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Hello Hello! How are you?
Today I’m finally back with a Down the TBR Hole post since I haven’t written one apparently since February! I haven’t had much time to write blog posts lately which is why I’ve been reverting to the short and fun First Lines Fridays. I had a bit extra time to myself this week though, so thought it would be a good idea to get this post ready! I’m hoping to make good progress on the TBR list today since I’ve added a tonne of books to my Goodreads account since last time.
You know the drill: if you’ve never read any of my Down the TBR Hole posts before but you want to find out why I started and what rules to follow to do your own TBR list purge on your Goodreads, head over to the first edition of this post to find out more! The previous times I had changed things up and started to go through my list in alphabetical order, but now scrolling through my Goodreads “Want to Read” list, I realise that it has the major flaw of books being added recently, and being in parts of my list I’ve already dealt with… So, from now on, I’ll be going back to ordering the books in ascending date added. I’m also going to aim to remove 50% of the books mentioned in each post and update my Goodreads with the books I do actually own!
P.S. The only books I won’t add to these posts are ones I have on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list but which are already sorted into a specific TBR shelf for my local library, and my regional library (those are books I don’t actually own, so I’m not too bothered about them staying on the list!).
For today’s post, I’m starting off with a grand total of 4,495 books on my GoodReads “Want to Read” shelf, which means I’ve added apparently a terrifying 200 books since last time I featured this post on my blog… it looks like I have a LOT of work to do! Since I started this post series on my blog, my reading tastes have changed quite a lot and I’ve also come to the conclusion that I just don’t have enough time to read all the books I want to, so I’ve learned to prioritise those I REALLY want to read and those I think I’ll really enjoy. So I know it’s going to be a hell of a long trek again through this list, but I’m going to start at #1 again and just try to make the best progress every two weeks and hopefully eventually whittle this list down to a reasonable number! I’m now going to go through the next 20 books on the list, starting at , in the hopes of removing 50% or more!
Keep on reading to see how I get on!
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
I’m actually in the process of also sorting through my physical and owned TBR and I’ve already made a fair bit of progress on the few shelves I’ve managed to sort through. I’ve been removing the books I don’t fancy anymore or that I probably never did and was gifted or brought because the cover intrigued me (yes, I put up my hands and plead guilty!). I’ve come across this one already and put it back on my shelves and thought I would give it a shot, but I keep thinking about it to be honest. This also has illness/disability rep since one of the characters has leukaemia, and while I want to continue to read books with these reps after doing my thesis on the topic, I also don’t want to just read books because they have a specific rep or trope, instead of being truly interested in the plot as well. So while it might have important rep, I’m sure I can find a million other great-sounding books with leukaemia rep that I’m actually interested in reading.
REMOVE
Half Bad (#1 The Half Bad Trilogy) by Sally Green
I’ve always been intrigued by this series and have kept it on my TBR list for years because I liked the sound of the blurb a lot and I love anything with witches to be honest. But what I will say is that it is no longer giving me that sort of buzz when I read the blurb. I mean, I still think I would enjoy it, but I don’t like how at the start it mentions that the main character is basically a slave. I’m sure I have books on my TBR where there are other characters who are also slaves, but I feel a bit uneasy towards this one for some reason. I also think I have more than enough witch books on my shelves and on my Wishlist to keep me going for years and I probably should just concentrate on them. So I don’t think I’ll bother with this one on second thoughts.
REMOVE
The Pillars of the Earth (#1 Kingsbridge) by Ken Follett
This is a book I already own and that I haven’t gotten around to yet, but that’s I’ve heard good things about, even from my mum. Ken Follett is also a really popular author at my library and I keep seeing his books be lent out which just makes me even more curious! I’m also aware that it is a massive chunk of a book (nearly 1200 pages!!) but I really like the sound of the blurb. It is a historical fiction and I also feel like it might have some fantastical elements, which makes it sound like a really unique book. It’s the first book in a 4 book series, but that doesn’t mean I have to read the whole thing if the first book doesn’t take my fancy. I do want to give it it’s fair shot though, so here goes!
KEEP
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that Patrick Ness is one of my all time favourite authors. However, I haven’t read anything by him in an age and have since read a lot of different books that probably fit my reading tastes more — although The Chaos Walking series will always be a firm favourite! I’ve just reread this blurb and honestly it’s not really cutting it for me… I love this author’s writing style, but I think I would prefer sticking to his more magical fantasy, whereas this one seems to be a bit more of a contemporary fantasy kind of thing? Not too sure, but it’s not really doing it for me, so this is one I’ll be taking off the Goodreads “Want to Read” list, and also off of my shelves, since I already own it!
REMOVE
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This is literally one of those all time favourite classics for a lot of people and I’m still surprised I haven’t read it yet, especially since I’ve owned a copy for years. I’m a lot more into historical fiction from like the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, or alternatively into fantasy and things that go bump in the night, but every now and then I do read books like these. I think I want to give this one a chance since I want to learn more about Afghanistan in the 1970s, and have a few other books by this author on my TBR also, but might just start with this one. I’m going to give it a fair shot and hope that it will be enjoyable, but I’ll have to wait to be in that specific mood because right now I only want romantasy or dark paranormal fantasy, so it will have to wait on my shelves a little while longer.
KEEP
The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
This one has apparently been on my TBR list since 2015 and has already stood up to my scrutiny twice already. Whenever I see the cover I keep thinking that I might as well remove it as the cover really doesn’t grab me, but within the first lines of the blurb I remember why I added it to my TBR in the first place! This really seems to be a great October, Halloween and Spooky season book, all rolled into one with some extra autumnal vibes. I really like the sound of it and since it has survived my scrutiny a third time, it’ll stay on the list and I’ll have to really get my hands on a copy so I can see what this is all about!
KEEP
Alice (#1 The Chronicles of Alice) by Christina Henry
This is a book I’ve owned since I went on my Erasmus study abroad to Scotland in 2020 and I still haven’t read it, despite it clearly being my cup of tea. It is a fantasy/horror retelling of Alice in Wonderland and while I’m probably not a fan of the original story by Lewis Carroll, I do thoroughly enjoy the on-screen adaptations, especially the one by Tim Burton (I love that kind of vibe). I feel like Christina Henry includes a bit of that Tim Burton atmosphere and spookiness into her book, so I’m definitely going to give this one a shot, especially since I’ve heard good things about this author.
KEEP
The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur
I keep seeing this book on my Goodreads TBR whenever I look through it and keep wondering to myself whether I really want to read it or not. I don’t know why I keep it on the list every time, because I just read the first lines of the blurb and thought that it sounded like something I would rather through out of a window (no offence to the author or the story, it’s just probably not going to be my cup of tea). I mean it feels like a kind of murder mystery/thriller kind of book but the fact that it mentions secrets and being women’s lit just turns me right off, so this is an easy decision for me to make!
REMOVE
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
Now this sounds a lot more like an actual murder mystery/thriller! It is apparently first set at Oxford University and then I suppose it moves to a different setting, but I should think that there would be a good kind of dark academia vibe from the parts set in the past. I’ve just read through the whole blurb and while I’m sure I would have jumped at the chance to read this book only a few months ago, I think that it’s kind of the generic “secret between friends” and “game gone wrong” trope that I’ve read time and time again. I mean it could very well be twisty and surprising, but from the blurb I get the feeling it’s sort of an inside friends’ group secret/disaster kind of book and I don’t really fancy that right now.
REMOVE
The Young Elites (#1) by Marie Lu
This is another book that has been sitting on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list for years and that I still haven’t gotten around to purchasing a copy of. I don’t even think I’ve ever read a book by this author either! This is one of those really tricky ones because the blurb does sound interesting, but it’s not got a very high average rating and as I scroll through the reviews, there are lots of 2 and 3 star-ratings for it. I think that I have other books similar to this one on my TBR already, or ones I really want to purchase, so I’m going to make a tactical choice and get rid of it.
REMOVE
Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin E. Moulton
Ohhhh this book sounds intriguing. It has references to Greek mythology, to the Minotaur’s labyrinth, but also to the main character’s mother’s mysterious death and lots of lies and secrets by the sound of it. I know I added this book to my TBR because of exactly those elements, but let’s be real, in the last 3 years the number of Greek mythology retellings that have been published is actually insane, and I think I would rather concentrate on those, so this is another easy choice for me to make.
REMOVE
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (#1 Mara Dyer) by Michelle Hodkin
I feel like I’ve had this book on my TBR for an actual century and I’ve actually stopped seeing it so much on social media, but it seemed to be extremely popular even just a few years ago. I couldn’t remember a thing about this book until I read the blurb and then I was a bit skeptical because while it does sound good, I don’t really know what to make of it since the blurb doesn’t give many details and definitely doesn’t help me out. I’ve scrolled through the reviews though and so many are 5 star ratings, so I think that on that fact along it maybe deserves a shot, I’ll just have to hope it is a great book as lots of people say it is. And it’s apparently a YA paranormal/fantasy romance, so it should be exactly my kind of read!
KEEP
Don’t Wake Up by Liz Lawler
I own this book and think that somebody gifted it to me while I was in Scotland on my Erasmus study abroad, but I honestly can’t remember who (sorry!). I used to really be into psychological thrillers but after reading a few dud ones I’ve really gone off the genre, and generally do not read thrillers if I can help it. I’m much more of a murder mystery and crime fiction reader so this doesn’t really float my boat to start with. I’ve read through the blurb and do admit that I would have probably enjoyed it, but I don’t want to keep every book just “in case I might like it”. So I guess you know what I’ll be doing with it.
REMOVE
Sweet Little Lies (#1 Cat Kinsella) by Cat Frear
Something about the cover and the title is already putting me off and I know I should judge on those two elements (because they got me into this big massive TBR mess), but I’m already not a fan of “secrets” abounding in stories… It’s a police procedural, which I usually enjoy a lot because I really enjoy seeing how the police go about their investigation, and apparently my first judgment was a bit premature and rushed because now that I have read the full blurb, I think I could enjoy this one. As I mentioned just before, I largely prefer murder mysteries, and this one seems like it could be enjoyable, so I want to give it a shot.
KEEP
Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess
This next book is one I don’t have to be reminded of the blurb because I know this story inside out. Billy Elliot was one of my favourite films growing up and it’s been YEARS since I last saw it, which means I should probably watch it soon. I know I put this book on my list because I loved the film, but I’ve come to the understanding that sometimes it’s best to only watch the movie or only read the book, because otherwise I’m always let down. I don’t need to read the book to enjoy the story anymore, so I’ll just stick to the film for this one!
REMOVE
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This is another book which has been on my TBR for what seems like an eternity and that I still haven’t gotten myself a copy of! I feel like this is also a movie that I’ve already seen before and thoroughly enjoyed (but I think there are a few like this and I’m thinking of the wrong one). I’ve looked at the movie poster and the cast, but I’m pretty sure the film I’m thinking of included a man jumping in and out of a wardrobe to travel through time, and it’s not the same actor. So, all that to say that I really want to find out more about this story and particularly enjoy the time travel trope in books, so I’m going to have to pick it up soon and see what it’s all about!
KEEP
The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night by Jen Campbell
I’m pretty sure I added this book to my TBR list because of the absolutely stunning cover as I have no recollection of what the story is about. I’ve just read the blurb and realised I had no idea it was a collection of short stories and I didn’t know it was kind of horror/magical realism either. Not that I don’t enjoy those kinds of stories, but something about the blurb is kind of putting me off. I’ve also scrolled down the reviews and seen that they are widely mixed, either 5 stars or 2 and not much in between, so I’m worried it’s the kind of book for a select few and not enjoyable to many. Either way, I can’t read all the books with beautiful covers, so I think I’m going to give this one a miss, based on the blurb.
REMOVE
The Becoming of Noah Shaw (#1 The Shaw Confessions) by Michelle Hodkin
I’m pretty sure this series is linked to the Mara Dyer series featured above and according to the blurb it is a companion to the first series and “is what happens after happily ever after,” so I’m thinking you read it after Mara Dyer. Again, I like the sound of the blurb but it still seems too vague to me and I’m not sure what to expect at all from it. I think that instead of keeping both series on my TBR, I’m going to focus on the Mara Dyer one first and if I enjoy it, I’ll think about getting my hands on the Noah Shaw series, so for now it’s coming off my list.
REMOVE
A Tangled Mercy by Joy Jordan-Lake
This is kind of a funny coincidence because just a few hours ago I was looking at my bookcase and my eyes were stuck on this title as I couldn’t remember where I got it or even what it is about! And now that I have read the blurb I have no idea whatsoever why it has sat forgotten on my shelves for so long. It is told in alternating timelines and POVs and is about slavery in America. It reminds me a bit of Roots by Alex Haley and Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, both of which I adored and are firm favourites. I’m definitely keeping this one on the list and will really need to read it soon!
KEEP
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
And the final book on this list is a classic that I have always been intrigued by, especially since seeing the BBC adaptation of the book when I was a child. I remember loving it and frequently say “Please sir, can I have some more?” when referring to food or books, so I know what the story is about! Obviously the on-screen adaptation must have left out a lot of details from the book and I actually quite enjoyed the Dickens’ books I’ve read so far. I think it would do me good to read the full book and I do generally enjoy classics, so I’m going to end this post on a positive note!
KEEP
Despite having to go back through my list to the very start and checking all the books all over again, I feel like I made good progress today and was quite impartial and reasonable. And it also reminded me of books I REALLY want to read!
So out of the 20 books I’ve gone through today, I was able to remove a total of 11 books, which is over 50% and that makes me happy. This takes my Goodreads “Want to Read” list down to a total of 4,484 books, so it’s slow but visibly progress. In two weeks, I’ll come back on the blog with another Down the TBR Hole post, starting at #15 and I hope to make more progress!
That’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx
After you read the Kite Runner, you can reward yourself with the movie adaptation! 🙌
Good idea Carol!