Mount TBR 2015 discussion

Hi! I'm Nadia and this is my second year joining the challenge :)

Last year I completed Pike's Peak (12 books total) and this year I'm challenging myself a bit harder since I bought too many books in 2014.

Here's to a good reading year and a smaller tbr pile in the future!

1. The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket.
(owned since December 2013; 2/5 stars).

I enjoyed the story, but the series has turned quite repetitive. I didn't like the way the author depicted anxiety disorders and androgynous people, it was problematic to say the least.

2. A Gorgeous Sense of Hope: A Love Fable by Emma Magenta.
(owned since December 2014; 3/5 stars).

Lovely picture book!

3. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton.
(owned since December 2014; 5/5 stars).

As if I wasn't already in love with NY this book came along and made me fall harder. Amazing, magical.

4. Yes Please by Amy Poehler.
(owned since December 2014; 3/5 stars).

Funny and uplifting at times. Boring and problematic at others.

Audiobook > Hardcover (although I really liked looking at the pictures + colors and quotes,etc)

Just saw your thread title. .. Don't worry, I couldn't come up with anything clever either! Oh well. Happy climbing!

Happy climbing Nadia...I'm a sloooooow reader...I'm WALKING up this mountain....

Books from my tbr I'd like to read this year:



That list doesn't necessarily mean those will be the ones I read for the challenge, but I'd like to keep them in mind.

Read (from this list):



Lost interest (from this list):

Books currently "on hold" (started them but haven't kept going):

Zaara wrote: "Happy climbing Nadia...I'm a sloooooow reader...I'm WALKING up this mountain...."

Thank you! Haha, don't worry me too. I started with some short ones to motivate myself.

Jessika wrote: "Just saw your thread title. .. Don't worry, I couldn't come up with anything clever either! Oh well. Happy climbing!"

*high-five*

Happy climbing to you too! :)

Hi Nadia...have u set time aside for Mockingbird yet? Please let me know....

5. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley.
(owned since around August 2014; 4/5 stars).

Powerful novel. Loved it.

Zaara wrote: "Hi Nadia...have u set time aside for Mockingbird yet? Please let me know...."

I haven't yet! I saw on your thread you said after Jan 30th ? That's good for me. We can read it in February then if you are cool with that!

Nadia wrote: "I haven't yet! I saw on your thread you said after Jan 30th ? That's good for me. We can read it in February then if you are cool with that!"

Great! Let's do it in the second half of Feb i.e. after the 15th? I have four books already open and want to get them out of the way plus I'm committed to a Shakespeare read for the second week of Feb. Hope that's ok with u. If not, let me know. If ok, see ya then, Nadia. Keep climbing! :-)

Zaara wrote: "Nadia wrote: "I haven't yet! I saw on your thread you said after Jan 30th ? That's good for me. We can read it in February then if you are cool with that!"

Great! Let's do it in the second half of..."

Sounds good to me :)
I'll make a thread on the Buddy Reads folder for us!

EDIT: Here is our thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... we can chat there when we start! :D

Great idea!

6. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers.*
(owned since April/May 2014; 5/5 stars).

I first read this book in 2013, the kindle version, and loved it, it soon became one of my favorite books. I bought the paperback last year and didn't get to re-read it until now. It's just as excellent as the first time I read it, and I love it just as much as I did then, maybe more now.

*re-read

7. Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers.
(owned since December 2013; 3/5 stars).

I'm still thinking about my feelings on this one. I adore Courtney Summer's books, and while I liked this one, it didn't feel the same as her other novels (which is not the point of it, I know, but yeah). It was okay, and it made me cry in the end, but that's it. I'm just kind of confused (?). I felt like by the end Eddie was not much different than how she started out, and I didn't like that very much. I'd like to read it over again some other time to see if my feelings change or if I get something different out of it. Major points for Summers' writing and her heartbreaking exploration of "dark" emotions as usual.

8. Tease by Amanda Maciel.
(owned since June 2014; 3/5 stars.)

Brutal read. So many complicated feelings over this one, but I definitely liked it. It was very hard to stop thinking about this book after I finished it.

Listened to on audio, the narrator did an amazing job with the MC's voice and getting the emotions across with her voice. What was weird was her voices for the rest of the characters.

Great progress...you're way ahead...looks like you might climb a higher mountain this year! Keep it going, Nadia!

Zaara wrote: "Great progress...you're way ahead...looks like you might climb a higher mountain this year! Keep it going, Nadia!"

Thank you :D

9. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers.
(owned since November 2013; 3.5/5 stars.)

Alternated between the audiobook and ebook.

1) I think I had way too high expectations for this one.
2) I think I prefer it when the "mysteries" take the backseat in her books (like TINAT and SGA).
3) Loved how the narrator added the right amount of snark to Parker's voice.

10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
(owned since May-June 2014; 5/5 stars.)

Excellent book!
The reading experience made even more enjoyable by sharing insights with my reading buddy Zaara :)

("Fun fact" ha: I remember getting this book as a birthday present from a close friend last year.)

11. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield.
(owned since July 2013; 2/5 stars.)

This book was 'okay'. Loved the writing, but had a hard time connecting to it, I wish some things had been done differently, but other than that I don't want to add. I think the 'mysteries' were pretty easy to guess from the start and that made it less surprising/entertaining. *sigh* I really don't know how to explain my thoughts on this one.

12. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.
(owned since November 2013; 4/5 stars.)

I thought GONE GIRL was fucked up but this one takes the cake. Gillian Flynn knows how to write mesmerizing, terrifying, compulsively readable thrillers. I'm equal parts scared/excited to read DARK PLACES.

13. Over You by Amy Reed.
(owned since December 2014; 3/5 stars.)

Interesting exploration of a toxic friendship and insight into the downfall of such a close relationship.

14. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.
(owned since November 2013; 3/5 stars)

The different POVs were a good addition to the story, made it richer at least initially (or more some chapters than others), but at the same time they made it drag, a single day/night was extended for a ton of chapters. At first the PAST chapters (Ben, Patty) were my favorites, then the middle of the book started losing my attention, and then the PRESENT (Libby) chapters became the ones I liked best.

Another fascinating, disturbing and sharp novel from Gillian Flynn. Cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

15. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
(owned since August 2014; 4/5 stars)

I liked this one so much that my heart still hurts a day after finishing it.

16. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover.
(owned since July 2014; 2.7-3.0/5 stars)

Yes.
No.
EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Ohh.
Cute.
Sigh.
The end.

17. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.
(owned since May 2014; 4/5 stars)

This was a wonderful story! I loved the way it was told and how the stories connected in the end. The art was fantastic as well.

18. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol.
(owned since May 2014; 3/5 stars)

I liked the humor and the art. What I didn't like was that it turned a bit predictable towards the end; I wish the resolution had been a bit more fleshed out.

19. The Martian by Andy Weir.
(owned since December 2014; 3/5 stars)

Reading so much technical/math/science stuff made it a boring and tough ride, but I loved the MC, his humor, and how the suspense of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Can't wait to see the movie.

20. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews.
(owned since July 2013; 1/5 stars)

Ehh this story felt pretty pointless to me. At first it was funny but then the humor got old fast. Most of the supporting characters didn't feel developed enough or were just caricatures. And don't get me started on the mostly racist portrayals of POC in this book, fat shaming, biphobia and stereotypes. Meh.

21. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.
(owned since May 2014; 4/5 stars)

LOVED this one. Rainbow Rowell is magic. She knows how to write emotions, relationships and love SO WELL. Just picture me making heart eyes at this book.

Nadia, you are so close to the top! Really doing well!

Bev wrote: "Nadia, you are so close to the top! Really doing well!"

Thank you Bev! :D

22. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.
(owned since February 2014; 4.5/5 stars)

Ahhh another one I LOVED. I get why people have been in love with Jandy Nelson's writing/books now. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN killed me when I read it, and now this one has cemented her as one of my favorite authors yep yep. What an amazing and emotional ride THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE was.

23. Landline by Rainbow Rowell.
(owned since December 2014; 3.7/5 stars)

Another Rainbow Rowell book that has me falling for her writing.

In order of preference: 1) FANGIRL; 2) Attachments; 3) Landline & 4) Eleanor & Park.

Only one more to reach the peak! Good going :)

Almost. There!

24. Crush by Richard Siken.
(owned since May 2014; 4.5/5 stars).

Beautiful. Devastating. Amazing.

Bev wrote: "Almost. There!"

Leslie wrote: "Only one more to reach the peak! Good going :)"

Done! :D

Yay! Happy dance!

Woo Hoo! Here's a glass of champagne {once you calm down enough to have some without spilling. ;-) }