November 1, 2013

Read All of the Library Books Challenge


Fact: I don't like coffee. I just like saying Coffee Clutch in my best and deepest New York accent. Considering I'm a New Yorker, I'm pretty freaking good at it. So I've got my tea and I hope you have your heated beverage of choice, because it's time to gab the day away.

Okay guys. Here's something you should know. I love buying books. Like lots and lots. All the time. I have a hard time walking into a bookstore and not buying something.

But sometimes I exercise restraint.


Sometimes I say: "Gaby, you don't want this book that much, you're going to take it out of the library."
So I do. I take that book out of the library.

Then I proceed to put that library book on my nightstand and not read it.


I'll renew it over and over until I feel so badly about having a book out for so long that I'll quickly read it and take it back. 

It's not a great system.


And it's not like I'm taking bad books out of the library. I mean, here's a couple of screenshots displaying what I have out and what my holds dictate I'll be taking out.


You think that's it? You're wrong. There's more.

[Obviously there's more.]


I know myself. I will renew and renew and renew. But that's no way to read library books.

So this month (November), I'm challenging myself to read as many of these books as I can.

I figure I can read about 8 of these (2 a week). I obviously hope to read more than that, but 8 is my goal.

I don't know why this happens. I can't tell you what I'm reading instead or why I think I can keep renewing these books like this. It's terrible. I know I'm potentially keeping books from other people. And I know I'm abusing my library privileges a little bit. Not to mention, the level of foolishness I feel each time I add another book to my library books pile is unreal.

So. I'm doing this random Library Challenge. If you feel the same about your library book pile, you can join me. And if you have thoughts on what I should read first or why this keeps happening to me, you should share in the comments below. 

11 comments:

  1. I currently have 11 books out from the library and there are like 10 more I want (but I can't get them. That would stupid and irresponsible), so I'm totally down for doing this challenge with you! I can do one or two a week, depending on what review books I have to read, but I love this idea. And you. :)

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  2. Wow...how many times can you renew.
    The library I use can only renew once. And I renew most of my loans too. :)

    Read Books and Blog | Addicted to Films

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  3. Don't feel bad about that! I'm a librarian, and I do the same things. My eyes are way bigger than my stomach and I'm always checking out way more books that I could ever read. And I renew as many times as I can, and often still return books unread. I do read a lot of books, too, of course, but a huge number I don't get around to.

    But I think that's great that you're challenging yourself. I'm thinking of making November all about reading Edelweiss and Netgalley books. There's a challenge going around call Netgalley November, and I think I'm going to join.

    Good luck on your challenge!

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  4. I have this problem except I keep buying the book because I hate having to wait for my holds to be ready :). My hubby tries to make it so I can't buy anymore books until I have read a certain number of the ones I already have. Try that with your library books? I hope that helps! Good luck!!

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  5. This is the reason I don't go to the library anymore. I already have so many books on my TBR pile and if I come back with piles of library books, things are going even more out of control :p

    I hope you get to read Scarlet, it's very good. I've been trying to push other people to read it by using it in many TTT lists, so enjoy :D I'm reading Of beauty and beast now and I'm not really loving it as much as I wanted :(

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  6. This is such a great idea!! I will join you -- I had four books out of the library, and just picked up five more today! It seems like all my holds arrived at once =( I know that I will read at least three of them by the end of November, so that'll be my goal. Anything more than that is bonus =P

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  7. I'm like this ALL THE TIME. And I work in the library. I'm not sure why, but once the books are home and on my nightstand, I'm like, "But what about all the books I OWN?" Books are books dammit. I really need to read my library books more often.

    Good luck!

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  8. Oo I have Scarlet to read too! And it's also a library book :D I only have four on my pile, but they are four that I absolutely must read, so I'm going to join you this month! For some reason I have very few review books due, so it's perfect :D

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  9. I'M THE SAME. I seriously don't know how some of these books I still have checked out haven't reached their renew limit (I mean seriously...2 months at least? How long does this last?? Not that I'm complaining). If I didn't have so many damned ARC's to get done this month I would totally be doing this (silly, silly me. No you CAN NOT request as many books as you want just because they are so shiny! What are going to do when they're almost all accepted? Oh wait. That did happen. Idiot.)

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  10. YOU CAN DO IT GABY! I have utter faith in your ability to complete your challenge :) My personal challenge for the month of November is to whittle down my TBR pile here in the apartment, as it has grown somewhat exponentially, even while I've been away. So let's get down to business! TO DEFEAT THE HUNS.... I mean, the books!

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  11. Hahaha, this is also what I do with library books. I finally stopped getting too much from the library after I'd been blogging for a few years, but I used to do that same thing: check out a pile, renew them for the full period, return them, check them out again, never read them. I mean, at least it's good for the book's statistics, so it won't get pulled from the collection.

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