Down the TBR Hole #153

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is down several books to 1096. I finished a couple of books and got rid of a got rid of a couple as well.
This week’s books:

The Tenth Island by Diana Marcum – GO. I’ve already read Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun. I don’t need another “White Woman Traveling and Finding Love” story.

Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton – GO. I’m not interested in the love affair of two famous people. I’ve never cared about that sort of thing.

Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King – GO. This is another one of those books that I don’t know how I got it or why I decided to get it. I hope it was free.

Stray by Tanya Marquardt – KEEP. Now this is a memoir I’m interested in reading. The reviews aren’t all that good, though, so it might be a dud. I’ll give it a chance.

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker – KEEP. Yet another Historical Fiction book set during WWII. However, there’s a mention of the “Red Orchestra,” which I’ve never heard of before, so I’m interested in potentially learning about a new perspective.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1093 books. I’ll probably let go of at least one book in the next post.

Down the TBR Hole #152

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up several books to 1103. I finished an audiobook but bought a few ebooks this past week.
This week’s books:

The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan – GO. I don’t understand what this story is about and I think it’s probably full of Magical Realism, which I can’t stand.

The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen – GO. The synopsis was easier to understand than the one for The Gray House, but I’m just not feeling it.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – KEEP. Whoever wrote the synopsis for this book needs to learn how to edit and use paragraphs, but I’m going to assume it wasn’t the author and give this book a chance.

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson – GO. Why do I own this book?! How did I get this book?! Did I willingly pay for this book?!

Without a Country by Ayşe Kulin – KEEP. Last week I chose to keep Kulin’s other book I own, Last Train to Istanbul. I’ll keep this one as well, in case the other book is good enough for me to want to read more by her.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1100 books. Like this week, I’ll probably let go of more than just one book in the next post, too.

Down the TBR Hole #151

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is down a couple of books to 1099. I finished a few books this past week.
This week’s books:

White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey – KEEP. I’m skeptical about this one, but I’m willing to give it a chance. I will DNF it in a heartbeat if it turns out this is a Romance that just happens to be set during WWII.

An American Princess by Annejet van der Zijl – KEEP. I’d never heard of Allene Tew before, and though it doesn’t seem like she did much other than get married a bunch of times, I’m still interested for some unknown reason.

The House by the River by Lena Manta – GO. Meh.

The Great Passage by Shion Miura – KEEP. I’m not sure if I will enjoy this one, but I’m intrigued enough to keep it.

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin – KEEP. This is another WWII story, but from a POV I’ve never read before or know much about.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1098 books. I thought I would be letting go of more than just one book, and I’m thinking the same for the next post. We’ll see if I’m wrong.

Down the TBR Hole #150

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up a couple of books to 1102. I finished an audiobook, but I also bought a few books.
This week’s books:

Trial by Fire by Sabine C. Bauer – KEEP. This book has been on my wishlist for a couple of years now; ever since my boyfriend and I rewatched the series on Netflix.

Nightfall by Daniel Barnett – KEEP. This is the first part in a serial, and though I usually don’t bother with serials, “Nightmareland” has six parts. Most serials fizzle out after a couple of parts, so I’ll give this one a chance.

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker – KEEP. If I remember correctly, this was a recommendation from an episode of the “Reading Glasses” podcast several years ago.

A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa – KEEP. There don’t seem to be a lot of stories from the people who lived in and escaped from North Korea.

As Good as True by Cheryl Reid – GO. I don’t remember when or why I got this book, but I’m assuming I got it for free. Regardless, I’m not interested at all.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1101 books. The next post will be full of free ebooks I picked up over the years, and I think I’ll be getting rid of at least a couple of them.

Down the TBR Hole #149

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is down a book to 1100. I finished a couple of books, but I also bought an ebook.
This week’s books:

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware – KEEP. This book sounds like the perfect #RIP read.

Cuba ed. by Ann Louise Bardach – KEEP. I bought this over a decade ago, and though I’ve read a few of the short stories in it, I never finished it.

Voices in the Snow by Darcy Coates – KEEP. I’ve read 3 other books by Coates, and only one was a dud. I’ll keep this one for now since there’s more than a 50% chance I’ll enjoy it.

The Whole Five Feet by Christopher R. Beha – KEEP. I’ve had this book on my wishlist for several years and still haven’t bought it, mostly because I haven’t found it in any bookstore, new or used. I might check it out from my library.

Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch – KEEP. This is another book that has been on my wishlist for years because I haven’t been able to find it in any bookstore. Unfortunately, it’s not available at my library, either, so at some point I’ll have to try to buy it online.
My want-to-read shelf is steady at 1100 books. My prediction last week that I would keep all of the books in this week’s post was correct. I predict that I’ll let go of a couple of books in the next post.

Down the TBR Hole #148

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is down a book to 1101. I finished several books during the readathon on Saturday, but I also discovered a bunch of books on my shelves that had not been added to my Goodreads.
This week’s books:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson – KEEP. This book is one of those that I would accidentally buy a second copy if I didn’t have Goodreads to tell me I already own it.

Alcatraz from Inside by Jim Quillen – KEEP. I bought this and the following books while I was visiting Alcatraz.

Bird Man by Jolene Babyak – KEEP. The book above mentions daily encounters with the “Bird Man,” and this book is written by someone who lived on the island and knew Robert Stroud.

Acatraz Believe it or Not by T.C. Bakker – KEEP. I mostly got this one just for fun.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell – KEEP. I want to read this book because of the title. I don’t know why, but I love it. Hopefully, I’ll enjoy the book as much as the title.
My want-to-read shelf is steady at 1101 books. I thought I might get rid of several books this week, but was wrong. I think I’ll keep all of the books in the next post, so we’ll see if I’m wrong again.

Down the TBR Hole #147

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up to 1102 books yet again. Over the past few weeks, I’ve finished a couple of books but bought a couple and added a couple to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

Cynicism from Diogenes to Dilbert by Ian Cutler – KEEP. I was drawn to this book out of interest in learning more about Greek Cynicism and modern Cynicism, particularly in pop culture.

Virginia Woolf by Quentin Bell – KEEP. I know a little about Woolf’s life and would like to learn more about her.

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg – KEEP. This is mandatory reading for anyone wanting to understand the Beat Generation, and it’s such a short book that I don’t know why I haven’t read it already. I bought my copy at the bookstore that originally published it, City Lights Books in San Francisco.

The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene – GO. I’m tired of love stories set during WWII.

Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf – KEEP. I’ve had difficulty getting into and reading older novels, such as Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. I wonder if my increased use of technology, especially social media, might be the cause. I’m interested to see what Wolf has to say about it.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1001 books. Though I’m not certain, I might let go of several books in the next post.

Down the TBR Hole #146

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up to 1102 books. I finished a book, but I bought several new ones.
This week’s books:

Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan – GO. This book seems to be more about how great Google is than anything else, so no thank you.

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson – KEEP. As with all books by Jackson, this one is sure to be wonderfully creepy.

All Things Shining by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly – GO. This one seems to be about literature in a non-religious, but at the same time religious somehow, I think? The synopsis is a little confusing and the reviews aren’t encouraging.

The Colussus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath – KEEP. I’m not big into poetry, but I will ready anything by Plath.

Happiness by Darrin M. McMahon – KEEP. This book was referenced by a therapist during a group session I attended many years ago. I still haven’t gotten around to reading it, but I am still interested.
My want-to-read shelf is down two books to 1000. The next post will be a toss-up as to whether or not I get rid of any books.

Down the TBR Hole #145

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up to 1098 books. I finished a couple of books, but I bought several new ones.
This week’s books:

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman – KEEP. The synopsis on Goodreads reminds me of the “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” series by Chris Grabenstein.

Seafurrers by Philippa Sandall – KEEP. This book sounds fun, and I need more of that (and cats) in my life.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – KEEP. Both my Sister and her Husband recommend this one.

The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry – KEEP. This sounds like a solid Horror read perfect for #RIP.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown – KEEP. I might read this sooner rather than later, as I think I could benefit from it right now.
My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1098 books. I don’t know what will happen in the next post, but I think I might be letting go of one book.

Down the TBR Hole #144

Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My shelf is up to 1098 books. I DNF’d a book, but I also bought an audiobook and added a couple of books to my wishlist.
This week’s books:

More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran – KEEP. I loved How to Be a Woman, which I plan to reread at some point, and I’m looking forward to reading this second book as I’m beginning to relate more and more to a Middle-aged perspective (When the frack did that happen?!)

the sun and her flowers by Rupi Kaur – GO. I got this book in a book box subscription years ago, and while I’m sure this is a beautiful book of poetry, that has never been my thing, and I don’t know why I’ve kept this book for so long knowing that I would never read it.

White Trash by Nancy Isenberg – GO. The synopsis along with some of the reviews make me think this book implies that poor people are victims who need help making the “right” political choices. That way of thinking is scary to me as it feels very similar to how Lenin and others who brought Communism to Russia thought about poor Russians. It also feels insulting, patronizing, and condescending.

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson – KEEP. I’ve read “The Lottery” many times, mostly in school, and I’ve read some of Jackson’s novels, but I’ve not read her other short stories. I also realized that I own this book in two different editions, the one pictured above and a smaller more portable hardcover, which means that I’ve been wanting to read it enough to forget that I already owned a copy and bought another.

City of Orphans by Avi – GO. I’m just not interested.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1095 books. I knew I would decide to let go of at least one book, but I wasn’t expecting to get rid of three. I’m not at all sure about what will happen with the next five books.
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