Harnessing the Power of my TBR for Good

Ok, here’s the thing about me. I don’t like to get political in public on the internet (too many hours wasted on people making bad faith arguments), and I don’t like talking about my charitable giving in public on the internet (feels too much like bragging and/or virtual signaling). But when it comes to genocide, you have to step out of your comfort zone.

Yep, we’re gonna talk about Palestine.

I’ve been sitting here quietly watching, talking with my spouse and friends, liking social media posts, and donating to orgs like Doctors Without Borders. But being quiet isn’t going to solve anything.

Being loud might not solve anything either, but being loud at least feels like doing something.

What does all of this have to do with books? Well, inspired by Jaysen Headley (ezeeket on Instagram), I’m turning an effort to tackle my physical TBR into a prompt to donate to families trying to get out of Gaza.

This year, I set myself a goal to read at least 12 books that were already on my physical TBR since before January 1st, 2024. These books have been on my shelves for months and years, and I should see if they’re worth the space, especially since we’re hoping to move soon, and there’s no point in moving books I don’t even like.

Similar to Jaysen’s Project Shelf Control, for every physical book I read that I’ve owned since 2023 or before, I’ll be donating $50 (or thereabouts, if the fundraiser is in GBP or EUR or something) to the GoFundMe of a Palestinian family. I’m applying this retroactively, so I’ve donated to five families for the five books I’ve read so far this year.

Here’s how this will work:

1. When I finish a book, I’ll find a family on the Operation Olive Branch list, or a family whose campaign has been suggested by a trusted source, and donate $50 to their campaign.
2. When I review that book, I’ll note in the review that it was from my physical TBR, and provide a link to the campaign I donated to. This means I’ll also be reviewing the books even if they don’t count for a book bingo.
3. I’ll update this post with a link to the campaign I donated to — so if you want to donate too, you can just bookmark this post to always have the most up-to-date list of which families I’ve donated to.
4. I will continue to do this through at least the end of 2024, even if I surpass my goal of 12 books.
5. In the unlikely event that a billionaire swoops in, funds all of the families on Operation Olive Branch, and sets up a fund for all future families trying to escape Gaza, I will identify a new cause to focus on and post an update accordingly. I’d really love for this to happen, if any billionaires are reading my blog.

Going through the Operation Olive Branch list is heart wrenching. I’m not going to lie, it was really hard to decide who to help. It was hard to decide whether it was best to give $50 to 5 families or go ahead and turn that $250 into one bigger donation for one family. It was hard to stop at just five. It was hard to wrap my head around this much suffering — no, not hard, it was impossible. I can’t grasp it. I don’t know if my donations will make any difference at all. I don’t know if talking will make any difference at all. But I have to do something.

Without further ado…

The Books I’ve Read and the Families They’re Supporting

Pockets by Hannah Carlson — Ahmad Alnasaan and his family.

I Know What I Am by Gina Siciliano — Hasan Alaloul’s family.

New Suns 2 edited by Nisi Shawl — H. Nijim’s family.

Non-Binary Lives edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker, and Kat Gupta — Abood and his family.

All About Love by bell hooks — Dr. Ida’s family.

Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency by Chen Chen — Mohammad Hammad and his family.

Dear Body edited by Lea Bordier — The Shanab Family. This campaign is now fully-funded and they are requesting that people donate to Khaled, listed below.

Weird Women edited by Lisa Morton and Leslie S. Klinger — Haya Murtaja’s family

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi — Khaled Sulaiman.

Being Seen by Elsa Sjunneson — Marwa’s family.

Period. End of Sentence. by Anita Diamant — Mohammed and Laila’s family.

The Tears of Re by Gene Kritsky — Haya’s family.

Last updated 12/28/2024.

Will You Join Me?

I’d like to ask my friends to consider joining me in this. Choose something that you’re working on. It could be your TBR, or your unfinished crafting projects, or breaking a previous personal record on your workout. Decide on an amount you feel comfortable donating. Or if you’re not in a position to make such donations right now, share the campaigns. Spread the word. Comment on posts to boost them in the algorithm.

Let’s do our best not to give in to despair, and to find ways we can help.