Slice of Life: Books I Haven't Read 18 of 31

For the month of March, I'll be writing with the Slice of Life community. Disclaimer: I'll be writing every day so the writing will be a bit unpolished most days. Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for bringing this community together and for inspiring me to try to find the stories that surround me each day.

It's spring break!!!  I had big plans to go to Arizona, but those didn't work out as I had hoped so I'll be sitting at home all week in the gray cold of March in Ohio.  I'd like to say I will get my closet cleaned or finally empty that junk drawer in the kitchen or maybe match that bag of socks (or throw them out), but I'll do none of those things.  I'm looking forward to slow mornings, a little writing, and catching up on books I haven't read.  I'm not just talking about books in the world I haven't read; I'm talking about books I OWN and haven't read.

We're all friends here.  It's time to gather round and share the true confessions of our lives.  I'm sure I am not the only one who owns books they haven't read yet.  Yep, my shelves have a few titles peppered in that still need my attention.  There are books I've received as gifts, books shared by friends, and books I may have purchased impulsively as I wandered a bookstore here or there.  I might have a few professional books still calling my name, a few deals and steals I couldn't resist, and some fiction titles that went to the beach, but didn't make it out of the bag.

I honestly don't know how it happens, I buy a book ready to read it and then another book pushes its way into my life.  I've gotten to the point when a friend mentions a title which seems a little too familiar, I open my Kindle app to see if it may have been a book I purchased but then didn't get to read.  I'm thinking in addition to offering new titles to me, my Kindle should start to pop books up to the front that might need a little more of time.

If you're like me, and I know many of you are, you have some books in your world you've owned but, still, haven't read.  I know I need to break this cycle so I'm starting to recognize the warning signs, maybe this will help you too.

If you have a stack of books you own but haven't read, you might want to beware of:

1. Book Friends:  You know the ones.  These are the friends that you have loved every book they have ever recommended.  When you are with them, you begin by adding their titles to Goodreads, but before you know it you have moved to Amazon™ and are pressing the 1-Click purchase button.
2. Bookstores:  What is it about the "you can buy it now" thing that gets me every. single. time.  Yes, those bookstore walks are dangerous with their beautiful covers facing out calling your name as you walk by.  The shelves sprinkled with your favorite authors, genres, and enticing new possibilities will get you every time.
3. Amazon™:  Yes, I'm a digital reader, and Amazon™ owns me.  You know what I mean, book friends.  You click over to Amazon™ to purchase a quick birthday gift for a friend and there you find books popping up on the screen calling to you.  Amazon™ knows you so well that they are careful to find just the book you might need next and at the perfect price.  
4. Twitter:  Yes, just like a candy addict shouldn't walk into a candy store, readers with the problem of owning too many books, should beware.  Twitter is full of readers who love to gush about the latest must-reads.  It's easy to ignore a title the first time, but subliminally as it comes back over and over, your drawn into the spell.  Before you know it,  you are off clicking to purchase that book.  
5. Book Lists:  Be wary of book lists.  You know you've stopped by the top ten lists of books to make your heart stop, books to make you laugh, books you must read before summer begins.  You know you've clicked into the New York Times™ Best Sellers, New Releases, or Top Amazon™ Reads.   You also know it's rare to get out of those lists without a purchase.  So, reader, beware of the book list.  

It's spring break.  I'm going to try to get a few of these books I own, but haven't read, moved from the "to-be-read" stack to the "read" category.  I'm hoping to finally finish The Bookshop on the Corner:  A Novel recommended by a dangerous book friend probably two years ago, waiting to be read.  I'm in writing mode right now, so I'm also hoping to read Enticing Hard-to-Reach Writers purchased upon its release and waiting patiently in Notability for me to stop by.  I also plan to continue to read On Writing Well, a book given as a gift two years ago, as this challenge continues.

This spring break I'm going to tackle the books I own, but haven't read, stack.  Of course, the real challenge will be spending a week at home without falling into a trap that pushes me to purchase another book.  I know they will be lurking everywhere in the days to come....so wish me luck.