We’re back with another episode of Down the TBR Hole! Last week I mentioned how I went up to 1,022 books and after removing a few, and then adding some more, this week I’m at a solid 1,020. Still a lot but at least it’s not more than last week, right?! 😂I didn’t do so well with removing books last week, but let’s see how we do with this week’s 10! I’m trying out a new format that I saw someone else do on their blog, which will make the whole process much quicker.
Down the TBR Hole is a weekly book meme created by the wonderful Lia @ Lost in a Story that attempts to organize our ridiculously long Goodreads TBR list by choosing either to keep or eliminate the books we’ve saved on there. Here’s how it works:
Verdict: Keep
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Seeing as how I only read my first Kristin Hannah books this year, I’m surprised to find that I added this one to my list in 2012! Both her books are candidates for my favorites of the year, so I’m quite excited to see if I feel the same about her others!
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. Wow, another Hannah I added in 2012! I’m keeping this on for the same reason as the above. The premise of this sounds eerily similar to Where the Forest Meets the Stars which I read (and loved!) earlier this year…
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. All I needed to read was this, and I knew I’d have to keep this because I love The Kite Runner: “A heart-wrenching, powerfully written novel that could do for Palestine what The Kite Runner did for Afghanistan.”
Verdict: Bye-Bye-Bye
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. I’m actually really intrigued by the so-called ‘big twist’ that’s mentioned in the synopsis, but if I’m honest, I don’t know if I’ll ever pick this up…!
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. This is a classic but I’m just not interested anymore?
Verdict: Keep
Loving by Henry Green. I think I added this book around the time that I was watching (and loving!) Downton Abbey because reading the synopsis gives me major downstairs-of-the-house DA vibes. I’m a little intimidated but I’m keen to try it.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. This has been on my bookshelf for so long and I know there is so much controversy around it but I think I definitely will read this book. I’m very curious to see what it’s like and what I’ll think of it. I’m terrified!
1984 by George Orwell. I’m honestly not even sure why I haven’t read this yet. I think I’m just worried I won’t like it even though I do usually enjoy the genre. I will read it though! *determined face*
Verdict: Bye-Bye-Bye
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. It’s a classic but I’m just not that interested in it…
Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell #1) by Chelsea Cain. It sounds interesting, especially since it’s got a female serial killer but I don’t think I’ll be reading it anytime soon…?
Damn, people… I’m really sucking at removing books from my TBR! I’m keeping 6/10 books from this week’s round and I’m really hoping that I’ll read the ones that I’ve decided to keep 😂
Have you read any of these books? How easy is it to cull your TBR list? Leave me a comment and let’s chat!
dinipandareads 
Lately I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been adding so many books to my Goodreads tbr but I’ve been keeping up with down the TBR so it’s slowly getting smaller
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That’s awesome! I feel like for every book I take off I always add at least 1-2 more? Haha I’m glad that I didn’t exceed last weeks’ number though! I think I go through spurts of adding books to my list 😂
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Removing 4 is still good!! And I like your new format 😀 Especially if it helps you write the post faster 😀 The only one I have read from this list is 1984 and I didn’t like it, but my friend that I did a buddy read with loved it!
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Thanks, girl! It definitely helps me write the posts faster and I think (maybe) it makes it easier for people to read? Lol I’ve defo heard lots of mixed reviews about 1984 but I’m so curious to read it since it’s referenced so often by so many. Plus, people keep saying how eerily similar it is to our current situation? Lol
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Ugh. Lolita. I am not a fan. I didn’t enjoy his writing style and obvs the theme of the book is just gross. I had a somewhat heated debate with someone on GR who tried to mansplain why I just didn’t appreciate the book 🙄
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Yeah, I know. The theme of the book worries me a lottle and I’ve heard people say the same thing as you but it’s like one of the most read books that I’ve had on my shelf for ages, so I think I need to give it a try at the least. UGH, GROSS that you had someone try to mansplain this to you. Why are people so awful?! 🤢Ugh, so gross and I’m sorry you had to experience that, Emer!
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Oh I didn’t mind too much Dini. I mansplained back a few things LMAOOOOOO!!!! 😂😂😂😂
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I enjoy the content of 1984 but not the style it was written in. My son loves it, though, and references it a lot!
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Ah, I’m worried that I won’t find the writing style appealing and I tend to struggle with some of these ‘classics’ a bit coz I always have different expectations than how it actually turns out to be? I’m definitely curious though!
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Firefly Lane! Every time I see it I get a little thrill. It was the first Kristin Hannah book I ever read (maybe 8 years ago?) and still one of my favorites. So good!
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
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That’s awesome to hear, Tanya! I didn’t even realize that I had it on my TBR but I’m definitely excited to try more of Hannah’s books since I loved The Nightingale and The Great Alone! 😍
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OMGosh Dini… this post!! Every time I saw the verdict ‘Bye-Bye-Bye’ can you guess whose voice was in my head? I’ve now officially been singing NSYNC mentally and it’s probably gonna be there for the day 😂😂 I adore JT though so it’s not too much of a hardship. Also, I need to try Kristin Hannah’s books. I haven’t read any of hers before but we tend to like the same contemporary fiction books. Which of her books was the one you really enjoyed? 😄 Jen
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HAHAHA that’s exactly where I got the bye-bye-bye from Jen! 😂And then of course I had to go and listen to their music for the rest of the evening. I have no shame in saying that I will love *NSYNC 4 EVA. Okay, I’m definitely gonna have to pull up my playlist at work this afternoon. This comment just calls for it 🤣I defo recommend her books! I read The Nightingale and The Great Alone. Both historical fictions, one about the Nazis in France, and one set in Alaska after the Vietnam War. Both had me sobbing my heart out 😭 I hope you enjoy them if you decide to read them!!
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Ooh I’ve heard of the Nightingale but the Great Alone sounds great too! You know what I’m like about Alaska – there’s just something so appealing about the location! 😍 thanks for the recs Dini! 💙
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Omg gurl saaaaame. After reading this book by Nora Roberts (ages ago) I developed this wee obsession with Alaska? I don’t even know 🤣I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who feels this way about that place LOL I hope you love both of those reads if you get to them, Jen! ❤️
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Great job getting rid of some! Honestly, I haven’t heard of any of these so I am no help, haha.
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Hahaha no worries. I think these are definitely some obscure backend books 😅
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You just got rid of 40%! It’s pretty solid! And yout got rid of 2 classics… RESPECT! 🙂 Good job. 👏
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Omg I’ve had 1984 on my TBR for aaaaages as well – I even bought a gorgeous special edition to increase the likelihood that I’d pick it up & still NADA! 😂 I think classics intimidate me a little (which is so ironic bc Jane Austen is one of my fave authors!) but I’m determined to read 1984 soon!
💛 Ngoc
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[…] in person. This sat neglected on my TBR for a long while until my dear friend Dini mentioned in her Down the TBR Hole post how good Hannah’s writing is. Since then, its moved up on my TBR and I’m excited […]
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