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:

June 2017 TBR Tackler Shelf [Catch-up Month]:

I’ve been running these Tackling the TBR posts for exactly 2 years now, but only recently started including “Tackler Carry-Overs” to represent all the titles I hadn’t got to in previous months. Unfortunately, of the 10 titles I choose every month, I only average 7. It’s to a point where my Carry-Over shelf was twice as big as my TBR Tackler Shelf. What’s more, there are a few titles on there I’m stalling on reading because I’m just not as excited for them as I was when they got their first TTTBR run. Long story short – I’m doing a catch-up month! Anything I don’t get through this month will automatically drop off so I start July 2017 with a clean slate. Looking at my “leftovers” makes me laugh because there are a ton of amazing authors on here. I’ve already pared down to just the high-priority ones. Update 6/2: I reorganized my incomplete series list and changed the priorities on some of them. Because of that, I switched out a few titles. :)

Niki’s Incomplete Series Challenge [Via Fantasy Buddy Reads]

May 2017 Titles Tackled:

Skin Games by Jim Butcher

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

Voyage of the Basilisk by Marie Brennan

Grim Tides by T.A. Pratt

Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass

The Life-Changing Magic… by Marie Kondo

Green Rider by Kristen Britian

Niki’s May 2017 Progress Update:

Series Finished: 1
The Long Game – Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Series Brought UTD: 3
Red Sister – Mark Lawrence
Skin Game – Jim Butcher
Steeplejack – A.J. Hartley

Series Progressed: 6
Grim Tides – T.A. Pratt
The Voyage of the Basilisk – Marie Brennan
The Twisted Citadel – Sara Douglass
Magic Dreams – Ilona Andrews
Magic Tests – Ilona Andrews
A Gathering of Shadows – V.E. Schwab

New Series Started: 3
Red Sister – Mark Lawrence
Steeplejack – A.J. Hartley
Green Rider – Kristen Britian

Abandoned: 0

YTD Totals:
Finished Series: 5
Up To Date Series: 10
Series Progressed: 24
New Series Started: 12
Abandoned: 1

I’ve decided my goal going forward is to progress and finish as many series as I can from my top priority list (as written out in my Incomplete Series Challenge on Goodreads). I’m certain I will still start new series (I can’t help myself), but if I can get through at least half of my high priorities, I’ll be a happy camper. :)

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. :)

by Niki Hawkes

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:

May 2017 TBR Tackler Shelf:

The Green Rider is a Buddy Read with Goodreads group, which should be fun (come join us!). Other than that, I’m SO EXCITED FOR THE LEGION OF FLAME!!!! That get’s top priority, closely followed by Shana Abe’s Fiercest Joy, as it’s the final book in a YA dragon-ish trilogy that has finally been published!

Tackler Carry-Overs:

Okay, it’s a good thing I have a catch-up month scheduled for June… Ima need it. :)

Niki’s Incomplete Series Challenge [Via Fantasy Buddy Reads]

April 2017 Titles Tackled:

Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb

Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews

Captain’s Furey by Jim Butcher

The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett

A Questionable Client by Ilona Andrews

Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh

Series Finished: 1
Assassin’s Fate – Robin Hobb

Series Brought UTD: 0

Series Progressed: 5
Magic Slays – Ilona Andrews
A Questionable Client – Ilona Andrews
Magic Mourns – Ilona Andrews
Captain’s Fury – Jim Butcher
The Desert Spear – Peter V. Brett

New Series Started: 2
Naamah’s Kiss – Jacqueline Carey
Foreigner – C.J. Cherryh

Abandoned: 1
Foreigner – C.J. Cherryh

YTD Totals:
Finished Series: 2
Up To Date Series: 8
Series Progressed: 10
New Series Started: 1
Abandoned: 2    

I’ve decided my goal going forward is to progress and finish as many series as I can from my top priority list (as written out in my Incomplete Series Challenge on Goodreads). I’m certain I will still start new series (I can’t help myself), but if I can get through at least half of my high priorities, I’ll be a happy camper. :)

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. :)

by Niki Hawkes