Mount TBR 2022 discussion

Well, my fellow mountaineers, our 2022 climbing expedition is coming to a close and it's time to get ready for the Final Mountaineering Checkpoint. Where does the time go? I'm ready to hear how all our mountain-climbing team members have done out there on Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Everest....whichever peak you've chosen. Checkpoint participation is absolutely voluntary and is not considered necessary for challenge completion.

For those who would like to participate in this checkpoint post, I'd like you to at least complete the first of these two things. And if you feel particularly inspired (or generous about humoring me during the holiday season), then please do both.

1. Tell us how many miles you made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you've planted your flag on the peak, then tell us, take a selfie, and celebrate (and wave!). Even if you were especially athletic and have been sitting atop your mountain for months, please check back in and remind us how quickly you sprinted up that trail. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting book adventures you've had along the way.

For the second year in a row, I've managed to plant my flag on top of Mount Olympus on Mars. After meeting my declared goal of topping Mount Everest, I loaded up my spaceship and headed for Mars. Once I planted that flag, I sat down and had a good old time with Marvin the Martian. We're still reading--hoping to squeeze in a few more books before the ball drops back in Times Square on Earth. Current total: 178 of my own books read.

2. The Words to the Wise According to Mount TBR: Using the titles of the books you read this year, see how many of the familiar proverbs and sayings below you can complete with a book read on your journey up the Mountain. Feel free to add/subtract a word or two to help them make sense.

Words to the Wise According to Mount TBR (my selections as examples):

A stitch in time...[saves] Seven Tears for Apollo (Phyllis A. Whitney)
Don't count your chickens...[but] Always Lock Your Bedroom Door (Roy Winsor)
A penny saved is.... The Secret of the Golden Pavilion (Caroly Keene)
All good things must come... Home by Nightfall (Charles Finch)
When in Rome...Take Two at Bedtime (Margery Allingham)
All that glitters is not... The Golden Man (Richard Lockridge)
A picture is worth....[a] Four Days' Wonder (A. A. Milne)
When the going gets tough, the tough get... Streaked with Crimson (Charles J. Dutton)
Two wrongs don't make (a)... Challenge for Three (David Garth)
The pen is mightier than.... The Curse of the Fleers (Basil Copper)
The squeaky wheel gets... [the] Dead Man's Gift (Zelda Popkin)
Hope for the best, but prepare for... Murder by Matchlight (E. C. R. Lorac)
Birds of a feather flock...Where Two Ways Meet (Grace Livingston Hill)

And finally...if you would like to be in my year-end drawing for a challenge prize, please visit me at My Reader's Block and link up the URL for your mountain climb (the most recent mountain, if you've moved through several mountains). I'm only choosing one winner from all my challenges this year.

Link up post: https://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2...

1. I've just reached the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro by finishing 60 books. That was my goal for 2022. Thanks for running this challenge again. I'll be back in 2023

2. Words to the Wise:
A stitch in time saves The Untold Story
Don't count your chickens but [it's] Midnight in Everwood
A penny saved is Walking On Sunshine
All good things must Kill Joy
When in Rome Journey to the Center of the Earth
All that glitters is not Gods of Jade and Shadow
A picture is worth Light Years
When the going gets tough the tough get Raising Hell
Two wrongs don't make Winters' Snow
The pen is mightier than Children of Blood and Bone
The squeaky wheel gets The Three Locks
Hope for the best but prepare for The Court of Miracles
Birds of a feather flock [to] The Moonstone

Rachael wrote: "1. I've just reached the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro by finishing 60 books. That was my goal for 2022. Thanks for running this challenge again. I'll be back in 2023

2. Words to the Wise:
A stitch in t..."
Congratulations on making your goal! See you in the New Year.

I reached the peak of Mt. Olympus on Mars by November 15th. After that I gave myself permission to read a few books that did not count for the challenge, plus another that did. I realized about 5 days ago that I had several books in progress, so I have been making a forced march around the top to be able to include the ones that count in this year's challenge, bringing the grand total to 155.

A stitch in time...(can be used for) Adorning the Dark (Andrew Peterson
Don't count your chickens...(in a) Ghost Town at Sundown (Mary Pope Osborne)
A penny saved is....(a) Bear's Bargain (Frank Asch)
All good things must come...(in) The Spaces Between (J.C. Gilbert)
When in Rome...Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea (Cynthia Rylant)
All that glitters is not...White Snow, Bright Snow (Alvin Tresselt)
A picture is worth....(being given as) Franklin's Christmas Gift (Paulette Bourgeois
When the going gets tough, the tough get... Black Coffee Agatha Christie
Two wrongs don't make... All Systems Red (Martha Wells)
The pen is mightier than.... The Literary Monster on Film (Abigail Burnham Bloom) (The book is always better!)
The squeaky wheel gets (sent on a)...Vacation Under the Volcano (Mary Pope Osborne)
Hope for the best, but prepare for...(an) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Chris Grabenstein)
Birds of a feather flock (to visit)...Cinderella Penguin, or, The Little Glass Flipper (Janet Perlman)

Final Checkpoint:
I read 31 out of 36 up Mt Vancouver. Life happened in 2022 - An unexpected move and an even more unexpected medical crisis left little time for reading in the second half of the year. I am ending the year with a sprint - reading quite a bit on my Kindle while I recover and heal.

Words to the Wise According to Mount TBR:

A stitch in time... (is) Sew Deadly
Don't count your chickens... Where Serpents Sleep
A penny is saved .... (when you) Sell Low, Sweet Harriet
All good things must come... [with] What Remains of Heaven
When in Rome... The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit
All that glitters is not... Tears of Pearl
A picture is worth....Walking Across Egypt
When the going gets tough, the tough get... A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder
Two wrongs don't make ... Called to Justice
The pen is mightier than.... [when] Delivering the Truth
The squeaky wheel gets... Drawn and Buttered
Hope for the best, but prepare for... Evan Only Knows
Birds of a feather flock... Where Shadows Dance

I've literally just made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro a few hours before midnight on Dec 31st!

Won't be attempting such a large mountain next year - towards the end it became a chore and not a challenge - and I'm wanting to be reading for pleasure!

Sheri wrote: "I reached the peak of Mt. Olympus on Mars by November 15th. After that I gave myself permission to read a few books that did not count for the challenge, plus another that did. I realized about 5 d..."

Congratulations! And I love your fill-in for "The pen is mightier than..."

Sheila wrote: "I've literally just made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro a few hours before midnight on Dec 31st!

Won't be attempting such a large mountain next year - towards the end it became a chore and not..."

Congratulations on meeting your goal! But I definitely don't want your climb to be a chore. Hope you can make it a bit more of a leisurely stroll next year.

made it 83% of the way up Everest. Not bad considering that I initially signed on for El Toro!

A stitch in time... [is] The Reason I Jump (Naoki Higashida)
Don't count your chickens... On the Meldon Plain (Pam Brondos)
A penny saved is... The Sealwoman's Gift (Sally Magnusson)
All good things must come... Early One Morning (Virginia Baily)
When in Rome... Abide With Me (Elizabeth Strout)
All that glitters is not... Deja Vu (Ian Hocking)
A picture is worth... A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World (C. A. Fletcher)
When the going gets tough, the tough get... Meddling Kids (Edgar Cantero)
Two wrongs don't make... One Night @ The Call Center (Chetan Bhagat)
The pen is mightier than... Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor (Rick Riordan)
The squeaky wheel gets... Lessons From Ducks (Tammy Robinson)
Hope for the best, but prepare for... Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits (David Wong)
Birds of a feather flock... Away With the Penguins (Hazel Prior)

For my first year climbing, I just completed my goal of 75 books and planted my flag atop El Toro.

Sprinted up the last few miles on that mountain just now and feel accomplished and excited to do it again :)

Rokkan wrote: "made it 83% of the way up Everest. Not bad considering that I initially signed on for El Toro!

A stitch in time... [is] The Reason I Jump (Naoki Higashida)
Don't count your chickens... On the Meld..."

Well done! And I think my favorite of your words to the wise is "Hope for the best, but prepare for... Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits"

ellen wrote: "For my first year climbing, I just completed my goal of 75 books and planted my flag atop El Toro.

Sprinted up the last few miles on that mountain just now and feel accomplished and excited to do..."

Congratulations, Ellen! I just did a last-minute sprint of my own (trying to complete prompts for another challenge).

Hey everyone! I lost track of the challenge a bit in the last few months as many changes have been happening in my personal life. This was my first year participating on the challenge and I pledged Pike's Peak trying to reach it by only counting completed books. That didn't work as many books on my tbr were from over 5 years ago and not what read anymore. That said I still fully finished 4 books, DNFed 6 and removed 7 others (sequels from the books I DNFed) from my TBR, 17 books total.

It has been great fun to follow along with everyone on the climb, next year I'll be trying Mt. Wycheproof for completed books but I still aim to DNF or completely remove more books from my TBR, see you there!

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

I planted my flag on top of Mount Ararat (48 books) in late October. Read 3 more TBR books since then.

2. Words to the Wise

A stitch in time saves...30 Pieces of Silver

Don't count your chickens before...A Feast of Carrion

A penny saved is....Infinite

All good things must come to...Soul Identity

When in Rome...Black Arts, Tarts and Gypsy Carts

All that glitters is not...Star Mother

A picture is worth....Three More Months

When the going gets tough, the tough get...Granite Elephants

Two wrongs don't make...Rocky Mountain Justice

The pen is mightier than....The Tower's Alchemist

The squeaky wheel gets...The Kukulkan Manuscript

Hope for the best, but prepare for...Forgotten Vows

Birds of a feather flock (to)...Fossil River

Love reading everyone's clever Words to the Wise!! 🤗

Happy reading in the New Year!

Paula wrote: "Hey everyone! I lost track of the challenge a bit in the last few months as many changes have been happening in my personal life. This was my first year participating on the challenge and I pledged..."

Paula: So glad you've been with us this year. I hope that the changes you've gone through have been positive ones--or are smoothing out if they weren't so positive.

CinCO wrote: "1. Tell us how many miles you made it up your mountain (# of books read).

I planted my flag on top of Mount Ararat (48 books) in late October. Read 3 more TBR books since then.

2. Words to the W..."


Great climb! Thanks for playing along on the Words to the Wise. I wonder what the birds are after at Fossil River. :-)

Only made it to Everest, and that in several steps. The wind went out of my sails last year. Too much doomscrolling, I fear.

A stitch in time...[saves] The Knight of the Swords
Don't count your chickens...Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories
A penny saved is....The Cold Dish
All good things must come...(to) The Curse of Collinwood
When in Rome...Aunts Aren't Gentlemen
All that glitters is not...Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
A picture is worth....Waiting for Orders
When the going gets tough, the tough get...Cast, in Order of Disappearance
Two wrongs don't make…The 9th Directive
The pen is mightier than....Sleuths
The squeaky wheel gets... Star Trek: Assignment Earth
Hope for the best, but prepare for...The Grand Banks Café
Birds of a feather flock...(in) The Wine-Dark Deep

1. I planted my flag on Mount Blanc (24 books) on December 5th with 24 countable books. I made it a total of 30 countable books this year (6 books after Dec 5th). I read a total of 48 boosk for the year, this includes Library Books (that don't count) and Honorable Mentions (that I didn't count). Due to this, I am also doing the Virtual Mount TBR challenge in the new year with a total of 36 books between both. 24 for Mount Blanc again and 12 for Rum Doodle (Virtual Mount TBR).

2.
A stitch in time...[saves] The Shack (William P Young)
Don't count your chickens...[before] The Witnesses (James Patterson)
A penny saved is.... Inside Out and Back Again (Thanhha Lai)
All good things must come... [to] The One and Only Ivan (Katherine Applegate)
When in Rome... Return to the Isle of the Lost (Melissa de la Cruz)
All that glitters is not... A Doll's House (Henrik Isben)
A picture is worth.... The True Confessions of Charolotte Doyle (Avi)
When the going gets tough, the tough get... The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (Kim Michele Richardson)
Two wrongs don't make (a)... South Dakota Showdown (Nicole Helm)
The pen is mightier than.... The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman)
The squeaky wheel gets... The Other Emily (Dean Koontz)
Hope for the best, but prepare for... Hot Winter Nights (Codi Gary)
Birds of a feather flock... [to] the Witch of Blackbird Pond (Elizabeth George Speare)

Thanks Bev! I really enjoyed the challenge this year. Thanks for making it fun :) See you in 2023.

1. For the first time since I started doing the Mt TBR challenge, I planted my flag on El Toro! I'm so happy! Now I'm resting a bit so I can pack my gear for another climb trying to reach the top of El Toro again in 2023!

2. Words to the Wise According to Mount TBR:

A stitch in time...(leads to) A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Don't count your chickens..For The Wolf
A penny saved is....The Last Wish
All good things must come..(to a)Finale
When in Rome...Murder Is Easy
All that glitters is not..The Sword of Destiny
A picture is worth....A Spindle Splintered
When the going gets tough, the tough get... Beastly Bones
Two wrongs don't make...The Way of Kings
The pen is mightier than....The Blood of Olympus
The squeaky wheel gets...Desires and Dreams and Powers
Hope for the best, but prepare for...Capturing The Devil
Birds of a feather flock...(to)The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Steven wrote: "Only made it to Everest, and that in several steps. The wind went out of my sails last year. Too much doomscrolling, I fear.

A stitch in time...[saves] The Knight of the Swords
Don't..."

Congrats on making Everest. 100 books off the TBR pile is still a very good amount! Thanks for playing along on the Words to the Wise!

Jerikay wrote: "1. I planted my flag on Mount Blanc (24 books) on December 5th with 24 countable books. I made it a total of 30 countable books this year (6 books after Dec 5th). I read a total of 48 boosk for the..."

Congratulations! And thanks for the clever Words to the Wise. :-)

Natália wrote: "1. For the first time since I started doing the Mt TBR challenge, I planted my flag on El Toro! I'm so happy! Now I'm resting a bit so I can pack my gear for another climb trying to reach the top o..."

Congratulations on making it up a new mountain! Love your Words to the Wise.

Bev wrote: "Great climb! Thanks for playing along on the Words to the Wise. I wonder what the birds are after at Fossil River. :-)"

Ancestors! It is a good "dinosaurs are still here" book.

My goal was Mt. Ararat and I was able to complete that and go halfway up Mt. Kilimanjaro. I cleared 54 physical books from my TBR!

A stitch in time...[saves] The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Don't count your chickens...[at] Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber
A penny saved is.... A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
All good things must come... to The Road to Home by Mary Jane Auch
When in Rome... [stay in] The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
All that glitters is not... The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
A picture is worth....Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh
When the going gets tough, the tough get... A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Two wrongs don't make ... The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
The pen is mightier than.... The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn
The squeaky wheel gets... Midnight Magic by Avi
Hope for the best, but prepare for...The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
Birds of a feather flock...Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas

I planted a flag on Mount blanc (24 books) and was a few books into Mount Vancouver, but ran out of time. I read some great books this year, and was able to make some space on my shelf., as is my goal for this year!

1. I made it to the top of Mont Blanc at the beginning of October, and continued on to read a total of 31 books off my TBR pile! My secondary goal was to try to balance reading owned books and buying new ones, and I did pretty well at that too, reading or rereading 49 books off my shelves while buying 67 more. Not perfect, but definitely progress over past years!

2. Words to the Wise:
- A stitch in time... [makes you] Exit West
- Don't count your chickens... Across the Green Grass Fields
- A penny saved is... The Art of Gathering
- All good things must come... Between the World and Me
- When in Rome... Don't Overthink It
- All that glitters is not... Mandelbrot the Magnificent
- A picture is worth... A Walk Across America
- When the going gets tough, the tough get... A Shelter in the Time of Storm
- Two wrongs don't make... A Beautiful Work in Progress
- The pen is mightier than... Ten Words to Live By
- The squeaky wheel gets... Out of the Silence
- Hope for the best, but prepare for... Lost Connections
- Birds of a feather flock... Under the Overpass

I made it 2/3 of the way up Mt. Vancouver (24/36 books). I hit a reading slump this year but hope to get back on track for 2023.


A stitch in time...[saves] The Maidens
Don't count your chickens..., [build] A Ladder to the Sky
A penny saved is...The Sweetest Remedy
All good things must come...[from] People We Meet On Vacation
When in Rome...Return to the Enchanted Island
All that glitters is not...Amora
A picture is worth...A Small Revolution
When the going gets tough, the tough get...The Keeper of Night
Two wrongs don't make ...The Love Hypothesis
The pen is mightier than...The Reckless Oath We Made
The squeaky wheel gets...Opium and Absinthe
Hope for the best, but prepare for...Aftershocks
Birds of a feather flock...One Last Stop

I read 27 TBR books from a goal of 48 — not so good. I did de-accession several bags of books from the shelves, but I’ll be trying again next year to whittle down the TBR.

I read 61 books. Reached the peak I was aiming for, Mt. Kilimanjaro, in December. Pleased with that progress as I hit a reading slump in the summer that lasted a few months. Then went on a small book buying spree over several weeks, so I ended up gaining books overall, but it wasn't by much at least.

Completed El Toro, stopped at 83 books.
A stitch in time... What the dead leave behind
Don't count your chickens... (in the) Reign of shadows
A penny saved is.... The golden key
All good things must come... (to) The route of ice and salt
When in Rome... Grave expectations
All that glitters is not... Desolation
A picture is worth.... Nevermore
When the going gets tough, the tough get... One for sorrow
Two wrongs don't make (a)... Silver in the blood
The pen is mightier than.... The girl of fire and thorns
The squeaky wheel gets... The thirteenth tale
Hope for the best, but prepare for... Driving in the dark
Birds of a feather flock...(over) The glass vault