Read All the Books: Week 4 & 5 Recap

So let’s recap:

Last time I blogged about the TBR challenge (2 weeks ago, Week 3) I started out with 92 books on my TBR bookcase (because a shelf just isn’t enough). Week 3 wasn’t that great because even though I read 3 books, I purchased 3 books from the thrift store.

Last count: 92

I’m a reading banshee but I usually (and unintentionally) take one week off a month from reading. Life gets in the way. Week 4 was my week off. I didn’t make too much progress for Week 5, but every little bit helps.

What I read:

Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #4)

In Bed with the Highlander by Maya Banks (from the TBR bookcase)

Unfortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Colters’ Lady by Maya Banks

Colters’ Daughter by Maya Banks

Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas (from the TBR bookcase)

Why Men Marry Bitches by Sherry Argov (TBR Bookcase – Currently Reading)

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (TBR Bookcase – Currently Reading)

Proxy by Alex London – Currently Reading

A few months ago I posted about my chaotic reading. I am constantly reading 4 or 5 books at once. Which is why there are 3 books listed as currently reading. I am also really bad about putting a book down and forgetting to pick it back up again (i.e. Proxy).

If you noticed, I am on a Maya Banks kick. I’m really loving the Colters’ series (fyi these are ménage trios romances) and I am a big fan of her historical romances. Her romances fall into several different genres and she is able to easily go from one genre to another without becoming stale or repetitive.

Current TBR count: 89

Read All The Books: Week One

Project "Read All The Books" isn't going so well. On Day One someone donated 39 Johanna Lindsey books. Now, if you have read this blog in the past, you might know that I am obsessed with Johanna Lindsey. Didn't know that? Check out my post, "My Love Affair With Johanna Lindsey"

Johanna Lindsey is the author that got my hooked on romance novels. She just published her 50th book and I have read them all. I have even owned most of them (I did decided to trade the ones that I didn't love a few years back). I read most of her work when I was 13 or 14 years old. In those 12 years, I have reread and reread my favorites (Gentle Rogue), but have forgotten about some of the lesser novels. My coworkers know how much I love her so they immediately buzzed me to let me know about the donation. I bought 10. This did not help me succeed in my goal of reading all the books I own. 

Here is the updated challenge. Books Read: 0, Books Bought: 10, Total Books: 92

Project Read All The Books

Below you see a bookcase that holds all my TBR books....

The top shelf is filled with books that I currently have checked out from the library. The bottom 3 shelves, plus another shelf in the living room with my autographed books, hold all the books that I own that I still need to read. Currently numbered at 82 books. Yup. That's a lot. 

I picked up most of these books at conferences, yard sales, used bookstores, and my library's Friends. The problem I'm having is that I keep acquiring more books, but I am only reading the ones checked out from the library. 

To be fair, I only buy books after I do a little research. I don't just grab everything I see. I check Goodreads to see how the reviews fair and to see if any of my friends have read it. Still, when I am getting to the point of sneaking books into the house so the BF doesn't see, I know I have to do something. 

I have decided to challenge myself to read one of these books per week and maybe even right a quick review on it. For the most part, they are old school romance. There is a lot of old Diana Palmer, Lisa Kleypas, Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, and some Nora Roberts There is some general adult fiction, ya, and nonfiction, but mostly romance.

Wish me luck.