So today I'm grumpy because I realized that while the term is useful, I don't actually have or use any sort of TBR. I like the idea of it, in theory, but I don't have a list, really, or even a stack. When I talk about it, I use "TBR" in basically the same way I'd mean the "Want to Read" shelf on Goodreads. It's just a place to throw books that sound interesting, that I might one day - in the near or far future - think about picking up and reading. So when I say "Oh that's on my TBR" or "I have a huge TBR!" or anything like that, all that
really means is that I think the book sounds interesting. Maybe I'll read it one day!
I admire people who make a list and stick to it, even irregularly, because I just can't do that. Even if I did bother to make a list - which I'm sure I have at some point - as soon as I see another interesting book, whether it's on the list or not, chances are I might just put everything else down and read that until I finish it. That happens a lot. I tend to start several books at once, because if I can't just sit and read something straight through (and I absolutely cannot, that is an extremely rare luxury in my life nowadays), then often I'll put it down for awhile before picking it up again - and in the interim pick up something else.
So here's why I've decided a TBR is not for me, and why I'm not going to stress about it!
As long as I'm reading, does it matter which books?
Obviously this is not going to be true or work for everyone, but for me I've decided that as long as I'm reading, I'm just going to enjoy it! Instead of feeling guilty for not reading a book I've been meaning to, instead of putting off a book that looks really interesting just to read one only because I've meant to for awhile, and instead of not reading because I've got so many books to read I just can't choose, I'm going to simply pick up a book whenever the urge hits me. (Obviously there are some exceptions to this, though, like when I have to read a book for work!)
One less list to keep up with!
Admittedly, this is not exactly a great reason... But it still does make a difference to me! I like making lists of what I've read, and what sounds interesting - but I can barely remember to add books to my Goodreads "Want to Read" shelf, which as I mentioned, is really just a catchall for any book that looks interesting to me. Having to keep track of a list on top of that of books I actually intend to read? That's too much work. Never underestimate how lazy I am, because... yeah, really lazy. So, so lazy.
No pressure.
I've definitely seen people in online book communities talking about the pressure they sometimes feel to read. It's hard enough if you want to read current books to stay relevant with discussions and reviews (which is not something that I bother with to be totally honest), so I hate to see people adding more pressure to themselves with a list they have to follow. Especially if the list is mostly arbitrary. Now, if a TBR helps you and alleviates pressure or keeps you from feeling it, then that is perfect! But if you do feel pressured to read what's on your list and you don't want to? Then I say toss that TBR out!
I might actually turn my library books in on time?!
I have a bad habit of renewing my books the maximum number of times because I tell myself over and over again that eventually - maybe even
soon - I'm going to read them. I put them on my TBR, so I'm going to read them. Right? Right?! Well I was hoarding books, basically - and since I work at the library and was surrounded my books all the time, my bad habit was only getting fed. So that definitely played a big part in my decision to just throw my TBR out. Since I've gotten better at actually updating
my GoodReads and keeping track of books I want to read, I no longer feel pressure to keep books when there's no chance I'll have time to read them. Instead of keeping an overflowing TBR shelf (which was my favored method - and no, it did not work at all), now I just put the title on my list and then I can bring the book back. Hopefully I'll actually read all those books. You know... One day...
So for me, a TBR just doesn't work! I think it works for a lot of people, and that's awesome. I've seen a lot of very cool ways to utilize a TBR list, and some people who like to just pull a book at random from the list when they want something to read. But it just made me feel bad and I wanted to read books that weren't on the list, and it was getting bigger and bigger and way out of hand, so I just threw it out. And that works great for me!
What's your preferred method: TBR or no? Do you have an actual TBR list or, more like me, just use the "want to read" shelf on GoodReads? And if you do use a TBR, how do you use it, what does it look like?
Let me know! And happy reading!
