Down the TBR Hole was originally created over at Lost in a Story, and is a super fun (and simultaneously productive) tag to help you whittle away at those never-ending TBRs! (By the way, you can click on the covers to go to the Goodreads listings!)
It works like this:
- Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 or 15 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: 1,049 titles
BOOKS 166-170:
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes – added 11.24.16
I went through a phase in which I was obsessed with nonfiction books about craft. That phase has passed.
DECISION: REMOVE
Cursed Pirate Girl, Vol 1 by Jeremy A. Bastian – added 11.24.16
I have no recollection of adding this to the list, but it seems to be a graphic novel about pirates. It doesn’t sound super interesting, and I don’t read a lot of graphic novels anymore, so…
DECISION: REMOVE
Scythe by Neal Shusterman – 11.24.16
This sounds so interesting to me, and I actually managed to grab it from BookOutlet last year for a few bucks, so now I really have no excuse to not read it.
DECISION: KEEP
Dying For Christmas by Tammy Cohen – added 11.24.16
This thriller sounds really interesting – I mean, I’ve never read a thriller that involved horrible gifts for each of the twelve days of Christmas – and some of my friends loved it, so I’m going to try to remember to get a copy of it some time closer to next Christmas!
DECISION: KEEP
The Memory Book by Lara Avery – added 11.24.16
Another one I don’t remember adding, but the synopsis says it’s about a teen girl who’s losing her memories very young, due to a genetic disorder. It has good ratings, but it sounds so terribly sad that I’m going to have to pass.
DECISION: REMOVE
BOOK 171-175:
Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In by Bernie Sanders – added 11.24.16
When I added this, the political climate didn’t feel quite as bleak as it does now, but I don’t usually touch political non-fics anymore because they’re so damn depressing.
DECISION: REMOVE
Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks – added 11.24.16
I honestly want to read this just to spite the top review on this book right now.
DECISION: KEEP
Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey – added 11.24.16
I’m such a sucker for books about haunted locations and history, but reviews say that this book is less about the ghost stories and more about the history itself of these places, which isn’t quite what I’m looking for.
DECISION: REMOVE
Winter by Marissa Meyer – added 11.24.16
I read Cress almost a year ago, I think, so I honestly can’t believe I haven’t moved on to Winter yet. I think I’m just so worried Marissa’s going to hurt my space babies. :'(
DECISION: KEEP
The Big Book of Jack the Ripper by Otto Penzler – added 11.24.16
When I added this, I don’t think I looked at the synopsis… at all… I feel like I thought it was a non-fiction book, but it’s a collection of stories and theories from various authors.
DECISION: REMOVE
BOOK 176-180:
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten – added 11.06.16
A YA thriller about girls who seem to have committed suicide, but are presumed to have actually been murdered, sounded kind of interesting at the time, but now it doesn’t feel like anything special.
DECISION: REMOVE
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – added 11.24.16
I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me or not when I first heard about it, but so many of my friends have raved about it lately that I have to give it a try! I’m actually hoping to get around to reading it before the cold weather is gone, since I’m told it’s very winter-y.
DECISION: KEEP
Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou – added 11.24.16
I learned last summer, when reading a few of Maya’s works, that I adore her non-fiction, but her poetry style is not for me.
DECISION: REMOVE
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – added 11.24.16
I know these tend to be pretty polarizing books, but I’ve had the whole trilogy for a year now and still haven’t read it, so this is actually on my “must read in 2018” list.
DECISION: KEEP
I Will Find You by Joanna Connors – added 11.24.16
This is a non-fiction story in which a reporter investigates the life of her rapist, in hopes of shedding light on rape culture and making a safer world for her own children. I love the nobility of the idea, but I’ve reached a point in my life where I’ve realized that non-fiction about rape is really unhealthy for my mental state. 🙁
DECISION: REMOVE
REMOVAL PERCENTAGE THIS WEEK: 60%
(I feel like this percentage keeps getting higher every week!)
Heather
January 21, 2018Reading these are slowly motivating me to sit down and go through my Goodreads TBR, which is currently sitting at 2134 :O – most of which I blame on Giveaways lol. I’m aiming to deal with this on my slower times in the semester and over the summer as a start date. Trying desperately not to add any of the books that sound semi-interesting that I’m seeing from your list too 😉
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018Haha a lot of mine are from giveaways too! And then I find them on my TBR, and I’m like, “… why is this here?” lol good luck with your TBR! 😉
Kelly | Just Another Book in the Wall
January 21, 2018I’m so glad you decided to keep Winter! I was also nervous about how the series would conclude, but I ended up loving the book! I hope you enjoy it! ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018Thank you! I’m sure I’m going to love it – I just have to step away from ARCs and buddy reads long enough to read it now, haha!
Alecia
January 21, 2018What an interesting idea!!! I might have to do this 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018I highly recommend it! It’s helped me see that a lot of what was on my TBR wasn’t anything I wanted to read anymore! 🙂
emmareadstoomuch
January 21, 201860% nice!!! also yay for winter and yay for the bear & the nightingale (which i have not read but…seems p interesting)
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018I hear it’s super gorgeous! I was going to try to read it before the cold weather left, but it miiiight not happen.
Ashley Paolozzi
January 21, 2018Wow, I envy your ability to go through 15 book at a time. I’ve only been able to do 10 before I get tired! The whole exercise of combing through your ‘to-read’ shelf is a bit therapeutic though, it’s fun to see books you added years ago and completely forgot about. As a side note, if you are looking for a good non-fiction Jack the Ripper book, “The Complete History of Jack the Ripper” by Philip Sugden was really good. I haven’t read the entire thing yet but from what I have read its a really good overview of the entire case. Not that you’re looking for things to ADD to your ‘to-read’ shelf! 😉
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018Thank you, Ashley! I’m actually moving up to 20 books for next weekend’s post! It took longer to type up, but I’m hoping it helps me make progress quicker. It definitely is therapeutic, though, haha! And thank you for the recommendation!
Ashley Paolozzi
January 22, 2018I’m very inspired, I might try 15 this week if I’m feeling adventurous! ?Good luck with 20! It’ll feel great to get so many done at once.
chicnerdreads
January 21, 2018when i read what you wrote for “dying for christmas” i was like WHAT IS THIS CREEPY THING I NEED?! lol. i am so happy that you are keeping the bear and the nightingale because OMG that book is MAGICAL AND BEAUTIFUL! i can scream that from the rooftops lol. sounds like you did some good cleaning! i always love seeing these type of post. awesome kept list =)
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 22, 2018Lmao, doesn’t it sound super twisted? I’m honestly tempted to make myself a note on my calendar just so I can try to remember to read it for next Christmas. And yes, definitely keeping that one, and I’m so glad I did after hearing you rave about it! 😀 Thank you lovely! <3
chicnerdreads
January 24, 2018You’re welcome! I think you should definitely mark it in the calendar. Sounds like a TOO READ asap lol.