I've recently come to recognize a serious (and growing) problem. I'm writing this blog as a Call To Action.
(My blog is excited. We're hardly ever serious around here.)
In recognition of the fact that we have overflowing To Be Read (TBR) stacks, piles, bookcases, lists, and who knows what other kinds of storage systems, I'm writing to Congress to request, nay demand, a new National Holiday: Reduce Your TBR Day.
Here are the particulars.
1. You shall not work. You shall not have projects due the next day. People from work shall not call you no matter how confused they are without you.
2. You shall remain in your jammies.
3. Spouses and children shall not speak unless spoken to. (Official Reduce Your TBR Day Slogan: Entertain yourselves, I'm reading!! We'll make tee-shirts.)
4. You shall receive yummy, government-funded takeout three times during the day. (Plus a "little something" around 11, and maybe some chocolate in the late afternoon, and a midnight snack if you're still up.) Oh. And coffee or Diet-Coke or herbal tea, or you know, whatever you like. Should we send in popcorn around 8? Wait, I think I'm losing the focus...ahem.
5. Under no circumstances shall there be celebratory parades, barbecues, gift exchanges, or other obligations that might reduce the amount of time you spend parked in your favorite chair, reading and reading and reading some more.
What else?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Ahem...
Excuse me girly...where's the gin and tart? Oh...I'm the tart? Thanks alot! My TBR has been mating with a rabbit lately. *sigh* I've lost my WonderWoman underwear.
*~ Chelle ~*
My Blog ~ Cowboys and true love * Smokin' hot romance recipes!
www.chellesandell.com
Too Funny
Ellen - This is too funny but oh so serious. My children already know if I am in the bed curled up with a book it's Do Not Disturb time.
I will need to take a Reduce Your TBR Day once a month for it to make a real difference.
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge
I don't know where to start
Chelle! Good to see you 'round these parts. Your reply is so multi-faceted, I don't know what to respond to first. Gin? Tarts? Your undergarments? Who's mating with what at Chelle's house...
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Ellen, I love your
Ellen,
I love your wonderful sense of humor!!
You perk me up no matter how crummy the day is going!!
I love it! But...you forgot our tiaras...shouldn't we wear our tiars?
Ronda
I bow before you...
Star--seriously? You've taught your children to respect the boundaries of Book and Bed?
You should have a reality show because clearly we can all learn something from you!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
HUGE ERROR
Ronda--OMG!! Tiaras! Of course we need them. Yes. I'll add that to the list.
Thanks for stopping by--you always pick me up too!
Ellen
P.S. I think our lunch breaks must coincide...
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Sounds good to me but
no tiara. Unh-unh. Can't lay down with the book across my face--to shade the incoming sunlight glare, of course--comfortably if I've got jewelry sticking off my head. Sorry, Ronda. 'Cuz I have no intention of being upright for the whole day, especially if I'm reading. I want to snuggle down in those covers and position for myself for the inevitable mini-breaks my eyes might feel inclined to take.
Patricia
PatriciaW
Readin' N Writin' with Patricia
It could be a brooch
Hi Patricia,
<Jewelry sticking off your head.> Snicker. That's funny.
When we first started talking about tiaras on the Supers board someone told me Miss America also has a tiara-shaped brooch. It's for when a tiara isn't appropriate.
So you could try a brooch. (That word cracks me up. I need to work it into my day more often.) Or you could forget the whole thing and focus on
nappingreading.Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Love the idea! It's better than Mental Health Days!
But maybe it could be a monthly holiday? In one day, I could read 4 or 5 Harlequins or probably 2 mainstream publishers (sorry, I not as fast a reader as Sadhbh!). So in a year, I could conceivably reduce the TBRs by 60 books. Sounds good - in 6 years my TBR will be empty!
~ ElleJay - Team member of Novel Obsession
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the pleasure is having lots to do and not doing it!
Frequent is better
Hi ElleJay,
I love your EJ picture. That's cool.
I agree. Once a month it is. I will amend the proposal before I send it to Washington.
My only fear is that the books will continue to multiply. Maybe really need to just shut the country (world??) down for a couple months. Sort of a strike force approach?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
And Ottawa, too!
For us Canadians! My picture is from Cool Text - you can do any kind of graphics there. I wasn't comfortable putting my pic on here. (As I told someone else, I didn't want to upset anyone when they saw how much I look like Julia Roberts
)
Shutting the world down sounds really nice - we just have to make sure the computers still process the pay cheques! Or pay us a ton in advance, that would work too!
~ ElleJay - Team member of Novel Obsession
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the pleasure is having lots to do and not doing it!
Ellen - It only works now
Ellen - It only works now because they are teenagers. I still have to give my bubby chatty daughter the look sometimes when she really have something "important" to say.
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge
Perhaps a couple month shut down would help...
but only if no new books were produced during that time~ and I'm not sure I could handle no new books for that long!
Otherwise, I suspect I'll need a lot longer than that to make any real dent in my stacks!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge Blo
Conflict of Interest
Hi Debi,
I'd have to remove myself from the deliberations about new books or no new books. I have one coming out in May so that issue is a bit personal. I agree, though, one day wouldn't do much for me. It's a quandary. Too many good books and not enough time. Sigh. We'll just have to keep on with our best efforts! (As if it's a hardship...)
Thanks for stopping by,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Conflict of Interest
Ellen - I have a conflict of interest too. Though I am not an author, I am an avid reader who would be asolutely lost without new books. Even though I could read all year from my shelf without purchasing books.
I have a list of of books that I must read this year and I expect that list to grow as the year goes along and still I am eager to read them all would be lost without the prospect of them. See I'm already feeling anxious with just the thought of them not being released. 
Me needs more books like cookie monster needs more cookies. 
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge
Me too, More, More, More
Hi Star,
Do you ever read fantasy? There's an amazing series by George R.R. Martin that's not finished. I totally stalk his web site waiting for the day he says he's finished with the next book.
(I don't normally read unfinished series--got burned by Robert Jordan. I accidentally read the first Martin book thinking it was a standalone and got hooked.)
But anyway, yeah. It would be depressing without anything new to look forward to. I'm greedy and behind in my reading at the same time. Sigh. Life, right?
My friend Ellmac (Ellen Too) gives me hope--she's retired and says there's lots of time to read. Some day!!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Fantasy? The only fantasy I
Fantasy? The only fantasy I have read is Sherrilyn Kenton/Kinley MacGregory. I have Deborah Hale's fantasy on my reading wish list. I'll have to look up your suggestion too.
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge
I really miss the reply
I really miss the reply button. Couldn't see all of your post.
Definitely life. You would think we would be satisfied with all that we have on our shelves, but nope I want more more and then some more. So many books so little time. Retirement is a long way off for me.
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge
three weeks late!
i know this was posted three weeks ago, but i just found it! LOVE IT!!! these are all the reasons that i never get my TBR down.
I just copied & pasted it into an email to my husband and titled it: Weekend Plans. lol.
Well given that I read two books on a bad day,
five to nine books on a good day,
wonder how many I'd get read with a DND sign on my T-shirt 
Nah, I don't need any "Reduce your TBR day" for me
I have three of those a week and the other days I need to work to support my habit 
But good luck to the rest of you
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Welcome fellow readers
Hi Theresa and Sadhbh!
Definitely, Theresa, you should take this weekend to experiment with reading and nothing else. If it works for you, maybe you can adopt it as a lifestyle.
Sadhbh--sounds like you're already there. You remind me of that quote, "When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." (I think that's how it goes.)
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
it's funny you postd this
it's funny you postd this when you did. I know I never read from my TBR like I want to since review books and contest books and amillion other things always get in the way. So I've started thinking i need to designate one day every month that is exclusively for TBR reading, whatever i want and as much as i can do in that day. LOL We'll see if i actually manage to stick to it! I always find something i SHOULD be doing instead and guilt overcoms me.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies
Contest books
I would be bummed if I couldn't pick the stuff I read most of the time. I'm bummed I don't have enough time to read as it is!
Good luck with your resolution--it's a good one!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
I'm ready
I'm ready to cast my vote now! Where's my voting button? I could use a day or more a month to just work on my TBR. That or early retirement and that's not an option as I buy too many new books so have to have an income coming in. Love this thread by the way, too funny!
The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
I'm understanding the tycoon heroes better now
Hi Deb! Thanks for joining in!
This issue has brought me clarity about why the tycoon heroes are so popular. Women everywhere are trying to figure out how to fund unlimited leisure time + unlimited book buying.
What's the obvious answer? Billionaires, sheiks, dukes, any of the supremely wealthy gentlemen types.
Huh. I think I may have to apply to grad school so I can write this up as a thesis. Bookworms and Tycoons or I Married Him for His Library.
Ellen
P.S. Full disclosure: my hubby sells promotional products. He's not a sheik or a duke or even a little tycoonish. He doesn't even have benefits. He does put up with my library, though, and he's awful cute. So I think I'll keep him.
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Thanks
I really like this proposal,Ellen,definitely worth going forward with.
What timing I found this,just yesterday I started rearranging my room & gave up when the books kept collapsing all over
That doesn't mean anything does it?
My next spurt of energy & if I can pry the mystery I am reading from my hand I want to start the process of listing & organizing my TBR
Maybe I should have started like Monday when my girls(all grown & away from home)gave me a weeks' break from babysitting,catcare & all else,but I needed just time to relax & read-yes,I did retire last year,but for some reason my time has become more jam-packed than when I was working.
Maybe I should consider a return to a paying job-nah,had another of my senior moments here. OK,back to the books,Cheryl
Cheryl http://cheriescalmcountrypond.blogspot.com/
Welcome, Cheryl...but...
Hi Cheryl,
I'm glad you stopped by and I'm glad you gave yourself what sounds like a well-needed break. But...I'm a little concerned you're going to burst my bubble about retirement. What do you mean you don't have enough time to read everything you want to read???!!!
I'm alarmed, to say the least. 
Good luck with your organization ideas. Some of my happiest times are spent "dusting" my books. You know how that goes. You take the books out, pile them all around you, read favorite passages, set a few aside to put on the nightstand, and then put them all back on the shelf.
Take care and relax, would you?? As I told my friend, Ellen, you must set a good example for all of the future retirees out there.
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
LATE TO THE PARTY
I know I'm late to the party but I have to add my applause for your TBR day. This is the kind of leadership we need - well thought out, practical (it includes food and rules for nonreading family members), and it could save the lives of those of us who in imminent danger of being buried alive under an avalanche of TBR books. Have you considered throwing your hat into the presidential ring? We know you would get the Reader vote!
Cynthia
Oh wow... how could I not have found...
...this post sooner?
Ellen, I LOVE your "Call to Action" (heretofore known as CtA). In fact I'm going to print it out and post it right beside the computer... just so the family knows!
And like ElleJay, I definitely need it to be a North American resolution at least being as I also live in Western Canada.
As for the rest of you... I've just been cackling away as I read the comments ~ my family no longer wonders what I'm laughing about; they're usually too afraid that I'll tell them.
What a great way to spend a day!
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Love it!
This is a great idea. I actually have a t-shirt that I got at Murder By the Book in Houston that has an Archie Goodwin quote on it - "Go To Hell I'm Reading!" Love that shirt.
www.colorfulpen.blogspot.com
Me, My Books, and the White House
Hi Cynthia,
Well, I'm from NY State. I think we already have a candidate.
However, I feel you've brought up a good point. If we are going to deal with the TBR issue in a meaningful way, we're going to need ongoing support and new programs. So maybe we need a cabinet level position--Secretary of Reading a Lot??
Does that sound good?
We'd have to draw a clear line between this new position and the Secretary of Education because we don't want to win Readers' Rights only to be forced to read The Scarlet Letter or The Good Earth or some other "good for ya" book that we all hate.
If the call to office comes, you can be sure I'll answer it. Provided there is plenty of vacation time built into my contract...
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Spouses and children should
Spouses and children should be working on their own TBR piles. . . and perhaps the snacks should be delivered the day before so that the delivery people can work on their TBR piles etc, too.
Grass Roots Movement Begins
Hi KaLyKo (I'm a very bad speller--I hope I got those caps right),
Way to go! You've instituted the first familial education program in defense of reader's rights. This is definitely a "plank" we should add to our platform proposal.
I wonder if we can get a question inserted into an official presidential debate. Tim Russert looks like a guy who'd enjoy a romance novel if he had a day or two off each month to devote to reading, right?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Slogan
Hi Lynn,
I like your t-shirt slogan. We should see if we could get it made into an automatic voice mail message and a door knocker cover.
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Excellent Ideas!
Werefan,
Those are two wonderful suggestions. I was imagining a Jetsons style automatic food delivery system. But waiting for development could put the start date for the holiday out a few years, couldn't it? So pre-delivery sounds great.
My son's TBR pile definitely is the biggest in the house. He loves the library so much--reminds me of myself when I was a kid. I imagine almost everyone on here has those same memories.
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
I just checked my TBR pile
It hadn't been a pile before; some were in bookcases with finished books, others still in boxes from Amazon or tucked away somewhere, a few of which had a bookmark somewhere near the start. Now I've got them gathered together, and I'm not going to increase the pile until I've made a dent in it. There's 30 of them, not counting the non-fiction. There's a first edition of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell that I only got three chapters in on, and a pile of cryptozoology books I want to use as reference. I've got a lot of reading ahead of me.
Thanks for the info
Hi again Werefan,
I hadn't heard of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell before, but that looks like one very fine book. I've gotten a ton of recommendations from this blog this year.
I don't actually let too many TBRs accumulate at my house. If I had a bigger house I could see it happening, but small spaces mean editing. My Reading Challenge list includes most of what had been piled on my nightstand. So I applaud you for taking action. I hope you'll enjoy reading your way through the stacks.
I also had to look up cryptozoology. I'd never heard that word before. Googling it was quite cool. What kind of research are you doing?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Holly Jacobs
has a post on here somewhere with a T-shirt that says "Book Geeks Rock!!!" Maybe you should have this T-shirt as your official uniform?
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
Yeah FF that's a great idea
Given that I'm not a book geek
, I'll pass 
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
I'm working on a potential
I'm working on a potential Nocturne, and I want to try something different than the usual vampires and witches; there's a lot of cool paranormal critters out there to work with, after all. But I need to read through the books to get a proper idea of what to use, first.
Given that I'm not a book geek
You are sooooo in denial!
And don't say you're not in Egypt.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
(No subject)
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
I could not agreed with you
I could not agreed with you more. But, I however take every Sunday, during football season for this. All the kids don't call between noon and 6. Husband is in front of the tv, dinner is already done. (he can heat up when hungry) It is just me, a book and the heated blanket!
~ Arnita ~
You know you're a book geek when...
you and DH go out for an hour without kids and go to the library instead of some place romantic. He suggested, while we were both busily writing down titles of new TBR books in our PDA's, that I get a degree in library sciences so I can be a librarian when we retire and have ready access to all the books our hearts desire.
Glad I found this thread. Love the idea of the CtA!
Lisa
Book Geeks
Alright so, Sadhbh is in denial, but maybe it si because she is drinking those books.....I mean it would take more time to eat them than it takes Sadhbh to read them....so maybe it is Egypt and deNile and lots of book water....???
Bonsal
Book Geeks Rally
Every movement needs its followers. (See also: Grateful Dead, The.) (I'm trying to sound geeky here...)
So we'll have book geeks as our official Groupie Nickname. Now all we need is a theme song. Any ideas?
How To Tell If You're a Book Geek #2:
You have ever created your own cataloging system for the books you own.
(*raises hand* I was 8. I knew library books had numbers and letters on the spine but I didn't know what they meant so I made up my own system for my personal collection. It's no wonder I had trouble getting a date to the prom, is it...
)
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
Library catalogs
Who am I to tease you. I still have our library set up by genre author and title. My husband and I can lay our hands on any book pretty much anytime, so long as HE put it back on the right shelf and location on the shelf. I will be glad to call myself a "book geek"
Bonsal
I haven't a library
just loads of boxes of books
So I'm still not a book geek
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
More than one way to uncover your geekiness
Just because you can pass one test doesn't mean you're not a geek. It only means you're not a geek in that way. We need to create complete Book Geek taxonomy before we can rule anyone out.
You Might Be Book Geek If...
#3: You read more than one book a day.
or
#4: You've ever sighed over the smell of a lovely new book. Ahhh.
How we doing on the Geek Meter now?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Wanted Man Superromance June '07
I'm not a book geek. I'm an
I'm not a book geek. I'm an avid reader.
See what I read last year - Star's Reading Lounge