I haven’t done one of these since August, but here I am with another Down the TBR Hole, a meme created by Lia at Lost in a Story where we decide whether to keep or remove books on our TBR.
The rules for Down the TBR Hole:
- Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
I’ve switched it up some and will only list the books I plan to remove from my Goodreads TBR. Those with a green Kick Off are ones I’ll probably change my mind on and read at some point.
Batch #1
The Figures of Beauty by David MacFarlane
A historical fiction novel that takes place in Italy, North America, and Paris. In it, a young man meets the love of his life, a marble merchant introduces a couple to the beauty of Carrara, Italy, and a woman tries to find her father.
I’ve forgotten what made me want to read this and now I’m no longer interested in it.
Kick Off
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker
A nonfiction book about writing by linguist Steven Pinker.
I have enough writing books that I need to read
Kick Off
Ticker by Lisa Mantchev
A YA steampunk novel about a girl who almost died and had a “Ticker” placed in her chest — sounds like she became an android —and is searching for her family because they were kidnapped by people who want the research about the girl’s operation…something like that.
It sounds interesting, but I’m not feeling it.
Kick Off
Chronicles of Steele: Raven by Pauline Creeden
A YA steampunk novel about a girl who’s trying to leave behind her life as an assassin.
Sounds cool, but I’m not feeling it.
Kick Off
The Witch and Other Tales Re-Told by Jean Thompson
A book of fairytale retellings with a realistic spin to them.
No longer interested.
Kick Off
Batch #2
The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us by Diane Ackerman
A nonfiction book about how humans have affected/changed the world and what implications such effects have on the future.
Lost interest.
Kick Off
The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books by Azar Nafisi
Seems to be a nonfiction book about reading and the power of books.
Lost interest.
Kick Off
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
A sci-fi novel about the crew of a starship that’s investigating the mysterious disappearance of a star.
It’s hardcore sci-fi, which is not my jam. Also, I’ve forgotten why I wanted to read it.
Kick Off
Publishing: A Writer’s Memoir by Gail Godwin
A memoir about a writer trying to get her work published.
Lost interest.
Kick Off
Disgruntled by Asali Solomon
A YA novel set in Philadelphia in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It seems to be about a girl who stands out at school because her father is head of a movement… Something like that.
Lost interest.
Kick Off
Batch #3
Compulsion by Martina Boone
A YA fantasy novel about a girl trying to escape her family’s curse.
Ehh…I might still read it someday.
Kick Off
Red Jacket by Pamela Mordecai
A novel set in the Caribbean about a girl who is puzzled about her identity because she doesn’t look the same as her family.
I forgot what attracted me to the story.
Kick Off
My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead
A memoir about how George Eliot’s Middlemarch affected the author’s life.
No longer interested.
Kick Off
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai
A novel about a librarian on a road trip with her favorite patron, a 10-year-old boy, who ran away from home. The boy, Ian, loves to read but seems to have a harsh home life with an overbearing mother who enrolled him in weekly anti-gay classes.
Sounds like it might be good, but I’ve lost interest.
Kick Off
Boomerang by Noelle August, Veronica Rossi, and Lorin Oberweger
A new adult romance novel about a couple characters who use a dating site called Boomerang.com.
Ehh… I’d love to know what attracted me to this.
Kick Off
Batch #4
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
A YA fantasy novel about a girl who possesses a deadly ability that can upend the current balance of power in her world.
I think I knew that I’d probably never read this book when I placed it on my TBR, but I love the cover so much! I’m still tempted to buy it just for the pretty cover.
Kick Off
Woven by Michael Jensen and David Powers King
A YA fantasy novel about a boy who wants to become a knight but is killed and awakens as a ghost. Only the princess of the kingdom can see him, so the two work together to find out who murdered the boy.
Lost interest.
Kick Off
Creative Writing: A Guide and Glossary to Fiction Writing by Colin Bulman
Seems to be a college-level creative writing book.
I have too any creative writing books.
Kick Off
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
A mystery/thriller novel about a young woman with a secret who’s striving for a perfect life.
I wasn’t feeling it when I placed it on my TBR and I’m not feeling it now.
Kick Off
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
A YA fantasy novel about a girl who’s writing a paranormal novel. The actual story and the story within the story are told in alternating chapters.
I like the alternating chapters structure so that we get both stories, but I’m not so interested to keep it on my TBR, so…
Kick Off
Batch #5
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
A contemporary YA novel about a pair of fraternal twins who were changed by an event in their past. Each twin gets a chance to tell their story.
I placed this on my TBR back when I placed every book I saw on booktube on my TBR. I doubt I’ll read it.
Kick Off
Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen
A YA fantasy novel about a girl who is kidnapped by trolls who want her to break a curse placed on them by a witch.
I don’t trust YA fantasy much these days because they’re VERY romance-focused, so I’m not feeling this (though it does sound good).
Kick Off
Alienated by Melissa Landers
A YA sci-fi novel about alien exchange students… Something like that, and I’m sure there’s lots of romance.
Not feeling it.
Kick Off
Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
A YA sci-fi novel about a girl who has a mysterious lung disease that makes it hard for her to live on earth.
I love the cover. 😊 Not feeling the story.
Kick Off
All done.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these books and what you thought of them.
Zezee with Books 
good call on red queen! It’s quite generic and the series just got worse imo.
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That seems to be the popular opinion – that it’s not worth the read.
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I read Red Queen and wished I had gone with my instincts. I agree with Amanda, it was a YA cliche. I did the same thing you did, realizing I couldn’t remember why a book was on my TBR. Culled a lot of books by being honest with myself. Thanks Zezee, a excellent post! ❤️❤️
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Aww thanks Dani! 🙂
And thanks for dropping by too. It’s been a while since I’ve done a character post. I’ve just been very busy, but I plan to catch up soon. I really like that meme.
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You are not missing anything with the Red Queen. It didn’t have enough new content to keep my interest. It was a YA cliché.
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Thanks. In that case, I’ll just keep admiring the cover when I see it in bookstores.
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I read Stolen Songbird and yeah, it’s definitely romance focused. I liked it overall because I have a weakness for that kind of stuff, but it made me roll my eyes a lot and I also had a huge rant about food sourcing in my review….so yeah. Maybe best to avoid! lol
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Oh thanks for telling me, lol. I wouldn’t like it then.
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I actually really enjoyed The Borrower and My Life In Middlemarch. But I definitely get the need to cull books from your TBR!
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Ah well. Who knows? I might end up reading them sometime later. But yea, I needed to get rid of some books listed on my TBR.
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I did not really like Alienated, so I completely agree with your decision to kick it off!
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Lol! I’ll take your opinion on it and feel better about kicking it off.
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Red Queen is in my TBR fir exactly the same reason 😂
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Lol! That cover is so great.
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