How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

[bwb]

I was curious here, how do you keep track of books that spark your interest? Word doc? A mess of links?

Do you find how you meet a book impacts how much you like it? This is something I've been thinking about. I've been trying to keep notes for how I met a book so that if it takes me 6 months to get to I can still remember the context...

 

[Montero]

I don't, really.
I have a want to read list on Goodreads (a lot less active on there these days than I was) and when I am in need of a book, I almost always forget to go and look at it.
I download kindle samples of books that look interesting - but then generally go straight on to buying them and finishing them.
I keep a web page tab open with reference to a book and then generally forget why that tab is open and close it.
I have a cardboard box with relatively recently bought books - some second hand - awaiting fancying them again and I go and dig in there. I've been going through a phase of buying books I'd previously read from the library, in order to be able to read them once the library stops stocking them, and buying half a dozen of a series or standalones from an author, so I have a delve and mix and match. Some authors I'd only want to read a couple of times a month, with plenty of variety in between, others I can read one after the other.

 

[Harpo]

By definition, books in a TBR pile are already kept track of simply by being in a pile (or three, or twelvety)

 

[Steve Harrison]

I just enter books that interest me in the Wishlist feature on my Kobo app.

 

[Elckerlyc]

I have 2 e-readers (a Kobo and a Kindle) and several wooden bookcases filled to the nook with paper-books. All of them contain books I haven't read yet. I may encounter any one of them some day or not. I let life decide.

 

[Randy M.]

You only have one TBR pile?

 

[Montero]

Do you find how you meet a book impacts how much you like it? This is something I've been thinking about. I've been trying to keep notes for how I met a book so that if it takes me 6 months to get to I can still remember the context...

mmm. How I meet a book might influence whether or not I try reading it, but once I am into reading it I don't think I am influenced by how I met it in the first place.

 

[Juliana]

List on my notes app. Divided into stuff I already own (on Kindle or bookshelf), stuff I want to check out from library, or stuff I want to buy.

 

[JunkMonkey]

My method:
See book that fires a 'want read' neuron.
Obtain book.
then it branches:
A: read book immediately.
B: place book on shelves (either neatly, vertically in whatever alphanumerical order seems appropriate to the occasion with books from the same author / publisher / series etc. Or horiontally in the pile threatening to avalanche onto my side of the bed. Then spot it from time to time over next few years and think "I really must get round to reading that one... ooh shiny..."

 

[Montero]

I'm now wondering whether TBR as a term is more used for purchased books people haven't read yet, or is equally used for just a list that hasn't been purchased yet? This thread so far looks like 50:50.

 

[Elckerlyc]

I use TBR strictly as a term for books I purchased but have not read yet. If I want a book I just buy it (being privileged to afford such luxury). Books are a necessity of life.
There may be some friction between the 'I want it (and I want it Now!)' and the 'I must absolutely read it (Now!)' that isn't always resolved on the short term.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I use 'TBR' as a list of books I want to read, whether I own them or not. As I find books that sound good, via bookstore browsing, internet wanderings, etc, I add them to the list. I keep this TBR list on Goodreads and go to it when I want to decide what to read next. I also add books to my 'For Later' shelf on my library's website, that way I can see which ones they have and if they're available. I have a small pile of physical books I own but haven't read on my bookshelf. Right now it's only 4 books.

I haven't kept track of where I 'met' a book, though now that you mention this I may start doing so. I don't think it affects my reading of it or how much I end up liking it, but sometimes I do wonder where I found the books that I added to my TBR list. Especially the ones that were added awhile ago. My memory is definitely not what it used to be.

 

[nixie]

I store my TBR in some recess at the back of brain. Hit and miss if what I decided to read next is what I actually read next. Sometimes I'll go to start it and an old favourite will get in they way screaming can you still remember every detail no matter how minor? Best read me next.