Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

How can I be a over a month in the challenge and feel more a cozy newbie than ever? I know how! There are so many wonderous choices! But I am stuck on a series. I just love it, and I'm wondering if most people read one series at a time, or mix it up, or no one's counting?

There really are so many wonderful, tempting series out there. I used to wait until all books in one series were released and read them at once, then went on to another series. Now, there are just so many books out there that I mix it up.

I've always tended to mix it up. More so now, with the huge amount of books I have. That being said, I've run into the situation where I've enjoyed a book so much that I've immediately jumped into the next one. Doesn't happen often, though.

I used to want to jump right into the next one, but then I started to get too many books in my TBR. Plus, it can take up to a year for a new book to come out. By then, I tend to forget things. LOL

Yvonne wrote: "There really are so many wonderful, tempting series out there. I used to wait until all books in one series were released and read them at once, then went on to another series. Now, there are just ..."

I'm glad I'm in good company! Thank you. I'm looking at a few new options now. :)

Meg wrote: "I've always tended to mix it up. More so now, with the huge amount of books I have. That being said, I've run into the situation where I've enjoyed a book so much that I've immediately jumped into ..."

Do you have mostly paperbacks or ebooks? Perhaps a lot of both? I'm glad I discovered cozies in the digital age! I can't even imagine the number of books I would have on my shelves!

Yvonne wrote: "I used to want to jump right into the next one, but then I started to get too many books in my TBR. Plus, it can take up to a year for a new book to come out. By then, I tend to forget things. LOL"

All great points!

I do both. Sometimes I will read a book and I will enjoy it so much in that moment, I want to read another in the series right away and if I have the next book, I jump right in. Other times I will jump back and forth between different series and types of cozy, and may even toss in something other than a cozy.

Since I prefer physical books, I have four eight foot tall, double stacked bookcases that are my TBR books. I currently have about 1100 unread books. I also have about 2000 e-books, so I don't really discriminate too much.

Anastasia wrote: "Do you have mostly paperbacks or ebooks? Perhaps a lot of both? I'm glad I discovered cozies in the digital age! I can't even imagine the number of books I would have on my shelves!..."

I switched to the Kindle about 10 years ago, which is stuffed full. I still have tons of the print books I used to buy by the bag full, but they're mostly decor now (my eyes aren't what they used to be so book print is sometimes tough). I have a hard time giving books away! Can you say addicted? 😄

Susy wrote: "Since I prefer physical books, I have four eight foot tall, double stacked bookcases that are my TBR books. I currently have about 1100 unread books. I also have about 2000 e-books, so I don't really discriminate too much. ..."

Oh my goodness, my twin separated at birth! At least as far as the number of unread tbr, both print and Kindle. My shelves for print books aren't as high, so I have more than four. It's always a relief to find a kindred book addict.

I am lucky that we have very high ceilings, and that my sweetie will buy me things like good quality bookcases. He bought me four 8 ft ones for my TBR and then bought me three 7th bookcases to hold part of those that have been read. We recently ordered several more so that he can better hold HIS books and so they are the same style as the ones I have. These bookcases will outlive the both of us, but I am sure my siblings/nieces and nephews will appreciate them since they are also readers.

Susy wrote: "I am lucky that we have very high ceilings, and that my sweetie will buy me things like good quality bookcases. He bought me four 8 ft ones for my TBR and then bought me three 7th bookcases to hold..."

It all sounds great!

Our ceilings aren't very high, and now that I'm getting older I'm starting to appreciate it (used to dislike it). I'm starting to get a little leery about climbing ladders and such.

I am really short, so a few years ago I bought a 5 ft step ladder that is extra light weight and designed so that I lean into the ladder when climbing. I seem to be much more stable on it than other ladders. I also have a step-stool with a handle.

That said, the top shelves are items that I am not likely to be reaching for often (sets of classic books, collections of favorite authors I have already ready few times, etc.). If I stretch, I can just reach the books on the next to top shelf to remove one. So it is all doable as long as I keep organized.

Susy wrote: "I do both. Sometimes I will read a book and I will enjoy it so much in that moment, I want to read another in the series right away and if I have the next book, I jump right in. Other times I will ..."

Susy, wow! That's a LOT of books! No reason for you to ever be bored for long! :) I can hardly keep my kindle organized!

Would you feel comfortable sharing a photo, if that's even possible? Even one shelf with your ladder would be fun to see for us book lovers!

Wow! How do you keep track of what you have read in each series? Do you have a shelf for each series? I took off about a month from reading cozies and am starting back. I am having a hard time finding a cozy series that interests me.... all the titles sound good but in the audio format the narrator sells the story.

Hoping to get my cozy groove back!

I personally have about 1100 books in my TBR shelves so my unread books, which are shelved separately from the ones I have read, are alphabetized by author with each series shelved together, in order. I also have spreadsheets of the books I own, the ones I want and those that have not yet been read.

I can be a little obsessive at times, with that many books, it is necessary. It can also be very calming to fuss with my book shelves, which my husband refers to as 'curating my collections'. He also buys me books and bookcases, and has been on a book buying binge of his own this year.

Susy, you are a super reader! Have you read in this manner since you were a child?

I try to get my books from thethe Library for the Blind and Print Impaired since they are in audio format and free to download. It can take a while to sort out the books I want to read from those books I do not.

My favortie book of all time is the Old Man and the Sea by ERnest Hemmingway. Of all the numerous books you have read, what was your most favborite?

Elaine

Meg wrote: "Susy wrote: "Since I prefer physical books, I have four eight foot tall, double stacked bookcases that are my TBR books. I currently have about 1100 unread books. I also have about 2000 e-books, so..."

Elaine, I have been a reader since I was able to read. My parents even had problems getting me to do homework as I would rather just read the whole textbook and move on to something else. Fortunately, I always had a good memory (not so much now), so I would ace the tests and drive my teachers crazy.

I long ago decided that while the classics are good, I am usually looking for something lighter and quicker, though some of Shakespeare is very entertaining.

I don't know that I have a favorite, as I seem to like different things at different times. I do have several authors whose books I will buy on release day, even if I have to pay full price for a hardcover.

Meg wrote: "Susy wrote: "Since I prefer physical books, I have four eight foot tall, double stacked bookcases that are my TBR books. I currently have about 1100 unread books. I also have about 2000 e-books, so..."

We added a few more bookcases in the past couple of months, and my husband has 3 more on order. I have a little on that is about 4ft by 4ft that is also in my office and I have two new seven footers in the hall. These are just the unread books. I also have three seven footers in the 'library', and two that are 36 wide in the bedroom, plus a six footer in the guest room where I keep a broad range of types of my guests reading pleasure. Since most of my family are readers, it allows them to drag around fewer books than they might otherwise have done.

Susy, thank you for the fascinating information. My husband and I have adult children are all huge readers and have libraries (much, much smaller than yours).

Our three adult children are in the "reading field": one is a research librarian, one has a side gig as an author, and one is in management as a book seller..... among their other various talents. I guess that leaves my husband and I as book patrons :)

Sounds like you raise smart, well rounded kids. Congratulations!

I do admit that my book collecting is an addiction, but since it isn't hurting anyone, including me, I have no need for treatment.

@yvonne, you can never have to many books on your tbr, were book lovers lol lol

@susy, I prefer physical books also, but don't have room for the bookcases you've listed, although they are my dreams, as far as unread books, I don't know how many I have, but there's probably more ebooks than physical books, hubby would be proud lol lol lol

I have a couple of thousand unread e-books as well. I have found several sights that let me know when free books are available, so I get them when they are free and read when I get the urge. Many are shorter, so they are great fill in when I am not quite ready to start the next longer book.