I was afraid this might happen...
As you know, I divide my time between Florida and Central New York. You also know how much I love my libraries, both here in NY and our newly-remodeled island library. My bookish needs are usually fulfilled between the two. This past winter, I obtained a third library card. This time to our Florida county library system... and it changed my reading life! I use it exclusively for ebook and audiobook downloads, and almost everything I've searched for has been available. However, the hold lists tend to be longer and this is where I get into trouble.
During most of the spring, I added ebook titles to the county hold list. They allow ten per patron and I seem to be consistently at or near the limit. I use the other two libraries when I reach the limit or if the hold list is significantly shorter. I also use the other two libraries for physical books and movies.
Anyway, the holds began arriving. Naturally, all at the same time. Now I'm nearing the top of the list for most of the other titles, too. "Out of control" is officially a crisis. Maybe just writing it all down will help. Here we go...
BORROWED AND ACTIVELY READING//
by Dani Shapiro, narrated by the author
I'm loving this audiobook and have about an hour left.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
This is our July book club selection. I'm almost halfway through and fully invested.
The loan expires today... hello, airplane mode!
EBOOKS BORROWED, BUT NOT STARTED//
The Overstory by Richard Powers
I read the kindle sample of this 500+ page Pulitzer Prize winner. The writing is excellent!
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
This 400+ page book seems to be on every list of summer reading recommendations.
The Altruists by Andrew Ridker
Wish I could remember who reviewed this book. The premise sounds appealing.
The Leavers by Lisa Ko
I borrowed this on impulse after seeing a friend's goodreads review... sounds like an emotionally charged story.
AT THE TOP OF THE HOLD LIST//
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
I'm at the top of this list for this nonfiction audiobook. Maybe it will become available today...
So many books! What's a reader to do??
If I keep my kindle on airplane mode, they won't disappear before I at least get a chance to sample them. Can I/ will I read them all? And what about all the other titles still on hold? I've taken the drastic measure of suspending all holds for one month.
Just for fun, I'll go ahead and share my suspended holds, too.
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED LIBRARY HOLDS - FICTION//
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Milkman by Anna Burns
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED LIBRARY HOLDS - NONFICTION//
by Mary Pipher
by Timothy P. Carney
by Lori Gottlieb
And there you have it... my library hold list. Writing it all down was helpful. Several titles have lost their appeal and I cancelled those holds. Wish me luck with the rest!
What's at the top of your library hold list?
You made me laugh, JoAnn! I love it. We shall not even speak of my hold/TBR lists. They are totally out of control, but my problem is usually that I find it very hard to wait. Especially if I have some extra credits at Audible or if an e-book goes on sale for a bit. Ah well - I'm a cheap date in other ways. And my husband spends a lot on golf. Ha! Enjoy your books!
ReplyDeleteKay - Did you see where audible recently changed their credit policy? I've had the plan where you get all the credits for a year up front, but have the ability to roll over up to 6 of them. Now they must all be used in a year. With the addition of the third library last winter, I've hardly used any credits. Might have to suspend my account for a little while.
DeleteHi JoAnn,
ReplyDeleteIt looks to me as though you've taken really positive steps to manage the over-load, by temporarily suspending." I have often felt boxed in when the books pour over me all at once. I have noticed that sometimes I even feel panicked and out of breath. Then I have to remind myself that reading is supposed to be fun. That realization often prompts me to make some tough decisions--decisions I don't want to make. So I, too, have had to suspend, which for me, sometimes turns out to be "suspended indefinitely." No easy answer for me.
I purchased The Overstory not long ago. I'm wondering if I can squeeze it into my busy reading schedule this summer.
And for the last four days I've been listening off and on to Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. It's quite entertaining--good humor wrapped around some serious topics.
Judith - Judging from the first chapter kindle sample I read, The Overstory may be a slow read. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, but it will probably take much longer than the normal loan period to finish. I might have to purchase it, too.
DeleteGlad to know you are enjoying Maybe You Should Talk to Someone on audio. I was wondering if it might be better to listen to that one.
I opened up my paperback copy of The Overstory this afternoon and realized that I would want to read it slowly to savor the language and to really think about it. I'd love to read it this summer, but I may have to "slot it in" for early fall, which is a great tree time of year. I'm very eager to read it, based on the people who have raved about it.
DeleteJudith - I ended up purchasing a paperback copy, too, so the library will not dictate my reading schedule. It's does seem like a book to read slowly and savor!
DeleteI can sympathize with the out of control feeling. My book list is beyond overflowing and I want to read them all! You've got so many intriguing looking books and several I know almost nothing about. I look forward to seeing you end up reading!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - The worst part about all this is that every day I continue to find more books I want to read!!
DeleteHa, you had a wonderful system going there for awhile. I had to think for a second how you were managing 2 different states' library until I realized you get e-books and audio. I use print from library 95% of the time.
ReplyDeleteAs far as per: your excellent selections up there, I'll chime in with what I want to read:
I read Ask Again, Yes. I recognized various towns and cities in the book as a native NY'er. It was good but I thought too long in the middle.
I have, but haven't yet read Mrs. Everything- from publisher. I've been wanting to read: The Overstory, City of Girls, and Summer of '69. Alienated America is new to me but looks good.
I say dive in, read whatever appeals, and ask again for the ones that you need to wait on. No matter what, you won't be lacking any reading material- enjoy!!
Rita - Yes, going digital has made it a lot easier for me to get books! I'm also appreciating the adjustable font feature on the kindle more and more, lol! Thanks for your thoughts on Ask Again, Yes... think others have complained that it dragged a bit in the middle, but seem pretty happy with it overall. That may be next for me in print, but I am going to take your advice and just read whatever appeals. :)
DeleteThe suspend function is the only thing that helps me! It is inevitable that all my holds come in at once, too. I just picked up 5 yesterday, and two more were getting close, so I suspended those for now. Maybe read the ones with the longest wait list first, just in case you have to send some back?
ReplyDeleteAngela - That suspend function is my new best friend! Good advice to read those with the longest list first - thanks.
DeleteI had that problem when I used the library a lot - all my holds seem to come in at once. I'm just starting Ask Again, Yes and so far I like it a lot.
ReplyDeleteKathy - It was a lot easier when I got books from publishers, lol!
DeleteJoAnn, your post resonated with me and I suspect many of us readers. I always have the max (20) books on hold with at least half suspended so they don't come in too quickly. It's weird as some libraries in the system allow 3 week check out with 1 or 2 renewals and others only 2 weeks with 1 renewal. As for downloads, I hate that we can only reserve 5 and most every newer release has a 10-16 week wait - frustrating.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving those Playaways with some of our system libraries own and appear not heavily used. I just pop in a AAA batter and earphones and can listen anywhere, play in car and it works so well under my pillow for sleepless nights as well. Have you tried them?
Diane - Your library is generous with 20 holds! All three of mine allow just 10. The loan period is weird, too - one allows 3 weeks for print, but only 2 for digital.
DeleteThe library in Florida has playaways, but I've never tried them. I'm assuming you can't use wireless earbuds? I like wireless for my walks, but plug in earphones when I listen on those sleepless nights...
This is a national emergency and I hope all the Democratic presidential candidates have a plan to combat this growing problem. I also hope this doesn't become labeled as a preexisting condition, because then we're all doomed.
ReplyDeleteI watched the library dvd of On the Basis of Sex this weekend (loved it!) and put the three movies in the previews on hold. Two of them are already here. :P I just suspended all my other holds till I come back from vacation and will be in the same mode in July I'm sure. :)
I've never read Jennifer Weiner but I think I read that she went to my high school...and apparently wrote negatively about it in her recent memoir. So I'm curious ...
Audrey - LOL!! I needed a good laugh this morning. Thanks you! Thanks for reminding me about On the Basis of Sex... I still haven't watched it. I haven't read Jennifer Weiner either, but enjoyed listening to an interview with her last week. The memoir might be interesting, too. Enjoy your vacation!
DeleteVicki - I had a feeling most readers would! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis is seriously so funny and I sort of do the same thing and these ebooks tend to all come in at once! You are dealing with it in a good way, though! Or you could just read faster?
ReplyDeletePatty - LOL! That is the most obvious fix, isn't it?!
DeleteWhy oh why do ALL THE BOOKS come in at the exact same time? I have access to 4 libraries and the same things happens to me all the time!!! So sad to wait and wait and wait for a book and then never get to read it. SOB
ReplyDeleteBeth F - #ReaderProblems, right? ;-)
DeleteYour book list makes me dizzy! I am too lazy and impatient for libraries. I impulse buy at my favorite used book store and get kindle books (based on my amazon lists) from amazon.com at an alarming rate. But I tend to read them all, and I only buy them when ready to read.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae - Before my current library craze, I told myself I would only but books I planned to start THAT DAY. That worked for a while, but now I'm finding I read more books on my kindle...
DeleteWell, books in any form, owned, borrowed, or on hold make me feel rich. I recently learned that books borrowed from libraries give authors a royalty. So I never feel guilty for taking out a book that I return unread, for now. I also like to believe that taking out lots of books are a good way to support libraries and boy do they need the support.
ReplyDeleteThe Overstory is worth any amount of time it takes to read. I hope you get to finish it one day.
Judy - That you for that perspective! I did not know author's received any compensation when their books are borrowed from libraries, but am VERY happy to learn that's the case! Library's are happy to have books, ebooks, etc. checked out even if I don't get to read them all. That boosts their circulation numbers, which is a good thing when it come to funding, etc.
DeleteI ended up purchasing a copy of The Overstory this week. That's a book I want to read on my own schedule, rather than a library's. Not sure whether it will be later this summer or in the fall, but I want to be able to read slowly and savor.
I don't have three library cards but I do share the problem of having holds all coming up at the same time. My library lets me put a hold on a hold, basically holding my place in the queue but not requiring that I take the book when my name comes up.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Leavers when I read it last year.
The Overstory is one of those books that I let my hold expire on before I knew about the holding my place option. I still want to read it...
JaneGS - I love the idea of putting a hold on a hold! I wonder if any of my libraries do that... must investigate. Glad to know you enjoyed The Leavers. I ended up buying a copy of The Overstory. Think it will be a slow read and that never seems to work with a library schedule.
DeleteA lot of the holds that just came in for you also came in for me while I was at camp. I download the transfer by USB option and then add them when I am ready to read them.
ReplyDeleteTi - Then do they just stay on your computer until you are ready for them? I put them on the kindle and use airplane mode when I have to.
DeleteAs I focus on catching up on the Louise Penny series, I have frozen all of my library requests. I also want to focus on some of the books on my shelves, particularly the ones I've purchased within the past year or two. And then there's the ARCs that have arrived thanks to Goodreads. The library can wait for a bit.
ReplyDeleteFrom you list, I'm most interested in Women Rowing North, Rules for Visiting, and Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I have Peter Heller's The River and Karen Thompson Walker's The Dreamers on my list. Oh, and Henry, Himself. I just looked at my Goodreads list of TBR books and I have 744 titles listed. It might be fun to go back to the very beginning of that list (February 2012) and start reading those books. The first is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivy.
Les - I'm almost afraid to look at my goodreads 'to read' list even though I thinned it out earlier in the year... it really seems overwhelming sometimes. Funny, but it seems like the surest way for me NOT to read a book lately is to actually buy a copy. Kind of sad, right?
DeleteI've never read Peter Heller, but so many friends love his work. The River is getting rave reviews. Henry, Himself is on my list, too. Loved Emily, Alone and its prequel Wish You Were Here.
I've only read one book by Peter Heller, but I loved it. It's called The Dog Stars and it's one I hope to read again in the near future. Highly recommend! (The link takes you to my review.)
DeleteThanks, Les!
DeleteToo many books ... so little time! I have piles that I've missed from the library. I turn them in when near time then have to get on the wait list again. That Bad Blood book sounds unreal; everyone says it's great.
ReplyDeleteSusan - You said it! I've got Bad Blood now, but haven't started. It's due in 3 or 4 days and I can't decide whether to go ahead and begin, or return it and get back on the list. Everyone says it's great, so I'll probably just go for it!
Delete