Mount TBR 2014 Challenge discussion

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains may carry over towards the new peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2014.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2014.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2014. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised last year--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]
*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2014. I will trust you all on that.

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*Start a thread in the appropriate Challenge level folder to declare your challenge goal and so we can follow your progress up the mountain.

*There will be quarterly check-ins and prize drawings!

I have a question. I picked up, as in brought, a copy of Albright's memoir. I realized a few days ago that it is actually an Arc. I brought it at a used bookstall at a community event. Does it count even though it is an arc? Doesn't matter to me, just want to know for record keeping.

Chris wrote: "I have a question. I picked up, as in brought, a copy of Albright's memoir. I realized a few days ago that it is actually an Arc. I brought it at a used bookstall at a community event. Does it ..."

As long as it is one that you bought for pleasure-reading and not one that was given to you primarily for review purposes by the author/publisher/etc., then it may count.

Okay, thanks Bev!

❀ Oo ❀ wrote: "Can I count this book?
The Sound

I got it last year, but there was a problem with it when I tried to read it yesterday, so I had to re-download (completely get it again) it yest..."

That's fine. Hope it's a good one!

Uhm, I used to be very lenient about adding a bought-date to my books, so really, with very few exceptions, the only books that have a bought by date, are the very new ones. Is that ok for this challenge?

Sarah wrote: "Uhm, I used to be very lenient about adding a bought-date to my books, so really, with very few exceptions, the only books that have a bought by date, are the very new ones. Is that ok for this cha..."

As long as you're confidant that you didn't buy it after Dec 31, 2013, then I won't be fussy about the bought-by date.

Thanks Bev, looking forward to the challenge in that case.

seeing as I work at a bookshop and buy most of my books there, usually towards the end of the month, yes I'm confident about that. I haven't yet bought any books this year :)

Sarah wrote: "...yes I'm confident about that. I haven't yet bought any books this year :) ..."

If you're like me....that won't last long. :-)

So I know I asked about short story collections last year, how about standalone novellas? Lots of authors I'm following are releasing short works as side stories or in between their novels -- do they count? Or is there a length minimum?

Julia wrote: "So I know I asked about short story collections last year, how about standalone novellas? Lots of authors I'm following are releasing short works as side stories or in between their novels -- do th..."

No, I haven't set a length minimum. A general guideline: If it has been released for sale as a single work...then, yes, count it by all means. But there are many novellas (and even short stories) that you can find for free out in e-form that were never published as a "book" (whether hard copy or e-book)--the individual Sherlock Holmes short stories come to mind. That said--I'll leave it up to the challenger's judgment. I won't be checking up on anyone. "Big Sister" would rather use her time to read. :-)

Going to give it a go again this year, and I hope I manage to get some of the backlog gone. As an aside, does anyone have any suggestions for where I can donate or give away books? I must make some room.

Rebecca wrote: "Going to give it a go again this year, and I hope I manage to get some of the backlog gone. As an aside, does anyone have any suggestions for where I can donate or give away books? I must make some..."

I donate mine to our "Friends of the Library Bookstore." Proceeds go towards the library's funds for new books--it's pretty sweet--you see a book that you think the library ought to have and they don't have it on the shelves, you can put in a request for them to buy it. I've made several suggestions over the years and I've not been disappointed yet.

Rebecca wrote: "Going to give it a go again this year, and I hope I manage to get some of the backlog gone. As an aside, does anyone have any suggestions for where I can donate or give away books? I must make some..."

In addition to Bev's suggestion:

I donate books to a literacy program in my area. They offer a free library to the community. I drop off the books and don't go past the front desk - otherwise I might leave with as many as I brought! :D

I also list books at www.booksfreeswap.com - a site I prefer to other similar ones because the receiver pays postage. Since my primary goal is to give books away, I'm not interested in receiving points and I don't want to pay to give books away.

I haven't used them but I know that Goodwill also accepts books.

We've talked about this before and I don't see it as "paying to give books away". I know it isn't for you, I'm merely clarifying for others. I mail something for someone, they mail something for me - nice and even. Rebecca & I may trade if we have common ground and I've made two friends overseas who find it rewarding to do so. :)

Of course...I neglected to mention that I also stash books in the prize vault for the challenges that I host.

You are a treasure, Bev, bless you. :) I've learned from you and will offer from my novel stash for my challenges. Other things too, for folks who don't need those titles. This year, call me crazy, I'm thinking pumpkin seeds as an option! I harvest my own and they're so easy to grow.

C. wrote: "You are a treasure, Bev, bless you. :) I've learned from you and will offer from my novel stash for my challenges. Other things too, for folks who don't need those titles. This year, call me cr..."

Roasted pumpkin seeds? Mmmmm.

For planting. Although winners do as they wish. If one isn't a gardener, one might be an eater. Hahaha!

I received 3 books for Christmas, but I just realized I did not add them to my list until jan 3. I am reading one of them now, so I wanted it to be known, as the date will come up wrong. Is tha ok?

I wasn't aware the date added thing was even part of this. My dates added are completely wrong and I have plenty of books that aren't even added yet.

Michelle wrote: "I received 3 books for Christmas, but I just realized I did not add them to my list until jan 3. I am reading one of them now, so I wanted it to be known, as the date will come up wrong. Is tha ok?"

I often don't add books to my GR shelves until I start to read them... so I think it must be OK (I hope so anyway!).

No worries at all. It doesn't work for me to add anything until I'm about to read something, like our dear Leslie. :) Y'all wouldn't know but on dial-up internet, when I first load Goodreads? It takes FIFTEEN MINUTES TO SHOW UP! All day, I try to click in the same browser, or use a different web page; also touchy on dial-up.

Every time I want to re-visit a book to complete a review or look up information, I can't be wading through oodles of books I haven't been using, nor is it helpful to create oodles of folders to appear on my list. Bev uses the honour system. The only factor that can be checked is a new release. I also don't know what I'm going to read until I plan my 40-odd reading challenge memberships. :)

Bev wrote: "Sarah wrote: "...yes I'm confident about that. I haven't yet bought any books this year :) ..."

If you're like me....that won't last long. :-)"

Of course it didn't last long Bev, I work at a bookshop... :)

Oh Sarah, you are doomed! I can no more pass up a bookstore than I can a good restaurant.

C. wrote: "No worries at all. It doesn't work for me to add anything until I'm about to read something, like our dear Leslie. :) Y'all wouldn't know but on dial-up internet, when I first load Goodreads? I..."

i dont mean this in a rude way but i wasnt aware dial-up even still existed!! i remember the horrors of attempting to use it years ago - couldnt imagine going back to that!!

I welcome your condolences, Elle! LOL!! When people list their books with a picture of the novel instead of just in text, oy. Trust me, I was stunned about the continued existence of dial-up too! I'm from the city! But I wanted country living and when our apartment stopped allowing pets, we were outta there. "Fluffy's Law" did not pass in Manitoba, which would prohibit senior's homes, apartments, condos; anyplace from banning pets.

I'm a download hog. Movies, music, TV shows, programs. Imagine my shock when I found out cities (and towns close to cities) are pretty much the only places that have highspeed! So... I'm glad to be on-line at all. That's why they keep dial-up available. No rude way - you've cheered me up! :)

Oh you so have my condolences!!! Poor thing. I'm not sure I could ever live somewhere with dial-up!! I'm a city girl through and through LOL!

Me too! If we set up a tower, we could have "somewhat faster" internet. When we have the moula, do I do it? I'm a city slicker who loves country life so much; being around trees, animals, flowers (a deer eats beneath our birdfeeder every night) that I'd like to be MORE remote. People's dogs are still too close and too loud. So is arranging faster speed worth it if this isn't where I plan to live more than another couple of years?

I think yes. I'm here daily! A 10-minute download becomes a 3-day download. Yeah, I know! I'm also running my own 3 reading challenges Feb 2014 - Feb 2015 and don't want to tell my guests they can't share pictures for contests etc. When the time is right I think we'll choose a decent provider that doesn't want a contract.

we used to pay less for quite a basic internet package before we realised having a worse package doesnt mean we are less likely to use it, but just more likely to complain constantly!!

You make good sense.

C. wrote: "We've talked about this before and I don't see it as "paying to give books away". I know it isn't for you, I'm merely clarifying for others. I mail something for someone, they mail something for ..."

I can see that working if your goal is to swap books but not if you are trying to make room. My goal is to reduce the number of books in my home.

I'll have to drool in silence Nell. ;) I believe we first spoke because you had a novel I wanted! {wry shrug} True indeed. I clean what I don't wish to collect. However many series need to be filled in. I love it when something I'm expunging, exchanges for what I'm seeking. Anyone comfortable trading, please message me with a giveaway list. I have mine ready. :)

Michelle wrote: "I received 3 books for Christmas, but I just realized I did not add them to my list until jan 3. I am reading one of them now, so I wanted it to be known, as the date will come up wrong. Is tha ok?"

Michelle, Elle and anyone else interested in the date question. I'm not going to be checking your date added. As Carolyn mentioned, you're on the honor system. I'm going to trust that you have owned the books pre-2014 and I'll trust that they meet any other qualifications as well.

Just joined and wanted to note in here that all my owned books are on my Kindle . I also probably won't list them until they are read , so right now it only says I have 5 books. Those are what I have read in January . Will promise to follow the rules of reading the books I already had on my Kindle (pre-2014) which almost all of them are !
Thanks -

Any rules on "unfinishable" books? I'm reading one now that I'm about 1/3 into and I really can't take it anymore. When I was younger I would have finished it, but now that I'm older I realize I don't have time to finish all the books.
Should I count it as "read"...even though I technically didn't finish it?

Barbarac wrote: "Any rules on "unfinishable" books? I'm reading one now that I'm about 1/3 into and I really can't take it anymore. When I was younger I would have finished it, but now that I'm older I realize I ..."

I have left the "Did Not Finish" books up to the challenger. Personally, I have the 100 page rule. I have to read at least that much--if I decide after 100 pages that I'm just not going to finish (and have no plans to ever return to the thing), then I count it. As long as you meet whatever personal DNF rules you have and want to permanently move the book off the TBR stack, then go ahead and count it.

Julie wrote: "Just joined and wanted to note in here that all my owned books are on my Kindle . I also probably won't list them until they are read , so right now it only says I have 5 books. Those are what I ha..."


Julie--Kindle books are absolutely okay and you don't have to list books ahead of time, so that's fine too.

...ia there a rules-based reason as to why all of my posts from rehab via my tablet have disappeared from my thread in the Mt. Olympus section? All that remains is the opening post!

Steven wrote: "...ia there a rules-based reason as to why all of my posts from rehab via my tablet have disappeared from my thread in the Mt. Olympus section? All that remains is the opening post!"

Steven: I don't know of any reason why your posts would have disappeared. I haven't removed any posts from this year's challenge. And the only posts I have ever removed were extraneous comments on the Quarterly Check-in Posts in previous Mount TBR Challenges (which I warn everyone will happen).

Must be a Goodreads glitch then. I'll relist the books that I listed in rehab.

Must be a Goodreads glitch then. I'll relist the books that I listed in rehab.

Dawn wrote: "I don't know if you saw Steven but one of the members noticed you had 2 threads set up. So one of them has your books and one doesn't."

Good catch! That must be where the problem is...

Aha! No, I didn't notice. I wonder what happened?! Thank you!

Steven wrote: "Aha! No, I didn't notice. I wonder what happened?! Thank you!"

That has happened to me before when I thought that I haven't clicked on the post button & clicked on it again. Generally it happens when posting a message but it sometimes happens with threads as well.

Bev wrote: "Barbarac wrote: "Any rules on "unfinishable" books? I'm reading one now that I'm about 1/3 into and I really can't take it anymore. When I was younger I would have finished it, but now that I'm o..."

I just came here to ask the same question!

Silly question, but I joined this challenge in July and started counting my books at that point. Is it cheating if I go back and look through my Jan-July reads to see if any of them count for the challenge? Not a big deal either way, just curious for my own mental health of feeling like I accomplished a bigger goal! Hehe :)

Jessika wrote: "Silly question, but I joined this challenge in July and started counting my books at that point. Is it cheating if I go back and look through my Jan-July reads to see if any of them count for the c..."

I think it's ok since you read them in 2014 as long as they fit the criteria Bev set. I found this challenge group in the Fall of 2012, posted the books I read earlier in the year and counted them toward my annual goal.

Jessika wrote: "Silly question, but I joined this challenge in July and started counting my books at that point. Is it cheating if I go back and look through my Jan-July reads to see if any of them count for the c..."

Absolutely--anything from your TBR pile read during the challenge year count for that year's challenge, no matter when you sign up.

Yay! That will mean I climbed higher than I thought I did! Thanks for letting me know!