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Book porn

I’ve been threatening to do this for a while. Pile up all the unread books I’ve got and take a photograph of them, just for giggles. So I did, and slightly scared myself. Clearly, I get far too much pocket money.

Ellie's stash of unread books

Here is Ellie’s to-be-read pile, in no kind of order, just how they came off the shelves. That’s over six feet four inches of books. Yes, I have just measured it; no, I do not think that is remotely sad.

This mountain of words does include some books I was given as presents Quite Some Time Ago, and a couple of them I’ve started and put down for whatever reason (Tad Williams’ River of Blue Fire, I’m looking at you here – and Trudi Canavan’s Magician’s Guild, don’t think you can hide at the back).

What it does not include is all the books I will have to re-read before I attempt to conclude various series, like the Dresden Files, and The Wheel of Time. What can I say, I have a terrible thing for completeness.

Whimper.

Still, they do say that the first step in overcoming addiction is admitting you have a problem.

 

 

13 Comments

  1. utenzi

    There’s some very good books in that unread pile. I hope you’ve been able to get to them in the months since you’ve posted this.

    • Ellie

      I’ve managed to get to a few of them, but not as many as I’d like, alas. As is ever the case, no time!

  2. Dave

    Some great books to read in that pile. Some great new authors around at the moment (yourself included hurry and finish Trinity Moon πŸ˜‰ ).

    Would defuinately recommend reading the Patrick Rithfuss and Peter V Brett books very soon as they are truely awesome. Also the classic David Gemmell (RIP) books the Waylander ones are particular favourites of mine.

    • Ellie

      I tried to read Legend and I admit, I struggled to engage with it – in fact, I don’t think I finished it, I was so uninspired. Just not my style, I guess. Peter V Brett is very near the top of the pile, but I think next up is going to be Jim Butcher’s Changes – reading Side Jobs at the minute and just got to the last novella, that takes place immediately after Changes so I can’t go any further.

      I may have to post an updated picture soon: there’s another foot and a half of books been added to the pile since that one was taken!

  3. Stefan

    You haven’t read Lies of Locke Lamora yet?! For shame…! Stop writing this instant and read it! And then read Red Seas Under Red Skies! He’s a genius! I want my stuff to be as good as his! ;p

    Also highly recommend Kevin Hearne. Going to be reading Peter Brett’s book in December. James Rollins is fun, too – big fan of his Sigma series. Most of the left tower/pile would be high on my list – Tchaikovsky I’ve only read the first, but loved it.

    • Ellie

      I’ve had Lies of Locke Lamora waiting to be read since summer 2009!

      Since that pic was taken, I’ve added and read Kevin Hearne’s Hounded, Hexed and Hammered, Gail Carriger’s Soulless , re-read/read all the Dresdens up to and including Turn Coat, and added The Cold Commands, Sword of Albion, Fire and Thorns, Snuff, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone (which my husband has stolen from me). And Christmas is coming… I’ll need Sherpas just to dust the pile come the spring.

  4. Stephen Aryan

    Out of that massive pile I think I’ve read a fair few of them. I can highly recommend getting up to date with the Dresden books. I’ve read Otherland took by Tad W. and its a great series, but it is a whopper when you put all the books side by side. Lies of Locke Lamorra is fabulous, same for all Adrian Tchaikovsky, Painted/Warded Man and of course Rothfuss and Abercrombie. Wait? You’ve not read the Winter King?? Eeeesh woman, you need to eat more bran flakes not less so you spend more time……thinking.

    • Ellie

      My next reading project will probably be the Dresden files, since they’re quite a quick read (but I have Hexed and Hammered begging for my attention too — the pile has grown since I took that picture . . .) and Otherland/WoT catch-up will involve an investment of time I really can’t afford just now, with or without Bran Flakes.

      As you can probably tell by the number of hardback editions, some of these books have been waiting a loooong time.

  5. Fran

    hahahaha! So, increasing my dietary fibre could do wonders for my literary intake also? must remember that πŸ™‚

  6. Fran

    You make me feel so much better about my own reading. Thanks for sharing that pic! Are you a slow or fast reader? I’ve found my pace has improved a lot since getting into audiobooks, I can ‘read’ whilst driving or doing laundry.

    I know what you mean about the completeness thing. ATM I’m reading book one of ASOIAF and I’m just about managing a chapter and a half a night. It’s taking so bloody long to get through the thing I’m thinking about reading something else before I go on to book 2, but then I worry I won’t have retained enough of book 1 and will have to re-read it. ARGH!

    • Ellie

      I am a voracious reader. If I really get into a book, I will gobble it up – I can happily curl up on the sofa and read for hours. Unfortunately, I just haven’t got the time at the minute – those pesky deadlines creep up on you awful fast.

      Lately I’ve had to start keeping a book in the bathroom and reading a few pages while . . . erm, ‘thinking’ *cough*. To get through this pile, I’ll have to cut down on the Bran Flakes for the foreseeable future!

  7. Rand

    The WoT books are nearing the end, come November? Or early next year the last battle will be concluded. Sanderson has his % meter at like 38% I think?
    Trudi caravan who I think just did a book tour through Europe has written a couple more books to add to that original trilogy you have πŸ˜‰
    Tad Williams… Good author but I’ve yet to read the book you mentioned, I read the trilogy starting with the dragon bone chair.. (has sarrow in memory in it I think)
    But… I’m looking at your stack for ideas… Lol mine keeps dwindling and I need ideas! πŸ˜‰

    • Ellie

      Yep, it’s all coming to an end for WoT. Re-reading that lot is going to take me some time.

      Underneath the Black Magician Trilogy is Priestess of the White, which is the start of another trilogy. I confess I’m struggling a bit with Trudi Canavan – got to 90% of the way through The Magician’s Guild and put it down to make dinner some time in December and just never picked it up again.

      Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is the Tad Williams trilogy you’ve read: The Dragonbone Chair, The Stone of Farewell, and To Green Angel Tower. River of Blue Fire is the middle book of a sort of sci-fi/alternate worlds crossover trilogy. Loved the first one, Otherland, but lost my way with the second (there’s a bookmark in it about 1/3rd of the way through). Lurking at the back on the RHS is the start of another trilogy by him, Shadowmarch.

      I’ve just picked up Kevin Hearne’s Hounded, by the way – urban fantasy with a Druidic twist: fast, fun read, recommended.

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