It’s amazing how fast the weekend rolls around! Here we are, ready for another blog hop. As always, thanks to Crazy-for-Books for hosting this!
This week’s question:
How many books do you have on your “to be read” shelf?
Well – the answer depends on which TBR shelf you mean!
On my Goodreads TBR shelf I have 10 books. These are the books from my “Book Splurge” post that followed my trip to Laguna Beach Books, plus a few that I’ve found on blogs that interest me but I don’t actually own.
I have 5 books in my Amazon.com “Wish List.” Again, I’m interested, but don’t own them. I’ve also pre-ordered Jonathan Franzen’s new book, Freedom, which Amazon.com is offering at an attractive pre-order price. It’s due out on August 31.
I have 1 book that I’ve downloaded onto my Kindle, but haven’t yet read.
And now it’s time for a small confession. Last weekend my husband and I took a trip to Santa Barbara, home of another of my favorite indie bookstores, Chaucer’s Books. Chaucer’s Books is an incredible store, has a wonderful website, and for Facebook users, regular FB updates of interesting news from the literary world. Although Santa Barbara is a couple hundred miles from our home, we try to get up there once or twice a year. Our trip ALWAYS includes a visit to Chaucer’s and, although I truly do not need more books, I always come away with some gems. Not only do they have all the current books, but they have an outstanding “Classics” section as well. Here’s what I brought home from this trip:
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. Since I’ve finished this, it isn’t really a TBR title.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. Almost done, so technically, I don’t need to count this one either.
The following need to go on the TBR list:
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson
A Happy Marriage by Rafael Yglesias
No Name by Wilkie Collins
So, I think this makes my total number of TBR books 21. In truth, there are many more, some scattered on my various bookshelves, some just in my head. But 21 is my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Too Many Books, Too Little Time 
lad you had a great time away in Santa Barbara. Your TBR list seems pretty manageable. Iown about 60 -80 books i haven’t read, clearly I buy books quicker than I can read them
By: Becky (Page Turners) on August 13, 2010
at 10:00 pm
Hey, thanks for the mention of Chaucer’s Bookstore. I’ve never been to SB but have been wanting to go. (We’re now living in San Francisco, so I’m sure we’ll get there.)
Anyway, the Chaucer’s Bookstore website is terrific! I’ll be sure to stop in the store when we visit SB.
By: jvoss on August 13, 2010
at 10:47 pm
Visiting from the HOP! I love Per Petterson and his new book is definitely on my list! I need to find a quaint little bookstore to visit from time to time when I am feeling lonely for new books.
I hope you will have time to come by and visit one of my two blogs: Holocaust Resources or Library Cats Book List !!
Have a great weekend!
By: Donna on August 14, 2010
at 5:54 am
@Becky – It only seems manageable because I left off the books I have stored away on shelves (probably another 20-30). I buy them faster than I can read them, too, but now that I’ve retired I’m hoping to catch up!
@Jvoss – You have lots of fantastic indie book stores in SF! I love Book Passage in the Ferry Building. And, of course, there’s the famous City Lights. Someday I’m going to come to SF and do nothing but visit the book stores (and, of course, eat at the fabulous restaurants!). If you go to SB, stay at the Harbor View Inn – it’s the best!
@Donna – I’ll hop by and take a look. There’s a great website to help find independent bookstores at http://www.newpages.com/bookstores/. Maybe you can find one in your area.
By: Weekend Reader on August 14, 2010
at 7:07 am
Hi, stopping by from the hop! I’m glad I found your blog. I have a bookish blog too, but I’m not a book review. So, it’s so nice to find other book lovers who blog! I’ll be back!
By: Trina on August 14, 2010
at 12:01 pm
Thanks for sharing your TBR – it’s always great to get some inspiration!
By: Willa on August 14, 2010
at 12:57 pm
It’s great to hear you only have a few unread books on your shelves. I’m the same – I have around 15-20 I think. I prefer to keep the pile manageable, although I also went out to buy some books this week. I bought 8, but this is a twice-a-year thing, when I go the England (from the Netherlands) and buy some books from my favorite book shops.
Here you can see what I bought: http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/update-on-read-your-own-books-read-a-thon-in-which-the-good-things-are-also-the-bad/
Happy reading!
By: leeswammes on August 15, 2010
at 5:27 am
Visiting from the Hop and a new subscriber! Hope you’re enjoying Tropper’s book, I plan to read that one as well. I really liked two of his other books, Book of Joe and How to Talk to a Widower.
By: curlygeek04 on August 15, 2010
at 10:06 am