Two weeks ago I was on Twitter discussing book lists with a fellow blogger. She told me how at the beginning of October she had made a list of books she needed to read for the whole month. At the end of the month, she wanted to check the list to see how many books on it she read. It had me thinking. The only time I make a list for books is for challenges or to keep up with what I’ve already read. I also make lists for what I want to read for the week. Being a moody reader, I’m not the biggest follower of lists though IĀ do love making them. So now I’m thinking about making (and following) a list of books I need to read this month.
I have several books on my shelves besides my library loot that I would love to get to such as The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It was Dewey‘s favorite book ever and before she passed,Ā IĀ promised her I would read it but never got around to it. After she was gone I wished I had read the book while she was still around. So this is the month that I plan on reading The Grapes of Wrath.
So here’s my question to you: do you make reading lists? If so, how far in time do you plan for? For a week or two or maybe a month ahead?
1330v: Thoughts of an eclectic reader 
It depends on my mood, actually. Sometimes, when I feel like I have very specific things I need to do in a month, I will keep lists. Other times, I disregard the lists, though like you, I love to make them.
(in a sidenote, I know I said this the other day on twitter, but Grapes of Wrath is wonderful. I hope you love it.)
I make lists, but I make it a point to not think of them as set in stone. As long as there are book bloggers whose recommendations I am always falling in love with, my list will be forever organic, always changing and…gulp…growing.
I don’t usually make lists except for challenges, but I actually planned out the next four books I want to read in what order, and which challenges they will help finish before the end of the year. š
Grapes of Wrath is really good (it really is one of those books everyone should read), but kind of long. There’s a section with a tortoise that most of my (college freshmen) students don’t like…
I generally don’t make lists. I do keep a calendar to keep up with tours, etc, but other than that, I usually pick up whatever strikes my fancy at the time.
Oh, Lists. I love them. Do I follow them? Only occasionally. Good luck with your list.
It sounds like I’m similar to you, although I don’t really do many challenges. Generally speaking, I will make lists of books I’ve read, and list books that I’d like to read that I don’t own (so a list that I can take to the library or the bookstore), but I pretty much never schedule my reading. I like the freedom to read whatever I want to, and not feeling tied to a list!
I love book lists and keeping everything organised but not for everyday reading. I make lists to keep track of all that I have read not to plan ahead.
I love making lists of book awards , best reads of the years etc. I search on the net and store it on my google docs.I have found some really good books while going thru these lists
I make lists for the month as well. I usually have library books out so it’s always nice to keep them on my mind rather than just collecting dust on my shelves. I *do* give myself permission to tweak them a little though – add a book here and there when something comes out that I can’t help but buy. š
I never thought about posting my lists up on my blog though… Hmm… š
Same as you : I have a list of books I read and those I want to read, but I don’t plan my reading ahead too much. I’m a moody reader too, and I like to keep my options open!
I usually know what I’ll be reading after I finish whatever book I’m reading at the moment and sometimes I’ll have a general idea of what I’ll read after that, but nothing more organised than that.
I have a mental list (I’ll write it down if it is a particularly busy month with a lot of books borrowed from the library/challenges to be met/book group books waiting) that usually has the next 4-6 books I’ll read on it. These books are not always set in stone but I do like to keep track of what I am particularly wanting to read that month before I go off on a reading tangent. I do miss the freedom just to choose my next book at random but that opportunity hasn’t presented itself for a few months.
I have enough trouble sticking to my challenge lists, let alone making lists way in advance. It would be a fun experiment to write down a list for the month, then read the books in whichever order you’ve written them.
The only lists I make are mental ones and I am free to change them whenever I like! I sometimes move books I want to read soon into a pile, and I add books I want to acquire to my wishlists on Amazon/bookmooch but I’m not that organised and like the freedom of being listless!
I have a giant list of every book I find interesting enough to write down, the plan being that there’s something on there for every mood so I never get stuck with the “I don’t know what to read” problem. It’s more suggestion than must-follow, although I get caught occasionally thinking “That’s been on the list for so long — I should really read it.”
Am thinking I should transfer it to a spreadsheet for ease of checking (it’s handwritten in multiple reading journals), but probably won’t.
I make lists but I never stick to them. I just like making them. I usually mentally planned a book or two ahead.
I’m the same: a big fan of list making, but not so good at following them. Making lists is its own reward, though, so I’ve learned not to mind š
Thank you for sharing your story about Dewey and The Grapes of Wrath, btw. I also often find myself wishing she was still around so I could discuss a book I’ve just finished with her. Well, not just for that reason, but you know.
I love the idea of making a reading list but I doubt I would follow it. I dropped out of my challenges for the same reason. I have discovered that I enjoy reading most when I pick my book based on the mood I am in at the time! I wish I could be more organized or methodical in my reading habits, but I’m just not!
I make lists, but I never actually follow them, so they are pointless! Good luck with Steinbeck. That is a book I want to read but I haven’t had a chance to yet.
I did make a list for this month. Or a “theme” as I like to think of it (that way it’s flexible). That’s not something I normally do, though maybe I should make more of a habit of it!
Kind of. I read almost all of my books from the library, so I make a ‘list’ of the holds I’m requesting. At the beginning of the month, I scan my ‘Current Challenges’ page and see which books I need to read that month and request them. That’s as far as it goes though!
I don’t really make list unless I’m going to a used bookstore and am on the prowl. Like you, I’m a really moody reader. I have a feeling that, even though I made a list of books I want to read for the Unbound Challenge and have an idea for the as-yet-unofficial re-read challenge, that I will not do well with getting those done. I also think I should implement a FIFO system- but I don’t even know what books on my shelf were there first! Basically, I’m a rebel without a cause š
Yes, I am making lists of books I want to read. If I hear that a certain book is very good, I write down and buy it afterwards, to join my beautiful bookshelf collection.