TBR Clear Out (or should it stay or should it go)

Hello all!

Sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve seen this kind of post online a few times and I can’t remember the actual name of it, hence the title!  In short, I’m going to go through the first 20 books on my Goodreads TBR and decide whether they should stay on my TBR (if I’m actually going to read them one day) or if they’re leaving my tbr. All of these books were added to my TBR when I first opened my Goodreads account back in February 2012!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book is definitely staying on my TBR. I will get around to it some day, I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and I already own it (I think it’s been sat on my shelf for about the length of time as it’s been sat on my Goodreads TBR shelf). This is one book that when I read it, I know I’ll love it and will regret not reading it sooner! The blurb had me intrigued 6 years ago, and still does, so I reckon I’ll like this book.
Verdict: Stay

The Shining by Stephen King

This is one that I already own and will probably read at some point in the future. I’ve only read one Stephen King book (Pet Sematary) and I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it, as much as you can enjoy a creepy book with zombie-like people and animals I guess. Nevertheless, The Shining is a book that is highly rated (its Goodreads average is 4.2 stars!) and as I’ve never seen the film all the way through, only clips, I think I’ll read it first and see how different they are.
Verdict: Stay

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Honestly I’m not sure about this book. I added it in 2012 when I was reading things like Divergent and The Hunger Games so it would have fit in nicely with those books. But now? I’m no sure. Whilst I still enjoy The Hunger Games I’m not sure if I would if I read them for the first time now. This was one that I saw the film of and thought it was okay, and I’ve heard the books are better (the book is usually better than the film) but I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to reading this. I may be wrong, I might fancy reading it in the future, but for now, I think it’s going.
Verdict: Go (for now at least)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Again, this is one I added at the same time as The Maze Runner and I don’t know if I’ll ever read it. It’s one that I heard very mixed reviews about, but also one I know a lot of people loved when they read it. It’s a book that I forget I have on my TBR, which probably means I won’t read it, right? I just reread the blurb and honestly I’m not sure if it’s something that I’m still interested in reading.
Verdict: Go

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This I added to my TBR after watching, and really enjoying, the film of the same name. It’s a story that I’m still interested in reading, and one that I think is very interesting. I think I also own this, or did anyway! I will definitely try and read this at some point in the future.
Verdict: Stay

 

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

I added this to my TBR and bought it back in 2012 and never read it, but my mum did, and loved it. She even went on to read the other books in the series! I’m not sure why I didn’t read this when I bought it as it sounds right up my street – a fantasy centred around Fey! I think this is one that I’m still interested in reading, just to see what it’s like.
Verdict: Stay

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Honestly I can’t remember adding this book to my list, or remember ever reading the blurb for it. It sounds interesting but I don’t know if I’d read it any time soon, or at all any more.
Verdict: Go

 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

I have this book (and the film) and still haven’t read/watched it! I remember starting reading it, but I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. I will probably read it at some point, it’s not one that I’m not going to read – I just haven’t yet but will do in the future.
Verdict: Stay

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Honestly I don’t remember a thing about this book – not hearing about it or adding it to my TBR, so unfortunately I think it’ll have to go. The plot isn’t as appealing to me now as it was before, so it’s a no from me.
Verdict: Go

 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I remember hearing so much about this book and honestly I’m not sure if I’ve already read it??????? The plot feels familiar, I think I might have but I’m really not sure. Regardless I think this will stay on my TBR list, mostly because I might read (or reread it even) to see if it is the book I’m thinking of!
Verdict: Stay

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I think I only added this when I learnt that there was a film of it in 2011. I don’t think this is still one that I’ll be interested in reading any more – the plot and the series in general don’t interest me as they once did.
Verdict: Go

 

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight by Jenny Nimmo

Yes I’ll definitely be reading this. I read the rest of the series when I was younger and I loved it – it was very much like Harry Potter. I want to reread the first 7 books before I start this one, as I can’t remember a lot of the last couple. Midnight for Charlie Bone is one of the books I’m planning on rereading for my Rereading Old Favourites blog series anyway, so that gives me an excuse to read them all, right?
Verdict: Stay

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe

This is one I will eventually get around to: it’s Harry Potter and filmmaking combined – amazing! I think this is one that will take me a while to read because it’s so big and full of information. I’ve flicked through it and read sections but it’s one of those books that you read over time.
Verdict: Stay

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

I think this is one that I only added because of the film. It’s one that I remember watching when I was younger, but I don’t remember a lot of the plot. I’m not sure if it’s one that I’d be reading any time soon so for now I’m going to take it off my TBR but it may return in the future.
Verdict: Go

 

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

I don’t remember adding this to my TBR but I vaguely remember hearing about it. After reading the blurb I don’t think this one will be staying on my TBR, it’s just not something that I’m interested in reading at this moment in time.
Verdict: Go

 

Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork

Again, I don’t remember adding this to my tbr or even hearing about it so I think this is going to have to leave the TBR. The blurb of this doesn’t sound as appealing any more, so I think it’s going to have to go.
Verdict: Go

 

Cinder by Merissa Meyer

This is one that I’m still interested in reading at some point. I’ve been meaning to pick it up years now and I don’t know why I haven’t! It’s one that I’ve always heard great things about and I definitely plan on reading it at some point!
Verdict: Stay

 

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

This is another one that I don’t remember adding at all. I don’t think I’m going to read this one any more, the plot doesn’t interest me at the moment.
Verdict: Go

 

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

One day (more) I will read this monster of a book! I planned on reading it about 6 years ago on holiday but I never got around to it – I think I actually read about 5 or 6 books that holiday but I didn’t manage to even start this, it’s just so daunting!
Verdict: Stay
Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This is one I still want to read. It’s one that I know some people read at A Level but I didn’t and would still like to. I think this is still an interesting-sounding story, and as I’ve not seen the film either I have no idea about the plot, which is great!!!!
Verdict: Stay

 

There we have it, the first 20 books on my TBR have been sorted, and this is a long post. There’s still a lot of sorting to do, but don’t worry, I won’t put it all into blog posts as there’s over 700 books on my TBR shelf!! I will definitely do another post like this in the future, but it will probably be of books added at a different time – maybe a year after all of these (so around 2013-ish)?

What books have been sat on your TBR for years? 

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