If you’re a reader, you have one or perhaps two to-be-read piles—one pile of books and/or a Kindle, Nook or other E-reader full. So how do you organize all those books?
I googled this topic and found a couple of useful articles and a few crazy/funny ones.
Bottom line is, every reader is different and will organize (or not) his or her TBR pile/lists his or her own way. But here are a few ideas . . .
*Did you get a free book in return for a review? These should always come first! Even if the book ends up on the bottom of your pile, dig it out and do what you promised to do. Not a very good story? Poor writing? Miserable plot? Skim through enough of the story to form an honest opinion, write your review, and be done with it. Please be kind, though. Authors put their heart and soul into a book. At least one or two positive things can be found in even the most awful story.
*Oldest to newest (or vise versa). I know, we’re always ready to read the latest and greatest authors/books, but sometimes you’ll find a gem in that stack of old books or at the bottom of the library list on your E-reader.
*Favorite authors first! When reading time is limited, I almost always reach for my favorite author because, at the end of the day (or book) I know I’ll be satisfied. Some choose to keep their favorite authors to savor last like a decadent dessert. That’s fine too, or better yet, sprinkle them amongst the others in your pile or on your list.
*Organize according to genre. This can be done on your E-reader by creating collections or shelves.
*Create a separate pile or collection for books in series and read in order. Most authors work hard to ensure any book in a series can be read as a standalone, but for me, I want to read them in order, especially if the same characters can be found in subsequent books. Books with the same setting or an item as the identifying character in a series can usually be read in any order.
*Books to movies. If you know a movie is being produced of a certain book, read the book first if possible! There is so much detail and description that can’t be squeezed into 90 to 120 minutes. With the exception of a couple of non-fiction titles, I always find the book so much more entertaining. Sometimes, however, you’ll find that a book was written after the movie premiered (think Hallmark). Again, if you love detail and description, read the book.
Reading is subjective, and each reader as different as the books they choose, so there is no right or wrong way to prioritize your TBR list/pile. The most important thing about having a TBR list or pile is to make time for reading! After which, please consider donating the books you enjoy but don’t deem true keepers.
Had no idea that I could make collections for e-books. Thanks for the tip.
With over 4000 kindle books, it’s hard to keep anything straight! Thank goodness for the “sort” and “collections” features! I organize by genre and by favorite authors… but it gets pretty unruly! LOL. And then there’s there Nook……
Oh, Jo…sounds like a challenge for sure LOL!
Wishing you the best of luck and God’s blessings on getting and staying organized.
Thanks for stopping by!
PamT
Thanks for the suggestion. I have so many books on my TBR and I often feel overwhelmed with when and how will I find time to read them. Also, I have a dear friend from Lake Charles. I went there five years ago. The food is great, especially the pork cracklin’s. Yummy.
Oh Maureen, if you head this way again let me know! I’d love to meet up with you. Hopefully your TBR pile will be smaller and more organized too LOL
Thanks for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
I must be the odd person, I don’t organize, when I finish a book I just turn to my right and grab one, if I have one of my Kindles in my hand I look at the covers of the books loaded and pick one. I don’t take books from authors if they want a review in a few days, I may buy it later, but my reading time is limited by work and my home life and I can’t guarantee that I’ll finish a book in a give time.
I try not to accept books for review either, Nancy but I do try to review those I read. I understand wholly about time limitations though. I’m sure most of us here do LOL!
THANKS for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
I am disable,I have MS,,63 almost 64 in March so yes,all I do is read or crochet and listen to books,or tv. Can’t move around that much anymore cause of my legs and back so I try to make sure I try to keep to a routine.like get up at 8,take meds,have my coffee with got to be hazelnut or its no coffee. The kids,I live with my oldest son,34,or he lives with me,depends on the day,lol,they know to make sure we don’t run out of my creamer,lol,they don’t want to hear my mouth if we are out!! I don’t ask for much in life but I do with my creamer!! Anyway,like I said try to have some kind of schedule like I’m doing something important!! Pretty bad when you have to pretend your busy and can’t go and do anything and it has to be from the chair or the bed! Anyway, now you know why so many books and I like doing reviews,lol,I pretend it’s my job! Go from nursing to a book reviewer!! Whatever works,right?? Love to be able to be one of those book readers and heard you can do from home but it has to be very quite and have to have certain stuff like a microphone,sound proof place stuff like that,don’t see that happening but it would be nice to get paid to do something like that at home. Guess I will be going into Assistant Living soon so All My money will be going into that so anything I can make extra will be mine! God has a plane just have to go have the patience to see what it is!! In the meantime,will read and do reviews! I did proof reading a few times,that pays very well but now these publishers have their own people and don’t hire from the outside anymore!!
Wow, Trick…. what an inspiration you are!
Yeah, you could start a blog and offer to review books….be careful though not to get bombarded.
Email me privately sometime (pthib07@gmail.com) and perhaps I can help you get something started.
THANKS for your additional comments.
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
What an great article, Pam. Thanks for highlighting how important reviews are to an author–especially if they were promised. I have many author friends, so my TBR is always growing.
Oh, I hear ya, Barbara! My TBR pile never seems to get smaller LOL
THANKS for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Hi Pam,
I so agree with you about offering reviews. Being a writer myself, I tend to offer positive comments rather than negative ones because I know how much effort we authors put into the creation of our work.
Yeah, even when it’s a difficult read, Jacqueline, I try to be nice and perhaps offer constructive criticism as well as positive feedback.
Thanks for stopping by!
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
I have so many books. I absolutely needed this advice on how to organize them. And I have to read them all AND finish them! There is no halves with this book addict.
I hear ya, Kara LOL!
All or nothing…
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
That’s a really good tip about creating collections in the e-reader. I have so many books stored there, plus paper books begging to be read. So many books, so little time!
Yep, the story of most readers’ lives, Alina…too many books and so little time LOL!
THANKS for stopping by.
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Great suggestions. I’m reading one now that’s not well edited, consequently is not well written. I wasn’t sure I’d read enough to review it but I’ll use your suggestion and read enough to review and move in. Thanks!!
Good, C. S. it’s the best thing to do. And, as I mentioned, even if the book isn’t well edited/written, you can mention that in the review to inform other readers and STILL say something nice about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Great article! Every book lover knows the quandary: so many books, so little time!
Aren’t you SO right, Robert!
THANKS for stopping by.
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
I’m so glad to read this post! I’ve wondered how to better organized my ebooks–I’m not adventurous with moving things around on my own because I’m good at ‘losing’ things 🙂 I do tend to read favorite authors first. Thank you.
So glad you found the post helpful, Barb!
I have collections on my Kindle and it certainly helps
Thanks for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
This is really great advice on the reading order especially since I like doing reviews! I have a kindle and as you suggested,I have my books in different collections as in,different author’s names and All their books together,ally my cozy stories together,when I finish reading a book it says books read in 2020,have net gallery books together cause they need All reviews,library books I check out,audio books together,guess you have the picture,it so helps. You are right,the reviews do come first and have tried to keep up and I think I over did myself on so many books to review and have found I can’t read All of them to keep up and it isn’t fair to the author of I can’t come through for them like I said I would do I have cut back. The ones that no do a review for it I didn’t get to finish the book but do a review I don’t mark as read cause it really wasn’t and I really want to finish the book! Anyway,it’s like when you see good and your hungry your eyes are bigger than your stomach,that’s how I am with my books!! Thanks so for All the suggestions! My goal for this year read books is 250-300,last year it was 200 and those were read All the way to the end,to me a book is not counted unless it’s read from beginning to end!! Hope they have books in heaven!!
Wow, Trick 200! That’s amazing! And you want to read more?
I applaud and envy you.
I could probably read more if I didn’t have SO much going on and SO many irons in the fire… All. The. Time.
THANKS for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
Sorry I left such a long reply,see talking and talking too much!!
No worries LOL!
My TBR pile is huge! Great ideas, Pam! Another great blog.
Aren’t they ALL Diana? LOL!
Thanks for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
This was very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Grace! Glad you found it so.
Good luck and God’s blessings to you
PamT
Great post! I tend to read books by people I know (either in person or through social media) first. Of course, the ones I promised reviews for have to be at the top of the list. And sometimes, when life is hectic, I look for something that’s short and sweet.
I’m the same way Patricia about the short & sweet books! I’ve purchased a few collections of those so I always have something to read!
Thanks for stopping by
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT