Lost in a Story began this idea for blog posts as a way to edit a growing to-be-read list. You take your Goodreads TBR list, sort by ascending date added, and look at the oldest 5-10 items on your list. If you haven’t read them by now, are you likely to? Why or why not?
I began using Goodreads in September of 2012. In my first five attempts at culling my Goodreads TBR I removed 24 books. Lets hope this time I can increase that number.
I’ve reread the Goodreads blurbs for each of the following and based my decision on whether the blurb still piqued my interest.
My 6th ten oldest titles on my Goodreads TBR
“Nina Todd has gone” by Lesley Glaister (Goodreads rating 3.38)
A man Nina meets at a conference won’t take no for an answer and shows up everywhere? Stalker? Infatuation?… Who is he and who is Nina? REMOVE
“Goodnight June” by Sarah Jio (Goodreads rating 3.81) ‘Goodnight Moon’ is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the “great green room” might have come to be. REMOVE
“Jane Eyre’s daughter” by Elizabeth Newark (Goodreads rating 3.11)
The only reason I chose this one was “Jane Eyre” – however after reading some reviews I’ve decided that I won’t bother… REMOVE
“Don’t try to find me” by Holly Brown (Goodreads rating 3.39)
When a 14-year-old runs away, her parents turn to social media to find her-launching a public campaign that will expose their darkest secrets and change their family forever. REMOVE
“The Butcher” by Jennifer Hillier (Goodreads rating 3.79)
A retired police chief leaves his house to his grandson Matt who finds more than he bargained for in the basement… REMOVE
“Safe house” by Chris Ewan (Goodreads rating 3.57)
When Rob Hale wakes up in a hospital after a motorcycle crash, his first thought is for the gorgeous blonde, Lena, who was on the back of his bike. The doctors and police, however, insist that he was alone at the scene.
Convinced that Lena is as real as he is, Rob teams up with Rebecca Lewis, a London-based PI and learns that even a close-knit community like the Isle of Man can hide dangerous secrets that will not stay safe forever… KEEP
“The angel gateway” by Jane A. Adams (Goodreads rating (3.26)
First in a series. After a bomb attack, Detective Sergeant Ray Flowers moves to his late aunt’s cottage. Old diaries refer to a visitor called Kitty who was burned as a witch in 1643, & like him, bore facial scars. He pieces together her life, & finds his own part in it. Still a little tempting… but REMOVE
“House of the lost” by Sarah Rayne (Goodreads rating 3.65)
Novelist Theo Kendal inherits the remote Norfolk house in which his cousin Charmery was murdered, he believes it will bring him closer to the truth about her death. KEEP
“Drowned” by Therese Bohman (Goodreads rating2.84)
Family secrets are revealed during an idyllic rural Swedish summer. REMOVE
“The uninvited guests” by Sadie Jones (Goodreads rating 2.96)
Historical ghost story set in turn of the century rural England. REMOVE
EIGHT more titles removed from my TBR! Result!
As I write this post, I have 1,848 titles on my Goodreads TBR!
With so many wonderful titles coming out every month, my total number doesn’t seem to be changing very much as I keep hearing about books that sound SO GOOD… so I have to add them…. don’t I ??
If you strongly agree or disagree with my decisions please let me know in the comments. I’m easily persuaded…. LOL I need all the help I can get.
Note: The one I really waffled about was “Don’t try to find me“. If anyone has read it and disagrees with my decision, I’ll gladly put it back on.
Fictionophile 
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I Feel so proud of you! 🙂 Keep removing!! 🙂
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Ha-ha! Thanks.
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I don’t like long lists. Looking at what’s in my Kindle is overwhelming enough, which is why I don’t put many on my Goodreads list.
And what if you wake up one day and decide that you want to read one of those books you deleted, Fictionophile? Hmm?
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Yes I agree. My long list came about as a result of working as a fiction cataloger in a public library. For a while there I was adding to Goodreads every blurb that appealed to me. Now I’m trying to be a bit more discerning.
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An impressive cull this time around, Lynne! 🙂
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Knowing that time is limited, I’m trying to be more ruthless Sandra.
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This is a fantastic idea. I think I’ll do this too! Thanks!
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Purging is therapeutic Davida. I highly recommend it.
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The only one I’ve read is the Sadie Jones. If I’m honest, I don’t really remember it (which probably says something in and of itself) but I do like her as an author.
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I’ve never read anything by Sadie Jones. Thanks for letting me know that you like her.
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Great job culling this week Lynne! I need to do this to. 🤔
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Thanks Zoe. It feels very ‘freeing’ to see your list dwindle – even if it is only a little bit.
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This is a good idea, I need to do something like this! My only problem would be finding those oldest books in amongst the many crates, boxes and shelves in the house since I joined GR in 2008 🙂
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Most of the titles on my Goodreads list are ones that I do not own, but mean to someday read. When one sparks my interest, I then buy it and read it. I think of all the money I’ll save as I delete titles that no longer appeal to me.
In your case Karen, if you already own them, it would be sacrilege to cull them from your TBR.
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Good job! I don’t know why hitting that delete button should feel so good, but it does. I think its because it gives you the temporary impression you’re in control of those addictive objects otherwise known as books!
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Haha. Yes Cathy, it DOES feel good to hit that delete button. I do not delude myself into thinking I have any kind of control though – LOL.
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Yes, it probably is illusory. In fact I know it is as I’ve just been compiling my list of new arrivals for this week, Oh dear…
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1800 plus books to read, Oh My that is an extensive list. How many books do you typically read in a year?
I thought I read a lot. HA HA
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Let’s put in this way…. I have to live for at least 18 more years. LOL
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I just went and bought three more books, Why would I do that you say, no wait you know why, because they called to me. UGH I want to read all three of them at once! Send help!
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I haven’t heard of any of these, but I support your decisions. Safe House looks the most interesting to me. I just might add it to my own TBR.
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That’s great. I love when a title I’ve posted about gets added to someone’s TBR. Thanks so much for letting me know.
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Well done on removing 8 and for keeping Safe House by Chris Ewan! 😉
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Aha! I guess that’s my cue for pushing “Safe House” up the queue a bit.
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I couldn’t put it down when I read it years ago!
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I think I need to try this, I’m back to my old book hauling ways and need a cull.
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It is cathartic Jill. I’m constantly adding titles and something has to give. 🙄
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