Malaysian Reads discussion

Do you catalogue the number of books that you purchased?
Do you list down the amount of unread books accumulating on your shelves?

These are among the few questions that popped in my head when I was cleaning my shelves and realised that I still have many books (Well, the numbers had dwindled a little but there's still quite a few) that I bought more than five years ago; nicely wrapped but still remain unread.

The said books:


Does any of you experiencing the same problem as I am? If so, what do you plan to do about it? A reading challenge? Sell some of them? Or simply shrug your shoulders, thinking that you're going to get back to it sooner or later?

Shy wrote: "Do you catalogue the number of books that you purchased?
Do you list down the amount of unread books accumulating on your shelves?

This is among the few questions that popped in my head when I was..."

I put my unread books at the top of my shelf so I'll feel guilty and then I'll pick one up and read it.

That's one interesting method, Aizan.
I've been trying to read one of my old books per month since the past year but there are still a lot of titles to be read. I feel guilty that I, once upon a time, spend my money on books according to my wants rather than needs.

Shy wrote: "Do you catalogue the number of books that you purchased?
Do you list down the amount of unread books accumulating on your shelves?

This is among the few questions that popped in my head when I was..."

Yup me too. I've had this problem ever since I started hauling the books from BBW sales. And yes. I catalogued the books I've purchased and the unread ones too. I've been planning to join some interesting challenges this year so hopefully I can at least reduce no. of unread books that I have now.

Ayana wrote: "Yup me too. I've had this problem ever since I started hauling the books from BBW sales. And yes. I catalogued the books I've purchased and the unread ones too. "

Guilty as charged. Ever since BBW, I went overboard on books. I have like more than 30 books left unread. There are some books which I bought with the intention of "trying" the writer and end up at the back of the stacks but I will finish all of them! I will do that! No matter how long it takes I will read each and every books I bought. Nevertheless, I keep buying more books O.O

I catalogued them in such way whenever I bought new books, I will put them in a stack and take picture of em. So, I have this folder of books pictures in my phone. Help me tremendously when I'm buying new books like I can't possibly remember all the books I bought.

Ila wrote: "Ever since BBW, I went overboard on books."

This is one of the reasons I try to avoid going to BBW sale no matter how much I REALLY want to go to that event. Every books look interesting during that time, I'll feel eager to start reading them right after I get home but after a week or two, that feeling diminish especially when it comes to a book that I'm not familiar with. Things get worse when more new, interesting books and sequels are being released. More books will be purchased and the less interesting titles I bought initially will be put on the back burner.

... And the cycle continues ...

Eventually it'll seem like we have more books than the time it takes to read them. So do you guys think that this tsundoku behaviour is a healthy behaviour or it's something that needs to be curb and managed reasonably.

So hard to resist books when they're really really cheap TT___TT
I've tried different tactics when it comes to BBW though. Like on my first year, I bought anything that caught my mind (read: beautiful cover) and learnt my lesson of "Never judge a book by its cover" like literally. On my second year, I would only buy books with average ratings of 4 and above. No matter how amazing the cover is, if the rating is below than 4, I won't pay for it. It worked but I still end up with lots of random books cos you know "Never judge a book by its review" lol. On my third year, I did some research beforehand. So far, it works. Like I still feel like reading all the books and all.

It's definitely not a healthy behavior but one can only do so much to stop oneself. That's the problem with those who love to read I guess; we will never have enough time to read all the books that we want to read.

Ila wrote: "So hard to resist books when they're really really cheap TT___TT"

So true!!!

The method I tried to reduce the temptation of buying more books that I probably will read in (not so) near future is that I buy my favourites books only (plus few new titles too of course). Books that I want to collect because I enjoyed the series so much that I'm willing to spend (more) money in them. Books that I actually know that I will read again and again i.e; Harry Porter, Kate Daniels, Divergent series and so on.

I only buy new titles from the authors that I know or the sequels of books/series that I've read.

Verdict? For last year BBW sale, I think it worked well. I spend below RM100 purchasing my favourite ones plus 3-4 new titles. And the satisfaction of collecting the best books I have ever read I tell you, is amazing! :D

Ila wrote: "So hard to resist books when they're really really cheap TT___TT "

That, I could truly understand, lol! I used to be on this YA books binge in 2011 where it was impossible to stop me from buying loads of pre-order books from Book Depository (There was 57% discount to 95% of the pre-order books on that site at that time). So, yes, it's pretty darn difficult to resist that.

So far, I've managed to get past that period. I'm trying to be very strict with my budget and decide wisely before trying any new authors, mostly through reading the first chapter of the books on Amazon.

Ayana wrote: "I only buy new titles from the authors that I know or the sequels of books/series that I've read...I spend below RM100 purchasing my favourite ones plus 3-4 new titles. And the satisfaction of collecting the best books I have ever read I tell you, is amazing! :D "

Great idea, Ayana! I sure know how it feels when you managed to complete the set of your favourite series especially when we get them at an incredibly low price. The guilt mostly sets in when I purchase books impulsively and simply because they are cheap.

So, speaking of BBW sale, anyone going to the sale this weekend??

Shy wrote: "So, speaking of BBW sale, anyone going to the sale this weekend?? "

I want to go!! It's a BOX sale too. Rather unique I think. But but... I'm in Johor... so no box sale for me T^T

Anyway, I will make sure I win the preview pass for this year big sale too! Payback!! Muahaha

Ayana wrote: "It's a BOX sale too"

Yes, I heard about it as well! I bet you can fit more than 10 mass market paperbacks in the boxes that they offered. Really curious to see what are the books that they offer this time around. They must be some kind of supermen(women) to be able to organise multiple sales with not too much gaps in between.

p.s. Hey, do you guys have any ideas on how to make this board a little bit more active?

Shy wrote: "So, speaking of BBW sale, anyone going to the sale this weekend??"
I'm torn in two with this. Not sure if it's wise for me to go. T_T

Ayana wrote: "Anyway, I will make sure I win the preview pass for this year big sale too! Payback!! Muahaha "
Good luck! Hope you get it and maybe we can bump into each other without knowing that we just did haha. I won the preview pass again this year. So thrilled like omigod I can't imagine.

Shy wrote: "p.s. Hey, do you guys have any ideas on how to make this board a little bit more active? "
I think it depends on the members whether they like to talk about books etc. or they just like to read. I'm the kind of person that need to spazz when I'm excited about stuff. I practically have no one to talk about books to in my real life which makes me sooooo grateful with Goodreads community lol. Interesting topics might help too me thinks.

Shy wrote: "p.s. Hey, do you guys have any ideas on how to make this board a little bit more active?"

I think activities/events like buddy read or giveaway or even create our own group's reading challenges might be interesting.

Ila wrote: "I won the preview pass again this year."

Already??? Jelly jelly jelly! :D Maybe if I won too, we can meet at MIECC? Hehe

Ayana wrote: "I think activities/events like buddy read or giveaway or even create our own group's reading challenges might be interesting. "
That is indeed very interesting. Good idea!

Ayana wrote: "Already??? Jelly jelly jelly! :D Maybe if I won too, we can meet at MIECC? Hehe"
Sure why nottt! You can recommend and force me to buy great books and we can buy books for each other as gifts lmao

Ila wrote: "I won the preview pass again this year. So thrilled like omigod I can't imagine."

You are one lucky girl! Do you personally think that the book selection on preview day is much better than the others?

Ila wrote: "I practically have no one to talk about books to in my real life which makes me sooooo grateful with Goodreads community lol. "

You and I both! That's why I'm hoping that more discussion could be done on this group. As for group challenges and whatnot, I don't think we can do much if we are not the moderator of the group.

Shy wrote: "You are one lucky girl! Do you personally think that the book selection on preview day is much better than the others?"
I used to think like that but since they restock the tables quite often with new titles, there's no big difference with any other day. What I like about preview day is the fact that I will be one of those who got to take a look at the sale first. The books are always so organized and pretty. The best thing is less people. I've been to the second day of the sale and homigah the crowd O.O

Ila wrote: "Sure why nottt! You can recommend and force me to buy great books and we can buy books for each other as gifts lmao"

It'll be good meeting friends that I can talk, rave and fangirling madly about books and characters! And buy book for each? That's genius! :D Still, have to wait til I (actually) won the preview pass then we can talk more about meeting and such. Hihi

Shy wrote: "As for group challenges and whatnot, I don't think we can do much if we are not the moderator of the group."

You are right! I forgot about that! Hmmm..

guys...I won the preview pass too!!

Aizan wrote: "guys...I won the preview pass too!!"

Congratulations! :) Enjoy the experience!

This is from another thread which I forgot we were discussing about it earlier.

Thank you, Shy. I guess I am a tsondoku. I will try your tips.

I didnt have this problem before. I was really a picky reader when the price of the books here were quite expensive.

But since Big Bad Wolf, i went haywire. Yes, I bought books that I want to read. In addition, as the books are so cheap, I thought it would be fun and exciting to explore and broaden my palate (hahaha, as if). So I bought books that I have never heard their authors. Some of them, yes, were hidden gems. But they're too few. Most are not (in my opinion, okay).

So along the years, even though I still buy because I want to try new authors, new books, etc, but the reading experience I got from it was like a deterrent to reading them eventually. Hence the accumulative of books that I don't want to see ever again. But too precious to throw/give away (because I know it was once quite expensive!!!). Crazy lor...

To me, I don't do book buying ban simply because I'm pretty sure I'll buy more than I need when I'm under a ban like that. Instead, I will watch out for my buying habit whenever I notice my limited bookshelf space is 3/4 full.

I bought way too many books too at the first few years of BBW! But after that many years, I learned that many titles there can be pretty much a waste of time despite its cheap price. Oh well, let's see how it turns out by end of this year, I can kinda imagine myself getting smarter selecting the titles this time around :)

Anyways, so I decided to switch my plan - by reading the ebook first. If it's something I really love, I'll then buy it and re-read in physical book. At least my bookshelf will be filled with books I truly love, rather than books I bought because it's cheap.

I'm supporting your attempt Neenee. ;)

Oh dear God me too!! Most of the time, I wanna buy new released books caused by the rave but ever since BBW, I've stopped buying new books altogether (Ok except for TFIOS and Divergent series cos I didn't wanna be spoiled by the movie).

I normally spend few hundreds worth of books from BBW that can last for a year. Even if I finish them all, my two sisters apparently have the same habit as mine. So, it's like my collection times three O_O. Oh dear I am so never gonna finish em all in a lifetime.

Maybe you can try buy a book when you actually wanna start reading it instead of buying a book when you feel like you wanna read it.

I gave up trying new authors at BBW. I bought too many random books from bbw that sucks. I usually will scan every random book that I feel like buying with Goodreads and will only buy them if the rating is 4 and above. Anything below 4 gonna stay out of my box no matter how pretty the cover is lol.

Thank you for your support, guys. I really need it.
Yeah, agree. Most random books at the BBW are sucks. But who knows -there might be a great book hidden there waiting to be discovered?

I still don't know how to get around this problem lah. Don't know how you all have the self control. It's been three years since my first BBW spree, and I still behave like a little girl everytime I go there.

And I don't think Big Bad Wolf is the issue. I got the digital ones from Project Gutenberg, Play Books, Kobo or any sites that give free or dirt cheap books. And I hoard them like mad.

Me a shopaholic, maybe??