The Sword and Laser discussion

I was inspired by podcast #83 (Lady Lair) to ponder how I use my to-read bookshelf, and I wondered how the rest of you use it.

Mine is crazy, something like 885 books, a clear reflection of how I use it - just tagging books as soon as I hear about them, without prioritizing or only putting the "next" books on there. This doesn't even include the tangible lists I have, such as the dystopian lit list, the prize winners, and so on. That would be hundreds more.

I still find it useful the way I have it. I don't need to read books in a particular order, and I like to kind of thumb through the covers until something grabs me, or I might just start at the beginning and track those books down to knock them off the list. And I employ the 50 page test. At the same time, I might never get through them all (does this mean I live forever?)

At first I populated my To Read list with a few series that I'd always meant to get around to reading. Then it filled up with stuff I actually wanted to read. I keep a secret To-read list in my head to be honest, but it's only about three books long and more vague topics than actual titles.
Examples: Next Terry Pratchett book, something smutty and that involves werewolves, and an interesting piece of non fiction off Ben's list.

Who is Ben? And where is this magical list?
(This is my problem... I can't help myself....)

I put almost everything on my undecided shelf first. Especially books from the recommendations. Books on my on-deck list have to be in my possession: owned, borrowed or checked out of the library.

If I come across a book that looks interesting, I'll toss it on the TBR pile.

Every few months I'll go through and cull anything that no longer sounds interesting.

I don't really use the to-read list, at least not regularly. I have put books on there that I already have, so chances I will actually get around to reading them are pretty good. Also, I think I used it once or twice to add the S&L book pick when I didn't have the time to start reading it rightaway.

I have my Amazon wishlist which is where I put up most of the books I want to read. It's the easiest for me because this is also where I go buy most of my books, so I just have to click one button. Also, I download samples on my Kindle, which I guess is another way to make a to-read list.

The Goodreads to-read bookshelf is a nice edition and I can imagine other users using it to really keep track of their future reading plans, but it's not really for me.

I limit myself, by mirroring my actual shelves; I tend to only put books on my to-read that I actually have, or have on order at the library. I have made a couple of exceptions, the new Nick Harkaway and Mary Gentle books.

I tend to throw every book I have in my current collection which I haven't read yet (which has expanded significantly after getting my Kindle due to all the free ebooks available). I occasionally throw new releases in there for series I'm actively following, such as anything related to Discworld, A Song of Ice and Fire or the Demon Cycle. But generally I just keep it to remind myself what I already have available and haven't touched to try and stop myself getting even more books that I'll have and won't read for a looooong time.

Paul 'Pezter' wrote: "I limit myself, by mirroring my actual shelves; I tend to only put books on my to-read that I actually have, or have on order at the library. I have made a couple of exceptions, the new [author:Nic..."

Awesome. There's a new Harkaway book. I know this is off-topic, but it's a good thing I know now.

My "to read" shelf here on GR is a list of books that I've come across (either as recommendations, from reading reviews here, or reviews elsewhere) that I want to read. When I find a particularly good deal, I buy a book if it's on my "to read" shelf or if it sounds interesting or if there is buzz about it. At that point, it stays on my Kindle or iTunes until I get to it. Once it comes time to find something new to read, I first go through what already is in my library. If nothing there is striking my particular fancy, I end up buying something that DOES off my "to-read" list.

I posted what books are already on my Kindle and iPod/iPhone in the "Stuck in an airport" book thread. As you can see, the list is long...luckily, I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling in the coming month!

Yeah, I throw things on my Goodreads to-read list fairly often (it's at 209 books). I probably should start tagging things "science fiction" "history" "won the '09 UltraIncredible Award", etc., but it's just a grab-bag currently. I do occasionally browse it see what'll grab me for a next read.

I use my Goodreads "to-read" shelf differently. I use it for books the books that I gave up on or just got tired of reading at that point in time. I don't want them in the read or the currently reading list, but I like knowing what page I stopped on in case I pick them up again later. So I move them from Currently Reading to To Read, so that I can keep track of where I stopped.

Meggie wrote: "I use my Goodreads "to-read" shelf differently. I use it for books the books that I gave up on or just got tired of reading at that point in time. I don't want them in the read or the currently reading list, but I like knowing what page I stopped on in case I pick them up again later"

Ah, I created a custom shelf for that: "abandoned but tempting". But I didn't track current page status before moving books onto it - I should start doing that.

Meggie wrote: "I use my Goodreads "to-read" shelf differently. I use it for books the books that I gave up on or just got tired of reading at that point in time. I don't want them in the read or the currently r..."

You can set up other 'exclusive shelves', i.e. ones that work like 'read' or 'currently reading', to store your abandoned books, I have a 'not finished' shelf and I usually put a holding review noting whether it was set aside with or without prejudice.

Anne wrote: "Awesome. There's a new Harkaway book. I know this is off-topic, but it's a good thing I know now."

Indeed! Release date for Angelmaker was originally November '11, but it's been put back to February

Kate wrote: "You can set up other 'exclusive shelves', i.e. ones that work like 'read' or 'currently reading"

I didn't know that, Kate, and it's not obvious how to do so. Could you give any pointers?

Paul 'Pezter' wrote: "Kate wrote: "You can set up other 'exclusive shelves', i.e. ones that work like 'read' or 'currently reading"

I didn't know that, Kate, and it's not obvious how to do so. Could you give any pointers?"

Yes, please do! I noticed that one of my GR friends had an "under consideration" bullet and I wondered....

On the "My Books" page, click on the word edit beside the Bookshelves heading. There you can mark shelves exclusive or sticky. Sticky shelves are new, they just appear in the lists between the exclusive shelves and the other custom shelves.

Deborah wrote: "On the "My Books" page, click on the word edit beside the Bookshelves heading. There you can mark shelves exclusive or sticky. Sticky shelves are new, they just appear in the lists between the excl..."

Excellent, it's obvious now you point at it ;D Thanks!

You're welcome.

Kate wrote: "Meggie wrote: "I use my Goodreads "to-read" shelf differently. I use it for books the books that I gave up on or just got tired of reading at that point in time. I don't want them in the read or ..."

That's so exciting!!! I just set up an "abandoned" shelf. Now my to-read list is empty, and I'll have to decide how to use it!

Hmm, I only have books on my to-read shelf that I actually already own but haven't read yet.

For ones I maybe want to buy, I have a wishlist-shelf. Makes it pretty simple to keep them apart. And then there's tags for genres etc.

'Waiting on my shelf' is for all the unread books I own.
My 'to read' shelf is a jumble of just about any book that has sounded interesting since I joined GR. It's edging 800 books at present.

Sticky shelves sound useful..

Esther wrote: "'Waiting on my shelf' is for all the unread books I own.
My 'to read' shelf is a jumble of just about any book that has sounded interesting since I joined GR. It's edging 800 books at present.

Sticky shelves sound useful.."

They are, especially if you have a lot of shelves. Otis gave us sticky shelves because when he was cleaning up some of the shelf names, he removed and made invalid the leading dashes some of us had been using for sorting purposes.

I have 700-800 books at home, that I haven't read yet, so I've put most of them on my to-read Goodreads list.

I use my Amazon wishlist for books in English that I might want to read at some point, at the moment there are about 500 titles.
Books in Danish I want to read I either get from the library or write down on a list on my fridge (so I'll remember the titles, and have inspiration for my wishlists for birthday and christmas).

My 'to-read list' isn't so much a list, but a single heuristic: The more attractive the cashier at the bookshop, the more esoteric the books I buy!

Opps.. I just broke my own rule about only putting books I physically have available on my 'To Read' shelf.

When I read the synopsis of the upcoming Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi, I had a quick chuckle and just had to add it.

Two points to Nevan for use of the word heuristic. (Sounds snarky but meant with genuine admiration)