Mount TBR 2021 discussion

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Mountaineering Checkpoints > Mount TBR Checkpoint #1

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message 1: by Bev (last edited Apr 01, 2021 04:34PM) (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Wow! Three months into the year already. Well, you know what that means...Your mountaineering guide is calling for the first quarterly check-in post. Let's see how our challengers are doing. Made it a couple of miles? Camping out in a cave 1/3 of the way up the mountain face? Taking refuge in a mountain hut along the way? Let us know how you're doing. For those who would like to participate in this checkpoint post, I'd like you to do two things (I've given my responses as example):

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates to actual miles up Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, etc. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

I've made it through 33 book so far. That seems to be about 9,580 ft. up good ol' Mount Everest. Definitely on track to plant a flag on the peak--but I'm going to have to pick up the pace if I'm ever going to see the top of Olympus on Mars.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far. OR If you have difficulty posting a cover for any reason, share your favorite title--this does not have to be your favorite read. It can just be a title you thought was funny or clever or interesting or....
When Maidens Mourn: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery: Harris, C. S.: 9780451414229: Amazon.com: Books

I like the colors on this one very much.

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

I always enjoy Hercule Poirot. He's an interesting detective and the mysteries he's involved in are great fun for me to try and solve.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)

The Adventure of the Peerless Peer by Philip Jose Farmer--a bad surprise. This must be the all-time worst Sherlock Holmes pastiche that I have ever read.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

The Floating Admiral by The Detection Club (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, etc)--it's been on my shelves since the 1980s. I'd read it once--but that was long before I started writing up reviews and I wanted to read it and write it up properly. I enjoyed it just as much as I remembered from the first time.


message 2: by Nell (last edited Apr 03, 2021 03:26PM) (new)

Nell 1st Qtr Mountaineering Check-in

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).
I am on track with 9 out of 36.

2.
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far..
Gorgeous scene with a hint of mischief
The Diva Sweetens the Pie (A Domestic Diva Mystery #12) by Krista Davis

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.
Maddie in The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
The Wedding Party (The Wedding Date, #3) by Jasmine Guillory
and
Dani in Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Take a Hint, Dani Brown (The Brown Sisters, #2) by Talia Hibbert
Both are ambitious women who weren't looking for love and didn't recognize it when a good-lovin' man showed up. At first, they were oblivious to what was obvious to everyone else! It was fun to watch these smart women figure it out.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way.
A Family Reunion by Brenda Jackson
I expected it to be a light-weight chick-lit read. The depth and richness of the characters was delightful. The ensemble cast was well-developed with each having a voice. A surprisingly good read.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait?
A Family Reunion by Brenda Jackson
I wish I had read it sooner. There's another book by this author on my shelf that I will be reading soon.
A Family Reunion by Brenda Jackson


message 3: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Nell wrote: "1st Qtr Mountaineering Check-in

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).
I am on track with 9 out of 36.


Doing good, Nell!


message 4: by Bethea Scovic (new)

Bethea Scovic (bethea) | 30 comments 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
24/100 books read
I made it to Everest base camp and am almost to camp 1. I will rest at camp 1 before trekking my way up to camp 2 and will then check in again with my progress. Even though camp 3 and the summit still seem a long way off, making it past the Khumbu Icefall is a success in and of itself and I am proud that I took on this climbing challenge.

2. A. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
I love the artistic design of this cover!

B. My favorite character so far is Angel, in Angel of Greenwood. She is pure of heart and a true heroine. By the end of the book you want to hug her and thank her for saving so many lives. The novel is historical fiction, but is based on the real life account of the burning of Black Wall Street.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you?
We Need to Do Something by: Max Booth III surprised me with how scary it actually was. While reading it, I found it creepy, but not necessarily scary. Yet the story stayed with me for days and I found myself needing to talk with someone about their perceptions of the story and what they thought actually happened.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is the book that has been on my TBR the longest for this portion of the climb. It was definitely worth the wait and I wish I would have read it years ago! I have a few more of her books that have been on my TBR pile that I hope to tackle this year.


message 5: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Bethea wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
24/100 books read
I made it to Everest base camp and am almost to camp 1. I will rest at camp 1 before trekking my way up to camp 2 and w..."


Bethea, Thanks for checking in! You're right on my heels coming up Everest. Look forward to seeing you at the top!


message 6: by CinCO (new)

CinCO | 105 comments 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
19/60 books read
6125/19341 feet
A little bit ahead of schedule.

2.
A Favorite Cover
Magic of Thieves (Legends of Dimmingwood, #1) by C. Greenwood

B. Favorite Character
I really like Raja Williams (I read three of that series this quarter). He is handsome, smart and empathetic. He helps many people just because he can.

C. Surprise
Dracula was not as good as I'd hoped it would be. I like The Historian much more. I did enjoy the buddy read atmosphere though.

D. Oldest
Also Dracula. I picked up several classics for free when I first got my Kindle.


message 7: by Beverly (new)

Beverly Whitt | 11 comments I've read 11 or 12 books so far this year, but only 1 of them them has counted toward my climb up Pike's Peak.

A. The title was Small-Town Sweethearts by Jean C. Gordon.

B. My favorite character from this story was Emily Hazard because I could relate to her so well because she is constantly battling her present because of her past. I can relate to that so much!

C. This book surprised me because of the way it ended. It is part of a series and I've read other books in this series (but never all of them or in order) and the other books in the series never abruptly ended the way this one did.

D. This book has been on my TBR list for at least 2 or 3 years. I wish it would have ended a little less abruptly, but it was overall a good story.


message 8: by Renee (new)

Renee (reneezrichter) | 14 comments 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain.
I am 15 books up Mt. Vancouver, I'd say I feel pretty on track,



2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.
The Jetsetters
I did not enjoy this book at all but I really enjoyed the cover.


message 9: by Sam (new)

Sam (aramsamsam) I literally snorted in disbelief when I saw this thread popping up - a quarter of the year already gone!

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
I've made it 7 books up Mount Blanc, which equals 1403 m with 3406 m left to hike. My motivation is high this year, I hope I can make use of this feeling on my way for months to come.

2A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far:
Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1) by Yoon Ha Lee
In addition to the great colours this cover is silky to the touch, I really enjoyed the haptic sensation.

2D. Which book has been on your TBR mountain the longest?
The Three Musketeers has been on my TBR for years, it was a christmas present back in 2015. I actually had this very edition on my wishlist that year. But then I was so intimidated that I never actually started reading. Now that I made it through, I'm glad I finally cracked it open, sat down and read the thing. It was fun, but I'm never going to reread it.


message 10: by Stina (new)

Stina (stinalyn) | 15 comments After sprinting 10 books up Mt. Ararat in January, I slowed my February and March pace to 3 books per month, so as to enjoy some borrows in a timely manner.

My favorite cover in 1Q2021 was this one: Brownies and Broomsticks (A Magical Bakery Mystery, #1) by Bailey Cates

Robo, the K-9 detective in Hanging Falls, is probably my favorite character in this quarter's reading.

The Book of Lost Things was rather a disappointment, and I guess that's a kind of surprise? I'm not sure quite what I was expecting, but it was an odd mish-mash of things that didn't feel cohesive or purposefully constructed.

Longest on my TBR mountain was easily Theft of Magna Carta. I'm not sure how long I've had it, but I'd guess at least a decade, maybe two or three decades, even. And everything else so far this year is something I've obtained within the last 5 years.


message 11: by Sheri (last edited Apr 03, 2021 02:40PM) (new)

Sheri | 38 comments 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).
At 4 out of 24 books, I am only a sixth of the way up Mount Blanc and need to pick up the pace. However, I am 85% through one book, about 1/2 way through an audiobook, approaching a third of the way through a paperback, and and least 24% through a non-fiction (probably closer to 40% with all the footnotes I have read!). So I should have more progress to report next quarter.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.

Underland A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane

The cover was one of the things that attracted me to the book. However, the explanation of the painting in the book's afterward is a bit alarming.

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

Gamache (from All the Devils are Here). I have almost as big a crush on him as I do on Atticus Finch. He is a man who tries to do what is right. Sometimes it is hard. But he still strives to do it. And he loves his wife and family.


C. Have any of the books you read surprised you.

I expected to like To Sleep in a Sea of Stars more than I did.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

Kenilworth I am not sure how long the physical copy has been on my shelf--maybe 8-10 years or more? And I have had the Kindle copy, which I actually read, at least 4 or 5 years. I had read it probably about 40 years ago. It was definitely worth the re-read!


message 12: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
CinCO wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
19/60 books read
6125/19341 feet
A little bit ahead of schedule.

2.
A Favorite Cover
Magic of Thieves (Legends of Dimmingwood, #1) by C. Greenwood

B. Favorite..."


Doing great!


message 13: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Beverly wrote: "I've read 11 or 12 books so far this year, but only 1 of them them has counted toward my climb up Pike's Peak.

A. The title was Small-Town Sweethearts by Jean C. Gordon.

B. My favorite characte..."


Glad you've been able to get an initial foothold on the mountain. Good luck with the rest of the year!


message 14: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Renee wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain.
I am 15 books up Mt. Vancouver, I'd say I feel pretty on track,



2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a pict..."


At least it had a nice cover--and you get to move it off the mountain!


message 15: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Sam wrote: "I literally snorted in disbelief when I saw this thread popping up - a quarter of the year already gone!

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
I've made it 7 books up Mount Bl..."


that cover does have some great colors!


message 16: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Stina wrote: "After sprinting 10 books up Mt. Ararat in January, I slowed my February and March pace to 3 books per month, so as to enjoy some borrows in a timely manner.

My favorite cover in 1Q2021 was this o..."


Mmmm...brownies. Now I want some!


message 17: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Kate wrote: "Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain:
I’ve read 22 books while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Last year I read eleven books for the entire year so I’m pleased with my total so far.

..."


I loved Dune when I read it back in the 80s. I wonder if I'd lie it as much now?


message 18: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Sheri wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).
At 4 out of 24 books, I am only a sixth of the way up Mount Blanc and need to pick up the pace. However, I am 85% throu..."


I keep hearing good things about Gamache and the Louise Penny books...maybe I need to add some more to the TBR mountain. LOL


message 19: by Leslie (new)

Leslie 1. I have read 30 books on my way to the top of El Toro (75 books) so that works out to be about 571 feet up the mountain. Too many library books & rereads so far this year but I am still on track.


message 20: by Rokkan (new)

Rokkan (rokk) | 13 comments I'm 33 books up my 100 books Everest challenge. Working out well; I've not bought a book in any form since December, which is a minor miracle for me! I've actually finished 34 books this year, but I started 1 in 2020 and had more than half of it read when I picked it up in January.


message 21: by Kelly (new)

Kelly (bookwormonwheelz) | 32 comments Still working on my fourth book. I'm having a rough time, I guess. Climbing Mount Blanc.


message 22: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Leslie wrote: "1. I have read 30 books on my way to the top of El Toro (75 books) so that works out to be about 571 feet up the mountain. Too many library books & rereads so far this year but I am still on track."

Closing in on the half-way mark!


message 23: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Rokkan wrote: "I'm 33 books up my 100 books Everest challenge. Working out well; I've not bought a book in any form since December, which is a minor miracle for me! I've actually finished 34 books this year, but ..."

You're right there with me. But you're actually ahead because I can't say I haven't bought any books (just got done using the last of my Christmas money on a book order, in fact....). See you at the top!


message 24: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Kelly wrote: "Still working on my fourth book. I'm having a rough time, I guess. Climbing Mount Blanc."

Hope things pick up for you!


message 25: by Pamela (last edited Apr 07, 2021 08:32AM) (new)

Pamela | 92 comments MtTBR - Checkpoint#1

1. I've made it up a third of the way of Mt. Kilimanjaro - 20 books of 60. Very pleased with my progress so far. Felt like I was sprinting for the first two months, however the pace slowed a little bit last month.


2.A. I like many of the covers on the books I've read, this one stands out slightly more with the eerie foggy night with the house. The image is thick with atmosphere.
The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin

2.B. My favorite character so far... will have to go with Ward (aka Dr. Howard Stovall Bennett III). He is the narrator of Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson and is quite the character! He tries to do the right thing by the women he's entrusted to care for and he's sweet too.

2.C. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo suprised me, as I enjoyed the book more than I expected. It isn't in my preferred genre and I almost just gave it away without reading. I got the book free at an event, didn't pick the book, it was given along with a few books and this was one of them. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise to have enjoyed the book.

2.D. The book that has been on my TBR the longest is definitely Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel about What They Do by Studs Terkel. I read some excerpts in college many years ago (can say decades now, yikes!), and always wanted to go back and read it thoroughly. It was more enjoyable than I expected. I do wish I read it more fully years back, as well, but happy I finally did that this year.


message 26: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Pamela wrote: "MtTBR - Checkpoint#1

1. I've made it up a third of the way of Mt. Kilimanjaro - 20 books of 60. Very pleased with my progress so far. Felt like I was sprinting for the first two months, however th..."


You're doing great! It's nice that Ninth House wound up being enjoyable since you didn't pick it out for yourself. And that atmospheric cover is very nice!


message 27: by Merin (last edited Apr 06, 2021 05:59PM) (new)

Merin (postitsandpens) | 77 comments First Quarter Check-In

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).

I am almost to the top of Pike's Peak! I have 2 more miles to go, for a total of 10/12.

2.
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far..

The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass - the dress is just gorgeous!

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

An old favorite is Luna Lovegood, who I was (re)introduced to in Order of the Phoenix. I love her quirkiness and unapologetic way of just being herself. I also loved Prince Maxon from The Selection, who's just a really nice guy. And Beren and Luthien from The Silmarillion hit at the romantic part of me as well, so special mention to them!

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way.

I was not expecting to like The Selection anywhere near as much as I did. I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the series!

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait?

Wonder has been on my list since June 2012. I enjoyed it a lot, so would definitely say it was worth the wait!


message 28: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Merin wrote: "
First Quarter Check-In


1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).

I am almost to the top of Pike's Peak! I have 2 more miles to go, for a total of 10/12.

2...."


That is a beautiful dress!


message 29: by Merin (new)

Merin (postitsandpens) | 77 comments Bev wrote: That is a beautiful dress!

Right? I would love to wear something like that even once.


message 30: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) (jenisnotabooksnob) | 20 comments 1. I've made it through 45 books so far, I haven't logged them all to my thread yet. I should have time to update that on the weekend. Some of those are picture books, I finally sorted through all my books and pulled any picture books I hadn't read and read those. At least there shouldn't be anymore for the year, so long as I don't find more books in a closet somewhere. I'm 5 books ahead of schedule for Mt Olympus, but, we'll see now that I've read a lot of my shorter books already. I have around 544 unread books so long as no others turn up under a bed or something. I was pretty excited because I finally have more read books than unread books. That happened around 15 books ago.

2. A.
The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick

I really liked the style of this cover, I had never read this author's juvenile fiction before and definitely bought this book because of the cover art a couple years ago.

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

There have been so many good characters in my year so far, it's so hard to pick a favorite, there are probably 10 that are very close. I would have to go with Christa from the book The Quest for Christa T. She's just such a fascinating character, the kind of person who wouldn't strike you as anything from a cursory glance, but, getting to know her gradually over the course of the story, she just felt so real and like someone I would have really enjoyed knowing.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles was a bad surprise, it was just so tepid and felt like a ripoff of Nesbit's juvenile fiction. A good surprise was Pictures of Hollis Woods, I don't even remember how I ended up with the book because the cover has never really appealed. It ended up being better than I expected.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

I have a tie here, Under the Lilacs by Alcott and The Peterkin Papers I bought the same day around 10 years ago I believe. I was at a thrift store on vacation and they had a bunch of those vintage Junior Deluxe Illustrated Classics so I bought them for $1 each or something because I liked the style of them. Neither of them were super remarkable, but, they were still mildly entertaining and I don't regret reading them. I still have a few more of those from the same day that I haven't read, I'll get to them eventually, interspersed between some more modern fiction.


message 31: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Jennifer wrote: "1. I've made it through 45 books so far, I haven't logged them all to my thread yet. I should have time to update that on the weekend. Some of those are picture books, I finally sorted through all ..."

You're doing great! Glad that Pictures of Hollis Woods wound up being a good surprise for you--especially since you're not sure how you wound up with it. [I have a few of those sitting the shelves myself :-) ]


message 32: by Chalmation (new)

Chalmation 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates to actual miles up Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, etc. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

I’m climbing Mount Ararat
16 of 48 books read =1.06 miles=5,618 feet

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.
None of them are particularly exciting so far. I picked this one only because blue is my favorite color.
The Yellow Farce (New Sherlock Holmes Mysteries) by Craig Stephen Copland

B. Who has been your favorite character so far?
Dylan from Finding Hannah. I loved his determination to find his missing sister.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?
Daddy's Home (Holly Jennings #1). Nothing spectacular, but good. Didn't matter if I waited or read it as soon as I got it.


message 33: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) (jenisnotabooksnob) | 20 comments Bev wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "1. I've made it through 45 books so far, I haven't logged them all to my thread yet. I should have time to update that on the weekend. Some of those are picture books, I finally so..."

Thank you,
Yeah, the cover of that book is not appealing to me at all. All I can think is maybe it came in a grab bag? Our library book sale sometimes does surprise bags of mysteries or romance or children's books. I don't usually buy those, but, I think there was one with a Grosset Dunlop Famous Dog Stories book on top and I bought the bag which was mostly vintage stuff and then randomly some Junie B and possibly this one.. The only reason I still owned it was that Newbery sticker on it which indicated the story might be better than the cover. lol


message 34: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Chalmation wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates..."

Great progress! That Holmes book looks interesting--I'm a sucker for new Holmes stories.


message 35: by Natália (new)

Natália Lopes (silkcaramel) | 61 comments 1. I've made it to 18 books (almost 1/3 up!) , so I'm a little behind. BUT I'm sticking more to my owned TBR this year, and I'm engaged in finishing series, so I'm happy so far.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.
Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, #2) by Laini Taylor

This cover is so pretty, I love looking at it!

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

I have two characters I loved so far, for different reasons. First, there's Christopher, from Imaginary Friend. He's the sweetest, lovable child ever and I just wanted to protect him at all costs. And then we have Lord Catterham, from The Seven Dials Mystery and The Secret of Chimneys. He's hilarious and a total mood for me, and I loved his scenes with his daughter Bundle.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)

Imaginary Friend was such a surprise! I didn't expect to enjoy it as much, especially because I'm not a fan of horror and I finished it with my heart full and absolutely in love with the characters.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

Wither, so far, has been on my TBR since I first started on GR...and honestly, it wasn't worth the wait. I guess that, if I've read it when I first shelved it, I would have enjoyed and maybe finished the series. It was something I liked back then, but I've sadly outgrew it. I DNF-ed it.


message 36: by Bev (new)

Bev | 611 comments Mod
Natália wrote: "1. I've made it to 18 books (almost 1/3 up!) , so I'm a little behind. BUT I'm sticking more to my owned TBR this year, and I'm engaged in finishing series, so I'm happy so far.

2. Complete ONE (o..."


Glad you've been able to stick more to your TBR this year--I've done pretty good with that too.

It's a shame when we keep a book on the TBR too long and maybe lose the moment when we could have read and enjoyed it. I've had a few like that as well...


message 37: by Meg (new)

Meg Hendry 1. I'm at 18 out of 24 on Mount Blanc and running out of books on my TBR. I've still got plenty of library books for Virtual Mount TBR.

2.

A.
East (East, #1) by Edith Pattou

C.
The Family Plot was surprising in a good way. It wasn't the usual for a haunted house story.


message 38: by Rachel (new)

Rachel (dgrachel) | 43 comments I totally forgot to look for the checkpoint. :O As of March 31st I had reached 22 of 75 (29%), but I've had a good April and am now at 30/75 and hoping to have at least 2 more finished before the end of the month. :)

A: My favorite cover so far is probably the one for Persephone Station
Persephone Station by Stina Leicht I love the colors and the character pose

B: My favorite character of the books that aren't rereads is probably Bug Montage from SA Cosby's Blacktop Wasteland. He's smart and does what he does for his family, which I love, and he's an excellent get away driver. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

C: Beowulf: A New Translation definitely surprised me. I hated Beowulf in high school, but this version was honestly delightful. I loved the frat-boy/tall tale at the bar kind of feel. Beowulf A New Translation by Maria Dahvana Headley

D: The Agatha Christie novels I've read so far this year have been on my TBR the longest. My mom gave me her complete collection of Agatha Christie novels about 10 or 11 years ago and I'm slowly making my way through them. I actually enjoyed both of the ones I read, The ABC Murders and Appointment with Death. I'm usually not a fan of the Poirot novels, but these were both really enjoyable.


message 39: by Kristina (new)

Kristina | 30 comments 1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).
At the 3-month mark I completed 9 out of 48 books for Mt. Ararat. I've been distracted by shiny new 2021 books, so I'll (hopefully) end up picking up a lot of slack the second half of the year to make it to the top of the mountain.

2A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.
Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

2C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way ?
I didn't pick Love with a Chance of Drowning for myself (it was mixed in a box of books a friend gave me) but I was surprised how much I liked it. It was engaging and had a lot more substance and adventure than I expected.

2D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?
Night Prayers and The Moment have both been on my TBR the longest (since 2016). I'm glad I finally read them. Neither of them particularly wowed me, though I did enjoy The Moment slightly better, between the two.


message 40: by Elyse (last edited May 05, 2021 05:47AM) (new)

Elyse (winesaboutbooks) Eep I kept forgetting about this. I will backtrack to 3/31.

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read).

42/100, almost halfway to Everest and not even halfway through the year. I'm keeping good pace but that may change. I did start to slow down in April.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.

Can't choose between these two: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

B. Who has been your favorite character so far?

Keane from Float Plan because he was so swoonworthy and Irish! He had his time to wallow after tragedy and then he moved on. He was such a good influence on Anna.

C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)

I was so surprised by how much I loved Float Plan! I received it as a NetGalley ARC last year and I'm usually a 4-star contemporary romance kind of girl but this one was such a beautiful journey from tragedy to happiness that I fell in love with it.

I was surprised by how much I didn't like The Starless Sea. Well, I didn't like The Night Circus either so I guess I'm not surprised but I am disappointed that I haven't like either of her books because so many people love them! Ah well. It's good to have different opinions. lol.

D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

The Phantom Tollbooth since 2017.


message 41: by Elyse (new)

Elyse (winesaboutbooks) Stina wrote: "After sprinting 10 books up Mt. Ararat in January, I slowed my February and March pace to 3 books per month, so as to enjoy some borrows in a timely manner.

My favorite cover in 1Q2021 was this o..."


That's so funny because I loved The Book of Lost Things!


message 42: by Elyse (new)

Elyse (winesaboutbooks) Rokkan wrote: "I'm 33 books up my 100 books Everest challenge. Working out well; I've not bought a book in any form since December, which is a minor miracle for me! I've actually finished 34 books this year, but ..."

0 books bought since December?! You're my hero! How do you do it?! lol


message 43: by Elyse (new)

Elyse (winesaboutbooks) Meg wrote: "1. I'm at 18 out of 24 on Mount Blanc and running out of books on my TBR...."

Oh to have your problem!! 🤣 It will take me yearrrrrrs to run out of books I own.


message 44: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Howes I've just spotted this so a little late to the party - but here goes:

1) I have so far read 26 books - that's up to today, so I am a little behind but not too bad.

2A) This picture doesn't do it justice.
Crime Stories from the ‘Strand’ by Geraldine Beare

2D) Tide of Death by Pauline Rowson. I should have saved my money....


message 45: by superawesomekt (last edited May 11, 2021 11:07AM) (new)

superawesomekt | 238 comments I also didn't notice this post until now, but I'll still do a Q1 update.

1. As of April 1, 2021:

30/100 books (8,078 feet up Mt. Everest)

2A. Favorite Cover so Far:
Stuff Matters Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik

2B. Favorite Character so Far:
Farmer Oak from Far from the Madding Crowd. I loved his steady, diligent nature with a delightful combination of practicality and romanticism.

2C. A Book that Surprised Me:
Black Beauty surprised me (in a bad way) with how episodic it was and how moralizing it was. My kids still liked it, but I was a little disappointed.


message 46: by Rachael (last edited May 16, 2021 05:56AM) (new)

Rachael (allons-y-bookworm) I've only just noticed this. Here's my Q1 update.
By the end of March, I had read 15 books towards my goal of 36 books.

Favourite cover: Reawakened (Once Upon a Time, #1) by Odette Beane

Favourite character so far: Addie in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Her story is so heartbreaking and poignant.

A book that surprised me: Anna Dressed in Blood. I don't read much horror so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

The book that has been on my TBR pile the longest: Coriolanus. I've owned a copy for at least 7 years. I'm glad I read it because it's one more book ticked off my personal lifetime challenge to read the complete works of Shakespeare


message 47: by Jessica (new)

Jessica (zumbajess) | 9 comments 1. I just saw this post now. As of April 1, 2021, I made it through 7 of the books on my TBR list.

In May, I finished the book that has been on my TBR list the longest: The Zookeeper"s Wife by Diane Ackerman.


message 48: by Sophia (last edited Jun 28, 2021 10:02AM) (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 30 comments Somehow I missed this check in announcement so I'm sorry to be late to the party. But, the up side is I get to see how fabulously everyone is doing which encourages me to keep at it. Way to go all.

So, I'll only count the first quarter (Jan-Mar) since this check in was for April.

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates to actual miles up Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, etc. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

I am 48 books of 75 up Mt. Toro. Well on my way to planting my flag and heading off to the next tallest mountain.


2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far. OR If you have difficulty posting a cover for any reason, share your favorite title--this does not have to be your favorite read. It can just be a title you thought was funny or clever or interesting or....

An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell, #6) by Deanna Raybourn An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn
I love the folk artsy tone and the connections to the story found in the cover.

B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.

Edd from Transcendence (Transcendence, #1) by Shay Savage Transcendence by Shay Savage
He has no verbal communication as a cave man, but he is good, sweet, and funny without even trying.


C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)

Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro An Unexpected Peril by Kazuki Kaneshiro gave insight into being a Korean outsider living in Japan as well as an engaging coming of age story.


D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all?

Carved In Stone (Art of Love, #1) by Donna McDonald Carved In Stone by Donna MacDonald has been on my pile since 2013. I got it as a freebie after enjoying another by the author and then only read it when a blogger pal wanted to buddy read it. Discovered how much I miss out by leaving books languishing on my Kindle.


message 49: by Elyse (new)

Elyse (winesaboutbooks) Sophia wrote: "Somehow I missed this check in announcement so I'm sorry to be late to the party. But, the up side is I get to see how fabulously everyone is doing which encourages me to keep at it. Way to go all...."

I love the Veronica Speedwell series!!


message 50: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 30 comments Elyse wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Somehow I missed this check in announcement so I'm sorry to be late to the party. But, the up side is I get to see how fabulously everyone is doing which encourages me to keep at it...."

Aren't they fabulous!


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