Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The world is going to end next month and all I can think about are the books that I haven't read


My TBR pile early this year
To date, this has probably doubled. Aieeeee!

Well, this post's title holds true only if you believe the Mayan calendar. Still, the thought of the world ending does make for good conversations, no? What would you be doing on the last day, who would you like to spend those last days with, would you run around naked on the streets, etc. (If it were indeed the last day, drunk, horny, and naked people on the street would be the last thing that I want to see. Unless I'm one of them.)

But what if the world is really ending, and we just have a month to go before everything goes kaput? I'd go on panic mode and think of all the books that I haven't read and all the authors whose works I haven't even sampled! The brilliant nonsense of Finnegan's Wake! Charles Dickens and his doorstoppers! All those Greek classical works about fathers boinking their daughters, and mothers falling for their sons! Argh! (FYI: I'm actually using Dickens's Our Mutual Friend as a doorstop. Pic coming up soon.)

Maybe it's a sign, no? A sign that I should stop (or at least temporarily put on hold) those book-buying binges and just conquer that mountain of a TBR pile instead. There's an idea, albeit it's something I've vowed to do before and wherein I've repeatedly failed.

I keep imagining how the world will eventually end. And I think T. S. Eliot got it right. In his poem, "The Hollow Men," the poet laureate wrote these beautiful words:

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

24 comments:

Orly said...

nahiya naman ang TBR ko dito! LOL!

Sharon said...

Okay, now I feel better about my TBR, I have also been trying not to add to it.
Yep the world can't end there are way to many books left to read!

Peter S. said...

Hello, Orly! LOL! Anobeh!

Hi, Arabella! True! It can't!

bennardfajardo said...

I am also thinking about this and I remember saying to someone that if the world ended, I would be really pissed! Especially since I bought really good books this year that I have not yet read.:D

Peter S. said...

Hi, bennardfajardo! Can't wait to read your thoughts on those good books that you've mentioned!

Monique said...

Thank you, Peter, for making me feel a whole lot better about my TBR pile. You clearly don't have a book-hoarding tendency. Wahaha. :P

Peter S. said...

LOL! Not a tendency, more like a sickness. Hehehehe.

Lynai said...

Hi Peter!

I am DROOLING at your TBR pile! Pamigay mo na lang kaya? HAHAHA.

I am also on a temporary book buying ban but I find that such a struggle all the time.

Buti nalang I don't believe in the Mayan calendar, I can still continue hoarding books. Hee!

Chee said...

So many books to read, so little time! Apocalypse nears

Tina said...

Eep, you're right! Well, if the Mayans were right, it all goes down in a month! :[

And my TBR is still the same. I wanted to make the total number lower, but I keep on buying new books so it pretty much stays the same. And what about those books coming out next year? What about them?! Nooo the world can't end yet! :o

Peter S. said...

Hi, Lynai! I usually give away duplicate copies. You just gave me an idea for a blog post!

Hello, Keso! LOL! Noooooo!

Hi, Tina! Yes, what about them?! We need to get those books of course!

Phioxee said...

love reading books, but that would be the last thing on my mind when the world is near to its end. i would probably be with my beloved friends family and spend each moment with smiles and laughters.

Peter S. said...

That would be an awesome way to meet the end of the world, Phioxee. Thanks for dropping by my blog!

LoF said...

i just rearranged my office with several new groups of piles for "next year" keeping them segregated from the final 15 for this year. lol

Peter S. said...

How organized, line of flight!

Phioxee said...

thanx for the follow ;-)

Peter S. said...

You're welcome. Thanks for the follow as well!

Anonymous said...

If the world is going to end (with a short notice), I'd probably reread a couple of my favorite books. I won't be able to scratch my TBR given the short notice!

Peter S. said...

Excellent idea, angus!

Anonymous said...

i think effective nga to see your TBR pile literally, one downside ng ebook reading is that feeling ko, wala akong TBR. haha! :)

Peter S. said...

Hello, stokedbunny!

Pero actually, ga-higante na rin siguro ang TBR pile mo, no? I'm sure madami kang ebooks in your reading gadgets (i.e., iPad and Nook).

Phioxee said...

dropping by ;-) kala ko me new post po kayo

Peter S. said...

Hehehehe. Baka bukas pa.

Teacher Pogi said...

kung may ipapamigay kang duplicate copies, nakataas dalawa kong kamay. pati adam's apple nakataas din!