Self Inflicted Library Overwhelm.

[OneBookTooMany]

I read a lot. I have many, many books on my TBR pile-I like this and I like adding to it!

But now, because I didn't want to buy more and more new hardbacks, I decided to join the library and, as sure as night follows day, I have allowed that list to get out of control.

I currently have 10 loans-4 are read and ready to be returned today, as well as another that I haven't read as someone else has reserved it. I another 20 on my reserve list, five of which have come in this morning.

I want all these library books-I cannot, I just can't, cancel my reserve list although I should or at least stop reading reviews and then dashing to add them to my library list. I have pulled back from buying books for my TBR.

I am beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed, as library dates mean I have to read in order and my TBR never shrinks because I am frantically reading library books. I do want to read them, I'm not ordering books that I don't want to read.

I know what the solution is but I can't implement it. Am I the only twit to have got herself into this situation or are there more of us?

My problem is I can reserve things and they might take 2 days or 2 months to turn up, so you can't plan!

Talking of pretty notebooks to write your To Read list, I have 2. Am currently adding new things to book 2 while still reading things from book 1, which I added around the millennium

Well, despite advice received on this thread, I have today collected another three from my library. I did hand two back, so I suppose in reality, I only collected one, IYSWIM. Surely a win!

I'm really looking forward to reading them though:
The Blood in Winter about events leading up to the English Civil War
That Dark Spring: a true story about death and desire in 1920s Provence
The Last Death of the Year-Sophie Hannah's latest take on Poirot.

Yes, @Fraudornot and @bibliomania , I know exactly what you both mean!

Hahaha I'm in this situation right now. I have 15 loaned 😱 I've had to buy a small bookshelf to accomodate them next to my bed as they were getting forgotten in a tote bag. I've justified it saying I can't get into town much so I might as well stock up whilst I'm there. I've just lost a weeks worth of reading time due to illness that came with incredible fatigue.
I think it may be a minor rebellion from only being allowed 3-4 book loans as a child per visit. Now I'm making my own adult decisions and look where it's got me. No regerts as they say.
😂

I like your style @AzureCats

@bibliomania from your three options I'd go with giving up human interaction. It's highly overrated especially compared with 'fictional character interaction'.

OP - the title of your thread is very charming ♡

I work in a library. I have 18 books reserved and 14 books at home currently. When it gets like that i stop ordering for a bit, but I have a good reads account where I list my want to reads. So when the list goes down I will add a few more from my wants to my reserve list.

I’m the same. I bought 3 more that came yesterday and the piles keep growing.

I think I'm better at fictional character interaction, @theproudgeek .

Gosh, this is completely me, too. I seem to go through phases of reserving from the library. Usually when I hit a combination of lots of books that I am keen to read only being available in hardback (can't justify buying hardbacks due to cost) and feeling a desire for the buzz of lots of new books to hold and look forward to (despite having piles and piles of unread books at home). Then, after a while, I get completely overwhelmed too. Piles of my own books to read that are neglected because I am working my way through library books. After a while I also get fed up with my library, as the books come in in drips and drabs, so I start to feel that I am constantly going back and forth to the library to either collect or return. Once this feeling sets in, I'm back to reading from my tbr piles.

Like pp have mentioned, keeping lists really helps. It's making sure I don't forget that I want to read the book, but being able to resist actually buying/reserving it. Sort of holding it there for the future. Of course, then I hit a weak moment (like when World of Books do a 3 for 2 offer) and purchase about 10 at a time and undo all my good work.... I also find that I try to read at least a few of my tbr books before reserving/buying any. I aim for a quick read one (physiological thriller type) that i will also donate to the charity shop afterwards and alternate with a more 'high brow' one that I am likely to want to keep once I've read it. That way I am also slowly getting rid of the books in my house - keep one, get rid of one and so on.

I just had to update here. Without going into any personal details my life has been pretty horrendous and reading was my only relief, except I couldn’t bloody readi because my mind shut down. Well, what do you know, life is a bitch. I had a bad fall, got a bad trauma to my head and ended up at the hospital. The trauma to my head affected my good eye and now I’m under the (absolutely brilliant care) of an eye specialist.

I don’t know, if anyone can explain I’m happy to hear but it’s like I’m looking at all my sanity saving books that I now am unable to read ((physically) and thinking wtf.

If anyone can spare some kind good thoughts I’d appreciate them.

That does sound like a nightmare @breezyyy , I'm so sorry that you're going through this.
The inability to concentrate is a horrible feeling for any avid reader, but when you add in physical and visual limitations, it must be completely crippling and overwhelming. Life is cruel sometimes 😔
I would suggest trying audio books temporarily but, if you're anything like me, that just won't be the same as the written word and the feel of a book in your hands. Let's just hope that things improve quickly and you can get back to reading and enjoying your books, and look forward to adding more to your collection.
Sending you my best wishes for a speedy recovery x

What a truly thoughtful and lovely thing to say @CoubousAndTourmaIet, thank you so much. ❤️

So I have a want to read list in good reads so I don’t forget, there’s currently around 70 books on there! But better there than in my house. I don’t buy books anymore.
I order up to 10 books from library at a time and usually have 5-10 on reserve. I read 1-2 books a week. But if I’m getting a backlog I do stop reserving for a bit. If I get a third into a book and I’m not enjoying it I drop it, life is too short! You can obviously renew books and if you have to return an unread book you can reserve it.

Sending you best wishes for a full recovery. Audio books definitely sound like the way forward. I too have problems concentrating but have managed to train myself into audiobooks by listening to short podcasts first and building up the time. Start with a 30 minute podcast, once that goes well a 45 minute one etc. Most libraries have an audio book lending service so perhaps start off with borrowing a free short story collection.

Thank you! I’ll give it a try temporarily but I know going forward I need the physical books. Going to remain positive and I am grateful for the brilliant care I’m being given.

So sweet of you, thank you.

Agree with book podcasts (I like Tea or Books and The Worst Bestsellers) and audiobooks. I still prefer written books, but if it's the right book, the audio can be great - it can feel quite intimate having it spoken into your ears. Not that I'm necessarily suggesting smut....

Sending you all the best @breezyyy and hoping this will all behind you before too long.

It's true that you can renew books but many of the books that I have out are instantly slapped with a Reserved, which means it might be a long time before I can renew them; so I find myself reading to the deadline the library has imposed and all because someone else wants to whip the book out of my hands!

I do get three weeks but if I have four books that all have to be returned on the same date-it's a problem.

It's especially a problem if I then start to read a book from my own pile-or buy one that I want to read immediately- because that is the level of stupidity I am operating at.

Also @breezyyy , I started a thread on here-it is still on the first page- about booktubers.

Sometimes, it is nice to see others talking about books especially if it is someone whose tastes you more or less share. I have listed ones I like and so have other posters.

It is nothing like reading but it is book talk in short bursts and they don't require heaps of concentration.

It's especially a problem if I then start to read a book from my own pile-or buy one that I want to read immediately- because that is the level of stupidity I am operating at.

Oh I usually read what I fancy, whether it was next on the list or not. Very normal 😀

You can re reserve them you will get it back when the next person (or people) have finished.

Yes, but that might be a long time-sometimes the reserve list is more than 10 people- and by then they will be grubby and not the shiny new books that I ordered.

I want my library to make an exception for me, realise that I have this problem and allow me to keep books for as long as I want!

Also, my library charge for every reservation. Do many people live in areas where library reservations are free?

I’m in Australia and our state has free reserves and inter-library loans. So when I reserve books they sometimes come from all over the state, including small isolated libraries. It makes the process even more interesting.

Am I the only person who gets a real sense of achievement when I return more books than the pile that are waiting for me?