Well, I missed my 4th blogging anniversary. I have some kind of blind spot about the date, I always think it's February 11th. It's actually the 4th (ironically, this year). Even though it's almost a week late, I'm still celebrating. Last month I had one of those blogging crises that I've seen others go through. Suddenly it all felt a bit pointless, and I began to wonder if it wasn't taking too much time away from actually reading. But as I thought about shutting TBR 313 down, I kept coming back to why I started it in the first place: I needed a place to talk about what I was reading. And I still do. As much as I love visiting other people's blogs, collecting new titles & authors, joining the discussions through the comments, I still want a place for my books. Just in time for the anniversary, I have a renewed appreciation for what this space means to me.
A belated happy anniversary to Katrina, hers is the day before mine.
On another topic, we are into the second month of the TBR Dare, and though I don't want to jinx myself, I think it's going pretty well. I've read a couple of chunkster books, so the total number of books cleared so far (23) isn't as high as I'd like. (Some of those were abandoned unfinished.) And I have been buying books as well. But even before Christmas I started making myself discard one TBR book for every new one that comes in (most go to the library sale). "One in/one out" is a classic technique for clearing out and organizing, and it is certainly making me think twice about buying more books. Last year I weeded the TBR shelves pretty thoroughly, getting rid of books that no longer appealed, or what I think of as "aspirational" books ("I know I should read this book"). Those on the shelves now are books I want to read, or at least try. So bringing home a new book makes for some tough choices. I'll see how this goes, but I am encouraged. Of course I did just order two more of Anthony Trollope's novels, because the 12 I already have unread just aren't enough. At least I have some time before they arrive to decide who gets the chop in their favor. Hopefully writing about this will keep me on track - and honest!
I do however get a free pass on the new Laurie R. King book this month, the latest Mary Russell adventure, and I cannot wait. She will be the speaker at a luncheon hosted by Murder by the Book, as well as an evening signing. I may well be at both.
Very happy anniversary!! This space means a lot to the rest of us, too -- as do your visits to ours.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I could do the dare, though I'm impressed with everyone who does? Are you allowed to read a book that you put on reserve before the dare starts that comes in while the dare is happening? I had three all in a row last week and any "plans" I had are all messed up...having two snow days in a row is helping, though! :)
Thank you, Audrey :) The TBR Dare has a lot of scope for outside books, as Teresa mentions below - as long as they're on your library reserve list or on order by Jan. 1st, they count. I'm reading one now that I ordered just in time! I've also got some on suspended hold at the library. I did get an ILL book that I had almost forgotten requesting, but it turned out to be something I didn't want to read after all.
DeleteHappy blogiversary! I'm so glad you're around. The blogging world needs as many Dorothy Dunnett fans as possible.
ReplyDeleteI may as well accept that my parameters for the TBR Dare this year were so loose that it barely counts as doing the Dare. I've been reading library books if they're in the Tournament of Books and e-books if I already had them. And yesterday I read a book someone gave me this week because it's in the Tournament. So I've only actually cleared six books from my shelves despite having read 13. But on the positive side, I've discovered a nice balance between library books, TBR books, and all those classics accumulated on my e-reader.
I'm hoping the start the new Russell next week!
Thank you, Teresa! In the last couple of weeks, I've pulled both Lymond & Nicholas books to check something, and now I'm feeling the call of Dunnett. I dd stipulate for one re-read each month, speaking of loose parameters :) Oh I cannot wait to get my hands on the new Russell.
DeleteHappy Anniversary! so glad u're here. I'm doing my first double dog dare...and finished my very first Trollope...yeah...'The Warden'...loved it of course....this came after reading first 3 vol of 'Dance to the Music of Time'..i was only going to read 1 a month..but couldn't stop...so w/ Trollope and Powell in my tbr pile....think the dare is doable....
ReplyDeletewishing u best of reading in your new blog year....quinn
quinn, thank you, and thanks for stopping by! I'm always glad to meet a fellow Trollopian :) and I can envy you, having so many wonderful books to discover. I've had my eye on Anthony Powell's books but haven't actually picked one up yet. We're almost half-way through the Dare - hard to believe.
DeleteHappy anniversary! I've loved following your reading, so please don't walk away from this. Take a break if you need one, but I'm quite sure that you'd find - like me - that you missed all of this after a few days,
ReplyDeleteThe TBR Dare is progressing well for me, and I'm finding that I've got better books on my shelves than many I bring home from the library and that I'm happier with my reading tilted a little more towards classics.
Jane, thank you! I definitely don't feel ready to let go of this space, or the community. I was thinking of you, I remember you writing about your realization that you had things you wanted to say about books - that resonated with me at the time.
DeleteWith the Dare, I find it very satisfying to finally read books that have been sitting here so long - or to let them go, if they turn out to be not what I'd hoped.
Happy Blogiverary, Lisa! I'm very happy you're here, too, and have discovered so many interesting books through your blog. Here's to the next 4 years!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on sticking with the TBR Dare, too. I've participated most years, but only committed for January this time... don't have enough of my books here with me in Florida this winter. They have a wonderful library and indie bookstore though ;-)
Thank you, JoAnn! I plan to still be reading in 2019, and I'm sure I'll still be wanting to talk about books too :) The TBR Dare has been pretty easy this year, though I did briefly wish I'd followed your lead and just done one month!
DeleteHappy anniversary, Lisa! I always seem to forget about mine too. I love your blog and am very glad you didn't decide to shut it down - I've felt like doing that myself a few times, but I've always found that my enthusiasm comes back after a while.
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me that I really need to continue with the Mary Russell series. I've only read the first two so it will be a long time before I'm ready to read the new one!
Thank you too, Helen. It seems to have just been a momentary blip - maybe a bit of winter blues. Though I'm thinking I may try writing shorter reviews.
DeleteIt feels like a long time since the last Russell book - so I'm very anxious for this one. If it weren't for the Dare, I might even be re-reading some of them.
Happy 4th! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, o!
DeleteCongrats on your 4th blogoversary. So glad to hear you are staying the course--I find my blog is for me, and it's a great way to make myself stop and reflect on what I've read instead of just sailing off with the next book.
ReplyDeletePlus, I enjoy reading your posts and finding out about the authors/books you love. You have great, off-the-beaten track taste.
23 books from the TBR shelf. Yowza, that's amazing. I've read exactly 1 since the New Year :) Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Jane. I agree with you that blogging has helped me reflect more on my reading - and also to remember more. I used to re-read constantly, and that kept books clear in my mind. Now at least I can look back at something I wrote to help me remember.
DeleteI get very competitive with the TBR Dare - though only against myself :)
A very happy birthday, thanks for sticking around! Can't believe it's been 4 whole years.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Simon! I know I'm still a youngster at this - but when I think about it, four years is still something! Thanks for being an inspiration.
DeleteHappy anniversary! I'm so glad your blog is here; I've enjoyed your writing and reviews so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you, elizabeth! Finding this community of readers has been such a gift.
DeleteAnd a belated Happy Anniversary to you too! In fact I completely forgot about mine this year, until I got a congratulations message from Wordpress. I'm so glad you decided not to give up on TBR 313. I might be bit late in getting here but I always catch up eventually. I have never read anything by Laurie R. King, should I start at the beginning - or what?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katrina! Google did NOT send me congratulations. With Laurie R. King, that's a tough call. The Sherlock & Mary stories are wonderful, so that's a good place to start. I really enjoy her more contemporary series, about a woman police detective in California, but they aren't to everyone's taste. I think her best book is Folly, set on a small island in the Pacific Northwest - about rebuilding a house & uncovering family secrets.
DeleteEek, I'm so far behind (internet issue... bah...) - belated happy blogiversary and here's to MANY more: you always have great suggestions for my reading and I expect them to keep coming (that's an order, obviously!)
ReplyDeleteI know the frustration of internet issues! Thank you, and aye, aye ma'am (I am reading Patrick O'Brian, hence the naval creep).
ReplyDelete