a cure for T-TBR.
I receive your newsletter. I love it and the surveys! My TBR list is ridiculous and grows by the day. How do I decide what to read next. That is a problem sometimes. Mostly I go by my mood and what I read last. Thank you for your post and your books.
Hi Janet! It’s always fun when a new book from your favorite author comes out!
I’m with you there! :)
Thanks, Bonnie! I’m so glad you enjoy my newsletter and the surveys. :) Good point about considering what you read last when choosing what to read next. Depends if you want to mix things up with something new or keep going with a series.
Hi Valerie,
I always love your newsletter. I fall into the T TBR group. I am in a bookclub so that determines sometimes the book that I need to read next. When I am caught up, it maybe that I am on influencer group so I need to read that book next. After all these cases, if I have time to read for just me, I look to see which book jumps out at me to be the next read. Thanks so much for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Debra! I’m so glad you enjoy my newsletter. I always love connecting that way (and this way too). A book club takes some of the guess work out of choosing your next read. :)
I love my books. I need a room for just books.
I have a T-TBR problem & have had one for years! Especially since I discovered my first Kindle a few years back. Now I switch between paperback & ebook on a regular basis, sometimes I have the same book in each format. Paperback I read during the day & then on my Paperwhite in bed at night. :-)
For the most part, I’m a mood reader when it comes to choosing my next book. If I start a series, I’ll read each one in order until the last novel. I switch genres often that way I never get bored.
All I have to say is, I hope heaven has a library for all the books I’ll never get to…lol!
A home library! That’s the dream! :)
Yes, Kindles just made the T-TBR problem that much worse–or better! :) A heavenly library…I’m just imagining it now. :)
I have way too many books. I often choose due to mood and the cover. Right now cos of a cat on the cover I am reading a cosy mystery.
read whatever looks interesting
It sounds like we all have too many books, lol! Cozy mystery covers are always so fun.
Always a good way to decide! :)
My ability to concentrate & follow-through with anything, no matter how much I want to, has been so messed up lately that the way you have been doing your question of the week is the only way I can respond. I love the way God works out the timing of things. He always has, but these little reminders are so perfect…as usual! I really miss you… 💕
I loved the survey. I always have 1-2 books on me & then puzzle or questions books to write in.
Sounds like you leave the house prepared! :)
I’m glad that’s been working for you…it’s so funny how God is there even in those little details. And of course, feel free to write anytime you want, too. I always love hearing from you in any format. 💜
I have way too many books my room is like a library and I have books on my kindle too. This spring I got ridl of 53 books in a garage sale. I’m always picking up more books either for me or my younger siblings.
That’s the thing! When you get rid of some…it makes room for more, lol! A room that’s like a library doesn’t sound bad to me. :)