2014 TBR Challenge
Anyone out there have a good number of books on your shelf (real or virtual) that need TO BE READ?
Yeah, LOL!
Ehem, yours truly does. So this year I am going to officially participate in the 2014 TBR Challenge. If you are also a glutton for punishment with a bookshelf a bit too full, I invite you to join me.
[UPDATE, Challenge COMPLETED -- Bleak House , I'm so bleakity bleak glad, my January read].
Naturally, there are some rules. First, the book cannot have been published in 2013. That is the big kicker. Also, you must post your list in the right places and follow up by the due dates, so make sure and check the link I provided if you want your participation to be official. Here is my list, in no particular order, and I've indicated the ones I have read, with a link to the review:
1. The Passing Bells. I've had this hardback book for a number of years, taken from my mother-in-law's bookshelf. It looked interesting, but I never read it. Last year, it got attention as a book to read if you are a Downton Abby fan. I thought it looked familiar and LOW AND BEHOLD, it was still on my shelf.
(I've read it and recommend it. Review Here )
2. The Wise Man Fears. Loved the first book, and have been meaning to read this. Bought it for my son, who read it and passed it on to Dad, who takes about a year to read books, so, My Turn, Finally. Fantasy, but in a Magical Realism way, like Harry Potter (except darker and not for youngsters) and Game of Thrones (except Winter is not Coming, but something else is). (I've read it and recommend it. Review Here! )
3. On The Road. Yeah, been sitting there making me feel guilty. No further explanation needed.
4. Day After Night. Loved the Red Tent, but haven't read Anita Diamant since then. Bought this several years ago, because I also love WWII books. But I've been into WWI more lately, so this one has played second fiddle. Looking forward to it.
5. From Love Field. A friend I trust to recommend good books gave me this to read, in this 50th anniversary year. It is just wrong that I didn't make time to read it.
6. Bleak House. Charles Dickens takes on the chancery court with this novel that caused legal reforms. Untrue to character, its length is scaring me off. But I bought it, and I know I'll be glad to read it, so Dickens made the list.
[ CLICK HERE FOR MY REVIEW finished Jan, 2014, HOORAY].
7. Blood Meridian. Believe it or not, the Coen brothers have not yet directed/produced the bloodiest McCormick novel, because that distinction belongs to this book. It is also the bloodiest book that is praised and praised and praised, ad infinitum, by so many, which is why I don't want to read it and do want to read it, so it's in bookshelf limbo. Now I don't have to just hope that PJC's 2014 production of McBeth will but me in the mood.
[I've read it and HATED IT. Review here . ]
8. The Lincoln Lawyer. On our shelf, I haven't read it, and I need something a bit more legally fun since Bleak House and Blood Meridian are on the list. Dickens and the Coen brothers be darned.
[I've read it, and loved it. Review Here. ]
9. 1776. Have I really not read a David McCullough book yet? Apologies to whoever gave this to me with high recommendations!
10. The Enchantress of Florence. I can't help but pick up a Salmon Rushdie book when I see one, thanks to Book Club. So I came home with this one, but never read it, even though I'm highly intrigued to see Rushdie interweave the High Renaissance with the Mughal Empire of the same time period.
11. Finn. I think I picked this up from someone in Book Club. I'm somewhat linear, so it felt wrong to read this book when I had not read Huck's own book. Remedied and ready to walk in his dad's shoes.
12. Teaching Life Letters from a Life in Literature. I ordered this from the Bas Blue catalog years ago. More than just a literary / teaching guide, this book was written in response to the sudden death of one of his students, who died tragically in an automobile accident on her way to Salwak’s office to talk over her career plans. It isn't long but doesn't have much white space so I need a little extra incentive to pick it up.
Ok, as per the rules, there are two alternatives in case these don't pass muster, the alternates are New York and The Street of a Thousand Blossoms.
So . . . Challenge On! And I already feel better about all these poor little books who are pining away for me to pick them up and read them.
[UPDATE, Challenge COMPLETED -- Bleak House , I'm so bleakity bleak glad, my January read].
Naturally, there are some rules. First, the book cannot have been published in 2013. That is the big kicker. Also, you must post your list in the right places and follow up by the due dates, so make sure and check the link I provided if you want your participation to be official. Here is my list, in no particular order, and I've indicated the ones I have read, with a link to the review:
1. The Passing Bells. I've had this hardback book for a number of years, taken from my mother-in-law's bookshelf. It looked interesting, but I never read it. Last year, it got attention as a book to read if you are a Downton Abby fan. I thought it looked familiar and LOW AND BEHOLD, it was still on my shelf.
(I've read it and recommend it. Review Here )
2. The Wise Man Fears. Loved the first book, and have been meaning to read this. Bought it for my son, who read it and passed it on to Dad, who takes about a year to read books, so, My Turn, Finally. Fantasy, but in a Magical Realism way, like Harry Potter (except darker and not for youngsters) and Game of Thrones (except Winter is not Coming, but something else is). (I've read it and recommend it. Review Here! )
3. On The Road. Yeah, been sitting there making me feel guilty. No further explanation needed.
4. Day After Night. Loved the Red Tent, but haven't read Anita Diamant since then. Bought this several years ago, because I also love WWII books. But I've been into WWI more lately, so this one has played second fiddle. Looking forward to it.
5. From Love Field. A friend I trust to recommend good books gave me this to read, in this 50th anniversary year. It is just wrong that I didn't make time to read it.
6. Bleak House. Charles Dickens takes on the chancery court with this novel that caused legal reforms. Untrue to character, its length is scaring me off. But I bought it, and I know I'll be glad to read it, so Dickens made the list.
[ CLICK HERE FOR MY REVIEW finished Jan, 2014, HOORAY].
7. Blood Meridian. Believe it or not, the Coen brothers have not yet directed/produced the bloodiest McCormick novel, because that distinction belongs to this book. It is also the bloodiest book that is praised and praised and praised, ad infinitum, by so many, which is why I don't want to read it and do want to read it, so it's in bookshelf limbo. Now I don't have to just hope that PJC's 2014 production of McBeth will but me in the mood.
[I've read it and HATED IT. Review here . ]
8. The Lincoln Lawyer. On our shelf, I haven't read it, and I need something a bit more legally fun since Bleak House and Blood Meridian are on the list. Dickens and the Coen brothers be darned.
[I've read it, and loved it. Review Here. ]
9. 1776. Have I really not read a David McCullough book yet? Apologies to whoever gave this to me with high recommendations!
10. The Enchantress of Florence. I can't help but pick up a Salmon Rushdie book when I see one, thanks to Book Club. So I came home with this one, but never read it, even though I'm highly intrigued to see Rushdie interweave the High Renaissance with the Mughal Empire of the same time period.
11. Finn. I think I picked this up from someone in Book Club. I'm somewhat linear, so it felt wrong to read this book when I had not read Huck's own book. Remedied and ready to walk in his dad's shoes.
12. Teaching Life Letters from a Life in Literature. I ordered this from the Bas Blue catalog years ago. More than just a literary / teaching guide, this book was written in response to the sudden death of one of his students, who died tragically in an automobile accident on her way to Salwak’s office to talk over her career plans. It isn't long but doesn't have much white space so I need a little extra incentive to pick it up.
Ok, as per the rules, there are two alternatives in case these don't pass muster, the alternates are New York and The Street of a Thousand Blossoms.So . . . Challenge On! And I already feel better about all these poor little books who are pining away for me to pick them up and read them.
Comments
I'm also a fan of Rushdie, but haven't come across this one - bother - looks like another book for my TBR pile!!