Since I’ve given up book-buying for Lent (see below), I won’t be adding much to TBR Purgatory between now and the end of March, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, Easter doesn’t come until a week after my birthday, which means I’ll have to delay gifts to myself (or using bookstore gift cards that I might receive – hint, hint) just a little longer, which is not necessarily a good thing.

This is the first month in 2010 that I am not committed to any book tours or scheduled reviews, other than the one I’ve set for myself with The Sparrow Read-a-long. After several weeks of having my reading planned by my calendar, I’m feeling a little at loose ends. It’s not like I don’t have a shortage of books on hand, which is why giving up buying them for six weeks isn’t as tragic as it sounds (but please have no doubt that it IS a sacrifice!).

I have all of the “pending review” books without a date commitment in one place…and I would hate to tell you how long some of them have been there. I have set aside the books I plan to read for the Women Unbound Challenge, and have knocked off a couple of those already. I haven’t segregated the books on my list for the Blogging Authors Reading Project, but I’ve made a little dent in that too. I had put aside the books I chose for the Shelf Discovery Challenge, but haven’t even begun reading for that, and it ends next month – I’m also two books short of the six required!

Anyway, it seems like a month without specific review commitments would be a great opportunity to chip away at all those challenges, and that’s my plan. However, most of the books on my TBR shelves don’t fall into any of those categories – and they call out to me too. I’m torn. I find that I like the structure and focus that reading from challenge lists and my review calendar give me…but sometimes I’d like to ditch them. I really don’t want to wait until all of my commitments are met before I can read at random, and yet the idea of reading without that structure is inspiring something it rarely has before – guilt.

Have you experienced that too? Have you found a balance that works for you? Or am I over-thinking the whole thing?

Reviews posted since last report:
The Wives of Henry Oades, by Johanna Moran (TLC Book Tour)
Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress, by Susan Jane Gilman (Women Unbound, RYOB Challenge, Memorable Memoirs Challenge)

Next reviews scheduled:
Janeology, by Karen Harrington (Blogging Authors Reading Project)

 
New to my LibraryThing “To Read” Collection:

Alternatives – well, procrastination tactics – to writing that book review; reviewing review requests, from both sides of the e-mail

Self-promotion mistakes authors make, and how they kill the magic; writers make jobs

101 reading suggestions for your book group; might we suggest some narrative nonfiction, as Kim does in her new recurring feature? (Here’s her first list.)

Discussion: When’s the “right” time to review an ARC – early for buzz, or later, nearer publication, for buyers? (Personally, I tend to go with the second option. I like to read about books when they’re actually available.)

Book discussions: Insights from Heather J., Anna, and Dreamybee‘s group read of The Handmaid’s Tale (another one on my TBRR – “to be re-read” list); Vanessa and friends discuss The Help with author Kathryn Stockett and Katie Couric

When did you last choose to read a book you thought you’d hate? Amy wants to know.

What goes on behind the doors of the school library

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