2022 TBR Cleanup Challenge

[Dj]

CBRetriever wrote: "Finished

9. 9 or 22 *
Rambunctious: Nine Tales of Determination by Rick Wilber
It has a Nine in the subtitle

so I've completed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15,..."

Well I suppose there are worst ways to go than from not waking up from a nap

[CBRetriever]

Dj wrote: "Well I suppose there are worst ways to go than from not waking up from a nap."

well it is a murder mystery...

[Stephen]

15. Fluffy! - The Bird Artist✔️

Non-genre novel set in a remote Newfoundland village in 1911, a finalist for the 1994 National Book Award, recommended to me by a friend some years ago.

The central character, who narrates the story, is a somewhat naive and passive young man whose vocation is drawing the birds that live around his isolated coastal Newfoundland home. He takes correspondence lessons and occasionally sells illustrations to magazines. The story in which he is a participant involves adultery and murder. I found it quite absorbing and sometimes powerful, sometimes surprising. For all their quirkiness the characters are taken seriously. 4 stars from me.

Now at 7/20 on the challenge.

[DivaDiane]

That sounds really interesting, Stephen!

[Meredith]

I've read 4 more selections and now I'm up to 8/20.

9. 9 or 22 * Laughter at the Academy, collection has 22 stories
16. "Humans are doing the best they can" Severance, people persisting after pandemic/apocalypse
18. 240-270 pages Assassination Vacation, 258 pages.
20. ??? The Green Man's Heir, I just want to read this and couldn't make it fit any of the other prompts.

[CBRetriever]

Finished

12. I need a nap!
Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
not everyone woke up from their nap

this one was pretty good with lots of AIs (good and evil) - it was a closed and locked room type of mystery in space

so I've completed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 for a total of 16 out of 20

[Mareike]

Making very slow progress with this challenge this year, but I just finished my book for nr. 8, which was a very pleasurable read by one of my favorite German fantasy authors.

[Dj]

Here is my review for Operation Drumbeat: Germany's U-Boat Attacks Along the American Coast in World War II

When I started this book it started out as another book from a single point of view, in this case, the Captian of a specific U-boat that took part in the attacks on the East Coast of the United
States at the beginning of 1942. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially since in this case it was well written. It is however not something that I would consider my go-to reading for WWII. Fortunately enough this book had a surprise for me. The Author used the U-123 and its crew as an example of how unprepared the United States was to have war brought to its doorstep, he also goes over in great detail what was, and more often wasn't done, in regards to the U-boat threat.

In regards to the US (lack) of effort, he does not pull any punches. He lays the blame squarely on the shoulders of Adm King. Calling the losses of shipping on the East Coast and the Gulf a worse disaster than Pearl Harbor. With the evidence he presents in that regard it is a tad difficult to disagree. An excellent book on the subject of the U-boat attacks on the East Coast at the entry of the United States into World War II.

I might have given this book five stars but the editing errors in the ebook version are such a distraction. Do yourself a favor and read the physical copy if you choose to read it.

[Dj]

This book works on a premise that is generally not one that is associated with Hitler in most circumstances. This is a simple fact Hitler understood economics. With this idea as an accepted fact, the reasoning for his decisions makes more sense in regards to why Germany went to war when and where they did. There is still the fact that his vision is seen through his belief that there is a world Jewish conspiracy that twists everything. It does make it seem, somewhat more thought out.

The book also tears down a number of things that are considered the norm when it comes to German economic policies. Especially in regards to the Speer Miricle of production. A difficult, dry book to read but one that helps to understand how Germany was able to stay in the war as long as they were and why military choices were made in the way they were by Hitler when he overrode his Generals in regards to where attacks would be made and what territories would be held.

This book is not for everyone but it should be one that individuals make the effort to take a look at.

[Raucous]

I've finished three more books for the challenge:

✔︎ 5. One for the clubhouse: Feeding Frenzy (Keeping it safe for all of us)
✔︎ 10. Why not both?: Mother of Invention (And why either? Stories on creation, AI, and gender)
✔︎ 18. 240-270 pages: The Kaiju Preservation Society (268 pages in Kindle edition)

Feeding Frenzy was a fun read. The combination of strong female characters, impressive snark, the incorporation of multiple pantheons, and an ad hoc magic system based on all of that mythology mostly worked really well for me. I was listening to Stephen Fry's Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold in parallel with reading Feeding Frenzy. They're a nice complement to each other.

I sometimes have issues with anthologies that have a narrow focus but Mother of Invention contains a surprisingly strong selection of stories. Some are powerful and moving with viewpoints that I won't soon forget.

The Kaiju Preservation Society was (unpopular opinion warning) a disappointment. The first part of the book dragged due to a combination of my inner physicist yelling "It doesn't work that way!" and what was, to me, uninspired dialog. It picked up dramatically at the end but that wasn't enough to redeem the book.

Progress: 9/20

[Stephen]

10. Why not both? In the Pocket and Other S-F Stories / Gather in the Hall of the Planets. Ace double.✔️

Late ‘60s New Waveish short fiction by Barry N. Malzberg, published here under a pseudonym. (Though the brief author bio makes it clear that it’s Malzberg.) One side of the book is a novella about an alienated hack sf writer attending a near-future Worldcon (in 1974), who believes he has to identify a human-appearing alien attending the con, or else the earth will be destroyed. The description of the con is broadly satirical, including caricatures of some famous old time sf figures that even I recognized. The other side of the book is a collection of short stories, some more successful than others but all readable and interesting. I enjoyed both halves of the book and gave it 4 stars.

I’m now at 8/20 on the challenge.

[Dj]

It is catch up time again. Here is my review for: Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it would be a ranking of the various Presidents and why the author agreed or disagreed with the rankings after all the book starts out stating that everyone loves to play the ranking game. While there is some of that it isn't the book's focus.

The author takes pains to point out that the historical rankings are lacking since it is only a part of the picture. How well a President does or doesn't do in a historical context doesn't always explain why they may have been considered a success or failure in their own time. So he points out that one should also consider contemporary views as well. Thus a President that may be seen as a success by Historians, may have been considered a failure by the electorate. It is an optimistic book in the view that the author feels that while you may be able to fool the people to the extent that you are elected but the voters won't keep you in power if they feel you are failing to deliver.

[Dj]

Here is my review for: Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future

In spite of the title, this book doesn't really come out pointing the finger at non-Scientists in regards to the fault of why we as a Nation are lagging in our understanding of and respect for Science. Instead, it talks about the lack of the ability of the Science community to discuss the issues in ways that can be relatable for the audience in question. The book takes some key groups pointing out the issues of communication between Scientists and these groups. The major ones are Politicians, Reporters, and The Religious. It points out ways that the Science Community could improve relations with these groups and why it is so important to do so.

A very admirable book on an important subject.

[Meredith]

I'm up to 10/20 now.

3. Dressed to the nines - I changed my pick to Soulless because they actually said some characters were dressed to the nines. Otherwise, I've been good about sticking to my picks.
11. Seasonal - The War Against Miss Winter, winter is a season (I DNF'd this but at least it's off my TBR).

[Stephen]

8. Cover with distinct art style - ✔️

Workmanlike study of a subject I’m interested in. I found it informative and worth the read.

9/20 on the challenge.

[Mareike]

Finished my book for this prompt last night:

14. A little slice of heaven

I’m making slower progress than I had anticipated/hoped for, but I’m still chipping away at it.

[CBRetriever]

Mareike wrote: "Finished my book for this prompt last night:

14. A little slice of heaven

I’m making slower progress than I had anticipated/hoped for, but I’m still chipping away at it."

what was the book?

[Stephen]

13. Thorns and roses - Selected Stories. Prompt reminds me of Sturgeon’s famous story “Thunder and Roses”✔️

Unique writer, classic stories, mainly from the ‘40s and ‘50s. (I think the weakest in the volume, by far, is the latest, the Hugo-winning “Slow Sculpture” (1970)).

10/20 on the challenge. Halfway there in mid-June seems ok.

[Mareike]

CBRetriever wrote: "Mareike wrote: "Finished my book for this prompt last night:

14. A little slice of heaven

I’m making slower progress than I had anticipated/hoped for, but I’m still chipping away at it."

what wa..."

Sorry for the late reply, I only saw your question now. It was The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus.

[CBRetriever]

Mareike wrote: "Sorry for the late reply, I only saw your question now. It was The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus. "

sounds like it fits the prompt

[Petar]

I've been making slow progress but four more down, makes 7/20 for me.

1. Book with nine lives - Life - Keith Richards. Not bad if you enjoy music bios and you're a fan of the Stones. Keith does come across as pretty unlikeable though.

8. Cover with distinct art style - Sin City, Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard - Frank Miller. Great book. I love Sin City.

12. I need a nap - Preludes & Nocturnes - Neil Gaiman. I'm a big Gaiman fan and this is a pretty iconic series. This was a great start.

18. 240-270 pages - Dark Tyrants - Robert Hatch (Ed.). A collection of vampire short stories set in the Middle Ages. This was very ordinary. I DNF'd with a couple of stories left to go as none of them grabbed me. I almost gave it one star but I reserve that honour for rubbish like Battle Earth, and this wasn't quite that bad.

[Dj]

Petar wrote: "I've been making slow progress but four more down, makes 7/20 for me.

1. Book with nine lives - Life - Keith Richards. Not bad if you enjoy music bios and you're a fan of the Stones..."

Nice set of reads, seems you enjoyed them for the most part.

[Petar]

Dj wrote: "Petar wrote: "I've been making slow progress but four more down, makes 7/20 for me.

1. Book with nine lives - Life - Keith Richards. Not bad if you enjoy music bios and you're a fan..."

I did, apart from Dark Tyrants. I've been getting right back into graphic novels and comics in recent years and I really enjoyed both Sin City and the Sandman.

[Edwin]

Four more down, for 15 of 22:

8. Cover with distinct art style - H is for Hawk
--Love the cover. (Hopefully I will love the book too)
Melancholic, evocative and a rich homage to the sometimes untamed ferocity of nature.

11. Seasonal - Winter of the World
--Winter is a season. Or so I have been told.
Good guys, bad guys, politics, communists and spies. A nice melodramatic trip through the middle of the 20th century, though a bit long in the tooth.

12. I need a nap! - Edge of Eternity
--If I can get through this book, and ergo, the series, I will indeed need a nap.
Too many love triads, too much politics and way too much of Follett’s political revisionist history. The weakest of the trilogy by far.

17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
--A tie in just for you, Allison, our Fairy Mod-Mother
Twain at his best, satirical and opinionated.

[CBRetriever]

Finished:

19. Nein
The Hanging Artist by Jon Steinhagen
not a book I would have normally chosen to read, but it was part of a Humble Bundle

this turned into a yes, yes, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Franz Kafka and Gregor the cockroach as detectives.


so I've completed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 for a total of 17 out of 20

[Dj]

CBRetriever wrote: "Finished:

19. Nein
The Hanging Artist by Jon Steinhagen
not a book I would have normally chosen to read, but it was part of a Humble Bundle

this turned into a ye..."

Wow...yep that is all I have to say about that.

[Dj]

My review for the The Algebraist

This book was for a book challenge that was all question marks. I chose this book due to the title. I had no idea what that word meant in regards to a book. Turns out it was a perfect choice, since all the way through the book, from start to finish, I had tons of questions. Sometimes reading a book and having questions is a good thing. Sometimes it is just annoying. This book combined both of those. Sometimes I found myself asking what the point of the book was, with all the twists and turns. Other times I was asking, why are the descriptions so vague and sometimes nonexistent. All in all a well-written book but one that left me with a bunch of questions so not exactly my cup of tea.

[Dj]

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book

This is a book of poetry that is generally related to Bombadil or the Middle Earth. Mostly falling on the cute side of things, so it would all be safe (ish) to read to kids. By in large no real fan of poetry that isn't sung, but I still found this to be an enjoyable read.

[Dj]

The Wit and Wisdom of Discworld

Well, some of the quotes from the books are spot on with what I wanted to be reading and remembering from the books, often times I wondered why some were left out. It can truly be said that not everyone agrees on wit or wisdom.


With this, I am halfway through this challenge. All things considered, it might be enough. LOL.

[CBRetriever]

Finished

11. Seasonal
The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein
Winter is a season

so I've completed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 for a total of 18 out of 20

two to go

[Raucous]

I've finished three more books for the challenge:

✔︎ 2. Don't be suspicious: In Dog We Trust
✔︎ 17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise": Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold ("Wisdom is in the eye of the beholder")
✔︎ 20. ???: Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change

In Dog We Trust is from my spouse's extensive collection of canine murder mysteries. I can see the attraction (it's hard to resist a golden retriever), but this one was pretty slow for me and high on angst in places. It's not bad, though, for the first book in what's now a long series.

Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold: It's always great to hear Stephen Fry's voice and I learned some surprising connections to modern language and culture. I had trouble following the narrative thread at times, but perhaps that's not surprising given the number of myths recounted in this book (in 168 sections!).

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change: How will climate change affect life on the planet? This is both a cautionary and hopeful tale. It's not going to be easy to understand or accomplish, but there are organisms that are making it work. It's a fascinating book and easily my favorite of the three.

Progress: 12/20

[Suzanne]

SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
2022 TBR Cleanup Challenge
Duration: 1/1/2022 - 12/31/2022

Progress: 0 out of 20

Who put these here?!
Why does it keep growing?!
Will I ever finish?!

If you've got questions about your TBR, we've got answers! Or rather, we've got prompts which, like any good mod knows, leads you to your own answers! And our general amusement! Warm those brains up, here's the 2022 TBR Challenge!

1. Book with nine lives
2. Don't be suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
6. Of its time
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
8. Cover with distinct art style
9. 9 or 22 *
10. Why not both?
11. Seasonal
12. I need a nap!
13. Thorns and roses
14. A little slice of heaven
15. Fluffy!
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
18. 240-270 pages
19. Nein
20. ???

[Petar]

Another one down for me.

11. Seasonal - The Obelisk Gate - N.K. Jemesin. Book 2 of the Broken Earth. A great second entry in the series. Interesting premise and characters. Not quite the five star read that The Fifth Season was, but a solid 4.

8/20

[Dj]

Petar wrote: "Another one down for me.

11. Seasonal - The Obelisk Gate - N.K. Jemesin. Book 2 of the Broken Earth. A great second entry in the series. Interesting premise and characters. Not qui..."

I am still working my way through the first in the series. But my thoughts probably won't move me to the second. I find I have a hard time wrapping my head around what is going on. Might clear up more later on.

[Petar]

Dj wrote: "Petar wrote: "Another one down for me.

11. Seasonal - The Obelisk Gate - N.K. Jemesin. Book 2 of the Broken Earth. A great second entry in the series. Interesting premise and chara..."

There is something that ties things together DJ, so it may be worthwhile persisting. But at the same time, the first book pretty much had me hooked from page 1.

[Dj]

Petar wrote: "Dj wrote: "Petar wrote: "Another one down for me.

11. Seasonal - The Obelisk Gate - N.K. Jemesin. Book 2 of the Broken Earth. A great second entry in the series. Interesting premis..."

I am interested enough to keep reading the first book at least for now. It is a difficult read but very different.

[Stephen]

14. A little slice of heaven - The Spire✔️

Powerful literary historical novel, published in 1964. An English medieval cleric obsessively drives construction of a cathedral spire. The novel presents his thoughts and perceptions, visionary, desperate, less and less sane.

11/20

[Dj]

Stephen wrote: "14. A little slice of heaven - The Spire✔️

Powerful literary historical novel, published in 1964. An English medieval cleric obsessively drives construction of a cathedral spire. T..."

That sounds like it could be interesting.

[Stephen]

Dj wrote: "… That sounds like it could be interesting.”

It’s very much from the main character’s point of view, and he’s going through some extreme states of mind. The author’s prose has to carry considerable weight. Important aspects of the situation are not explained until near the end of the book. The story has considerable momentum, though, as the spire rises, and also suspense, because the building experts claim the spire can’t possibly stand due to the church’s inadequate foundations. There’s a lot going on, psychologically and in other ways. Some fairly blatant symbolism, I think. The book is considerably more substantial than I expected.

[Dj]

Stephen wrote: "Dj wrote: "… That sounds like it could be interesting.”

It’s very much from the main character’s point of view, and he’s going through some extreme states of mind. The author’s prose has to carry ..."

I may have to take a look at it. It is a tad outside my wheelhouse, but that isn't always a bad thing either.

[Petar]

Dj wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Dj wrote: "… That sounds like it could be interesting.”

It’s very much from the main character’s point of view, and he’s going through some extreme states of mind. The author’s pro..."

Yep, it's just gone on to my 'to read' list as well.

[DivaDiane]

Mine too. It’s by William Golding.

[Petar]

Another one down for me.

3. Dressed to the nines - Me - Elton John.

Obviously not sci fi, but a really great read for fans of Elton John or music bios in general. Very well written and extremely candid, sometimes shockingly so.

[Dj]

Petar wrote: "Another one down for me.

3. Dressed to the nines - Me - Elton John.

Obviously not sci fi, but a really great read for fans of Elton John or music bios in general. Very well writte..."


Elton John certainly dresses to the nines, sometimes the Elevens and Twelves even.

[Meredith]

Three more done

13/20

6. Of its time - Longbourn, historical fiction

12. I need a nap! - Ashes of Honor, Toby invariably needs a nap (and it's kind of mentioned in the blurb) - *naps were indeed mentioned in the book.

13. Thorns and roses - The Sentence Is Death, main character is named Hawthorne and the book cover is red like a rose

[Petar]

Dj wrote: "Petar wrote: "Another one down for me.

3. Dressed to the nines - Me - Elton John.

Obviously not sci fi, but a really great read for fans of Elton John or music bios in general. Ve..."

He pokes a bit of fun at his own fashion sense and some of the ridiculous outfits he's worn over the years. He's very self aware and surprisingly self deprecating.

[CBRetriever]

Finished:

13. Thorns and roses
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
a rose is a rose

this was as good as the first book in the series.

so I've completed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 for a total of 19 out of 20

one to go: Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green and I'm reading ti now

[DivaDiane]

Update:

I've checked off a few more off my list:

✅6. Of its time - More Than Human which I loved. I love older SF for the ideas and the brevity. This one also wasn't devoid of female characters, which is a plus.

✅15. Fluffy! - Watership Down (!), which I loved even more. And it mostly felt like my first time reading it, although I read it as a pre/early teen.

I've also checked off

✅ (Sort of?) 17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - The Once and Future King because I read the title part of the omnibus that is on our shelf. I will go back and listen to the rest, one day.

That makes 10/20 - half way. I'd better step up my game. I don't think I have many of the ones left actually in my plans...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

nice!!

[Mareike]

Yay!

I keep getting sidetracked, but I’m working on allowing myself to be flexible with stuff like this.