Culling the herd

As I am slowly creeping up on my one year blogoversary it has come to my attention that I may have a problem.  A growing problem.  It is called the TBR pile.  The damn thing has grown exponentially over the past year!  I know, it is the natural course of things when you start a book blog.  The thing is, I have not acquired all of these books willingly.  Quite a few have been passed along to me by well meaning coworkers and friends.  While I am wildly appreciative of free books (who isn't?) I think I have reached a point where I must cry uncle.  That pile is never going to shrink at this rate. 

So I decided it was time to cull the herd.  This literary Leaning Tower of Pisa had a solid foundation of "must read soon" books and authors: Kleypas, Showalter, Christopher Moore, La Nora, etc.  Unfortunately, the structural integrity of this edefice was being undermined by some real stinkers.  I won't go into detail, but let's just say I couldn't even make it through the backflap of most of the books. 

Since I am planning to move by the end of summer, I decided it wasn't too soon to start weeding out some of my excess belongings.  The entire TBR Tower was relocated from the office/large storage closet (I mean really, if it has no closet it isn't an actual bedroom) to the family room.  Two hours and a couple Buffy episodes later, the books had been sorted and organized.  I had piles, y'all: Contemp keepers, ParaRom keepers, Historical keepers, other-stuff-I-like-to-read keepers.  It all was transferred back to the desk in the front room, but this time in tidy piles for easier access.  What was left behind?  Three Trader Joe's bags full of books to discard. 

Now, ever since I was little the idea of throwing a book in the garbage has given me hives.  That was someone's hard work.  I may not have liked the story, but the book represents months or even years of work by the author.  And who knows, someone else may want to read it and will like the book.  Since the dumpster was out of the question I decided to take the books over to The White Elephant.  I mentioned this store about a month ago.  It is the second hand store/fund raiser for Children's Memorial Hospital.  It is the lovely place that I struck gold, purchasing eighteen books for about $15.  I figure this way I get to donate the books to a store that helps fund medical treatment for critically ill children, and allow another reader the chance to get their hands on some books.  I think it is a win-win situation all around. 

Now I just need to adopt the same approach to my clothes closet.  I am SO not going to pack up and move all of those shirts I haven't worn in three years.  Can you say "pack rat" anyone?

Oh noes...part 2!

I just returned home from a lovely day of sight seeing in Chicago with none other that Ciara! We bummed around downtown wandering through Millennium Park, the Harold Washington Library, and made a stop at Garrett's popcorn. Best popcorn EVER. mmmmm.

After stopping for lunch at the amazing Chicago Diner (vegetarian mecca of Chicago), we headed up to the fabulous Kate the Great's Used Books. Yes, I returned to the scene for my recent book buying crimes. Houston, we now have a problem. The TBR pile has hit critical mass. I HAVE to stop buying books!!! (As I told Ciara, it is a damn good thing I am not married and I live alone. I still have to figure out how to inform The Boy of my reading habits. I guess I have until August when he moves home...)

More damage was done, to the tune of:

1) The Right Choice by Carly Phillips (as Karen Drogin)

2) Blood Red by Heather Graham

3) The Seance by Heather Graham (I am on a HG buying spree)

4) The Black Rose by Christina Skye (It cost only $1.12 and I could not say no to the horribulous cover art. Oh, I feel some cover wank coming on!)

5) Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

6) Sabriel by Garth Nix (I love this book. I just needed a copy for my own bookcase.)

7) Thigh High by Christina Dodd

8) The Blood Books, Vol. 1 (Blood Price & Blood Trail) by Tanya Huff

Someone needs to stop me!!! The worst part is that I now have the info about their other store location. It is out in the burbs, but they will purchase boxes of books for credit or cash. Sweet! I think I will be making a trip out there soon to unload some of these excess books I will never read. Leigh Greenwood? Goodbye!!

I am a bad, bad kid

On Tuesday I was delighted to open my mailbox to find my tax refund! I can pay some big bills. I can put away some savings. I can take a class this summer. I can head straight to Borders and take advantage of their "Buy 4 get the 5th book free" deal they have going on for romance novels.


Yup, I bought books.


Five books.


You all would be proud. I think I picked up some books that you have rec'ed. What did I purchase? Well...

1) Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
It is the book for my book club this month (deadline May 23rd!!!), yet I realized that somewhere along the line, after I had read it, I must have lent out the book. And it is gone!!! This is why I am very selective about what books I lend out and who I give them to. Oy.

2) Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
Everyone has said such fabulous things about it I felt it was a must. This nay be one of my next reads. It just sounds so... intriguing.

3) Stray by Rachel Vincent
This has been on my list for a while. I may read this next. Looks fun.

4) The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks
Dude, a vampire fashion designer? For real? Yes!

5) Awaken Darkly by Gena Showalter
I have heard her name bandied about. I thought she may be worth checking out. (Especially since it was the 5th, free book.)


Yay! Now off to find the rum and enjoy the DIK!