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Hello Hello! How are you today?
This week I’m back with another Down the TBR Hole now I have a bit more time for myself after quite a few weeks of running around and constantly having things to do. I really enjoyed the last Down the TBR Hole post I did a couple of weeks ago and it was nice going through the process of deciding whether or not to keep books on my TBR. In any case, I still have a LOT of work to do!
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! 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 4,484 books on my GoodReads “Want to Read” shelf, which means I’ve thankfully not added any books to my TBR in the past two weeks, whouhou!! 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. Last time I did this post, I started the list again at #1, but today I’m able to start off at #15 and I’ll be making my way through the next 20 books on the list, in the hopes of removing 50% or more! Wish me luck!
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (#1) by John Boyne
I actually had to go check on my shelves for this one because I was not longer sure whether I already owned it or not. Turns out I do have it on my shelves. I think had I not already owned it, I would have removed it from my Goodreads “Want to Read” list as I watched the movie a few years ago so I already know that the story ends…. But, I really like books about WWII, and I think it would be a nice change to read the book and see how it compares to the movie (as I usually either just read the book, or just watch the movie!). I know it’s a sad ending, but it’s not a very long book so I’m sure I can read it quite quickly, and I’m hoping I’m going to enjoy it, even though it’s a really sad story.
KEEP
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I added this book to my TBR a few years ago and remember deciding to keep it on the list the first time I went through it, all the way back in 2020 I believe. Since then though, my reading tastes have wildly changed and I no longer read books that just sound mildly appealing to me, not enough hours in the day! I recalled this was a memoir so it could still be an interesting story, especially since I’ve gotten into the nonfiction genre a bit more in recent years. One of the people from my old library also read this and said it was quite boring, and the blurb isn’t calling to me completely, so I’m going to give this one a miss and concentrate on some of my other nonfictions!
REMOVE
Robinson Crusoe (#1) by Daniel Defoe
This is a book I own on my shelves and it’s one of the few books out of my Children’s Golden Library Collection that I have decided to keep. This is one of the most popular classics to pop into my mind, especially in the “boy’s adventure novels” category. I think I remember how the story goes, as it’s kind of the plot of Vendredi ou la vie sauvage by Michel Tournier which I read in school and enjoyed. I mean, we all know what will happen in this kind of book, but it’s quite short and I think it deserved I give it a chance! I can always get rid of it after reading it if I’m not that much of a fan!
KEEP
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
This is one of my all time favourite films and I literally need to not think about this, it is absolutely staying on the TBR! I thought I already owned it but I couldn’t find it on my shelves, so I’ll need to pick up a copy soon and I’m sure I’m going to love it. The fact that this is also based on a true story makes it even better, I love reading about true facts and diving into peoples’ thoughts. It’s already a story I hold dear to my heart, so I’m sure I’m going to absolutely adore reading the book, and it will be a good excuse to watch the movie for the 100th time!
KEEP
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
Even though I said I rarely watch movies that have been adapted from books, I find myself talking about a third book which also has a movie, which I have also seen and absolutely loved…! I watched this years and years ago, but it is still vivid in my mind and I could have jumped for joy when I learned my dad owned this book. I’ve been carrying this book around in boxes for years in every move but I’ve still not read it, and actually only found it again, in the bottom of a box I had thought I had lost, and which I found a few weeks ago clearing out the garage! So it’s probably my sign to finally read it! I remember this story clearly, but I can’t wait to read about it, as books are always more detailed, I’m definitely keeping it on the list!
KEEP
Prisoner of Night and Fog (#1) by Anne Blankman
Staying in the WWII theme apparently and I don’t own this one yet, but over the years have seen a lot about it on the bookish community. I’m pretty sure the main character is Adolf Hitler’s niece, and she follows his every whim until she meets a young Jewish man that changes everything for her. I really like the sound of this book and I think it’s probably going to be hard-hitting, but I also think it could be really well done and interesting. It’s got great ratings and I’m always up for WWII fiction, so I’m keeping this one on the list!
KEEP
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
I’ve seen this book about everywhere for years but still haven’t picked it up! This book is about a young genius and I think she might also have a form of autism, she loves anything medical, scientific and loves counting by 7s. This is also a book about a young girl who has to deal with grief over her parents’ death and how to find her way in this new and lonely world. I know that it has won lots of awards and it has an amazing average rating on Goodreads. I think this is an important book to read and I defiantly want to know more about this young girl, so I’m going to keep it on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list.
KEEP
The Winner’s Curse (#1 The Winner’s Trilogy) by Marie Rutkoski
I feel like this book has gained some popularity all over again recently, as I’ve kept seeing it pop up especially on Instagram, and it has always intrigued me! This YA fantasy romance with some dystopia elements sounds absolutely amazing and I can’t believe I’ve still not gotten myself a copy. It sounds like something I could really enjoy, and I know that it has had some really great reactions and reviews, so even though I’m not doing very well with my removing percentage this week, I really want to give this story a chance!
KEEP
These Broken Stars (#1 Starbound) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
I’m kind of surprised I haven’t got this book on my shelves because there was a period in my teens when I was so into science fiction, and I really would have expected this book to be one I would have read back then, but alas, it is not. I have to admit that my reading tastes have wildly changed since my teens and from the get go, I think this might be one I’ll remove. Now having reading the blurb, I do think that it sounds good, but I just don’t think it’s my kind of read anymore, and I’m going to therefore give it a miss and focus on some of my other sci-fi books I already own.
REMOVE
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
If you know me, you know I’m a fan of mysteries but not so much of thrillers as I much rather prefer a police procedural or a cold case story, to someone stalking you and lots of family secrets and deceit and divorce, etc, etc. And I also have no idea why Ellie is a name I see a lot in thrillers, do Ellies get kidnapped and murdered more often that other girls? It makes my blood run cold a little to be frank! I have read the blurb and honestly couldn’t be bothered with this book, it’s not the kind of story I lean towards or that I enjoy, so it’s an easy choice for me to make.
REMOVE
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown
Changing genres again and now moving back into nonfiction with a book I have on my shelves and am itching to read. You probably don’t know this but I’ve always been so intrigued with Native American history and I actually picked it as one of my modules as Stirling University during my study abroad in 2020. During that semester, we didn’t have time to learn about all of Native American history and we only just mentioned briefly what happened at Wounded Knee, and I knew I wanted to find out more. I think I was gifted this book for Christmas or birthday that year actually, so I need to finally get to it, as it’s on my 23 in 2023 priority list as well!
KEEP
The Da Vinci Code (#2 Robert Langdon) by Dan Brown
Yes I still have this book on my TBR and no I haven’t read it yet, despite owning the whole series for a few years already. I read Angels and Demons, the first instalment in this series about 6 years ago and I really enjoyed it, but then I think I must have been so busy with my first year of university that I never continued it and always put it off for later. I will have to re-read the first book again as I don’t remember all the details, but then I’ll be ready to dive into the sequels and hopefully finish the whole series in one go! I’m looking forward to ticking another series off my list!
KEEP
Red Dragon (#1 Hannibal Lecter) by Thomas Harris
Once again, I come across a book that was turned into a movie, that I saw, and that I really enjoyed, but never read the book! I think I’ve past the age where I want to read all the book to film adaptations and vice versa. I know the story, I enjoyed it, and I suppose I could always watch the movies again if the fancy takes me, but I don’t have enough hours in the day or enough energy to read everything, so this is going to be one of the books I’m removing from my TBR list today.
REMOVE
The Captain’s Daughter by Leah Fleming
I think I must have been gifted this book in French a few years ago and pushed it to the back of my bookshelves, because I do not like reading books that were originally written in English and that were translated into French. Through the years though, I’ve come to accept that I can’t buy every single book in English or in French instead of just reading those I own, it’s such a waste of money! I’ve read the blurb and while it does sound interesting, it’s not instantly grabbing me, so I’m going to remove this from the TBR list and also unhaul the copy I own.
REMOVE
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Oh look, another book to movie adaptation that I’ve seen lots of times and really, really love… Alongside Into the Wild, I think that On the Road is my second favourite. I do already own a copy of this book however, that my husband bought me a few years ago and that has just been sitting on my shelves ever since, waiting for me to read it! I loved the film and remember most of it, but I really want to experience Jack Kerouac’s writing and read this story in more detail. I’m definitely going to keep this one, and I’ll have to make an effort of picking it up and trying it out sooner rather than later!
KEEP
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
I’m pretty sure I still own a copy of this book, but it is already on my unhaul pile in my library. A few years ago, I read The Girl on the Train by this same author because the hype was unreal, but I was very disappointed by it and have never been as bored as I was reading it. It completely put me off thrillers and I think it’s the reason I prefer mysteries with actual murders, bodies and police investigations. The blurb does sound intriguing, but since I’ve already experienced this author before and really disliked her, I’m not even going to bother giving this one a try. Another easy choice!
REMOVE
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
I’m pretty sure I’ve had this book on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list ever since I discovered Goodreads and made an account, but I’ve still not bought myself a copy or read it. Apparently this is also based on a true story of poor orphans being sold into rich families in the United Stated in the 1930s, and I do admit that it sounds interesting since I enjoy historical fiction, but it’s just not pulling me in anymore. I’ve got so many other interesting historical fictions on my TBR, both on my Kindle and on my shelves, so I’m going to remove this one today!
REMOVE
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
A few years ago, I read They Both Die at the End by this author and quite enjoyed it, so I must have added a load of this author’s books to my TBR and I remember having bought a few as well. I’m pretty sure I don’t own this one though. And since having read that book years ago, my reading tastes have changed and I no longer blindly buy contemporary romance or contemporary fiction, as I realised it’s just not my favourite genre. Reading the blurb, I think I would have jumped on this book a few years ago and absolutely loved it, but it’s just not my vibe anymore, so I’m not going to waste any time with it!
REMOVE
The Lies of Locke Lamora (#1 Gentleman Bastard) by Scott Lynch
This is another really popular fantasy book that has been about for years and that I have still not read, but at least I own a copy of it! I’ve heard SO much about this series, it’s unreal and everyone has great things to say about it, so I’m kind of ashamed it’s been sitting on my shelves for over a year already. This whole world and this character cast seem absolutely riveting and having read the blurb once again has made me want to pick it up quickly! I like books with morally grey characters and some unfavourable settings and circumstances, so I think it’s going to be a great book and I’m very excited to finally get to it!
KEEP
The Tattooist of Auschwitz (#1) by Heather Morris
And the final book on my list for today is one I also have owned for a few years but have still not gotten around to reading. It’s a WWII inspired story and it is set in the Auschwitz concentration camp. This is actually a book based on interviews conducted with survivors of the camp, and if there’s anything that makes me want to read a book, is when it’s based on a true story, or inspired from interviews of survivors. I know this is going to be a really hard and emotional book to read, but I always want to learn more about WWII, and I know that this author does a really good job with her historical fiction books, so I’m definitely keeping this one on my Goodreads “Want to Read” list, and on my shelves!
KEEP
I don’t think I did as good a job on my TBR list as I did the previous time, but it also reminded me of some really great books I own and that deserve a shot! This is one of the reasons I like organising my list every now and again and even organising my shelves because it’s easy to forget all the great backlist books when you focus on new releases all the time!
Out of the 20 books I went through today, I was able to remove a total of 8 books, which is only 40% but it’s still quite a good number. I’m going to be able to also unhaul a few from the removed list, so that will clear some space on my shelves! This takes my Goodreads “Want to Read” list down to a total of 4,476 books. So while it’s only very slow progress, it’s still progress, which makes me happy! In another two weeks, I’ll be back on the blog with my next TBR purge post, and I’ll be starting at #27!
That’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx