My TBR list is seriously out of control. Every time I see or hear of a new book that sounds even remotely interesting to me, I immediately add it to my Want To Read list on Goodreads. It can be intimidating when it comes time to choose a new book because the list is so long that at some point I give up and just choose a book at random.
When I read Lost in a Story’s Down the TBR Hole #1 post, I loved the idea and wanted to do it for myself to try to narrow down my TBR list. Here are the rules:
- Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
Here’s part two of narrowing down my TBR list (Read Part One). Since my TBR list on Goodreads is currently sitting at 1486, I’m going to do ten books today and try to reduce it a bit.
Also, feel free to add me as a friend on Goodreads!
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I tried to read this book once all the way back in high school and ended up not finishing it, but I know plenty about the story just due to how prevalent it is in our culture. I’m planning on giving it another try next month.
Verdict: Keep
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
This is a book that came out recently, on October 2nd. I’ve seen it all over Bookstagram and various book blogs. It’s definitely staying on my TBR list. It takes place in a women’s reproductive clinic after a gunman enters it and takes everyone inside hostage. The story is about everyone inside, from the patients, doctors, and the gunman himself. I love books that examine people’s intentions, and this sounds right up my alley.
Verdict: Keep
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami
The Goodreads synopsis doesn’t say much about the story at all, so I headed over to Amazon for a description. It sounds very surrealist, which I love, so this was an easy decision.
Verdict: Keep
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
I read Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Mineral several years ago, and loved everything about it. I’ve never read any of her fiction, however, so I feel as though her newest novel is going to be a good place to start.
Verdict: Keep
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
So, this book isn’t even out yet, as it’s being released on November 6th. It is set at a remote health resort and follows the story of Frances Welty, who was once a best-selling romantic novelist. I vaguely remember adding this to my TBR list after seeing in on another blog, but after reading the synopsis it honestly doesn’t sound like something I would enjoy.
Verdict: Remove
The Witch Elm by Tana French
This was the fastest decision I made on this list – it’s definitely something I’m keeping on my TBR. In this novel, a man is attacked by two burglars in his home and is left for dead. He moves to his family’s ancestral home to recover and to take care of his dying uncle. While there, he finds a skull in the trunk of a tree in the garden, and he’s forced to reexamine his past.
Verdict: Keep
The Dispossessed (Hainish Cycle #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin
I love most of the short stories I’ve read by Ursula K. Le Guin, but I’ve never actually read any of her novels. This one sounds awesome: “Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have isolated his planet of anarchists from the rest of the civilized universe.”
Verdict: Keep
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I cannot believe that I never read this book. I feel like this is a vital tale that all book-lovers need to read, so it’s definitely staying.
Verdict: Keep
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
This is yet another classic I have not read, so, like Pride and Prejudice, it stays.
Verdict: Keep
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A fantastical adventure story about opportunity, wisdom, and following our dreams? Another very easy decision.
Verdict: Keep
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
I apologize, but I must repeat myself once again: I never read this book in school, and I want to catch up on this classic.
Verdict: Keep
Okay, so I ended up removing only one book from my Goodreads TBR, which really isn’t helping my feelings of being overwhelmed by the massive list. However, I love having so many good books that I can look forward to reading!
Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts about them?
Read Yourself Happy 
Another Barbara Kingsolver book that’s amazing is The Poisonwood Bible, if you like her style of writing I highly recommend checking it out!
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I’ll definitely check it out! Thanks! 🙂
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[…] Down the TBR Hole #2 – Where I attempt to reduce my massive TBR list and fail at doing so. […]
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[…] challenge is something that I did a couple of times when I first started this blog. The idea behind it is to reduce the number of books on your TBR […]
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