I have been using my TBR jar for a long time now, although I only started keeping track of them just before the end of 2014. I have had mixed results with the ‘official’ rules, but I decided about a year ago that I would create my own more relaxed rules and recently a shiny new TBR jar as well. I have been reading a lot of randomly chosen books since, and earlier this month I finally made it to magic number of 25 TBR jar picks! I thought it was the perfect time to review the numbers.
I have been wanting to update my tbr jar for quite some time now, and after seeing this post at Girl Of 1000 Wonders I was finally inspired to kick my procrastinating butt and do something about it. I have to say it was about time! I have been using my TBR jar for the past year or so and it does work with the more liberal rules I’ve made for myself. Still, sometimes I end up with a genre I’m not really in the mood for and I always hate having to force myself to read a book…
So here’s my ‘not so original’ solution: color coding. Nothing too complicated or anything, I’ve just separated the enormous pile of unread and dust-gathering books according to their genre. Here’s how:
If a title could belong to different colors, I pick the one that seems dominant from what I can tell after reading the blurb. In the case of series, I’ve only added the first (or next book in line) to my TBR jar. If I own the title of the next book in the series after I finished the one in my TBR jar, I’ll just add the new title afterwards.
It’s needless to say there are a whole lot of green and orange papers inside my new TBR jar haha. Looks like I should be reading more fantasy and mystery/thriller books this year… 😉 I love how colorful the jar looks by the way! ❤
On to the rules for using my TBR jar successfully:
What about you: do you have a TBR jar? How do you use it and does it actually work for you?
I found this great idea of creating a TBR jar some time ago at littleonionwrites. It’s basically any cup, jar or whatever you can find that isn’t currently in use. Then write down the names of the books on your TBR pile on small papers and put them inside. Now you have your very own TBR jar! Easy peasy…
I made mine with an old mushroom jar I had cleaned previously and stored for future use. I then used foam and isolation tape to make it blend in with the rest of my interior decoration. (You notice I love black and white?) It worked out great because I can now leave the jar in plain sight and nobody will notice! I also folded the papers a few times so they don’t take up a lot of space, plus that way it’s easier take them out separated…
Once you’re done making yours, just take out a new paper every time you want to start reading a new book… And try not to cheat. 😉 It sure gives you some surprises when reading!
