Wednesday, December 3, 2014

TBR Pile Challenge 2015


I probably have no business signing up for a reading challenge for 2015, as I've been in a terrible blogging slump lately.  However, I've signed up for the TBR Pile Challenge for three years in a row -- I can't not even try.

For the past three years, I've just chosen books that have been hanging around the TBR shelves for a long time.  They seem so random that when I've finished them, it doesn't even seem to have made an impact on the rest of the pile.  This year, I decided to select books all from the same shelf, so when they're done, it will seem more noticeable, if that makes any sense.  I made several lists grouping books together, like 12 Persephones, 12 Penguin Classics, 12 Viragos, etc., but what I finally decided on is a dozen nonfiction books.  I've really been into nonfiction the past few years.  Here's what I came up with: 

My attempt at an artistic photo.  

In alphabetical order, by author (the books in the photo are sorted by size, alternates in the small pile):

1.  Demobbed:  Coming Home After the Second World War by Alan Allport.  A follow-up to one of my 2014 reads about WWII, Few Eggs and No Oranges.  I'm interested to see how people reacted as they adjusted to life after the war.  Completed 1/30/15.
2.  The Girls from Winnetka by Marcia Chellis.  A gift from BookSnob back in 2010.  Completed 1/19/15.

3.  The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman.  It's been on my to-read list for years, and a couple of years ago I found a copy for $1 at the Friends of the Library Sale. Completed 5/18/15.

4.  Jane Austen and Crime by Susannah Fullerton.  I had to include at least one book about Jane Austen, since I have at least ten unread on my shelves!  I bought this one at my very first Jane Austen Society convention, in 2009. Completed 4/8/15.


5.  Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer.  I just hope it doesn't make me cry.  Stories with animals nearly always have sad endings.  Completed 2/5/15. 

6.  I Married Adventure: The Lives of Martin and Osa Johnson by Osa Johnson. Two pioneering adventurer/photographers and their memoir.  I bought this at DisneyWorld back when I lived in Florida.  You'd be surprised at how many interesting books they have in the gift shops at Disney. Completed 3/24/15. 

8.  The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston.  I'll probably read this in May for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month. Completed 5/2/15.

9.  Victoria's Daughters by Jerrold M. Packer.  Because I'm fascinated by the Victorian period.  Completed 2/12/15.


9.  Renoir, My Father by Jean Renoir.  I bought this at the Frick Museum gift shop in New York, because it's an NYRB classic and because I love Impressionists.  I just couldn't resist the cover.

10.  Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson.  I think I bought this shortly after I was married, when I went to a lot of wine-tastings and read lots of books about wine.  If I don't love it, it's going into the donation bin at the library. Completed 9/21/15. 

11.  Katherine Mansfield: A Secret Life by Claire Tomalin.  Another book from the Friends of the Library Sale (I've stopped going to these, because they're just too tempting).  I just finished reading The Garden Party and Other Stories, so now I want to read all about her. 

12.  Letters From Hawaii by Mark Twain.  Bought in Honolulu in 2010.  I should have read it while I was there.  


Alternates:

A Very Great Profession by Nicola Beauman.  A nonfiction book about mid-century women authors from my Persephone shelf.

Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford.  Because I loved The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family, which was my favorite book from the 2014 TBR Challenge, and one of my top reads this year.

So, bloggers, what do you think?  I'm pretty excited about all of these, and none of them seem like homework (which is holding me back from the last few reads on my 2014 list).  Which ones have you loved?  Which ones should I ignore in favor of my alternates?  

22 comments:

  1. I do not know ANY of those books, so I can't really comment. On the other hand, I wanted to say SO GREEN!!!! Everything is brown and dead around here. And soon to be covered in white, I'd guess.

    I can't participate in the TBR Challenge. I have some unread books on my shelf, but only eight of them, and none of them have been on my shelf for longer than a year. I'd say I could use my virtual TBR - I believe Adam allows that? - except nothing there has been on my list for over a year either, or at least not ENOUGH books for the challenge.

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    1. Yep, it's still pretty green here, though we do have some nice fall colors this year. We've had some good rain lately so it isn't so dry. And thank you for ignoring all the weeds in the photo!

      If you want to, there's always my Back to the Classics Challenge !!!

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  2. I swear I will complete it this year. I swear!

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    1. I still have two books left for 2014, don't know if I'll make it. But I'm excited about my 2015 list.

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  3. Good idea, choosing to concentrate on a shelf! I've done the random TBR pile challenge thing, and I'm always just glad to get some old books read. I don't know why it's so hard to read books that I was once so excited to acquire!

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    1. I know exactly what you mean -- I've wanted to read every one of my TBR books at some point, otherwise I would have given them away by now!

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  4. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is an amazing read... an all-time favorite of my book club. Good luck with the challenge.

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    1. I keep hearing great things about it. If it was a book club hit, that's a really good sign. Thanks!

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  5. A Very Great Profession is an excellent read so I would highly recommend moving it from your alternate pile and make it a must read. Hons and Rebels is languishing on my shelves so if you decide to read it I would be happy to join you!

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    1. I usually end up reading all the alternates as well! I've been putting that one off a bit because I glanced through it and it seemed like there were some spoilers regarding the plots of Persphone books. But now I've read more than 70 of them so I think I'll appreciate it more.

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  6. I read almost no non-fiction (only two books this year so far) and haven’t read any of these. I have heard that the Anne Fadimann book is amazing, however. And I would like to read Hons and Rebels someday. Nancy Mitford’s fiction leaves me a bit cold, but I also read The Sisters by Mary Lovell which very much interested me in the real lives of the Mitford sisters, particularly Decca.

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    1. I also have Decca: The Collected Letters of Jessica Mitford which I got for a mere $1 at the library's book sale (this is why I have about 170 books on the TBR shelves, which never seem to get less full). I really liked Love in a Cold Climate and The Pursuit of Love. The others by Nancy are hit and miss so far. I didn't really like Don't Tell Alfred and The Blessing and Wigs on the Green were sort of silly. They were fascinating people though!

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  7. That is a great list! I am also participating in the challenge. I am excited for it. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks, I'll have to look for your post to see what you're reading!

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  8. I signed up for this challenge too! It's the only one I do each year other than Back to the Classics : )

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    1. I've cut way back on my challenges too, I just don't have time to do as much blogging as I used too. And thanks for signing up for my challenge!

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  9. Dear Karen,

    I'm delighted to see that my own book has made your shortlist - reading Demobbed has been known to make people smarter, slimmer, richer, and more attractive to the opposite/same sex (as applicable) (1). If you have any questions, I'd be delighted to try to answer them - I'm easily googleable. Best wishes, Alan Allport, Syracuse NY.

    (1) Results not typical.

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    1. Oh, the pressure!! I only hope I do the book justice. I'm sure it will make me smarter. I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  10. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I have really enjoyed TBR Pile challenge and have read great books that I bought for very good reasons. Demobbed looks awesome--I love books like that. Clare Tomalin is one of my favorite biographers, and so I'm sure her book about Katherine Mansfield will be great. I've heard good things about the Fullerton book on Austen and crime--great topic.

    Good luck and happy reading.

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    1. Thanks! I'm looking forward to all these books. I have great hopes for the Tomalin book -- I read her Dickens bio and though it was excellent.

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  11. I'm not sure if my original comment posted, so, hmmm. Well, I love your idea! Having a visual/spatial witness to the progress you're making is SMART. Your list is also super interesting. I'm glad you're with us for 2015!

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    1. Thanks! I wouldn't miss the TBR Pile Challenge! I'm still working on my 2014 list but I haven't given up yet.

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