Final Checkpoint

[Bev]

Wow. We're almost done with 2013 and it's time to get ready for the Final Mountaineering Checkpoint. Where does the time go? I'm ready to hear how all our mountain-climbing team members have done 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 at least complete the first of these two things. And if you feel particularly inspired (or generous about humoring me this holiday season), then please do both.

1. Tell us how many miles you made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you've planted your flag on the peak, then tell us and celebrate (and wave!). Even if you were especially athletic and have been sitting atop your mountain for months, please check back in and remind us quickly you sprinted up that trail. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

2. My Life According to Mount TBR: Using the titles of the books you read this year, please associate each statement with a book read on your journey up the Mountain. I have given my titles as examples.

Are you male or female?: The Lady Vanishes
Describe yourself: I'm one of Four Lost Ladies
Describe where you currently live: In the Shadow of Gotham
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: London Particular
Your favorite form of transportation: Mystery Train
What's the weather like?: Mist on the Saltings
Favorite time of day?: The Small Hours of the Morning (i.e. late at night)
Your relationships: Slippage
You fear: the Black Widow
What is the best advice you have to give?: The Mountains Have a Secret
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Mary Poppins
My soul's present condition: A Private History of Awe



And what do you get for all that hard work? The Checkpoint will close at 11:59 pm on Thursday, January 2. On Friday 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). This prize is the only book given to you in 2014 that may count towards a 2014 TBR climb.

Even if you're not in the mood for a prize or if you got distracted by pretty scenery or side trails (library books, ARCs, what-have-you), I'd love to have you check in and tell us how your 2013 mountain climb went!

***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. If you'd like to congratulate a climber, please visit their challenge folder. Thanks!

[Kimberly]

I’m happy to say I made it to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro around the beginning of November. I thought I would make a small pile of extra books to stand on to get that little bit higher to obtain a better view but, as it turns out, I did not. I’ve got another pile of some 60 odd books to get through in 2014 so I’ll be climbing again next year.

Have you finished all your book challenges? On Target
Do you go to many parties? Just Kids
Do you have a mantra? Just Breathe
What do you do for work? Defending Jacob
Do you love your job? Dead I Well May Be
What do you wish you had more of? Breathing Room
Where do you wish you were right now? A Summer in Sonoma
How do you like your men? Easy
What? What is the What
What?? Are you insane? Ballistic
Are you happily married? This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage/ Happy Ever After
What happens when your husband picks a fight with you? Transfer of Power
Where was your first kiss? In the Woods
Do you have any pets? A Dog's Purpose
How do you feel about olives? Yours to Keep
Describe your high school years. What I Did for Love
Are you a good cook? Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster
Are you a good listener? Me Before You /And One Last Thing ...

Seriously... I'm Kidding


P.S. - I've read the other comments and realized I did not follow the assignment to the letter... I made up my own questions. I'm sorry. Oops! :-/

[Lynn]

I am one book away from my 24 book challenge. Since I am off from work for a few days I think that I will make it. Next year I am going to aim for 36 books from the TBR pile because I am done with grad school so my reading time is more my own again.
2.
Are you male or female?: Hounded by Kevin Hearne
Describe yourself: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Describe where you currently live: Tin Swift by Devon Monk
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: The Singing by Alison Croggon
Your favorite form of transportation: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
What's the weather like?: The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
Favorite time of day?: Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie
Your relationships: Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
You fear: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
What is the best advice you have to give?: The Damned Busters by Matthew Hughes
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
My soul's present condition: Cold Harvest by Chris Holm

[Nell]

Final Check-in
Today I finished my last book to reach the summit of Mt. Vancouver!

Are you male or female? The Seventh Witch
Describe yourself: The Walled Flower
Describe where you currently live: State of the Onion
If you could go anywhere where would you go? Stork Raving Mad (LOL! couldn't resist this one!)
The Body in the Big Apple
Your favorite form of transportation: Riding the Dragon
What's the weather like? A Week in Winter
Favorite time of day? The Heat of the Moon
Your relationships: Falling Together or Charmed to Death
You fear: Bloody Kin
What is the best advice you have to give? If You Can't Stand the Heat
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Holmes on the Range
My soul's present condition: Every Last Secret: A Mystery

[[deleted user]]

Alas, the books I read really don't work with the second feature of this checkpoint, but I can certainly update you on my progress: I summitted Mount Vancouver (36 books) at the end of November and have since read two more titles off of my TBR stacks: White Night (The Dresden Files #9 by Jim Butcher; narrated by James Marsters) and Smiley's People (by John LeCarre) for a grand total of 38 titles :-)

[Michelle]

I'm pretty excited to have made it up Pikes Peak fairly easily but when I tried to make it to Mount Blanc I didn't end up doing so well. Considering how many new reads I did this year I'm still pretty happy with ticking off 18 old TBR's off my list.

Are you male or female?: Creole Belle
Describe yourself: Odd Thomas
Describe where you currently live: Fortress
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: The Night Circus
Your favorite form of transportation: Mockingjay
What's the weather like?: Winter Moon
Favorite time of day?: Full Dark, No Stars
Your relationships: Your Heart Belongs to Me
You fear: Cycle of the Werewolf
What is the best advice you have to give?: Seriously... I'm Kidding
If you could change your name, you would change it to: The Gunslinger
My soul's present condition: Fifty Shades Freed

[Susan]

I finished 36 for Mt Vancouver and hope to finish two more from the pile. I enjoyed doing this and getting to discover what had been waiting on the shelf. Unfortunately, since I kept buying books, the ranges keep growing...

Are you male or female?:  The Queen's Fool 
Describe yourself:   Learning to Live in the World
Describe where you currently live:  The Kingdom of Ordinary Time
If you could go anywhere where would you go?:  Mountains Beyond Mountains
Your favorite form of transportation:  Wicked River (the Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild)
What's the weather like?:   Altered States
Favorite time of day?: Sixteen hundred (from Sixteen Pleasures)
Your relationships: Hostages to Fortune
You fear:   A Trouble of Fools
What is the best advice you have to give?:  Turn Right at Machu Picchu
If you could change your name, you would change it to: The Great Roxhyte 
My soul's present condition:  Less than Angels

[Christine]

Well, I made it to 173 books and had a serious discussion with Zeus about being an absentee father. I feel a rather strange sense of accomplishment. I discovered in my mileage that I enjoyed the Marhsall series by Mabb, about a detective in Italy. Very funny. Terry Jones is wonderfully funny even when he is writing about Russian mobsters.

[Pamela]

I attempted Mount Blanc, 24 books and recently made it up that mountain. It was a struggle, but not from lack of reading, but sticking to books I already own. Working in a library does not help! I will join again next year, it helped me focus and keep from even more purchases.

Describe yourself: Collections of Nothing or Before Freedom, when I just can remember
Describe where you currently live: Pacific Edge (moved mid-year, and funny enough, now live where this book takes place)
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: Heart of the Trail
What's the weather like?: Coming of the Storm & Cloudsplitter
Favorite time of day?: The Passage (i.e. sleep)
Your relationships: The Great Typo Hunt
You fear: Bone Rattler
What is the best advice you have to give?: Quiet Please & Listen
My soul's present condition: The Relaxation Response
Favorite Drink, especially while reading: Three Cups of Tea
Best gift to give or receive: The King's Gold :-)

[Ellinor]

I'm still on my way up Mount Olympus (150 books). Currently I'm at 136 books. I'm not sure if I'll make it to 150 books but I'm hoping to at least reach 140 (which should be manageable).

Are you male or female?: The Daughter of Time
Describe yourself: The Witch in the Wood
Describe where you currently live: Wide Sargasso Sea
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: The Castle of Otranto
Your favorite form of transportation: Black Beauty
What's the weather like?: Storm Boy
Favorite time of day?: Twilight (but not my favourite book :)
Your relationships: A Visit from the Goon Squad
You fear: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
What is the best advice you have to give?: Down With Skool!
If you could change your name, you would change it to: The BFG
My soul's present condition: The Sense of an Ending

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

Your word game is warming me up for my "Gentle Spectrums" challenge. ;-) Way to get me extra eager! I'm thrilled to share with everyone that I finished my 'Mount Ararat' level ages ago. I passed almost all other mountains, finding myself at 96 books. I'm going to make it to 100 this very month!

In Canada we aren't big on the expression 'happy holidays'. We like to say and hear the precious words that I wish all of you: merry Christmas! Yours truly, Carolyn.

Male or female? “Marie-Anne Lagimodière”
Describe yourself: “The Snow Goose”
Describe where you live: “Street Of Riches” (truly a home town author)
If you could go anywhere, where? “Ghost Town Treasure”
Favourite form of transportation: "A Dream Of Unicorns"
What's the weather like? “The Ghost Of Windy Hill”
Favourite time of day? “Time For The White Egret”
Your relationships: “Dancing Feathers”
You fear: “Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang”
What is your best advice to give? “Never Call It Loving”
If you could change your name: “Blue Fire”
My soul's present condition: “Celtic Praise”
See all my reviews here. http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2013/01...

[Jemidar]

I summited Mt. Vancouver reading 36 books from my mountain range of over 500. I will also make my personal goal of reading more than 50% of my total books read from my pile this year.

Are you male or female?: Girl With a Pearl Earring
Describe yourself: Excellent Women
Describe where you currently live: More Tales of the City
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: The Perfumed Garden of Sensual Delight
Your favorite form of transportation: Nine Coaches Waiting
What's the weather like?: The Greengage Summer
Favorite time of day?: Started Early, Took My Dog
Your relationships: Above Suspicion
You fear: The Wheel of Fortune
What is the best advice you have to give?: Madam, Will You Talk?
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Forever Amber
My soul's present condition: They Found Him Dead

[readmuchrunfar]

I'm happy to say I made it to the top of Mt. Ararat (48 books) only a few days ago. This challenge was SO good for me. Although I've added to my TBR, it's still reduced overall and I knocked out several books that have been sitting there for years.

I switched out a couple of questions that I just couldn't match up answers for, and I used any book I read this year, not just ones from this challenge, but here goes:

Are you male or female?: Gone Girl
Describe yourself: Lost in a Good Book / Sweet Tooth
How do you get on without coffee?: The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Your favorite form of transportation: Dragon's Bait
What's the weather like?: The Gathering Storm
Favorite time of day?: Crossroads of Twilight
Your relationships: The Italian Lover
You fear: Something Wicked This Way Comes
What is the best advice you have to give?: Wonder
Your pets: Unnatural Creatures
My soul's present condition: A Memory of Light (Happy Solstice!)

[Eyvonne]

I did reach my goal!!! Love this challenge.
Are you male or female?: Leather Maiden
Describe yourself: Creole Belle
Describe where you currently live: City of Thieves
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: A Land More Kind Than Home
Your favorite form of transportation: Flight Behavior
What's the weather like?: Prodigal Summer
Do you have any Pets?: One Good Dog
Your relationships: A Plague of Secrets
You fear: In the Tall Grass
What is the best advice you have to give?: Wait Til Next year
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Free Byrd
My soul's present condition: Unbroken

[Shauna]

I have completed 24 books on my trek this year. After committing to Pike's Peak, I am currently waving from the top of Mount Blanc.


Are you male or female?: Persepolis (The main character is female.)

Describe yourself: Hooked (on books, that is)

Describe where you currently live: This Must Be the Place

If you could go anywhere where would you go?: Mutiny (I need a break from my surroundings.)

Your favorite form of transportation: The Client (As I don't drive, my transport is often directed by others.)

What's the weather like?: The Omega Theory (so weird that it points to apocalyptic change, 85 degrees in CA today)

Favorite time of day?: Erratum (i.e. depends on the season and my mood)

Your relationships: The Associate

You fear: The Pelican Brief

What is the best advice you have to give?: Believe Me

If you could change your name, you would change it to: Soul Surfer

My soul's present condition: Private

[Iola]

Are you male or female? Hatteras Girl by Alice J Whisper
Describe yourself... Words by Ginny Yttrup
If I could go anywhere ... Moon Over Tokyo by Sri Mitchell
Favourite form of transportation... Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant
Where I currently live ... Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
The weather ... Gone South by Meg Mossley
Favourite time of day ... Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay
Your relationships ... Right Where I Belong. By Krista McGee
You fear ... Wounds by Alton Gansky
What is the best advice you have to give? Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren
If I could change my name... Jennifer by Dee Henderson
My souls present condition... All God's Children by Anna Schmidt

P.S. Yes, I did make it to the top of Mt Ararat. Completed book 48 on 30th December (and even managed book #49!).

[Rakisha]

I attempted to climb Pikes Peak and in total, I read 4 of the 12 books I set out to read for this challenge. Not too bad...not great either. At least I can free up a teeny bit of space on my shelves. The only books I completed from my TBR were from the Alex Cross series since that crossed over with another book challenge. Overall, I did exceed my total number of books read for this year. I aimed to read 25 and have completed 30. Hope to do more in 2014.

If you could go anywhere where would you go?Cross Country
What is the best advice you have to give?: Kill Alex Cross
If you could change your name, you would change it to: I, Alex Cross
Describe yourself: Cross

[Kate]

I made it, I made it!!! Picture me with clasped hands at the end of outstretched arms -- I'm so stoked!

1. Tell us how many miles you made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you've planted your flag on the peak, then tell us and celebrate (and wave!).

2. My Life According to Mount TBR:

Are you male or female?: The Ladies of Grace Adieu
Describe yourself: Her Fearful Symmetry
Describe where you currently live: Granta 23: Home
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: Another Country
Your favorite form of transportation: Hiking Ruins Seldom Seen
What's the weather like?: The View in Winter
Favorite time of day?: The Moon by Whalelight
Your relationships: Hope, Human and Wild
You fear: Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch's Assault on America's Fundamental Rights
What is the best advice you have to give?: The Force of Kindness
If you could change your name, you would change it to: Mrs. Ames
My soul's present condition: Changing Planes

[Pixelina]

23/24 but working on that last one so soon! And I am surprising myself, I thought I had done worse. Next year I hope to do at least as many, if not more. My bookshelfs are bursting!


Describe yourself: Extremely loud and incredibly close
Describe where you currently live: Captain Nemo's Library
If you could go anywhere where would you go?: Swann's way
Your favorite form of transportation: Iron Council (it's a train)
What's the weather like?: The Shadow of the wind
Favorite time of day?: Night shift
Your relationships: A moveable feast
You fear: Spook country
What is the best advice you have to give?:Distrust that particular flavor
If you could change your name, you would change it to: The willows
My soul's present condition: 1Q84 (but I think my IQ is higher then 84 - most of the time)

[Karen·]

I'm afraid it really is a case of the failed mountain climber returns, but at least I got higher than last year, and my attitude has always been that a challenge should be challenging. 28 out of 36. Not bad. Higher than Mont Blanc, anyway.

The view from my window:The Garden of Evening Mists
What would you be doing if you were dumped in the English Channel?: Swimming Home
Your name for anger management:Red Dog
State of your soul: Sodom and Gomorrah
Change of name?: Pereira
Where would you like to go? Combray, Swann's Way.

Sorry, that is as much as my Proust damaged brain will muster!

[Caz]

I didn't quite make it to the top of Mt. Vancouver in the end, but I didn't do too badly, considering my reviewing commitments exploded this year. If I've counted right, I managed 33 out of the 36 I'd hoped for.

I will admit that a large number of these titles were audiobooks, but I did have print/kindle versions of them prior to 2013.

The Black Madonna
Miss Jacobson's Journey
Wicked Intentions
Notorious Pleasures
Scandalous Desires
Thief of Shadows
A Rogue by Any Other Name
Much Ado About You
Just Like Heaven
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Ruined by Rumor
Devil in Winter
The Lady's Companion
The Dangerous Lord Darrington
Vicar's Daughter to Viscount's Lady
Fallen
The Duchess War
Garland of Straw - I wasn't able to get a copy until this year, but it's been on my "want to read" list for over 20 years!
The Spymaster's Lady
A Christmas Promise
A Christmas Bride (The Ideal Wife #3)
Castles
For My Lady's Heart
Midsummer Moon
The Dream Hunter
Saving Grace
Stranger in My Arms
Tempting the Bride
The Counterfeit Coachman
A Kiss For Midwinter
It's in His Kiss
Ten Things I Love About You
More Than a Stranger
The Paid Companion

I'm too knackered now to do the clever bit!

[Julia]

Only 15 books this time, so I fell far short of my intended mountain of Mt. Blanc.

Who are you? Birth of a Chess Queen
What is your opening number? Showtime
What is your quest? Lost Things
What do you fear? The Shortest Way to Hades
Where are you? Lost in Time
How will you leave this world? Phoenix Rising

[Diane]

I was short of my checkpoint target of 24 by 4....notes to self, must try harder next year

[Steven]

I managed to beat Everest on September 11th, and decided to commit to Olytmpus just in time for my home to be the target of an arson fire aimed at another resident. I also had to go in for open heart surgery, so determination got to be the name of the game. I finally hit 152, and might have made 154 had I not kept falling asleep yesterday.

I'd do the questions but I'm on a tablet and it'sa hard to type!

[Bev]

Well. This is it. The Mount TBR Reading Challenge for 2013 has come to an end. And I've cranked up the CRNG Machine (Custom Random Number Generator) to give us our final Check Point Winner of 2012. After much clanking and whirring, the CRNG finally produced.....Number 14. And our 14th entry is readmuchrunfar! Congratulations! (round of applause) I'll be contacting you shortly about claiming a prize.

Thanks to everyone who came along on the mountain-climbing journey this year. It's been fun and I hope to see you all over at the 2014 Mount TBR Challenge.

[Christine]

Congrats Readmuch!

Steven, I hope you feel better soon.

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

Congratulations 'read much'. Thank you very much Bev.

[Bev]

Steven wrote: "I managed to beat Everest on September 11th, and decided to commit to Olytmpus just in time for my home to be the target of an arson fire aimed at another resident. I also had to go in for open hea..."

Steven: I hope that you are mending well after surgery and that your home has been cleaned up and repaired so that the New Year will start out in the best possible way for you!