Bev’s Comments (group member since Feb 10, 2012)

Bev’s comments from the Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 group.

Julia wrote: "So if I decide to keep going for Mt Vancouver, I should just start a new thread over in that section?"
Yes, if you want to keep climbing, go ahead and start a Vancouver thread.

Well, I fed in 10 comment posts (removing my initial post and the extra comment at post #9) and the CRNG Machine (Custom Random Number Generator) has given me comment post #10. Which means our Third Quarter winner is Esther! Hurray for Esther. I will contact you soon to see about getting the prize list to you.

The Checkpoint is closed--in respect to prize-winning. Even if you're late to the checkpoint party, feel free to go ahead and let us know how you're doing.

Prizewinner announcement coming soon!

Way to go! Congrats on completing the climb!

You can, you can!

Almost there!

Wow. The year is just about three-quarters done and it's time for Mountaineering Checkpoint #3. Where does the time go? I'm ready to hear how all our mountain-climbing buddies are doing out there on Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Everest....whichever peak you've chosen. Checkpoint participation is absolutely voluntary and is not considered necessary for challenge completion.

For those who would like to participate in this checkpoint post, I'd like you to do two things:
1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates to actual miles up Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, etc. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Using any number of titles from your conquered list, compose a poem. You may add extra words, if needed, up to the number of titles used. There were a few brave souls who gave this a try last time. I'd love to see what might happen on this round.

B. Looking ahead to next year's challenge: Is there a level that you'd like to see added (maybe a 30 or 35 level or some other number in between our current mountain peaks)? If so, give me a suggestion and the name of a mountain peak and I'll think about switching things up a bit next year.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read all year? Etc.)


And what do you get for all that hard work (and distraction from the actual climb)? The Checkpoint will close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 30. On Monday I will crank up the Custom Random Number Generator and pick a winning climber. He or she will have the chance to add to their TBR stack via my gently-used book vault (prize list will be sent). Just think, if you win a book you can start up a pile for next year's Mount TBR Challenge.

Even if you're not in the mood for a prize or if you've only got one leg of the journey under your belt, I'd love to have you check in and tell us how your climb is going!

***Please note--comments are for Checkpoint posts only. Comments that are not Checkpoint-specific will be removed--to make it easier for me to track a winner.

Comment below with your Checkpoint post.

Another one bites the dust: The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

A Stranger in My Grave by Margaret Millar Done!

Ivy wrote: "I just found this challenge and am glad that I did...this will inspire me to keep reading and clearing off my shelves..."

Welcome, Ivy! Be watching later this year...I'll be posting for another round for 2013. I've barely touched my mountain range.

Jemidar wrote: "Wow, you're ripping through them :-)."

I'm trying. There are way too many books sitting on the 2012 TBR mountain (which is actually bigger than my Everest list...I have other challenges going on too). Getting ready to start A Stranger in My Grave by
Margaret Millar.

The Necropolis Railway by Andrew Martin. Done!

One more step: The Edgar Winners by Bill Pronzini, ed.

Another down: The Fleet Street Murders.

Julia wrote: "I read Gatsby early this year for a read-a-long and I had a hard time with it. I love Fitzgerald's descriptions of the outlandish parties, but I couldn't sympathize with any of characters, aside fr..."

I probably wouldn't have gotten around to Gatsby if I hadn't put it down for several challenges (including this one). Like you, I'm glad to be able to say that I read it....I doubt that I'll ever re-read it. Or read another Fitzgerald for that matter.

Here's another: Death's Pale Horse by James Sherburne.

Gaijinmama wrote: "HI, I'm Gaijinmama, from the U.S. originally but I live in Japan so you could say my mountain of books is like Mt. Fuji.
It's bad. I've had some of them for 20 years or more and just can't let them..."

Hi! Sorry it's taken me a bit to say so....Glad you've joined up. Hope you have a good time climbing with us...and yes, we're in it for the fun!

Julia wrote: "So just double checking -- I have a paper copy of Sorcery & Cecilia I bought a few years ago and now I bought a newer Kindle edition when it was on sale... so even if I'm reading the post-2012 Kind..."

Yes, the Kindle version counts. As long as you owned a copy of whatever it is you want to read prior to 2012, I have no problem with you reading a newer copy--whether it's on Kindle or if you get a paperback version that will be easier to hold than a heavy hardback or even listen to one on tape/CD. You just need to be clearing one off your pre-2012 personal mountain. I will confess....I got Sense & Sensibility on CD from the library so I could listen to it on a long road trip. It's been sitting in hardback on my shelf for years. Finally cleared it off! And I'm getting ready to listen to another book on CD. It's been on my owned and unread list for years.....and now that I put it down for several challenges (including my own) I can't find the darn thing. [I suspect that's a sign that I have too many books....] BUT once I listen to and then find it, off the TBR stack it goes!

Another step up the mountain: Crime on Her Mind.

Kate, I don't see you on the Buddy Read thread above. If I missed your interest in it, I'm sorry. I was impatient to get S&S read, so I'm all done. But if you do start reading it, then by all means post any comments or thoughts and I (and probably Jeannette) will jump in too.