How I Choose My TBR

As a life-long bookworm, I’ve made it my mission to read ALL THE BOOKS.

Everything I liked the sound of – added to the TBR. Recommended by someone I trust – added to the TBR. Interesting cover – added to the TBR.

You get the picture – a love of books and an endless TBR.

However, I do (kind of) accept that I cannot read every book.

In fact, my journey into blogging has really made me focus on the elements of books that I really love. I’ve had to really think before I request yet more books – and there are definitely things that tick the boxes for me.

So here we go – an insight into my muddled mind and the TBR that I am desperately trying to tame… I love all these things independently but where they combine is pure magic!

(Disclaimer:  I still reserve the right to read randomly and at whim - that's one of the true pleasure of reading!)

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A Mystery or Puzzle

Bill anything as a mystery and it shoots to the top of the TBR. Even better if it has a locked-room element – I love a limited cast from which to identify my culprits. I’m always wrong, but it is a whole lot of fun guessing.

Perfect books: Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’, ‘The Devil and the Dark Water’ by Stuart Turton

Gothic Spookiness

I love a touch of darkness in my reads – I’m not a huge fan of gruesome horror, but am always drawn to creepiness bordering on the supernatural. Think seances, ghosts, crumbling mansions…and I’m there!

Perfect books: ‘The Quickening’ by Rhiannon Ward, anything by Laura Purcell

A Victorian Setting

I love historical fiction – but it is the Victorians that really float my boat! Throw in anything quintessentially Victorian – the Great Exhibition, Pre-Raphaelites, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper – and I am totally sold. Bonus points for Victorian London or Edinburgh.

Perfect books: Bonnie MacBird’s Sherlock Holmes series, ‘The Shadow in the Glass’ by JJA Harwood

Strong Women

I’m drawn to books with a strong female character at its heart – even better if they are unconventional or defying society somehow.

Perfect books: Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell books, ‘Daughters of Night’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Police Procedurals

If its main character is DS, DC, DI or any other police ranking, count me in! I especially like police procedurals with a forensics focus – I’m fascinated by the workings of investigations, even if I don’t have the stomach for the reality.

Perfect books: ‘The Art of Death’ by David Fennell, M J Arlidge’s books about DI Helen Grace

Art or Literature as a theme

Books about books are always a hit with me – if it features an author or is a reimagining of another novel, even better. Similarly with art and artists – I love creative people and ideas.

Perfect books: ‘The Doll Factory’ by Elizabeth Macneal, ‘Nick’ by Michael Farris-Smith

Interesting Locations

My absolute favourite settings would be India in the days of Empire, Czarist Russia and anything Nordic. I have no idea why, but these are hugely appealing for me.

Perfect books: Abir Mukherjee’s series about Wyndham and Bannerjee, ‘Dark Pines’ by Will Dean

Glamorous People

Who wants to read about everyday, real life? Not me! Count me in for books about parties packed with bright young things, eccentric aristocratic families and full-on glitz!

Perfect books: ‘The Pursuit of Love’ by Nancy Mitford, ‘Swan Song’ by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott

Ships

My grandad was in the Merchant Navy and I have inherited his love of the maritime. I do prefer my ships with a little more panache – anything set on a transatlantic liner or cruise ship is very much my idea of heaven.

Perfect books: ‘Death on the Nile’ by Agatha Christie, ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ by Ruth Ware

Humour

I am much more likely to pick up a book that is described as funny. Laugh-out-loud preferred!

Perfect books: ‘Three Men in a Boat’ by Jerome K Jerome, ‘The Miseducation of Evie Epworth’ by Matson Taylor

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That’s my list of perfect ingredients in a novel – I’d love to hear your suggestions about books I’d enjoy and what are your own tick boxes for your TBR.

The flip-side of this is that there are things that I definitely avoid:

• Dead/abducted/abused children – no, thanks
• Anything described as ‘poignant’, ‘heart-wrenching’, ‘devastating’ – nope
• Set in space – not my thing
• War – I struggle with combat side/military tactics/horrible injuries
• Graphic horror – nothing too gruesome, thanks
• Spies – just can’t really get on with spy novels
• Modern drug storylines – Victorian opium dens just about OK, modern gritty heroin tales not
• Children or animals as narrators
• Unexpected supernatural explanations – I need to know up front if there is other-wordly stuff going on!
• Sexist/misogynistic lead characters – ugh!

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Header photo with thanks to David Travis on Unsplash.