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This year I deleted hundreds of “forgotten” books from my enormous (1000+) TBR list on Goodreads. I can never remember titles so I love Goodreads for this use especially. But, honestly? If I haven’t read them and they’ve been there since 2006 or 2007, most won’t be read in my lifetime. Some were novels of the moment. Some novels I couldn’t find on audio. Those with “merit” (my definition) I kept. Along the way I discovered one or two and read them (or found them on my Kindle though they are on the huge list, too). Here the ones I’ve “rescued” and read and then there is the list of five books I’d like to rescue and read by year’s end.
Rescued and Read
- The Ardent Swam: A Novel by Yamen Manar (review coming soon)
- The Finishing School by Muriel Spark
- Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne Du Maurier
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
- How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn (on my TBR since 2004)
- Mary Anne by Daphne Du Maurier
- The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie (on my TBR since around 1978)
- Spring Magic by D.E. Stevenson
- The Vintage Springtime Club by Beatrice Meier
To Read By Year’s End
This book have been on my list since the day I joined Goodreads. The problem has been that my library system didn’t have it on audio. In my new job I have access to several library systems by virtue of working for my employer. Guess what? All of the new-to-me systems have it. Plus, my one splurge has been to get an Audible account–the cheapest membership. So, it will happen finally.
The Bostonians by Henry James
I bought this book in 2012 back when I was trying to conquer my dislike of short stories (I’ve improved my opinion of them a lot since ’12). I pulled this out a few months ago and enjoyed the first story. I want to finish this book.
Arrange Marriage: Stories by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
I was reminded of this book (actually this trilogy) by Elle Thinks post on her self-challenge to read from Africa this summer. (Won’t you be nice and click and read her post? Leave her a nice comment. Bloggers live off comments). So, I’d like to finish this one during the summer.
Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz
I requested and received this book for Christmas, sat down and devoured the first half then life got in the way and I haven’t finished it. It is a very interesting foodie book. I love this version of Nashville Hot Chicken (a burger in this case).
I found this when I was reading about Hygge (see posts below). It sounds just right for pre-Christmas reading so I’ll try to read it in December.
Christmas Island by Natalie Normann
Have you read any of these? Have you done a similar post? Leave me a comment or a link to your own post.
Hopewell's Public Library of Life 
That’s great. I plan on reading Muriel Sparks soon for the first time.
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christmas Island looks so cute! I think it’s fun to look back over to-read things from years ago. Sometimes I wonder why I put things there … it feels kind of freeing to remove things that don’t interest me anymore. You keep reminding me that I want to read more DuMaurier.
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Sorry–your comment went to my Spam. That keeps randomly happening!
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I need to do a clean up of my Goodreads list too. It’s been so long since I looked at it that I’ve forgotten what is in there.. The problem is that when I’m in a bookshop or library it’s much easier to look at a list in my phone than it is to go to Goodreads
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Goodreads app!
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That would indeed be an option I hadn’t thought of
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It’s great–your TBR is right there when you are in the bookstore. No more writing yourself notes on your phone
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Nice rescues! I regularly go over the books I put ten years ago on my Goodreads shelf, some I delete, but some I keep. I recently listened to The Thirteenth Tale, by Setterfield, I believe the very first book I had put on my Goodreads TBR. So glad I did end up reading it!
I don’t know these by Du Maurier. Will have a look. I recently discovered Mahfouz, with Midaq Alley, it was so so good
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Thirteenth tale was very good!
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The GoodReads app on my phone is a wonderful thing! I can add new books easily when I hear about them and more importantly when I am at the library or bookstore I can check to see if I already have a book on my shelf or what else I have read by an iteresting-looking author. Thanks for the link to the reading project at Elle Thinks — I may do a Fall one.
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Its often saved me from re-buying or checking out a book I’ve already read, too.
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My TBR shelf is pathetic. Some of the books have been there for years. I am probably no longer interested in many of them. My reading tastes have certainly changed over time but I guess everyone’s does. It will be a huge job to tackle it so it’s probably better if I do it a little at a time. Makes me tired to think about it!
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I delete some from my TBR almost every time I look at Goodreads
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