Mission

Bibliophiliac is the space where one passionate, voracious reader reflects on books and the reading life. You will find reviews, analysis, links, and reflections on poetry and prose both in and out of the mainstream.

A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sunday Coffee: The Mount TBR Challenge

The Mount TBR Challenge

Bev at My Reader's Block has come up with the perfect reading challenge for book hoarders: the Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012.

Here's how it works: decide on what level you are going to commit to (I'm committing to Mt. Vancouver-25 books), post about the challenge, and then sign up at Bev's site here. My list (see below) comes from books that I already own. I'm listing thirty-three books, but who knows-maybe I'll go all the way to Mt. Ararat (40 books).

A Tentative List for the Challenge:
1. Daniel Deronda George Eliot.
2. An Object of Beauty Steve Martin.
3. Mystery and Manners Flannery O'Connor.
4. The Known World Edward P. Jones.
5. The White Lioness Henning Mankell.
6. Shame the Devil George P. Pelecanos.
7. White Jazz James Ellroy.
8. The Transit of Venus Shirley Hazzard.
9. Parable of the Sower Octavia Butler.
10. Amy and Isabelle Elizabeth Strout.
11. Cambridge Caryl Phillips.
12. A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement Anthony Powell.
13. Serena Ron Rash.
14. The English Teacher Lily King.
15. Shelter Jayne Anne Phillips.
16. The Forgotten Garden Kate Morton.
17. Let the Great World Spin Colum McCann.
18. Paradise Alley Kevin Baker.
19. Veronica Mary Gaitskill.
20. Snow Orhan Pamuk.
21. Fruit of the Lemon Andrea Levy.
22. Human Capital Stephen Amidon.
23. White Tiger Avarind Adiga.
24. Property Valerie Martin.
25. The Taste of Sorrow Jude Morgan.
26. 2666 Roberto Bolano.
27. Free Food for Millionaires Min Jin Lee.
28. Little Boy Lost Laski.
29. The Language of Bees Laurie R. King.
30. To a Distant Land James McConkey.
31. The Girl with Glass Feet Ali Shaw.
32. Yesterday's Weather Anne Enright.
33. Blaming Elizabeth Taylor.

Just looking at this list (compiled by scanning my bookshelves) I wonder if I will be able to wait until January to read some of the titles on the list. No worries: I have vast numbers of books from which to choose (shame!).

My home library has been accumulated over years (some of which were spent as a bookseller, with constant temptation). Lately I've curbed my book spending dramatically. When I do buy new books, I try to buy them for my Nook, because we've downsized, and are overflowing with books already. The Mount TBR Challenge: I can hardly wait!

7 comments:

bermudaonion said...

Good luck with the challenge!

Bev Hankins said...

Welcome to the challenge! So glad you'll be mountain climbing with me. (I'm getting awful anxious for 2012 to get her...I've got all kinds of nifty books lined up for next year's challenges.)

Scriptor Senex said...

I'd reached the conclusion I need to do something similar when sorting the loft recently. I have five bookshelves on the landing, one (very large) box in the loft, and three bookshelbes in the study all devoted to books I have yet to read... Sounds like Everest to me but I think I'd suffer from altitude sicknes.

Joanne said...

What a great visual, scaling mountains of books ... Now that's a nice hike to take :)

bibliophiliac said...

@bermudaonion-thanks Kathy!
@Bev-Thanks for hosting this fun challenge. I can't wait to get started!
@Scriptor Senex-did you know there is a book called Howard's End is on the landing? Sounds like this challenge is perfect for you!

bibliophiliac said...

@Joanne-Mount TBR is the only mountain I'll be scaling! Talk about an armchair traveler!

Lisa said...

Thanks for bringing this to my attention! I'm trying to cut back on challenges but this one is just all about doing what I want to do anyway!