An upcoming book to be published in 23 countries and counting, a collection of board books, one for each season, a story about a woman spy returning after maternity leave, a look at what could have been two generations after a fairy tale, a house that lets two people centuries apart meet but which one is the ghost? There are two things in common between these books. The first is they are all upcoming or recently published titles, the second is I’ve been invited to read them.
Welcome, friend! I remember it like yesterday – a late August afternoon in 2019 when I received my first box of review copies from one of these publishers. It was exhilarating, then. It hasn’t lost its shine and wonder and I don’t think it ever will. Much has happened in between. So many years later, the books still come, and the humble ask (with fingers crossed) to connect with the authors or request from a catalog are accepted. How do I express in words the awe of holding a package with a label declaring it’s from “Saga Press” or the weight of a box with the symbol of a penguin and “Penguin Random House Canada” sprawled on the sides? Maybe these photos will give you a glimpse of how I feel.
The Temptation to Organize It
I developed a glorious spreadsheet to track what I requested and received. I added new NetGalley books to one tab, marked out publisher galley copies in another, my own personal read and to-be-read in separate tabs. I named this document My Top Thing and I returned multiple times a day.
When my daughter was born, my top thing changed. I updated this spreadsheet less and by the time a year had passed, I hadn’t made updates in over three months. In another season, I would have felt sad seeing it abandoned but in this one, this is evolution. I track different things now with different intentions.
Sometimes the urge to make a list, write out my upcoming TBR, make a goal to finish however many books a month, read a book before I make the interview questions still happens.
But I don’t follow through.
I’ve tasted freedom and reading what I need is exactly what I want. No self-assigned deadlines, no optimization of my time and energy.
Choosing to Read in Seasons
The last time I read a long 15+ book series was before my blogging days. My husband had gifted me Wizard’s First Rule, book 1 of the Sword of Truth series for Christmas 2015 and I spent the first half of 2016 reading this series in every spare moment, between classes, on the bus, on the couch while he played video games. Since, I have thought of many series to get into but even trilogies haven’t been much of a success.
Now, I don’t read like I used to so I have started to change the way I think about reading a series. It’s not a binging session; it’s actually a long game. I have embarked on reading Asimov after watching Foundation. I learnt that there is so much before that. It’s not going to take me 6 months. It might take me 6 years and I’m ok with that. I know I’ll keep returning as long as it’s good and thought provoking. I started at The End of Eternity and this first book was immersive beyond anything I have read! I still think about it two months after closing it the first time (I have opened it many times since). The Complete Robot is next.
I reread We Were Liars, a young adult psychological suspense novel to properly enjoy book 3, We Fell Apart, and I loved the trilogy as a whole. It gave me a chance to think about why I am drawn to these books when this is not my typical genre.
I have always been influenced by friends, Ariel’s recommendations in particular would get added to my TBR like a gut reaction. But I’m starting to notice the other readers in my life. One is a new friend and as I get to know her, I think of books I have read that I want to recommend to her and discuss with her.
It is happening! I shared book 1 of a series with her and she loved it and has now borrowed the second book from me. I am listening to it on audio because I haven’t read it myself. She is also reading a different fantasy series that I have wanted to read for a long time and I have brought it up to my study from my library so it’s around. Meantime, Ariel and I are pursuing different cozy fantasy series and leaving each other notes.
Closing Notes — The Philosophy
I always suspected I would read kids’ books once I had kids but what I never imagined was how I was going to get these books. Right now, there is a stack of picture books for ages 3-7 that I got from the publisher waiting to become a part of my library. My daughter is too young for them but I am looking forward to spending a few minutes reading about the fly in the chai. Maybe I will make some tea to go with it. And then coming up with questions for the author. And telling my mom about it. She is the special person I share chai with.
I mentioned in Curating a Library for a Young One that books at a young age are so much more than stories; they are sensory experiences waiting to unfold. I get to lead her through these for some years.
I am realizing as I type this that books can be a sensory experience at any age.
The warmth of a blanket covering my feet as I read.
The sweet scent of a mild candle lingering in the air while I turn the page.
The dim lighting of the room.
The scratching sound the pencil makes when I underline something in a paperback.
All of that is part of the reading experience.
Now that I notice these little things, how do I not savour them?
When I feel the inkling to get to a book faster, I tell myself that I will get to it. The best way is to follow my present interests. When the time is right, the book will be there for me. I am no longer obligated to publication dates, tour dates, must-read-before-interview/post. Those were all self-made restrictions anyway and slowly and surely, they have peeled away.
My TBR has been massive for a long time. Before, I pushed myself to read more of it. But I still added more than I read. Now, my daughter reminds me to take joy in the book in front of me and move on when another calls. I have made peace with chipping away without pressure. What will get read in this lifetime will be what gets read.
About TBR Tales
Dive into the world of TBR Tales, where the journey through the to-be-read pile becomes a rich narrative of literary exploration. Join me as I navigate the pages of books, reflecting on the joys, challenges, and unexpected treasures found along the way. From rediscovering old favorites to embracing new genres, TBR Tales is a celebration of the reader’s life. Thank you for reading. 🙂
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