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Heather's Monthly Challenge and TBR List
Hooray to Crime and Punishment, The New York Trilogy and The Invention of Solitude! And also hooray to 'Rebecca' which I hope to be joining you for and the philosophers!A lot of the books on your list I have either not read yet or have never heard of so I'll be peeking in occasionally to see how things are progressing.
The majority of the Kindle books are the 99p daily deals. I buy them because they are 99p but then never get round to reading them. I'm sure there are some awful books in there but if I don't try them I will never know, will I?!
And yes, we definitely have to do a readalong of Rebecca. I loved House on the Strand. I might try get to it before the new year, it seems to be a perfect 'curl-up on the sofa in the cold' book.
I won't be able to join you for all the Philosophers but it is such a fantastic project I'd love to try and read a few.
I won't be able to join you for all the Philosophers but it is such a fantastic project I'd love to try and read a few.
If you let me know when you are reading Ivanhoe, I'll try to give it a go. Though I have to say I find Walter Scott pretty unreadable up to yet!
Gill wrote: "If you let me know when you are reading Ivanhoe, I'll try to give it a go. Though I have to say I find Walter Scott pretty unreadable up to yet!"
this was my Grandad's book and I owe it to him to try and read it! I'll give it my best shot
this was my Grandad's book and I owe it to him to try and read it! I'll give it my best shot
Heather, I too find it hard to say no to those Kindle deals! You have quite a few books on your list that are on my TBR so maybe we can do some readalongs next year...And I am happy to see your series challenge! I am devoting some time to those sci-fi and fantasy books next year too. ;)
Mod
I also have that cathegory in my challenge; we could organize something together!
Heather wrote: "Gill wrote: "If you let me know when you are reading Ivanhoe, I'll try to give it a go. Though I have to say I find Walter Scott pretty unreadable up to yet!"this was my Grandad's book and I owe ..."
That's a really nice reason, Heather
I've added about 20 kindle books since writing this list. I've given up already, it will never end!
Edit challenge to include participating in at least one group read each month. I love reading books with your guys and even if they are not on my TBR list I want to participate!
I love your original list, and also the themed ideas following. You aim high!!And I think this last comment makes a lot of sense. I too have come to the conclusion that I still want to participate in group reads, and not just catch up on my own reading. For me, that is part of the benefit of being in a group on Goodreads. But I'm going to restrict my group reads so they're not all I do, which in my enthusiasm was the case when I first joined a few months ago.
I would like to join in one a month but sometimes they all really appeal, like in January so not many will be crossed off my TBR list. There are lots of books on there that I really do want to read though, so I'll be nominating monthly to try and get some of them as group reads!
That's a good idea too. I usually end up voting for one that's on my shelves if it's included. I think The Golden Notebook won the poll, didn't it, so haven't finally decided whether to read that or reread The Grass is Singing before passing it on. Decisions decisions...
I'll be joining in with The Golden Notebook I think. I didn't pick that one but I don't own any and wasn't too bothered which I read.
It's taken me 2 hours to go through all the messages on here and reply, another reason why I'll never conquer Mount TBR!
It's taken me 2 hours to go through all the messages on here and reply, another reason why I'll never conquer Mount TBR!
There are 3 in the series. The 2nd isn't as good as the 1st but I enjoyed it. The 3rd is based on Mallow, I hope to get to that one soon
Heather wrote: "...It's taken me 2 hours to go through all the messages on here and reply, another reason why I'll never conquer Mount TBR! ..."LOL! Yes, that is definitely a factor :)
Good luck Heather! ^_^ let me know how the dragons series is.
Edited challenge. I am not doing very well with this...
Oh my gosh Heather! If I had a list as long as that I'd feel a bit overwhelmed! I kind of know where you're coming from, because if I wrote down all the unread books on my shelves (both actual and virtual) it might look very similar. But I'm a great believer in only taking on things I know I can achieve if I set my mind to it (same with New Year resolutions.)
My personal challenge has a mere 14 books on it. It may well be the smallest challenge in the group, but it is right for me! I have not even set any months or anything - just an intention to complete it in 2 years! I'm pretty sure I will do that, and hopefully lots more. But when I have done it, I'll still feel pleased with myself for doing it. It will be worth it for me, even though it's tiny compared with some challenges, because I'll know that if I hadn't set it then I wouldn't have read all those books!
I suppose what I'm saying is, now you have a master list, (which was worth doing for itself anyway), how about breaking it down into manageable chunks? With the limited time you have for reading, maybe one book per month would be a good challenge? If you then have time for more, you'll feel good about it, and enjoy it - which surely is very important!!
Try it for a few months maybe? Pick half a dozen you really fancy. Put them on a separate list, and then check them off. Then when you look at it you can see your progress.
I want to be encouraging, and it's good to aim high of course, but I know you have been feeling overwhelmed by the amount of reading you have set yourself, and honestly I think you would enjoy your reading more if you eased up a little bit. Sorry.
If you're annoyed by this, and think I'm talking complete rubbish, then just say so, and I'll remove this post. Maybe I should anyway after you've read it as it's so long! I know you were the one who had the brainwave for personal challenges in Perks, and I think they're really great! Thank you! It would be a great shame if you couldn't make a success of your own idea for yourself though. x
Hi Jean
I did this at the end of last year and I totally agree with you. I loved creating challenges for myself last year and thought I'd do it again.
I was going to totally delete this post but I've actually edited it and just kept the list of my unread books. I want to keep this to remind myself mainly of what great things I have to read on my kindle. I'm not pressuring myself to read them all anymore, most just laughing at myself because I have another 2 books in the post to me and all this to read.
So I've actually already taken your advice and I really appreciate your advice. I've got a lot going on at the moment and I think I tend to put a huge amount of pressure on myself in everything I do. It is a part of my personality and a reason why I'm where I am. I definitely need to chill out a bit and I have done over the past few weeks.
I'm going to use your suggestion and try and read one of these books a month but this is my master list. And if I fancy reading some other things instead, then I will!
Thanks for being so lovely :)
I did this at the end of last year and I totally agree with you. I loved creating challenges for myself last year and thought I'd do it again.
I was going to totally delete this post but I've actually edited it and just kept the list of my unread books. I want to keep this to remind myself mainly of what great things I have to read on my kindle. I'm not pressuring myself to read them all anymore, most just laughing at myself because I have another 2 books in the post to me and all this to read.
So I've actually already taken your advice and I really appreciate your advice. I've got a lot going on at the moment and I think I tend to put a huge amount of pressure on myself in everything I do. It is a part of my personality and a reason why I'm where I am. I definitely need to chill out a bit and I have done over the past few weeks.
I'm going to use your suggestion and try and read one of these books a month but this is my master list. And if I fancy reading some other things instead, then I will!
Thanks for being so lovely :)
Oh Heather that is a big relief :) I had actually just decided I shouldn't have posted it, and was going to move it to a private message which you could ignore completely if you wanted!! So it's so great to realise that you had already come to a similar conclusion. Thanks for saying :)It's important to know ourselves and what works for us, isn't it? We're all so different. And you know that you are someone who works best under pressure. But I guess even knowing that fact, you still have to gauge when it's just too much, as you've been saying.
I'm so pleased that you are managing to enjoy your reading again now :)
Edited to cross a few more off the list. At some point I will have to go through and add the new books I've purchased!
As well as doing this I've decided to make a list of the books I've read for the monthly challenges as part of this group. I would like to read one for each challenge but I find it difficult to remember what I've done
January- New Starts
Lots for this!
1. Dorothy Dunnett
2. Eleanor Catton
3. Markus Zusak
4. Rebecca Skloot
5. Jeffrey Eugenides
6. Julian Barnes
7. Joanne Harris
8. Richard Herley
9. Antonia Fraser
10. Ann Patchett
11. Joanna Russ
Lots for this!
1. Dorothy Dunnett
2. Eleanor Catton
3. Markus Zusak
4. Rebecca Skloot
5. Jeffrey Eugenides
6. Julian Barnes
7. Joanne Harris
8. Richard Herley
9. Antonia Fraser
10. Ann Patchett
11. Joanna Russ
February- Low vision Awareness (audiobooks/large print)
I read mainly on kindle so for this challenge I decided to try and read an audiobook. I have started
1. Chocolat
I read mainly on kindle so for this challenge I decided to try and read an audiobook. I have started
1. Chocolat
March- Iditarod Theme
1. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
2. Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole
I would say these both count as adventure. And one is Antarctic (not quite Arctic but close!)
1. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
2. Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole
I would say these both count as adventure. And one is Antarctic (not quite Arctic but close!)
August- Tree climbing Days
1. The Book Thief
2. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex
3. Middlesex
4. Five Quarters of the Orange
1. The Book Thief
2. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex
3. Middlesex
4. Five Quarters of the Orange
September- Interpretors and translators
1. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex
2. The Fire Engine That Disappeared
3. Devdas
1. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex
2. The Fire Engine That Disappeared
3. Devdas
November- Children's literature
None read so far
None read so far
Phew, up to date! I will still add to the group pages but this helps me keep track as I would love to finish one from each theme
Sorry - I interrupted! I'm deleting that comment so you have a complete list all together :) And I repeat... Good idea :D
Heather wrote: " July- Tour De France No books so far but I have one in mind Road to Rouen"
I would recommend French Revolutions for this Heather
Paul wrote: "Heather wrote: " July- Tour De France
No books so far but I have one in mind Road to Rouen"
I would recommend French Revolutions for this Heather"
Thanks Paul. I've read that one already (dad is a massive tour de france fan so I didn't have much choice). I would second your recommendation.
Thanks Jean! I wasn't bothered about the interruption but it does look very neat now
No books so far but I have one in mind Road to Rouen"
I would recommend French Revolutions for this Heather"
Thanks Paul. I've read that one already (dad is a massive tour de france fan so I didn't have much choice). I would second your recommendation.
Thanks Jean! I wasn't bothered about the interruption but it does look very neat now
It was pre goodreads so not on my lists here so you had no way of knowing!
Need suggestions for spiritual books. It isn't my favourite topic so something short and easy would be great!
Hi Heather, for a spiritual book I recommend The pilgrim's progress by John Bunyan. For a short and easy read there is the epistle of James.
Mod
Are you thinking of non-fiction or fiction with spiritual themes? One literary choice is you're looking for the second of those is the story about South African Apartheid Cry, the Beloved Country.
I am sure others can recommend better - I am looking for some good spiritual books to read too.
Also in the second category, Dhanaraj recommended me Job by Joseph Roth. Going by the description that's going to be awesome!
Literature with spiritual themes. No interest in reading The Bible I have to say.
Will have a look at those options and see if I can get them on kindle for my holiday
Will have a look at those options and see if I can get them on kindle for my holiday
Mod
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book of Strange New Things (other topics)Job (other topics)
Cry, the Beloved Country (other topics)
Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle For Survival at the South Pole (other topics)
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michel Faber (other topics)Joseph Roth (other topics)
Dorothy Dunnett (other topics)
Eleanor Catton (other topics)
Markus Zusak (other topics)
More...
I continue to buy a stupid amount of books and as of April 24/04/2014 I have read 2/50 (yes, TWO) of these books on my list!
This may be a very long challenge....
1. Clear the TBR pile
Real books
1.Jasmyn
2.Purple Hibiscus3.Crime and Punishment
4.Things Fall Apart
5.Ivanhoe
6.Rebecca7.The Riddle of the Sands
8.Les Trois Mousquetaires 1
9.The Six Wives of Henry VIII10.My Own Country: A Doctor's Story11.The Zanzibar Chest
12.Moranthology
13.The Island
14.Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction
Kindle
1.Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex2.Emma
3.Gone Girl4.Tune in Tokyo: The Gaijin Diaries
5.The Grimm Legacy
6.The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment
7.The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - For a Little While8.AWOL on the Appalachian Trail9.Slaughterhouse-Five
10.Road to Rouen11.Wild Cards
12.The Breadmakers Saga
13.Leviathan
14.The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared15.Poor Mercy
16.Under Fishbone Clouds
17.The China Bird
18.World War II - The Last War Heroes: From D-Day to Berlin with the Men and Machines That Won the War
19.The Lewis Man
20.My Driver
21.The Invention of Solitude
22.The Tudor Housewife
23.Into the Darkest Corner
24.The White Family
25.The New York Trilogy
26.Viva South America!: A Journey Through A Restless Continent
27.The Appointment
28.The Brothers
29.Kinesis
30.The Delta
31.Hornet Flight
32.The Sense of an Ending33.The Lost Wife
34.Golem
35.The Penal Colony36.Genus