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2014 TBR Pile Challenge: Master List

January 3, 2014

2014TBRbutton

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! 



2014 TBR

 

Sharp Objects Review 9/30

Me Before You Review 8/1

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Slow Motion

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination

Divergent Review 11/24

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

Alternates:

Bringing Home the Birkin

May We Be Forgiven

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39 Comments
Filed Under: Feature, Reading Tagged: books, lists

Comments

  1. Tanya says

    January 3, 2014 at 3:10 am

    Great list and quite of few of the books are new to me. I can’t wait to see your reviews! Good luck.

    Reply
  2. Casee Marie says

    January 3, 2014 at 7:59 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 3, 2014 at 9:25 am

      How did we let the Birkin book slip by us?! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Kerry M says

    January 3, 2014 at 10:52 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 3, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      That’s how I felt when I read the other lists of bloggers I follow!

      Reply
  4. Abby says

    January 3, 2014 at 11:00 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 3, 2014 at 6:17 pm

      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. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Shannon @ River City Reading says

    January 3, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  6. Leah @ Books Speak Volumes says

    January 3, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    I haven’t read any of these books, but I’ve heard great things about a lot of them. Good luck!

    Reply
  7. Jennine G. says

    January 3, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 3, 2014 at 6:18 pm

      I wish I could, Jennine, but based on last year I’ll be happy to read these 12 AND upcoming releases!

      Reply
      • Jennine G. says

        January 3, 2014 at 7:32 pm

        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!

        Reply
  8. Monika says

    January 3, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    GREAT list!! And oohhhhh I love the Hunting and Gathering cover. 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 4, 2014 at 11:05 am

      That’s kind of why I chose it- is that bad?

      Reply
  9. Laurie C says

    January 4, 2014 at 4:55 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 4, 2014 at 11:05 am

      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!

      Reply
  10. Jackie Cangro says

    January 4, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 5, 2014 at 12:17 am

      You’re right about reading being an addiction, but I’ll give up the others first before I let go of it!

      Reply
  11. Andi (@estellasrevenge) says

    January 4, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    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.

    Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    January 5, 2014 at 6:32 am

    Great list! You should read Divergent with us next month! As part of Covers on the Silver Screen!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 5, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      Ooohhh, Jennifer, I will! I’ll get in touch for details.

      Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 5, 2014 at 5:47 pm

      I’d love to! I’ll get in touch for details.

      Reply
  13. Athira says

    January 5, 2014 at 9:50 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 5, 2014 at 5:46 pm

      I’m saving it for a dark day when I want dark reading!

      Reply
  14. Jenny @ Reading the End says

    January 5, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      January 5, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      Exactly! Future Me isn’t even sure what she wants for lunch on any given day.

      Reply
  15. Elizabeth says

    January 5, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    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

    Reply
  16. Cynthia Robertson says

    January 5, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    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!

    Reply
  17. Rebecca @ Love at First Book says

    January 5, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    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? 😀

    Reply
  18. Rosa Silva says

    January 6, 2014 at 4:38 am

    Great list! I also want to read more non-fiction, specially books abouth health, nutrition and minimalism.
    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    Reply
  19. Wendy @ Wensend says

    January 8, 2014 at 1:43 am

    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!

    Reply
  20. Rebecca @ Love at First Book says

    January 8, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    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! 😀

    Reply
  21. Allison @ The Book Wheel says

    January 11, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    Starvation Heights is SO GOOD. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on it!

    Reply
  22. Melinda says

    January 13, 2014 at 3:30 am

    Divergent is on my list too!

    Reply

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