2019 TBR Cleanup Challenge

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I like the way you think, Monica!

[Sarah]

I’ve read 6 so far. And at the rate I’m going I’m never going to get through this list.

I think I need to swap out some of the books on my TBR Challenge for stuff I’ve already read that fits the prompt- but it feels like cheating. Not completing this challenge for the third year in a row will hurt though too... decisions decisions.

[CBRetriever]

the only way I made it through my list was to focus on the books in the list first plus carefully picking the ones for the challenges. Maybe next year, as you read a book slot it into a category - some people don't fill out their choices first.

[Sarah]

Good tip CB.. it’s just that I do the challenge to clear the books I already own off my TBR. I still read a lot of back list items, but probably 75% of what I’ve read this year was released in 2019. The other 25% was probably buddy reads I had no business signing up for 😂 (but thoroughly enjoyed, nonetheless).

[CBRetriever]

I made it through mine on May 21st but I made myself put off reading 2019 books in favor of the books on my list only one of which was a horrid challenge to finish: Thus Spake Zarathustra.

Some went quick (graphic novel and the novella), some took a long time (The Dresden Files Collection 1-6 which was 6 books and Harry Potter: The Complete Collection which was 7 books) and some were actually pretty good: Dresden Files, The Last Policeman and A History of English Food. I did not restrict myself to SF&F books.

[Edwin]

Hank wrote: ".........and have hit my summer non-reading wall......."

Yuppers. Between work, summer vacations that include no time for reading, getting ready for and getting back from said summer vacations, and other miscellaneous summer outdoor stuff, I have also smacked up against that same wall.

[Jemppu]

I had no initial desire to dictate my reading too strictly with a list set in stone, so I've only been keeping an 'unofficial', fluctuating list behind-the-scenes. Since it seems quite set now, might as well not let it go to waste ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1. Oldest book - Anna Karenina
2. Work of art - Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera
3. Novella or short story collection - The Unreal and the Real: The Selected Short Stories of Ursula K. Le Guin
4. Title is a question - How Long 'til Black Future Month?
5. Ugly cover - The Quiet American
6. Has inspired other art forms - The Grapes of Wrath
7. Your initials are in the title - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
8. A book recommended to you - The Three-Body Problem
9. A book that intimidates you - Dhalgren
10. Reminds you of a song - All the Birds in the Sky
11. Buddy read - Luck in the Shadows
12. Book with a luck symbol - Ship of Magic
13. The 6th book - Sanctuary, Vol. 6
14. Last in a series - Ship of Destiny
15. One Hit Wonder - Fair Play
16. Hidden Gem - The Shadow of the Torturer
17. Someplace you want to go - Always Coming Home
18. Get On the Bandwagon - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - A Canticle for Leibowitz
20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Blankets

[DivaDiane]

That looks like a really good list, Jemina ! All of those books are either books I’ve read or (more of them) are books I have on my TBR too!

[Monica]

Hank wrote: ".........and have hit my summer non-reading wall......."

Edwin wrote: ". Between work, summer vacations that include no time for reading, getting ready for and getting back from said summer vacations, and other miscellaneous summer outdoor stuff, I have also smacked up against that same wall."

And that makes 3. July was not productive readingwise. I suspect August will be more of the same. Come the fall, we'll all be reading voraciously again! ;-)

[Jemppu]

Diane wrote: "That looks like a really good list, Jemina ! All of those books are either books I’ve read or (more of them) are books I have on my TBR too!"

It has had time to marinate <:D I'm already working my way through most of the ones I have left, so there's really only couple to completely start anew for me too .

[Hank]

Monica wrote: "And that makes 3. July was not productive readingwise. I suspect August will be more of the same. Come the fall, we'll all be reading voraciously again! ;-) "

There are worse problems for all of us to have.

[Monica]

Indeed ^^

[Lowell]

a quick update. since both Alif the Unseen & Dawn are on my read all books challenge, and I've updated about them in that thread... I'll skip over the majority of my feelings on them. Alif was good but uneven. Dawn is radically screwed up.

I think I really need to pick up and read Space Opera next, to try and get it in before the Hugos are announced. It's the last on my personal "read all the hugo nominees before the award" challenge.

Completed:


In Progress:


On Deck:

[Anna]

I finished! I had to change a couple once again, even though I really wanted to stick to my original choices this year. But I actually read the more intimidating ones, and switched easier ones, so I don't feel too bad about it.

✔ 1. Oldest book - The Children of Men
✔ 2. Work of art - The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition
✔ 3. Short fiction - In an Absent Dream
✔ 4. Title is a question - How Long 'til Black Future Month?
✔ 5. Ugly cover - Nine Goblins
✔ 6. Inspired other art forms - Orlando
✔ 7. Initials in title - Ancestral Night
✔ 8. Recommended to you - Luna: New Moon
✔ 9. Intimidates you - Doomsday Book
✔ 10. Reminds you of a song - If Cats Disappeared from the World
✔ 11. Buddy read - Medusa Uploaded
✔ 12. Luck symbol - Dragon Pearl
✔ 13. The 6th book - Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
✔ 14. Last in a series - Assassin's Fate
✔ 15. One Hit Wonder - Cards of Grief
✔ 16. Hidden Gem - A Woman of the Iron People
✔ 17. Someplace you want to go - Atlas Alone
✔ 18. Get On the Bandwagon - Assassin's Apprentice
✔ 19. Alphabetical - Brown Girl in the Ring
✔ 20. Graphic/Illustrated - Paper Girls, Vol. 5

Reasons for choosing each book: (view spoiler)[
1. Sorted by Date Added to TBR
2. Both the stories and the art are works of art!
3. First short fiction release of 2019
4. The only SFF with a ? on my TBR
5. It's hideous, and it doesn't match the lovely style of her other books
6. I loved the movie!
7. My initials are N/A, as in not available for y'all to know! :P
8. Several people have raved about it
9. Every year I decide I'll read this series, and I never do
10. It reminds me of this song
11. Only one already scheduled that I might read
12. Dragons are very lucky!
13. The 6th highest rated non-short, non-omnibus standalone
14. I'm going to read the whole series this year!
15. The only adult scifi book by this very prolific fantasy author
16. Only 400 ratings, I'm hoping it'll be a gem
17. Not irl, but I want to know what's happening on the planet!
18. It's finally time!
19. Not counting a/an/the, etc.
20. It's been on my library holds list forever (hide spoiler)]

[Jemppu]

Orlando! That was my original for the exact same spot (loved the movie too).

Congrats! Well done ^^

[Anna]

Jemppu, my original for #6 was Assassin's Apprentice, because of the art you shared! I moved that to bandwagon though, because it made more sense than my original bandwagon choice.

[Jemppu]

Anna wrote: "Jemppu, my original for #6 was Assassin's Apprentice, because of the art you shared! I moved that to bandwagon though, because it made more sense than my original bandwagon choice."

<3<3 Now, if that isn't a compliment. I am quite abashed.

[Anna]

Well deserved! :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

(Jemina's artwork is how I pictured them all, too. Headcanon accepted!)

[Jemppu]

Ahaa! Successful headcanon contamination. I can't deny I wouldn't be pleased *hoho* (However, it will be increasingly hard to reason with my Brain with comments like these backing up it's whims *dang*)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Yessss give innnn, make us more art!!!! MOAR!!!!

[Anna]

I would love to see some Fool art! ;)

[Jemppu]

Anna wrote: "I would love to see some Fool art! ;)"

Incidentally.... that could come very near to Orlando: I keep imagining Swinton for Fool ^^

[Anna]

I remember you saying that before. I wonder if that's where I got the idea to finally read Orlando? We've come full circle from Orlando to Fool and back! :D And yes, I totally see Tilda as Fool!

[Jemppu]

Anna wrote: "I remember you saying that before. I wonder if that's where I got the idea to finally read Orlando? We've come full circle from Orlando to Fool and back! :D And yes, I totally see Tilda as Fool!"

Such a beautiful circle ^^

[DivaDiane]

I’m also in the Tulsa Swindon camp for the Fool. I thought she was perfect for Orlando.

[Pandora]

● Oldest book: We Are the Ants (the one that's been sitting in my tbr the longest: since the very day I made my account)
● Work of art: Dashed (the cover is an artwork made by one of the protagonists)
● Novella or short story collection: Ghosts of the Shadow Market (anthology of short stories)
⌀ T̷i̷t̷l̷e̷ ̷i̷s̷ ̷a̷ ̷q̷u̷e̷s̷t̷i̷o̷n̷ (nothing even resembling a question in my tbr ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
○ Ugly cover: Amaranth & Ash (I've seen so much worse, but this is what I could find right now in my tbr)

● Has inspired other art forms: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (movie, video game)
● Your initials are in the title: Nightjar (N.J.R.)
○ A book recommended to you: Lord of the White Hell, Book 1 (highly recommended by a friend from tumblr)
○ A book that intimidates you: Trilogía El Señor de los Anillos → The Lord of the Rings (1574 pages is all I'm gonna say)
● Reminds you of a song: Dream For Me (Lean on me by Bill Withers)
● Buddy read: Machine Metal Magic (July Book of the Month in the LGBTQ/GSM Fantasy & Science Fiction group in GR)
● Book with a luck symbol: The Floodgates (horseshoe in the cover)
● The 6th book: Clockwork Prince (6th book to be published in the Shadowhunter universe)
● Last in a series: Sword and Star (Root Code #3/3)
● One Hit Wonder: Freedom (absolutely wonderful and the only fiction book this author has published, according to GR)
● Hidden Gem: A Hymn in the Silence (5 solid stars from me, only 140 ratings and 34 reviews when I checked)
● Someplace you want to go: Song of the Navigator (space, duh)
● Get On the Bandwagon: Frankenstein o el moderno Prometeo → Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (the book with most ratings in my tbr list: 1,025,425 and counting)
● Words in title in alphabetical order: Escape Velocity
○ Graphic or illustrated novel: Starfighter Chapter 1 (webcomic)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Great list, Pandora!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

One more down. Now that I'm finished both my series reads, I'm going to be focusing on this one more.

✔️ 4. Title is a question - Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?
✔️ 6. Has inspired other art forms - Lethal White
✔️ 8. A book recommended to you - Bite Club!
✔️ 11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Dragon Wing
✔️ 14. Last in a series - The Shepherd's Crown
✔️ 15. One Hit Wonder - Jack of Shadows
✔️ 18. Get On the Bandwagon - A Discovery of Witches
✔️ 20. Graphic or illustrated novel - The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Suite


Still to do:

1. Oldest book - Fever 1793
2. Work of art - Artful
3. Novella or short story collection - The Wanderer in Unknown Realms
5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - White Trash Zombie Gone Wild

7. Your initials are in the title - A Creature of Moonlight or A College of Magics
9. A book that intimidates you - 11/22/63
10. Reminds you of a song - Masquerade
12. Book with a luck symbol - Juniper Berry
13. The 6th book - Carnival of Souls
16. Hidden Gem - The Case of the Missing Moonstone
17. Someplace you want to go - The Malice of Fortune
19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter

[Anthony]

Just hit the halfway mark!

1. Oldest book: East of Eden

2. Work of art: The Summer Tree

3. Novella or short story collection: Skin Folk

4. Title is a question: How Long 'til Black Future Month?

5. Ugly cover (and please share it!): City of Illusions

6. Has inspired other art forms: The Once and Future King

7. Your initials are in the title: Suldrun's Garden

8. A book recommended to you: The Breath of the Sun

9. A book that intimidates you: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

10. Reminds you of a song: The Killing Moon

11. Buddy read (do not need to participate): The Rook

12. Book with a luck symbol: Luck in the Shadows

13. The 6th book: The Red Threads of Fortune

14. Last in a series: Ship of Destiny

15. One Hit Wonder: Bridge of Birds

16. Hidden Gem: Heroes Die

17. Someplace you want to go: Blue Mars

18. Get On the Bandwagon: Ninefox Gambit

19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order: Blackfish City

20. Graphic or illustrated novel: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

[Jemppu]

Ooh, I see Luck in the Shadows and Ship of Destiny (among few other TBR acquaintances), I have both still on this year's agenda as well, having missed the BRs earlier.

[Anthony]

Well I’ll rejoin the Liveship Traders discussion as I progress through that. But maybe a tag team Luck in the Shadows mini-BR is in order down the line?

[Jemppu]

Yeah. I should too, perhaps... dive back into the Liveship thread. I've just kinda 'coasted' past the last couple books, without so much as a note.

Luck in the Shadows tag team would be wonderful. And I'm fine with when ever most suitable to your schedule (I've long lost the control of my current reads, it seems, so adding more 'channels to surf' doesn't sting at all so much anymore) *hah*

[Petar]

So I'm 12 down and into The Magos ATM. The Eisenhorn series is my first foray into the Warhammer 40K universe and I've quite enjoyed it, more than I probably thought I would.

I'll be off on another tangent after The Magos but hopefully I'll be able to get through the rest of the list before the end of the year.

1. Oldest book – Dune– Frank Herbert.

2. Work of art – Lords of Destruction – James Silke.

3. Novella or short story collection – The Vital Abyss – James SA Corey.

4. Title is a question – Who Fears Death – Nnedi Okorafor.

5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) – Sundiver – David Brin.

6. Has inspired other art forms – Titus Groan – Mervyn Peake.

7. Your initials are in the title – Perdido Street Station – China Mieville.

8. A book recommended to you - Xenos - Dan Abnett.

9. A book that intimidates you – All Systems Red – Martha Wells.

10. Reminds you of a song – Babel-17/Empire Star – Samuel R. Delany.

11. Buddy read - Borne - Jeff Vandermeer.

12. Book with a luck symbol – I Am Number Four – Pittacus Lore.

13. The 6th book – Babylon's Ashes – James S.A. Corey.

14. Last in a series - The Magos - Dan Abnett

15. One Hit Wonder – The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde.

16. Hidden Gem - The Devil's Diadem - Sara Douglass.

17. Someplace you want to go - A Princess of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs.

18. Get On the Bandwagon – Ready Player One – Ernest Cline.

19. Words in title in alphabetical order - Altered Carbon - Richard K Morgan.

20. Graphic or illustrated novel - Kick-Ass - Mark Millar.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

woo! good work, Petar! and so glad you're enjoying 40k!

[Lowell]

Space Opera has been successfully added to the "done" pile. I really enjoyed it, as it is utterly farcical. It's like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy if Arthur Dent were actually David Bowie (with a side of Freddie Mercury). It's filled to the brim with weird-ass silly sci-fi tropes and pretty good stuff all the way through.

As a side note, this completes my "read all the hugo nominated novels before the award is given" personal challenge for this year. I really like doing that.

as a second side note, I'm putting A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy back on the shelf for the moment, as I just haven't been bothered to pick it up as I dig through ... well... everything else that catches my eye! I'll get back to it eventually.

Completed:


In Progress:

On Deck:

[Raucous]

Petar wrote: "5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) – Sundiver – David Brin. ..."

I read Sundiver when it first came out and while the cover wasn't particularly interesting it at least avoided "ugly." This edition, on the other hand... I have to wonder why this change ever happened.

[Petar]

Raucous wrote: "Petar wrote: "5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) – Sundiver – David Brin. ..."

I read Sundiver when it first came out and while the cover wasn't particularly interesting it at least..."

I have to admit that my edition does not have this cover, but when I saw this on Goodreads, the choice for ugly cover became pretty easy.

Whoever approved that cover must have really disliked David Brin.

[Meredith]

I am up to 15/20 read, most recently finishing:
7. Your initials are in the title: Murder in Montparnasse. (my initials are MJM)
6. Has inspired other art forms: Storm Front. The Dresden Files series has inspired fan art, fan fic, and even fan films.

Currently reading:
9. A book that intimidates you: I switched my selection to Kushiel's Dart. Which. Is. Taking. For. Ever. To. Read.

[Dj]

Anna wrote: "I finished! I had to change a couple once again, even though I really wanted to stick to my original choices this year. But I actually read the more intimidating ones, and switched easier ones, so ..."

Congratulations.

[Edwin]

Done! 20/20.

[Anna]

Yay!

[Monica]

Edwin wrote: "Done! 20/20."

I don't believe you!!! Show your work!!! ;-)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Glad that I'm past the halfway point, but stressing a bit at the ones I still have left to do...


Finished:

✔️ 3. Novella or short story collection - The Wanderer in Unknown Realms
✔️ 4. Title is a question - Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?
✔️ 5. Ugly cover (and please share it!) - White Trash Zombie Gone Wild

✔️ 6. Has inspired other art forms - Lethal White
✔️ 8. A book recommended to you - Bite Club!
✔️ 11. Buddy read (do not need to participate) - Dragon Wing
✔️ 14. Last in a series - The Shepherd's Crown
✔️ 15. One Hit Wonder - Jack of Shadows
✔️ 18. Get On the Bandwagon - A Discovery of Witches
✔️ 19. Words in Title in Alphabetical Order - The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter
✔️ 20. Graphic or illustrated novel - The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Suite


Currently Reading:

7. Your initials are in the title -A College of Magics


Still to do:

1. Oldest book - Fever 1793
2. Work of art - Artful
9. A book that intimidates you - 11/22/63
10. Reminds you of a song - Masquerade
12. Book with a luck symbol - Juniper Berry
13. The 6th book - Carnival of Souls
16. Hidden Gem - The Case of the Missing Moonstone
17. Someplace you want to go - The Malice of Fortune

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You can do it!! Get 11/22/63 out of the way, then it's all downhill :)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Allison wrote: "You can do it!! Get 11/22/63 out of the way, then it's all downhill :)"


I'm debating about whether I should just plough into that one next to get it done, or if I should save it for November to be, like, thematic...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Allison wrote: "You can do it!! Get 11/22/63 out of the way, then it's all downhill :)"


I'm debating about whether I should just plough into that one next to get it done, or if I should save it f..."

Oo, that's a tough one.

[John]

01. updated 2019-09-06 Oldest book: A Logic Named Joe 1946; done by to-read list sorted by pub date. Still going to read Joe but been on Sherlock Holmes binge which gets me to 1887 (extra credit?) for A Study in Scarlet
02. Work of art
03. Short story collection: see #4
04. Title is a question: Howard Who? - also counts as ugly cover and short story collection; cheating?
05. Ugly cover: see #4
06. Has inspired other art forms: Good Omens - currently on Amazon
07. Your initials are in the title
08. updated 2019-09-06 A book recommended to you: The Name of the Wind - daughter-in-law said to stop waiting for 3rd and that I would really like the series. have owned this for over 5 years.
09. added 2019-09-06 A book that intimidates you John Dies at the End this also gets me a Sixth Sense count but the title is past intimidate to scary as he**. gulp.
10. Reminds you of a song
11. Buddy read
12. Book with a luck symbol: Paradox Bound - more infinity but counts as 8
13. updated 2019-09-06 The 6th book Monster Hunter Siege
14. updated 2019-09-06 Last in a series The Magician's Land
15. One Hit Wonder
16. Hidden Gem
17. Someplace you want to go
18. Get On the Bandwagon
19. Alphabetical Order
20. Graphic or illustrated novel: Watchmen - currently reading, so score!.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Good work John!!

[John]

I'm debating about whether I should just plough into that one next to get it done, or if I should save it for November to be, like, thematic..."

can't resist. voting for thematic but wondering if you have to finish the whole book on the 22nd?