Why does my TBR never behave?
How do you decide what to read next? And why we should all buy more books
Life is all about new experiences and new beginnings. I have over 20 years behind me in publishing and bookselling, but I’m still learning, still trying new things, and love sharing my new discoveries (and the ups and downs!) of all my creative paths here.
Thinking of writing a book, or even publishing it yourself? I’m now onto Book Nine and still going wrong frequently! Want to read my books? Want to hear more about my journey? Want to hear about my mistakes so you don’t have to make them? Some of the answers may be here!
Hello and welcome to Making Crime Pay!
Why is it impossible to stick to a reading plan?
I read a lot.
I don’t read as much as I’d like to. I always set out with a great idea of reviewing and sharing what I’m reading. Guess what? That never works either.
I’m constantly trying to get better! But if this sounds like you, then you might like to hear more about a recent discovery that made me feel a whole lot better about why my reading always feels so haphazard. And a bit out of control.
Here’s a picture of my TBR (to be read pile)
I took this picture at the beginning of June, as I wanted to celebrate National Crime Reading Month so planned a tempting pile of books and a wonderful plan to read them all and write short reviews for all of them.
Sounds a simple plan. Guess what . . .? It failed.
This is not my full TBR. Not by a long way. You don’t want to see a picture of that. Or my list of all the other books that would be on my TBR only I haven’t bought them yet.
This was simply what I planned to read in one month. It felt very doable. Several were books by fellow authors I was on panels with to celebrate National Crime Reading month, so I prioritised them and loved them all.
I meant to share the pile I was excited to read on social media, but I never did. Because almost the second I took this picture I read a totally different book (it was a long one) and then I felt bad that I couldn’t stick to my plan.
Too many books!
It’s not as if I don’t know what the problem is.
As a bookseller I knew plenty of people who would buy books and have to smuggle them home so they won’t be judged by already having a tottering pile of books they haven’t got around to reading yet. And adding more.
I buy books, I borrow books, I’m sent books to review
I make lists of books I want to read and don’t want to forget I want to read them.
I know there is never enough time. My reading is impossible to organise. And I feel my books begin to look like at a lot of clutter. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing that it takes over and feels like I have a problem.
Anyone else feel like this?
I decided I’d write about TBR piles and how impossible I find it to stick to a reading plan, let alone a regular reviewing schedule despite a lot of good intentions. How to be more organised with writing reviews is on my lists of aims every year, and every year I fall short. But I keep trying.
And then I found a marvellous article that changed my view of writing about how I see too many books as evidence of disorganisation and, let’s be honest, failure. Or even a bit of a problem.
Apparently, gathering a pile of books is a sign of optimism
Isn’t this such a better way of looking at an out of control TBR?
If we find something that promises enjoyment or discovery this is where our old friend dopamine kicks in.
I’ve always understood dopamine as something we get a brain reward hit from. What I never knew what that dopamine rewards humans in advance of activity, not only from having done something that feels good. It’s to encourage humans to do things that are likely to prove useful, like finding food before we are hungry.
So making a pile of books, knowing we will enjoy reading them later, is important, because it’s a sign we are imagining a hopeful, enjoyable future.
A brain that only responds to immediate needs is not as helpful as anticipating future rewards and getting on with planning ahead and stockpiling now.
‘Looking forward to enjoyable experiences can improve mood, increase motivation and provide a buffer against everyday stress. In some circumstances, the anticipation of an event can be almost as rewarding as the event itself.’
Looking forward to a holiday can be about imagining what we will do with time off and helps with relaxation now. The ability to imagine future joy is a way to help deal with everyday stress. Apparently it is a very good thing that the brain has this remarkable ability to get pleasure from experiences that have not yet happened.
‘This may explain why a pile of unread books feels so different from a pile of unanswered emails. Both represent things waiting to be done, yet the difference lies in how the brain interprets them. Unanswered emails are future obligations whereas unread books are future rewards.’
So. Stop feeling guilty that you keep buying books that you may take a year (or more) to get around to reading. They are your future rewards and a source of much joy!
Buy more books!
Here’s a link to the original article in The Conversation.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy reading schedule to read this!
And although you may think I’m going to end this with a neat stack of reviews about which of the above books I did manage to read (6 out of the above 12. Is 50% an acceptable hit rate?) Reviews remain as they so often do, in a file on my computer, with a plan for sharing them . . . one day. Or not written at all.
I’m leaving you with another thought of possible future joy
I’m going to leave you with some pictures of my second sell-out event at my local library. This time I was talking about something I’ve been wanting to put together for years - the very real pleasure and appreciation I have always found from reading Agatha Christie.
What was so great for me was I find it much easier to enthuse about other people’s books that I do going on about my own. And I have never found public speaking easy.
But it went down so well, I’ve been recommended as a library speaker and am already booked in to give the talk at three other libraries and bookshops.
Amazing!
If you want to read my books you can find them here. And why not be better than me and tell me if you like them too!
Nicki