Good morning, good afternoon, or goodnight friends, how are you? I hope you had a wonderful week. I’m mildly stressed out, I will admit it, because well, erm, my diploma relies on whether or not I do this little something right next week, so… fingers crossed for me? To take my mind off things a bit, I think today will be one of these days where I tackle a very important issue, in all of our bookworms lives: THE TBR PROBLEM, and everything that goes with it.
For those of you unfamiliar with that term, or new to the book blogging scene, TBR stands for, To Be Read, a.k.a ALL of those books you keep putting on your shelves, buying while you have absolutely NO NEED for new books, and adding to your Goodreads shelves because “oh, that one looks pretty good”. As bookworms, we are ALL faced with that problem, even MORE with book blogging. Because talking to people about books means finding out about new books, and, once again, adding MORE books to our TBR. Like we need it (We don’t. But let’s pretend we do. We can’t resist). We’re all going to die happily crushed under a pile of books after all, right?
But hey, what are we doing with those books we used to love? Those books we were anxiously waiting the sequel for and wanted to re-read, before actually getting into that final installment (and because we kind of read a gazillion books in between and have no idea what happened before) ? WHAT DO WE DO THEN?
If there’s ONE HUGE STRUGGLE we bookworms have to encounter, it’s that one. On one side, there’s this old love, this book you want to re-read because it made us feel incredible/was unforgettable, or just because you can’t remember a thing about it and just bought the sequel. On the other side, there are these thousands of new books you just added to your TBR because a friend recommended it / the hype is too strong / the cover is gorgeous / you just WANT to read it. So…HOW CAN WE CHOOSE? Which call is the strongest? That old childhood love you can’t help but come back to, or that new hot guy or girl in town that you can’t help but swoon at like you’re really going to have an epic romance with that book? This problem remains unsolved, and the struggle is real.
omg yes I understand this struggle SO much. I have so many books I’ve been excited for, but then I’ll get distracted by new releases. I don’t even want to talk about how many books are on my TBR ? I have some books on my shelves that have been there for like four years. It’s soooo bad. I do reread books, but it’s hard trying to fit them in with my TBR. The main ones I reread are Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I’m also the worst with forgetting what happens in a series, but most times I’m too lazy to reread ? so I just look up a summary/recap on Google.
Oh you’re right, it’s just SO hard to resist, there are way too many books I want to read, I just don’t know where to start!
Haha, I’m THE SAME. Re-reading before getting the last book of the series is just…too long? I never find the time, and when the book finally gets released, I can’t WAIT and I need to read it now. I’m a bit confused someetimes because I don’t remember anything, but well, hahaha.
Thank you so much Lauren!! <3
281 on my Goodreads ports to plunder list. And that doesn’t include the Amazon one or the random stacks of books laying around waiting to be picked ones. Or the ones I want to re-read. Not enough time in a day. I am a mood reader so there is no rhyme or reason to what I will read next.
x The Captain
Oh wow, that’s A LOT of books. Well at least with that many, you’re sure to find something you’ll want to read, at any time 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by!
I have at least over 300 books in my tbr!! And over 30 books that are already in my house! Oops! Like everybody else, I don’t have a freaking clue how I am going to finish aaaaall those, I can just hope that I can catch up with my tbr one day… who am I kidding! I probably won’t!
I don’t re-read that often, but if I had loved that book and I have got time, then I surely give it a go! For example, I still need to finish the last two books of the TMI series, so I re-read the series this year and I’ll probably pick up book 5 and 6 after I finish with ACOMAF. And if it’s a book I’m highly anticipating, then I’ll definitely read the new one rather than re-reading the other book.
Great post!
WOW. That’s A LOT of books, wow ahah. I am SURE you will catch up though, I want to believe it 😛
Oh, well I do like to re-read at times, but lately it’s SO hard to find time to re-read books before actually getting new books. We need more time in the day to read 🙂
Thank you so, so much! <3
I find rereading books an insightful experience whilst reading new ones both a fun and frustrating adventure. Either way, you never know what you’ll find new. I understand of waiting the next book of a series though. I’m still painstakingly watching out for the sequel of Alice and ACOMAF.
OH you’re so right, reading a book for the first time is so exciting, but it can be disappointing, whereas with a re-read, you know what you’re geetting into already 🙂 Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
I think now if my TBR list was a physical pile of books in front of me I’d be crushed under the weight/size/amount of it all. There’s no phsyical number because I have lists of books saved everywhere, but a lot is basically how much there is for me to get through! 🙂
I do actually re-read books a lot, sometimes just because a sequel is coming out and I can’t remember what happened in earlier books of the series but sometimes it’s just because it’s a book I really want to go back to. Also I think if it was a choice between re-reading a book I love and reading a books that’s just been released it would depend on the books, but more often than not I think I’d go for the new release! 😀
Great post, also I hope your diploma-related task works out, and that you don’t get too stressed over it <3
Hahaha, well you’re definitely not alone. If my TBR were physical as well, I think I would live, well, in a house of BOOKS, really. MADE of books, haha.
I feel like you re-read A lot of books before a new release, and I’m SO admirative of that. I sometimes really want to, but I don’t have the patience, or I just have so many books to read, I’ll skip it. That’s too bad though :/
Thank you so, so, so much Beth, for the support <3 I hope so, too, <3 <3
That would kind of work, until you wanted to read one then you’d need to take away from the structure of your book house! 😀
I try just because with new releases sometimes I forget some of the smaller details which are just as important. I have a pretty bad short term memory as well so I do kind of forget most things which makes re-reading easier because there’s always something new I notice. I think when it comes down to it I do read more new books than re-reads! 😀
That’s more than all right <3 I really hope everything works out for you! <3 <3
Hahaha, oh no that would be the worse, the house would just CRUSH me, haha.
Oh yes, you’re right, sometimes when I’m reading the last book in a series, some things happen, and I’m guessing that, if I had re-read before, it would have made WAY more sense to me… but I’m too lazy these days to re-read books hahaha. 😛 <3
Thank you, really <3 <3 <3
What a way to go as well, buried under the pile of books you need to read. I feel like there’s something ironic in that but can’t really put my finger on what! 🙂
I guess if you’ve got a load of new books on your TBR list that need reading those do take priority don’t they? I actually found that I’ve been re-reading a lot more since I started blogging, and I plan to re-read even more in the near future! 😀
<3
Hahahaha, definitely ironic, haha 🙂
Yeah, they do, well what I try to do really, is to get through the books I bought before getting new ones, or considering a re-reading. It makes me sad to have bought some books and to make them wait, hahaha.
I feel like I should probably start doing that but I never do, I have more than a few books on my Kindle and my bookshelves which I still haven’t gotten around to yet and I got even more today so…yeah!
Ahah, it’s too hard to stop anyway, there are so many books. This reminds me I need to get books soon…. haha!
I’ve given up trying to stop! I’m just gonna try and budget a little better. I just got books and I already want more as well, may have to order a few tonight! 😀
Budgeting is so hard, but well, my bank account will never follow if I don’t do that, so, ahah 😛
Yeah I’m in the same place at the moment, if I don’t start budgeting I’m gonna be living on nothing for the rest of the month!
Haha, well…. you’ll be living on books, that’s not nothing 😉
Well, yeah that would be great, but I can’t really eat books for food! I need to save some money for the essentials at least! 🙂
Hahaha, well you can eat them, but they won’t satisfy your stomach’s needs, hahha 😛
I’d kind of rather not eat my books as well, they cost a lot of money and I do re-read them every so often! 😀
Hahaha, you’re right, they’re better on our shelves than in our stomach 😛
Fingers crossed! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, the struggle is SO real. I love rereading but I also often put it off because of new additions to my personal library/my kindle/my ARC pile and then I’m happy but also sad.
OKAY SO. You asked about TBRs… so I have 73 unread books on my kindle at the moment… (don’t laugh! it’s horrible!) And.. On my bookshelf. HAHAHA WAY TOO MANY LIKE MAYBE ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT?! You’ve just made me panic :DD
Love this post, Marie!
Thank you Annika, you are the sweetest! <3 <3
73?? Wow that's a lot indeed haha . DON'T PANIC, you can do this, I know you can!! <3 Thank you so, so much!
Sometimes I hardly re-read books. I’m trying to re-read some of mine now to decide what’s “worth keeping,” even though I know I won’t re-read. My theory is I just have too many TBR titles, so I don’t have the time to re-read. I have approximately 100 titles on my TBR shelf, all of which have not been read yet. Makes me little anxious having all these books needing reading, but I can’t stop buying them! lol.
Oh wow, that’s A LOT of books indeed, but I get it, it’s SO hard to say no to books. there are just so many waiting to be read, it’s exciting! I hope you’ll manage to re-read some of your books though, and enjoy them even more than the first time! 🙂 Thank you so much! <3
I don’t do re-reads too often (Harry Potter is one of the few that I will occasionally get a hankering for). Depending on how long it has been since I read the original book, I will sometimes re-read the first few books in a series before the next one comes out! I do feel like as I started book blogging I suddenly got a lot more serious about reading books on my TBR (which I try to keep really short and maintainable – I think I have 20ish on there?) and now I can’t imagine having the time to re-read anything ever! Ha. Maybe I’ll calm down eventually. What about you!? It is indeed a struggle 😀
OH yes, me too, there are so many books I’ve added to my TBR since I started blogging, it’s insane. But I kind of love it as well 😀 It’s SO hard to stop ourselves once we’ve discovered the world of BOOKS and wonderful releases we can get, haha. IT’s THE WORST struggle ever, haha. My physical TBR actually is okay, (maybe 5 books?) but on my Goodreads shelf, it’s more like 60 something I think, ahah 🙂
Thank you so much Ali! <3
I’ve always been a big rereader but lately because my TBR shelves have been growing exponentially (due to book blogging-everyone just makes such wonderful recommendations) I’ve been reading new books for the first time more. And I don’t even want to know how many books I have in my actual TBR pile, but on Goodreads it’s over a thousand I’m pretty sure. 😮
Awesome discussion, Marie!
Thank you so, so much Summer! Oh you’re right, there are so many great book recommendations, but on the downside, I don’t know where to put those books anymore, or when I’ll even get the time to read them all, haha 😛
Thank you!< 3
I so know what you mean! I’ve been better with purchasing books lately because I really need to get to ones that have been collecting dust for some years now. >.<
It makes me so sad to see the booksI I buy not being read , haha, so I try not to forget one, ahah 🙂
I really struggle with the TBR. I have tried 500 different ways to get a balance between books on myself and new releases/ARCs, but more often than not I rebel against my plan and read whatever I want. Eventually I will get caught up and read everything I have, right? Eventually? …. Probably not. 😛
YES YOU WILL. I believe you will read everything, we all will conquer this endless TBR someday, haha. <3 Thank you so, so much for stopping by! <3
Down with the TBR monster! Great post! 😀
Couldn’t have said it better haha. WE WILL DO THIS!! Thank you so, so much! <3
My TBR is insane! I always get sucked into new releases when I have tons of books on my shelf yet to read, then they just keep piling up. It’s a never ending cycle really.
I do also re-read books, I find I re-read a lot of the books I get on my kindle because when I can’t sleep I always just get it out. I have found I have re-read Colleen Hoover and Abbi Glines books the most so far because I can get into them so easily and sometimes I just need an easy contemporary love story to pick me up 🙂 I definitely want to re-read Harry Potter once I finish these last two books as well.
I get it, but it’s just WAY TOO HARD to resist, right?! I know I can’t resist, hahaha. Oh, I recently tried my first Colleen Hoover books, with the Never, Never series and it was quite good, I liked it! 🙂 Would you recommend any other books of hers? 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! <3
So far I have read Ugly Love, Maybe Someday, The Slammed Series and Confess. So there are a few I have still yet to try. I really enjoyed them all, Confess and Maybe Someday are rather unique in their own way so I would probably suggest one of those first. When you read them you will see what I mean by unique 🙂
Oh thank you so, so much! I’m always up for an unique read, I’ll definitely try these ones then 🙂
I definitely understand your struggle. I feel like this towards everything, especially TV shows! I have a really huge to-watch-list, but I’m always getting back to rewatch old episodes of my favorite series, because I can’t let it go!
However, when it comes to books, I always feel like it’s better to look out for new stories. Sometimes, what we really miss on our old favorites are only particular scenes, so I always find some time to pick them up from my shelves and give a few scenes a re-read (I’m actually going to do this right now, hahah), just so I can remember the reasons why I love this book so much. However, the main “plot point”, the most important message, was already given, no matter how many times we read it. That’s why I feel like reading new books is “”more important”””, because you get to know new point of views and learn new things. But I definitely understand when people decide to re-read novels, because some are worthy, indeed.
(((((And, by the way, my TBR consists of *magically* 4 books now, because I’m becoming an avid e-reader and I don’t have to wait for money to buy physical copies! YAY!)))).
OH YES, don’t get me started on tv shows, there are just SO many I want to watch, and, so little time, ahah. <3
Ohh I never re-read scenes, but I do love to re-read quotes on Goodreads, of books I loved <3 And I love your point about re-reading / new releases, this is why I want to read more "new" books, because I'm always so excited to discover a whole other world <3 <3
Oh you are THE MASTER OF TBRs 😛
For the last year I have been rereading a book per month.
And my TBR is around 50 ?
Ohh that’s so cool, sounds like you found a great balance between re-reading and reading new books. GIVE me your magical powers 😛
Hahaha unfortunately I don’t have magical powers ?
You have magical organisation skills, then 😉
Hahaha no not at all. Lately I have been struggling with all the things I have to do : working, apartment hunting, reading,blogging ?
Ohh, I get it, it’s so hard at times, it makes me so sad as well when I don’t have enough time to do everything I want. But YOU CAN DO THIS <3
Oh and I’m crossing fingers ??
Thank you so, so, so much! <3 <3 <3
I have way too many books on my TBR, and the list only gets bigger everyday. 😀 Definitely going to crush me someday. I don’t re-read books often, but if it’s a favourite, I’ll make sure to re-read it every now and again. If I had to choose between re-reading and reading a new book, I’d definitely choose the latter for a different experience 🙂
Great post! 😀
I just love how new books bring you into new world, and a whole other experience, it’s so thrilling everytime 🙂 But I do love thinking and re-reading favorites as well, it feels like going back home again ahah <3 <3
thank you so, so much Fatima! <3
I have about 200+ books on my TBR and majority of them I already have a copy… I can’t help but add more and more books per week. All those gorgeous covers and interesting/intriguing blurbs? I can’t stop… Lol?
When I’m on a reading slump, I tend to re-read books which I’m sure(from experience) that will give me the necessary feels to get rid of said slump..❤
RIGHT? It’s just too hard to stop, I want all the books. Even if it means I’m ruined and almost dying under all of the books I own ahah.
Ohh that’s a great idea, actually! A book you’re sure you’ll love and makes you want to get back to reading again. I’ll need to keep that in mind when I’m in a reading slump 🙂 Thank you so much! <3
Ok. Welcome.??
This is my biggest struggle reading wise! I probably have 500+ books on my TBR ?. I usually do speed re-rereads every few weeks or when I get in a reading slump. Which pretty much means I reread my favorite parts and skim through the rest lol. It really helps me gets me motivated to read when I’m in a slump though. And it’s always nice revisiting a book you really love. ?
Haha WOW that’s a lot of books indeed!, but well, at least you’ll always have some reading material? 😛
This is such a great idea for when you’re in a slump, I need to keep that in mind and do it, thank you so, so much! <3 <3
True. I always try to remind myself of that when I think about all the books I haven’t read haha. You’re welcome! I hope it helps you out of a slump like it does for me. ?
Well I’m sure it will, thank you so much again! 🙂
I would always go for a new book than a re read. however I do enjoy rereading classics that I have forgotten
New books are just so exciting to get to, right? 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
I love re reading old books because I just loved them when I first read them – but this just suffers from the fact that you already know as a reader what is going to happen or what is roughly going to happen, so the thrill of reason it like it is the first time isn’t there… Which is why we all buy new books! For the thrill 😛 I just looked at my goodreads… Apparently I have over 600 TBR ???? when am I going to read them all?!? Lol
Ohh YES. You’re right, this is what makes me sad about re-reading: you already know what’s going to happen -except if you don’t remember a thing, but then once you read, you get the feeling back? and there’s not the surprise, it’s not as fun as the first time 🙁
600 ???! WOW. That’s A LOT of books haha, that’s incredible. You will read them all someday, I believe that 😛
Thank you so much! <3
I don’t even understand how that many books got on there ???
Well…you’re not the only one. I never understand how it just keeps growing, I have NO self control when it comes to books ? But we can do this hahaha we will conquer our TBR someday 😛
I know! I need to learn self discipline when it comes to books ??
Haha, well when you do, please TEACH ME haha
Sure thing 😛
That decision is fairly easy for me because I never re-read anything hahaha I just can’t do it. I rather go into the sequel or whatever having forgotten half the plot, simply because I tend to get really bored with books that I have read before and I don’t want to ruin my love for them in any way. I am weird like that.
Hahaha, well I understand, you already know what’s going to happen so it takes a bit the thrill of reading the book… and yeah, I’m always scared when I re-read not to love it as much as I did before :/ You are just as weird as I am, then 😛
Let’s be weird together!
YES, let’s! <3
I published a post about rereading like ten minutes ago. Apparently we are very in sync.
This problem is giving me genuine anxiety at the moment! (lol)
There is so much that I want to read, and reread, and I can’t help but see all of it in terms of whether anyone would want to read me talking about reading it on the blog. It’s stressful! There are some books I was obsessed with a few years ago (probably pre-university) that are sort of calling me to reread them. Slowly reading my way back through The Princess Diaries has been so much fun. I want to have that experience with the other books that made the reading obsessive that I am.
I have the worst case of book related FOMO, basically.
Haha I just saw that, we definitely are in sync about that! (and I love it <3)
It's so great to get back into old books we used to love, and it's definitely something I want to give a try soon, again. Despite all the new releases looking at me, I just want to get back to old loves as well. I'm just scared to like them less? 🙁
I have a lot of actual books I haven’t read yet. Now I am going through those books to see Overdrive has any of them, and I will be giving those away once I read/listen to them.
Oh that’s so great 🙂
What a great post!! I rarely buy books but I can understand your struggle! When there’s a new book that’s interesting/I need, I’ll check it out from the library. I have books on my mental TBR that I may or may not read. It’s definitely an endless struggle.
OHh thank you so, so much! <3 You're lucky, I buy books most of the time because they don't have any I want to read in my library 🙁 The struggle is real.
You’re welcome 😀
Aha this is SUCH a great discussion Marie! I can totally relate. I absolutely adore new releases, yet it’s so tempting to read books you know you loved before! Ahhhh. Ongoing struggle!
Ahh thank you so, so much Analee! <3 It's SO hard to choose, I just wish I could be able to read a THOUSAND books at a time, hahaha.
Omg! I couldnt agree with you more! As of right now, there are over 300 books on my goodreads TBR. I hate that I get so caught up in the new releases that I forget about my older books. Its a problem that I should really work on
Haha wow that’s a LOT of books. I get it, I tend to do the same, I keep adding and adding books, and some end up being forgotten, it’s actually really sad 🙁
Thank you so much for stopping by! <3
In my actual TBR, only several hundred. In my Kindle Library, 10s of thousands (I went crazy when I got my first Kindle).
I relisten to at least a little bit of a favorite audiobook every day. And I would rather re-read, unless it’s something I absolutely HAVE to read.
I am actually planning a series of posts on this very subject that will start at the end of the month.
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Haha WOW that’s definitely A LOT of books, but…at least you’ll always have something to read, right? 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
Good evening! Fingers and toes both crossed for you!! Good luck! This is such a wonderful post- I don’t know how we ever choose! I get books from so many places these days that I end up being overloaded with loads of new things to try- and I suppose the bright side of having most of my books in storage is I don’t do much rereading these days, so I suppose that narrows it down a little…
Thank you so, so much for all the luck and wishes, you’re the sweetest! <3 Haha, I don't know either how I do it, but yes, I always want to get new books as well, or I want to get through the ones I have unread, so… I feel like they'd be sad if I don't read them, and choose to re-read instead, haha 😛
You’re welcome!! <3 hahaha that sums it up perfectly!! haha
My TBR is never ending, I own so many books I haven’t read, let alone all the books I want to buy. I definitely struggle between reading new books and old books. I have been wanting to reread Harry Potter for ages but there’s so many new releases, I don’t feel like I have time. I find this problem especially big for me as I have target number of books to read in a year and I don’t count rereads.
OH I’m so glad I’m not the only one struggling. I mean, with ALL the books, it’s just SO hard to choose, right?! But reading shouldn’t come with too much pressure either, that’s why, even if I keep an eye on Goodreads, days like today when I’m busy doing other things, I don’t read, and it’s okay if I get a little behind. What matters the most is that we keep enjoying it 😀 Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂