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.
Here’s what mine looks like:
October 2019 TBR Tackler Shelf:
Priority Titles!!!
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- Dragonwatch: Master of Phantom Isle by Brandon Mull
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- Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan
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- Part-Time Gods by Rachel Aaron
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- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
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- Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
The Reserve…
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- Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine
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- Soulbinder by Sebastien de Castell
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- Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
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- Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence
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- Eye of the Labyrinth by Jennifer Fallon
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- Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
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- Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
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- Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
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- Guardian by A.J. Hartley
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- Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong
Did I really only read two books from my list last month? ::checks reading history on Goodreads:: Huh. I would’ve sworn I had a really productive month because I enjoyed every single second of the books I read, which is not typical these days. And I felt myself drawn to them constantly. I guess it really is the quality over quantity that’s important, but I’m starting to feel like a reading fraud compared to how many books I used to read in a month (at least 10). But life is different for me now and my priorities are different. I’ve been out adventuring more in the last eight months than I had in my entire life combined. I’ve become a single parent, which comes with a significantly lot less free time than it used to (not that I’m complaining, but books got a little sidelined). I’ve taken on a paying gig reviewing audiobook productions, which if I’m not careful can dominate my entire month. And I’ve been focusing harder at work, so I don’t have as much downtime there as I used to. That’s all a bit personal, but I want my book blog to be more than just books. I want it to be the ultimate form of my personal expression through books. Literary snapshots of where I’m at in life. And sometimes it just is what it is.
So, this month’s lineup is practically identical to last months, and I’m okay with that. I’m finding myself being drawn to starting new series and less drawn to closing out all the reserve titles I’ve had going for ages. I might get rid of the reserve category altogether for November so that I can direct my focus completely on the books that delight me most in that moment.
Have big life changes ever gotten in the way of your reading? Did it bother you? If so, how did you cope?
These challenges are always more fun with friends <3. Here’s a link to my friend Chanzie’s blog, where she adapted the challenge to fit her TBR needs:
Have a great month in reading!
The Obsessive Bookseller 
Very apropos last question on this post. My life is changing due to work and all that that entails, so I understand completely. I’m reading at least half the number of books I used to now each month, which means less posts up which in turns affects views, comments, etc.
But priorities. Blogging is a hobby and so is reading. Work is, well, work. My livelihood. I guess I’ve moved into a place where I can just shrug my shoulders and simply accept that I don’t have the same time for my hobbies any more :-D We never stop growing up until we die, unless we choose to stop :-/
So all of that to say “Don’t feel bad”…
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It’s such a snowball effect on hobbies when things in life go sideways. It’s how I’m starting to identify when I’m out of balance. I admire your ability to accept things you can’t change. That has been a big struggles for me this year. Thanks for the encouragement. :) did you get a new job or did the one you had get busier?
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changed jobs. Same line of work, but with a bigger company. So I’ll be busier every day and hopefully start the process of working from outside to inside. Which involves me having to do stuff on my own time outside of work :-)
Hope you can keep things in balance. It can be a tough act sometimes!
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That all sounds both exhausting and exciting! Hopefully it’ll all be worth the “on your own time” stuff. And thank you!! The encouragement is appreciated. :)
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Aurora Rising is DEFINITELY on my TBR list!!
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Yaaasss!!! I’ve heard so many good things. It seems right up my alley!
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Oh I love this! I think I am totally going to join in with this monthly. I need a place to keep track of the books I need or want to read.
Clean sweep and bitter blood looks good <3
Yes I used to read a lot more, but since hubby has a 6 year old that lives with us, we got married and I am preggos (so tired faster) my reading time has decreased quite a bit. That is ok too though, life changes as we grow up :)
Do you have a linky I can link up my post to yours?
Take care and take it easy. Enjoy the adventures. I definitely choose the beach or time with my family over reading these days <3
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I saw that on FB! Super congrats, it looks like such an exciting time in your life! Reading should never be a chore, anyway, but I have missed having opportunity. I’d take a day at the beach over it also tho every time haha. I don’t have a linky and I lost my notes on how to set one up, but if you make a post, I’ll snag the URL and integrate it into mine. It’ll be so much fun to do this challenge with someone! :D
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