2018 TBR Cleanup Challenge!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Nice!! I'm glad so many have been enjoyable too.

[Anthony]

Update for me. I switched out a couple of choices.

1. The 13th book — The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (13th book from the top of my TBR shelf, as organized alphabetically by author’s last name)
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill. Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly (she’s only 28!)
3. A book with humor or horror — The Changeling by Victor LaValle
4. 300-350 pages — All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
5. A book that reminds you of home — The Year's Best Science Fiction: First Annual Collection by Gardner Dozois I had this book for 35 years, and remember sifting through it in front of my old childhood bookshelf.
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover — The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
7. Chosen for the cover — The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for — The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
9. Based on the blurb or blerg — The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells (N.K. Jemisin’s 5-Star review sold me) *reading now*
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting — Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name — The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship — Final Frontier by Diane Carey
13. An author's debut novel — The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one — Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone — I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (not a big true crime reader)
16. A book with a mystery or romance — Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
17. Standalone novel — Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (I would shag Alabaster)
19. Read a genre-bender — Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover — Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

I am SO CURIOUS to see what the prompts will be in 2019, Anna and Allison!

[Jemppu]

Wow, impressive lists. I hadn't spared a thought for this for the remainder of this year, but fear my curiosity for the next has been peaked. Maybe I will have plans then after all...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

=D This is always a fun challenge. I like thinking about what I have to read a bit differently, and seeing what speaks to people for each prompt. The initial commentary for selections is one of my favorite moments of the year!

[Bobby]

I started too late, so I don't expect to finish, but it was fun making a list. I do expect to get through most of them, and I might rally in the next couple months.

[Mareike]

Anthony wrote: "Update for me. I switched out a couple of choices.

1. The 13th book — The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (13th book from the top of my TBR shelf, as organized alphabet..."

Wait, you can do that?? :-P

If you get around to I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, I'd be up for a BR! My true crime experience is limited to podcasts and TV shows, but I'm very curious about this book.

I'll get through nowhere near as much of my own list as everyone else did before the year runs out, but it has already made me tackle books that have been sitting around for too long, so it's serving its purpose.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Here's what I have left:

1. 13th book: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one - The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
17. Standalone novel - The Anubis Gates

Currently reading: Stories of Your Life and Others

I really really want to read each of these, but especially Anubis (which I own), 100,000 Kingdoms (whose author I love) and Non-Violent Communication (which feels simultaneously critical and too late). I'm pretty freakin' booked these next 2 months though so we'll see if I can pull it off! It'll be a close one.

[Gabi]

I've only got 2 books left. One is a re-read next month, and the other a Buddy Read in December - Yeah!

[Lost Planet Airman]

Allison wrote: "Here's what I have left:

1. 13th book: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - [book:Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Lif..."

Anubis was fun, although you may need to forgive the slow start (or maybe my brain was too busy calcifying that week...) I look forward to hearing reading reading about your thoughts!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Mike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Here's what I have left:

1. 13th book: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - [book:Nonviolent Communication: A..."

Ha! I hadn't considered how prepositions change how "reading your thoughts." And then I laughed when I did! Slow doesn't usually bother me unless it doesn't feel like it's adding value. I've heard enough good that I'm holding out hope. And it'd get me so many points for the Owned Book challenge, I can't even.

[Soo]

I need to read The Anubis Gates. Tim Powers is one of my new fav authors. The start is a bit dry but that seems to be normal for Powers. He's a sneaky author that grows a story on you and you're hooked before you know it.

[Rachel]

I’ve got 3 left : gotta finish Arcanum Unbounded (except for Edgedancer which has to wait in its home) read Eifelheim (Hugo nominee- eeny meeny pick) and a nonfiction out of comfiest zone - Secret Life if...either Trees or Owls

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Rachel wrote: "I’ve got 3 left : gotta finish... Secret Life if...either Trees or Owls "

Well, one is an animal, one is that animal's home. I hope this helps clear up the subject of your book. ;-D

[Rachel]

Would you believe there’s a book of each? 😊

[Maggie]

ok-I got sidetracked from this for a bit, but here's where I stand right now:
1. The 13th book-- Heir to the Empire
2. A book written by a young buck or geezer (use your own age definitions because I ain't goin' there) The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin
3. A book with humor or horror-- Witches Abroad
4. 300-350 pages Magic Shifts

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover Burn Bright
7. Chosen for the cover Deadhouse Landing
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for This Book Is Full of Spiders

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting-- 1Q84
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship Children of Time
13. An author's debut novel Malice

15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone Preludes & Nocturnes
16. A book with a mystery or romance- Six Wakes
17. Standalone novel Never Let Me Go
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill Shatterpoint

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover Kitty Steals the Show

Finished lately:
5. A book that reminds you of home Woman River
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one Issola,
9. Based on the blurb or blerg Age of Myth
19. Read a genre-bender The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

Yay! done!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Lol, Rachel ^^

Maggie, congrats!!

[Kristen]

I'm creeping up so close to done on this year's challenge! Hoping I can cling to my determination to see it through before the end of the year, along with the other challenges I set for myself. Here's what's remaining on my list:

2.) A young writer - Mr. Fox
9.) Based on the blurb - My Accidental Jihad (Had a heck of a time finding this at my library, having failed to realize it had an alternate title!)
14.) Eeny meeny miny moe - The Pinks: The First Women Detectives, Operatives, and Spies with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency

[Mareike]

Why is crossing things off a list such a pleasure?
Still plodding along with this and excited to see how many I'll get to until the end of the year.

1. The 13th book - The Mere Wife
2. A book written by a young buck or geezer (use your own age definitions because I ain't goin' there) - Home
3. A book with humor or horror - Monstrous Regiment
4. 300-350 pages - Tooth and Claw
5. A book that reminds you of home - Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover - The Stars Are Legion
7. Chosen for the cover - The House of Impossible Beauties
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for - Doomsday Book
9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Power
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Les Rois Maudits
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - Tigana
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - Full Circle
13. An author's debut novel - The Invisible Library
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one - Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone - Say Her Name
16. A book with a mystery or romance - Trail of Lightning
17. Standalone novel - The Word for World is Forest
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill - MaddAddam
19. Read a genre-bender - Life on Mars
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover - Wolf Season

[Lost Planet Airman]

I finished #12, vehicle on the cover with The Algebraist back on 27 October.

To save everyone from having to reread my list every time, I'm editing this post until I reach the next big milestone, probably #15. Or the end of the year, at this rate.

[Meredith]

Finished this challenge!
Five selections were changed from my original choices in January.

1. The 13th book Extreme Makeover, was 13th based on date I added it to GR
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill Blackout, Connie Willis is more of an esteemed elder
3. A book with humor or horror Into the Drowning Deep, I anticipate both humor and horror
4. 300-350 pages Range of Ghosts, squeaks in at 348
5. A book that reminds you of home The Boston Irish: A Political History, I grew up Irish though in the Boston suburbs
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover The Three-Body Problem
7. Chosen for the cover Brimstone
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for, The White Spider I bought this after seeing the movie based on it a few years ago
9. Based on the blurb or blerg Ninefox Gambit
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting, Unnatural Habits, Australia
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name Null States, gold on cover.
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship Death Comes to Pemberley, actual carriage on cover.
13. An author's debut novel Autonomous, first novel though she has written some non-fiction previously
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one The Wild Road, bonus: it is about cats
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, looks like lots of battles which I'm not a fan of, plus I'm meh abut Heinlein from previous book of his that I read
16. A book with a mystery or romance The Anatomist's Wife, I anticipate both mystery and romance
17. Standalone novel Borne
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill, Empire of Ivory.
19. Read a genre-bender Ghost Talkers, WWI story with paranormal elements
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover Long Hot Summoning, there is a cat

[Gabi]

Will this be back for 2019 as well? This year I had to add books, cause I was new to GR, but next year I could use my TBR list for good.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

There will be something for the tbr!

[Gabi]

Great! I'm looking forward to it!

[Kristen]

Only one more to go! So close I can taste it!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Kristen wrote: "Only one more to go! So close I can taste it!"

You can do this!!! Woooo!

[Rachel]

I've got two left.....December willbe a race to the finish lol

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I believe in you!!

I think I'm just gonna throw in the towel lol. It's looking like this is not my year.

[Kaa]

I'm getting closer... I may or may not finish by the end of the year, depending on how distracted I get between now and then.

This is what I have left:

5. A book that reminds you of home: Always Coming Home
7. Chosen for the cover: Beasts Made of Night
13. An author's debut novel: An Unkindness of Ghosts
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one: A Conspiracy of Stars
17. Standalone novel: Baker Thief
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill: Revenant Gun

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I can definitely say Unkindness and Revenant are worth it!

[Kaa]

Unkindness is next up! And Revenant is close to the top, but I want to re-read Ninefox Gamit and Raven Stratagem first.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "I believe in you!!

I think I'm just gonna throw in the towel lol. It's looking like this is not my year."

I'm with you on that. I have 8 books left to do and life is not cooperati..."

Aww <3 I hope things quiet down. I have a bunch on my TBR, and several read! But they didn't work for the challenge. I re-he-he-heally want to read the ones I have left. Alas. Alack. Alay.

[Rachel]

Don’t give up!

[Lost Planet Airman]

Allison wrote: "I believe in you!!

I think I'm just gonna throw in the towel lol. It's looking like this is not my year."

Never give up! And never surrender!

(And never forget, you can finish it later! I'm still trying to get 2017 TBR and 2017 Monopoly done!)

[Bobby]

Kaa wrote: "I'm getting closer... I may or may not finish by the end of the year, depending on how distracted I get between now and then.

This is what I have left:

5. A book that reminds you of home: [book:A..."

Kaa, now I've added a book to my TBR because of your list. The concept for Beasts Made of Night looks really interesting.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Done!

Last book wasn't great, but at least I could say it finished off the list. :D


2. A book written by an author who is over-the-hill. - After Alice by Gregory Maguire -
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover - Saturdays at Sea -
7. Chosen for the cover - Gunslinger Girl -
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for - A Gathering of Shadows
16. A book with a mystery or romance - Murder Most Unladylike
4. 300-350 pages - Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover  -
Down the Mysterly River (changed)
17. Standalone novel - Jane Steele
1. The 13th book - The Black Prism - Finally done!
13. An author's debut novel - Daughter of the Pirate King
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one  - Magic Below Stairs
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill -
The Obsidian Dagger: Being the Further Extraordinary Adventures of Horatio Lyle
19. Read a genre-bender  - The Severed Streets
3. A book with humor or horror - The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Cruel Prince
5. A book that reminds you of home - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone -
One of Us Is Lying
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Rebel of the Sands
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long-Lost Home
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name -
Strands of Bronze and Gold

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Congrats!!! And with a month to spare!

[Hank]

One left and I don't think I am going to get to it, every time I start Arcadia I end up picking up something else.

1. The 13th book - 11/22/63
2. A book written by a young buck or geezer (use your own age definitions because I ain't goin' there) Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart - hate to think 60+ is a geezer but oldest author I could find
3. A book with humor or horror Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens - Izzard makes me laugh no matter what he does
4. 300-350 pages In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality
5. A book that reminds you of home The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit - home - Colorado, woods and getting lost
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover The Ghost Brigades I think this has planets and skies
7. Chosen for the cover Traitor's Blade
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for Oathbringer - I really wanted to get to this in 2017 but 1000pg no luck
9. Based on the blurb or blerg Hope and Red - on some award list I was reading
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting Dubliners - this could be the one that makes me fail
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name Homegoing
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Prefect
13. An author's debut novel - On Basilisk Station - I bought the audio 5 years ago, about time
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one Influx - cheater, triple list book. My list of 5 books was 4 Touch and 1 Oathbringer and then crap I read Touch too fast finished in Dec so...next!
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone Feed - Horror, not usually my bag
16. A book with a mystery or romance - All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
17. Standalone novel - The Good Girl
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or killRosemary and Rue - MC is female so all three are on the table but she is a bit young for 2 of them
19. Read a genre-bender Arcadia
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness - Octopus on cover

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

So close though! Maybe time for a substitute?

[Hank]

Hmmm substitue.... My problem is the category, I can't definitively say anything is a genre-bender. Dracula? Literature+Horror+Classic
Six Wakes? Sci-fi+Detective

Every time I come up with a genre-bender I just create a new genre in my head, detective-sci-fi or Classical horror

Probably I should stop being anal and just shove a book in the slot so nit picky and just choose one.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Hank wrote: "Hmmm substitue.... My problem is the category, I can't definitively say anything is a genre-bender. Dracula? Literature+Horror+Classic
Six Wakes? Sci-fi+Detective

Ever..."

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

I’m planning to read Gun, With Occasional Music if I can fit it in before the year ends.

[〰️Beth〰️]

I just joined this group so I am not sure I can finish the 2018 challenge but I will try. Hope you do this again in 2019!

[Anna]

Yes, this challenge will come back!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Welcome Beth!! Looking forward to seeing what you line up for next year!

Hank, I just looked through your enviably uncluttered TBR. I think Semiosis, The Scar and Who Fears Death are three that I know to be genre benders.

Side note, how do you keep your shelf so reasonably sized?!

[Anna]

I think Semiosis is securely scifi without much genre bending?

(Not hard scifi, and yes yes where is the line between fantasy and scifi, but in general.)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I thought it had some horror in there, too? Well, then definitely the Mieville and the Okorafor!

[Anna]

Hmm, I can't remember any horror?

[Gabi]

The genre bending one is the most difficult. I used a link sb was so sweet to provide me with and chose Circe from it. Yet after having read it, I have no idea what the bending was ^^'.

[Lizzie]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Done!

Congratulations! *high five*

Rebel of the Sands is on my TBR too - looking like it will be next year now before I get to it though.

[Silvana]

Genrebending? Try China Miéville's books.

[Hank]

Side note, how do you keep your shelf so reasonably sized?!

Personality defect? Having it too huge makes me try to race through books and I found I wasn't enjoying them as much. A little discipline, not too much, makes me a bit less frantic and the books more enjoyable.

Thanks for the suggestions. One thing that makes my TBR clean a tad harder is that I forced myself to only use books that I already owned at the beginning of the year. I get a double whammy with one of the other challenges.

What does everyone think about Lexicon? It looks shelved under a bunch of different genres.