Mount TBR 2016 discussion

I am a newbie to reading challenges (although I set reading goals for myself every year) I would really like to read 100 books this year but chose this level as I will also be doing the popsugar challenge at the same time. That one is 40 books and I don't like using the same book for 2 different challenges. This is a steep goal for me as I am currently working full time and I am a wife and mother (but I do love to read!!) Hopefully if I am successful I won't add more to the TBR list than what I read. LOL

good for you on choosing not to double up across challenges! I'm doing quite a few challenges myself, so am seeing where my TBR collection can fill a challenge where possible. Good luck with your endeavours!

Welcome to the climbing crew! So glad to have you join us. Good Luck!

So with 24 days into the new year I thought I would update my progress. 5/60 read for TBR challenge and 1/41 for Popsugar challenge (I thought this one was only 40 books but apparently you have to read a book and it's prequel so it makes it 41 books total). For tracking purposes on here I have pledge to read 100 books this year so my stats right now say 6/100 books read (it says I am on track but I think I might be just a little bit behind). I may have to purchase a few books for the Popsugar challenge (as I don't have books that fit a few criteria of that challenge). For the TBR challenge I have an extensive collection of paperbacks/hardcovers in which to choose from without touching anything on my tablet. Can you say book hoarder??

You've made a great start, Sue! And I think that most of us here are book hoarders to one degree or another. We wouldn't need this challenge if we weren't. :-)

Thanks Bev!!

5 books done already, good for you! That's a nice start :)

So I thought I would update my list of books read for this challenge on a monthly basis instead of as I finish them. This will help to give me some accountability towards achieving my yearly goal.

1. In Bed With The Opposition by Kathie DeNosky
2. Coming Home For Christmas by Fern Michaels
3. Amber And Amethyst by Kay Gregory
4. Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany
5. The Anonymous Miss Addams by Kasey Michaels
6. The Billionaire's Bridal Bid by Emily McKay

I have also read The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins but I am using that towards my Popsugar challenge so I am 1/41 on that one.
I am currently reading 3 books (2 regular and 1 on my tablet). I'm a little bit behind schedule but I'm hoping to gain some ground when these 3 are done.

February Update

TBR Challenge

7. Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella
8. Cinderella & The CEO by Maureen Child
9. Crazy As Chocolate by Elizabeth Hyde
10. Dangerous Alliance by Jane Corrie


Popsugar Challenge

2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. Blind To Love by Emma Goldrick/Connie Bennett/Rebecca Winters
4. 1984 by George Orwell


I am currently on pace for TBR challenge (60 books this year) but I am 3 books behind on Popsugar Challenge. Hoping to catch up and get a bit ahead in the month of March (I have 5 extra days off this month!!)

Nice progress, Sue!

I hope you get some good reading in on your days off!

Doing great!

I'm about 4 - 5 books behind schedule but that's okay. I will catch up eventually. Maybe by the end of April if I start picking some shorter books. I know I still have lots of shorter Harlequin romances to read.

Well March really sucked for reading. I so dropped the ball this past month. With 5 extra days off I didn't put them to much use as I ended up reading less than I did in February. Oh well tomorrow is the start of a new month. Currently sitting at 14 of 60 for TBR challenge and 6 of 41 for Popsugar challenge. I think I am 4 books behind schedule so I have to get in some serious reading time. So here is my accomplishments for March:

TBR Challenge:

11. Father's Day by Debbie Macomber
12. The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide by Debby Holt
13. Forever Mine by Jennifer Mikels
14. Gimme An O by Kayla Perrin


Popsugar Challenge:

5. Don't Talk To Strangers by Bethany Campbell
6. The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

Don't get too discouraged, there's still plenty of 2016 left! :)

You've made it to the top of Pike's Peak--that's one mountain conquered! And--as Catherine says--there's plenty of 2016 left to go.

Catherine wrote: "Don't get too discouraged, there's still plenty of 2016 left! :)"

Thank you Catherine. Not giving up just yet. Just need to spend less time playing games on the computer and more time reading. LOL

Bev wrote: "You've made it to the top of Pike's Peak--that's one mountain conquered! And--as Catherine says--there's plenty of 2016 left to go."

Thanks for the encouragement Bev. One mountain down, only what 4 or 5 more to go!! LOL I can do this!! (The TBR challenge. Not sure if I will complete the Popsugar one). For that one I need to read a political memoir and I can't see that happening!!

Sue wrote: "Bev wrote: "You've made it to the top of Pike's Peak--that's one mountain conquered! And--as Catherine says--there's plenty of 2016 left to go."

Thanks for the encouragement Bev. One mountain down..."

When I did Popsugar last year, I knew I wouldn't do all the categories and they didn't require you to--so I set a personal goal of just a portion (30 out of 50, I think). Since my reading resolution was to try and read only from my own stacks this year (with a few exceptions), I decided I couldn't sign up for challenges like Popsugar that would force me off the TBR piles.

So it is now the end of April and by far this has been my worst month this year (so far) for reading. Only managed to complete 4 books this month and 1/3 of another. I need to stay away from the games on Facebook!! LOL

TBR Challenge

15. Hell Or High Water by Anne Mather
16. Illusion by Charlotte Lamb

Popsugar Challenge

7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
8. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

I had to edit a few of my previous posts LOL. I had down the titles and authors for 22 books read when in actually fact I have finished 24 books so far this year. So I guess that means another mountain has been conquered!!

Another month has gone by where I didn't get in as much reading as I would have liked. Oh well. it's a new month and anything is possible!! Here is where I stand at the end of May. 19/60 for TBR challenge and 10/41 for Popsugar challenge.

TBR Challenge

17. Master Of Cashel by Sara Wood
18. Once A Gambler by Carrie Hudson
19. Painted Lady by Diana Hamilton

Popsugar Challenge

9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
10. Island Rapture by Cassie Edwards


I already know that I won't be able to complete the Popsugar challenge as I can't see myself reading books to fulfill certain criteria (like a political memoir) so here I will cheat a bit by using books that I have already started on my tablet. Need to rev up my reading as I am approximately 12 books behind schedule but there is still more than 1/2 the year left!!

I love your positive attitude!! :))

Well I had a bit better of a month in June. I managed to finish 10 books (plus almost 1/2 of another one). Here are my accomplishments for the month of June:

TBR CHALLENGE:

20. Relentless Pursuit by Sara Orwig
21, Rumor Has It by Celia Scott
22. Scarlet Woman by Barbara Faith
23. Soldier On Her Doorstep by Soraya Lane
24. A Private Eyeful by Ruth Jean Dale
25. Tempest In Eden by Sandra Brown

POPSUGAR CHALLENGE

11. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
12. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
13. Under The Dome Part One by Stephen King
14. Naked In Death by J.D. Robb

I have actually gained some ground on what I was behind. Beginning of June I was 12 books behind schedule and on July 1st I was only 10 books behind (it has since changed to 11 books behind). Hoping to have that number drop by August 1st as I have discovered that I am off more than I work this month. For the 1st half of the year I am sitting at 25/60 for TBR challenge and 14/41 for Popsugar challenge. I have conquered another peak (36+) and still climbing!!!

I have a question for all who see it and want to respond with an answer. Yesterday I finished a box set (trilogy) that I had started on my tablet. When all you readers out there read a trilogy on an electronic device do you enter them as one or as separate books. I used the listing that exactly matched the one on my tablet and when I marked it finish it only counts as one book read. I know I had the first book read before the end of 2015 but I know the other two were read this year. Seems kind of unfair to read 2 books but only get credit for one. Let me know your opinions on this please. And thanks!!

I personally break it apart into single books.

I would break it apart, definitely. Instead of using the listing that matches the e-book, I would use a version that lets you list them separately. Either use one of the hardback or paperback editions or if each book has a Kindle version or whatever you used, just use those instead.

Thank you Brianna and Catherine. I have decided to split them. It was a bit of a challenge doing the one I just finished. In my list of books read for the challenge, it kept listing the 3rd book as read before the 2nd one LOL. I managed to get it fixed. There is one set on my tablet (2 books) that I will use the exact listing for as I know that the first book was read in 2015 but I only started the 2nd book this year (that is saying I finish it this year).

I definitely would give myself credit for reading 3 books! I have a few books on my Kindle that are bundled like that and I'm going to just enter them separately when I read them.

Yup, count them individually!

Wooohooo half way to my over all goal for the year!! I don't think I will meet my Popsugar challenge goal of 41 books. There are just some categories that I will not be able to fulfill (ex. political memoir). I should be able to get to 33 of 41 completed. With any luck (and a lot of reading) I should be able to surpass my TBR goal of 60 books. I might even get to 100 books with the combined challenges!! Still lots of time left!! Next year I will adapt the Popsugar challenge so it fits with books on my TBR list.

I had a fantastic month of July when it came to reading. I didn't finish as many physical books as I would have liked but I still read the most books for any month so far this year. In total I read 13 books. I am still behind but I certainly closed the gap. Started July being 10 (almost 11) books behind and today I am only 6 books behind. I have another week of holidays coming up near the end of August so I am working towards the goal of actually being ahead as I have picked a bunch of shorter books to read this month. Wish me luck!! Currently I am sitting at 35/60 for the TBR challenge and 17/41 for the Popsugar challenge for a total combined effort of 52/100 books read for the year (so far!!)Here is a list of books that I read in July:

TBR Challenge

26. Under The Dome Part 2 by Stephen King
27. The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux
28. Too Hot To Handle by Sarah Holland
29. Gloria's Revenge by Nelle L'Amour (on my tablet)
30. Gloria's Forever by Nelle L'Amour (on my tablet)
31. Tarnished Gold by V.C. Andrews
32. We All Fall Down by Eric Walters
33. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (on my tablet)
34. Words Of Silk by Sandra Brown
35. After The Storm by Amy Knupp


Popsugar Challenge

15. Star Quality by Joan Collins
16. Misty by V.C Andrews
17. Star by V.C. Andrews

Although I am at 60 books read for the year which is technically Mt. Kilimanjaro I am only counting 42 of those towards that goal. I am also doing the Popsugar challenge of 41 books which the other 18 are going towards that one. Even though I am currently a bit behind schedule I think I will end the year somewhere between 100 and 110 books. Just need to stay off the computer!!

Sue wrote: "Although I am at 60 books read for the year which is technically Mt. Kilimanjaro I am only counting 42 of those towards that goal. I am also doing the Popsugar challenge of 41 books which the other..."

42 puts you close to the peak of Mt. Ararat. You are doing great!

Leslie wrote: "Sue wrote: "Although I am at 60 books read for the year which is technically Mt. Kilimanjaro I am only counting 42 of those towards that goal. I am also doing the Popsugar challenge of 41 books whi..."

Thanks Leslie!!

Although I didn't quite meet my goal for reading this month, (I wanted to get caught up) I did manage to get lots read this month. Started the month being 6 books behind and finished the month only being 2 books behind. I am now sitting at 44/60 for the TBR challenge and 20/41 for the Popsugar challenge for a grand total of 64/100 books read for my overall goal for the year. Here is hoping with school returning next week and still having 5 extra days off this month that I can get into a reading routine to surpass my goal of 10 books for the month of September. Here is a list of books read in August:

TBR Challenge

36. Jade by V.C. Andrews
37. Cat by V.C. Andrews
38. 3 A.M. Kisses by Addison Moore
39. Beautifully Done by Riley Mackenzie
40. Arrogant Interloper by Catherine George
41. Into The Garden by V.C. Andrews
42. At Any Price by Breanna Aubrey
43. Blue Days At Sea by Anne Weale
44. Breaking The Ice by Kay Gregory


Popsugar Challenge

18. Under The Boardwalk by Various Authors
19. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
20. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Doing great, Sue!

Catherine wrote: "Doing great, Sue!"
Thanks Catherine!!

Good work almost getting caught up!

Had a really busy month in September with lots of personal stuff so I didn't read near as much as I would of liked (and even had some extra days off). I can only hope I can get lots done this month so I can reach my overall goal by the end of the year. September's achievements:

TBR Challenge

45. Fool For Love by Marie Force
46. Dante's Ultimate Gamble by Day LeClaire
47. Cowboy Sam's Quadruplets by Tina Leonard
48. Does My Bum Look Big In This by Arabella Weir
49. Family Secrets by Joan Elliott Pickart

Popsugar Challenge

21, A Cinderella Affair by Anne Beaumont
22. Abruption by Riley McKenzie

So at the end of September I am sitting at 49 of 60 for the one challenge and 22 of 41 for the other and I am currently behind 3 books for my overall challenge which sits at 71 of 100 books. I have already picked out the rest of my books for both challenges and I think with some focus on my end goal I could potentially finish 107+ books for the year.

Great job! You still managed to make good progress even though you were busy!

Thanks Jessika. The site has updated my stats in the last couple of hours and is now saying that I am 4 books behind. LOL

Horrible, horrible, horrible month of reading for October. I only managed to complete 5 books this month. I need to do some serious reading in the next two months or I won't reach my overall goal of 100 books. I am currently 7 books behind schedule. Yikes!!! It is going to be tough but not impossible. November and December are very busy months for me with trying to clean my house for Christmas, doing the shopping, baking etc, all while working full time and keeping up with the hubby and child. I figure if I can read at least 100 pages per day I should still make my goal and maybe even surpass it by a few books. I just need to stay focused. Here is the list of books that I read in October:

TBR Challenge

50. How The Inlaws Wrecked Christmas by Fionna Gibson
51. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Popsugar Challenge

23. Forever by Judy Blume
24. When Bad Things Happen To Good People by Harry Kushner
25. Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts


Hoping for a much better November!!

As we move into the last month of the year, I am starting to doubt that I will make it to any of the three goals that I set for the year. I already knew I would not make the Popsugar goal and have already looked at next year's Popsugar goal to see where I can change it slightly so I am using books I already own or eliminating parts that I know I would never read (ex political memoir was on this year's). I didn't read as much in November as I would have liked and I am currently 7 books behind for the challenge. I, somehow, have to read 16 books during the busiest time of the year in which to reach my overall goal of 100 books of the year (I only have to read 5 more books for my TBR challenge goal). Here are the books read in November:

TBR Challenge

52. The Green Mile by Stephen King
53. Total Control by David Baldacci
54. For The Girl's Sake by Janice Kay Johnston
55. Home To Morning Star by Margaret Way

Popsugar Challenge

26. The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood
27. Melody by V.C. Andrews
28. Road To Love by Katherine Arthur
29. Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels

With a little luck and perserverance I may not only be ready for Christmas but I may make my goal of 100 books read for the year!!

Finished another one, so I am down to needing 15 more read to meet my overall goal of 100 books.

So with 2016 now over and done with I will post my final results for this challenge. I broke my challenges into 2 sub categories and an overall total for books read. Sadly I did not meet the Popsugar challenge (I knew this early on because I couldn't see myself reading some of the books in that challenge) and I also did not meet my total books challenge (it was 100 books for the year and I only reached 92). I did reach my TBR goal of 60 books and most of the books that I used for the Popsugar challenge were on my TBR list anyway so I am happy with my results for the year. I am going to push a little harder in 2017 to reach the goal I set for this year. I know the times of year when I faltered with my reading so this year I will try to read just a little bit more in these periods. Here is the list of books finished in December 2016:

TBR Challenge

56. High-Powered, Hot-Blooded by Susan Mallery
57. Bounty Hunter Guardian by Diane Burke
58. It Must Have Been The Mistletoe by Various Authors
59. On The First Night Of Christmas by Heidi RIce
60. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
61. Heartsong by V.C. Andrews
62. Snowed In At The Ranch by Cara Colter


Popsugar Challenge

30. Anne Of Green Gables

I must add that although I am proud of my accomplishments (92 books read in one year is a record especially with a busy schedule), I didn't do so well in the area of not adding to the TBR pile. I need to stay away from flea markets, garage sales, Christmas bazaars (this surprisingly was a source of buying used books), and people that want to give me free books. I usually don't buy new so I didn't acquire too many this way (a few but not many. Mostly new on my tablet). I managed to add way more to the TBR pile than I read!!!