July Book Ban: Update

As some of you may remember, Tara over at 25 Hour Books is holding a book buying ban for the month of July! In an effort to curb my spending and get through some of my TBR pile, I decided to join in. 

I am proud of myself for sticking with the ban thus far. I had a few moments of weakness and I mooched two books. I mooched The Road by Cormac McCarthy and 1984 by George Orwell. This is ok because I didn't 'buy' them. I also sent out two books to fellow moochers so that evens it out as far as I am concerned. I am just proud that I haven't bought any books!

Of course I have had some moments where I nearly cracked (you must understand, buying books for me is a serious addiction! so I am bound to have withdrawals). Right after I posted about the ban I realised there was a book that I REALLY want to buy. I spotted The Passage by Justin Cronin while browsing a book store and the cover caught my eye. After reading some reviews I decided that I need to read this book. Too bad I am on a book buying ban!

To make it even harder, some of my fellow bloggers in my google reader have recently read and blogged about this book! This is definitely something I want to pick up soon. 

I also realised (much to my horror!) that the next Daniel Silva book is to be released this month!!! OHMIGODWHATAMIGOINGTODO!!!! 

Silva writes the Gabriel Allon series. This is one of my all-time favourite series of books! This is the only series of books where every time a new book is released, I go to the bookstore on the day it is due out to grab my copy right away! I get so excited that I have to try really hard to control myself and not do a happy dance around the bookstore. I don't want to look like a loony or anything. 

Number ten is being released THIS MONTH! Due to my self-imposed book buying ban I can't go out and grab it right away!!! THISISJUSTSOUNFAIRIMIGHTCRY! 

Regardless of that, I am determined to be strong. There are four days left of this month. I can make it. I really want to carry the ban through August. I think I need to do this for financial purposes. I am not sure I can wait that long for the new Gabriel Allon book. We will see.

So that's my progress so far. How are YOU going with the ban? Are you finding ir easy or struggling?

Book Buyers Anonymous: Book Buying Ban

My name is Rachel and I am a book-buying-a-holic. My fiance and I buy books a lot quicker than we can read them. This has resulted in quite a library. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. We love to read and we love to collect books but honestly, I really could do with saving some money right now and I would love to make my way through those books on our shelves that I have not read yet.

Tara over at 25 Hour Books has the same problem so she decided to host a book buying ban for the month of July!

At first, I wasn't going to join because the idea of not buying new books upset me. That was when I realised that I really do have a problem and it might actually do me some good to take a break (and my purse too!). So I have devised the following rules for the month of July.

1. I am not to buy any new or used books between the 8th or July and the 1st of August. I will revise this at the beginning of August if I wish to continue (small steps first).
   
   
2. Acquiring books I did not pay for (giveaway, gift etc.) is allowed. I am just not allowed to spend any money on books. Also, I think it's only right to note that I am not allowed to accept a book as a gift off my fiance! I am going to try and rope him into this book buying ban too! Otherwise, what's the point.
   
   
3. I have updated my TBR list with all those books I own and have not read. I am only going to be reading books from that list. I was happy to see that I only own 47 books I have not read. I thought it was more. For these purposes I am not counting any of my fiance's books I have not read because then the number would go into the hundreds (plus I am not really into some of the hardcore science-fiction he reads!).
   
   
4. In order to help my indecisiveness on what to read, I am going to let YOU pick what I should read this month. Please head over to my TBR list and pick what book(s) you think I should read first and then come back and leave me a comment. The books that get the most votes are the ones I will focus on reading!

Phew! I am not sure how I will go with this challenge but I am willing to give it a go! Wish me luck!

If you too wish to sign up for the Book Buying Ban then head over to the sign up form here.