TBR Therapy. Do you need it?

It seems that the literary community of Club Read is suffering from piles. TBR piles, that is. To determine the extent of the problem, answer the following questions:

Looking back at the books you read in 2011, what percentage of them had been in your home for at least 6 months before you read it? Of this percentage, how many did you buy NEW?

*If your percentage of TBR reading is 50 or more, consider yourself in cured of "the piles"
*If your percentage of TBR reading is 25 - 50, you may need therapy and a support group, OR surgery to remove the guilty conscience.
*If your percentage of TBR reading is less than 25, than you indeed have a problem and you suffer from a severe cases of the piles. There are a few options. 1. Read more. Buy less. The numbers should work out, just like dieting. 2. Call yourself a collector and you can be cured immediately (and never have to read another book!). 3. Set a goal to read a larger percentage of TBRs. Make a list. If nothing else it will impress people and make you feel better. 4. Do nothing, change your attitude.

Subtract your percentage of 2011 TBR reading from 100, that will be your "Pile points". So, if 75% of your reading was from your TBR pile, as defined above, subtracted from 100, would give yourself 25 pile points.

Guilt. If a majority of your TBRs were bought new. Give yourself 50 guilt points. If most were bought for a pittance at a library sale, give yourself only 30 guilt points. If it was a gift, you deserve only 10 guilt points.

Geography. If you can still walk around your home with ease, give yourself 10 Geography points. If you must remove piles of books from the dining room table or from chairs & other furniture in order to accommodate visitors, give yourself 20 Geography points. If walking through your house is hazardous due to piles of unread books, give yourself 30 Geography points.

Now add your Geography and Guilt points to your Pile Points. How sick are you?

Range from a total of 20 (bravo! you really don't have a problem, so what are you hanging around here for?) to a dismal 180 (sick! sick! sick! go see Dr. kidzdoc, Dr. Nickelini or Dr. Cait86, who have vowed to help their fellow sufferers OR take the attitude surgery:-)

Judging just from my novels category, my percentage is 27% older than 6 mos. 73 pile points + (mostly library sale books) 30 guilt points + 25 geography points (I wouldn't quite say it's hazardous) = 128 which, of course, can be considered high; however, I had the attitude adjustment surgery done years ago so I don't feel I need help.

I managed to read 55% of the 29 of the pile from the beginning of last year (so 45 points not so bad as starting place) most of which are bought new, 50 guilt points, but I can easily get around so only 10 points there. That would bring my total to 105. But then I have to factor in that my To read collection jumped from the mid-30's to over 91 behind my back. So in reality my pile tripled in size. I probably need help. I want to take another 50% from pile this year by any means necessary.

Hmmm. Interesting system. Very enabling.

Let's see . . . exactly 50% of what I read was TBR, so 50 points there.

Most of the TBR I read I bought new. BUT I almost never pay full price for a book, so I'm going to take 40 points there.

Geography - Despite my small house, I am a master at stuffing my books into corners that my husband doesn't look at. And I have the benefit of not having a shoe addiction, so where other women put their shoes, I have book space. 10 points for Griffindor there.

Grand total: 100 points. Sounds almost healthy.

HOWEVER. My TBR pile increased by over 200 books this year! And I don't read anything close to 200 books a year. At this rate, my family will have to move out and leave me alone in here. My TBR grew quite a bit this year.

So, my goal in 2012, once again, is to reduce my TBR pile! Damn you, Avaland, you enabler, you.

go see Dr. kidzdoc, Dr. Nickelini or Dr. Cait86, who have vowed to help their fellow sufferers OR take the attitude surgery:-)

I can't speak for my esteemed colleagues, but trying to cure your TBR addiction with me is sort of like trying to stay away from booze and hanging out with James Joyce, F Scott Fitzgerald and Truman Capote.

This sounds like fun. But I won't have time for a consult until mid-January.

I'm currently typing this from a hospital bed, as I was admitted to the TBR Intensive Care Unit after I counted up my points (147!). I've read 166 books so far this year, of which 127 were purchased in the past 6 months (77%, so that's 77 pile points). Of the remaining 39 books purchased over 6 months ago, 37 were purchased new, one was a used book, and the other was an LT Early Reviewer book (50 guilt points). I have a stack of books on my dining room table at the moment, but I can (usually) walk about the house without tripping (20 geography points).

Doctor, heal thyself?

ETA: Attitude adjustment surgery? That sounds frightening, like a lobotomy or something equally as gruesome.

50 guilt, at least 90 pile (as an excuse, I moved without my library - but then I already have books that had lived on the shelves unread for a year) and 25 Geography (no books on the floor in all rooms... only in some).

Therapy? You are handing more books? Or shelves? Please sign me in. :)

>7 kidzdoc: Now you understand my skepticism about your conversion the Our Lady of the TBR pile religion. All those incantations will come to naught the minute you step off the plane in London or through those City Lights door in SF. We know you, Darryl. We have been watching you for a while now:-)

Yes, the attitude adjustment surgery is not unlike a lobotomy, although no ice pick is involved. It requires separating the literary center of the brain from the guilt center or centers. There is some rehab but afterwards the patient feels "lighter" and less-burdened.

Neither my husband and I can count our unread books, but it is no matter because soon we will be at the stage where we won't remember the read ones from the unread ones.

>9 avaland: This is exactly why I can't take the test: I can't remember when I acquired the books. Nor can I remember what all I read this year, (which is exactly why I need to get back into LT for 2012 - so I at least have a record). On the "plus" side, the only books I have on the floor happen to be scattered all around my side of the bed -- making for the perfect tripping hazard when rising before gathering my senses. Library sales have become, in fact, my chief weakness over the past year, so guilt factor is low-ish.

Hmm, by these criteria, I can judge myself cured of "the piles" thanks to my TBR percentage of 65%. Well, that cannot possibly be right. I mean, I still have well over 200 books that have been on those piles for at least four years. That's not normal and healthy, surely? I do get the 50 guilt points, though, I think, even though some of those books have been around long enough that I have no idea where I got them. But the geography question is completely unfair. Normally I can navigate my house just fine, but I've had some recent damage to my carpets and had to move a bunch of books and bookshelves out of the affected rooms, meaning that there are now books underfoot everywhere. (We'll just ignore the fact that the reason I can normally navigate my house just fine is that I bought my house with space for books in mind, and then stuck a bookcase on every available wall surface and a few other places to boot.)

I have been participating in the Books Off the Shelf group for the last couple of years, which is supposed to help with just this mounting TBR problem, but somehow I am still managing to end this year with considerably more books that I started. I think I may be doomed.

Hmm, I am in seriously bad TBR shape because only 20% of my reading in 2011 (so far) involved books that had been on my TBR for more than 6 months (interpreted as "a long time" -- I didn't check my LT entry dates). So, if I understand the math correctly, with 80 pile points plus 50 guilt points plus 10 geography points, I have a whopping 140 points.

There are currently 369 books in my "hope to read soon" collection, which obviously is purely aspirational and in addition does NOT include all the books I haven't read that are on my shelves. So far this year, I've read 90 books (and will probably add two or three more before the end of the year) and I've bought somewhere between 150 and 175, so you do the math.

However, I don't feel sick at all! I feel happy to have all these wonderful books around me! No need for doctors here! I would love to read more from my TBR, but I know I will continue to buy more books than I read.

rebeccanyc. I am with you I don't see the problem; perhaps I am in denial. I am already looking forward to shopping around next year for those bargain books I must read. OK I have got hundreds on my shelves already, but they can stay there as they are doing no harm at all. However if I had as many books as Darryl then I might have a problem.

The numbers:

9 of 49 books read pass the six month test, or 18% : 82 points
All 9 were bought new: 50 points
Books are generally put away : 10 points

Total: 142 points

Current TBR in the house: 480 (I added about 40 more this year)

Psychological analysis: I'm very excited I actually read 9 books off my TBR. This is probably a form of denial.

My problem with this is that I don't really consider owning a book to be a critical part of it's being part of my true, and uncatalogued TBR. My true TBR is basically every available piece of literature of value for me at any one particular time, so lets round up to infinity.

My numbers aren't too bad: 73% of the 122 physical books I read this year were in the house more than 6 months and, at most, 24% were bought new. Every book is on a shelf, so that's 58 guilt points.

But these numbers LIE! I am seriously ill. I read mostly from the TBR pile simply because most of humanity's literary output is already there.

My TBR "pile" is over 2,000 books high and continues to grow. I probably buy books (mostly used and cheap) at twice the rate I read them even though I already have more than I can possibly read in my remaining years.

I've made a resolution for 2012 to read more than I buy each month, not only reading from the TBR but reducing it in size as well. I'll chart this on my 2012 thread so you can all help keep me honest.

But it's not 2012 yet, and next week everything at Half Price Books is 20% off! I can't wait!

I had a therapist once who told me not to "should" all over myself. It must have worked (well, at least in some areas).

>13 baswood: You must move beyond the denial...come to the light...

>12 rebeccanyc: Are we truly the only guilt-free readers here?

>15 StevenTX: There are end-of-the-year sales at some of the small publishers too (Dalkey Archive, Seven Stories Press...).

#15 - Steven03tx - I loved your whole post, and I will make sure to follow your progress in 2012.

#16 - Lois - I would be able to get rid of my guilt entirely except I have a husband who chants the mantra "If we bring something into the house, something else must leave." And I've already thrown out all his stuff. So my guilt will alleviate somewhat when we move to a larger house. But while we are crammed in here, I'm stuck feeling guilty.

Also, you have the benefit of living with another addict. My husband, on the other hand, is happy to pick up a 700 page book and finish it a year later. That's his book for the year, and he's happy.

I think I'm just going to call myself a "collector" and be cured.

>17 Nickelini: That confession was just TOO funny. Surely the kids have stuff you can toss out? True about living with another addict, but actually we both have mellowed in our accumulation over the years.

>18 catarina1: Praise to the Literary Gods!!! You are healed!!

OK....

22% of the books I read this year were 6 months + on my TBR = 78 points
Almost all of my TBR is new... = 50 points
Everything is contained to a shelf, unless I am currently reading it = 10 points

Total = 138 points

The reason I am trying to read from my TBR is for financial and space reasons. My apartment shelves are full, and I am no longer living at home, and so my expenses are much higher. Books are expensive!

Whoops, a disasterous 150.17 points! only 23 out of my 116 books this year were clearing older stocks and like Darryl I have to clear spaces to put down my coffee and/or laptop as well as being a notorious magpie well known in all respectable Kuala Lumpur book emporiums.

I'm with steven03tx! I have gotten through 132 books so far this year (read or discarded) and only 32 were acquired less than 6 months previously. Only 24 of the books I read this year were originally bought new.

So I may appear healthy... but I have spent the year strenuously trying NOT to buy books, and I have still managed to acquire 126! - and there are some suspiciously rectangular shapes wrapped up in Christmas paper.

Read more, buy less... it's a great idea. I am not sure that I will ever quite live up to it.

I am one sick TBRer.

I am going to blame it on the fact that I was a bookseller for 20 years and we were always getting arcs for new books. Many of which are still in my Mount TBR of about 450 books. It also means that I am attracted to recently published books more than backlist. So even though I own 450 books...

45 of the 50 books I read last year I owned for fewer than 6 months = 90 points
Pile points = 95
Guilt points - 30 (I buy a lot of new books, but still have many wonderful friends in publishing who send me arcs, thus the 30).
Geography = 10 (books are well contained in various places around the house. Plus I did some major purging of Mount TBR in 2011.)

Total = 225.

And with 186 books in my wish list...

Doctor, how do I keep myself from buying them? They all look SOOO good!

My percentage is 11% older than 6 months for

89 pile points +
50 guilt points +
10 geography points =
149

I would check into a sanatorium, but my books are my security blanket!

What the heck. Declaring myself cured for the moment. Will be reading from what I have renamed the HTR (Hope To Read) pile for the foreseeable future.

edited to correct spelling of "sanatorium."

Fun!

In 2011, 38/96 read were pre-2011 TBRs = 40% = 60 pile points.
(2008, the only other time I emphasized TBRs: 50%; otherwise ~20% most years)

Other than library copies (which get read or abandoned), my books are new. Some are free review copies but some are hardcovers! -- can’t wait for the paperback but then they sit unread on my shelves?? = 50 guilt points.

All books are on shelves but many shelves have double rows = 10 geography points.

Total: 120.

I'm happy with loads of TBRs; no matter my mood there are dozens I want to read. right. now. I don't like it when they start resembling clutter, tho.

no matter my mood there are dozens I want to read. right. now. I don't like it when they start resembling clutter, tho.

I hear you!

Hmmmm, I score a healthy 90 point (40 pile; 30 guilt; 20 geography) so in theory I don't have a problem. But while I removed 57 from the TBR pile in 2011, I added another 63 new books to it during the year.

So I think a short course of therapy is needed, preferably involving tea and cake as they are the solutions to all of life's ills.

Can we substitute vodka for tea?

>28 ffortsa: Agreed. Vodka is my preferred solution to life's ills.

28 & 29, you certainly can! (although as I work for a charity that helps people with alcohol problems, I'm not sure I should be approving the use of vodka as therapy!!)

>30 charbutton:

But that's a different type of therapy after all :)

PS: Can someone pass me the white wine please. It is over there, on the table between the smallest pile of hardcover books and the over-topping pile of literary magazines.

Hi, I'm Joyce and I can't keep my TBR under control. I went on a bender this weekend; fell right off the proverbial wagon. You see, I was in Victoria, BC, city of afternoon tea, whale watching excursions, and many splendid bookstores. First I went to Russel Books--a fabulous used bookstore--and bought 11 books. The next day I went to the wonderful Munro's and bought another 4 (although two of those are reference books and don't get into my TBR).

I don't feel bad about it, and I don't feel the least bit guilty. There are no good bookstores anywhere near where I live, and so when I go on holidays, that's part of my entertainment. So there.

Here's a shot of the interior of Munro's (looking from the back of the store toward the front door):

>32 Nickelini: I don't feel bad about it, and I don't feel the least bit guilty. There are no good bookstores anywhere near where I live, and so when I go on holidays, that's part of my entertainment. So there.

Assessment:
1. Addiction, books
2. Rationalization for book buying addiction (see below)
3. Altered mental status
4. Episode of abnormal behavior

Plan:



Rationalization is a common defense mechanism used by addicts and bookoholics. As the name implies, it's a way of making the irrational sound rational, and it is one way that addicted individuals justify (rationalize) what they are doing -- or not doing. Their rationalization usually involves mental "tricks" such as excuses or justifications for their continuing use. Typically, they have an arsenal of ready answers for those who confront or question their using behaviors. Some examples include:

I'm not hurting anyone else.
I can quit any time I feel like it.
It relaxes me.
I had a hard day today. I deserve a drink new book.
I only drink buy a few books.

Rationalization, like any other defense mechanism, becomes a problem to the extent that it distorts reality and causes problems. When we rationalize our behavior to ourselves or to someone else, we cease to be genuine and honest, and we foster the ongoing thought and behavior patterns that promote addiction and frustrate recovery.

One of my favorite bookshops. So glad you reminded me that it was in Victoria, Joyce, so that I made sure to stop. Just lovely.

Darryl - I don't see how you can possibly try to diagnose me long distance. Perhaps you need to come out to Victoria so I can show you exactly what I mean. I think you'll see things my way. And besides--isn't Munro's lovely? You should see the markdown tables. Sigh.

Never mind that everything you said was correct. I have my eyes shut, my hands over my ears, and I'm singing "la la la la I can't hear you la la la" very loudly.

Nancy - I'm glad I could share my addiction with you!

Joyce! The part of me that is trying to withhold from buying books is very disappointed... and the rest of me just wants to know what you bought :)

The picture on the left is my new books posing in the window of my hotel room at the Fairmont Empress, the other picture is them posing in front of the window in the corridor by the elevator (Victoria's inner harbour in the background).

If you can't see the titles, they are:

A Little Stranger, Kate Pullinger
What Alice Knew, Paula Cohen
Tattooed Girl, Joyce Carol Oates
Wild Nights, Joyce Carol Oates
Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates
The Country Girls, Edna O'Brien
Vancouver Stories, edited by Douglas Coupland
A Haunted House, Virginia Woolf
Women in Black, Madeleine St. John (hey, I've been looking for this for ages!)
Three Dog Night, Peter Goldsworthy
Maestro, Peter Goldsworthy (this Australia author is really difficult to find outside of Oz)

Some people go whale watching, or spend $90 for afternoon tea. I buy books.

Sorry about the embarrassingly giant photos. I've followed instructions on how to resize them, but obviously I'm missing something because I can't get them to budge. They're in photobucket, if anyone knows what to do.

I resize pictures by adding a "height" statement to the IMG tag like this:

<img src="http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll252/Nickelini/IMG_2112.jpg" height=400>

which gives this:



That's a height of 400 pixels. I use 200 for all book covers and author photos so they line up nicely. You can also use "width" instead of "height."

Well, I think a stack of books like that deserves a large photo. Good for you with all of your purchases. (I say this because I haven't managed to keep from buying more, even as I read books off my shelf...)

Victoria, the Empress Hotel, books. YUM!

Ta da! Thanks, Steven!

(now I really don't understand why that didn't work the other day for my cover of The Hiding Place, but one day I'll figure it all out).

Welcome to the TBR Sanatorium!!! I see all the patients are either neatly tucked into bed (reading) or lounging on the porch en plein air (reading) with...what's that? vodka? Well, that's no problem, because unlike other addictions, TBR patients can have all the alcohol they would like as long as it doesn't interfere with the other patients reading.

The doctor (#33) is no longer "in" and should be considered an unreliable narrator in the story of this difficult disease. He is likely in London, Philly, NYC or San Francisco buying books at this very moment.

Beware of the Canadian patient in bed #32,37, she clearly only 'talks' recovery as the doctor has noted.

Should rest, relaxation and reading fail to provide some degree of healing for our patients here, we will bring in the Reverend Morris T. U. Many to speak directly to your souls.

I scored a 90, which is obviously missing a factor, because the issue is that the quantity of books entering the house far exceeds the quantity of books being read.

Still, just as no one ever complains about an overly well-stocked wine cellar, I can't complain about the double-stacked shelves. I would like to slow the rate of accumulation, however.

>43 avaland: Au contraire, madame:



However, he is clearly operating beyond the scope of his medical practice, and he has been called before the state Composite Board of Medical Examiners to explain himself. Suspension of his medical license is all but certain.

The best way to deal with an out-of-control TBR pile is to simply keep the thing in your head. That way, you can handle it any way that you choose. My neighbor gave me a NF book to read and every time she sees me now she asks "did you read that book I gave you yet?" I always say "No! That book went to the bottom of the TBR pile and I can't just push all those others aside to read what you gave me..."

Because I don't want to read that book yet.

50% of my collection is TBR; I've already read the other 50%. I keep the list going in my head and that way I have complete and total control over it. I just modify the list however, whenever I feel like it.

And it never stops me from acquiring more books. He he he. :-D

>46 WordMaven: So your book problem (or not, as the case may be) might be said to be "all in your head"?

>45 kidzdoc: Just another reason he should be considered unreliable. Clearly this is a case of putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

There's no problem! That's the beauty of keeping the TBR list all in my head! It's not a problem as long as it's in my head; it morphs to meet my needs, wants and demands at any given moment.

It's like word association: there is no wrong answer.

:-D

The doctor continues to serve as an apparent model of restraint to his patients, as he has only purchased one book so far this year. What his patients don't know (and don't need to know) is that he has also received 17 other books this month, most of which were purchased just ahead of the New Year's Day deadline, and that a subscription to the NYRB Book Club that was ordered under the wire guarantees that he'll receive one new NYRB Classic every month.

>49 kidzdoc: One trip to SF and your resolve will buckle! btw, I mailed that book out to you today (bawahahahaha!)

oooh, that's low... : )

TBR score for 2011, so far :

1-1-12 TBR: 483
Current TBR: 491 (3 are on order)

Days: 26; Added: 9 new purchases; Subtracted: 1 currently reading*; Net +8; Yearly estimate: +112.6 (don't forget it's a leap year)

(*for those who like specifics, 6 of 8 of the books in my currently reading collection were already there on Jan 1. One came from the library, thereby circumventing the TBR pile altogether)

My name is Daniel and I have a book acquisition...er, issue.

>50 avaland: City Lights continues to be one of the biggest dangers to my TBR reduction plans, but the London Review Bookshop is even worse, with all of those delightful UK books that aren't available on this side of the pond. There are no good independent bookstores that are convenient to me in Atlanta, so I can usually behave as long as I stay in town. The LibraryThing meet ups (NYC, London, Cambridge) have also proven to be menacing, as each one features a mandatory trip to an irresistible bookshop.

Ah! I should have known there was a catch to your book offer. TYIA all the same.

I still expect that I will end the year with less books that I'll receive, as I will get rid of 100-200+ books that I've read and no longer wish to keep (e.g., The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga), and books that I haven't read that reside at the bottom of my TBR pile (such as One Hundred Years of Solitude). I'll start on this in the next month or two, and preferentially offer them to LTers who are not yet afflicted with TBR reduction disorder.

and preferentially offer them to LTers who are not yet afflicted with TBR reduction disorder.

Darryl - I always thought this disorder was a prerequisite for LT membership.

I always thought this disorder was a prerequisite for LT membership.

I think so, unless members have already had the attitude adjustment surgery that Dr. Avaland recommends.

I am loving this thread, but since there is no LIKE button, I am just stopping by to say I enjoy your banter.

>55 kidzdoc: The attitude reduction surgery involves learning to love your TBR pile, not fear it:-)

>53 kidzdoc: Now, you are talking about another thing entirely....

>56 alphaorder: Welcome to BookFace!

I don't have the disorder because I LOVE having all those books on my TBR. I don't need attitude adjustment surgery because my attitude is just fine already, thank you!

57--Bookface!!!!!!!!!! Too funny!

There was a kiddzdoctor from Atlanta
Who merrily indulged in the banter
Book buying was out
It was worse than the gout
Doctor heal thyself was the mantra

>60 baswood: Hilarious!

#45 - ROFLMAO!!!

This thread has given new meaning to the word "rationalization."

Right now I have kept my New Year's Resolution (not to buy any books for the first three months) for almost one month. So I am making lists of books instead of actually buying them.

#62> I think you should celebrate your success...by buying a new book!

>58 rebeccanyc: yes, WE are on the other side of the glass watching the writhing and hand-wringing of those afflicted.

>60 baswood: Fabulously done!

>63 WordMaven: - don't tempt me!

I say we all celebrate and buy a book! Think of the starving authors living on crumbs...

Think of the starving authors living on crumbs...

.... let alone those noble book shop owners.

>67 Nickelini: and the people they employ.

Great! Sounds unanimous. Or however it's spelled. Let's all go buy a new book.

I see Anne Rice has returned to her horror roots....no, wait. That one isn't out yet. I'm sure there's something at the bookstore for everyone.

Guilt! I was doing well all January till my closest independent bookstore (book store of any kind for that matter) was forced to close in January. So, I had to drive the 37 km one way on the 31st to say farewell and naturally bought two books from his incredibly marked down stock. I had the ridiculous feeling it was all my fault for cutting back on my purchases. So, for all my fellow rationalizers, we owe it to these guys to buy a book at least once a month in this year of restraint to help these stores out.

However, this experience did lessen the pangs of conscience the next day when I ordered a book online after hearing an author interview and then had to order a second book to get free shipping!

My reduction therapy is working though, as I have still read more books this year than I have acquired.

#70 - Two books at a closeout sale? Please tell me you meant "two boxes of books"! Your guilt is obviously from burning all that gas and not buying enough books to make the trip pay for itself.

I live in a metro area of 5 million people, and there isn't a single independent bookstore that I'm aware of--just Barnes & Noble and its ever shrinking inventory. Fortunately (or unfortunately where my TBR resolutions are concerned) there are plenty of used book stores.

>70 SassyLassy: Maybe that is the better way to look at it, one reads more in the year than they take in. Sounds logic, sane, maybe even "good".

But, not for me clearly.

#71 I am over 600 miles away from a decent English bookstore and so thank goodness for on line book buying. I am determined to make up for all you people who have stopped buying books. What the hells wrong with you? How did you all get on this guilt trip? (totally bemused in South West France)

What the hells wrong with you?

married

>73 baswood: Recession – short on funds to play with. But I've got maybe two years' worth of reading right here at hand, so I'm not suffering too much — yet!

I have always thought you should spend your way out of a recession, but I seem to be out of step with all the politicians on that one. Still what do they know?

I tried that, Barry. That's why I'm short on funds! I should have listened to the politicians. ;-)

Lol suzanne

I'm with you, Barry. Still buying books, although trying to use the library more. But I'm beginning to feel the Club Read group guilt whenever I hit that dangerous button on Amazon or bring home those precious volumes. But I successfully shed my Catholic-upbringing guilt, so I guess I can deal with this! And my TBR pile just continues to grow. Oh, maybe I shouldn't say that on the TBR Therapy thread. Kind of like a liquor salesman attending an AA meeting.

I'm loving this discussion. It brings to mind the "wish list" I am keeping on my computer of the enticing books you all have been recommending on your respective threads, and I am so wanting to post it on my thread. The problem is that there are 30 titles that caught my eye from January alone and another 20 just since the beginning of February. Besides that, who wants to read yet another list even though your names will be prominently featured? So with great restraint I have NOT posted nor have I purchased 50 books that you people have tempted me with. When the logjam breaks, look out!

>71 StevenTX:, 72 Almost everything that was left I already had. I really would have bought more and must confess to some disappointment, as two cartons plus is definitely something I am known for.

>73 baswood: When they start issuing anniversary editions of books you bought first time round that are still on the TBR shelves, it's time to do something about them! Maybe I can go with an incentive plan, like one new book for every two read.

>73 baswood: Huzzah! Another one for the cabal of unreformed book accumulators!

Barnes and Noble. Ugh. The one near me has gutted the middle to put in an enormous nook area, leaving the actual books to huddle against the walls. I feel angry every time I'm in there, which is not often, dating from the day they had TVs up, blaring advertisements for the nook. Look, I have a Kindle. I still prefer paper, but I recognize the value of an ereader. I love being able to download for free books that are long out of print. But the marketing of the nook is just obnoxious. Barnes and Noble seems awfully eager to stop selling those pesky paper books.

I bought a Nook for Christmas. I resisted for years and I have no intention of giving up paper books or culling my collection. The Nook is great for reading in bed. I had a hard time with the 800+ page Drood and some other giants I've read. The Nook eliminates that problem.

But the Nook lends itself to denial in this area of TBR therapy: out of sight, out of mind. I have a TBR pile in that ereader that is already 2 dozen strong. And it's too dang easy to jump around depending on my mood. I don't have to get up, look for books on the shelf or the table or the couch or wherever they may be. They are all in my hand. I am not saying this is a good thing...

>84 WordMaven: New frontiers in TBR accumulation! And perhaps, out of sight, less guilt?

For rent: one hair shirt for literary penance. (one day rental only as there seems to be a long line waiting for it)

>86 avaland:: yikes!

#86 - put me on the waiting list. I bought five books last night.

I can top that steven I bought six, if you make allowances for the fact That I bought the same book twice; I bought the French and an English translation of Gargantua by Rabelais.

No I don't want the hair shirt, but I might have needed it if I had only bought Gargantua in the original old French.

Question - Is there a thread for incurable book buyers.
Answer yes of course there is - any thread on club read 2012

I can top that steven I bought six...

Not for long, Barry, I ordered 19 more books today.

What! 19. I can't match that. I don't think I have ever odered 19 books in one day.

>90 StevenTX: – Braggart!

Steven, ordering books is great fun, because you then have the pleasure of waiting for them to arrive. From what I have seen on American movies you people over there have mail boxes at the end of your front yards. We have similar arrangements in France and so the walk to the post box is always a little exciting especially when you have caught sight of the post ladies van haring off down the road.

In England of course letter boxes in the front doors of the houses is more the norm. It is not quite the same to find packages on the mat in your house; where is the fun in that.

I don't even dare to admit how many books I have bought this year.

Although I have made a lot of progress in reducing the amounts, as compared with previous shopping sprees, last year and before that. Today I successfully refrained from buying that new book by Barnes reminding myself of Barry's review.

I suppressed my impulse to follow up on 1Q84 by not buying Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, as suggested on the board; I did not buy any novels by Japanese authors, telling myself the group read doesn't deal with them until the second part of the year.

#93 - Interesting perspective. American mailboxes actually come in many varieties. In older neighborhoods they are on the front of the house, so the letter carrier has to walk the route. In the newer neighborhoods like mine they are, as you said, along the curb ("kerb" to you), and the daily walk to the mailbox is all too often the highlight of the day. The gender issue is interesting too: you say "post lady"; we tend to say "mailman" even though many of them are women.

The reason for the 19 books at a time was that I went through my Amazon wish list bargain hunting and bought everything that could be had used in good condition for under a dollar ($5 with shipping). My 19 books cost only $83. Of course I realize that bargain hunting is one of the biggest contributors to the TBR issue. We tend to buy books we know we may never read just because they are cheap. But the opposing rationale is also true: the out-of-print book that's $5 now may be $50 next year.

We aren't alone:

The Wonderful and Terrible Habit of Buying Too Many Books

“…ownership is the most intimate relationship that one can have to objects. Not that they come alive in him; it is he who lives in them. So I have erected one of his dwellings, with books as the building stones, before you, and now he is going to disappear inside, as is only fitting.” -Walter Benjamin, “Unpacking My Library”

I was feeling a kindred spirit with the author of that article, until I got to the phrase "the 371 books sitting on my shelves." And then I just laughed bitterly. He can come back and talk to me about his problem when he adds another 0 on the end of that. :)

#97, Yes, but I get the feeling he is quite young, since he is still living with a roommate. He has time . . .

#97 - Indeed! I thought the same thing.

Joyce - I just came to this thread to share that article! :) Nancy

#85--out of sight less guilt is my point exactly! Of course, nothing can replace the thrill of a new solid stack in arms or on the table or desk. I added 3 new volumes day before yesterday. This qualifies as a binge for me. And I have no shame. I have no job, either, so I don't get to binge much these days.

#90--I H8 U. 19 books?!? Who shops like that?! I am so jealous! Did you just get your tax refund? For crying out loud. I think you did it just to gloat. Congratulations nonetheless.

19 books... sheesh!

>101 WordMaven: I agree; I can't think of anyone who buys 19 books at one time. ;-)

Well I never have but I'd certainly like to try it! I'd be as high as a kite for days.

Five books from Amazon arrived yesterday, several LT recommendations. Do I feel guilty? No no no! I feel happy!

Snoopy doing the happy dance!

Just back from a city where I bought BOOKS, so feel much more like my old self, pre guilt. It must have been a passing phase.

Thanks Rebecca for the post on NYRB. I'm sure I can inflict still more damage.

Unfortunately, when I went to the NYRB site, I found I pretty much already own the books I'm interested in that are part of the sale . . .

>107 rebeccanyc:

I was just gonna say, you are undoing the efforts of our therapists here...

You know you're a biblioholic when you get home with "new" books only to discover that you already own them. I did this a few times, most recently with the paperback Modern Library edition of Paradise Lost by Milton. I donated the extra copy to the library.

>109 WordMaven: – That's exactly why I was so excited to find LibraryThing. It had become time to get organized because, because, because. And what a difference it has made — LT, that is, both in terms of organizing my books but these forums are just great, especially Club Read!

The biggest reason I finally broke down and got a smartphone is so I could look at my LT catalog while I was in the bookstore and thus avoid buying duplicates. It's also very handy to be able to consult the wishlist.

Yes, the LT smartphone app is great. It has saved me several times from making an accidental duplicate purchase.

I'm looking forward to my dentist appointment to morrow because the office is across the street from a used book store. (And I'm officially shaking off any TBR guilt: From now on when it comes to book buying it's "all the budget will bear," which is another way of saying "all my wife will let me get away with.")

I want you all to know I bought four new books today for myself because I was compelled to make up for those of you who are restricting yourselves. I also bought 4 others for gifts. I feel GREAT (and guilt-free)!

That's how I felt when I bought two books yesterday and ordered four more from Amazon -- GREAT!

I just finished tabulating the month and discovered I bought only two more books than I managed to read from the TBR pile. I also managed to read some books I bought this month, so they weren't buried on the dedicated TBR shelves. So my tally is -2 for the month, which seems like a reasonable balance (for now at least).

February was a slow month for me. I only bought 7 books. I have started reading two of them.

I have been under a self-imposed restriction on buying books — not out of any sense of guilt — but for the simple reason that I needed to replenish my book-buying funds. I was trying to wait until March 1st, and in any ordinary year, today would have been March 1st. Since it is Leap Year and February 29th is an extraordinary day, I decided to celebrate and break the logjam today. I bought a bunch of books, some new and some used, and I'm so excited! But I actually think it was good for me to restrain myself, even though temporarily. It made me appreciate even more how much fun it is to acquire new books.

I was trying to wait until March 1st, and in any ordinary year, today would have been March 1st. Since it is Leap Year and February 29th is an extraordinary day, I decided to celebrate

Can I use that excuse too? I had some time to kill, so I went to a used bookstore that I haven't been to in a few years. Bought four books, two of them real finds. One is the Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits by Emma Donoghue, which has a really lovely cover. After I bought it, I found that it is signed by the author. Bonus.
The other find was Fear and Trembling, by Amelie Nothomb, and the reason it's a find is because I wanted the book with this particular cover, and it appears to be out of print (at least I couldn't find this cover anywhere). Have it now. It's this one:

Oh Good. This thread is turning into one where we can all revel in our book purchases, so much more healthy than denial of pleasure.

Hey! I went to Bookstar the other day and did not buy anything. Does this mean I no longer need therapy? Because therapy is expensive and if I don't have to pay for it, I can spend that money on books.

>120 WordMaven: LOL!

>119 baswood: I agree!

Accounting : TBR changed from 491 (Jan 26) to 490 today...somehow the drop is sad. I'm so close to 500.

Dan, what you need is a little book-buying spree to make the blues go away. It will do wonders . . .

Friends of Houston Public Library Book Sale -- a huge annual one -- April 17 -- I will be there. :)

April 17!!!! I had in mind something a bit sooner so you won't suffer any longer than necessary. ;-)

>122 dchaikin:

That's why I am not counting :)
Seriously though - I should finish my inventory in the next week or two and will report back with numbers... I still have a small hope that the number will be 3-digits only (at least excluding the Kindle books...)

#124 - April 17? Hmm. I'm free that day and you're just 250 miles away. Got a spare bedroom, Dan?

(Kidding, of course. Like me, if you had a spare bedroom it would be full of books.)

Not that you want to a place to stay a short 30 miles (!) from the downtown books sale...if you do happen to come around to Houston then (or any other time) let me know.

Will do. And if you're ever up in Big D, let me know as well.

I just got a new job so Friday I treated myself to a binge! Ahhh, it was wonderful, people! I bought 4 new titles.

Today I am going away for two weeks. I won't have computer access. I have planned a book buying excursion in Glasgow on Friday, my favourite book buying city, before I head off for more remote places, where I will be able to read, read, read. I am hoping to completely abandon all guilt over my TBR pile, if only until I have to lug everything home.

On the plus side for Mount TBR, I have reduced it by ten so far this year for books languishing one year or more (much more).

Have a great trip and get some wheels for your suitcase.

Just thought I'd mention that I'm utterly failing, yet again, at reducing my TBR pile. I just can buy books so much faster than I can read them.

I bought 4 new bookcases... books keep accumulating so I might as well get them shelved.

TBR therapy? I think I need something stronger...

No Annie just keep buying more book shelves.

And then just get a bigger apartment I guess.

My house is big enough, but the wall space is in short supply — taken up with windows, closets, fireplaces, paintings, television, other furniture, etc., etc. Ah, the problems we have to deal with . . .

Accounting : TBR changed from 490 (Mar 6) to 496 today. On Dec 21 it was at 480.

You are going the right way Dan

I'm going the wrong way!

Guess starving myself (ahum, not really with 5,000+ unread loaves in the larder), leads to binge book buying;

I have bought 78 books in the past 3 months, of which I have read only 8.

However, so far I have read 51 books, which means the other 43 came from Mount TBR.

It seems my TBR pile is growing.

On a positive note, I have been reading some real tomes, and some of the new acquisitions are more like booklets (under 160 pp, that is.)

So the number is increasing, but the height of the pile is decreasing.

In 2011 I bought 155 books, of which I had finished reading 42 by the end of the year. The total number of books read in 2011 was 178.

By contrast, In 2010 I bought 659 books, 2009 (758), 2008 (662), 2007 (520), etc. These numbers are not entirely correct, as they are too low (estimated 5% slipped cataloging), and, what's worse, they do not include professional literature and literature in Chinese, not to speak of books publishers give me (or 10 complimentary copies each of my own published books). (There was a time I was eager for them, now i am just happy with a mean publisher who gives me two, and I encourage them to give me an e-copy!)

Do I need to tell you that I am tripping over piles of books, and my apartment looks more like King Tut's tomb (upon opening);

My friends and colleagues howl when I tell them I am giving away books; they can hardly imagine that if you throw out a book a day, it takes 10 years to get rid of 3,500 books.

Between 2008 and 2011, I shed about 768 books through BookMooch. In 2010, I donated 800+ books to the Beijing Education Institute, last year donated 276 books (+ next 50 waiting on a pile) to our school library, 50 books to a University in Fuzhou, 80 to an Expat Library in Beijing and 30+ given away to friends, etc.

I estimate that I own about 13,000 to 14,000 books (physical vols.), of which upon retirement, I want to retain 2,500 (thereabout). My target is to give away 90%.

First quarter stats:

Books read: 32
TBR books read (books that I've owned for at least 6 months): 10
Books purchased: 6
Cost of books purchased: $50.65
Total number of acquired books: 37
Books given away or discarded: 0

I have five more books on Mount TBR as of April 1 than I had on January 1 (37 added books, 32 completed books). It isn't the reduction I had hoped for, but at least the rate of addition has slowed down dramatically from previous quarters. I've spent far less in these first three months than I have in any quarter in a very long time, probably since the first half of 2000, my last year of residency. So, I'll call this first quarter a definite success, and I'll be even happier once I start getting rid of some of the books I no longer wish to keep.

Edwin you area real book-o-holic and Daryl you should be ashamed at yourself for putting your local bookstores out of business. Is citylights in financial difficulties yet?

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
–Joseph Joubert

#143 - Nancy--that's soooo true!

Yes, books, they get in the way of other books.

My TBR is now at 522, up from 496 on April 7. A Good month.

Congratulations, Dan!

I think it's tremendous how we've turned this thread around from the guilt-inducing to the congratulatory.

I think it just means we are bi-polar as a group.

Wait a minute. So now we're celebrating those who increase their TBR piles? This reminds me of the Scottish man I encountered on a bus in London two years ago, who stopped for a few drinks at a pub to prepare himself for his weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

I can't critique Dan, though, as I bought eight new books in NYC yesterday. Pass the bottle, please.

>149 kidzdoc:

That already happened up in posts 106 / 107...

>150 edwinbcn: So I see. Apparently the inmates are now running the asylum, and the therapists are abetting their abusive behaviors.

>147 avaland: – I think it shows that the therapy is working. Those of us who are celebrating have been cured!

And since a celebration always requires something to celebrate with, that means we can all get still more books!

The original therapy was only to assess if one had a problem and, if so, the severity of it. Treatment was left open but I believe through the exploration on one's attitude or deeply-held feelings with regards to TBRs, many have been able to overcome years of guilt and shame. Group therapy has helped many to redefine their TBRs as something other than a 'problem' and move on in their reading life without that extra psychological weight.

That will be 5¢ please.

Please collect your 5¢ at the kiosk over there ------->

;-)

>155 Poquette: LOL!

#93 In England of course letter boxes in the front doors of the houses is more the norm. It is not quite the same to find packages on the mat in your house; where is the fun in that.

You've obviously never had books delivered in England; it's much more 'fun' than you think. Our letter boxes are just that - boxes for letters. They are not large enough for a package that contains any more than a single p/b book, so you have to be in to accept your parcel. If you are expecting something exciting (books) you stay in all day so that you won't miss the delivery (because the post can arrive any time between 7am and 3pm). Eventually, around lunchtime, you can't sit by the window any longer because you are desperate to have a wee. You open the door and look up and down the road to see if the post van is anywhere in sight and figure you've got time for a very quick wee indeed. However, that's not allowing for the wilyness of the postman or woman who has been waiting at the top of the road for just this eventuality. As soon as they get the signal on their highly sophisticated spy equipment that you need to empty your bladder, they spring from their hiding place, run like crazy down the road and deliver a card that says 'You were out when we tried to deliver your parcel. You can collect it from the depot in person between 9 and 12 tomorrow'. (Sometimes, as happened to me yesterday, you get really lucky and the post-person ticks all the boxes on the card, thus informing you that your parcel has a) gone back to the depot, b) been left in your designated 'safe place' (this is an added challenge if you weren't even aware that you'd ever designated a safe place), or c) has been left with your designated neighbour (again, you have here a choice of perhaps 7 or 8 neighbours and the last time they left anything with a neighbour it was the one 5 doors away who you've never even met and certainly didn't designate).

Assuming you are free between 9 and 12 tomorrow (obviously this is the much simplified version) you drive to the other side of town to collect your parcel and come home excitedly clutching it to your bosom, only to find another card telling you that they tried to deliver another package today but you were out when they called. Fun? You guys don't know the meaning of the word.

>154 avaland: Hmph. This is nothing more than a clever attempt by Dr Avaland to foist pop psychology on us and charge us royally, so that she can use her ill-gotten gains to buy more books. I wish I'd thought of that first.

>157 Booksloth: Hilarious!

Three more books were waiting for me when I returned to Atlanta yesterday. My copy of Bring Up the Bodies will soon depart from the UK, and I'm waiting on three LT Early Reviewer books. Where do I register for the attitude adjustment surgery?

>158 kidzdoc: It has been said that new neural pathways can be created in the human brain even into adulthood. Skip the surgery (so invasive...) and rewrite your attitude map :-) And I suggest you meet me in a few weeks at Book Expo...

Lol Booksloth, brings back memories of living in England.

England - thats the place when all elections are held on a Thursday when everyone is at work and people scratch their heads wondering why there is such a low turn out.

>159 avaland: Maybe there's a medication I can take, preferably one of the powerful anti-psychotic agents like Haldol or Risperdal, that can take the place of surgery.

Rats. I have to work during Book Expo America week.

#160 US elections happen on Tuesdays...

#157 - Booksloth -- I've had that exact experience here in Western Canada. Not lately though--I know my mail comes between 1:45 & 2:45. Also, I've made friends with my postal carrier, and she'll slip me a note through my mail box if she's left the packages on the front porch. Now, my UPS friend who brings my Amazon orders--never know when he's going to show up. But he leaves stuff on the porch too, so that's okay.

#157 they are not large enough for a package that contains any more than a single p/b book,

Could this be the explanation for why the Book Depository sends every book in its own package, even if the order consisted of multiple books?

>161 kidzdoc: Are we assuming therapy isn't working? Do you still feel guilty over your TBR pile?

>157 Booksloth: Your mail slot experience is not unlike mail delivery in the more urban parts of the US. My daughter has me send all her packages to the school she teaches at, because she doesn't want anything left on her doorstep (where it will probably be taken) or have to go to the post office to pick up her packages. She lives in St. Louis.

On the other hand, I live in Suburbia and have applied my rural sensibilities and scandalized the neighborhood by putting up a LARGE mailbox (painted purple) in order to more easily receive packages. Previously, if the weather was good, they would use a rubber band to hang the boxes off the flag on the outside of the mailbox! Otherwise it was a trip to the post office to pick up a package. The Fedex and UPS people just drop their deliveries on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and head back to the truck.

>164 rebeccanyc: I have received at least one package from BD that had two books in it - it was two copies of the same book.

>165 avaland: Hmm...looks at self in mirror...I seem to be far less guilty this year, even though I've stopped at the literary pub for a few more drinks this month. So far my TBR pile has increased from January 1 by 11 books, but I'm sure that's a far slower rate of rise than normal. I still think I have a chance to decrease my TBR pile, even if it's just a small number, by year's end, and I'll certainly buy far fewer books this year than in the past 8-10 years (currently at 23 for the year, with two books on the way, versus 300+ books in a typical year). So, the therapy isn't working, but my book diet is a success so far!

I've also received a few packages from The Book Depository that contained more than one book, particularly if they were paperbacks or shorter novels.

#164 Could this be the explanation for why the Book Depository sends every book in its own package, even if the order consisted of multiple books?

You've got me wondering - mine almost always come in single packages too.

>166 kidzdoc: That does seem low. Are you sure you are feeling okay? Must be the fact that you didn't go to London... if you go on a literary hunger strike, we may have to do an intervention and each of us send you a book!

I, OTOH, have purchased 28 books for my personal use thus far this year, about a quarter of them 'used' (about a quarter of these are reference books with minimal text). Additionally, I've been given 14 more books from astute and generous givers, including 3 review copies from a former coworker at the bookstore (a store that next week will sadly move to much smaller digs...)

You got me curious...

I've acquired 48 books: 15 bought new, 32 used, 1 Early Reviewer. Also, three are e-books. (I have some more in transit)

ETA that those numbers didn't add up. Fixed now, I think.

>169 dchaikin:
(I have some more in transit)

Always a comforting thought.

I have taken to using my Wishlist here whenever I'm preparing to order a second-hand book from an online source. I will search that source for particular authors/series/subject, etc. that I am in progress of getting complete collections, looking for low prices, but, especially taking advantage of the reduced shipping charges for anything beyond the first item. I recently got a nice fat package from a Goodwill store from the other side of the continent. I was surprised that they had so many of what I like. I love that Goodwill is now shop-able from such distances. Some communities reflect my tastes much more than the one I happen to live in.

You got me curious too, and now I wish you hadn't.

So far this year I've bought 97 used books, 8 new ones, and received one ER book. That doesn't count several free ebooks I've downloaded. If I'd had to guess I would have said the total was fewer than 50, not over 100. These things do have a way of sneaking into the house.

I got curious too!

So far this year I've acquired 77 new books. Of these, one replaced a book I had lent to someone and never gotten back, three were gifts, and two were cookbooks (and so don't count!). Of the total, 15 were LT recommendations.

I've read 32 books this year. Of these, 17 were books that I bought this year, five had been on the TBR for a year or more, and two were books I've had for several decades.

What does this all mean? I don't feel guilty at all for adding books to the TBR; I just wish I could read faster!

Rebecca, that's more along my thinking. Except I don't want to read faster exactly, I want to have read more books slowly.

I guess I really mean that I wish I had more time for reading, and I wish I could read faster and yet remember what I read. Of course, the latter is problematic anyway!

According to my LT cataloguing records I have acquired 62 books this year. Some I downloaded to my Kindle from Project Gutenberg, so there was no cost involved. I, too, wish I could read and absorb at a faster rate but for me to read more than about 60-70 books a year I would have to start skimming, and that would defeat my whole purpose.

>171 StevenTX: wow. well, it is less than a book a day, isn't it? My rate of purchase is actually slowing down, I think.

Since April 8, I have bought another 34 books.

The total for this year, so far, is 112, of which 36 second-hand and 76 new.

As I've just been bragging on another thread, I just won £100 worth of book tokens!!! I think this means it's really not my fault - it would be churlish not to spend them. Aaah bliss . . .

I've obtained 22 books this year. Of those:

1. I've read eight.
2. Six are for Belletrista.
3. One is from LTER.
4. Two were gifts.
5. Ten were each only $1.
6. Three were bought at full price.

I think those stats are amazing, compared to other years. I am still bringing in a lot of new books, but I am certainly spending less money on them, so I guess I am learning how to budget!

edwin sounds like you buy even more books than steven.

Apparently I've acquired 51 books so far this year. (Which includes a few I got as gifts, two ER books, and one cookbook, which at least doesn't count for the TBR Pile.) Well, at least some of you are making me feel slightly better about that. :)

#181 I get exactly what you mean about the cookbook! I always have a huge sense of relief when I get a reference book that doen't bump up my TBR totals! And you're definitely in the right place to feel better about your addiction, bragan. My total so far this year is 73 (that includes yesterday's spree with a £100 book token!) and this was the year I was planning to cut down. At least quite a few of them were study books so I had no say in the matter. ;-)

>182 Booksloth:: Somehow, it's always the year I'm planning to cut down. And it's never terribly successful. :)

Ok here is my analysis of my situation.

Bought 33 books! (how did that happen?!)

Got 20 other ways (from publishers or as gifts.

This means that 53 new books have entered my house so far this year, not including those for my husband or daughter.

I have read 30 - some new and some off the shelf.

This year, I have removed 12 books that I read this year from my house. Other books have been removed with the idea that I will never read them - but I don't know how many

For the longest time I felt guilty for having 100 physical books on the TBR and that I was buying new books despite this. But then I realized that most of these books come from the fact that when I go to France I always go on a spree since I never know when next I'll be able to go back. So my only goal really is that if I buy a book outside of the France binge, then that means I'm reading it now and so far I've been good on my word.

So far this year I've only acquired two books. Two! And one was a gift and the other I've already read.

Out of the books I've read recently all have been acquired within 1-4 months of first purchasing the book. Right now I'm reading a book I bought in France maybe 2 or 3 years ago and that's perfect! Exactly what my target is.

So I can't complain.
Feel free to bow to my TBR control powers.

I have only acquired 10 books this year. 2 LTER, 2 from subscriptions, and 1 was a gift for my husband. I've read 4 of the remaining 5 that I purchased. So I'm doing pretty good this year. Now I'm not making a particularly large dent in the existing TBR, but at least I'm not adding to it at unreasonable rates.

Starting tomorrow, July 1, Amazon will begin charging state sales tax on all purchases shipped to Texas. What more excuse did I need to order 13 books today? (So far. I have an hour and 40 minutes left.)

I am happy to report that my TBR continues to grow!

Books that entered my home this year: 107
Of these, 7 were gifts, 2 were cookbooks, and 19 were LT recommendations.

Books read: 51
Of these, 7 had been on my TBR for more than a year (two for decades), but I read 22 within two weeks of purchase (statistics somewhat distorted by 13 Inspector Montalbano mysteries).

Thanks to all for adding to my TBR with your wonderful book recommendations!

187. They've been charging sales tax to NY as long as I can remember. But at least I wait until I have $25 worth of books to order so I can get get free shipping. So I have some self-control!

Isn't it often the reverse, though? It is with me: "I have to have this book, so I need to buy (at least) two more so I can get free shipping."

Actually most of my recent purchases have been of used books that were priced so low that even with $3.99 shipping per book they were a bargain, and in many cases were out of print anyway.

My TBRis at 530 - up 8 from May 6.

190. Yes, Steven, you found me out! I do keep a wishlist on Amazon of books I don't "need" immediately and I sometimes use them to bring the total up.

I only(!) bought 43 books in the first half of the year, and read 64 books in that time. However, 91 print or electronic books were added to my library, so my TBR pile has increased by 48. I have another week left in my San Francisco vacation, so I'll buy and read many more books before I leave town.