74 Comments
User's avatar
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

What are your readerly dilemmas?

What have you been reading this week?

Hi all! So I have 2 readerly dilemmas I'd love your help with...

1. I want to get back into a regular mystery series and can't decide between three possibilities - the Louise Penny series (I've read STILL LIFE and very much enjoyed it), Agatha Christie - I've read and loved AND THEN THERE WERE NONE and watched the movie Murder on the Orient Express (also loved) and I've wanted to read Anthony Horowitz forever, specifically the series that starts with MAGPIE MURDERS - which one do you think I should start with??

2. Regarding my tbr - I have tbr's in many different places, I have my print to be read shelves at home, my kindle tbr, a few different written lists with a few hundred books listed, and my story graph tbr. I would love to put all of my books into one tbr, I usually don't care how long it is but now I'm wondering, should I go through all of those lists, remove what I no longer need and start just one centralized tbr? If so, I love a written list so I would happily keep a written tbr but I also need it to be digital for easy access so what would you suggest, notes app?

Recent Read- I just finished ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER by Elizabeth Gilbert. Whew. I have very complicated feelings about it. I listened and not sure I'd recommend that format because there's annoying music in between chapters and her poems....and there are a lot of both. Also, she uses the same words and phrases throughout - i.e. dude and babe- and it was like nails on a chalkboard for me. But she also brings heightened emotion to her story so there's that. I need a couple days to process this book. It was a lot- a lot of talk about addictions, codependency, cancer, God, but also so much time to be inside the mind of someone who "attempts" to lay on the table every single thought and feeling, destructive or otherwise. I listened to Oprah's interview with Gilbert and Oprah said the book was going to help a lot of people and truly I don't know if I agree with that. I'm going to review this but I need some time to think about what and how I say things. I might have to do an additional spoiler review behind the paywall to talk about more specific parts

Expand full comment
Erin Lipinski's avatar

I’ve never read Agatha Christie or Louise Penny so I’m no help there. I have Karin Slaughter’s new one WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE on my tbr and hoping I really like it so I can continue that new series. As for tbr’s you don’t use Good Reads anymore right? That’s still my go to for tbr list. Also, I’m weird about mine. Every Dec I go through it and usually delete books I didn’t get to. I don’t let them linger long. I read them or delete them!

I’m having a fantastic reading week. I finished SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins and it was a complete 5 ā­ļø. I’m about halfway done with BUCKEYE and loving it as well.

My biggest dilemma (more like problem) is I’m very quick to dnf at the beginning of a book and feel like I do miss out on good ones because of this. But if it doesn’t grab me at the beginning I don’t stick with it.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Let me know what you think of the new Karin Slaughter, I have a copy but haven't tried it yet. I'm making note of Speak to me Of Home, I haven't heard anything about it but 5 stars from you means I pay attention:) I love your tbr plan - one year to read'em or delete'em - so do you allow yourself to put unlimited titles on throughout the year or are you hyper selective about what goes on? and no I don't use Goodreads much anymore. I do still have a few books on my tbr there though

Expand full comment
Erin Lipinski's avatar

I am pretty selective about what I put on my tbr. Too many starts to make me feel overwhelmed!

And I finished BUCKEYE, which was also a 5 ā­ļø for me!

I’ll let you know about the new Karin Slaughter, I’ve cried too much lately and might need a good thriller instead.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Another 5 star read for you!! you're on a roll

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

My sister in law highly recommends the Louise Penny series. I have tried starting Still Life a few times and for no reason whatsoever have not gotten very far. She says you need to read at least the first 3 or so books for it to grab you. So those books are some I have meant to get into also! I stumbled upon a complete set of Thursday Murder Club paperbacks in a Little Free Library recently. Some kind person had left them rubber-banded together. I think I’ll like those, but am holding off bc my book club is reading the first one later this year. I have a very small paperback of Still Life. I keep holding onto it bc of the size, thinking it would make a good lightweight copy to travel with. But I think the small size and print is actually keeping me away from it!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

That's what I've heard about the Louise Penny series- you have to read at least 3-4 books to become invested and that's made me hesitate although I did give Still Life 4 stars and everyone said that it was the worst in the series. That was a great find in the Little Free Library

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

I love the Thursday murder club series. You will enjoy it.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

I cracked into it, but stopped when I realized my book club will read it. And now there is the new Netflix series with Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. So tempted to watch, but I want to read first!!

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

I have a hard time searching on the notes app, but would be curious if others use it. I'll be following this thread to see other's thoughts because I feel all over the place with my TBR as well!

I also would be interested in a spoiler review of Gilbert's memoir, I don't think I'll read it myself but I'm curious!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I'm looking forward to seeing other's tbr thoughts too. My notes app tbr is so simple yet very incomplete, I basically title a note "books I've been meaning to read" and then have that list and another I have going now is "fall new releases" and then I pin them so I don't have to scroll to search

I would be happy to do a spoiler review, maybe via audio so I can explain my thoughts easier. It might be so long if I write it all out haha

Expand full comment
Stacie Martin's avatar

I didn't read ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER, but listened to Oprah's podcast episode with Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm not sure I need to read the book...

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

it's a lot! We'd have some interesting convos that's for sure

Expand full comment
Kristin Clark's avatar

So NYT did some quiz recently about what book you should read next (or something like that) and my answers led me to MAGPIE MURDERS. Let me know if you choose that series, and maybe I'll read it too. Although my vote would probably be for Louise Penny as I love that series so much.

Expand full comment
Kristin Clark's avatar

I'd just like to say thank for reading Gilbert's book and telling me about it so I don't have to.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Happy to vet it for you:)

Expand full comment
Tuli Together's avatar

I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER! I just started it today!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I would love to discuss it when you're done!

Expand full comment
Holly Dyer's avatar

For my TBR, I like using Storygraph for backlist (there's great filtering features) and a Google Doc for new releases organized by pub date.

Expand full comment
Michelle Wilson's avatar

My recommendation would be Louise Penny. I am jealous that you get to read those for the first time!!

Have you ever read any of the CORK O'CONNOR series? The author is William Kent Krueger. The first in the series is IRON LAKE.

What about KINSEY MILHONE series (THE ALPHABET Mysteries) by Sue Grafton? I adore Kinsey. They are written A through Y. The author died before she could complete Z. So much to love. She is an old school PI in the fictional town of Santa Teresa, CA. They are quick and well written and take place before computers and DNA. Sometimes you can find them in mass market paper and that is an almost perfect reading experience! The first in the series is A IS FOR ALIBI.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I haven't read either of those series but I've got Iron Lake on my tbr- and thanks for your Louise Penny vote- I take it you're caught up on the series?

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

I can’t say enough about the free reading list app. You can create multiple list within that app plus there is a central TBR list in the app. But it would be easy to create a list called TBR Kindle, TBR audio, TBR print and add books to those list. I use a free version and from what I understand the only advantage of the paid app is you get the statistics like story graph gives you. You can add a book to the app in three different ways. You can add it manually like you do on story graph, search for it on Google, or scan a code from a print book. I have a centralized TBR list which is the homepage. And the managed list or organization tab, I have my books read in 2024, my five star books read in 2024, books I’m reading in 2025, and my five star books for 2025. You can create as many list as you want in this tab. It’s easy to use and you don’t get bogged down with all the additional information that story graph gives you on each book. I do use both apps.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Ok yes you've sold me on this, I'm going to download it and start working on creating my lists, thanks!

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

There’s only one trick to this app. Every time you search for a book, when you found the book and tap on it to select it you must hit the done button to go back. I couldn’t figure out why I would select the book and then hit the back button and the book would not appear. You have to select done when you’re done doing anything on a page in the app. The other thing I wanted to tell you is that you can take one book that you downloaded and then finished and then you can make notes and then load the notes it says manage lifts and that’s where you tap to edit it to whatever list you want to read if you’ve finished reading it or just Wanna put it on the TBR. You can add any book to multiple lists. So for instance if you want to create a list for genres like mystery, romance, literary etc. you can add a book to that list as well as to a list for the format such as audio, Kindle, print. I’m probably confusing you because of the way I’m dictating this. Lol anyway, if you have any questions I’ll be happy to answer. But just know that you can add one book to multiple list. Like I have some books that I have added to my finished books for 2025 and then I also added that same book to five star book for 2025 and then also added it to my non-fiction list. So the book will appear in all three places. You can make as many list as you want and name them whatever you want.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

No I understand what you're saying and that's super helpful to know about the multiple lists and making sure to select done- will save me time! I like the idea of one app for multiple lists

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

I’d like it better than story graph. I only use story graph because the book girls guide group has their book challenge challenges on story graph so it makes it easy to add them to a prompt. I’d like the fact that in the reading list app that when you open a list it just gives you the titles of the book in a column. If you want to read additional book information you tap on it to open it. I don’t know and story graph if there’s another way to view the information but for me it makes it difficult and requires a quite a bit of scrolling and swiping to get through all the information such as Whether the book was literary dark lighthearted etc. All the adjectives that are put in a review on the book. So the story graph app is tedious for me to work with. I’m sure it’s not for you. in the Notes app, you can make notes about anything you want about the book whether it be your feelings about the book. I usually write down the Setting for the book such as the state. If I’m doing another book list challenge I might write the decade that the book was sent in as that’s one of the book girls challenges. It also gives you in the note section a place to write the book and they do provide half stars for ratings.

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

Keep multiple TBR list. Otherwise, books get lost because you keep adding books to one single TBR list and eventually you end up with 100 like I did. It’s a good idea to go through and clean them up occasionally. I have books that I no longer have an interest in reading that I added to my TBR years ago. Something new and shiny popped up and so I never got to them. I would start Anthony Horowitz series Called Hawthorne series. It’s wonderful.

Expand full comment
Ani 🌸's avatar

Maybe Agatha Christie, I'd recommend watching the Magpie Murder tv series, it's SO GOOD!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I'll add that to my watchlist- I didn't know there was a series

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

Fortunately my readerly dilemma is temporary - I'm finding it very hard to focus. Work is crushing me, I'm not sleeping well, and have two small children. By the time I sit down to read, I'm completely exhausted and end up rereading the same paragraph over and over. There's so much I'm interested in reading but I'm afraid to pick them up since I can't give it the proper attention.

It's easiest to read early in the morning before the house wakes up so I'm trying to maximize that time, if I wake up at 5 (or earlier 😭) and can't sleep, I jump out of bed and grab my book!

Despite my struggles, this week I started DISCONTENT by Beatriz Serrano and it's absolutely perfect!! Very much a right book/right time. It's about a 30-something year old woman, Marisa, who hates her corporate job and finds ways to waste time while appearing productive, this all starts falling apart when she is required to go on a team-building retreat. While I'm not quite on Marisa's level, there is so much I relate to, the humor and observations about the corporate world are *chefs kiss* perfection!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I second Katie's advice, and will add this too shall pass which it sounds like you already know:) Not sleeping is the worst but you're making the most of it by reading, so glad you have a book you're enjoying

Expand full comment
Katie - Basic B's Guide's avatar

Your lack of ability to focus makes perfect sense given everything going on. Remember to give yourself grace and space during this time.

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

Thanks Katie šŸ’•

Expand full comment
Holly Dyer's avatar

I feel the same way! Very scattered and distracted. I have a 2.5yo so I can relate to the pressures from work, parenting, and I'm also going back to school. Working on my screen time and social media is helping, but it's hard. Being as protective of my attention as possible is necessary. Thanks for the encouragement to read DISCONTENT.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

I think my main dilemma is I want to read too much!! 🤣

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I feel this!

Expand full comment
Linda Seale's avatar

I did read the first 3 books by Louise Penny and didn't continue with the others in the series. I am not much of a series reader, so I am not much help. Regarding my TBR, I did take a buying pause for the summer, and it did help. I did DNF about 5 of those on my shelf so I was happy about that, and I read 13 books as well.

This week I finished reading WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown and the hype about this one is correct, it was a 5-star read for me. It has great writing, a strong storyline, and I loved getting to know Jane. In audio, I finished THE BIRD HOTEL by Joyce Maynard, and it was great. I want to read more by Maynard and am looking at COUNT THE WAYS.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

You're another reader who's loved What kind of Paradise! I keep hearing raves about it. The Bird Hotel is one of Joyce M's I didn't have on my tbr, I need to check that out. I also want to read Count the Ways

Expand full comment
Kristin Clark's avatar

I think my biggest readerly dilemma is that I know (and have data to prove it) that I enjoy books I read in print or digital form more than books I listen to on audio, but I do about 2/3 of my reading on audio these days. That is lower than years past as I'm trying to read with my eyes more since I know these books tend to be more successful. I think part of why my print reading is more successful is that I often save books that I think I will like more for print, and then do more brain candy books on audio, but my attention span and fatigue are also reasons why I default to audio. I also think I enjoy more upmarket commercial fiction or literary books overall, but these tend to be harder for me to do/comprehend on audio. One thing I have tried to do to help that is get a book in both formats so I can either follow along with my eyes while I listen (and don't have to read as closely) or go back and forth. My tracker says I have read 15% of my books that way this year, and that 15% would probably just have been in the audiobook category in years past.

This past week I finished LONELINESS & COMPANY by Charlee Dyroff, which is a book I heard about last year on the Thoughts From a Page podcast and was reminded about on the August Indiebound list. It takes place in the near future in NYC (a rundown city in the future while Minneapolis is a thriving metropolis) and is about a company trying to develop an AI friend to help people with loneliness even though the concept of loneliness was erased from the Emotional Index. The thought was that taking away the word from society would cause people to feel less lonely, but guess what? It didn't work and loneliness is still a problem that the government thinks an AI friend will help remediate. I liked it quite a bit and it paired well with some of my reading from the summer including CULPABILITY and LIFE DERAILED, which both addressed AI in different ways.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

You know your reading self so well! I think what you're doing- trying to read in print along with having the audio is a great solution for your dilemma. I've been noticing that I've been enjoying print/kindle reading much more than audiobooks in the past few months

Expand full comment
Midlife Musings's avatar

Renee, I’m not a bit of help with either of your dilemmas since I’m not much of a series reader and I certainly don’t have an organized TBR! My biggest dilemma is just trying to prioritize what I want to read since I can’t get to everything I’d like to. I’ve gotten much better at not falling victim to bookish FOMO and I’ve also been DNFing like a champ for the last few months and that’s definitely helping my reading life! By 25% in, if I don’t care what’s going on, I’m stopping if not before then.

I had a great reading week! I listened to DOMINION- incredible on audio- and also the first of the EMMA LYON journal novellas. In print, I read THE WILDERNESS and Jen Hatmaker’s memoir, AWAKE. THE WILDERNESS was 4.5 or 5ā­ļø AWAKE was definitely 5ā­ļø!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

LeAnne I would say DNFing has been helping me so much too. Not caring has been my guideline to determine if I'm setting a book aside. You've had a high quality reading week!

Expand full comment
Kristin Clark's avatar

What did you think of the EMMA LYON novella? I just listened to it this week and I thought it was fine, but I wasn't totally motivated to pick up number 2. I put DOMINION on hold, but I put it on hold for a digital copy. Maybe I'll put it on hold for audio too. I preordered AWAKE and can't wait to read it. I also have WILDERNESS on my TBR. Too many books!

Expand full comment
Midlife Musings's avatar

Oh! The audio for DOMINION is stellar. I highly recommend that format.

Expand full comment
Midlife Musings's avatar

Always too many! I enjoyed Emma. That said…

If I continue them, I think it will be more to feel gaps while I wait on audio holds or for a pallet cleansers. As much as I tend to read dark, for some bizarre reason I actually really enjoy books said during that era with plucky heroines šŸ˜‚. I did hear they get better so I’ll probably get to more of them eventually, but I don’t feel like they’ll ever be a priority.

Expand full comment
Ani 🌸's avatar

I'm currently reading THE WASP TRAP. My dilemmas...

- I want to read more classic and backlist novels but I have FOMO with releases...

- If you're like 8 books behind on a series, is it worth it? I have problems letting go 🤣

- Similar dilemma as Renee's, where to keep your TBR? I have it on Goodreads but then I'm checking out Netgalley releases and I don't know how to sort it. Notes app?

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

The reading list app. It is free. It has a home tab where you have a TBR and books that you are currently reading. Then you have a finished tab which is all the books are ready to finished. The third tab is managed list. In this tab you can create multiple list And add books to these lists. I explained in an earlier comment that you can create a list called TBR for Kindle TBR for audio TBR for print TBR national best sellers TBR classics etc. The app is free. If you pay for the subscription you only gain the advantage of getting statistics Similar to what story graph offers.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Great suggestion!

Expand full comment
Ani 🌸's avatar

Thanks šŸ’– I'll check it out

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

New release FOMO is something I have too. I usually tell myself if I've read two new releases in a row I have to choose a backlist or vice versa. I wonder that about the Louise Penny series, if I continue with book 2 and there's almost 19 books (I think), will I ever catch upšŸ˜…

Expand full comment
Ani 🌸's avatar

I used to read the Kim Stone series but she releases like 1 or 2 per year and I’m like 10 behind lol

Expand full comment
Holly Dyer's avatar

This year my goal has been to read 1 classic and 1 re-read per month. I do feel the FOMO at times but working those books in has been helpful. As for FOMO, I'm trying to embrace a JOMO (joy of missing out), and I've been realizing that there are backlist books that I've wanted to read for longer than the new releases and never get to them.

Expand full comment
Ani 🌸's avatar

I've had some books n the TBR for over 5 years

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

I just finished reading THE HALLMARK MAN BY ROBERT GALBRAITH which was 31 hours long on audio. it is a long time to spend in one book with complicated characters and intense plot. I gave myself a day to process what I read and then picked up DOGGED PURSUIT BY DAVID Rosenfelt. It is a light hearted quick read which was perfect to pick up after being absorbed in the previous book. I can’t tell you how many years it took me to figure out that’s what I need to do when I suffer from a book hangover after reading intense literary novels. Believe me when I say that there is a good reason why but I do have like four books going up once. It is driving me crazy that I did this to myself. But here is a list of the books I have going. At night before I go to sleep on one device I am listening to THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS. I am eligible for a free book through Audible every month because of my music subscription so I selected BUCKEYE BY PATRICK RYAN. Someone from another group contacted me yesterday after reading one of my comments in which we were asked to write down the quirkiest book we have ever read. I replied with THE HORSE IS DEAD BY ROBERT KLANE. I believe this book was originally published in 1925 and was published several times by Pocket Book. My family was obsessed with this book. We read it back in the early 60s and there was a renewed interest in finding this book a few years ago. I searched for it and found it on eBay selling for $300 for a book that is 139 pages long. Someone contacted me yesterday and told me how I can get the e-book for free. She was very kind and ended up emailing me a file of the book and I’m now reading that when I need to charge the device that my audiobook is on.lastly, I am listening to a book entitled RULES OF ESTRANGEMENT in nonfiction book about relationships between parents and children. I should say adult children. so there you go. My other dilemma when it comes to reading. How do I focus on one book at a time? Ha ha ha I usually do not have so many books going up one time. But recently I have had two going at the same time.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Readers helping readers, I love that! Congrats on finishing the 31 hr audiobook, that's a commitment. Curious to hear how The Emperor of Gladness goes for you

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

I can usually do two. But it helps if they are very different books. I’ve never done audio though. I think my mind would wander.

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

I don’t have a choice and whether to do audio or print. I have to do audio. Believe me it took a considerable amount of training to become a audio listener as I am a visual learner. But I agree with you that it is much easier to do to books when they’re totally different books. For instance, I can read or listen to a non-fiction book easily alongside a novel.

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

I also have a hard time focusing on one book at a time! Usually I don't mind, but I get antsy if it's been awhile since finishing a book - so then I try to just focus on finishing one and resume the others after.

Expand full comment
Kathy's avatar

Exactly. I get very antsy especially when a book that I have been waiting for is released while I’m in the middle of reading another book. I also get antsy if I finish one book while reading another at the same time. I feel like the current book or read is dragging because I finished another book.

Expand full comment
Jackie's avatar

My readerly dilemma is that I have a hard time focusing on/enjoying what I’m reading fully, because I always have one metaphorical eye on my toppling tbr and in the back of my mind I’m thinking about alllll the other books I want to get to!

I’d been wanting to get into a mystery series for a while as well! I’m three books into Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie novels and they’re great. I just picked up the Magpie Murders at the bookstore and I’d also recommend The Thursday Murder Club if you haven’t read those - I’ve only read the first one but I’m hoping to get to more of them! I also read the first Louise Penny but didn’t like it. My vote would be for Agatha Christie or Magpie!

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I think I'll be diving into more Agatha Christie. I feel your readerly dilemma! It's so hard knowing there's so many books to read and not enough time to read them. I try to combat this by picking a book that really pulls in from the get go. Doesn't always happen but I've had good luck this year

Expand full comment
shari mk's avatar

Hi Everyone,

I am not sure about my readerly dilemma just now, so I will jump right into what I am reading this week.

I am surfing the Don Winslow wave, in a big way. Right now I am doing a combo print/audio of Savages. Definitely not for the shy or faint of heart. I am reading The Gentlemen's Hour in print. Last week I finished Winslow's Dawn Patrol, which is the book right before Gentlemen's Hour.

Last week also had me quickly reading/listening to The House Maid, for my gym book club. It was fun, but I am not sure I want to continue with the series as I have heard people say the books are so very similar.

I also finished Virginia Evans'; The Correspondent. This was a 5+ star read for me.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

I love that you're on a Don Winslow kick - of those that you've read how would you rank them? I bought The Gentleman's Hour on some kindle deal a few months ago. Have you read THE FORCE?

Expand full comment
shari mk's avatar

Hmmm, this is tough. I think Broken was my favorite, because it absolutely crushed my soul. While Drowning In The Desert, was a lot of fun. The audio was fantastic and I really like the Neal Carey character. He is part of a series. The Dawn Patrol was a great read for me and made me want to jump right into The Gentlemen's Hours. The surfer based short fiction is also a lot of fun.

I have read only one of the Danny Ryan books. I have not read The Force, though it is on my TBR. Actually, all of Winslow's book are on my TBR.

Power of The Dog was intense. I do plan to finish the cartel trilogy, but probably will not take on that task until mid winter.

I would recommend reading The Dawn Patrol before The Gentlemen's Hour.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

ok thanks for sharing your rankings, can't wait to hear what you think of the other books as you continue reading

Expand full comment
Holly Dyer's avatar

My current dilemma is vetting books. I’m trying to get better with DNFing books but I would prefer to have better discretion about whether or not it’s a book I want to try.

Currently reading THE AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker (loving so far!) and listening to HEARTWOOD by Amity Gage (really enjoying but I’m kinda confused?)

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Your dilemma is something I've struggled with too. One thing that helps me vet books is looking for my buzzwords and/or antibuzzwords when reading the premise. For example, I usually pass on any book that mentions cults or the occult.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

Sorry, just to add, after my lengthy comment: I always dream of reading the longlists of National Book Awards and Booker Prize before the short lists are announced. A tall order, but another TBR dilemma. I only ever get to a few.

Expand full comment
Holly Dyer's avatar

I vet the lists and pick 1-2 books from each list. I read the descriptions and ask myself whether or not that is a book I truly want to read. That way I feel like I have a better chance of getting to them than the whole list. However, I do want to make space in my TBR by November and attempt the Aspen Words longlist.

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

I feel this too!! haha

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

At least there are only 10 fiction books in the National Book Awards longlist. I might be able to get to a few. And then there are the translated ones; those always intrigue me. Those are definitely the two categories I make note of.

Expand full comment
Carrie Palumbo's avatar

Yes! Same, I'm intrigued by this year's translation list and hope to read several.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

I whittled down my Goodreads TBR recently so that it got below 500. A major accomplishment bc it was way past 700. I am hooked on entering their giveaways, so of course when you enter the book is added to your ā€œwant to read.ā€ Worth it though, bc I do periodically win! It takes time and persistence. My other TBR is in my iPhone photo library. I have a habit of taking a screenshot of online covers I run across that interest me. Then, at the library I will sometimes refer back to those and see what I can find at any given time. I’ll delete the photo if I check the book out. That has gotten a little out of hand. We had a cyber attack at our local county libraries. The catalog system has been down since early in the beginning of the year. We were able to check out books, but could not look things up in advance or place holds. Well, I must confess, I am totally addicted to scoping out new releases, particularly celebrity book clubs. I really missed being able to do that. So, that is my other TBR; the library holds, we are allowed 10 at a time. Good news, the catalog is back up and running! So here I go again, with a whole slew of new titles. Well, some are new from the cut off time: Broken Country, for example, will still be new to me. While everything was down, I did finally read Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. So good! That has been sitting on my shelf forever. And it was fun physically browsing the stacks and bumping into other library patrons doing the same. I’d forgotten how soothing that can be. Currently I have started Finding Me by Viola Davis, for book club. Our library book club managed to keep meeting despite the cyber attack. Her bio starts off with a bang with some foul language. Not my cup of tea, but I will read on. I am also reading a title I had suggested the library obtain: The Echoes by Evie Wyld. I love her writing. She wrote The Bass Rock, another one I loved. This starts from the viewpoint of a person who newly finds himself to be a ghost, who is adjusting to the situation. Each chapter is ā€œafterā€, ā€œbeforeā€ & ā€œthen.ā€ Told from different character’s perspectives and short, so it is moving along nicely. I was also able to finally get a copy of Wild Dark Shore, which had been on my holds when all this happened. And of course a trip to the library is no fun, unless you pick up some other titles you happen across: Flashlight by Susan Choi and The Fisherman’s Gift by Julia R. Kelly. I have a bad back and I have to stop when it is too many books to carry! I have no idea what a cyber attack even means, but so glad things are somewhat back to normal. I must admit I sometimes enjoy procuring my books so much, that I do not spend nearly as much time reading as I would like to.

Expand full comment
Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

So glad your library catalogue is back up and running! I always enjoy a good library browse so I hear you on that, I was just at my library the other day and only left with one book which was surprising. When you mentioned The Echoes, I thought it sounded familiar, I just found it in my kindle library so somewhere along the way I got a copy. I'm drawn to those afterlife types of stories

Expand full comment