Mt TBR report: January 2012

[calissa]

One of my resolutions for this year was to finish the year with less books on Mt TBR than I started. So far, I haven't been at all successful:

Mt TBR Status
Mt TBR at 1 January: 146 books
Mt TBR at 31 January: 147 books

I can't even blame my Kindle, since I have only picked up one new book for it. It seems I have a wide contrary streak so that if I say to myself "no buying new books" I immediately go and buy new books. I don't mind too much, at least not at the moment. The year is still young, after all, and I have (the perhaps somewhat naive) faith that I'm not contrary all the time.

Books read
1. Five Historical Feasts by Gillian Polack
2. Colour Bleach by Tite Kubo
3. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
4. The Horns of Ruin by Tim Akers
5. Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey (*reread)

4/2/2012 ETA:
In sorting through my record of Mt TBR to cull a list of books I definitely want to read this year I discovered I had a duplication. So overall Mt TBR has only increased by one book, not two. Not bad going.

Comments

[sweet_sparrow]

*snug* As you say the year is young, hun. If it helps, my experience and observation is that the beginning is usually hardest. You're changing your book acquisition habits, after all, and changing habits is hard. 's why so many book bloggers who decide on acquisition rules of any sorts have caveats, I think. It gives us a chance to acquire new books on the pile without feeling guilty over breaking the rules.
But the point is: don't feel bad. You're absolutely right that the year is young and you'll get there with some more time and practice. ^-^

Might be an idea to keep yourself accountable of all the new books you acquire, though. I found that 'meme' style list I did a few months ago really helpful. So many books I got and so few of them I'd read. O_O

[calissa]

I'm not feeling bad, just a little amused. Especially since two more books arrived yesterday (the last two).

I suspect that the issue for me was that I had been very good and not bought any new books for ages before I made this declaration. It may have been a wise idea to give myself a little time to play first before going back to the straight and narrow. You are definitely right about the caveats. I'm going to have to give it some more thought.

I don't suppose you remember where I could find that meme style list you mentioned? I wasn't sure which of your journals to search.

[sweet_sparrow]

Sounds like it would've been a good idea, yes. ^-^ You'll want to fiddle a bit with your ideas to find what works for you, but I'm sure you'll sort it out. ^-^

There you go. ^-^ (Though I grant I've since read and/or abandoned another 7 of them. Oh! I'll update it after posting this! It'll be fun!)

[calissa]

Ooo... what a good idea! I take it that the list forms your Mt TBR?

[sweet_sparrow]

Only part of it, I'm afraid. That list is just for the books I acquired in 2011. You can find the complete TBR pile on my GoodReads shelves, if you're curious. ^-^

This is the list of books I very definitely want to try and get to this year. It should go pretty well. I know I'll read at least double the amount on that list.

Since I found keeping track of what I'd bought and read in the same year so useful, though, I'm also redoing that list, but it's currently looking pretty paltry. (I've been less good about buying books than it seems, actually, but those books'll be a while coming.)

And thank you! ^-^

[calissa]

For what? All I've done is pester you.

I can see that some further experimenting--this time with lists--is in order. It might be interesting to find a balance between what I can maintain and what will be useful.

[sweet_sparrow]

Saying it's a good idea. ^-^ And I don't mind being pestered about it. Besides, you made me remember I needed to update my lists so they're accurate. ^-^

I wish you luck in poking at lists of your own! I find them really helpful, or at least interesting, so I hope you'll discover a way that works for you. ^-^ (I've got spreadsheets too. I like book-related lists a lot.)

[calissa]

They're fun, aren't they? I keep a list of Mt TBR titles and a wish list, as well as a graph charting the total of Mt TBR from week to week. I also have another graph showing month by month how many books I've read so far for the year. I find they're helpful.

It was cool being able to poke through your lists and seeing what books are there. I think it would be fun to post similar lists to yours just so that other people can have a poke through mine.

[sweet_sparrow]

Oh, wow. I'm impressed! Sounds wonderful. ^-^ I can't do graphs myself, though I don't mind overly much. And they're very helpful, aren't they? ^-^

I'd love to see it at least! ^-^ But then I'm really nosy. Was there any book that jumped out at you as something you'd like me to read/talk about? I could (try to) put it aside and write you up comments for your birthday. Can't guarantee I'd like the book, but it's a fun way to read them. ^-^

[calissa]

It's not really that impressive. I use Microsoft Excel which draws the graph for you, provided you have it set up properly. I find it's great for helping me see overall trends. Mt TBR really looks like a mountain that way.

Lists are posted. Feel free to share any thoughts :D I should also say thank you because in going through Mt TBR to try and cull a list for this year I found I had a duplication that I was able to cut out.

As for books on your list that I'd like to hear about, there are too many to name! Perhaps Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear?

[sweet_sparrow]

*laughs* I figured, hun, but Excel graphs hate me, so getting the things to cooperate is still impressive to me. ^-^

I shall! ^_^ And yay for realising you've got doubles!

Mmm... I can do that. ^-^ I'll just have to put both the books aside for September then. ^-^

[calissa]

It is nice to realise I have one less book than I thought. It turned out that my electronic subscription to ASIM and the paper one overlapped by one volume. I'm still glad to have the paper one, though, because a friend of mine wrote and illustrated a rather interesting story for it.

If you feel called to read Blood and Iron before then, feel free. I don't want to put you to any trouble. It just seemed like an intriguing book.