Kate's Dusty Bookshelf Challenge 2021

[Kate, Moderator]

So I've had a close look at my bookshelf and discovered to my horror that I have 5 books that I've borrowed from family or friends that I've had for *coughs* years! I think these definitely need to be prioritised and tackled sooner rather than later. The list looks like this:

1. Book of Dust By Philip Pullman (lent to me by my brother) finished 07/02/21
2. The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable By Terry Pratchett (lent to me by a friend) Finished 24/03/20
3. One Pair Of Feet by Monica Dickens (lent to me by a work colleague) Finished 18/1/20
4. The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K Le Guin (lent to me by same friend)
5. Early Riser by Jasper Fforde (lent to me by same brother) Finished 27/03/21

I'm about to finish my current read so if someone wants to pick one for me I'll get onto it later today! Thanks!

[Liz, Moderator]

Better keep your work colleagues sweet - read Monica Dickens first?

[Kate, Moderator]

Good suggestion! I'll get onto it right away!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I’m 32 pages in on Early Riser , one of the books on my currently reading list which I have neglected for a while.

Want a book buddy when you get to it?

[Kate, Moderator]

Oh yes please! Thanks Lynne. Looks this challenge is going to be a good one and we'll all make some progress!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Kate wrote: "Oh yes please! Thanks Lynne. Looks this challenge is going to be a good one and we'll all make some progress!"

Excellent! Let me know when you want to start it and I’ll start over again!

[Bill]

I've read The Wizard of Earthsea and hope to read more. Enjoy.

[Kate, Moderator]

My first book completed. I quite enjoyed Monica Dickens One Pair of Feet recounting her time working in a hospital. I'll be glad to give it back to my work colleague now so I haven't got to try and remember who it came from!

[Kate, Moderator]

Tackling The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable now. Its only 160 pages, no idea why I've left it so long!

[Kate, Moderator]

Wow, two days! That was fast. Another one ticked off the list but with this lockdown I won't be able to return The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable to my friend!

[Kate, Moderator]

Looks like I started this challenge off well last year and had 2 out of 5 completed by March. Shame that streak didn't continue!

So for 2021 I'm keeping the original 3 on the list and adding two more:
1. La Belle Sauvage (aka The Book of Dust) By Philip Pullman (lent to me by my brother) Finished 07/02/21
2. The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K Le Guin (lent to me by a friend)
3. Early Riser by Jasper Fforde (lent to me by my brother) Finished 27/03/21
4. Sorcery by Steve Jackson (lent to me by a friend)Finished 28/04/21
5. Castaway by Mark McCrum

Early Riser scored me extra points on a recent Zoom Scavenger Hunt as an item not belonging to me! lol

I've had Castaway since 2000 after the Taransay islanders finished their adventures. Its a DNF for me. Apparently I reached page 60 and abandoned it. I've also discovered a newspaper article in the front with what happened to each castaway after the programme ended.

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes, it's easy to forget the dusty bookshelf with so many challenges on the go. I try hard to alternate between challenges, but it doesn't always work out that way...

[Kate, Moderator]

Finally started reading La Belle Sauvage (aka The Book of Dust #1). Its going ok so far. I think its just that there are 546 pages which was a little off putting but as its YA its moving along fairly swiftly so I should be ok.

[Kate, Moderator]

Ok, I've now finished La Belle Sauvage and can finally return it to my brother! lol

[Liz, Moderator]

That's a long one. I haven't read it yet, but my father in law read it aloud as his regular Skype-story with my son a couple of years back (funny to think there was a time before Zoom!) - him being in the UK and us being in Singapore. So I heard most of it. I will have to read it properly sometime though....

[Kate, Moderator]

Well, I'm finally making progress with this challenge and I've now just finished my second book Early Riser
So now I can finally return it to my brother!

[Liz, Moderator]

Another one down. Which one are you going to tackle next? (You could save Earthsea for when we get to fantasy in the genre challenge ....)

[Kate, Moderator]

Just finished The Shamutanti Hills (aka Sorcery)
It was a choose your own adventure style book with dice and stamina scores etc. Obviously I'm rubbish and died 3 times (head impaled on a stick, drowned & poisoned) so I had to cheat a bit i.e. go back to before I died: Do you turn right (turn to page...) or Left (turn to page...) Don't judge me - everyone does it! lol

[Bill]

You're doing great.

[Kate, Moderator]

Right I've sort of got a list together for 2022:
I haven't successfully completed this challenge yet and books keep rolling over.

✅1. The Earthsea Quartet - This one was lent to me by a friend and was on the first dusty bookshelf list in 2020, appeared again last year and still hasn't been read. Third time lucky! FINALLY FINISHED 21/01/24
✅ 2. Castaway - This one made its first appearance last year and has been on my TBR since 2000. Time to get back to it. It was a DNF so hoping to break through that! FINISHED 25/2/22
✅ 3. The Pillars of the Earth - This one has been on my TBR for a long time but I've only just got hold of a copy. Its a monster at over 1000 pages so I need the incentive of this challenge to tackle it. FINISHED 30/04/22
✅ 4. Make progress with the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters (from book #14 onwards)
#14. The Hermit of Eyton Forest FINISHED 8/1/22 A Rare Benedictine: The Advent of Brother Cadfael FINISHED #15 The Confession of Brother Haluin FINISHED 6/8/22

✅ 5. Make progress with the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell (from book #16 onwards)
#16 Sharpe's Honour FINISHED 31/1/22 #17 Sharpe's Regiment FINISHED 7/22

[Kate, Moderator]

Ok, so here's the thing. I've cheated with my list!
Since the start of the year I've already read a Cadfael: The Hermit of Eyton Forest (finished 8th January) and I've made a start on Sharpe's Honour.

However, I reckon there's plenty of scope for progress through these 2 series this year. Plus all the Cadfael series belong to my Mum and Sharpe belong to my Dad so I have to read them and return them!

[Bill]

The Earthsea books are great. I'm working through them as well. Enjoy your selections

[Kate, Moderator]

I am looking forward to Earthsea Bill, I think its just that its a quartet that's putting me off. Maybe a should read a book per season.

I'm making good progress with the rest though. I've read 1 Cadfael and 1 Sharpe so far.
I've just started Castaway. I'm 17 pages in, approaching page 60 which is where I gave up last time. Hoping that once I pass that I'll get the push to finish it this time.

[Kate, Moderator]

Just finished my third book. Castaway. It was a DNF and to be honest I wish I'd left it that way! 1 star. I enjoyed the TV series about the Taransay castaways in 2000 but this book is just an account of all the bickering and whinging that went on. A waste of my time!

[Kate, Moderator]

Apparently The Pillars of the Earth was on my dusty list. I finished it a few weeks ago so ticked that one off now.
Just 1 to go!

[Bill]

You are doing great, Kate.

[Kate, Moderator]

Thanks Bill.
I've just finished another Cadfael - #15 The Confession of Brother Haluin which was a bit predictable so only 3 stars.

I really need to get my borrowed copy of the Earthsea Quartet and see what reading challenges it might fit then I'll be more likely to pick it up!

[Bill]

Kate wrote: "Thanks Bill.
I've just finished another Cadfael - #15 The Confession of Brother Haluin which was a bit predictable so only 3 stars.

I really need to get my borrowed copy of the Earth..."

Fantasy for sure, maybe young adult....

[Kate, Moderator]

Right, I am pleased to announce I have finally started reading The Earthsea Quartet and I'm enjoying it. Can't believe its taken me so long to get round to, particularly as it was a recommendation. If I can finish it before the end of the year I'll be able to start a brand new dusty shelf challenge for 2023 without any roll-overs!

[Bill]

Kate wrote: "Right, I am pleased to announce I have finally started reading The Earthsea Quartet and I'm enjoying it. Can't believe its taken me so long to get round to, particularly as it was a re..."

I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it.

[Kate, Moderator]

I did finish the first of the 4 books in The Earthsea Quartet so I can more or less tick my dusty bookshelf as done for 2022.
Now to start thinking about 2023.

[Bill]

Kate wrote: "I did finish the first of the 4 books in The Earthsea Quartet so I can more or less tick my dusty bookshelf as done for 2022.
Now to start thinking about 2023."

A great series to finish off your Dusty Book Challenge with. Congrats

[Kate, Moderator]

I've picked up The Earthsea Quartet again.
At some point this year I read book 2: The Tombs of Atuan and over Christmas I have been reading book 3: The Farthest Shore which I'm about half way through.

My main aim for 2024 will be to finish the Quartet and read the last book: Tehanu.

[Bill]

Kate wrote: "I've picked up The Earthsea Quartet again.
At some point this year I read book 2: The Tombs of Atuan and over Christmas I have been reading book 3: [book:The Farthest Shor..."

My 12 + 4 2024 challenge it so focus on Le Guin. I guess we'll both be enjoying Earthsea

[Kate, Moderator]

Perfect! I am enjoying it so goodness knows why its taking me so long!

[Kate, Moderator]

I have finally finished Tehanu the 4th and final book in The Earthsea Quartet I gave that particular story 3 stars but overall gave the quartet 4 stars.
I'm glad I read it and I can finally return the copy to my friend!

I'm not planning to resurrect my Dusty Bookshelf challenge this year. I'm going to concentrate on the UK & USA challenges and once I've concluded them I'll be looking to set up something new.

[Liz, Moderator]

Well done on finishing the quartet!