Spring Cleaning MBJ’s TBR

Reading Time: 6 minutes

For this week’s TTT, I (Carmen) am taking the idea of spring cleaning very seriously. But due to my somewhat ridiculous attachment to the books on my TBR and the unfortunate habit of constantly adding to it, the list never really decreases in size. I’m sure that in the bookish community, I’m not alone in my situation. This summer, though, I am going to do something about it.

I have decided not to take classes this summer for myriad reasons, focusing my attention on a job (hopefully in a library) and the blog. I know, I know we’ve made that promise before. In the spirit of focusing the majority of my attention on reading this summer, this list is the books that I’m basically tired of having not read or of seeing on my TBR.

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is, without doubt, a classic. And I honestly am not sure how I managed to make it this far in my life and, more concerning my degree, not having read it. I’m not one to suggest that the classics are the end all, be all of literature. But the number of adaptations that this book has spurned alone should have made me read it, and I love all the adaptations I’ve seen. The hate-to-love trope in romance novels is my favourite, so Pride and Prejudice should have been a no-brainer.

At any rate, before the end of the summer, I want to have finished this book and get it off my TBR. I’m tired of scrolling through my TBR and seeing it there, like a taunt, saying, “you’re missing out not having read me.”

The Bridgertons Series

By Julia Quinn

Ah, The Bridgertons! I think by now, everyone and their mother has watched or heard about the Netflix show. I haven’t finished the first book in the series: The Duke and I, yet. As a result, I haven’t watched or allowed Sash to watch the show. At this point, I want to read the entire series before even attempting to watch the show. But something tells me that it won’t fly with Sash.

My desire to get this series off of my TBR is entirely rooted in my desire to watch the TV show. Unfortunately, I can’t watch the show until I have read the book that, at the very least, corresponds with that season. Intellectually I know that desire is nonsensical, but I can’t help it.

Throne of Glass Series

By Sarah J Maas

Basically, my desire to read this series comes from Bookstagram because Bookstagram loves Sarah J Maas. I want to see what all the fuss is about. The Throne of Glass series is her first completed series, so I thought to start there. This series has practically been on my TBR since I first started one. As it turns out, I started the series but abandoned it. I talked about it in a post on the last books we abandoned.

I actually own the entire series. I bought them all at the same time in the miniature character collection. They are really cool editions because they are so tiny for one, about the size of an iPhone and secondly, the paper is something called scritta or Bible paper. It’s a really thin but strong paper that they use in bibles and other large books. Personally, I love reading off it; it has an excellent hand-feel.

A Court of Thorns and Roses series

by Sarah J Maas

I have tried to start this series previously, but I abandoned the first book, like the Throne of Glass series. This series is still ongoing, so getting all the books off my TBR will take a while, but getting caught up will be perfectly satisfying.

This is another series that has been on my TBR for a while and another series that Bookstagram is obsessed with. I have a serious fear of missing out on this series. Based on how many people seem to love it, it must be pretty good, and I want in on that goodness.

The Marrow Thieves

By Cherie Dimaline

The Marrow Thieves is another book that has been on my TBR for a while. I put it on the list because the cover appealed to me, then I completely forgot about it. Until it was recommended to me by one of my teaching assistants (TA), who had read it and really enjoyed it. I went to put it on my TBR and saw that it was already there.

For some reason, when someone recommends a book to me, I feel the need to read it fairly soon. I feel incredibly guilty not having read this book yet, even though I have never seen that TA again. They have no idea that I’m so guilty, nor do they care, but I do. Hence the reason I need to read it soon it is only going to continue to bother me.

Marley and Me

by John Grogan

I purchased a copy of this book almost ten years ago with plans to read it. I haven’t yet so I think it’s time I get it off my TBR. This isn’t an uncommon situation I find myself in. I would say that I have read about sixty percent of the books on my bookshelves. So, reading this one will feel excellent. Especially, considering that I love the movie.

Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies

by Ross King

This book is yet another book that I bought with plans to read but never got around to it, so it is still on my TBR. A couple of years ago, I went to an exhibit that the Art Gallery of Ontario was putting on about Mystical Landscapes, focusing on the impressionists. One of the paintings from Monet’s series on the Water Lilies was on display in the exhibit.

The painting was incredibly compelling. When browsing the gift shop after the exhibit, I came across this book and, of course, bought it with plans to read it when I got home. I got home but didn’t read it. I quite enjoy biographies and learning about art history, so once I start, this will hopefully be easy to read and get it off my TBR. Plus, it is so reminiscent of spring and is perfect for some spring cleaning.

The Iliad

By Homer

The Iliad has been on my TBR since elementary school. I had no idea what it was, but I was determined that I was going to read it, and so somehow I convinced my parents to buy me a copy and a copy of the Odessey. To this day, I have only glanced at it.

To make it worse, I was assigned to read most of it for a mandatory social science course that I took. You think I would have read it. Nope. I was pretty lucky that my professor did a detailed explanation of what happened and what he wanted us to get out of the reading. Nevertheless, I want to read this book. As a sort of right of passage and to get it off my TBR.

Under the Tuscan Sun

by Frances Mayes

To my chagrin, I have had this book; I almost read it. After I put it on my TBR, I went to the library looking for a copy. I proceeded to borrow it from the library and then not read it, for whatever reason. I still do want to read it making it perfect for my spring cleaning; I enjoyed the movie. And to be perfectly honest, I have long dreamed of doing what Frances Mayes did: renovate an incredibly old house and then live in it. Only I want a castle in the United Kingdom, preferably Scotland.

Worse Than War: Genocide, Eliminationism, and the Ongoing Assault on Humanity

by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen

Yet another book that I own and have only ever attempted to read. this one was a bit ambitious. I bought it in high school and even attempted to use it for a project, but I never got further than the introduction. So, it has sat on my shelf and TBR since.

The subject matter is and was infinitely fascinating to me. Hopefully, I will successfully read this book with age and experience, to get it off my TBR once and for all.

How are you spring cleaning your TBR?