As a follow up to last week’s question, Joseph asked how you keep track of your to-be-read list. Do you have a paper list or on your computer? Do you take it with you when you go shopping? How do you decide what to add to the list?
I have a designated to-be-read section on my bookshelf in which I store new books that many of you recommend. Books of the highest priority sit on the night-stand and working desk. Books to be acquired are randomly tallied in a spreadsheet on my computer. Books I’m desperate to buy would be on my on-the-go shopping list that I bring to the bookstores. I also have a mental list of books of which I check the availability when I go to the bookstores. What about you?
Filed under: Blogging, Book Blogging, Books, Meme, Personal, Reading | Tagged: Books, Meme, Musing Mondays, Personal |
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook 
I have a section of bookshelf as well for already-acquired books. But the rest? A mangled, disgusting hand-written list on a scrap of paper that I drag around with me like a security blanket. God forbid I ever lose it…
Hehehe, you’re going to hate this. I maintain a list of books to be purchased (consider to be purchased) on my iPhone.
I try to write down titles I want to read in my moleskin planner but once I get a book, it might land anywhere. Usually on the table next to my reading chair or on the coffee table at first and then either to a bookcase or the nightstand depending on how soon I will be reading it.
Your methods sound very similar to mine, Matt. I have a room devoted to my TBR books, but the immediate TBR books sit on my desk waiting their turn. Then I keep a wish list of books I want to get to someday–I use the Amazon Wishlist feature and also keep a separate list where I can jot down titles I come across when not near a computer.
I love the cartoon, by the way!
I mostly buy Taschen design books so I usually remember the titles I’m looking for.
I have got books I want to read written on scraps of paper all over the place, probably under stacks of books waiting to be read!
Oh my. I have a notebook where I generally write things down, and then I try to transfer that to a list I keep in Google docs, so I always have it with me. The problem is, I have a “love the one your with” thing going on when I get to the book store (in person or online), so I end up buying whatever I am looking at RIGHT NOW. Doh.
I think I’ve officially given up on keeping track of a wish list. As far as TBR — ummm I guess I read from whatever stack of books is closest or easiest to get to. My house looks like the cartoon . . . Sigh.
I have a notebook but the best way to keep track of my to-be-read list and my read-list are over GoodReads. I have so many books on my list that it’s nice to click on the title and remind myself of why I placed it there.
I have a shelf for my TBR books too! And I do carry a list when I go book shopping… however I didn’t update the books I buy so I guess I need to work on that as well!! ;P
The books I want to buy are all in a little notebook I carry around with me.
I enter books to be purchased in my Rss Calendar.
I have a few in a cache at home which I eventually intend to read or scan. But lately, I’ve gone to the bookstore on a whim to seek out a work of one author or another who has recently come to my attention. For now, the cache can wait.
I’m afraid I’m not half as well organised as you are, even if the intention is there. I tend to add books to my wishlist on amazone, at least that’s a fairly secure method and a list that cannot get lost in my notebooks, pieces of paper and mental ‘do not forget’ lists…. And then the tbr piles? They get pushed from table to bookshelf to desk and back to the table, and sometimes an odd one gets lost because it ends up on the bookshelf amongst the books I’ve already read… anyway, there’s always plenty to read one way or antoher 🙂
I don’t think I read half as much as most people who comment here. I don’t have a wish list as I love to shop in second hand book shops so I take pot luck at what I can find. I do love an old 1940’s penguin classic! Anything I have to read gets piled up with the rest of my books as I have run out of bookcase space!
Sandy:
That speaks the truth of many a book blogger, myself included. 🙂
John:
Oh, at least you’re one of those who incessantly poking at the screen texting the time away… lol
Juliann:
Taking the books home to me gives me a sense of security (gratification) that I’ll have them handy when I’m ready. 🙂
Wendy @Literary Feline:
Unless I’m really desperate for a (new) book, usually the new acquired books on the shelf are more than enough to keep me entertained. Wish-list is a great way to track potential purchases, except I have forgotten my Ammy password.
Ken:
I really like your architecture and design library! 🙂
Nise’:
I think many of us have picked up a scrap paper and start writing on it book titles that we come across. Although it can be unorganized, I find it one of the most quickest and convenient way. 🙂
Priscilla:
I’m an easy victim of impulse buys! 🙂
Beth F:
LOL I read whatever my whim takes me. As to acquisition, I just buy whatever people recommend.
lena:
It seems online tracking is easier and more hassle-free. But since I go to the bookstore very often, I keep a written list in my bag. 🙂
Melody:
I can understand, but I rather spend more time reading.
Yvonne:
Mine is a piece of mangled paper that I keep in the bookbag. 🙂
Bluestocking:
Wow I don’t even know that it is, but it sounds convenient for you. 🙂
Greg S:
I go to bookstores sometimes because a title or author suddenly occur to me as well. If I don’t have the list handy I just browse and see if anything interesting appeals to me.
seachanges:
I totally know what you mean. Sometimes I have to keep pushing and moving the books around the house just to look for one book!
Flo:
I weed out books every once in a while, pulling the ones that I won’t read again off the shelf and box them for the bookstores.
I have several stacks of TBR books, which start out in order of obtainment, and then get moved as new books come in. By the time a stack gets moved (yet unread) to the basement, I’m afraid it’s “shelved” for a long time.
BTW, regarding your question about Luang Paw Sowthorn, yes, they did have to stand in line for about an hour.
My TBR pile is quite literally a Pile on my couch. I Constantly bring books home from the library and sadly only a few make the cut to getting reviewed on my site.
Alan:
Yes, I have a difficult time finishing all the books before the deadline. So now I limit to about three or four.
Becca:
The project of moving books around the house is incessant. Now I keep the library books handy near the door to remind myself the due dates.
I have a designated shelf that is split in half – books I own and books I’ve borrowed from friends. Books I’ve borrowed from friends or the library where there is a specific return date go on the decorative table by the door and are priority reads.
As for mainting a future list – I’m seeking out a method. Good Reads doesn’t do it for me and last time I used an excel chart my computer met it’s fate and destroyed my list – which was faulty due to various typos. Currently I use a list feature on my phone to write down any suggestions/ideas in the moment and then have a private wishlist on Amazon. It don’t like this as it is cumbersome to use and organize, but do like that it’s accessable from anywhere.
@Christina: you might consider trying Evernote because you can ‘clip’ parts of webpages, scans, write text, tag etc. Searching works great and it’s accessible by mobile phone as well. I’m only getting to know this tool but I already like it very much (evernote.com).
Myself, I use different types of TBR-piles. It’s not easy having _two_ readers in the house 😉
1. Small ‘Çeci n’est pas un livre’ shelf on the wall with pile of recently (ahem) aquired books that we both want to read or one has read (but not the other).
2. Older books that just one of us has read are on the ‘normal’ bookshelves.
3. Books I might want to read but not necesarilly own go on my Bookcrossing wishlist.
4. Books I WANT are sometimes (often?) acutely bought online 😉 or else written down in a notebook where I can also add newspaper clippings etc.
That cartoon is priceless! I do keep a list on my iPod 🙂
Christina:
What can I say> You’re the most organized person with the TBR pile. I’m ashamed to report that for a few occasions I have forgotten about the library book deadline!
gnoegnoe:
I remember the days when book review section was a stack of the paper. I would cut out the clipping, now the book review is reduced to a column that slightly mentions the bestsellers that I don’t even give two straw about.
iliana:
I usually just refer to the book list in my bookbag. 🙂