I like lists. Lots of lists. In fact I would list listing as a hobby (in fact I may have that on a hobbies list). I make lists when I'm overwhelmed. Needless to say my Reader's Anxiety leads to many book lists.
Back in the day -- as in a few months ago -- I had a complicated listing process for books. On a pad in my purse I listed random books as I heard about them; a book recommendation from a friend, a library book on display, something reviewed on NPR. I scribbled them down and then added the books to my Master List. The Master List was an alphabetized Excel spreadsheet of well over 2,000 books. Then I would pick about 25 Immediate Reads and add them to the Immediate Reads pool which I organized on my LibraryThing page. Then after every five books I would choose five more from the Immediate Reads list and add them to the list of 12 books on my Current Reads list.
Whew!
Well, it spun out of control (duh). I was listing more than reading and double listing and messing up my counts and acting like I need by own TLC special and a stint in a mental hospital.
In March, I decided I had enough. I RIPPED and DELETED the lists. I bought a simple notepad and this is the only book list I keep. Maybe I double list, but I figure that must mean its worth a re-read. To decide what book to read from the list I start at the top and scan. Next I look up or pull the ones that look interesting and then pull out three books at a time. My library fines are down, my bank account is resting, and I have time to read.
Do you have any OCD rituals? Any weird reading quirks? Let me know and we can start a support group... I'll add it to my list of things to do....
2 comments:
My husband and I always say, "The list is life". Yeah, we do lists.
I have my little notebook(s) that I keep my lists in. No weird listing rules, I don't think, but I wouldn't be able to live without it!
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