It’s once again time for my favorite feature: Tackling the TBR! There’s nothing I love more than picking out which books to read next, and this slightly organized method of reading has really amped my enjoyment to the next level. Bring on the mantras!
Read the best books first.
&
Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying.
However you put together your TBR for the next month, the goal is to reduce the amount of obligation in reading and increase the fun.
Here’s a look at how the system works:
1. Identify the titles that take top priority in your TBR.
2. Combine them all in your own Tackling the TBR post.
3. Throughout the month pick from that pile as the mood strikes you. <-November 2017 I’m trying something new and reading them in a specific, carefully pre-determined order.
Here’s what mine looks like:
February 2018 TBR Tackler Shelf:
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- Child of a Mad God by R.A. Salvatore
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- The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley
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- Dime Store Magic (Otherworlds #3) by Kelley Armstrong
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- Demon Spirit by R.A. Salvatore
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- Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
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- Teckla by Steven Brust
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- Red Tide by Marc Turner
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- Eulalia by Brian Jacques
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- Spectacle by Rachel Vincent
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- Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
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- The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley
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- Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
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- Demon Apostle by R.A. Salvatore
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- Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
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- Tricked by Kevin Hearne
My new strategy of reading high-priority books in a carefully pre-determined order is definitely working for me. As long as I continue to prioritize the best books first, I can jump into the next book on my list with confidence (and zero lag time). I’m now rotating books within 5 series, and throwing in ARCs or impulse reads in the 6th spot to keep things interesting (the 6th spot is also where I’m tacking my slightly lower priority books). I have a detailed “schedule” of books laid out on this Goodreads Bookshelf, and it delights me to no end to see all the TBR books from each series in a solid line down the page (it’s also really fun to see the books move up the list as I complete them… I’m such a nerd). Anyway, the book I’m currently most excited to get to on this list is Spectacle by Rachel Vincent. :)
Niki’s Incomplete Series Challenge [Via Fantasy Buddy Reads]
Niki’s January 2018 Progress Update:
Series Finished: 1
Naamah’s Blessing – Jacqueline Carey
Series Brought UTD: 3
Magic Binds – Ilona Andrews
Burn Bright – Patricia Briggs
Persepolis Rising – James S.A. Corey
Series Progressed: 5
Lady of Misrule – T.A. Pratt
Radiant Shadows – Melissa Marr
Dragon Hunters – Marc Turner
High Rhulain – Brian Jacques
The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan
New Series Started: 1
Menagerie – Rachel Vincent
Abandoned: 1
Lady of Misrule [8/10] – T.A. Pratt
YTD Totals:
Finished Series: 1
Up To Date Series: 3
Series Progressed: 5
New Series Started: 1
Abandoned: 1
Because I’ve been focused on my goal of getting under 20 open series (by July 2018, which I slaughtered), I’m now sitting pretty with 16 open series (not counting the UTD stuff). My next goal is to get under 10. :)
What books are you Tackling this month? Even if you don’t specifically use my system, feel free to share your versions of how you manage your TBR pile (and the links to your posts if applicable) in the comments. :)
The Obsessive Bookseller 
Just reading the one, Scarlet of The Lunar Chronicles. I’m slow! Your book list looks amazing and I love hearing your method of how to choose what to read when.
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Thank you! I admit I get a little crazy-organized with choosing my next read, but my overall ratings and enjoyment has increased significantly since I started this system. I really liked the lunar chronicles! Scarlet was a good one, I hope you’re enjoying it. :)
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For the first time ever I made a list of the books I plan to read this year. I’ll find out whether or not I stick to it! I am loving Scarlet… almost to the end. It took me a little longer to get into than Cinder, but I think that’s because I hadn’t wanted to read from anyone’s point of view but Cinder’s and Kai’s! Loving Scarlet and Wolf now, though. :) (Still missing Kai.)
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I’m with you!! My enthusiasm wanes every time there are new characters in a sequel. Im glad you’re loving it though because the next one is even better. :)
Awesome that you made a list, I hope it works for you. Some people seem to thrive without the structure of lists, but I’m definitely not one of them haha.
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I’m glad you say it’s even better because I was feeling a little anxious about having to get to know a third main character!
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It is! Mostly because it’s the book where the stories start to converge, that’s all I’ll say. ;)
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Eeek! Okay, so I promised readers I wouldn’t read it until I got more words written in my next book, BUT our school librarian (I’m a teacher.) brought it for me from her house today (Our school doesn’t have book 3.) and so… don’t tell anyone, but it’s Friday night, and… I’m going to start reading. :)
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Haha I promise not to tell!!!! Sometimes indulging when we should be writing/working is exactly what’s good for the soul!
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My system for what to read next somehow became a complicated system of priority tags and rolling a 12 to 20 sided dice…
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Haha that’s fantastic! How many books are in the lineup when you go to roll? And do you just roll once and done or use the “roll to eliminate until left with just one” method? lol I like the element of spontaneity in your method.
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It’s it great when you find a book rotation that works! I learned a few years ago that after I read a non-contemporary read (like fantasy, historical, etc) I need to a read something contemporary. So I try to alternate (unless the mood strikes to repeat the genre again) and I’ve found it keeps me happy with fewer slumps.
I hope you enjoy Darkest Mercy! I thought it was a great way to end the series :)
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Yeah it surprised me how having something official like this is actually working. I usually tried not to read similar genres back to back, but since I’ve been doing this I haven’t felt any burnout. I totally agree with you on that. :)
And thank you, I hope I like it too! :) looking forward to closing out that one since it’s been open for like 10 years. :)
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