I’ve seen this meme around, not really knowing what it was. When I finally realized what it was…I knew I should be doing it.

Down the TBR Hole is a meme started and hosted by Lost in a Story. It revolves around cleansing your TBR of all those books you’re never going to read and sort through it all to know what’s actually on there.

Which I could really use.

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Here’s the rules spiel:

Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

It works like this:

• Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
• Order on ascending date added.
• Take the first 5 (or 10 (or even more!) if you’re feeling adventurous) books. Of course, if you do this weekly, you start where you left off the last time.
• Read the synopses of the books
• Decide: keep it or should it go?

I’ll be doing 5 at a time. I probably won’t be doing this weekly, but I’ll try to do a post a month at least. I’ll also post the verdict at the bottom as a “Keep” or “Toss”. I hope y’all enjoy this one!!

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The Book: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy
Why it was added: I had heard of Rick Yancy from his hugely popular The 5th Wave, so when I found out he had a book that dealt with monsters and cryptids, which are some of my favorite things to study, I knew I had to pick this one up. I believe that I found the book at a half-price store, with a really ugly cover (not the one above).
My current feelings: I’m still really interested in the premise of this book, I think the problem is the fact that the cover I have is so ugly that I just think the book will be just as bad. Maybe I should try getting an ebook? Or getting it from the library?

Verdict: I’m going to keep this one.

The Book: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Why it was added: Rothfuss is a local author, literally from my high school, and I’d heard a lot about his book before even knowing he was from the area.
My current feelings: I read the first hundred pages and was bored, so I put it aside because I didn’t want to read it when I wasn’t in the right mood. I never picked it back up because it just seemed like a stereotypical fantasy written by a male author. I’ve seen this a thousand times, and just because he’s from my area shouldn’t mean I’m obligated to read and like his novels.

Verdict: It’s about time that I’ve tossed this one.

The Book: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Why it was added: I think I found it at a library book sale for really cheap, and it sounded interesting.
My current feelings: I feel very “meh” about this book, even after rereading the summary. I know that I have the first two books, but I never really got more than slightly interested in them. Plus, the premise sounds like one that I’ve heard thousands of times over.

Verdict: It’s being tossed.

The Book: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Why it was added: I’m a big fan of the movies, especially the very first one.
My current feelings: I’m still really interested in reading it, it’s just finding the time between queer books and review books that I need to find the time. Plus, I think I would like to try to audiobook.

Verdict: I’m definitely keeping this one.

The Book: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Why it was added: I’ve heard a lot of people talk about Murakami, especially about 1Q84. I found it for sale at a book store, and decided to pick it up then.
My current feelings: I’m still interested in reading this book, because I’m constantly told that Murakami has such wild stories. The summary also sounds right up my alley, and I can’t wait to find the opportunity to dig into it.

Verdict: I’m keeping this one.

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That being five more gone through, the official tally of this post series is…

Keep: 5
Toss: 5

They’re tied for now, but when the next post comes around we’ll see who is going to be in the lead. I’m glad I got to go through these, because of few of them were really weighing on me. I felt like I was obligated to read them, especially The Name of the Wind, so finally just telling myself “Toss it or read it” really propelled me to do what I needed to do.

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