Did I Achieve A Zero TBR? | End of 2022 Update

[@shannonsawaya]

You said the book you’re reading can so strongly affect your mood. Well, this video did that to me - it made me happy and cheerful. I love what you said about your past reading; curating your little stack of six books. What if you kept all 13 books, with a deadline to read them in the first quarter of the new year, and began to create fun bundles of 6 books based on your mood, mixing those older ones, the brand new exciting ones you’ve purchased and ones from the library? And you can make a video each time you have your new bundle, maybe include some vlogging and reviews when the stack is completed? You can let us know how it went, what you’ve DNF’d, unhauled, what you’re really in the mood for next, etc. I would just melt over that kind of video from you! 🥰

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Aww, thanks so much. I'm happy ti hear that! That's a great idea. I think mixing them in with newer books will keep me motivated. And doing a video on it will keep me focused. Watch this space 🤓

[@AnaMoShoshin]

With the last books on your TBR, I suggest doing what you used to enjoy: Take a look at all, order them and work your way through reading them like that. You'll end up deciding against some (maybe you'll get them from the library or not), DNFing others, or reading through your pile and priming yourself to go back to your old routines!! The you can focus on your new books.

[@KatieFinnElliott]

truly the marie kondo of booktube.

[@nancynurse4552]

No stats to share for 2022 except most of the physical books I own are recent purchases and I have on my reading plan for 2023,. My Kindle TBR is the exact opposite and I am working out how I am going to handle getting that down 50% this year. As for your books - my suggestion - keep Middlemarch (in top 50 books of all time, beautiful, and has significance to your channel). Spend an evening with the two short ones and be done with them. Unhaul those that are available at the library. The others, read one per month until done.

[@janethansen9612]

I do a no buy January specifically to read my tbr. It works really well. I also have a plan to include more classics in 2023 and I won't buy any new ones until I finish those already on my tbr.

[@Gagging4Lit]

yes, love using the library. It's nice borrowing a book and knowing it wasn't really worth holding onto and being able to give it back. Makes me appreciate the ones I do buy and still have on my shelves to read a lot more. And that's fascinating that Johnny can tell if you're enjoying a book just by how you're being around the house lol. I also still have Middlemarch to read.

[@avsambart]

I feel that because there's only 13 now and you have already bought them, it feels like a waste to get rid of book you've already bought once, to then borrow from the library, and then you're risking re-buying them if you do enjoy them? I think you should just save your money here and read them before you chuck them. So I would do your "spend an hour going through all 13" and also do your "order them and work through them" like you used to.

[@Nickelini]

You're an inspiration . . . not buying, DNFing, unhauling . . . I need to watch this video over and over :-)

[@beckybleaden]

Loved this as this was me before the pandemic, but due to lockdowns I got used to buying books in bulk from World of Books because I was reading faster then what I could buy and also buying loads of books that I thought I 'should' read. Now I also want to get back to having a few books on my shelves that I'm really excited about rather than reeling overwhelmed. Definitely inspired to sort this out in 2023!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Good luck!

[@1book1review]

Good job. The thing I learned reducing my TBR was also DNFing more (still not enough or fast enough) and unhauling books. Now I just buy less and can roll through my TBR books easily.

[@christinacampbellbooks]

Really enjoyed watching this discussion. I've enjoyed being on a low buy challenge for books for two years now. And tracking how much money I spend on books. I've been doing the same for clothes too. Another passion of mine ☺

[@InsertLiteraryPunHere]

I think you will love Middlemarch, mostly because it’s so character-based and psychologically insightful. And it builds and builds until the last two sections fly, they’re so intense! So I think you should do whatever is most likely to still make you WANT to read it. If that’s getting rid of the copy you own so you stop associating it with TBR pressure, then that’s what I’d recommend. Alternatively, if it means keeping that specific copy and looking for ways to hype yourself up about finally picking it up, then that’s what I’d recommend instead. (I recently saw a Twitter thread of someone saying something like “okay, please convince me to actually read Middlemarch” and the responses were really compelling and lovely!) Happy 2023 reading :)

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Thanks for the comment. I feel more compelled to read it after that description. I've decided to get rid of my copy because it's uncomfortable to hold but I'm still hoping to read it this year. So I'll either borrow it from the library or audiobook it. Happy 2023 reading to you too!

[@TheBookBully]

I admire this project so much (and you've inspired me to something similar 2023..more to come). I would recommend keeping Middlemarch because I think you'll enjoy it, and when I read it I really wanted to luxuriate in the reading experience so owning a copy was key! Its a fantastic piece of English lit and I think you'll be glad you kept it.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I'm only now replying just as your video has gone up 🤣 I'm definitely going to read Middlemarch this year but I'm getting rid of my current edition. I find it so uncomfortable to hold!

[@zehrazaidi4293]

I would keep the 3 you instinctively wished to keep. I really think you might like Jamaica Kincaid. On TBR, I keep my TBR between 10-25, but my happy spot is around 15 books with enough variety for mood reading (the number only goes close to 25 at birthdays or Christmas or my local Cheltenham Literary Arts Festival that is too tempting!). If I have books unread for more than a year, I either make a point of reading during a long break or dnf. I DNF easily. Life is too short.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That's about where I want to be. I think I'd like a maximum of 20 owned unread books plus a maximum of 10 out from the library at a time. That way I always have a maximum of 30 to pick from 😊

[@zehrazaidi4293]

@@MercysBookishMusings 30 sounds like a good number. It will keep the excitement up and not have too many books lingering on shelves for too long ⭐️😬❤️. 30 allows you not to stress if suddenly you do a fab purchase. For me reading is my main hobby that really relaxes me - so it is all about keeping the fun about reading. I don’t want it to feel like a chore in any way.

[@KDbooks]

I live for a ruthless unhaul moment. I need to whittle my shelves down ASAP. Hoping to not buy books in 23. Gonna use that library and do overtime on it

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Good luck!

[@CUBS83]

I would say 'Best to Own' for Annie John. Don't love that edition/cover but if you do, read it before releasing it! It's so good. I also love Middlemarch and like that edition so, 'Maybe Own' that one.

[@CUBS83]

P.S. Been meaning to read Care Work and I'm Telling... Lying. Hope you read them and let us know how they go.

[@joan98610]

I started using more my local library/borrowing books this year because I don't have that much space left (although I have unhauled books that I know I'll never read again). I've also kept a sheet on notion with all the books I borrowed from the library and their price, and yesterday I saw I saved up 200€ in 2022. I think I will keep doing this next year, there are some books (classics for instance) which I can read from the library and if I really like them I'll just purchase them afterwards

[@LifeasMonae]

Getting down to 13 is IMPRESSIVE. I started 2022 with 302 unread and I got down to 175 in one year. It is really hard to do especially with being active in the book community, receiving arcs and gifts and of course new releases. But you are inspiring me to keep trying to get it down

[@MercysBookishMusings]

wow, that's a big decrease! Did you read them all or did you unhaul some?

[@joreads8782]

I think Beyond The Pale is worth your time in keeping and reading soon.

[@oshrathalfon442]

Mrs. March is utterly genius !

[@hardbackhypebeast]

Happy 10 years, Mercy! Love your channel 📚✨

[@lorimiller854]

I admire your journey! Just this last week I got all my books on my book shelves which required a big unhaul. I’m really going to make an effort to read from my shelves this year. Fingers crossed. You outlining your process is helpful to me, especially your DNF philosophy.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Good luck with reading from your shelves 😊

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

It was really interesting to hear your approach. I DNF around 1 in every 3 books and most of my reading comes from the library so I haven't spent anything. At my library it's still free to reserve (although the two neighbouring councils charge) so I use that service a lot. I'm currently trying to read 25 of the books that I own before buying any more or reserving any more library books and it's going well. I think some sort of rule like every third book has to be an old one from your shelf is a good idea which I may try to implement in future. The only book you mentioned which I've read is Mrs March which I liked but didn't love.

[@parkerandme6506]

I loved this video - you’ve done so well with your personal challenge. It has given me lots of inspiration to read what I have this year. I started using the library in the last 6 months of 2022 and have made an intention to keep that up this year too! I love the library so much and like you spent lots of time there as a kid, borrowing and reading constantly. It’s time to bring that back! I love taking my kids there now too 😊

[@DitaSka]

This is SO SO inspiring! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🙏

[@pernillehesselbjerg7926]

I've read three Jamaica Kincaid books this year and Annie John was the one I liked the least - so maybe get that one from the library. I loved MiddleMarch when I read it, so.. maybe just put it on your read-shelf and then you have a classic ready when you are in the mood for that.. but otherwise unhaul the books you can get from the library and keep the imported if you want to read them as much as all the new books from Christmas 😊

[@marja2909]

Congrats to getting this far in your tbr journey! Maybe you could just look up which remaining books from your shelves are also available at your library and then get rid of them for now? Or, but maybe that's too weird 😅, simply donate your remaining books to your local library _ that way they wouldn't be 'lost to you'

[@ericamangin1184]

I read Middlemarch last year and really enjoyed it - I think it makes some good comments about English society at the time. It always takes me a chapter or to to get used to classical writing but once I'm in, I'm in :)

[@TheObsessiveBookseller]

This was so inspiring for me. My main motive for wanting to reduce my physical Tbr is because I hate how stressed I feel that I’m not getting around to all the things. I’ve been doing a project where I look critically at each shelf and do some unhauling, but you’ve inspired me to get more brutal with it. I need to look critically at my purchasing as well, but I’m not emotionally ready for that yet. Lol

[@sklakamp1]

I would keep Middlemarch and unhaul the rest. Does your local library accept donations? That would be a good opportunity for those titles the library doesn't own to be added to their collection. Id also leave a short note or have a quick word with the staff noting those books that aren't in the catalog.

[@amberkemp9200]

I really loved Beyond the Pale and it is quite difficult to get a hold of so I would recommend keeping it for now. Even aim to read it in January and if you haven't read it by then get rid of it. I found it fascinating and really informative.

[@victoriabyers5161]

I read beyond the pale about 7 years ago and it was actually a copy that was owned by Emma Donoghue (she lives in my city and we got it at a secondhand store she had given it to). My ex kept it when we broke up and that was one of the saddest books I've ever lost!

[@amberkemp9200]

@@victoriabyers5161 oh my, that's so cool!!!

[@esmeralda_in_paris4651]

Loved the video! I'd say keep the books you really want to read. Unhaul the books you can get from the library. For the remaining maybe try "Try a chapter" - read the first chapter and decide if you want to read it within the first quarter of 2023 and if the answer is no - unhaul it. Looking forward to the next video!

[@katiesmithreads6981]

You’ve done so well towards achieving your goal! I’m inspired to do similar this year.

[@YourTrueShelf]

My mood is totally affected by the books as well, sometimes it can make me feel quite low! Amazing achievement. I did write down the library stats.. I *think* from memory I read about 35 library books, about 25 audible, and the rest (112 total) were my books. In 2021 I hauled about 150, and in 2022 I hauled about 50 so loads better. I feel like I'm better at curating my tbr now so that all the books are more me. The ones you have left - you can easily read or try them in the next month or two, so I wouldn't get rid of them just for the sake of it. They've obviously made it this far for a reason, and you'll be able to read them very soon. We can discuss more on Sat if you're still free 😊 xx

[@SavidgeReads]

You’ve done amazing. Proper dedication, it’s fab to hear how you’ve done it. We won’t talk about my TBR, hahaha. In fact you might want to ignore Captain Hoardy-Pants (haha) but I would say if they library has them part with them. Libraries are fab for that. When I have a cull ‘will the library have it’ is something I’ll use as a ridding tool 😂

[@autumnrose_noseinabook]

Well done Mercy! I have been following your journey since the start and you’ve been inspiring me to get my tbr smaller. I just started my own tbr challenge on my new channel. I saved your video on my playlist for recommended/favorite KZbin videos. I’ll be rewatching this throughout my journey for inspiration. I think with the classics you could probably get them on kindle or audio for free so there’s always that option if you want to unhaul the physical book. But that edition of Middlemarch is pretty!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Audio for Mrs March. 🥰 How about a #backlistreadathon? Katie from books and things did one two years ago .

[@libraryofkayla]

I completely agree with books and other media affecting moods. I stop watching shows all the time because some conflict happens and it makes me too sad 😅 I would unhaul all of them except the ones you said you were going to keep and then maybe Crippled and the one you said Jen got you. Those were the only ones you showed excitement over. You could keep Middlemarch for sentimental reasons but I’d take it off the tbr. This project has been fascinating to me and I’m so impressed that you’ve actually managed it!! I’m definitely inspired and want to get my tbr down as well. Life is too short for mediocre books!

[@Ellen_Mercy]

I'm in Surrey and our reserve fee is 75 pence. They waived it during Covid and I went a bit crazy! I kind of think of it as paying for a good service because I'm sure our council would replace the staff with self-service in a SECOND if they could. My problem is that I have a core 50 books that I don't want to unhaul but that I've had for 10 years or more and keep ignoring for the shiny new books at the library. Your videos are good motivation for me, and I love all the stats and details. Happy New Year to you and I wish you a clear bookish conscience!

[@bookishnaturenook.]

I first counted my physical TBR a couple of years ago, and similarly to you, it was over 300, and I realised I had a problem! I ended up unhauling and putting myself on a loose book-buying ban as well. I got stricter with the ban, and I think I only bought 3 books in 2022, which I read. I now have 192 books left to read, and I'm just looking forward to a time when I can buy books freely without feeling overwhelmed! It's nice to feel I'm slowly getting to that stage :)

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Woah, only buying 3 books in a year is amazing! I don't think I have that much willpower 🤣 good luck with reducing your tbr even more!

[@unboundbookishnotions7373]

Thank you for this video! I have the next few days off from work, and I am going to take a look at my physical TBR again with a fresh perspective. Also, I am going to DNF this book I am currently reading. I am not enjoying 😕 . I feel so excited to try something new this year! Thanks again for the inspiration! P.S. I am jealous of how many new releases your library gets. I would definitely unhaul the books that your library has available. I am going to do a buddy read of Middle March in January so I can't say for sure whether to keep a copy but I venture a guess you might find it nice to keep on hand.

[@Nickelini]

Beyond the Pale . . . I really enjoyed. So much, in fact, that I sent the organization in the book money. I never do that. I also think you can get rid of Middlemarch. It's at the library. I didn't keep my copy. Others loved it more than I did, but it is worth reading

[@rinceyreads]

Amazing job!! I would probably keep the ones not at the library and then give yourself a final deadline to get to them or get rid of them. I haven't read any of them myself so I don't have opinions from that front but it does seem like you're interested in them.

[@barbararussell1041]

Donate all the books available at the library including Middlemarch. Keep the ones you want to keep and schedule them into your current reading so you’ve finished them within 2 months. Anything you don’t feel you can do that with dnf.

[@katieha12345]

I’ve read Crippled by Frances Ryan and it’s very good. I gained a lot from it even as someone who already had a fair awareness of how terrible our government and austerity has been to disabled people. It’s both very readable and informative so I don’t think it would take you long to get through. I would really recommend keeping it and giving it a go.

[@KL.5635]

Middlemarch is the best book I read in English in 2022, along with Ohio that you recommended. I would definitely try to read it soon!

[@sarareads9185]

If it were me I would keep the three that you want because that was your first instinct. The other four that the library doesn't have I would do a try a chapter and eliminate anything that isn't appealing. All of the ones you can get at the library I would just get rid of entirely because your tone when speaking about them gave me the impression that that was your first instinct. I will be interested to see what you end up doing. Have a good rest of 2022!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Try a chapter on the ones the library doesn't have is a good idea. I'll try to do that ASAP!

[@hannahmay11]

I looooved the audio of mrs March if that helps you at all 😂

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

This is still so much better than I did. :D I haven't crunched the numbers yet, but I have bought 50 books this year and got around 25 as gifts and read 88. Some of the read ones are from the library, too. So I am pretty much where I started with my TBR. But I did get some of the oldest books on my TBR read this year, which is still really good.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That still sounds like your tbr has changed a lot in terms of the books on it 😊

[@Natalia-ig3gc]

Take the month of January and get through as many of these books as you can and then uhaul the rest. If you don't prioritize them during January then you're clearly not in a rush to read them at the moment. You can let them go and bring them back to your life once you're ready to read them.

[@omalleysmith9100]

I just need to take a moment and say how lovely you always look. Hair and clothing are fantastic - always. You look like you work in the fashion or beauty industry. Happy New Year from Canada🍁

[@BemuzedBookworm]

Heeey good job!! I managed zero in June and can definitely say the moment of starting with a clean slate is great. I unfortunately bought like 17 books right after 🤣 don't follow my example. I'm at 23 now and will work towards keeping it under 15 in 2023. About the remainders: I did at some point also get rid of all books that my library had.

[@allisongiesbrecht2890]

If it were myself I would want to do one of two things: either power through all 13 in January and get rid of whatever I don't finish, or get rid of one and then make sure that each month you read at least one of the 12 books, and they'll all be gone by next year! The only book from this list that I've read is Middlemarch and I really really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if we have similar enough reading tastes for me to be able to recommend you keep it. If it helps, it's a very slow-paced, pastoral book, and it mostly focuses on the desires and the way the ensemble cast of characters are let down by each other. Overall I am so impressed to have watched you get through so many of your books this year. I hope you're very proud of where your TBR is at!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Thanks for the comment 👍 I definitely want to read Middlemarch but I think I'm going to let go of the copy I have because it's uncomfortable to hold 🤣

[@katrinaandallthebooks7993]

Definitely read Annie John it’ll only take a few hours and could be done before your haul arrives. I wasn’t fussed on Mrs March, the audio is on Scribd so you could listen to it. Can’t you try a chapter of the others, seems a waste to get rid of them only to then borrow them from the library. I was going really well last year getting my tbr down from 190 but then had a few mad months of book buying and ruined that, I ended up with 167 books despite reading 200 books last year. This video has convinced me to DNF The Lord of the Rings which I was trying to read as I feel I should, but I’m just not enjoying it.

[@lyddie465]

yes, always feel free to return books to the library and borrow them again. higher circulation rates of items can be a way that a lot of libraries argue for more funding. also i love your hair! mrs march i think you should dnf. im planning to read middlemarch and in 2021 i read one 500+ page book at a time continuously, one after the other and i got through 21 books! so i found a tiny bit of a really chunky book every single day to be pretty manageable.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That sounds amazing! I do love reading a longer book.

[@juliettechaplin2685]

I read Middlemarch in January 2022, and really enjoyed it! So I think you should keep your book and read it soon. Plus it is a really beautiful edition :) I read 110 books this year, I managed not to haul too many, but half of what I read was digital (ebook or audiobook) so my goal this year is to get my physical TBR under 15 books. Right now I have about 40...

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Good luck with your goal!

[@Lindorm1]

You sounded completely different when you talked about four, five of them (the nonfiction at the end)! So I’d say keep those and every second month either pick one up or send one away. The novels and the ones in the library didn’t make you sparkle, so send them off. Middlemarch would’ve turned into an object for me (a gift, from your first time youtubing, pretty, etc = symbol instead of word-container) and moved from tbr to sentimental item (in the kondo nomenclature). I do the same with library books and audiobooks. When I hear about a book I’m interested in I check if it’s available in one of those formats and if not I put it on a wishlist that I go over every time I change notebooks. I know how hard it is for me to are books move out of the shelves so I try to move in as few as possible. Two hole years of non-buying helped a lot with changing my patterns as well. So fun to hear how it’s come along after all these years!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That's so interesting. I feel the opposite about my edition of Middlemarch. I feel like it's hung over me for years and now I want it gone 🤣 plus its a pretty uncomfortable edition to hold. Happy 2023 reading 😊

[@Lindorm1]

@@MercysBookishMusings well in that case, nothing to be unsure about! Good riddance!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

My last big unhaul was in 2019 when we moved from London back to N.Ireland. I gave so many books away to charity and friends. If no new books were published, it would stay that way. I reread Middlemarch this year in November. I’d studied it at school in 1982 for Eng Lit A level. My reread was on audio. I only did that as a companion to The Road to Middlemarch. Happy New Year Mercedes 🍀👋☘️🤩📚📖📕☕️🤗🎉

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Happy New Year! 😊

[@nanimaonovi2528]

Black Listed and We Do This...for February Black History Month! I'd lean towards keeping the non fiction in case it's slower to read or you want to refer back to it.

[@alisonbell3475]

Middlemarch I have read and wouldn't recommend it. Mrs March I read as got in a subscription book and was surprised I loved it. 😍📖📙📙

[@Robert-sy1wf]

Would you show us the inside of your library? Our local libraries kinda suck. The liverpool library is amazing but a bit too far away for me to use regularly.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I'm not very brave so I never film in public usually but I can try 😊

[@Blondie101010100]

I'd keep the ones the library hasn't got, and also Middlemarch. The others I wouldn't keep. I'm useless at unhauling though, I keep everything 🤣

[@samf283]

Middlemarch readalong for 2023?!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

It's not something I've got the time to organise this year but u do often see people do readalongs for it 😊

[@andiecurlybooks]

You could try to read those 13 books in the first month or two of 2023 and make that your New Year’s focus🤷🏼‍♀️

[@katherinevdkirk]

By coincidence I'm in a sort of same situation, I have 12 books left over that I bought before 2021 (over 100 tbr over all) so I set them as a 2023 prompt for myself. I have to pick up 1 every month and if I dnf it, pick another. That way I think I'll get through them before June.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Good luck!

[@ChrisDailyReading]

I can completely relate to this. Although I really love having a set of books I haven’t read yet (so that I can stand in front of my shelves and go through my books picking up whatever I feel like at that moment), I feel like there is a point where the amount of unread books becomes too much, and it just becomes demotivating. I loved Middle March, so would very much recommend that, but I did read it years ago so I’m not sure if i would feel the same way now 🙃

[@azu_rikka]

My rules are simple: I only buy books that I rated 5☆ and books I would want to reread (sometimes books that I didn't really like have several fantastic parts in them that I like to come back to). That means, I only buy books that I have already read. It makes everything easier. If I cannot get a book that I am interested in at my local library, I read the Amazon-teaser and if I like that one I get the audio. That way I only have physical books that I know and/ or love. Some libraries even order books that you request. Then it is all about patience. I sometimes have to wait for a year until an anticipated book shows up at my library but I am fine with that. About your zero TBR: I would just set the goal 3 months ahead, 31.03.2023. And give each book at least a 20% chance, that works best for me. Even if I am not in the mood for a certain genre at one point, I can detect whether I will be able to read the book in the near future. You definitely should read Jamaica Kincaids book and Middlemarch!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I love your system 😊 my trouble is when I want a book from outside the UK that my library won't buy and there isn't an audiobook of. I have just discovered kindle samples though so I've been using those to check.

[@firewhiskeyreader8257]

What if you make the stack that you mentioned of like six (or less) and you have to work through those before you can get more books? That way you're still more or less doing what you want in the new year! If you just kept the three that was your instinct, then you have space to add some of your new ones!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That would work if I hadn't already got a stack of 14 books for Christmas 🤭 I think I may end up just keeping the 3 but I'm still deliberating.

[@alinamaria3147]

I think it's time for Middlemarch :)

[@hannahvictoriau]

I’ve just reached a zero TBR this year and it has been the best thing to happen for my reading. I would unhaul everything you can get from the library, including the copy of Middlemarch. I would also then ask your library if they do Inter Library Loans for the same price as a normal reservation. I’m a librarian in Lancashire and we offer this service in my county and I think a lot of others do it too as most of us are on the same system - you could then probably get a lot of the others through your library that way (your library may also buy a copy in as well). Any then leftover I would just challenge myself to read in January and you’ll know very quickly whether you were right to hang on to them or not. Then the freedom of zero TBR can begin 😁

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Congrats on your zero tbr! I think its likely I will unhaul at least all the ones I can get from the library but I need to set aside some time to have a flick through them all. I checked and the interlibrary loan cost is £12.50 which seems insane! I could buy most books for less than that.

[@hannahvictoriau]

@@MercysBookishMusings oh that’s so annoying! Some counties do still charge that higher fee but what a shame yours is one of them 😩 No one will ever use that service at that cost which makes it so redundant. But I’m sure you’ll get to zero regardless ☺️

[@booksandpizza]

Late to the party here but I really hope you kept Middlemarch because it’s AMAZING. ❤

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I did :) I still haven't read it though!

[@booksandpizza]

@@MercysBookishMusings 🤞🏻🙃

[@dunkbiscuit]

Have you checked if your library does a one off yearly charge? Randomly I found out mine charges a fiver for a year. Much better than 50p (for me) per book.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Oh, no I haven't. I didn't even know that was an option. I'll ask the next time I go in 😊

[@sarahg3479]

Where abouts do you live out of interest? Would love if my library offered this

[@schoolofholly5317]

I become more compelled to DNF towards the end of the year. I get brutal as we near Christmas, whereas earlier in the year I feel like I should push through because there are a couple of books that have only become favourites because I pushed through even though I was tempted to DNF earlier on in the book... :S thanks for this update - so thought provoking about the overwhelm of unread books :)

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I'm completely the same with dnfing more towards the end of the year. The clocks ticking on the few good reads left 🤣

[@Tutankhamun18Reads]

Middlemarch is really good. I have read it twice this far, I feel like you may also want to reread it. Why not make it your audiobook project? Black, Listed I have not read but having been interested in getting to it at some point.

[@Tutankhamun18Reads]

Why not do a try a chapter tag with those 12 books?

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I think I will go the audiobook route with Middlemarch 😊

[@amandaskelton2132]

I am at least as brutal of an unhauler/dnfer as you so I think you should ditch all but 3 and make the rule be read one a month and then you are done in March. If you haven’t read those other ones by now you aren’t going to so I vote unhaul all but the 3. Every time I watch one of your stats type videos I get mad at myself for not keeping track. My goal this year was to get my tbr under 200 which I have accomplished. I started with over 500 and have accomplished this mostly in the same way you did. My goal is not zero but I would like to be between 30-60. That feels like a good number for me.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Haha, I think you're right. I should have read them all by now! Reducing your tbr by that much in one year is amazing! I'd definitely recommend tracking it this year as I got so much out of it and it made me realise what did and didn't work for me.

[@sandeesandwich2180]

I DNF'd Mrs March. It's not that it's not well written, I just found it stressful, and I have a limited tolerance for books that make me anxious without having some redeeming element that I find enjoyable. I was just debating checking out the audiobook of Middlemarch from my library, so I'll be interested in what your opinion is if you end up listening to it too. (Though I have noticed that the audiobooks I can access here in the US sometimes do not have the same narrators as the same books in the UK.)

[@MercysBookishMusings]

That's interesting to hear. I've heard such mixed things about it. Yes, I saw that the audiobook narrator for Middlemarch is different on scribd and audible.

[@laurakuhlmann1626]

Can you unhaul the books to the library? That way you can go back to your library for those books you can't easily find in the UK

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I'll check with my library 👍

[@barbaraschmitt85]

Maybe unhaul those you can get easily from the library and keep the others for now. Then read the first chapter of the kept ones and go from there. I have two library cards, one for my local one in Dublin, the other from the Queens public library in New York City, they offer memberships for people outside of NY state and the US for $50 a year (and they use libby so no extra app either). This way I was able to pause my audible membership for now (and if I really loved an audiobook, I can still buy a credit and then download it etc), I'm also only buying physical books I absolutely loved or can't otherwise easily get even on kindle etc. I have limited space so ebooks it normally is

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I didn't know that about the New York Library. That's so cool!

[@briannagill3616]

Did you end up reading Five Little Indians? I really had a quite unpopular opinion about it, despite the important subject matter and have been wondering what you would end up thinking!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I dnf'd it a few weeks ago. I was so disappointed in it. I felt like it read like a book for teens. The themes seemed a bit oversimplified for me.

[@karenshann]

What is Patreon?

[@MercysBookishMusings]

It's a website where creators can post extra content for viewers who offer financial support.

[@maggie6512]

17:07 'I don't know if there is a term for this?" I think it is Empath - a person highly sensitive to emotions of other people or in your case, the emotions the author is evoking?? This could presumable include being highly sensitive to poor writing....I am now truly making this last bit up. Back to being an empath, I think this may explain/describe your response.

[@amberkemp9200]

Dispatches from Syria is good (I gave it 4 stars) but it is VERY disturbing and graphic. I can't really imagine having the mental capacity to re-read it (even though it is an important read) so I think borrowing it from the library is a good shout.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Thanks for letting me know 👍

[@andiecurlybooks]

Not to be a downer, but I hated Middlemarch 😬 So I vote getting rid of it 😂

[@dianaalmeida6790]

You just got addicted to having books rather then reading them

[@Anna-wh1zn]

Middlemarch is well worth reading. If it isn't tempting you now, it may when you're older. The good thing is that you will always be able to get it at the library or a second hand shop so it might be a good one to get rid of. I also DNF tons of books. I am very particular about the writing and won't waste my time on a book if I don't admire the writing. It's interesting to hear you talk about getting your TBR down to zero. I have a large amount of unread books and that doesn't bother me at all, but I do see why having a zero TBR appeals to you. You make a good argument. I got a chuckle when you said you order a fair number of books from the U.S. I live in Canada and we are inundated with American content. I am always looking to the U.K. for something fresh and different. Funny to hear you have the exact opposite experience. I enjoy your channel Mercedes. Happy reading in 2023 and good luck with your TBR.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I get books from the U.S. and Canada mainly from indie publishers. If I stick to UK books then I find it ends up being dominated by white authors. The U.S. and Canada seem to publish more diverse voices which I like.

[@layma5113]

What's the point of a library if it makes you pay? Surely that defeats the purpose. I get that it's supposed to be the price for reserving books, but it creates a weird hierarchy and libraries are supposed to be democratic places where everyone can read anything they want for free. P. S. Always love your stats videos ☺

[@MercysBookishMusings]

They dont charge if I just go in and borrow a book from the shelves. They charge me to put a book on hold. I tend to put lots of books on hold because I go for newer releases and they're always in a hold list. I agree that perhaps it isn't the fairest system but if I did want to use the library for no charge I could just not use the hold system. Glad you enjoyed the video 😊

[@Eva-me2ik]

Today I learned that I own 384 unread books and I decided that I'm not gonna buy anymore next year until I've made a significant dent in it. Given that this year I've read 43 books and most of them I didn't even owned, I think I won't buy any at all and honestly that's fine by me bc at this point I'm disgusted and disappointed with myself 😅 At the pace that I read WHEN I read, I really don't see the point of owning so much when just like you my taste changes all the time. Until I make reading an habit and go through a certain amount of books naturally every month, I don't need anymore books. I feel even more silly when I remember that each year I comment on videos like yours about my TBR growing more and more 😩

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Don't feel silly! It happens so easily doesn't it. Plus collecting things is so fun. Good luck with your plan though! Sounds like you have a great selection to work from 😊

[@Eva-me2ik]

@@MercysBookishMusings It does happen super easily 😅 thank you, I'll do my best!

[@SarahReadsSlowly]

I rarely buy books but I keep a list of all the books my library has that I want to read and it’s at 300+ 🫣 it’s stressful when trying to choose something to read but I’m really bad at removing books from my TBR. I’d like to be more ruthless this year and definitely get better at DNFing. I’d be tempted to unhaul everything and start fresh but I did think Crippled was really good