benedict

.... and do you think you'll ever catch up?

<IMG SRC="http://public.logica.com/~stepneys/bib/unread.jpg" border=0 ALT=Unread Books!">

This query stems from my own particular circumstances: when I've completed (er, started) my spring-clean later in the week I may even list a selection from my "to-read" pile.

One factor that is slightly beyond my control are those apparently endless series such as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time sequence.

As each new instalment arrived I felt obliged to re-read the first three books two to three about three times apiece just to remind myself what has happened! I realised belatedly that the only thing to do was to buy them as they came out and put them unread on the "guilt" shelf: I plan to read them in sequence in the year leading up to when the last one is due to come out in paperback.

Of course, I have done the same "buy-to-read-later" thing with Peter Hamilton's Neutronum Alchemist doorstops and still have them all sat on a bookshelf, untouched. Same with Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars books and possibly one or two other series I don't currently recall.

You can also post here with impunity* should it be the case that you buy one book at a time and don't get another until the last purchase has been read from cover to cover. <small>

(* I may utter a silent curse in your general direction, however ) </small>

Scarecrow

My to read pile is about twice as big as the pic you posted. It's definately easier to accumulate them then it is to find time to read them all. Especially when I go to Half Price Books and end up finding 10 or 12 interesting books in their clearance section for 50 cents a piece.

WarriorPrincess

ROFLMAO! Benedict, you're my hero. I thought I was the only one. Especially with the whole RJ WoT re-read factor - I stopped after book 6 - now I'm thinking I'll just read the synopsis of the first 6 and read 7-9 in a row...but then I'll be in the same dilemma in 1-2 years when the 10th comes out...it's neverending.

Currently I have about 150 books to read - most are multivolume series that either I haven't yet purchased the entire series or that haven't yet finished being published - in both cases I won't read them until I have the whole set. RJ made me realize how frustrating it is to have to wait so long to find out what happens next. It's tough for me to buy ones that have come out already, though, because I collect first editions in hardback form, so it oftentimes takes me a LONG time to find one I can afford that's in good condition (most of mine are in like new condition). I doubt I'll ever catch up - school put off most fun reading for me for the last 3 years, thus my huge backlog. Though when I get in reading mode I can blast through books really quickly.

The thing that I think might keep me from finishing all of my unread books is that I love some of my books so much that I keep rereading them (same with films) - so new stuff gets put off for the future. In any case - thanks for the relief from guilt - my spending outpaces my time to enjoy the purchase in too many cases, but I doubt that'll change anytime soon.

Alvis

Here's what I mean: I will sometimes read the books in a series very slowly. I will take a long time between each one. For example, I have read the first two books in Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy. I enjoyed the first two books very much but they are very long and complex so it takes a while before I am willing to pick up the next books. I sometimes do this with other series. I am now ready to read the third book but I don't want to re-read the other two. I need something to catch me up and refresh my memory about the other two installments. I guess I'll just have to search the internet. Anyone else know what I mean?

BoatDrinks

I usually go with the speed at which the books come out. Most series come out one-a-year. That is just about perfect for me. I have read the book, digested it, and am just getting hungry for the next one when it appears.

darkside

I love picking up a series when its finished. For one I hate waiting a year and I don't like paying the hardcover price for the book either. Many times when the next book finally does come out I have to reread the previous book again to remember where I was in the story.

I just started the Voyage of Shannara series and I hate that I will have to wait a year for book 3.

WarriorPrincess

I agree with all of that except the hardcover part - I only buy hardcovers (easier on my eyes). I can't stand the waiting between books - Robert Jordan and Jean Auel convinced me never to start a series until all the books are written and published. I just don't have the patience to wait years for the conclusion of a story - but I can wait years to read the story at all if I'm forced to do so. I just buy new series based on recommendations from friends and critics that I agree with, and the books sit on my bookshelves waiting for the time when they can be read.

littlefuzzy

I re-read every book in the series, each time I get a new one.

For instance, I started re-reading the Warlock Series by Christopher Stasheff at the beginning of the year, and I have already read 15 of them (counting the Rogue Wizard series, which is a continuation.)

Books I have read so far, this year:
January
01st - Larry Segriff - Spacer Dreams (possibly Dec. 31st)
03rd - Christopher Stasheff - Escape Velocity
04th - Christopher Stasheff - Escape Velocity (cont.,) The Warlock In Spite Of Himself, King Kobold Revived
05th - Christopher Stasheff - King Kobold, The Warlock Unlocked
06th - Christopher Stasheff - The Warlock Enraged, The Warlock Wandering
07th - Christopher Stasheff - The Warlock Is Missing, The Warlock Heretical
08th - Christopher Stasheff - The Warlock Heretical (cont.,) The Warlock's Companion
09th - Christopher Stasheff - The Warlock Insane, The Warlock Rock, Daniel A. Brandt & J.C. Warner - Metallurgy Fundamentals (scanned), Jim Hrisoulas - The Complete Bladesmith, The Master Bladesmith (both scanned)
10th - Christopher Stasheff - Warlock and Son, Wizard in Absentia
11th - Christopher Stasheff - Wizard in Mind, John M. Yumoto - The Samurai Sword (scanned)

littlefuzzy

Heck, I have thousands of books, mostly paperback. I probably haven't read a good 10-20%, since many times I am in specific moods, like humor, and I grab something I know I will enjoy.

Also, I go to library book sales, and I scour thrift stores and garage sales for stacks of books, so I am constantly adding 20-30 books to the piles.

In addition, I have many series (like RJs WOT) that I don't have all of the volumes yet, so I hold off on reading until I complete the set of what is currently available.

Seeker

I go a long time between books in a series only because I have to wait for the author to write the NEXT one!

Bujold's Vorkosigan Series
Card's Shadow of Series

etc. etc. etc.

larryw

Heh, that's funny you mention that - I had a similar experience with that series. Took me a few years to read them all. I picked up the first one before the others had come out and slowly made my way through it. By the time I got around to getting the second one I had to read the first one again. Then I got distracted and never finished the second, and I couldn't find it when I tried to pick it up again. So I got the second and third at the same time and finally finished the series.

bishop2knight

I'm a book collector (hardcover, 1st edition, pristine condition, you know the drill), but I try to read all the books I buy. Late last summer, I was pretty much caught up, having only a couple of books yet unread.

Now, however, after a flurry of spending at the beginning of the year, I'm about 20-25 books behind. The sad thing is, for every book from my shelf that I read, there's another one I want to buy, so I'm not catching up as fast as I'd like.

Anyone else have this issue? How many books are on your shelf that have yet to be read? Do you plan on reading most of them?

Cornfed

Well, when I was younger I was into looking for books at garage/yard sales. I usually bought them up in hordes and really have only read a fraction of them. I have gotten rid of quite a few but there's probably still a lot in my basement. Right now, I work at a library and I usually bring books home that I want to read. Since I can keep the books as long as I want, they sit on the shelf until I get to them. I'd says there's about a dozen up there I need to get to. Now that summer is here I have had a bookshelf liquidation; I've read quite a few on my list.

benedict

<small></small> Um, yes!

I've still only semi-completed my household "rationalisation" but a major part was buying three new bookscases! And I assembled these last week.

I don't need to have read all the reference books I won but the novels.... well there are more than 50 of them and possibly 100!

I plan to read them but I, too, still wish to buy more. However, I have more or less stopped the buying and putting all the new books in one bookcase will help me see where I've got to.

So, as soon as the bookclub subscription period ends, I may start making some measurable progress!

bishop2knight

And to think I even did a search...really I did.

benedict

I took the first two of those on holiday with me a couple or three years ago having owned them for a decade or more. I was very pleased to make that progress but allowed myself to become side-tracked and have yet to conclude the trilogy! I'll get there eventually. As for refreshing my memory on the contents of book one and two, methinks I'll just have to pick it up as I soldier through book three!

Looking back to my first post in the thread - which contains a link to very apt article, incidentally, if you click the first picture, as well as the more obvious hyperlinks later on - reminds me that:

• Peter Hamilton's Neutronum Alchemist doorstops remain unread!
• I bought a fourth Billy bookcase and extended them all upwards. After moving house I've used them in a floor to ceiling bookcase that as of last week now covers an entire wall courtesy of a pal who mounted the existing four cases onto a matching "shelf" that he'd constructed to my specification.

Over Easter, I propose to list here all of the novels that remain unread and thereby see if i can shame myself into setting a realistic timescale for reading them!

On the plus side I have passed on a number of series - including the Jordans and the Martins - to my nephew as I'd decided these particular authors had contributed to my book debt and I'd not reward them further with pointless purchases by me

Furthermore, certainly today, my "reading room"/man-cave is clean, tidy and there's nothing lying on the floor or drawers left open. (Certain folk hereabouts will recognise the in-house allusion to our favourite fictional film director).

benedict

Easter 2015? No, maybe this month.. I'm sure there's a window of opportunity!

And what about other Booktalkers? What's on your own-but-yet-to-read shelf/floor? Don't be shy... ;-)

mndtrp

I've got hundreds of books to read, and it's getting worse with picking up ebooks. Since I typically read older sci-fi, I find a series that appears complete, and work my way through. Rarely do I re-read a book, especially within the last decade, so once one is read, I give the book away.