The seemingly endless TBR pile(s)! :)

There is a challenge of sorts working its way through many book bloggers' posts.

This involves answering the following questions and then tagging others to do the same!

Naomi of Consumed by Ink posted an open-ended tag for anyone interested in doing this! 

So...here we go!

1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile? Uhm...piles...trust me on this...piles! :) Although I admit it is irritating to me that is it now owned by Amazon, I find goodreads an indispensable organizational tool for books...period! In addition, I can connect to many authors and other readers, and perhaps most importantly, read others' reviews...all in one place. And it is always with me, 'cause my phone is virtually always with me! Yay Smartphones!!

2. Is your TBR mostly print or e-book? PRINT! :) As my mother's eyesight failed, I purchased a Kobo e-reader for her so she could enlarge the font, etc., which gave me access to e-books for the first time. As I sat with her in many doctor's offices...waiting...I downloaded The Confession by John Grisham and read it. The plan was for both of us to read it and then discuss it. However, this proved to be confirmation for me that she could no longer "understand" (her word, not mine) what she'd read. :( I have not read another full-length novel in e-format, nor do I intend to; it just doesn't resonate as well for me as holding onto a physical book! I do, however, read e-short stories released by my favorite authors since there is no other way to read them.

3. How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next? This answer could go far in explaining why my TBR list keeps growing... I participate in many different reading challenges, read-alongs, and book clubs, so I literally have a "Reading Schedule" to which I must adhere to keep current with these reading commitments. Given the fact that I must work full-time, my reading time is limited. Additionally, I am making a concerted effort to post more reviews to my blog in a timely manner for each book read...well, it is challenging...to say the least! Every once in awhile I just say "Screw it!" and pick one up and read it! :) As a matter of fact, I just did that with The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and now I want to complete a blog post of that review! 

4. A book that's been on your TBR the longest? According to goodreads, Gold by Chris Cleave is the first book I added to my TBR listing. However, that is only because I started using goodreads at that time. Many older "classics" are among the longest TBR place holders in my mind. Many of them that are the most compelling for me? The rereads from 40+ years ago: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter, Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, etc. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was one of these, but I just reread it! :)

5. A book you recently added to your TBR? Just today: Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout by Philip Connors.

6. A TBR on your list strictly because of it's beautiful cover? None. I never ever select a book to read just because of its cover or title, though I may initially be attracted by either or both of these, the only way a book lands on my TBR list is if I review at least one synopsis and decide I really want to read it.

7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading? Reference above answer: none. No book is ever listed on my TBR that I don't honestly want to read.

8. An unpublished book on your TBR that you're excited for? Honestly, all of them! I'm such a book nerd, or perhaps "book junkie" is a more accurate term! :) Here are some I intend to add to my collection just as soon as they are published: 

The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos 

(Love Walked In, Belong to Me, Falling Together, Saving Lucas Biggs)

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

(Water for Elephants)

The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick 

(The Cobbled Court Quilt series)

The Dream Lover: A Novel of George Sand by Elizabeth Berg

(Open House, What We Keep, Home Safe)

The Dog Who Saved Me by Susan Wilson

(One Good Dog, The Dog Who Danced)
Wicked Charms (Lizzy & Diesel #3) by Janet Evanovich
--And when is the next Stephanie Plum novel to be released?!? I wish there could be a new one at least every 6 months! :) 
Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini
And I'm sure there are many more! 

9. A book on your TBR list that basically everyone has read but you? That was how I felt about The Fault in Our Stars by John Green! Until I finally read it! 

10. A book on your TBR list that everyone recommends to you? The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown.

11. A book on your TBR list that you're dying to read? All the upcoming releases in my answer to #8 as well as a book I just read about today: The Drowning of Stephan Jones by Bette Greene. 

12. How many books are on your goodreads TBR shelf? 3603...I did mention piles earlier, right?!? :)

Like Naomi, I am choosing to leave an open-ended tag to anyone else who would like to respond to this! Kinda fun and it really does make you think about those books listed on your TBR list and which are the most important to you!

How do YOU track TBRs?

Classics Club Spin #5

Okay, okay, okay. Yes, I have quite a listing of "classics" I wish to read and/or re-read. And, much like Carolyn, Kay, Cecila, and Ariel, other co-hosts of the Literary Wives Club, I feel it would be a good thing to "succumb to peer pressure," as Carolyn so aptly states, and "just do it."  

I will also publish my listing of classics and take my chances on the Classics Club lucky spin this next Monday, February 10 (gosh, that's tomorrow, isn't it?) to see which one I will be tackling first. 

Actually, it was kinda fun putting this list together!

Those books about which I am relatively neutral:
1. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
     Nobel-prize winning author...
2. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
     Have yet to read one of his novels.
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
     Just keep seeing references to this one all over the place and am definitely curious!
4. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
    Loved An American Tragedy when I read it at the age of 15. 
5. The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
     Fascinated by the concept.

Okay, the ones I rather dread, but for whatever reason wish to read:
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
     I feel as if I really should read this if I haven't yet...
7. The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein
     I want to read something written by her, but really have no idea what to expect.
8. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
     I'm sure this is going to gross me out, but I think we all need to read it...
9. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
     So many references that I feel I need to have at least read it.
10. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
     Loved The Grapes of Wrath, but have never been attracted to this one, though I feel I 
     should read it.

Those I cannot wait to read:
11. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
     Feel I should read it so I can understand the references made to it.
12. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
     Loved the movie and would like to read the book, which is virtually always better, 
     in my opinion!
13. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes
     Love Hughes, and want to read what he had to say...
14. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
     Love his short stories and this will be the first full-length novel of his for me to have 
     read. (The Last Tycoon doesn't count, since it was unfinished.)
15. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
     Yeah, I know. Unbelievable that some English/literature teacher in my past never 
     got to this one, but I am very curious.

Free Choice:
16. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
     Read this at age 15, loved it, and am anxious to see how I feel about it now, some 
     42 years later! :)
17. The Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter
     First read when I was 13. I loved it then and am anxious to see how it resonates 
     for me now.
18. Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
     I like his writing; so intense and emotional...heartfelt!
19. The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study by W.E.B. Du Bois
     Have always said I wanted to read something he'd written. I admire his 
     accomplishments with regard to the NAACP, etc.
20. The Stranger by Albert Camus
     Very curious to see what I think of this one! Have wondered about it for many years!

What classics are on your TBR list? Are you participating in any similar challenges?

Let me know...maybe we can be "reading buddies"! 

Have a great week, everyone! I've been sick and am looking forward to hopefully 
re-establishing my regular routine this week!