This is a meme started by Lia at Lost in a Story. The “rules” are:
- Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 (or even more!) if you’re feeling adventurous) books. Of course, if you do this weekly, you start where you left off the last time.
- Read the synopses of the books.
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
I’m modifying this a little since my to-read shelf is a mess of books that are mostly in storage. Instead, I’m going to look at my wishlist—all those books I add on a whim during my travels around the book blogging community—and weed out the ones that don’t quite sound as good now. The “keepers” I’m going to look for at online libraries or add to my Amazon wishlist.
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The Serialist by David Gordon
Hmm, this still sounds pretty good: a pulp writer who is working on a serial killer’s memoir has to get to the bottom of new murders. Even if it is possibly on the literary side, KEEP. |
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The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd
I’m always looking for a mystery with some interesting element. This one: 1812 London with some connection to burgeoning scientific efforts. KEEP. |
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The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
Modern day connection to events a hundred years ago… It’s a trope that I’m not too keen on lately. GO. |
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The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder that Shook the Nation by Harold Schechter
I don’t think I already own a book about a sensational murder in the 30s. Sounds good and pulpy. KEEP. |
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature by Ben Tarnoff
I feel like I should want to read this book, and maybe it’s because I’m just finishing up a broad book about the 1830s, but I think this one is going to have to GO. |
Anyone have any experience with any of these? Any arguments for KEEP or GO?
