Why My TBR Goal for 2017 was Unrealistic

It may be a little early to talk about goals from this year and whether we failed or succeeded. However, I already know the ultimate outcome for my TBR goal for 2017. I failed. I read a lot of books this year. Even so, I realize now that this goal was never going to happen this year.

At the beginning of this year I had high hopes that my TBR bookshelf would be reduced by the end of the year. According to my shelf on Goodreads I had 235 books unread and I set the ambitious goal (and I knew it was ambitious at the time) of reducing that number to 150. I also wanted to purchase fewer books than I did in 2016. So I stepped into 2017 hoping to buy less than 106 books and reduce my TBR by 85. I was going to have full shelves of books I have read!

via GIPHY

Based on the fact I usually read around 100 books a year and there are usually 25-30 library books, ebooks, and audiobooks mixed in with what I read from my physical owned book, you may be thinking the same thing I was about half way through the year. That math doesn't add up. Both of us would be very very correct. This goal was never going to happen.

Some other things contributed to my failure to read this goal. First, I had quite a few books in my house and on my shelves that were not counted on my Goodreads TBR Shelf. I didn't realize there were quite a few books missing and I imagine I had closer to 250 books on my TBR shelf at the beginning of the year. The other reason was I didn't realize I would discover a second library I could subscribe to on Overdrive and I didn't know my friend would introduce me to Hoopla. Both of these discoveries led me to borrow more books and graphic novels from the library than I anticipated. Such amazing discoveries, but they destroyed any hope I had about reducing my TBR shelf to 150 in 2017.

via GIPHY

Overall this year I did not make as much progress as I hoped for my TBR in 2017. At this point I hope to finish out the year under 200. That would be mean I finished the year 50 books fewer than 2016. If that happens, then I can start the real work of reducing it to 150 in 2018. Next year I also hope to get my entire TBR back onto the bookcase. Right now I am overflowing a bit, but it is quite an improvement from the beginning and middle of the year!

Do you make an effort to keep your TBR under a certain number? Do you even keep track? I've been making an effort to spend less money on books, be more conscious of the books I purchase, and ultimately have a smaller TBR. Please let me know your thoughts!