The Giver by Lois Lowry

I feel like I’m one of the few people that got through school without having to read this book. Not that I was assigned this book and never read it. I saved that for Dickens *glares at Great Expectations* No, I just never had an English class where this was require reading. The premise sounds interesting, though, and it’s only around 200 pages. It hits the sweet spot where I’m just intrigued enough and it’s just short enough, that it gets to stay on the TBR.

Verdict: Keep

Not on Fire, but Burning by Greg Hrbek

I have no idea why I added this book to my TBR. Having read the synopsis… I still have no idea why I added this book. For something that sounds like it could be a groundbreaking, genre-bending tale, the synopsis left me feel very meh. I dunno… it just doesn’t appeal to me and I can’t really put my finger on why. But, as it stands, I think it’s time for it to go.

Verdict: Remove

The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondō

Look, the only reason this book gets to stay is because

• I own it
• I would, at some point, like to get my s*** together

This book seems like it could potentially help me with that later point, lol. Also, it’s super short, so why not?

Verdict: Keep

The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison

This is another book where I’m not entirely sure how it ended up on my TBR. It’s a non-fiction book all about pain, real or imagined, and how people interact with pain. Though it sounds interesting, from what I can tell, the only perspective we really see is the author’s. And, to be quite honest, I’m not feeling it.

Verdict: Remove

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

I patchy history with non-fiction and memoirs have suffered the most from my dislike. I don’t know why, other than the fact that I honestly don’t care about the lives of most people famous enough to have one published. That being said, there have been memoirs that I have adored (Becoming by Michelle Obama is incredible!). That’s why I’m willing to give this one by Amy Poehler a try. Besides, I think she’s hilarious and I do enjoy a good laugh!

Verdict: Keep

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

I must have gone through a weird, celebrity memoir phase, huh? All my reasons for keeping the above book stand for this one, as well. I’ve also heard that Mindy Kaling’s books/essays are a fantastic read. I’m in!

Verdict: Keep

The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Look who’s back. Back again. Bryson’s back. Tell a friend.

Seriously, though, I have so many Bill Bryson books on my TBR, lol. And I still want to read them all! This one chronicles his time traveling around the UK when he lived there. It sounds like something I would love, which means it definitely gets to stick around until I finally read it.

Verdict: Keep

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

All I know about this book is that it’s written in a strange format, it’s creepy as all get out, and it’s downright weird.

And, honestly, that’s all I need to know. This puppy will be staying until I eventually read it!

Verdict: Keep

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

The book that inspired one of my favorite Broadway musicals of all time. Is this book going to be a slog? Most likely. Do I still want to read it? Kinda on the fence, if I’m being honest. Do I own it? …Yes, so guess who gets to stay 😂😂 I am genuinely curious how this thick tome about one of the Founding Fathers inspired a hip-hop musical, though, and that, above anything else, makes me want to read it.

Verdict: Keep

Journey by Mykl Walsh

Here we have another book that I don’t actively remembering adding to my Want to Read, lol. It’s a short story and a science fiction about a young man who is the reincarnation of Albert Einstein? I think??

Either way, I’m super not interested. There are too many other sci-fi books on my TBR that sound vastly more intriguing than this one, so it has to go.

Verdict: Remove