This week’s discussion topic asks book bloggers to divulge whether or not we suffer from Shiny Book Syndrome which Tara defines as “when a person only wants to read their newest book and leave piles of poor unread books on their shelves to collect dust“. Tara then goes on to make some suggestions about how to overcome this affliction.

Much as it pains me to admit it shiny book syndrome does appear to be something I suffer from. Back in February I divided a big chunk of my then TBR pile up into categories and shared them in a list called Games, Sets and Matches. Since I posted the list of 86 books on February 10 I have read 69 books (well I’ve started 69 and finished 66 if you want to be pedantic). Alas only 14 of them are from the list. The other 55 books are in one way or another new additions to the house: new books I’ve bought or downloaded, new borrowings from the library, a few ARCs and some gifts from my reading fairy godmother/evil stepmother. It doesn’t help that this year I discovered pre-orders from Book Depository and have become something of a junky for them.

I can in part blame participation in such worthy activities as the Global Reading Challenge and the CWA International Dagger Award Shortlist for being attracted to my new books more than my old books but in reality that only accounts for a small fraction of my total reading. Although I rarely read a book as soon as it arrives (Gunshot Road being a recent exception which I finished within 36 hours of its arrival on my doorstep) I do tend to remember why I wanted to read the books newer to my shelves when I am wondering which book to pick next.

Am I ready to do something about the problem? Join one of the challenges that Tara suggests to denude my TBR shelves of their old content? Not really, though I will cull the couple of dozen books I know for sure I will never read just as soon as I find a bit of time and a charity shop that will let me through the doors with a bag of books.

One day I know I’m going to say out loud to my employers all the things that I currently only say in my head which will result in my being sacked and suddenly lacking in book-buying funds. And then I’ll rediscover all the old, dusty delights on my TBR shelves. Until then I’m just going to live with my shiny book syndrome.