Mount TBR 2021 discussion

I keep meaning to start my thread and at this point I should probably wait a few weeks and make it a mid-year check-in, but oh well. This year, it turns out I'm getting much better at reading books immediately after acquiring them...but not so much on the backlog. Still, have made some progress!



1. Tiger on the Mountain - Shirley L. Arora
Bought at an estate sale in 2018, I think. Very sweet story, and in near-perfect condition for its age (almost 60 years - as a Scholastic paperback no less!), but not one I'll probably read again. But it's so pretty, and small, it takes up hardly any room at all...

2. The Snowbird - Patricia Calvert
Bought at Goodwill in...*scrolls back through blog* wow okay 2014. After solving this for 2 different people on What's The Name of That book? based on description alone, I thought I might as well properly read it so I knew for sure next time. Still need to add the cover of my version to Goodreads, a first edition inscribed by the author (a fact which makes it too irresistible to let go).

3. Lions 'n' Tigers 'n' Everything - Courtney Ryley Cooper
A 1920s book I bought at Savers a few years ago, back when their "vintage book" section still had things besides older editions of classics, also in near perfect condition (though no dust jacket). Really cool nonfiction book about circus animals, illustrated w/ photos.

4. One For The Money - Janet Lambert
(No, not that One For The Money by a Janet)

Another one from a few years ago, either Goodwill or the library's book sale corner -- several times I've debated getting rid of this unread to make space, because racehorses are low in my personal horse-book hierarchy, but I finally took a chance when I needed a book that was physically durable enough to handle being dropped in my bag, and
a) it was a delight
b) I had no idea it was the third (and only horse book) in a trilogy about the main girl, Candy Kane, which I would now also like to find. It was published in 1946 so the immediately post-war setting made it super interesting.

5. Eight Keys - Suzanne LaFleur
Bought a few years back at a used book sale because I had added it to my TBR on Goodreads only to find the library didn't have it. Read half of it last year, was overwhelmed by the sweetness and had to take a break, even though it's really short. I will probably let it go now that I've read it, but it was fun.

*comes back in less than 72 hours* See, I knew if I just started a thread, I'd immediately make progress and regret not waiting longer!

6. The Tattooed Map - Barbara Hodgson
Bought at an antiquarian book fair in 2018 for $5 -- pretty much the only book there I both wanted and could afford -- because I own and liked Hippolyte’s Island: An Illustrated Novel. Not a great story or even my preferred art style, but it's just so unusual that I'm going to keep it with my Nick Bantock books.

7. Everything I Was - Corinne Demas
Bought at a used book sale in 2019, this cover is wonderful and the book inside even more so. So precious.

8. Tokyo Heist - Diana Renn
Borrowed from a Little Free Library early last year because I liked another book from this author, and back there it will go because this was cute, but not as good or memorable.

Almost forgot this one!


9. Such a Good Girl - Amanda K. Morgan Picked up at the dollar store last year because it was on my TBR but local libraries didn't have it. It was worth the read but I don't love unreliable narrators, so I'll let this one go.

Getting close!

10. Gold Unicorn - Tanith Lee: reread of a book last read a good 20 years ago...I bought this copy several years back specifically to reread it, glad I finally did!

Not gonna make it to the peak this year but that's okay, I'm happy with the progress I made (not to mention the more than 10 books I read this year immediately after purchase, so if I'm not going to stop buying books, at least I didn't add to the problem of unread ones. ...much)