Read What You Own 2026

I'm in too. I've read hardly any physical books I own this year and I really need to get to some of them before they deteriorate. I'm contemplating turning off the kindle daily deals email to save money. I don't like that feeling of coming across books at the library I've paid for and haven't read yet even if it was only 99p. I do have loads of books on my kindle. I always want to try and read books when I'm at the peak of my excitement for them.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/15/elizabeth-jane-howard-niece-louisa-young-cazalet-chronicles-books

I’m feeling slightly twitchy at this idea even though I know it’s a good one!
As well as RWIO, I also need to get back to my routine of 2 fiction to 1 other. I have a lot of biographies & historical books on my kindle as well as various self help style books

@Kayemm oh yes sorry! It is a follow on from the Cazalet Books. Written by the author's ( I think niece) I will go and find title now.

@Boudy what is it?

I do really want to read The Correspondent. It's out in May, I can clear my TBR by then...

I'm in definitely.

I'm not counting the size of my TBR pile but I shall clear it before I spend more money on books, apart from my 6 book group books. ( We meet each month but me and a mate always share the book).

Apart from a few gifts all my books come from charity/second hand shops and I think that part of my problem is I buy a lot that once I get round to them I can't remember what interested me in the first place.

I have an 'Abandoned ' shelf on Goodreads!

What a good idea. I am putting it out here that I am going to buy ONE book this year.!! It is out in Sept. I am going to read through my physical and kindle piles( as much as possible!).Will I be able to buy only one book🤔

Thanks for the new thread.

Enjoyed the previous thread, and that it helped me to reduce my massive virtual TBR pile.

Will continue in the same way, focusing on the books I already have (especially the oldest ones), but if I spot any interesting bargains I give myself permission to snap those up 😆.

I'm in!

In line with it, I'm also going to dedicate 4 hours a week to reading books that I already own.

This means that I don't have to deprive myself of new or library books completely but at least means I will be getting through what I actually own.

Every week=4 hours on my own TBR, no matter what.

Joining goodness knows how many books I have but that’s a good aim read half of what I own. But allowing myself to borrow books from BorrowBox p.s will also fail miserably too but the thoughts there lol

Such a good idea! Especially as I just got given a tonne of books for Christmas and have literally no where to put them but a windowsill 😂

Watching for now. I have over 100 books unread (all paper, no kindle or audio) but if I commit I fear I will fail, as with the 50 books challenge this year.

Signing in, back later with goals!

I definitely need this! My bookshelves are groaning and my kindle is stuffed full, and yet somehow there are always more books to buy.

I like your goal @ÚlldemoShúl of at least half your reads being RWYO - I'm going to go for that too.

Yesterday I sat down and wrote a list of 30 books I already own both physical and ebooks that I want to read next year before I'm allowed to buy anything else.

Ooh cracking idea. I have so many books sitting patiently to be read, yet I keep buying more. Partners the same, so no help, lol. My 2026 aim is to take proper chill time when I need it and read an actual book, not fanny about on my iPad, lol.

Thank you for the thread

I've been decluttering for a few years and books are my sticking point, because I don't see them as clutter and think 'oh I'll read that one day' then buy more

My aims

1. Get some 'outs' - some probably aren't for me any more and can be donated. The others I should actually read then pass on.

1. Cut down on 'ins' I've got enough. I have been using the library and Borrowbox more for book club ones.

Some books I will want to keep but the vast amount aren't going to be ones I want to read twice or classics.

Thanks for the inspiration