Culling the TBR Pile 7

A blogger called Lia from Lost in a Story created a kind of meme thingy called Down the TBR Hole that aims to cut your TBR pile of the books you no longer want to read and remind yourself of the ones you do want to read.

The process:

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
Order on ascending date added.
Take the first 5-10 (or more if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
Read the synopses of the books
Decide: keep it or should it go?

Culling the TBR Pile This Week:

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This was recommended to me, but I’m looking for an AMAZING book, not just an OK one. This one is getting culled.

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

Supposedly this is a very loose adaptation of Snow White, which explains the apple on the cover, but I’m not that interested in reading about a girl whose dead twin hangs around and her romantic entanglements. It doesn’t around amazing anymore and my friends are equally not as excited having read it I’m culling this one.

Growing Pains by Billie Piper

Um, HELL YES I still want to read this. This is Piper’s autobiography, and she was a popstar at 16, married at 18, and cast in Doctor Who in her early twenties. While I don’t think this talks about Diary of a Call Girl which I also adored, I really do want to know more about Piper, so I’m keeping this one on my list.

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

I took a long time to think about whether I still wanted to read this or not. This is an alternate WWI steampunk-fae retelling of Jane Eyre, which is a classic novel I really enjoyed, and I thought maybe I DID want to keep it on my to-reads pile despite not being in my library and despite none of my friends falling in love with with books once they actually read it, and then I remembered I need to be strong and get rid of books that just don’t excite me anymore, and then I realised that this one simply does not, despite its gorgeous cover and interesting premise. I’m culling it.

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

This is a sequel, and sequels to unread first books in series get culled. End of story.

The Princess and the Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison

As above, this is another sequel, and my culling rules are to cull sequels of first books I have not yet read. This one is getting culled.

Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

While I do remember adding this because I liked the idea of an orphan pickpocket turned Court spy whose job it is to protect Queen Elizabeth, I am not interested, in this case, to read about a girl who is briefly trained, never thinks, and is constantly surprised at the consequences. I don’t mind if characters make the wrong decision if they’ve thought it through or in the heat of the moment it seems like a good idea but isn’t, but I can’t stand characters who think they are smarter than everyone else, or characters who are supposed to be protector-types who are easily overpowered or otherwise helpless. I’m culling this.

Imposter by Susanne Winnacker

Despite this being Animorphs with no aliens, I am completely over supposedly highly trained teenagers sucking at doing what they’ve been highly trained to do. I mean, I love me some teenage angst and I understand teens don’t make the best decisions, but I have little patience for magical powers that work or fail at the convenience of the plot. This one is getting culled.

Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder

OK, the reason I don’t own this despite loving Maria V Snyder is because it’s middle grade and I thought it was about storm chasers? But it’s actually about a guy who just wants to pick his own puppy? I so want this. I think I’ll buy it real soon. I’m keeping this one.

Deerskin by Robin McKinley

A while ago I read the short story Thinner Than Water by Saundra MItchell, based on Cat-skin/Donkeyskin, in the collection Grim edited by Christine Johnson. I remember looking for a good Catskin/Donkeyskin adaptation and added this one to my list. While it’s a horrific story, I have seen McKinley’s version described as having wonderful writing and an excellent main character, which is why I am going to keep this one. Oh yeah, and I like princesses.

VERDICT

Removed: 7

Kept: 3

What do you think? Should I have kept any books? Have you read any, and what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!

About Nemo

A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.