2018 TBR Cleanup Challenge!

[Lizzie]

CBRetriever wrote: "I put it off for the longest time because of "spiders", but I enjoyed it "

Thank you - if I don't get round to it this year, maybe it will fit with one of next year's challenge topics! I was the same about the spider thing, but I've actually become quite fascinated with them after Children of Time.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Hit the mid-way point:

Completed:

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


Ordered from Library:
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long-Lost Home
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


Planned:
3. A book with humor or horror - The Serpent of Venice
5. A book that reminds you of home - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Cruel Prince
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Rebel of the Sands
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name -
Strands of Bronze and Gold
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone -
One of Us Is Lying

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Nice!!

[Becky]

I have another update!

1. The 13th book
Duma Key by Stephen King (13th read book of 2018)

2. A book written by a young buck or geezer
The Outsider by Stephen King (age 70)

3. A book with humor or horror
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

4. 300-350 pages
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (328p)

5. A book that reminds you of home

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover

7. Chosen for the cover
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for

9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
Necroscope by Brian Lumley (Russia & Romania)

11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name

12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship

13. An author's debut novel
The Dark Winter by David Mark

14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one

15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
My Commander by Aleana Alder (Not really out of my COMFORT zone, just not a genre I prefer to read. Counting it anyway!)

16. A book with a mystery or romance
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (both!)

17. Standalone novel

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill

19. Read a genre-bender

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover
The Yard by Alex Grecian (Birds on the cover)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I initially read this wrong and thought the serial killer book reminded you of home! Glad I'm mistaken lol! and good work!

[Becky]

Allison wrote: "I initially read this wrong and thought the serial killer book reminded you of home! Glad I'm mistaken lol! and good work!"

LOL... sometimes... :P

[Becky]

Update!

1. The 13th book
Duma Key by Stephen King (13th read book of 2018)

2. A book written by a young buck or geezer
The Outsider by Stephen King (age 70)

3. A book with humor or horror
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

4. 300-350 pages
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (328p)

5. A book that reminds you of home

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover

7. Chosen for the cover
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for

9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
Necroscope by Brian Lumley (Russia & Romania)

11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey

12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship

13. An author's debut novel
The Dark Winter by David Mark

14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one

15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
My Commander by Aleana Alder (Not really out of my COMFORT zone, just not a genre I prefer to read. Counting it anyway!)

16. A book with a mystery or romance
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (both!)

17. Standalone novel

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill

19. Read a genre-bender

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover
The Yard by Alex Grecian (Birds on the cover)

[Ninna]

I just finished the TBR challenge today!! The last book on my list was Fool's Assassin which fulfilled both this challenge and a PopSugar prompt. I only have 2 books left for PopSugar - The Dragonbone Chair and Firebrand - and I will be finished all my (5) reading challenges for the year! After that, I plan to relax my reading a bit and concrete more on group reads, re-reads, buddy reads and participating in discussions more. Except now I HAVE to buy and finish the assassin tale before I can read anything else. DAMN YOU ROBIN HOBB!! ;-)

[Lost Planet Airman]

1. The 13th book: Kushiel's Dart
2. Over-the-hill author: Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles
3. Humor or horror: To Say Nothing of the Dog
4. 300-350 pages: Alphabet of Thorn
5. reminds you of home: The Shadow of the Torturer
6. planets on the cover: The Dispossessed
7. Chosen for the cover: Charmed Life
8. "Missed it by that much": Ancillary Mercy
=== === = = = = = = === === === = === = === === = === === === = = = = = = === ===
9. Based on the blurb or blerg (Swords and Deviltry)
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting (The Master and Margarita)
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name (September: The Anubis Gates)
12. ...vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship (October: The Algerbraist)
13. An author's debut novel (planned, Oct/Nov: Wizard's First Rule)
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe": (planned, Nov: The Lions of Al-Rassan)
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone (It)

[Maggie]

whhoooot-only a few of the easier ones left!



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
5. A book that reminds you of home The Rules of Magic
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover The Engines of God
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
9. Based on the blurb or blerg
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
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one
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
19. Read a genre-bender
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover Kitty Steals the Show

[Esther]

I haven't read all the books I intended to but some surprising ones fit the challenge so half way through the year I am halfway through the challenge.

1. The 13th book
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill
3. A book with humor or horror
Jaz, Tall Men, & Mayhem by Kate McVaugh
(humour because I haven't read horror in years)
4. 300-350 pages
5. A book that reminds you of home
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover
7. Chosen for the cover
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for
9. Based on the blurb or blerg
The Last Hours by Minette Walters
Historical fiction written by a well mystery writer. And then there was the Black Death - how could I resist?
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship
( for a scifi fan living with petrol-heads I can't believe there isn't a single vehicle on the covers of the books in my TBR shelf)
Shades of Grey - saved by Jasper Fforde and a train!
13. An author's debut novel
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Literary scifi - generally they are out of my comfort zone because I feel they are trying so hard to show they are literature and not genre fiction they end up being pretentious, aloof and narratively unsatisfying. At 3.5 stars this was better than most but not by much.
16.A book with a mystery or romance
Persuasion by Jane Austen
(mystery because I don't do romance)(I didn't think I read romance but then there is Jane Austen...)
17. Standalone novel
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This qualifies on two counts: I would marry the Count and kill the Bishop.
19. Read a genre-bender
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton There is a dog in one of the dolls house rooms.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

2 more knocked out:

Completed:

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
19. Read a genre-bender  - The Severed Streets


Ordered from Library:
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long-Lost Home
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill -
The Obsidian Dagger: Being the Further Extraordinary Adventures of Horatio Lyle
9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Cruel Prince



Planned:
3. A book with humor or horror - The Serpent of Venice
5. A book that reminds you of home - The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Rebel of the Sands
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name -
Strands of Bronze and Gold
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone -
One of Us Is Lying

[Becky]

Update!

1. The 13th book
Duma Key by Stephen King (13th read book of 2018)

2. A book written by a young buck or geezer
The Outsider by Stephen King (age 70)

3. A book with humor or horror
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

4. 300-350 pages
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (328p)

5. A book that reminds you of home

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void (Stars are there, I swear! lol)

7. Chosen for the cover
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for

9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
Necroscope by Brian Lumley (Russia & Romania)

11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey

12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship

13. An author's debut novel
The Dark Winter by David Mark

14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one

15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
My Commander by Aleana Alder (Not really out of my COMFORT zone, just not a genre I prefer to read. Counting it anyway!)

16. A book with a mystery or romance
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (both!)

17. Standalone novel
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill

19. Read a genre-bender

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover
The Yard by Alex Grecian (Birds on the cover)

[Becky]

Another book down!
17. Standalone novel - Never Let Me Go

[Becky]

Update! 17/20 completed!

1. The 13th book
Duma Key by Stephen King (13th read book of 2018)

2. A book written by a young buck or geezer
The Outsider by Stephen King (age 70)

3. A book with humor or horror
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

4. 300-350 pages
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (328p)

5. A book that reminds you of home
The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin' Dixie Outta the Dark by Trae Crowder, Corey Ryan Forrester, Drew Morgan (Home: The South)

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void (Stars are there, I swear! lol)

7. Chosen for the cover
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for

9. Based on the blurb or blerg - The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
Necroscope by Brian Lumley (Russia & Romania)

11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name
Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey

12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship

13. An author's debut novel
The Dark Winter by David Mark

14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith

15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
My Commander by Aleana Alder (Not really out of my COMFORT zone, just not a genre I prefer to read. Counting it anyway!)

16. A book with a mystery or romance
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (both!)

17. Standalone novel
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill

19. Read a genre-bender
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (Historical/Fantasy/Adventure)

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover
The Yard by Alex Grecian (Birds on the cover)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You're killing it, Becky! I'm beginning to lag.

[Becky]

I'll tell you my secret: solitary staycation while the hubby's out of town. :D

Do I feel guilty? Indeed I do not.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Becky wrote: "I'll tell you my secret: solitary staycation while the hubby's out of town. :D

Do I feel guilty? Indeed I do not."

bahaha! You shouldn't! Luxuriate!

I'll tell you my secret. Take a staycation, and decide all of a sudden that you need built ins in your dining room. My house smells like glue and looks like bandits decided to attack our furniture on the way out with our stuff.

I should have just stayed on the couch with my book!

[Becky]

Just put some duct tape residue on a chair, say the bandits tied you up and did just that. :P Then read!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Becky wrote: "Just put some duct tape residue on a chair, say the bandits tied you up and did just that. :P Then read!"

XD XD

[Melissa]

I really need to read more this last part of the year. I've been in a slump. So here it goes:

1. The 13th book - The Light of Other Days
2. A book written by a young buck or geezer (use your own age definitions because I ain't goin' there) - A Wizard of Earthsea
,3. A book with humor or horror - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
4. 300-350 pages - The Handmaid's Tale
5. A book that reminds you of home
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover - The Prefect
7. Chosen for the cover
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for - Crosstalk
9. Based on the blurb or blerg
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - Wonder Woman: Warbringer
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
13. An author's debut novel - The City of Brass
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one - Grey Sister
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
16. A book with a mystery or romance - Mr. Mercedes
17. Standalone novel
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill
19. Read a genre-bender
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover - Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You can do it!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

5 more to go (after one swap-out from original plan).

Completed:

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


Ordered from Library:
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long-Lost Home
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



Planned:
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Rebel of the Sands
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name -
Strands of Bronze and Gold

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I crossed off two more! Just about halfway.

2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill. - The Art of War

Sun Tzu turns 2061 (ish) this year, so I guess he's kinda old for a human.

5. A book that reminds you of home- Trickster's Choice
Bummed. This was not at the level I expect from Ms. Pierce.

8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for - The Golem and the Jinni

Rolling over from last year >.>

9. Based on the blurb or blerg - Children of Blood and Bone

womp womp.

10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - The Three-Body Problem

12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - Ninefox Gambit

It's all about synergy.

13. An author's debut novel - The Hate U Give

So good!


15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone - Annie Allen

It's poetry...BUT! It's the book that won the first Pullitzer ever awarded to a person of color, and her story is pretty amazing, so I'm excited to hear what she has to say.

16. A book with a mystery or romance - An Ember in the Ashes. SUBSTITUTE. Some say too much romance.

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill - Raven Stratagem

I mean...Jedao.

19. Read a genre-bender - Touch

Left on challenge:

20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover - The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories

17. Standalone novel - The Anubis Gates
It fills so many challenges!!

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

11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name - Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
It's a sort of yellowy gold.

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover - The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet and Other Stories

I should get extra credit for this because it has planet AND stars on it.

7. Chosen for the cover - An Unkindness of Ghosts

Just cool lookin'

1. The 13th book - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

3. A book with humor or horror - Rat Queens #1

4. 300-350 pages - My Soul to Keep

[Anna]

Allison wrote: "A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill - Raven Stratagem
I mean...Jedao."

I guess he would fit any of these all three!

I'm waiting for Record of a Spaceborn Few for this one, but I could easily swap for anything by Yoon Ha Lee.

I'm at 16/20, but two of my picks are series starters, so that means five extra books.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Anna wrote: "Allison wrote: "A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill - Raven Stratagem
I mean...Jedao."

I guess he would fit any of these all three!

I'm waiting for [book:Record of a Spaceborn ..."

So true. Idk what I want to do to Jedao, but it's certainly something haha!

I really gotta get on the Becky Chambers bandwagon. But also so many other bandwagons. Someone line them up so I can just hop from one to the next, please.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Here is my mid-year check in:
Books Read- 14
Best- The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic
Worst- Pushing Ice
Remaining Goals for the year…
-13th book ???
-reminds me of home ???
-Gold on the cover/title/author's name: Lord of the Flies by William GOLDing
-debut novel: ???
-genre that's outside comfort zone: Sacred Geometry
Genre-bender: Gun, With Occasional Music

[Kaa]

I know I'm late, but I really think I need to join this challenge! My TBR is out of control and I already have a shelf of prioritized reads that's mostly SFF - I just have to figure out how to fit them into the criteria. Here's the ones I want to start with:

1. The 13th book (from my TBR in random order): Elephants and Corpses
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill: The Jewels of Aptor
3. A book with humor or horror: Viscera
4. 300-350 pages: Santa Olivia
5. A book that reminds you of home: Always Coming Home
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover: The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight
7. Chosen for the cover: Beasts Made of Night
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for: The Stone Sky
9. Based on the blurb or blerg: A Woman of the Iron People
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting: The House of Binding Thorns
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name: Crucible of Gold
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship: Viral Airwaves
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
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone: Beyond Shame (this brand of dystopia, not the erotica/romance side of it)
16. A book with a mystery or romance: Mother of Souls
17. Standalone novel: Trouble and Her Friends
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill: The Ruin of Angels - Kai is back!
19. Genre-bender: The Only Harmless Great Thing
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover: The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Kaa wrote: "I know I'm late, but I really think I need to join this challenge! My TBR is out of control and I already have a shelf of prioritized reads that's mostly SFF - I just have to figure out how to fit ..."

Welcome, Kaa! Stone Sky is one of the best books I've read in a long time, I hope you like it and defeat the TBR monster!

[Kaa]

Allison wrote: "Welcome, Kaa! Stone Sky is one of the best books I've read in a long time, I hope you like it and defeat the TBR monster! "

Thanks! I think I've read the first couple chapters 5 or 6 times at this point, but I always manage to start it just before something else comes up to eat all my time.

[Lost Planet Airman]

Meredith wrote: "Allison wrote: "woohoo!! You're like trains in Germany! You're like the weekend! You're like Dr. Who--you're exactly on time!"

Yay me! :)"

Hit my half-way point yesterday! (Only seven weeks late.)

[Monica]

I am at 14/20 and have been for a couple of months. Mostly because I started enforcing what I have dubbed Hank's rules and replacing library reads with books that I own.

Completed so far:

✔2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill. Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man's Education (diapers. author was under 30 when the book was written)
✔3. A book with humor or horror: The Changeling (horror)
✔4. 300-350 pages: Year of Yes 343 pages
✔5. A book that reminds you of home: Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? This is a book of thoughts and feeling many of which are very present in my own state of mind. Many of these stories reminded me of myself.
✔8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for: aka "Books I meant to read in 2017" Behold the Dreamers
✔10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting: Central Station Setting was in Tel Aviv though the setting had almost nothing to do with the story. The Girl in the Road India and Ethiopia via an African roadtrip
✔11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name: The Golden Compass Gold is in the title and the color is on the cover.
✔12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship:
Faster: The Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World's Fastest Cyclists (because cycling!!!) Darktown old car
✔13. An author's debut novel: Before I Forget
✔15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone: Days Without End Western, LGBT lit. Out of my comfort zone is definitely overstating it, but not my normal fare.
✔16. A book with a mystery or romance: Darktown
✔17. Standalone novel: Pachinko
✔19. Read a genre-bender: Ninefox Gambit The Girl in the Road
✔20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover: The Girl in the Road snake

To be completed italicized planned read:

1. The 13th book: Island Beneath the Sea (the 13th book when sorted by authors last name).

6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover: Between these: Dancing With The Dead, The Three-Body Problem

7. Chosen for the cover:

9. Based on the blurb or blerg: Infomocracy, Autonomous Books purchased based solely on the summary provided (and cheap cost).

14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one: See #8 Seveneves, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, Endymion, Stand on Zanzibar, Passing, or See #17

18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill:

[Lizzie]

Finished!! \o/ Although I have to confess that I didn't actually *read* all of Weaveworld - I bailed out at around 25%. But it's off my list, so that's what counts, right?! I think if I was going to pick my favourite from this bunch, I would have to say it was Children of Time. That absolutely blew me away, and I am still thinking about it! Although I really loved Dune, too. A few of them I was a bit "meh" about, notably The End of the World Running Club - I think, retrospectively, I would actually have rather not read that.

1. The 13th book The City and the Stars
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill Driving Miss Norma: One Family's Journey Saying "Yes" to Living - (this is a bit of a cheat, as the author isn't that old, but the wonderful lady it is about was!)
3. A book with humour or horror Weaveworld *DNF, but it's no longer on my TBR!
4. 300-350 pages Eleanor & Park
5. A book that reminds you of home The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox (because my dad got it me for Christmas, and we both loved Bridge of Birds)
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover A Closed and Common Orbit
7. Chosen for the cover Empire of Ivory (the copy I have has the beautiful "woodcut" style cover)
8. "Missed it by that much" Dune
9. Based on the blurb or blerg The End of the World Running Club
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting The Ghost Bride
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name La Belle Sauvage (my copy has the writing in gold)
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship Children of Time
13. An author's debut novel The Rats
14. "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" The Last Unicorn
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate (in that I imagine it will be an uncomfortable read)
16. A book with a mystery or romance The Ruby in the Smoke
17. Standalone novel Sea of Rust
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill The Gunslinger (just going off the fact that Idris Elba is in the film..)
19. Read a genre-bender Anansi Boys (I'm guessing if American Gods counts as a genre-bender, this will too, and it has been on my TBR a long time!)
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Lizzie wrote: "Finished!! \o/ "

Congrats!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Update - 3 to go.


Completed:

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


Ordered from Library:
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long-Lost Home
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - Rebel of the Sands


Planned:
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's name -
Strands of Bronze and Gold

[Anthony]

I decided to sign up for this challenge and retroactively apply categories to what I’ve read this year.

1. The 13th book
2. A book written by an author who is/was still in diapers or over-the-hill.
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
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
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for
9. Based on the blurb or blerg
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting
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
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone
16. A book with a mystery or romance
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
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover — Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

I’ll use the remaining guidelines to help me narrow down my future choices!

[Anthony]

Question: how do you do the crossing-out of words thing?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Use < s> at the beginning and < /s> at the end - without the space.

< b> and < /b> for bold

< i> and < /i> for italic

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Look at y'all go!! *scoots TBR challenge off stage with her foot*

Don't worry about it, let's focus on how well you're doing!! Colleen, Black Prism, yay or nay on a recommendation?

Anthony, really! Alabaster? Not Innon? I guess I'd have gladly just joined that whole family, if they'd have me...

[Anthony]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Use at the beginning and at the end - without the space.

and for bold

and for italic"

Thank you!

[Anthony]

Allison wrote: "Look at y'all go!! *scoots TBR challenge off stage with her foot*

Don't worry about it, let's focus on how well you're doing!! Colleen, Black Prism, yay or nay on a recommendation?

Anthony, reall..."

Yeah, I have a soft spot for intelligent, sometimes moody, sometimes difficult folks who have a ton of integrity and a huge, wounded heart. So Alabaster it is.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ah, that's fair. Good-hearted magical pirates who don't fuss about gender roles are definitely one of mine. The other is brooding, hurt uh...sociopaths. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Anthony]

Ok, here’s my updated list with the scoring-through of the books I’ve read.

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 — Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (I’m from suburban Illinois, which is pretty similar to suburban Ohio)
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 — Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
9. Based on the blurb or blerg — The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells (N.K. Jemisin’s 5-Star review sold me)
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

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Allison wrote: "Don't worry about it, let's focus on how well you're doing!! Colleen, Black Prism, yay or nay on a recommendation? "

For me, a definite nay/not recommended. I gave it 2-stars instead of 1 because the world and the magical system was interesting/had potential, but I sort of hated most of the characters and was turned off by the nigh constant casual sexism.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Thank you! I will give that one some space, then.

[Gabi]

Since Anna encouraged me to give this a try despite the late start, I read through the criteria and of course came up with a question: what is a genre bender? I'm pretty sure it's obvious once I got it explained, but for the moment I'm at a loss.

[Anthony]

Something that’s not easily and neatly categorized. Maybe it has elements of fantasy, horror, *and* sci fi?

[Anna]

Tor also has a handy list for all genre benders coming out each month:

https://www.tor.com/tag/genre-benders/

[Gabi]

Thanks so much, Anthony, John and Anna! I'll go through the lists

So - here is my setup for the challenge -and when I start something I intend to end it ;) - onwards to glory (and nights with little sleep)!

1. The 13th book - I took the 13th book I added to my TBR list - The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume III: Killdozer!
2. A book written by a young buck or geezer (use your own age definitions because I ain't goin' there) - the author was 12, when he wrote that book - Drachenschlag: Im Schein der Welten
3. A book with humor or horror - kind of both - Doomsday Book
4. 300-350 pages - stays open till the end, cause it's easily filled
5. A book that reminds you of home - very profoundly -Binti
6. Suns, skies, stars, or planets on the cover - a planet - Children of Time
7. Chosen for the cover - I follow the artist on deviant art and love their way with dynamics- Waters of Salt and Sin
8. "Missed it by that much" - a book you really wanted to read but didn't have time for - well, I thought I should read this one for the last 20 years - The Neverending Story
9. Based on the blurb or blerg - being a former Trekkie, this blurb of course made me curious - Redshirts
10. A non-U.S. or UK publication/setting - the original is Polish, so this counts, doesn't it? - The Last Wish
11. Gold on the cover, in the title, or in the author's Name - I was just staring hard at the cover, that's gold, isn't it? - Tigana
12. A book with a vehicle on the cover, from a carriage to a spaceship - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
13. An author's debut novel - once I realised that not everything here has to be SFF, I had the perfect debut novel - Without You
14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one - :) My list consisted of 7 Hainish Cycle books :) - The Telling
15. A book from a genre that's outside your comfort zone - starts as YA (outside my comfort zone) and ends as a brutal war narrative (outside my comfort zone as well) - The Poppy War
16. A book with a mystery or romance - I guess the last book of the Tamir Triad would count for the romance part -The Oracle's Queen
17. Standalone novel -The Changeling
18. A book with a character you would marry, shag, or kill - have to copy Anthony's answer, cause I totally fell in love with Alabaster - The Fifth Season
19. Read a genre-bender - will go through the list - Circe
20. A book with an animal, vegetable, or mineral on the cover - and in the title - The Fifth Elephant

[Anna]

Gabi wrote: "14. Make a list of 5-7 books and use "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" to choose one - :) My list consisted of 7 Hainish Cycle books :) - The Telling"

Haha, I used that exact same method, and ended up with the same book!

I have to ask, are you reading The Neverending Story in English, instead of the original German?