I have a problem with TBR lists. I love making them. They even help, as long as I walk a very fine line between giving myself some room to manoeuvre and some freedom to have a crappy day and read Mary Stewart’s work again (or whatever it happens to be I feel most like reading). If I put something on some kind of must-read list, I quite often end up not reading it in anything like good time (sorry, Jo Walton, V.E. Schwab, Elizabeth Bear, Garth Nix… the list goes on). But if I don’t, the same might occur.

I’m contrary, I know. So this is an experiment in how flexible I’m going to need to be. For this month, since I read probably about 25 books a month at the moment, I’m going with four categories and a wildcard set. All the books will be numbered so if I’m being indecisive, I can use a random number generator and solve it.

ARCs (or Ryan will stare at me reproachfully or something; this list includes stuff I was approved for and didn’t review in time, as I actually guarantee I will read stuff anyway given enough time and a source like the library)

1. The Lie Tree, Frances Hardinge.
2. Peacemaker, Marianne de Pierres. (Yes, I know, this one has been out for ages. Shush.)
3. Cities and Thrones, Carrie Patel. (I might make it on time for this one!)
4. Dark Triumph, Robin LaFevers.
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas.

Library

6. The Winter Sea, Susanna Kearsley.
7. Ringworld, Larry Niven. (I will read this in time for the bookclub. I will!) I did!
8. Curtsies & Conspiracies, Gail Carriger.
9. Crown of Midnight, Sarah J. Maas.
10. The Deadly Sisterhood, Leonie Frieda.

Owned

11. A Darker Shade of Magic, V.E. Schwab.
12. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear.
13. Valour & Vanity, Mary Robinette Kowal.
14. Of Noble Family, Mary Robinette Kowal.
15. The Hemlock Cup, Bettany Hughes.

Rereads (including books counting as owned-unread because of ebook duplicates)

16. Lirael, Garth Nix.
17. Gifts, Ursula Le Guin.
18. Graceling, Kristin Cashore.
19. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor.
20. Days of Blood and Starlight, Laini Taylor.

Wildcards

21. The Mirror Empire, Kameron Hurley. (ARC.)
22. Darwin’s Lost World, Martin Brasier. (Library.)
23. Changeless, Gail Carriger. (Owned.)
24. Blameless, Gail Carriger. (Owned.)
25. The Supernatural Enhancements, Edgar Cantero. (ARC.)

Graphic novels don’t count in here, because I tend to read them in one sitting anyway. If I finish fifteen of the non-wildcard books and I’ve run out of wildcards, I’ll probably let myself have some more. I think it’s unlikely, but who knows? My brain might decide to cooperate.

Anyone else have an, um, complex relationship with reading lists, haha?