Hello 2014! I hope all of you had a nice holiday season and, if applicable, some time off from work to read. I got a few books read (and need to get writing about them) but was also able to visit more of the blogs I enjoy. It was when I was visiting Shannon at River City Reading that I first saw the 2014 TBR Challenge. TBR means To Be Read—which is the shorthand we book freaks use for all the books that languish on our Goodreads list, Evernote, Excel spreadsheet or whatever we use to keep track of it all (and don’t say you just remember because then we can’t be friends). Adam over at Roof Beam Reader came up with the great idea to challenge himself to read one book a month from his list and challenged other bloggers to do the same. The kicker is that these have to be books that were released over a year ago.
I was a bit hesitant at first because I already read a lot but when I started going through my Goodreads list (which goes back to 2009) I was reminded of all the wonderful books still waiting to be read and I was sold. Yes, it is great fun to read and write about books before they even come out but what about the ones I’ve missed? The ones that are just as wonderful but in our ADHD society have already been forgotten? After an afternoon browsing, here are the twelve books (and two alternates in case I bail on one of the originals) I’m going to get to this year. The most notable thing about this group? How much more non-fiction I’ve chosen. I don’t read nearly as much of it as I used to so am going to try and make up for that.
Once a month I’ll post a review of the the book I’ve read and update this list.
How about you? Anything you wanted to read but never got to? Now’s your chance!
Sharp Objects Review 9/30
Me Before You Review 8/1
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination
We Need to Talk About Kevin Review 12/10
How to Be a Woman did not finish
The Empty Glass Review 1/22
But Inside I’m Screaming Read in Feb but no review- title was my favorite part
Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest Review 4/30
Hunting and Gathering Review 3/28
Great list and quite of few of the books are new to me. I can’t wait to see your reviews! Good luck.
Ahh, I’ve been thinking about doing this, too. There are so many books that have eluded me over time, some of which I was absolutely mad to get my hands on and then still never read. It’ll be hard to narrow it down, but definitely a great way to put a dent into those books that somehow got left behind.
P.S. I’ve felt like the only one who hasn’t read Me Before You, so glad I’m not alone. And I completely forgot about Bringing Home the Birkin! That’s a must, obviously.
How did we let the Birkin book slip by us?! 🙂
Great list! The only one on here I’ve read is How to Be a Woman, which I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to hear what you think of some of these others – a lot of them are new-to-me titles, which I always love!
That’s how I felt when I read the other lists of bloggers I follow!
I don’t know of ANYONE else who has read, “But Inside I’m Screaming.” I loved it so, so much, but I think it’s because I’ve been in that, um, situation before and could relate on a personal level. I’ve also read the Moran book and liked it, but I read it before I read a lot of snarky reviews so my judgement was completely unbiased. Still, both were winners for me.
BOTH of those books are on the list because of your recommendation! I’ve not read any reviews about the Moran one so will hopefully be coming at it with an empty mind. Wait…that didn’t sound right. 🙂
Ooh, I’m excited about you’re list! I’ve read a few (but not too many!) of them, so I’ll be looking forward to finding out what you think. I have a copy of The Empty Glass that I allllmost put on my list, too 🙂
I haven’t read any of these books, but I’ve heard great things about a lot of them. Good luck!
Awesome! I’m hoping to read Me Before You this year too, but it won’t be part of this challenge since I just bought it 🙁 Can we read more than one a month?
I wish I could, Jennine, but based on last year I’ll be happy to read these 12 AND upcoming releases!
Lol, I know. I was just wondering if we had to spread the 12 out over a year or read them whenever we please. I could just spread out the reviews I guess!
GREAT list!! And oohhhhh I love the Hunting and Gathering cover. 🙂
That’s kind of why I chose it- is that bad?
I just discovered your blog from your comment on Roof Beam Reader’s challenge post. I’ve only read Divergent, We Need to Talk About Kevin, An Exact Replica of a Figment of Your Imagination from your list. If you cry at all easily, don’t read the last one out in public. I cried my way through it, but it was an amazing book, I thought.
Thanks for that advice because I am a crier! Thanks also for stopping by- I want to browse Adam’s list of bloggers doing the challenge but am afraid it will my make my TBR list explode!
This is a great idea! The book that I’m hoping to get to in 2014 is Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. That’s been on my TBR list for months and months. Problem is, I just keep adding more books to the list. It’s an addiction!
You’re right about reading being an addiction, but I’ll give up the others first before I let go of it!
That’s what I realized last year…that I have tons of gems on my TBR, languishing unread, and there’s a darn good chance of them being wonderful. Maybe even more wonderful than the ARCs that haven’t been vetted by as many bloggers just yet. The ones on my TBR are books I’ve seen praised for years! And I’m happy to report that reading mostly from my TBR in the latter half of last year made for some of the best reading I’ve done in many years.
In short (long), I was convinced that the TBR Pile Challenge is totally for me in 2014. Can’t wait! You have some wonderful books on your list. I loved Me Before You and How to Be a Woman.
Great list! You should read Divergent with us next month! As part of Covers on the Silver Screen!
Ooohhh, Jennifer, I will! I’ll get in touch for details.
I’d love to! I’ll get in touch for details.
Good luck! I loved Me Before You, and have Sharp Objects in my wishlist. Since I have Flynn’s Dark Places on my shelf, I should try getting to it soon.
I’m saving it for a dark day when I want dark reading!
Very very excellent list — and I think it’s smart to have two alternates, in case you’ve predicted Future You’s reading mood imperfectly. :p The ones of those that I’ve read were uniformly good. Enjoy!
Exactly! Future Me isn’t even sure what she wants for lunch on any given day.
What a great list of books for you for 2014.
They all look quite good. I actually do not know any of them except Me Before You.
Catherine The Great looks amazing.
ENJOY, and Happy New Year!!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Spread The Love Post
Great challenge. I need to do this, and just put them beside my bed and work through them. You’ll like Me before You.
I want to read Life After Life (with you on that one, Jackie), and also The Woman Upstairs.
Happy reading in 2014, Catherine!
I like how you made this so visual! I should do that, too. . . I just decided to join, too. I took a stack of physical books that I’ve had for too long and plan to try to get the challenge done early, if possible. Why not? 😀
Great list! I also want to read more non-fiction, specially books abouth health, nutrition and minimalism.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Great choices! I also want to read “we need to talk about kevin” and “sharp objects”, but I’m still not sure if I’m going to participate in this challenge, because I’m already in so many challenges.. Good luck!
I commented earlier when I read this post before, but thanks for linking up to the Spread the Love Linky Party!!! I pinned this, too! 😀
Starvation Heights is SO GOOD. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on it!
Divergent is on my list too!