The TBR Challenge
Posted on: January 16, 2022
- In: Authors & Poets | Books | Fantasy | Poetry | Writer's Challenge | Writing
- 47 Comments
There is, in WordPress Land, a marvelous source of inspiration for writers, authors and poets. Her name is D. Wallace Peach. I offer this entry into her fantastically wonderful stories and to the opportunities she creates for the community of writers who connect with her through her blog called Myths of the Mirror.
To move us forward into the New Year she presents this challenge:
Write a story or poem about your TBR pile.
This is familiar territory for book lovers: TBR = “To Be Read”. The books that sit on your shelf waiting for you to get around to reading them. I have many such stacks and collections. So, even though I have never attempted a writing challenge, I felt compelled to jump in and add my voice. Thank you, Ms. Peach for providing the diving board!
A Reader’s Dilemma (with apologies to Dr. Seuss)
Books in baskets, Books on shelves, Books in stacks of tens and twelves
Books piled high in every room. Books that shimmer in the gloom
Enticing me with cover art just begging me to make a start
Books around me everywhere! Books are waiting here and there
Books of interest, Books of stories, Books of many categories
Offering a chance to learn. A chance, I fear, I’ll have to spurn
Books recalling ancient times. Books of prose and books of rhymes
Books I’ve owned for many years, highly touted by my peers
Alas, I cannot find the time to launch this effort’s mountainous climb
As I lay me down to sleep this couplet in my brain does creep:
Books behind me, Books ahead. Books are calling To Be Read
Books are calling To Be Read
Books are calling To Be Read
Books are calling To Be Read…….
Books are calling To Be Read………….
47 Responses to "The TBR Challenge"
January 17, 2022 at 10:29 AM
Hi Tara, nicely done! I love it! Really beautiful writing all the way around! So happy you are enjoying this so, and I appreciate your sharing of the helpfulness of D. Wallace Peach’s blog as a source of inspiration for writers. I look forward to d to checking that out as well. With much joy. And appreciation, Mal ✨🐬🌈🐬✨!
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January 17, 2022 at 9:31 PM
Thank you so much, Malcolm. Your comment fills me with smiles! Thanks so much for stopping by. You are a man of many talents and we know each other from other circles. I am delighted to connect with you in the literary world as well!
January 18, 2022 at 1:04 AM
Welcome back to the world of writing for sheer delight! (Yes, I remember the creative writing class we took in high school, in Poly’s first two-story building. It was the summer of “Our Town,” me stepping on glass at Fernangeles Park, and being rescued by bikers. Or maybe all those memories just sort of melded together.) I loved this poem and look forward to you sharing your gift in the future. I’ll always be your biggest fan. Much love!
January 18, 2022 at 1:28 AM
Thank you my dear, dear friend! And I have been a fan of yours since we were 14 years old! Your talents as author and playwrite have always been an inspiration to me. I remember so clearly sharing the stage with you in our high school production of “Our Town”. And so many other adventures from our school years.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Your encouraging words are so very valuable to me!
To anyone else reading these comments, check out Patrick’s blog, stories, plays, musicals, children’s books, and more at http://www.PatrickDorn.com.
January 18, 2022 at 2:23 PM
And, just so you know, I realize the “proper” spelling is “playwright”. I just happen to like “Playwrite” – it makes me think one can both play and write at the same time……..
January 18, 2022 at 9:44 AM
Absolutely frigging love it! You are brilliant with words, my friend.
January 18, 2022 at 2:02 PM
Many Thanks, Jill! From someone with your gift for words (and art, and song) your comment makes my heart sing.
January 18, 2022 at 2:19 PM
Jill, I am reminded of your own mastery of the language of words in both your songwriting and your artwork which instantly makes me see stories upon stories in your images!
A taste of Jill Freeman’s ability to create landscapes with her words are found here:
https://americansongwriter.com/paul-zollo-reflects-jill-freemans-handmade-life/
and here:
https://www.instagram.com/madmusette/
Thanks for stopping by, Jilly!
January 18, 2022 at 9:47 AM
Yay! Tara!
Welcome to the wonderful world of creating poetry!
Your poem hits the dilemma of our libraries on the nose.
BTW: It did make me chuckle!!!
Love it!
Keep writing!
Love you!
Annvincentvila.com
January 18, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Thank you, Ann. I appreciate your welcome into this unfamiliar universe. I had no doubt that you are one of us humans who decorate our landscape with gatherings of books in every corner. And, oh! I am so delighted my little poem made you chuckle!
For those who may have missed it, a previous post on this blog amplifies Ann Vincent Vila’s own mastery of the craft of writing poetry in her book, “Grieving, Healing, Accepting; 25 Sympathy Poems of Loss” featured here in December of 2020.
It is a work that continues to be relevant and demonstrates the power of poetry.
Thanks so much for stopping by Ann!
January 18, 2022 at 4:35 PM
As with your song lyrics, you have a way of taking a Truth (capital “T”) and making it relatable or funny or emotional or just plain ol’ damn clever! Well done, Tara, well done! ❤
January 18, 2022 at 6:33 PM
Barbara, I am honored by your comment! You are a writer I have always looked up to and your words carry a lot of weight for me.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
For my other visitors, Barbara Caplan-Bennet’s book “Noseworthy” was featured in a previous blog post. Here is a bit of the review I wrote for her:
“As a writer she has a natural gift for making her readers comfortable and the skill to tell her stories in her very authentic, likable, honest voice.
To Order an Autographed Copy — Email Noseworthy2020@gmail.com
Venmo, PayPal, credit cards Accepted
Also available on Amazon — bit.ly/NoseworthyBarbara
For More Information — Follow Noseworthy on
Facebook: facebook.com/Noseworthyamemoir
And
Twitter: @noseworthy2020
Check it out here:
January 18, 2022 at 5:51 PM
So clever! So fun!
Why is your chance to learn one you’ll have to spurn? You won’t and don’t!
Not apologies to Dr. Seuss…it’s a wink and a nod to Dr. Seuss!
January 18, 2022 at 6:22 PM
Nancy, You are right, of course. I do not ever turn my back on learning. It is just a matter of knowing that, as it stands, there is not enough time to get to every book I already own that I have not yet read. And that there will always be more books I must have that I will add to my collection increasing the piles and stacks that are already waiting for me.
(sigh!) As Grandma Ida would have said, “Let that be the worst problem you have all month!”
January 19, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Yep — I can absolutely relate to this! As I was preparing for my move last year, Tara, I sorted through all my books, and, with regard to the ones that had been sitting untouched on a shelf for years, really asked myself if I was ever going to get around to reading them. If the answer was no, I acknowledged that I’d bought them with good intentions — that they were aspirational reads — and gave myself permission to let them go. (All of them were donated to the LAPL.) By paring down my TBR pile, now I’m actually reading through the books that made the cut; I’ve removed the pressure of reading all those extraneous titles, and have rediscovered my joy of reading in the process.
January 19, 2022 at 12:49 PM
Sean, that you were able to winnow through your TBR piles and actually let go of stacks of books is a remarkable achievement! Even the books I’ve owned for years but never opened seem like old friends to me. Hard to part with. But we know there is value in the act of decluttering your environment and I know the LA Public Library is grateful for your donation! Thanks for stopping by!
January 19, 2022 at 2:16 PM
I’m a practicing minimalist, Tara, so I’m experienced in letting go of anything that doesn’t add value to my life. But it does take practice!
And I’m delighted you and Diana have become blog-pals! She was an early supporter of my blog back when no one was reading it, and has continued to be a steadfast WordPress pal. She’s good people!
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January 19, 2022 at 12:56 PM
And, BTW, thank you from the bottom of my bookish heart for introducing me to D. Wallce Peach and the literary world that revolves around her! Opening the door into this beautiful realm is a gift I will always cherish! Thank you, my friend!
January 19, 2022 at 1:17 PM
Hi Tara, thanks for sharing. It’s very true that we all leave ideas/books on our shelves to be “read” later.
I don’t think of you as someone who leaves anything lying around for later. Always on top of things to get stuff done. But at the end of the day, we humans are all…..human😳. There’s always something somewhere.
I’m curious about your books.
When I read a play I’d love to do I turn it sideways and make a pile on my shelf.
January 19, 2022 at 4:59 PM
Hey, Pete. Thanks so much for stopping by! The only reason anything is ever left on my table (or in shelves, baskets, closets and drawers) is that there is only so much I can fit into any 24-hour day. (I still haven’t figured out how to make the day longer, drat it all!…….) Are you curious about what type of books are waiting for me or how I choose which ones to read and which to set aside?
It would be fun to see your list of plays you’d like to do!
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January 21, 2022 at 5:38 AM
Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
A delightful Seussian poem from Tara about her TBR pile. Have fun. 🙂
January 21, 2022 at 3:17 PM
Thank you, Diana! Much appreciated!
January 21, 2022 at 3:26 PM
So much fun, Tara. I hope you got some visitors and made some new friend.s
January 21, 2022 at 6:57 AM
Another clever take on the TBR Challenge. Well done.
January 21, 2022 at 3:16 PM
Thank you, Darlene! I appreciate you stopping by and adding your thoughts.
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January 21, 2022 at 7:03 AM
Thanks for the delightful poem and smiles to start my day Tara. Well done on the creative Suess-like poem!
January 21, 2022 at 3:14 PM
Thanks to you for your kind words. And now you have made ME smile!
January 21, 2022 at 12:33 PM
Love this relatable and instant-smile poem! The last line is particularly witty. 🙂
January 22, 2022 at 12:33 AM
Delightful, Tara. You made me smile! 🙂
January 22, 2022 at 1:06 AM
Thank you, Chris. I am delighted to have added a smile to your day. Thanks so much for stopping by!
January 22, 2022 at 6:45 AM
VERY Seussian and clever! Great job!
January 22, 2022 at 11:04 PM
Thank you so much! I so appreciate you stopping by and leaving such kind words.
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January 23, 2022 at 3:26 AM
Thanks for the smile! Loved it.:)
January 23, 2022 at 1:39 PM
Thank you, Mark. I appreciate your stopping by and I am delighted to know my poem added a smile to your day.
January 28, 2022 at 7:06 PM
Love the poem!!
January 28, 2022 at 8:25 PM
Thank you so much, Lucis. I appreciate your stopping by.
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February 6, 2022 at 3:00 AM
[…] A Reader’s Dilemma by Tara Sitser […]
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Tara Sitser
Tara's Thoughts 
January 16, 2022 at 6:30 AM
Ha. That is such a delightful poem, Tara. Awesome job with the rhymes – very clever. And thanks for the kind intro. I’m glad you’re enjoying the site as well as the challenge. I can’t wait to share this. It will be a few days, but I’ll definitely get there! Thanks again and Happy Reading!
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January 16, 2022 at 2:54 PM
D. Your words of encouragement are so very appreciated! Thanks for creating this opportunity for so many us. Now, I must go thank our mutual friend Sean Carlin for introducing me to your blog. Oh! and BTW, I am currently reading your book “The Ferryman and the Sea Witch”. I am enjoying the journey very much!
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January 17, 2022 at 5:50 AM
Well, this is the best comment ever! Lol. Sean is great at connecting people, isn’t he? He’s so thoughtful in that way. And I’m tickled that you’re reading the Ferryman. I hope it ticks off all the boxes. Thank you! Finally, thanks again for taking up the TBR challenge. It’ll be a delight to share your poem. Happy Reading!
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