Book Anxiety
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Amanda (On a Book Bender) sparked an idea in me during her Clock Rewinders post on Sunday. She made me think about the anxiety (not really, but you get what I mean) I’ve been having about choosing what to read next. I’ve noticed that my reading has slowed down because I’m having serious issues with what to choose! I have some review books left that should make choosing easy, but it doesn’t. It’s beginning to dawn on me that when I “have” to read something, I’m less likely to choose it! What am I, a teenager? Ugh. This is not good for review requests, one of the many, many reasons I’m no longer accepting them. I honestly think I want to keep that rule in place for the life of this blog. Unless I’ve worked with the author prior, or reach out to them myself…
Meet my unread YA shelf. And that is just YA, and obviously not eBooks. I’ve finally reached 500 unread books (hardcopy + ebook) that I personally own. This may not seem like a lot to some of you reading veterans who have books in every nook and cranny of your living space, but this is a lot. I have a good 5+ years of reading material here with the speed at which I read. And of course, the collecting doesn’t slow down. I think I need to STOP collecting. It is only adding to my problem, but will I do it? Doubtful. It reminds me of the people who set themselves up to fail, even expecting it, so they never move on, heal, whatever. Do I need book therapy?
I’ve decided to not request from Scholastic anymore until I have a manageable to-read shelf, which will likely be never. Of course, if I can get a book in a series that I love and know I will read soon, then I’ll request it. But no more requesting random books because I have a stack from them I still haven’t read. *bad requester* 
I certainly don’t want to ruin my relationship with them, either, so…no more. (P.S. I got their Spring Catalog email Tuesday AND I DIDN’T LOOK!)
{Flickr: BlueRobot}
I once created this fun way to choose my next books, leaving it up to Goodreads and Random.Org, but when I use it, I find myself not wanting to read the book it chooses! I don’t think it’s because I don’t want to read that book, but my brain won’t shut up about all the other awesome books I want to read, too. Therefore, I end up staring at my Goodreads shelves and frowning, which is not good for the face. I never used to let this get to me. I’m not sure why I’m suddenly feeling like I need to be up-to-date on ALL THE BOOKS because that is the most absurd thought to ever cross this zany brain of mine.
Does anyone else suffer from book anxiety? How do you manage it?
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O.M.G…This is so weird. Just earlier today, I posted a reply comment to a blogger that I needed book therapy! I can so relate to the massive amount of books on the TBR. Also, today for the first time ever, I used Random.org for my Goodreads list just to see what it would come up with. I did it a few times and either I wasn’t in the mood to read that particular book or it was one that hadn’t come out yet or the middle of a series I had yet to start. So there went that…
If I had a bigger size bookcase mine would look like yours. The small one I have though can hold a good amount of PB’s and some HC, but the rest are in boxes. I read both YA & Adult, so that’s a good amount of boxes. Just had to stop by and tell you I can totally relate. Do I stop ordering more books? Heck no! Lol! When will I get control of my addiction?!
Too many choices makes it much harder to choose, doesn’t it? I usually have a good idea about what I want to read next, but sometimes I’ll try starting a few (a couple chapters or so of each) and see what grabs my attention the most and go with that book.
We all may need a little bit of book therapy. heh. Random.org and Goodreads is THE BEST way to randomly choose the next book to read. I think I might really just try it and stick with it next time. I will get through the books easier if I stick to my system. I deviate tooooo damn much! We are total gluttons for punishment! lol
I used to – mainly because I heard about so many books I just HAD to read. But now I have a ton of book lists on my blog – books I’ve mentioned but haven’t read yet, so I’m reading mainly from there. But other than that – I decided to read books nominated for a few awards when they roll around – Locus, Nebula & Hugo – and maybe World Fantasy Award & Alex Awards books.
Since I’ve only been blogging for 1 year – I’ve really just found my focus and that has helped tremendously. Like I said, books nominated for awards, but also books featuring characters of color and books with international setting (speculative fiction – adult & YA mainly).
Such a long rambling comment – but I could totally relate to this.
I love your idea about reading books on certain lists, etc. Unfortunately, I have already collected 500+ books, so I need to stick to that list. lol
Me! Well, I’m in the recovery period. Between all the review copies and my own purchases, I was just getting too intimidated about what to read next that it made me not read. It sucked! I found myself reading more on my Kindle, and ignoring my office (where all the books are), because it was easier to pick something to read and the list didn’t seem as daunting.
When I accepted my condition (*grin*), I made the decision to completely get rid of all my print copies (that were not signed or I knew I wanted to read). I ended up getting rid of over 300 books. I still have a bunch on my shelves that are unread and waiting, but I’ve decided they need to go as well. I haven’t opened a print book in months and I can’t seem them getting read.
As my library has dwindled, I’ve noticed that my reading has picked up again. It’s still not at the same speed as I had before, but there are other reasons for that (kids…they’re so needy *grin*).
Acceptance is the first step! I purged recently too, but definitely not 300 books! Holy crapola! I’m glad reading has picked up as the overwhelming feeling has dwindled. This is what I need to happen!
*huggles you*
Oh. My. GOSH! I am so thankful to see that someone else owns an obscene amount of unread books. SERIOUSLY! I totally understand what it feels like to think you need therapy because the books just keep piling up.
I try to be a bit more picky about what I buy, OR try to read the books I buy during the week, plus a few more on my shelf. The numbers are moving … slowly.
I wouldn’t say I feel major anxiety over the books that I own, but more about the fact that there are SO MANY BOOKS out there in the world, a new book being published every 30 SECONDS, and I will never, ever have enough time to make a dent in that.
I do have my Book Hoarder’s Selection post that selects a book for me to read, but I’m a little behind with my reading! Still, I’m making the effort to read the books I pick, so that’s good.
Sorry I can’t be more help!
It’s not as obscene as some TBRs I’ve heard about, but to me, it’s over the top madness. Yes, I definitely don’t collect a book for the sake of buying it. I won’t buy a hard copy unless I love the cover, or already own the rest of the series in hard copy. I think I need to accept that I will never, ever touch even a minuscule amount of books in the world, and just be happy I have books to read, period!
When you think about it, review books = obligations = work = not fun. This is the reason why I’ve never liked review books. It turns something fun (reading books YAY!) into something that resembles work.
Usually when I can’t decide what book I want to read next, it’s because I’m starting a reading slump. Or I’m just being overly moody/picky, as that is totally a thing when it comes to choosing books. If I’m just being moody or picky, I make Kelly choose for me. Or we read a book together. That helps–having someone to choose/encourage you.
Amanda’s right. Sometimes just knowing you’re reading the same book as a friend can make it seem more fun.
*finger guns*
(I like reading with people. It also has the benefit of creating community or establishing new friendships if you’re reading with someone you semi-know.)
Amanda is ALWAYS right.
THIS —–> review books = obligations = work = not fun. This is the main reason I am so happy I don’t receive reviews books very often and I almost never request them. I got rid of NetGalley and everything to relieve this unwanted pressure. It helped so much. I read what I want and it makes me happy but as stated below I still have issues picking exactly what book to read. LOL
I think I’ve requested two books from NetGalley in the year plus I’ve been blogging. When I was accepting review requests through my blog, I was insanely picky about what I chose. I ended up not liking a couple, and decided to focus on my own books instead. More fun that way. And if I read my own books, then I can justify buying more books. Right? Right.
I’ve picked some books from Scholastic because they sounded entertaining and I wanted to read them, but I’ve been looking them over for months. Maybe I should find them a new home.
Yea, I have not done a NG book in months and months. One of my reviewers is strictly NG and Edelwiess though, so she keeps things new and fresh. We all know I’m slacking and behind 95% of the time.
Yep, that is exactly what has happened to me. I think I may cut off the review requests forever now. I do think I need a reading partner, and someone to help me choose. Maybe I’ll ask Mandee, since I work with her and she’s in my book club. She doesn’t read may adult books though, as far as I know…Thanks, Amanda. Great ideas, as always.
You can always ask Twitter or your blog readers for reading partners! I know Kristilyn and I have coordinated and read a few books together because I saw she had books on her TBR list that I hadn’t read yet either.
Grown-up books are scary. I like YA & MG!! Haha! I’m totally in for being your reading partner!! LET’S DO IT!! =)
Also, you forgot to mention how awesome I am…just sayin’
LMAO! It goes without saying, silly!
I need grown-up books every now and again.
I’m like Amber–I was just feeling nervous the other day, thinking about how many books I’d like to read and knowing I’ll never have time to read them all. I don’t have to deal with review requests (thank goodness–I can see how that would take the fun out of reading) but I want to support author friends by reading their books (even if they’re not in my favorite genres) and I want to have time to write. I get really puzzled by people who say they’re bored. For me, there’s WAY too much fun stuff out there to get bored!
ACCEPTANCE seems to be the answer. Accept the fact we will never read all the books and move on to enjoy the ones we can. Yea, being bored is soooooooooooo silly. Some people need more enrichment in their lives!
YES! I so feel this. Right there with ya.
I decided a few weeks ago that I am not going to accept review books anymore. It’s screwing with my ability to truly enjoy what I’m reading, and though I’m reading lots of stuff I normally wouldn’t, it’s making me neglect huge piles and shelves of books that I spent my hard-earned money on and that I CAN’T read because of the time I have to spend on review copies. I don’t want to make that sacrifice anymore. Buying books helps me make better choices and helps me limit myself in reading selection. Anything I want to read but don’t want to buy will have to wait for the library.
Now I just have anxiety about whether to update my review policy to reflect all that or just say I’m still not accepting requests. It never ends!!
Yea, the review request thing was the first to go last year, but I still have some review books hanging around. I’ve been avoiding the hell out of them. You can’t make me! I don’t wanna! Good luck to you!
I know this feeling all too well. I have so many books on my shelf that when it is time to pick a new read I have major anxiety. I also get distracted and swayed so easily, I swear. *look a shiny book* I see what everyone else is reading and recommending and I have to read those NOW. However when I actually have it in my hand I want to read something else. I’m hopeless.
Yes, we all have book ADD, methinks. And I am the SAME EXACT WAY. We can’t be hopeless though! We need to get it together, baby!
I feel you! I personally have about, oh, 125 books or so unread on my Nook. Yep. And yet I continue to buy and request (damn Dear Author and her daily deals! lol)
I am only thankful that due to my move this August most of my physical books are packed away in a storage unit…no longer taunting me from their shelves. However, the small unread pile I brought with me continues to multiply. I’m convinced the books are mating and having bookish babies. That’s realistic right?
In all seriousness…I think you’re on the right track. Just read what you want, when you want. It’s the only way to keep reading enjoyable!
Ugh. Don’t even get me started on my Kindle books. Thankfully I just took about 200 books off my TBR that I was no longer interested in. However, it is still over 1500. I wish I could stop the book publishing industry for a few years so I can catch up!
BOOKISH BABIES! I am now convinced, as well.
Yep. Those books are like rabbits! Can’t put two together without gaining at least a third
I feel you. I have had this problem many times. Step one, admitting you have a problem. Great job.
Step two- stop collecting- this is a hard one and yet to figure it out.
step three- um well I am back at admitting there is a problem.
One thing I did was joined a seasonal challenge that has like 80-90 books every three months to read. I get to choose the book that matches the task and because I am competitive, this works for the most part. I at least have 3 months planned, and yes I find myself switching out book as I get new ones. But it’s a start. I do still have book ADD and read like 5 at a time, only because I get so excited and I don’t have the patience to wait to start the next book.
So my answer. I don’t have one. I just like to babble.
Seasonal challenges are good. And I like reading challenges, in general. I did not participate in many this year but maybe I should think about doing it in 2013 so I can have some sort of game plan! I also read a few books at time, which probably slows my reading time down to a snail’s pace. Reading slow and not having a lot of time to read make this all seem more impossible!
Babble away!
Wow! I hate to say this but my TBR isn’t looking so bad right now!! Sorry, you do have a problem
we love you for it, we’ll help you get through it!
But holy cow did you nail it on every feeling I have about choosing the next book. And Amanda is right, request copies are work!! I stopped taking them, too. Hey! At least you’re organized enough to KNOW how many books you have :S
I am organized. Shit lot of good it’s doing. LOL
Thank you for wanting to help. I loves ya for it!
I can totally understand the feeling and its coming up every now and than.
I usually run into the problem when I read books for my book club that not really interest me but I want to read to participate.
For review books I am so picky I do not have to many of those.
I find it helps to plan one book I might or might not like and plan 2 books behind I will like for sure (favorite author, preferred genre).
Good luck with your huge pile of books
No, I’m pretty much the same way. If I *have* to read it, I usually procrastinate. Or if it’s one that I was super-excited about, it came and now it’s on my shelf, I lose some of that enthusiasm. Yes. I guess we’re all 13 when it comes to books.
THIS!
I’m so with you! Let’s just find a job where we read whatever we want all day long and that’s it. Deal?
Love reading the convos with all my favorite bloggers. I think our YA TBR shelves are twinkies.
The size of my shelf doesn’t make me crazy. It is more that I just want to read them all. Then I bring home more of them. I don’t have a shoe problem. I have a book buying problem. They don’t judge my dress size and they are complicit in my procrastination. Oh ya, I blame all of you guys. *points* You make me want to read what is on your shelves too. The Maddness.
This second year of reading & blogging is all about me. Selfish much? Not really. This is my only piece of the world where I can and am 100% selfish.
P.S. I can be a reading buddy when the mood strikes. We can compare GR shelves & see what strikes us that we both have. I’m with you. I love my YA, but I need my Adult time too.
Yes, I want to not only read them all right now, but also read all the other books that everyone is raving about. Ugh. The. Suck.
It definitely needs to be what YOU want. Period. We read your blog because we like who YOU are, so give it to us! lol
YES. Let’s compare. Very interested!
I totally get the book anxiety. I think that having my nook definitely has made it much worse for me. It’s easy to buy books I want and tell myself I can get to them later, and they aren’t visible and staring me in the face. That’s not to say that I don’t have a bunch of physical books too. I have put myself on a book buying ban until I get through some books. There are a lot of books coming out that I want to read, but maybe that will be incentive to get through the ones I already have. No buying a book until I get through some!! Like Amber I also have books in totes so I can’t see them and it is really bad.
I try to make a rough schedule for myself and put 10 to 16 books that I want/need to read in the current month and a list for the next month. I do pretty good with sticking with it, but sometimes I just get overwhelmed and deviate because nothing is jumping out to me that I “really” want to read.
OMG! eReaders make it 100 times worse! i have more unread ebooks than I do physical copies. UGH!!!
I think I should start making lists for myself, too. I have a rough list, but sitting down to plan out reading for a month is a good idea…
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Is it weird to say that I feel better because you have book anxiety too?
I have a massive pile of books on my side table that threatens to crash down and smother me every time a big truck drives past my building, and yet I still buy more books….and those bad boys HAUNT me.
I tried the random.org thing but I just kept pressing the random button because I didn’t ‘feel like’ the book that came up. I need a new method.
Stopping review requests helps though – I’ve only requested half a dozen books in the past month or so, and only approved for one, so it’s take a huge weight off.
Gotta go, I can hear another truck coming down the road *assumes brace position*
Noooooooo. Don’t die by books! Well, maybe death by books would be a great way to go, but we aren’t ready to let you go, Kat!
I think we all have some form of book anxiety. We have to get picky about our reads because we will just never be able to read them all, and that is what saddens me.
I know a lot of anxiety comes from the fact that I personally have a lot of books to review for tours or from publishers. I guess I really need to slow down with what I request and what tours I sign myself up for. It is really just becoming annoying that I can never sit down to read what I want to read. I feel like sometimes I’m enjoying books less and less because they are ones I have to read for a tour. I guess it is a good thing that you are mostly just looking to read whatever you want. I find that the few times since August that I’ve chosen to make time to read something I was passionate about that I enjoyed the book a lot more.
I hope you find a way to pick what you want to read instead of what you feel you have to read. Good for you though on slowing down the book requests!
Yes. You have made committments and that brings on pressure! Personally, I’m over it. I’ve had review requests closed for a while but I think I’m keeping it that way from now on. I will only commit to a tour for a book I really want to read. I actually love blog tours so I don’t want to give them up completely.
I’m late getting in on this one but what a great post. I’m new to the blogging world so I don’t have too many review books but I have quite a lot of books I have managed to collect over the years and haven’t read yet. I must have really wanted to read them because I spent the money to buy them. But then NEW must reads come out and I want them too. And I want to keep them all. I feel like I just couldn’t part with any of them! It’s really out of control. I’ve found myself watching too much TV lately because I feel overwhelmed by my own “library” to read!
You will collect them FAST. And not just review books. You will collect bought books, gifted books, second-hand books, EVERYTHING. So, be prepared and start a system now!
I live in my own little world where my TBR is blind to me (so not true but I try to myself that)! I don’t really sweat what I am going to read next. I am such a mood reader that would never work for me BUT I do get anxiety over all those pretty books that I haven’t touched even though I bought them over 2 years ago. I feel as if they are neglected but not much I can do. I actually am on a buying ban until Thanksgiving which I have stuck to and that has helped a ton. However, I know once I meet my goal I will just add more to the pile. It is a vicious circle
Great topic!
Dang! How do you ignore it all!!!! I need ppl to just start picking for me. Maybe put a poll on the blog or something…hmmmm…
Don’t feel bad. I feel exactly the same way. I just end up reading five books at once because I can’t decided what to read. I just read all five simultaneously until one grabs me and I spend all my time finishing that book.
Oh goodness, this? “It’s beginning to dawn on me that when I “have” to read something, I’m less likely to choose it!”
YES YES YES. I have this EXACT problem, and… yes
I have a pile of review books I requested and REALLY WANTED TO READ. But now all I want to do is read freebie PNR books on my phone. Or something random… or… yes -__-
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