Mount TBR 2020 discussion

Alright, so I did not successfully climb Pike's Peak using the original list I had set out for myself in 2019, so here goes my second attempt! The list will include books I didn't get to from last year's list and some new ones. Edit: Swapped in The Last Man in place of Chomsky. I had The Last Man for several years so also fits, and have finally got around to reading it. Figured I'd swap it in for something I was less likely to get to.

1. The Iron Heel by Jack London
2. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
3. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
4. Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
5. The Last Man by Mary Shelley
6. Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-Up Call by Arthur Manuel
7. Killer of Men by Christian Cameron
8. Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkney
9. Season of Storms by Andrzej Sapkowski
10. The Demons Within by Ashe Armstrong
11. Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse
12. The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill

Just finished my first from the list, Medicine Walk and absolutely loved it. 5/5 stars and definitely hit me in the feels.

You are off to a good start to your climb! Good luck with the rest of it!

Leslie wrote: "You are off to a good start to your climb! Good luck with the rest of it!"

Thanks, you as well!

Finished a second book from my list: Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse (Book 2 of Sixth World series). It was another great read and I rated it 4.5/5 stars. Genre is near-future apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fantasy that feels very sword & sorcery to me. I really enjoyed the first book, Trail of Lightning, but this one was even better. The main issue for me in the first book was the ending, but Storm of Locusts' conclusion was a definite improvement. It's strengths were still definitely in the worldbuilding and high pace, and in this one some of the relationships that were forged.

Finished a third book on my list, another carried over from last year's list, Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames. Rated it 4.5/5 stars. Really enjoyed it and imo was even better than Kings of the Wyld.

Finished Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, which was another carried over from last year's list. I've rated it 3.75/5 stars. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I definitely liked the plot of Mistborn as well as the characters much better than Elantris! Still a good read though and will now be reading the novella that's a part of the Selish cosmere books (Emperor's Soul).

Finished a 5th book from the list, The Iron Heel by Jack London. Quite an enjoyable book that I rated 3.75/5 stars. Dystopian fiction from a socialist perspective, written in 1908. Most of it is still very relevant today, while certain aspects are dated. Good read.

Finished The Demons Within by Ashe Armstrong (Book 3 of Grimluk Demon Hunter series) today and rated 3.25/5 stars. This is a fantasy series taking place in a setting similar to the American wild west. Grimluk is an orc who hunts demons for a living. It was a fun read, especially for fans of pulpy fantasy. This brings me also half way through the list of Mount TBR books I set for myself at the beginning of the year.

Finished a 7th book on my list today Killer of Men by Christian Cameron, first book in the Long War historical fiction series set during the Greco-Persian wars and the early build up to it. Rated it 5/5 stars and plan to start the next one immediately!

Swapped in Shelley's The Last Man in place of Chomsky. I finished reading it today and really enjoyed this journey. Rated 3.75/5 stars.