Keeping Things in Order

As I organize myself in preparation of tackling the ever-growing, never-ending TBR pile, I am struck by how people organize their home libraries, especially after my journey between minimalism and maximalism. As much as the trend is to organize by colour right now, I would be even more mixed up in trying to locate titles. Since my preference is to keep books in publication order for each author, this helps series to remain together (for the most part). I also enjoy seeing the evolution of how authors write as their books progress.

Furthermore, there seems to be more attention paid to how spines can look, thus leading to some of my favourite series depicting complete scenes when placed next to each other in order—a real visual feast! My absolute favourite to date is the Hope and Glory series from Elizabeth Camden for both the spine art and the cover art which all links together. I couldn't imagine breaking those titles up for aesthetic value when it already exists. A visual cacophony of colours, if you will, is still eye-catching to regard.

With my books already categorized by genre and then sorted alphabetically by author, it shouldn't be too difficult to locate the next read. While I have a LibraryThing account that catalogues everything I have, it is not fully accurate as there remain some titles that I have donated and not tracked accordingly. However, I am grateful for this service as it's a handy reminder of what books I need to read, including the ARCs I received from the Early Reviewers program.

There are several methods that I am thinking of utilizing to sort out which books I should tackle first. The first is to go back to my LibraryThing account and compile a list of my oldest TBR books. I started doing this recently and was amazed at how many books remain on the list from when I was in college several decades ago. The second is to randomize the books to read in which I have written down the authors' names and placed them on scrap pieces of paper to be drawn at whim.

While my Christian non-fiction list really reflects the genres I have been interested in over time, telling its own story, I cannot say the same for Christian fiction. Therefore, I believe I will approach the non-fiction titles a little more systematically and the fiction titles with a little more surprise. I wish I had the time or capability of wrapping up my TBRs nicely in kraft paper as some Bookstagrammers are doing, but I am content to draw names for now. Although I have joked with my husband that he can re-gift me the books I have not yet read, I may prefer the element of surprise to come a different way 😄

Comments

Palate Cleansers

Partially inspired by summer and partially because I like eating, I was thinking about the role of palate cleansers between courses of food, notably sorbet. I really enjoy the reset that the palate cleansers provide, allowing for a richer sense of taste to come with the next dish. In terms of reading, I admit that I have had a lot of ARCs to read this year. I've read close to 30 ARCs so far and have another 20 or so to go. I'm by no means complaining as I really enjoy reading; however, I can attest to a bit of fatigue from trying to get in as much reading as possible to meet release deadlines. It doesn't quite feel like work yet, but I will admit that when the ARCs are back-to-back, it can be a little hard to continually be motivated. As a result, I've been looking forward to setting aside a month to take a break from ARC commitments and to just enjoy whatever titles come my way and to make more of a dent in my TBR pile. While I will continue to try to meet a few upcomi...

Review: Red Fairy & Fox - Red Fairy & Fox Adventures #1

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read Red Fairy & Fox by debut author Courtney Denelsbeck . Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis A portal fantasy for lovers of Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia. Even when they surrounded her, she was separate from them as she was separate from everyone…” Red wishes she wasn’t the queen. During another lavish, boring ball, she follows a fox into a puddle. The world she enters is nothing like her own: brown, barren, and full of strange creatures. In this world, she is a lowly farmhand. With every passing day, there’s no sign of the unhelpful, snide fox who brought her to the mysterious land. When she is forced to accept her destiny, she can no longer ignore the threats on her kingdom nor the straining of the magic. Two kingdoms’ fates rest in Red’s hands, but she must first decide to become the hero her people need. Source:...

Review: Under the Mistletoe - Small Town Shenanigans #2

The Small Town Shenanigans series continues with a heartwarming and hilarious Christmas book! Under the Mistletoe by Penny Zeller is a cozy and fun book that involves a touch of mystery and a whole lot of chuckles, starring an introvert who does not want to be part of the Christmas action but finds himself there anyways 🤣 Many thanks to Maplebrook Publishing and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis He's a nerdy tourist needing a vacation. She's a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart. Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas. Introvert Braxton Wertz needs a vacation, but his trip to the small town of Cloverdale Falls is anything but restful when he finds himself not only falling for the sweet and bubbly Gracely, but also in the crosshairs of geriatric private investigators...and their numerous shenanigans. Recovering from a painful breakup, extrovert Grac...