Yep, Jen, I'm in the same mind frame. As I hit my 70's, I'm finding that all of these books around me are starting to feel like a burden instead of an opportunity. I don't want my kids to have to deal with them all when I'm gone, or if I suddenly need to downsize due to illness or incapacity. As of today I have 489 unread books on my shelves. I usually read a little over 100 books a year. My plan in 2025 is to read 75% or about 75 books from my shelves: 25 books I bought in 2024 &/or buy in 2025; 25 books I bought before 2024; and 25 books from my Virago, Persephone & Dean Street collections. The other 25 books (to make my annual 100 books) would be miscellaneous, including library books, audiobooks and re-reads. As to buying, this year I started a buy 1, unhaul 2 challenge. So if I buy 1 book, I have to unhaul 2 (shelf space alone dictates this). I'm going to fall a little short--so far for every book I bought, I've unhauled about 1.5. So I was close to my goal and hope to improve in 2025! Good luck with your rules; they make a lot of sense to me.
I love this whole idea of yours! And the one in, two out is a great idea! Definitely let me know how it goes. Sounds like this year you did pretty well towards that goal so I bet you can do even more next year. 😊
I have 405 unread books so I am definitely up for this challenge 👍 I find having too many unread books makes me feel stressed but I love buying books too so I like the idea of reading 3 before buying a new one.
I’m so glad you will be joining in! I agree that too many unread books can feel stressful. I’m hoping to make a big dent in mine this year. We can do it. 😁
Last week, I donated my second SUV load of books to the local library. I am a retired English teacher and a book fiend! However, like another woman commented, I am overwhelmed. Drowning in books! I culled many that just didn’t appeal to me anymore. Reading tastes do change. Both of my children are readers, but they don’t enjoy what I enjoy. I like your “read three, buy one” rule. I’ll take that one. You have some wonderful volumes on your shelves. Enjoy them!
I’ve been really trying to read off my shelves this year. Working in a library makes it a bit more of a challenge. Not only access to all the wonderful library books, but also the weeded library books! my numbers are around yours.
I'm in! I'm uncomfortable with the number of unread books on my shelves so this is my year to be intentional about choosing from my own shelf and curbing my buying. However, visiting local indie bookstores when I travel is a tradition and I love supporting them, so I'll "allow" myself to buy at indie bookstores. My goal is to not purchase books online at least for this next year. Eek! Hope I can stick to it. Here's to being content with what we already have! :)
I’ve lived abroad (and move country regularly due to work) for the last 10 years so I have not had a proper library for a long time. I got rid of most of my books when I left Sweden. I have 5 unread books with me and I’m saving them for my next holiday. The rest of my reading is ebooks. I read a lot, over 150 books a year, so ebooks saves me money, space and makes moving easier😊 I do prefer physical books though…. You have an amazing personal library! So many good books to pick from ❤
5 unread books is so impressive! I’ve given away so many books due to different moves that I regret getting rid of so now I think I’m making up for some of that! 😂 I’m excited to “shop” my own shelves each month and find some great books to read.
Great job reaching this year's challenge and yay for making it a little more challenging for 2025. I've been thinking a LOT about a read your shelf challenge, so I REALLY need to join you!! I just get so distracted by all the things! However, these books already on my shelf are there because I think I'll love them. Yep, I need to do this.
Thanks Mitzi! I’m so glad you want to join in on this challenge. I also get easily distracted by new books I hear about. I’m hoping this challenge will help keep me accountable! 😁
I am in! I've been thinking about this for a month or so and came up with reading three-quarters from my shelves. The remaining quarter will be new books from favorite authors, buddy reads, or events. My rule is, any new book I buy, I have to read immediately. The back and forth feelings about the personal library are real. I also go back and forth. My unread number is around 500, so you are not alone. I too may unhaul some of the physical books I am not likely to read, but I have a lot on my Kindle/Google Books.
Oh I’m so glad you are joining in! That sounds like a great way to approach this challenge. I may have to add that I need to read newly purchased books right away to my goal. Then they aren’t adding to my unread numbers. Love that idea! Also I’m so glad to find I’m not the only one with hundreds of unread books on my shelves! 😁
Definitely want to give this a try! My books have spread out to several rooms in my house and I really want to pare down . I think I’m going to try the method of reading a chapter or two of maybe five books a week & begin the elimination process. Good luck with your challenge! Really enjoy your channel.😊
Thank you! And that sounds like a great way to do this challenge. I love doing the try a chapter since it usually gives me enough of a feel about the book and the writing to decide if it’s something I want to read.
I find reading two chapters does help. But I have to break the habit of feeling obligated to finish. I started instead to turn to the back and read the last chapter. I know this will horrify some people, but it actually has helped me. Often I find that there can’t be very much in between because the last chapter didn’t actually reveal anything. If it does and I’m intrigued as to how it got there I will sometimes go back to chapter 3 and carry on. Sometimes I’ve read that last chapter and thought I’m glad I didn’t bother with that book! And get rid of it. But I think for some people just the first chapter is enough to tell them whether to go on or not. It’s so hard!
I have a lot of Kindle books I never read because I really like physical books like you, Jen. I have about 100 books in my TBR collection. At almost 78, I worry about having time to read them. This doesn’t stop me from buying more.
It’s good to have books for any reading mood! And there are so many books out there we could never read them all but that doesn’t stop us from trying. 😊
Love this! I am definitely going to focus on my own shelves more in 2025. I've got another reading challenge that will help with this, and you have motivated me even more. I am in the midst of unhauling some books, so I am going to try and keep my book purchasing to a minimum for next year. Here's to hoping we can stay the course!
Fantastic! I’m so glad you are joining in. I’ll be checking in each month on how I’m doing with the challenge so we can all keep each other accountable. We can do this. 😁🤗
Jen you are not alone. Today I was staring at a bookshelf in one room and it feels overwhelming. I read soooo much but can’t turn down new books. So YES I am joining you.
I created a list of my books to read in 2025 and am hoping to at least read the ones on my list, all are from my bookshelf. I will be reading some books from the library also because I’m in a book club through my library and really enjoy that group! Good luck on your challenge for 2025!! I have SO many books so I’m in LETS GO 😊
Yay! So glad you are joining in! I love your goal…it sounds very doable. And how fun that you have a book club through your library that you love! Libraries are the best. 😊❤️
Great goals! You’ve inspired me to keep any new books I get starting in 2025 separate from prior acquisitions so I can get a true read on how many “on my shelves” books I am reading in 2025. if it makes you feel any better, at last count, I have probably over 700 unread books to date. 😂
It does make me feel better! 😂 Wuite a few other people said they have similar sized TBR’s so we are not alone! I love that you are going to keep track of books you buy in 2025. I’m planning to do the same. 😊
I can see why I like your channel so much because most of your books and authors are ones that I have read or want to read or have never heard of 😮and am now interested in. I am going to follow this challenge, but I am going to be an outlier. I’m 73 years old and downsizing in every way that I can. My public Library is fantastic and if they don’t have the book that I request, they can usually get it for me locally from another library or from all Library across the state of Texas. And that has been an interesting reality to see where some of the books that I am reading come from. My TBR is my Bookmarks on my library app and I have 200 + books there🎉. Thank you for the time you invest in this and many of us would like to have a library card from your home library🤗🫣📚💕😂
Thank you for your lovely comment! And I wish I could give out library cards to my home library…I love to share books with other book lovers! And I’m so jealous of all of you with really robust state wide library systems! We have a county system and also Link+ which can get us books from all over the country but I still struggle to get some of the books I’m looking for. I’m glad you’ll be following along with the challenge even if you aren’t participating! I’m going to need all the support I can get to stick to my goals. 😁
I’m definitely a “personal library” collector of books…pleasure, information, history, culture, classics, childrens…even old textbooks and old encyclopedia sets from my family🤣 I will be doing at least 12 in 2025 and shoot for 25. I already have a monthly book budget to enlarge my library now that we have a designated space (I’m too old to halt this project for future generations🤣) so maybe I’ll just prioritize reading the oldest ones…2 shelf fiction+ 2 shelf nonfiction to 1 added fiction and 1 added nonfiction.🤔🤓👵📚📚📚
I love having a personal library too! I just really want to read more from it! I think your goal sounds perfect for what you want to achieve. And enjoy building up more books in your library…what a fun project!
I hope so too, Kate. I know I have some wonderful books just sitting on my shelves waiting for me to pick them up and love them. I’m excited for all the possibilities. 😊
This is great! My personal goal is a simple one: my objective is that 50% of the books I read be books I already own. (Not ones I buy specifically for challenges) I haven't calculated it for this year yet but I think I got really close, and I'm going to be more intentional about it next year.
This was so fun! I don't have a read what I own goal, but I do have a goal to read any 2025 new releases I buy IN 2025! Kind of a similar concept if not exactly the same. :) Thanks for sharing!!!
That is a great goal! I have some other subscribers who have a goal to read immediately any new books they buy and I’m thinking of incorporating that into my goals as well. I’m glad you enjoyed this. 😊
Have fun with your challenge, Jen! I have 419 unread at last count and heading to a book sale in an hour! I hope you can fit in And the Ladies of the Club, which I saw on your tour. It is a chunker, but oh so good! Maybe you can count that as multiple books based on the excessive page count.
I'd love to join. I am working through my TBR as well. I only have two rules for this year. 1. To read some of the books I've owned the longest. Some are from 2008. 2. To downsize my book collection so to read and give away more books than acquire.
I am so excited to join this challenge with you! I have over 250 books on my TBR shelves and I desperately need to pay attention to them instead of buying new ones so frequently 😅. Thanks so much!
We should ALL be reading our backlog books on bookshelves, etc. that have been sitting there for a long, long time taking up too much space. I don't reread books so I want to read them (I have too many unread books), unhaul them, get books that I cannot get at my library. If these are books that have a lot of words to look up, I get them on my Kindle so I can just highlight them for an instant definition. It does feel good to get rid of books that I no longer want to hold onto anymore. But I usually stick to used paperback books to buy from library sales and only if I want the books. I have walked away with no books from a book sale because there was nothing there for me. All of my owned books are amazing books that I really want to read. I divide my reading into seasons, winter books (snow on covers, winter themed, books that begin in winter), spring books (foliage or spring birds on the cover or the word spring in the title), summer books (usually longer books, beachy or vacation themed), fall books (falling leaves on cover, autumn or fall words in the title). I pile that season's books near my bed. That way I don't feel compelled to read something I really don't want to read in any particular order. It doesn't matter what I want I pick, I just read from the pile. You know what you could do? You could say what pile of books you want to read for January 2025 and show the titles and ask anyone that has that book on their shelves to join you in reading that book or read another book from that author for that month. And at the end of the month, give your review and ask for comments to any questions you have about the book. That way both you and your followers can get a book off their TBR. From your shelves, I also have China Court, Towers in the Mist, Once Upon a River to read also! And I urge you to read The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Hopkins Manuscript sitting on your shelves. You will be glad to clear these off your shelves and into a donation place somewhere. And in donating what you don't want to keep, you're helping someone else to enjoy those books also. And any time you want a mystery to read, you have plenty to pick from on your shelves! Probably on your Kindle too! Think about it.
That is a really wonderful idea about doing a group read of a book off my shelf. I’m going to figure out how I could make that work. I love how you have all your books grouped seasonally. That’s a wonderful way to read off your shelves…I love a good seasonal book!
Wow! Not only a lot of unread books but a lot of money on those shelves too! 😂 I am going to join you! I have 50 unread books on my shelves, 40 of which were from free little libraries and second hand shops. 15 of those are the Mrs. Pollifax series I collected from second hand stores. Sooo… I will be joining you for sure! I’m a mood reader so I’m hoping that my shelves will inspire me!! Hahaa. I like your “try a chapter “ or a “read it or unhaul it” challenge for this. I only read about 40 books a year therefore this could be a whole years with of reading, but I won’t be not purchasing books either! I’ll have to think about my “rules”. 😂
A lot of my books are secondhand but, yes, a lot of money on those shelves! I hope you are inspired to read your shelves next year. Sounds like you could get through a big chunk since you don’t have that many!
I too fluctuate in how I view my TBR shelves. The number of unread books is large, like yours. Sometimes I feel like I’m not a good steward of my resources with so many unread. Other times I am happy to have so many choices right at hand. Overall though, I think I would prefer to reduce the unread number. The last few years I have been intentionally reading down my shelves, so yes I will be joining you in some version of this in 2025! Still need to decide what parameters to use and will talk about this in an upcoming video.
It’s the library’s fault. Here in NY State we can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the New York City library system even when we live at the other end of the state. It saves a lot of money, but it keeps me delaying reading my shelved books.
Count me in! We moved last year and I unhauled quite a lot of books. I was trying to greatly limit the number of physical books that I own. I do like reading on my kindle and use my library’s Libby collection BUT since I’ve found UA-cam and FB book reels I’ve started accumulating physical books again. Looking at my books gives me so much Joy but I do need to spend more time reading and less time looking for new books. I use and love BookBuddy too!
I have been doing this for this year and I didn't set any parameters for myself so I ended up bringing more books into the house than what I read all year. Next year, I definitely need to set some ground rules going in. I at least wrote out some reading prompts for next year to make sure that I'm picking up the books that have been looked over for decades.
I had the best of intentions this year as well and failed them all so that why I’ve set up this challenge for next year! I love the idea of reading prompts to get you to pick up books off your shelves. Great idea! 😊
I love this challenge! My main goal for the end of this year and for next year is to organize my library. I am overdue for a ruthless cull of my collection, and I really want to scale back on my book buying habits because I’ve become the middle-aged lady who lives amongst her giant book stacks. 😂 Thanks for mentioning the Book Buddy app; I’ll definitely check it out. Your book goals seem doable, and I wish you luck! I’m still sketching out my goals (and trying to remember what kind of a reader I ACTUALLY am vs. the reader I wish I was 😂), but I look forward to watching your updates, and I hope I’m able to comment with a positive update as to my progress. P.S. I easily have 800+ unread books (and it’s been well over a year since I updated my shelves on GoodReads), so you’re safe with me!
I’m so glad to be among other book lovers with hundreds of unread books on their shelves! 😂 I love that you are focusing on the kind of reader you are and not the kind you wish you were! That is definitely something I need to keep in mind as well. And good luck on culling your library! Keep me posted on how it goes. 😊
I am IN!! I have SO many books, but lots of cookbooks, gardening books, all kinds of “how to” books; but even if I took them all away(any of that type) I’d still have HUNDREDS! So I need to get busy.
Yay! So glad you’ll be joining. 😁 I have quite a few of those type of books too and still hundreds of others to read! I’m looking forward to tackling them next year!
I’ve had this on my to-do list for quite a while and was planning on starting in 2025. My books are all numbered within their genre/category. I’ll be using a random number generator to pick what I read next. It’s a little more complicated than what I describe but it works for me. My reading between now and the end of the year is going to be books loaned to me by a couple of reading buddies and then I’ll be good to go at the new year. It’s exciting!!
I have a library full of books that I haven’t read yet, and so I am definitely joining in! I get so caught up in the new book releases but I need to read more of what I have already
Yay! I’m so glad you are joining in! We will keep each other accountable. Another subscriber is challenging herself to read immediately any new books she buys. That might be a good way to still enjoy some new releases and not add more to your unread shelves! I’m considering doing the same. 😊
Im excited about this challenge! For me, this is about curbing my shopping habits. Books (ebooks and physical) and body care are my weaknesses and I want to focus on appreciating and enjoying what I have rather than spending mental energy and money on acquiring more. I have around 200 unread on my Kindle and easily the same number unread on my shelves. Even though I read a lot, thats excessive and I want to focus on working through what I have! Good luck to everyone on their 2025 reading journeys!
I’m so glad you are joining in! I agree that curbing my book buying is a big part of why I’m doing this. Anything I do purchase I want to be very intentional about. We can do this! 😊
I will be doing a similar challenge in 2025, need to get my physical TBR under a little more control. I'm still working out exactly how I will plan it, but I love seeing so many booktubers planning to do something like this in the coming year.
I love Bill Bryson, Anne Lamott and Maeve Binchy! And I easily have more than a thousand unread books on my Kindle alone, so don't feel bad about your totals. I have been trying to only buy physical books that I read and loved, AND want to reread. You have inspired me to go through my Kindle collections and make a list for next year. Good luck with your challenge! PS: Saw in the comments that you have And The Ladies of the Club, which is so good.
I love all those authors too! And I’m so glad I’m not alone in having hundreds of unread books! And the Ladies of the Club is going on my big book summer challenge TBR! I’ve heard wonderful things about it.
Hi Jen, I am also a Jen. I live in Melbourne Australia and I will be delighted to join your challenge. I have only restarted my reading journey this year and I am not as prolific a reader as you but I am enjoying learning of authors I have yet to read from you and other booktubers. So I am challenging myself to at least one book per month from my own shelf and one new author to me from the library.
Hi Jen! I am so glad you have restarted your reading journey - that is wonderful! I like how you are keeping your goal simple and also incorporating new authors into your challenge for next year. I love that! Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this year?
So far this year, my favourite would be The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I saw the movie years ago but didn't remember much and wasn't prepared for how many tears I would cry.
I have to do this! I have quite an extensive library.. though I have read most...I must get back into this habit.... I'll join you...I will read 100 books in 2025.
@@jensreadinglife Thank you! I've allowed technology to get in the way of my focus and peace...I know the many health benefits of reading..but I've allowed myself to become lazy. There's a good book by Johann Hair titled Stolen Focus....it address the distractions of our tech world.
I think we all are prey to technology these days! I’ll have to look for that book. I’m always wanting to curb my screen time and spend more time reading and doing other hobbies. 😊
Definitely need to halt or significantly slow book buying and library borrowing and need to read even more off my shelves. I like your idea of reading at least 4 from home library before getting more (from the library or bookstore.) A total ban would send me straight to the store (has the opposite effect.) I have no idea how many unread books I have. I’ve even accidentally rechecked out books I have already read. I only started counting and recording (on index cards of all things! & in my planner) each book I read in 2023. Read 100 books in 2023 and so far 102 this year. Before that, less than that each year but, really have no idea; maybe 1-3 every 2 weeks. Tracking & counting wasn’t something I ever did. But, since I have so many & have read so many, tracking has its benefits now. Maybe I will check out that app, but only if I can scan the bar code. Otherwise, too much data entry. Still a seasonal & mood reader so, the more rules, the less likely I am to follow them. 😏Guess I am a feral reader.
I agree that a total buying ban is a bad idea. It affects me the same way! And you can both scan the barcode into Book Buddy as well as input the ISBN. If it’s an older book printed before ISBN’s you will have to enter it manually but most books go in quick and easy! All the basic information goes in automatically but if you want to add things like where the book is in your home, the date you purchased it, etc. you do need to add those manually.
I'm definitely in. I too have hundreds of unread books. I have to count my books to get an exact number. I need to not check out so many library books and read more of what I own.
The library i such a blessing but it does get in the way of reading books off your own shelves! I’m so glad you are joining in the challenge. We can keep each other accountable. 😊
😂I have around 5000 on my kindles!!! My TBR physical list is at 166 as of today, but I have so many more. My goal is to read 150 of the physical books this year. Lofty goal…
What I do is - read one from my shelf, then a library book, then either a YA or MG book. Then repeat that process. I feel I get the best of all my worlds by doing it this way!
New subscriber here! I love BookBuddy! In 2019 I had about 245 books on my shelf. Now I’ve multiplied that by 10 and I have that many again on my kindle. Good golly I need to read solely from my shelf for the rest of my life. 😱 I’ve been collecting book reading challenges for 2025, and I plan to fulfill the requirements from my supply. 📚 📚📚📚📚📚
Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found my channel. I love that you are planning to do reading challenges next year from your own shelves! It can definitely feel like we need multiple lifetimes to get through all our unread books. I’m hoping this challenge will help a bit. 😁
@@jensreadinglife I used to be ashamed of my book numbers, but I’m combating that by reading the plethora of amazing books. 😌 thank you for the welcome!
@@kamidsjournee That’s about where I am. I’m hoping I live long enough to get through all of my books - at least once! But I really don’t need to be buying anymore.😊
@@kamidsjournee 😂I’m afraid to figure mine out. And 1884 on my kindle 😳 (though many were free early on and most were .99 -2.99). I’m 66 and praying that I live long enough and don’t have dementia or something, so I can get them read. Some are duplicates of books I ended up finding used, so maybe that’ll help.
I’m in. I’m planning to read almost exclusively from my bookshelves and my kindle purchases that I already have. Honestly that would probably keep me busy for the rest of my life. But I do read a new one here and there usually. I’m trying really hard not to buy anymore though because my collection is almost complete and I’m not starting a new one. My favorites are definitely the old ones many of which have been reprinted by DSP Furrowed Middlebrow, Persephone and others.
I’m so glad you will be joining in! It is hard to resist buying books…which is why I’m not banning myself from it entirely. I know myself too well and that is a recipe for disaster! 😂 Another subscriber is only going to buy books she’s going to read immediately and I’m thinking I might do the same. Then it’s not getting added to my unread shelf!
What a great challenge. I am in…. I think I have at least as many unread books as you. I need to add my physical books, ebooks and audiobooks. I would love to participate. Thank you! ❤
Wonderful! I’m so glad you’ll be joining in. The Book Buddy app has been so good for tallying up all my books. Though the number of unread books is a little terrifying! 😳😂
Firstly, Congratulations on reaching your goal! Secondly, I'm going g to have to rewatched this to write down your suggested parameters. I am going to try SO HARD to read only from my "shelves"; really HUGE tote bags I can't even lift! I only have 4 medium size bkcases in my SMALL apt. I need to buy taller ones. I think I have approximately 400+ unread bks, not counting my kindle. I have no idea how many on that. Like you I prefer the actual bk. for the same reasons, so I tend to forget the kindle bks. IF I do this, and I feel I really MUST, I will not participate in any book tubers challenges; except your Emma M. Lion because I already bought the first 2 vol. Just rendered as I'm looking at them; that number does NOT include my Christmas bks, nor the 4 large decorative boxes in my bdrm. Also have 6 bks. on the way from Blackwells and Amazon. See how BAD I am!!!! No control whatsoever!! I LOVE to BUY bks. and it is a SEPARATE love from reading!I HAVE to do this, I just HAVE to. It's getting hard to walk in here😑😋😑😑
I hear you, Eileen! I’m glad we can support each other next year as we try to read our shelves! We can do this! You can always reach out to me if you need extra accountability! 😊
I have a lot of unread books that I haven’t gotten to yet. I do buy books on Amazon even though I have unread books at home. I am a huge mood reader and if I get in the mood to read a particular book and if I don’t own it I end up buying it. I haven’t been to the library in a very long time. I buy lots of books on Amazon instead of reading my unread books. Since it’s almost December I have a lot of Christmas books I plan to read coming up. I am also a huge romance reader.
The call of mood reader is strong! This happens to me too. One of the things I’m planning to do next year is “shop” my own shelves to see if I can find books to fit my mood or that are similar to a book I hear about that I am suddenly in the mood to read. I’m hoping this will help me curb some of my book buying and get me to read what I own!
Many of my unread books are on my Kindle. I am not going to buy books to meet prompts on the 52 Book Club challenge as I have done for the past few years. I also have several unread paper books. I am going to key all these up in a spreadsheet to quantify them. The number is probably more than 200. I don't read very fast, either.
Humm, I'm not sure your goals are really going to cut it! lol, Have you thought of 'shop your shelves' rather than going to a shop? Can you order from the library, books that are on your shelf? Audiobooks of those on your shelf - yes, stay focused........Kindle, why have then downloaded until you plan to read.......wait, DSP on Kindle, OMG I didn't know that!! Spend more time with your lovely personal library and don't get distracted you have around 6 years worth of reading there.
I am actually planning on doing some Shop My Shelves TBR’s for next year so we are on the same page! If only I could stop hearing about books that sound so amazing. I’m just going to have to be better about noting them down but not buying them. And that’s what this challenge is all about. 😁
Sounds like a good goal and a well thought out, realistic plan. I have an off topic question: in Booktube land is there any channel that comments in their reviews about content to help clean readers know what books don’t have foul language or sexual content?
There are quite a number of Booktubers who will share content warnings. I think it’s hard sometimes to know when to give a warning because everyone has different levels of tolerance. Are you looking for specific genres? If so, I might be able to direct you to a few people. 😊
@@EJJohnson-cj4qn Krista at Books and Jams is very good about content. Also Kate Howe only reads clean content. Miranda Mills is generally clean as well though if it’s a very new book you may want to look up content warnings online. If I think of others, I will let you know. 😊
i have tried to read my TBR by joining book clubs following their prompts. it has been successful and i can read 40+ books from my TBR. For next year, i will restrict myself from buying too many books. I will only buy half of my can-read number, that is 20+ books each year. Sounds like a mission impossible.
I am in. I will start on my book piles stored between my book cases. I need to count them all. But once I read a book I have to decide what to keep. How do you all do that?
I’m so glad you want to participate Janet! I keep books that I really loved and think I might want to read again. I also sometimes keep a book that is really beautiful even if it wasn’t a favorite! I’ll have to put up a poll and ask people to share how they decide to keep their books!
It changes. I used to keep everything. Then I finally started to get rid of ones I didn’t like as much. Then I decided - hey - why don’t you get rid of all your three star books? Thing is, in most cases you can get hold of a copy of a book again if you think about it later and want to reread it. so far I absolutely cling to all my five and four star books. I have quite a few….🤦♀️
Oh Jen…… I have no idea how many books I have on my shelves and Kindle that are unread. My excuse is that I am a re-reader….. but I also buy and have become the person to whom people give their books. It needs to be a no-buy year for me, possibly several no-buy years but between you and Miranda Mills can I do this? 😂😂😂
I hear you! And I’m sorry if I’m one of the reasons your unread books keep growing! 😂 Hopefully we can motivate each other to read off our shelves next year.
I was in that situation about 2-3 years ago. Then I started buying used books at yard sales. After finishing an okay book I would swap it out at a little free library. I learned that my library has a bargain day for their used book sale. My town got a used bookstore. Now I find myself with a bookshelf that is overflowing with unread books. Only a handful of my unreads were bought new so I don’t feel bad about the amount of money spent.
It’s an easy cycle to get into. Books can be found so cheaply and it’s easy to buy ones you later decide you don’t want to read. I’m hoping reading my shelves will curb that cycle to a degree. 😊
I'm sure that at one time I planned to read all the books I own. However, as I will be 75 in 2025 and currently own 405 unread books and am still buying books, it becomes increasingly unlikely I will read them all.
There are so many books in the world that I want to read and I know I’ll never get to them all…but it’s fun to at least try! And 75 in 2025 - I hope it’s a wonderful year for you!
@jensreadinglife I did the math and about 2/3 of the books I read in 2024 were from my own shelves, but I still had a net gain. The next biggest category is ebooks from my libraries. I did cull some books I'm no longer interested in reading. I need to set some rules re buying new books on 2025 🤔
Jen There is a mug I ordered from Amazon awhile ago that said YES I DO NEED ALL THOSE BOOKS! ❤️ It sold out and I didn’t get my mug. 🥹 It is a wonderful blessing to have. As an older was/ a /homeschooler/ mom, I have books that fill up space I don’t know how to categorize now. Besides all my books acquired over my life. I won’t share my kindle quantity here😹 Enjoy all the books🥳
Yep, Jen, I'm in the same mind frame. As I hit my 70's, I'm finding that all of these books around me are starting to feel like a burden instead of an opportunity. I don't want my kids to have to deal with them all when I'm gone, or if I suddenly need to downsize due to illness or incapacity. As of today I have 489 unread books on my shelves. I usually read a little over 100 books a year. My plan in 2025 is to read 75% or about 75 books from my shelves: 25 books I bought in 2024 &/or buy in 2025; 25 books I bought before 2024; and 25 books from my Virago, Persephone & Dean Street collections. The other 25 books (to make my annual 100 books) would be miscellaneous, including library books, audiobooks and re-reads. As to buying, this year I started a buy 1, unhaul 2 challenge. So if I buy 1 book, I have to unhaul 2 (shelf space alone dictates this). I'm going to fall a little short--so far for every book I bought, I've unhauled about 1.5. So I was close to my goal and hope to improve in 2025! Good luck with your rules; they make a lot of sense to me.
This is what I need to do!! Get rid of 2 for every 1 I buy! But also? I NEED to stop buying them!!
I love this whole idea of yours! And the one in, two out is a great idea! Definitely let me know how it goes. Sounds like this year you did pretty well towards that goal so I bet you can do even more next year. 😊
Love this way you're doing the challenge! Great mix of books and still supporting your library.
I have 405 unread books so I am definitely up for this challenge 👍 I find having too many unread books makes me feel stressed but I love buying books too so I like the idea of reading 3 before buying a new one.
I’m so glad you will be joining in! I agree that too many unread books can feel stressful. I’m hoping to make a big dent in mine this year. We can do it. 😁
Last week, I donated my second SUV load of books to the local library. I am a retired English teacher and a book fiend! However, like another woman commented, I am overwhelmed. Drowning in books! I culled many that just didn’t appeal to me anymore. Reading tastes do change. Both of my children are readers, but they don’t enjoy what I enjoy. I like your “read three, buy one” rule. I’ll take that one. You have some wonderful volumes on your shelves. Enjoy them!
I’ve been really trying to read off my shelves this year. Working in a library makes it a bit more of a challenge. Not only access to all the wonderful library books, but also the weeded library books! my numbers are around yours.
How wonderful that you work in a library but I can see how it would add to the challenge of reading your own shelves. 😊
I'm in! I'm uncomfortable with the number of unread books on my shelves so this is my year to be intentional about choosing from my own shelf and curbing my buying. However, visiting local indie bookstores when I travel is a tradition and I love supporting them, so I'll "allow" myself to buy at indie bookstores. My goal is to not purchase books online at least for this next year. Eek! Hope I can stick to it. Here's to being content with what we already have! :)
This is a great goal! I’m so glad you are joining in. And supporting indie bookstores is always a good idea! 😁
I’ve lived abroad (and move country regularly due to work) for the last 10 years so I have not had a proper library for a long time. I got rid of most of my books when I left Sweden. I have 5 unread books with me and I’m saving them for my next holiday. The rest of my reading is ebooks. I read a lot, over 150 books a year, so ebooks saves me money, space and makes moving easier😊 I do prefer physical books though….
You have an amazing personal library! So many good books to pick from ❤
5 unread books is so impressive! I’ve given away so many books due to different moves that I regret getting rid of so now I think I’m making up for some of that! 😂
I’m excited to “shop” my own shelves each month and find some great books to read.
Great job reaching this year's challenge and yay for making it a little more challenging for 2025. I've been thinking a LOT about a read your shelf challenge, so I REALLY need to join you!! I just get so distracted by all the things! However, these books already on my shelf are there because I think I'll love them. Yep, I need to do this.
Thanks Mitzi! I’m so glad you want to join in on this challenge. I also get easily distracted by new books I hear about. I’m hoping this challenge will help keep me accountable! 😁
I am in! I've been thinking about this for a month or so and came up with reading three-quarters from my shelves. The remaining quarter will be new books from favorite authors, buddy reads, or events. My rule is, any new book I buy, I have to read immediately. The back and forth feelings about the personal library are real. I also go back and forth. My unread number is around 500, so you are not alone. I too may unhaul some of the physical books I am not likely to read, but I have a lot on my Kindle/Google Books.
Oh I’m so glad you are joining in! That sounds like a great way to approach this challenge. I may have to add that I need to read newly purchased books right away to my goal. Then they aren’t adding to my unread numbers. Love that idea!
Also I’m so glad to find I’m not the only one with hundreds of unread books on my shelves! 😁
Definitely want to give this a try! My books have spread out to several rooms in my house and I really want to pare down . I think I’m going to try the method of reading a chapter or two of maybe five books a week & begin the elimination process. Good luck with your challenge! Really enjoy your channel.😊
Thank you! And that sounds like a great way to do this challenge. I love doing the try a chapter since it usually gives me enough of a feel about the book and the writing to decide if it’s something I want to read.
I find reading two chapters does help. But I have to break the habit of feeling obligated to finish. I started instead to turn to the back and read the last chapter. I know this will horrify some people, but it actually has helped me. Often I find that there can’t be very much in between because the last chapter didn’t actually reveal anything. If it does and I’m intrigued as to how it got there I will sometimes go back to chapter 3 and carry on. Sometimes I’ve read that last chapter and thought I’m glad I didn’t bother with that book! And get rid of it. But I think for some people just the first chapter is enough to tell them whether to go on or not. It’s so hard!
@@janetsmith8566 this makes me think of When Harry Met Sally since Harry always read the last chapter first. 😂 I say do what works best for you!
I love all my books!! It doesn’t stress me at all!! I have a LOT of unread books!!!’❤ this is Eileen
I love that you love all of your books! 🥰
I have a lot of Kindle books I never read because I really like physical books like you, Jen. I have about 100 books in my TBR collection. At almost 78, I worry about having time to read them. This doesn’t stop me from buying more.
It’s good to have books for any reading mood! And there are so many books out there we could never read them all but that doesn’t stop us from trying. 😊
❤📚📚❤
Your goals sound very "doable"! Good luck in 2025.
Thank you! I’m hoping you all can keep me accountable. 😁
@jensreadinglife 😀👍🤞
Love this! I am definitely going to focus on my own shelves more in 2025. I've got another reading challenge that will help with this, and you have motivated me even more. I am in the midst of unhauling some books, so I am going to try and keep my book purchasing to a minimum for next year. Here's to hoping we can stay the course!
Fantastic! I’m so glad you are joining in. I’ll be checking in each month on how I’m doing with the challenge so we can all keep each other accountable. We can do this. 😁🤗
Jen you are not alone. Today I was staring at a bookshelf in one room and it feels overwhelming. I read soooo much but can’t turn down new books. So YES I am joining you.
We sound exactly the same! I am so glad you are joining me. We will help keep each other on track! 😊
I created a list of my books to read in 2025 and am hoping to at least read the ones on my list, all are from my bookshelf. I will be reading some books from the library also because I’m in a book club through my library and really enjoy that group! Good luck on your challenge for 2025!! I have SO many books so I’m in LETS GO 😊
Yay! So glad you are joining in! I love your goal…it sounds very doable. And how fun that you have a book club through your library that you love! Libraries are the best. 😊❤️
Great goals! You’ve inspired me to keep any new books I get starting in 2025 separate from prior acquisitions so I can get a true read on how many “on my shelves” books I am reading in 2025. if it makes you feel any better, at last count, I have probably over 700 unread books to date. 😂
It does make me feel better! 😂 Wuite a few other people said they have similar sized TBR’s so we are not alone! I love that you are going to keep track of books you buy in 2025. I’m planning to do the same. 😊
I can see why I like your channel so much because most of your books and authors are ones that I have read or want to read or have never heard of 😮and am now interested in. I am going to follow this challenge, but I am going to be an outlier. I’m 73 years old and downsizing in every way that I can. My public Library is fantastic and if they don’t have the book that I request, they can usually get it for me locally from another library or from all Library across the state of Texas. And that has been an interesting reality to see where some of the books that I am reading come from. My TBR is my Bookmarks on my library app and I have 200 + books there🎉.
Thank you for the time you invest in this and many of us would like to have a library card from your home library🤗🫣📚💕😂
Thank you for your lovely comment! And I wish I could give out library cards to my home library…I love to share books with other book lovers!
And I’m so jealous of all of you with really robust state wide library systems! We have a county system and also Link+ which can get us books from all over the country but I still struggle to get some of the books I’m looking for.
I’m glad you’ll be following along with the challenge even if you aren’t participating! I’m going to need all the support I can get to stick to my goals. 😁
I’m definitely a “personal library” collector of books…pleasure, information, history, culture, classics, childrens…even old textbooks and old encyclopedia sets from my family🤣 I will be doing at least 12 in 2025 and shoot for 25. I already have a monthly book budget to enlarge my library now that we have a designated space (I’m too old to halt this project for future generations🤣) so maybe I’ll just prioritize reading the oldest ones…2 shelf fiction+ 2 shelf nonfiction to 1 added fiction and 1 added nonfiction.🤔🤓👵📚📚📚
I love having a personal library too! I just really want to read more from it! I think your goal sounds perfect for what you want to achieve. And enjoy building up more books in your library…what a fun project!
So fun that you are endeavoring on this new reading adventure for the upcoming year! I hope this makes for an even more enriching reading year.
I hope so too, Kate. I know I have some wonderful books just sitting on my shelves waiting for me to pick them up and love them. I’m excited for all the possibilities. 😊
This is great! My personal goal is a simple one: my objective is that 50% of the books I read be books I already own. (Not ones I buy specifically for challenges) I haven't calculated it for this year yet but I think I got really close, and I'm going to be more intentional about it next year.
That is such a great goal! Once I’ve whittled down my unread number, I would love to make that an annual goal! 😊
This was so fun! I don't have a read what I own goal, but I do have a goal to read any 2025 new releases I buy IN 2025! Kind of a similar concept if not exactly the same. :) Thanks for sharing!!!
That is a great goal! I have some other subscribers who have a goal to read immediately any new books they buy and I’m thinking of incorporating that into my goals as well. I’m glad you enjoyed this. 😊
Have fun with your challenge, Jen! I have 419 unread at last count and heading to a book sale in an hour! I hope you can fit in And the Ladies of the Club, which I saw on your tour. It is a chunker, but oh so good! Maybe you can count that as multiple books based on the excessive page count.
I would love to count that one as multiple books! I’ve heard such good things about it and I think it’s going to go on my summer TBR!
Hi Jen, I desperately need to take part of your challenge, so count me in! Wow, I'm so happy that I discovered your channel today.
Welcome! I’m so glad you found my channel and that you’ll be joining in to read our shelves next year! 😁
I'd love to join. I am working through my TBR as well. I only have two rules for this year.
1. To read some of the books I've owned the longest. Some are from 2008.
2. To downsize my book collection so to read and give away more books than acquire.
I love both of those goals! I think I have unread books I have purchased prior to 2008! 🫣 I’m so glad you are joining in!
I am so excited to join this challenge with you! I have over 250 books on my TBR shelves and I desperately need to pay attention to them instead of buying new ones so frequently 😅. Thanks so much!
You are so welcome! And I’m so glad you will be participating. We will cheer each other on!
We should ALL be reading our backlog books on bookshelves, etc. that have been sitting there for a long, long time taking up too much space. I don't reread books so I want to read them (I have too many unread books), unhaul them, get books that I cannot get at my library. If these are books that have a lot of words to look up, I get them on my Kindle so I can just highlight them for an instant definition. It does feel good to get rid of books that I no longer want to hold onto anymore. But I usually stick to used paperback books to buy from library sales and only if I want the books. I have walked away with no books from a book sale because there was nothing there for me. All of my owned books are amazing books that I really want to read. I divide my reading into seasons, winter books (snow on covers, winter themed, books that begin in winter), spring books (foliage or spring birds on the cover or the word spring in the title), summer books (usually longer books, beachy or vacation themed), fall books (falling leaves on cover, autumn or fall words in the title). I pile that season's books near my bed. That way I don't feel compelled to read something I really don't want to read in any particular order. It doesn't matter what I want I pick, I just read from the pile. You know what you could do? You could say what pile of books you want to read for January 2025 and show the titles and ask anyone that has that book on their shelves to join you in reading that book or read another book from that author for that month. And at the end of the month, give your review and ask for comments to any questions you have about the book. That way both you and your followers can get a book off their TBR. From your shelves, I also have China Court, Towers in the Mist, Once Upon a River to read also! And I urge you to read The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Hopkins Manuscript sitting on your shelves. You will be glad to clear these off your shelves and into a donation place somewhere. And in donating what you don't want to keep, you're helping someone else to enjoy those books also. And any time you want a mystery to read, you have plenty to pick from on your shelves! Probably on your Kindle too! Think about it.
That is a really wonderful idea about doing a group read of a book off my shelf. I’m going to figure out how I could make that work. I love how you have all your books grouped seasonally. That’s a wonderful way to read off your shelves…I love a good seasonal book!
Wow! Not only a lot of unread books but a lot of money on those shelves too! 😂 I am going to join you! I have 50 unread books on my shelves, 40 of which were from free little libraries and second hand shops. 15 of those are the Mrs. Pollifax series I collected from second hand stores. Sooo… I will be joining you for sure! I’m a mood reader so I’m hoping that my shelves will inspire me!! Hahaa. I like your “try a chapter “ or a “read it or unhaul it” challenge for this. I only read about 40 books a year therefore this could be a whole years with of reading, but I won’t be not purchasing books either! I’ll have to think about my “rules”. 😂
A lot of my books are secondhand but, yes, a lot of money on those shelves! I hope you are inspired to read your shelves next year. Sounds like you could get through a big chunk since you don’t have that many!
I too fluctuate in how I view my TBR shelves. The number of unread books is large, like yours. Sometimes I feel like I’m not a good steward of my resources with so many unread. Other times I am happy to have so many choices right at hand. Overall though, I think I would prefer to reduce the unread number. The last few years I have been intentionally reading down my shelves, so yes I will be joining you in some version of this in 2025! Still need to decide what parameters to use and will talk about this in an upcoming video.
I’m so glad you are joining me, Terri! I look forward to hearing what you decide your goals will be. 😊
It’s the library’s fault. Here in NY State we can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the New York City library system even when we live at the other end of the state. It saves a lot of money, but it keeps me delaying reading my shelved books.
Hi here in Uruguay it happens as well, and then the books in my shelves keep waiting😅😮
The darn library!!! 😂 And what a fantastic system…I’m jealous!
Love it!❤
Thanks! 😊
Count me in! We moved last year and I unhauled quite a lot of books. I was trying to greatly limit the number of physical books that I own. I do like reading on my kindle and use my library’s Libby collection BUT since I’ve found UA-cam and FB book reels I’ve started accumulating physical books again. Looking at my books gives me so much Joy but I do need to spend more time reading and less time looking for new books. I use and love BookBuddy too!
I’m so glad you’ll be joining in! And yes to more time reading…that is always a good idea.
Book Buddy is such a good app. I’m loving it. 😊
I have been doing this for this year and I didn't set any parameters for myself so I ended up bringing more books into the house than what I read all year. Next year, I definitely need to set some ground rules going in. I at least wrote out some reading prompts for next year to make sure that I'm picking up the books that have been looked over for decades.
I had the best of intentions this year as well and failed them all so that why I’ve set up this challenge for next year! I love the idea of reading prompts to get you to pick up books off your shelves. Great idea! 😊
I love this challenge! My main goal for the end of this year and for next year is to organize my library. I am overdue for a ruthless cull of my collection, and I really want to scale back on my book buying habits because I’ve become the middle-aged lady who lives amongst her giant book stacks. 😂 Thanks for mentioning the Book Buddy app; I’ll definitely check it out. Your book goals seem doable, and I wish you luck! I’m still sketching out my goals (and trying to remember what kind of a reader I ACTUALLY am vs. the reader I wish I was 😂), but I look forward to watching your updates, and I hope I’m able to comment with a positive update as to my progress.
P.S. I easily have 800+ unread books (and it’s been well over a year since I updated my shelves on GoodReads), so you’re safe with me!
I’m so glad to be among other book lovers with hundreds of unread books on their shelves! 😂 I love that you are focusing on the kind of reader you are and not the kind you wish you were! That is definitely something I need to keep in mind as well.
And good luck on culling your library! Keep me posted on how it goes. 😊
I am IN!! I have SO many books, but lots of cookbooks, gardening books, all kinds of “how to” books; but even if I took them all away(any of that type) I’d still have HUNDREDS!
So I need to get busy.
Yay! So glad you’ll be joining. 😁 I have quite a few of those type of books too and still hundreds of others to read! I’m looking forward to tackling them next year!
I’ve had this on my to-do list for quite a while and was planning on starting in 2025. My books are all numbered within their genre/category. I’ll be using a random number generator to pick what I read next. It’s a little more complicated than what I describe but it works for me. My reading between now and the end of the year is going to be books loaned to me by a couple of reading buddies and then I’ll be good to go at the new year. It’s exciting!!
What a fabulous way of reading your shelves! I’m excited to see how you get on next year. 😁
Best of luck with your challenge. I’m going to do something similar. I really need to get through my backlist and unhaul what I don’t want to keep.
Thank you! And good luck to you as well. 😊
I have a library full of books that I haven’t read yet, and so I am definitely joining in! I get so caught up in the new book releases but I need to read more of what I have already
Yay! I’m so glad you are joining in! We will keep each other accountable.
Another subscriber is challenging herself to read immediately any new books she buys. That might be a good way to still enjoy some new releases and not add more to your unread shelves! I’m considering doing the same. 😊
🙏 definitely will join you in this challenge🥹
Wonderful! 😁
Im excited about this challenge!
For me, this is about curbing my shopping habits. Books (ebooks and physical) and body care are my weaknesses and I want to focus on appreciating and enjoying what I have rather than spending mental energy and money on acquiring more. I have around 200 unread on my Kindle and easily the same number unread on my shelves. Even though I read a lot, thats excessive and I want to focus on working through what I have!
Good luck to everyone on their 2025 reading journeys!
I’m so glad you are joining in! I agree that curbing my book buying is a big part of why I’m doing this. Anything I do purchase I want to be very intentional about. We can do this! 😊
I will be doing a similar challenge in 2025, need to get my physical TBR under a little more control. I'm still working out exactly how I will plan it, but I love seeing so many booktubers planning to do something like this in the coming year.
I am so glad you will be joining in! It sounds like there will be a lot of us trying to work through our shelves next year! 😊
I love Bill Bryson, Anne Lamott and Maeve Binchy! And I easily have more than a thousand unread books on my Kindle alone, so don't feel bad about your totals. I have been trying to only buy physical books that I read and loved, AND want to reread. You have inspired me to go through my Kindle collections and make a list for next year. Good luck with your challenge! PS: Saw in the comments that you have And The Ladies of the Club, which is so good.
I love all those authors too! And I’m so glad I’m not alone in having hundreds of unread books! And the Ladies of the Club is going on my big book summer challenge TBR! I’ve heard wonderful things about it.
😮
Hi Jen, I am also a Jen. I live in Melbourne Australia and I will be delighted to join your challenge. I have only restarted my reading journey this year and I am not as prolific a reader as you but I am enjoying learning of authors I have yet to read from you and other booktubers. So I am challenging myself to at least one book per month from my own shelf and one new author to me from the library.
Hi Jen! I am so glad you have restarted your reading journey - that is wonderful! I like how you are keeping your goal simple and also incorporating new authors into your challenge for next year. I love that! Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this year?
So far this year, my favourite would be The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I saw the movie years ago but didn't remember much and wasn't prepared for how many tears I would cry.
@@JennyMorris-ll5ct I love Sue Monk Kidd but that is one of hers I haven’t read but need to!
I have to do this! I have quite an extensive library.. though I have read most...I must get back into this habit.... I'll join you...I will read 100 books in 2025.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you want to participate! 😁 That sounds like a great goal.
@@jensreadinglife Thank you! I've allowed technology to get in the way of my focus and peace...I know the many health benefits of reading..but I've allowed myself to become lazy. There's a good book by Johann Hair titled Stolen Focus....it address the distractions of our tech world.
I think we all are prey to technology these days! I’ll have to look for that book. I’m always wanting to curb my screen time and spend more time reading and doing other hobbies. 😊
Definitely need to halt or significantly slow book buying and library borrowing and need to read even more off my shelves. I like your idea of reading at least 4 from home library before getting more (from the library or bookstore.) A total ban would send me straight to the store (has the opposite effect.)
I have no idea how many unread books I have. I’ve even accidentally rechecked out books I have already read.
I only started counting and recording (on index cards of all things! & in my planner) each book I read in 2023. Read 100 books in 2023 and so far 102 this year. Before that, less than that each year but, really have no idea; maybe 1-3 every 2 weeks. Tracking & counting wasn’t something I ever did. But, since I have so many & have read so many, tracking has its benefits now. Maybe I will check out that app, but only if I can scan the bar code. Otherwise, too much data entry.
Still a seasonal & mood reader so, the more rules, the less likely I am to follow them. 😏Guess I am a feral reader.
I agree that a total buying ban is a bad idea. It affects me the same way!
And you can both scan the barcode into Book Buddy as well as input the ISBN. If it’s an older book printed before ISBN’s you will have to enter it manually but most books go in quick and easy! All the basic information goes in automatically but if you want to add things like where the book is in your home, the date you purchased it, etc. you do need to add those manually.
I'm definitely in. I too have hundreds of unread books. I have to count my books to get an exact number. I need to not check out so many library books and read more of what I own.
The library i such a blessing but it does get in the way of reading books off your own shelves! I’m so glad you are joining in the challenge. We can keep each other accountable. 😊
😂I have around 5000 on my kindles!!! My TBR physical list is at 166 as of today, but I have so many more. My goal is to read 150 of the physical books this year. Lofty goal…
That’s a fantastic goal! And 5000 Kindle books - WOW!!!
What I do is - read one from my shelf, then a library book, then either a YA or MG book. Then repeat that process. I feel I get the best of all my worlds by doing it this way!
I love that you have found a system that works for you! That is fantastic!
New subscriber here!
I love BookBuddy! In 2019 I had about 245 books on my shelf. Now I’ve multiplied that by 10 and I have that many again on my kindle. Good golly I need to read solely from my shelf for the rest of my life. 😱
I’ve been collecting book reading challenges for 2025, and I plan to fulfill the requirements from my supply. 📚 📚📚📚📚📚
Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found my channel. I love that you are planning to do reading challenges next year from your own shelves!
It can definitely feel like we need multiple lifetimes to get through all our unread books. I’m hoping this challenge will help a bit. 😁
@@jensreadinglife I used to be ashamed of my book numbers, but I’m combating that by reading the plethora of amazing books. 😌 thank you for the welcome!
@@kamidsjournee That’s about where I am. I’m hoping I live long enough to get through all of my books - at least once! But I really don’t need to be buying anymore.😊
@ I’ve figured out I need to read 120 books a year for 20 years to get my physical TBR to zero. 😬 yikes!!!
@@kamidsjournee 😂I’m afraid to figure mine out. And 1884 on my kindle 😳 (though many were free early on and most were .99 -2.99). I’m 66 and praying that I live long enough and don’t have dementia or something, so I can get them read. Some are duplicates of books I ended up finding used, so maybe that’ll help.
I’m in. I’m planning to read almost exclusively from my bookshelves and my kindle purchases that I already have. Honestly that would probably keep me busy for the rest of my life. But I do read a new one here and there usually. I’m trying really hard not to buy anymore though because my collection is almost complete and I’m not starting a new one. My favorites are definitely the old ones many of which have been reprinted by DSP Furrowed Middlebrow, Persephone and others.
I’m so glad you will be joining in! It is hard to resist buying books…which is why I’m not banning myself from it entirely. I know myself too well and that is a recipe for disaster! 😂 Another subscriber is only going to buy books she’s going to read immediately and I’m thinking I might do the same. Then it’s not getting added to my unread shelf!
What a great challenge. I am in…. I think I have at least as many unread books as you. I need to add my physical books, ebooks and audiobooks. I would love to participate. Thank you! ❤
Wonderful! I’m so glad you’ll be joining in.
The Book Buddy app has been so good for tallying up all my books. Though the number of unread books is a little terrifying! 😳😂
@ Thank you so much Jen, I really appreciate it. I think I will log all the books in the app…. It will be a big job 😂 ❤️
@@gabrielaspaull6238 it is a very big job! My goal is to try and get all my TBR books entered in the next two weeks we will see how I do! 🤞🏻
@ It would be great to have all your tbr books entered during December, before the start of the 2026 challenge. Good luck! 🤞
Firstly, Congratulations on reaching your goal! Secondly, I'm going g to have to rewatched this to write down your suggested parameters. I am going to try SO HARD to read only from my "shelves"; really HUGE tote bags I can't even lift! I only have 4 medium size bkcases in my SMALL apt. I need to buy taller ones. I think I have approximately 400+ unread bks, not counting my kindle. I have no idea how many on that. Like you I prefer the actual bk. for the same reasons, so I tend to forget the kindle bks. IF I do this, and I feel I really MUST, I will not participate in any book tubers challenges; except your Emma M. Lion because I already bought the first 2 vol. Just rendered as I'm looking at them; that number does NOT include my Christmas bks, nor the 4 large decorative boxes in my bdrm. Also have 6 bks. on the way from Blackwells and Amazon. See how BAD I am!!!! No control whatsoever!! I LOVE to BUY bks. and it is a SEPARATE love from reading!I HAVE to do this, I just HAVE to. It's getting hard to walk in here😑😋😑😑
I hear you, Eileen! I’m glad we can support each other next year as we try to read our shelves! We can do this! You can always reach out to me if you need extra accountability! 😊
I have a lot of unread books that I haven’t gotten to yet. I do buy books on Amazon even though I have unread books at home. I am a huge mood reader and if I get in the mood to read a particular book and if I don’t own it I end up buying it. I haven’t been to the library in a very long time. I buy lots of books on Amazon instead of reading my unread books. Since it’s almost December I have a lot of Christmas books I plan to read coming up. I am also a huge romance reader.
The call of mood reader is strong! This happens to me too. One of the things I’m planning to do next year is “shop” my own shelves to see if I can find books to fit my mood or that are similar to a book I hear about that I am suddenly in the mood to read. I’m hoping this will help me curb some of my book buying and get me to read what I own!
Many of my unread books are on my Kindle. I am not going to buy books to meet prompts on the 52 Book Club challenge as I have done for the past few years. I also have several unread paper books. I am going to key all these up in a spreadsheet to quantify them. The number is probably more than 200. I don't read very fast, either.
This sounds like a great plan! 😊
Humm, I'm not sure your goals are really going to cut it! lol, Have you thought of 'shop your shelves' rather than going to a shop? Can you order from the library, books that are on your shelf? Audiobooks of those on your shelf - yes, stay focused........Kindle, why have then downloaded until you plan to read.......wait, DSP on Kindle, OMG I didn't know that!! Spend more time with your lovely personal library and don't get distracted you have around 6 years worth of reading there.
I am actually planning on doing some Shop My Shelves TBR’s for next year so we are on the same page! If only I could stop hearing about books that sound so amazing. I’m just going to have to be better about noting them down but not buying them. And that’s what this challenge is all about. 😁
Sounds like a good goal and a well thought out, realistic plan.
I have an off topic question: in Booktube land is there any channel that comments in their reviews about content to help clean readers know what books don’t have foul language or sexual content?
There are quite a number of Booktubers who will share content warnings. I think it’s hard sometimes to know when to give a warning because everyone has different levels of tolerance. Are you looking for specific genres? If so, I might be able to direct you to a few people. 😊
@ thank you. I like all genres but really want clean content so any suggestions of UA-camrs who include that in their reviews would be welcome.
@@EJJohnson-cj4qn Krista at Books and Jams is very good about content. Also Kate Howe only reads clean content. Miranda Mills is generally clean as well though if it’s a very new book you may want to look up content warnings online. If I think of others, I will let you know. 😊
@@jensreadinglife, thank you. I really appreciate your help.
i have tried to read my TBR by joining book clubs following their prompts. it has been successful and i can read 40+ books from my TBR. For next year, i will restrict myself from buying too many books. I will only buy half of my can-read number, that is 20+ books each year. Sounds like a mission impossible.
That sounds like a great way to read your shelves. And I think you can stick to your buying goal! Let’s do this! 😁
I am in. I will start on my book piles stored between my book cases. I need to count them all. But once I read a book I have to decide what to keep. How do you all do that?
I’m so glad you want to participate Janet! I keep books that I really loved and think I might want to read again. I also sometimes keep a book that is really beautiful even if it wasn’t a favorite!
I’ll have to put up a poll and ask people to share how they decide to keep their books!
It changes. I used to keep everything. Then I finally started to get rid of ones I didn’t like as much. Then I decided - hey - why don’t you get rid of all your three star books? Thing is, in most cases you can get hold of a copy of a book again if you think about it later and want to reread it. so far I absolutely cling to all my five and four star books. I have quite a few….🤦♀️
@@janetsmith8566 I think that’s a great way to do it. Of course, this only works if you have shelf space to keep them all! 😂
I want to try and to an A to Z. Challenge in 2025 but going to try this from books from my shelve or library books!
That sounds so fun! I hope it goes well. 😊
I am choosing all of my 25 in ‘25 books from my unread list.
Wonderful! ❤️
Oh Jen…… I have no idea how many books I have on my shelves and Kindle that are unread. My excuse is that I am a re-reader….. but I also buy and have become the person to whom people give their books. It needs to be a no-buy year for me, possibly several no-buy years but between you and Miranda Mills can I do this? 😂😂😂
I hear you! And I’m sorry if I’m one of the reasons your unread books keep growing! 😂 Hopefully we can motivate each other to read off our shelves next year.
I would like to join you in reading my bookcase!
Wonderful! I’m so glad you want to join me. 😊
Don’t hate me because I have only four unread books on my shelves.😆
No bragging, MJ! 😆
I was in that situation about 2-3 years ago. Then I started buying used books at yard sales. After finishing an okay book I would swap it out at a little free library. I learned that my library has a bargain day for their used book sale. My town got a used bookstore. Now I find myself with a bookshelf that is overflowing with unread books. Only a handful of my unreads were bought new so I don’t feel bad about the amount of money spent.
@@EveningReader 🤣
@@amyschmelzer6445 That's how it starts. With one yard sale.😆
😂
I have this goal but I get diverted by new releases!
That happens to me too!
I’m probably about even with you in unread books!!! You putting your hand in front of your face is how I feel about it too!!!😬🫣😆
😂😂😂 I was so embarrassed at my number! But it seems like I shouldn’t be since so many others said they have similar numbers to mine! Solidarity! 😁
I totally saw my books as my personal library and happy space, until…. I joined booktube! 🤦♀️. Now it’s a to do list….
Oh no! I hope you can find a way back to seeing the joy of your personal library!
So many booktubers are in a vicious cycle of hauling and unhauling books. It just repeats over and over on their channel.
It’s an easy cycle to get into. Books can be found so cheaply and it’s easy to buy ones you later decide you don’t want to read. I’m hoping reading my shelves will curb that cycle to a degree. 😊
I'm sure that at one time I planned to read all the books I own. However, as I will be 75 in 2025 and currently own 405 unread books and am still buying books, it becomes increasingly unlikely I will read them all.
There are so many books in the world that I want to read and I know I’ll never get to them all…but it’s fun to at least try!
And 75 in 2025 - I hope it’s a wonderful year for you!
@jensreadinglife I did the math and about 2/3 of the books I read in 2024 were from my own shelves, but I still had a net gain. The next biggest category is ebooks from my libraries. I did cull some books I'm no longer interested in reading. I need to set some rules re buying new books on 2025 🤔
I do not pay new prices for books.. I buy books from book sales, thrift stores and from used book sites..
I buy more secondhand books now than ever before but I do still love a brand new book. 😁
Jen
There is a mug I ordered from Amazon awhile ago that said
YES I DO NEED ALL THOSE BOOKS! ❤️
It sold out and I didn’t get my mug. 🥹
It is a wonderful blessing to have.
As an older was/ a /homeschooler/ mom, I have books that fill up space I don’t know how to categorize now. Besides all my books acquired over my life.
I won’t share my kindle quantity here😹
Enjoy all the books🥳
Love that mug! It’s so true! It is a wonderful blessing to have so many books. Now I just want to read them! 😁